Kasumigaoka Utaha's pen name was thus decided—Kasumi Utako. She herself was very pleased with it, and Shichen was equally satisfied, given that he'd been the one to propose it. Although, strictly speaking, that was the pen name she was always going to have, now it felt more meaningful.
That same day, Kasumigaoka Utaha submitted her light novel to the Fujikawa Publishing House.
The wheels of fate began to turn, with Shichen as the instigator.
Of course, publishing houses typically don't respond to submissions so quickly. With the sheer number of people wanting to be novelists nowadays, they receive countless manuscripts every day.
Still, waiting is excruciating—especially when you're hopeful.
Shichen didn't want Kasumigaoka Utaha just sitting around anxiously. He encouraged her to start planning out Volume Two. Her novel was practically guaranteed to pass, not because he foresaw the future, but because her writing skill was strong enough to stand out. In an era saturated with cliché storylines, quality writing can carve a path.
Kasumigaoka listened to his suggestion. Every day after school, she continued to visit the café and outline ideas for her second volume. Each time before she left, she'd inevitably run into Tohru and face her wary hostility. For the moment, though, Kasumigaoka wasn't in the mood to engage Tohru in conversation.
Meanwhile, Shichen used the free time over these two days to take Tohru into town to buy a phone. In this modern age, you can't get by without one. Fortunately, Shichen's identity in this world had been arranged beforehand, or he wouldn't have been able to purchase anything. As for Tohru, who had no official ID, the two phones had to be bought under his name.
Tohru actually knew quite a bit about cell phones, and as soon as they had them, the first thing she and Shichen did was exchange contact info—she insisted on being his very first contact. Naturally, his second contact was Kasumigaoka Utaha.
Then Saturday arrived. Kasumigaoka Utaha showed up in the morning, barely started brainstorming for a short while, and got her publisher's response: unsurprisingly, she'd been accepted. They wanted her to sign the contract that very day.
The editor who contacted her was Machida Sonoko.
"Shichen, what do I do?" After the phone call, Utaha's voice shook with nerves.
They were already pretty close by now, so she'd started calling him simply by his name. Who knew when she might start using just "Chen" next?
"What else? Just go, obviously," Shichen replied with a laugh.
"I'm kind of scared…"
He smiled, shaking his head. "What's there to be scared of?"
"I've never done this before."
"That's totally normal. Every novelist feels the same way the first time. No need to worry. And the editor who called you is a woman, right? So it's even less scary."
"What if she likes girls?"
"…That's a bit of a stretch," Shichen muttered, exasperated.
"But I am really pretty."
"Doesn't look like you're very scared if you can crack jokes like that," he said wryly.
"How is that a joke? You agree I'm a 'beautiful girl,' right?" she shot back.
"You are, but you shouldn't be the one saying so…"
Utaha giggled. "As long as you agree, that's fine."
"Okay, how about I go with you?" Shichen offered.
"Huh? Really?" She perked up, confirming, "You mean it?"
"Well, I was the one who suggested you submit it, so I'm partly responsible. …Wait, you're not telling me you were just waiting for me to say that, were you?" Shichen eyed her suspiciously.
"…No idea what you mean," Utaha murmured, gaze drifting aside.
"Anyway, I wouldn't feel comfortable sending you alone."
"Oh?" She gave him a smug look. "'Wouldn't feel comfortable,' huh?"
"What's wrong with that?" Shichen asked boldly. "I'm your first reader—and a friend—so of course I'm concerned."
"Tch." Utaha pouted.
"What were you expecting me to say, then?"
"Nothing to do with me what you say! Hmph!" She harrumphed, clearly annoyed.
"Heh. Anyway, let's hurry and eat," he said.
"Sure."
Shichen left first and headed to the kitchen to inform Tohru. Unsurprisingly, Tohru wasn't pleased.
"Shichen-dono's going out alone with that woman, Kasumigaoka?" She practically wore a look of devastation.
"It's just to sign a publishing contract. You read her novel, didn't you?"
"Then let me come along!" Tohru asked, pitifully.
"Um…no can do."
"Why not?"
"Because the café is still open. We can't just chase off all our customers, right?"
"Urgh…" Tohru pouted, visibly upset.
Shichen played his trump card. "Okay, how about this: tonight you can sleep in my room again?"
"Hmph. I've been doing that every night anyway," she grumbled.
"…What more do you want, then?"
"May I call you 'Chen-dono' instead?" Tohru asked meekly.
"Sure, why not?" Shichen shrugged, smiling.
"Thank you, Chen-dono!" She beamed and flung her arms around him.
Feeling the soft warmth against him, Shichen returned her embrace. "That's all? No more requests?"
"Huh? There can be more?" Tohru blinked in surprise.
"A name change doesn't quite feel like compensation," he teased.
"In that case… Chen-dono, can I have a kiss…?" She gazed up with shining eyes.
"Sure." He nodded.
"R-really? You're not messing with me?"
"What's there to fool you about?"
"Then…" Tohru slowly closed her eyes, pursing her lips slightly.
Seeing that, Shichen blinked, then gently cradled her cheeks and planted a soft kiss… on her forehead.
"Eh?" Tohru opened her eyes in confusion, staring blankly at Shichen.
"That's enough. I'll be going." He released her and headed for the door.
She stayed rooted in place, dumbfounded, until his figure disappeared. Then she lifted a hand to her forehead.
It wasn't actually wrong, but… something felt off! He tricked her by changing the terms! She obviously wanted him to kiss somewhere else!
Well, a forehead kiss isn't too bad, though…
Still stroking her forehead where he'd kissed her, Tohru felt ecstatic.
…
"Let's go," Shichen said outside the café, turning to Kasumigaoka Utaha who'd been waiting.
They walked side by side toward the train station.
"So," she asked, "did you get it all sorted out?"
"Huh? What do you mean?"
"Your maid—did she really agree to let you go off with me alone?" Utaha kept her eyes forward, not even glancing at him.
"Why wouldn't she?"
"Oh, come on. You must have done something to convince her."
"Nope. She's very obedient."
"Yeah, sure."
"Haha."
"…"
Clearly, Shichen had no intention of explaining further, and Utaha decided to drop the subject.
Their destination—Fujikawa Publishing—was in Akihabara, a place Shichen knew pretty well by now, whereas it was Utaha's first time there. Getting off at Akihabara Station, they didn't head straight to the main office, but to a nearby family restaurant. Editor Machida Sonoko had arranged to meet them there.
Since it wasn't yet lunchtime, the restaurant was quiet. The moment they entered, they spotted a mature woman in business attire in a corner booth.
Shichen recognized her at once.
Machida Sonoko also noticed them immediately, but she hesitated—these two were so stunning, like celebrities. It took them actually walking over before she realized they might be the people she was expecting.
"Excuse me," Shichen spoke up, "are you Editor Machida Sonoko?"
"That's me. You must be Kasumi Utako Sensei…?"
"No, that's her," Shichen said, gesturing at Kasumigaoka Utaha.
"Hello, Editor Machida. I'm Kasumi Utako," Utaha said, bowing politely.
"Oh my gosh, Kasumi Utako Sensei, you really are a high school student… and you're so beautiful!" Machida Sonoko exclaimed, eyes wide.
"You're too kind," Utaha responded.
"No, I mean it! This is exactly like a light novel scenario…"
"Not at all…"
"Have a seat, Kasumi Utako Sensei. And you are…?"
"Pardon me, Editor Machida. Kasumigaoka, you go ahead and chat with her. I need to step out…" Shichen's expression turned serious as he abruptly left.
"Shichen, where are you going?" Utaha called after him, but he was already out the door.
"Does he have urgent business?" Machida asked curiously.
"I have no idea," Utaha replied with a slight frown, staring through the window at Shichen's retreating figure.
"Anyway… you two aren't… dating, are you?" Machida probed with interest.
"We're just friends," Utaha answered coolly, turning back once Shichen was out of sight.
"Is that so?"
"Editor Machida, let's talk about the novel, shall we?"
"Right, of course."
Outside, Shichen hurried away from the family restaurant in the direction of the train station.
He was sure he'd just glimpsed someone he knew!
~~~
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