So, what was it truly like to be kept by someone?
Kasumigaoka Touji pondered this profound life question as he gazed out the car window. Honestly, he hadn't felt anything particularly earth-shattering.
Perhaps the designated "kept" period had been too brief, a mere twenty-four-hour experiment.
He hadn't even fully settled into the novel sensation of leisurely idleness, of being a decorative yet cherished object, before the calendar page flipped and the day concluded with a warm, shared bath (separate, of course, much to his theatrical chagrin) and a deeply restful sleep. The experience felt more like a playful, extended date than a true role-reversal. The mysteries of the "kept life" remained, for now, intriguingly elusive.
****
The final day of Golden Week, May 5th, arrived cloaked in brilliant midday sunshine. At precisely 1 PM, a sleek, ruby-red Honda sedan pulled up to the curb in front of the Kasumigaoka residence.
Kasumigaoka Utaha, having received a preparatory call from their editor, led the way out the front door, followed by Kasumigaoka Touji and Kani Nayuta. All three were dressed with a touch more care than usual, sensing the semi-formal nature of the coming event.
Machida Sonoko, the ever-reliable and sharp-eyed editor, was already waiting by the car. Her professional smile faltered for a nanosecond as her gaze landed on Kani Nayuta, a flicker of surprise crossing her features. Another girl? Living at the Kasumigaoka home? Her editor's instincts and personal curiosity buzzed, but she swiftly masked her reaction. Now was not the time for interrogation. Her smile widened back into its usual, welcoming warmth.
"Konnichiwa, minna-san! Good afternoon, everyone!" she greeted cheerfully, opening the passenger door for Utaha before moving to the driver's seat. "Utaha-chan, how are you feeling? Any last-minute jitters?"
Her eyes sought out the young author in the rearview mirror as everyone settled in—Utaha and Touji in the back, Nayuta riding shotgun.
"I've told you not to call me that in that tone!" Utaha protested mildly, a faint blush on her cheeks. She then placed a hand over her heart, her expression a transparent mix of nerves and thrilling anticipation. "My mood... is a cocktail of nervousness and excitement, I suppose. It's a strange, fluttery feeling."
"Alright, alright, Utaha-sensei, I understand completely," Machida Sonoko conceded, her tone shifting to one of seasoned reassurance. She deftly shifted gears and guided the car smoothly away from the house. "Every author feels exactly this way before their first signing. It's a rite of passage! You'll grow accustomed to the rhythm after you've done a few more."
Her voice carried the easy confidence of someone who had shepherded many a debut novelist through this very milestone.
As they merged into the light midday traffic, Machida Sonoko's usual chatty nature surfaced. "Speaking of which, you gave the sales department quite the shock recently! I was still blissfully asleep one morning when my phone erupted—a colleague was frantically reporting that the first print run of Love Metronome was on the verge of selling out! I'd checked the inventory just two days prior and there was a healthy stack remaining. I was utterly bewildered for a good ten minutes!"
She chuckled, steering the car around a bend before casting a sidelong glance of pure gratitude toward Kasumigaoka Touji in the backseat. "It's all thanks to Winter-sensei's breathtaking illustrations for 'Kasumi Utako.' Love Metronome has become a genuine phenomenon! In my professional opinion, you are the second greatest contributor to this book's explosive success!"
A flicker of mild alarm passed through Touji. "Second? Who, pray tell, is the first?" he asked, a note of concern in his voice. It couldn't be… that rival illustrator, could it?
Machida Sonoko laughed, a clear, bright sound.
"Why, the first is naturally Utaha-sensei herself!" she stated, as if it were the most obvious truth in the world. She kept her eyes on the road ahead. "We must thank her for weaving such an exceptional narrative. If the core story itself weren't of such stellar quality, no amount of beautiful art could have propelled it to the heights it's reached now. The foundation is everything."
"Ah, absolutely right!" Kasumigaoka Touji's tension melted away, replaced by wholehearted agreement. He nodded vigorously. "The primary reason Love Metronome has captured so many hearts is undeniably the superb quality of the writing itself. Anything less would have been a fleeting spark. As the author, Utaha's contribution is irreplaceable. Calling her the greatest contributor is nothing but the simple truth!"
The earnest, supportive conversation between Touji and their editor caused Kasumigaoka Utaha in the back seat to subtly press her lips together, trying to suppress the proud, happy smile that threatened to break through her composed authorial facade.
*****
Approximately thirty minutes later, the red Honda arrived at its destination: the flagship Fushikawa Bookstore. This was the venerable main branch, established two decades prior, a three-story temple of literature that stood as one of the district's landmark stores. Kasumigaoka Utaha's inaugural autograph session was scheduled for the second-floor event space, running from 2 PM to 4 PM.
"We've made good time. There's still about half an hour before things begin. I'll take you all to the staff lounge first to get settled," Machida Sonoko announced after expertly parking the car. She checked her elegant wristwatch and addressed the group with practiced efficiency.
"Understood," Kasumigaoka Utaha replied, her voice regaining its calm composure.
The dynamic shifted subtly as they exited the vehicle. Utaha was now unmistakably the protagonist of the day. Kasumigaoka Touji and Kani Nayuta naturally fell into step behind her and Machida Sonoko, their roles morphing into something akin to a supportive entourage or honored guests.
As they approached the bookstore's grand entrance, the evidence of the event was immediately visible. A large, professionally designed poster stood prominently just inside the doors:
[Debut Author Kasumi Utako's First Autograph Session!]
Beneath the elegant lettering were details about the acclaimed light novel Love Metronome, along with the specific time and location of the event. Adjacent to the poster was a prominently placed display table, neatly stacked with copies of both Volume 1 and—freshly released today—Volume 2 of the series.
A small crowd had already gathered around the table, a low hum of excited conversation filling the air.
"Wow—! It's so incredibly sweet! It perfectly continues the style of the first volume! The sibling interactions are just… magnificent!" one fan exclaimed, carefully flipping through the pages of the new volume with reverent hands.
"I'm getting a sugar overload! My blood glucose is spiking just from the preview!""It's so hard to imagine their daily life being like this… I'm buying it! No question!""By the way, do you think Winter-sensei will come today? If Winter-sensei showed up too, that would be the ultimate dream!""Winter-sensei hasn't posted anything on social media about it… but since this is Kasumi Utako-sensei's first signing, logic says he should be here.""+1! My thoughts exactly!""I'm dying of curiosity about what they both look like in person…""Right?! But with writing and art that sublime… their faces have to be on the same level, don't you think?""…"
"It seems quite a few of your fans have come as well," Kasumigaoka Utaha whispered teasingly to Touji as they moved through the crowd, guided inconspicuously by Machida Sonoko toward a staff-only door. A sly smile touched her lips. "Then again, I suppose my fans are practically all your fans at this point, aren't they?"
"Not necessarily," Kasumigaoka Touji demurred with a modest wave of his hand, though a pleased spark lit his eyes. "The people who come out for an event like today are, without a doubt, the most dedicated core fans of Love Metronome itself. They're here for the complete package."
"Winter-sensei is quite right," Machida Sonoko interjected, stopping before an unmarked door on the first floor. She pushed it open to reveal a quiet, functional staff lounge. "Please, come in and make yourselves comfortable."
****
After ushering them inside and offering cups of water, Machida Sonoko turned her attention to Kasumigaoka Touji, a speculative gleam in her eye. "Winter-sensei, I have a proposal. Would you consider making a public appearance today as well?"
"Me?" Touji lowered his paper cup, looking at her with genuine surprise. "Why would I make an appearance? Today is Utaha's event."
"Think of it as a wonderful surprise for the fans," Machida Sonoko explained, her editor's persuasive instincts fully engaged. "If Winter-sensei were to show his face, I believe the excitement in the room would reach a whole new level. After all, the living prototype of the male protagonist would be standing before them! On a practical note, just as Utaha-sensei said, her fanbase and yours have significant overlap. It would be a gesture of goodwill that would make them incredibly happy…"
She then glanced at Kasumigaoka Utaha. "Utaha-sensei, you wouldn't have any objections to sharing the spotlight momentarily, would you?"
Kasumigaoka Utaha gave a light, graceful shrug. "I have no objections whatsoever. It depends entirely on Onii-chan's wishes."
In truth, the idea of holding her first signing event side-by-side with Kasumigaoka Touji held a certain private appeal for her.
The focus in the room returned to Kasumigaoka Touji under the expectant gazes of the three women. Machida Sonoko pressed her advantage. "So, Winter-sensei, what do you say?"
"If I were to show my face… what exactly would I need to do?" Touji asked after a moment's consideration, his pragmatic side surfacing.
A triumphant smile spread across Machida Sonoko's face. "Nothing too strenuous! You would simply go on stage with Utaha-sensei at the beginning, offer a few words of thanks in your dual capacities—as the illustrious illustrator 'Kasumi Utako' and as the real-life inspiration for the protagonist. Then, you could participate in the group photo session with Utaha-sensei and the fans. That's all!"
"No problem, then." Since his pseudonym was already public knowledge, showing his face to express gratitude to their supporters seemed a natural, gracious extension. Kasumigaoka Touji nodded his agreement readily.
"Excellent!" Machida Sonoko's smile could have powered a small generator. Her gaze then shifted to Kani Nayuta, who had been quietly observing the discussion. "And as for you, Kani-san… would you be interested in a cameo role as a temporary staff member? You could help manage the queue and maintain order during the signing. In return," she added with a conspiratorial wink, "I'll personally take you all to a proper celebration dinner afterward, my treat."
Kani Nayuta, who had been wondering about her own role for the afternoon, brightened immediately.
"I'd be happy to help!" she agreed.
Witnessing Machida Sonoko efficiently recruiting every member of their party, Kasumigaoka Touji couldn't help but shake his head with a wry, impressed smile. "My goodness, Sonoko-san… you truly are a master of resource allocation. You've got our entire squad mobilized."
"Hahaha… don't put it like that!" Machida Sonoko waved a hand, laughing. "I promise, once this is successfully concluded, the celebration feast will be genuinely splendid. The kind where I open my own wallet without a second thought!"
"..."
Kasumigaoka Touji smacked his lips lightly at her declaration, choosing to tentatively believe in the editor's promise of a personally-funded, post-victory banquet. The stage was set, the players were in position, and the first act of Kasumigaoka Utaha's authorial debut was about to begin.