Chapter 58: The Hope You Give Me
Because it was an unfamiliar neighborhood, Izumi Chihiro and the Silver-haired Girl wandered for quite a while before finding a light novel store.
"So, these are light novels?"
The Silver-haired Girl's gaze was captivated by the dazzling array of works.
Words like magic, machinery, transmigration, otherworld, and romance instantly entered her mind.
"It feels very different from the literary works I've seen in the library."
Just by noticing the titles on the works, the Silver-haired Girl already had a vastly different feeling.
She had lived a very lonely life for the first half of her life; due to family factors, she couldn't find anyone to talk to and didn't want to go home, so she had to find a place to stay.
At this time, quiet places like the library attracted her attention.
Every day, she would stay until just before dinner before choosing to go home, and perhaps thanks to this, her grades in the humanities were excellent.
Of course, her grades in science were a complete mess.
For things she wasn't interested in, she found it hard to muster the effort to understand them.
The light novels that suddenly appeared before her immediately piqued her interest, and she regarded them as equivalent to the literary works she had read before.
"Then I'll recommend some entry-level works to you, so you can get a concrete understanding of light novels."
Thinking this, Izumi Chihiro searched for some of the more accessible works from his memory.
Accessible doesn't mean the work isn't good; rather, the reading threshold is lower, just like his demon slayer, where you don't need to rack your brain to understand many of the plot points.
"So many? I don't have that much money on me, Senior."
The Silver-haired Girl said with an embarrassed expression.
This was already a very subtle way of putting it; she actually didn't have any pocket money at all.
"Consider it my treat."
He said concisely.
"I'll pay you back, Senior... but not now."
The Silver-haired Girl accepted his meaning, but also silently whispered it in her heart.
"Are there any of Senior's works among these?"
Kani Nayuta glanced at the stacked works on the table and asked.
"No."
Izumi Chihiro shook his head.
"Why not? I really want to read Senior's works! They must be very well written!"
The Silver-haired Girl's expression seemed to be pouting.
"My style probably isn't very suitable for you."
He replied.
"That doesn't matter! Please, Senior."
The Silver-haired Girl persisted.
"Alright."
Izumi Chihiro finally found the first volume of demon slayer on the bookshelf and placed it on top of the stack of books.
After checking out, the two returned the way they came.
"demon slayer? Is this what Senior wrote?"
The Silver-haired Girl took it out of her pocket and immediately began to read.
"It's dangerous to read while walking; you might bump into someone."
Izumi Chihiro reminded her.
"Then I'll entrust my safety to Senior."
The Silver-haired Girl completely disregarded him, focusing at least half of her attention on the novel.
About half an hour later, they finally returned home.
"This really is Senior's work; Senior didn't lie to me..."
Closing the book, the Silver-haired Girl smiled brightly.
"Why are you so sure?"
Izumi Chihiro asked.
This sentence clearly had a special meaning.
"Because what's expressed in the writing style is exactly the same as the feeling Senior gives me, and there are even more emotions that Senior hasn't shown, so I can be sure that this is definitely Senior's dedicated work... and it will be my favorite work from now on."
After explaining, the Silver-haired Girl didn't forget to express her admiration.
"It seems you're very talented, junior."
After hearing her explanation, Izumi Chihiro felt a slight surprise.
Although the girl's description was very abstract, he still understood some things.
The Girl personified this work and saw its deepest qualities, analyzing it thoroughly, and in doing so, she also gained a clear understanding of herself as the creator.
Such talent was indeed astonishing.
At least, he was completely incapable of doing that.
Among the people he knew, only Senju Muramasa could probably achieve such an interpretation.
"Alright, it's getting late, I should head back. From now on, junior, you should thoroughly understand everything about light novels. If you have any questions, you can ask me... Once you feel confident, you can start creating, and I'll introduce you to an editor then."
Saying that, Izumi Chihiro stood up, preparing to leave.
"Senior, you seem to have forgotten something."
The Silver-haired Girl reminded him, pulling on his arm and holding up her small phone.
"If I don't have your contact information, how can I ask you for guidance, Senior?"
She smiled sweetly.
"Oh right, I forgot about that."
Izumi Chihiro immediately realized and exchanged contact information with the Girl.
"Senior's contact information, got it √."
A look of joy appeared on the Silver-haired Girl's face.
After he left.
The Silver-haired Girl once again turned her gaze to the first volume of demon slayer, which she hadn't finished reading. She planned to finish this one first, and then consider other issues.
"The conflict between humans and demons..."
"Brother and sister..."
"Bonds, passion, burning..."
"I see, I see... How interesting, is this what a light novel is? The way it expresses things is very different from the literary works I've read before! But it seems to be quite to my taste."
Through reading, she rediscovered the joy of life and found hope for the future.
"This is Senior's true nature. I've understood a little more of Senior's thoughts."
Additionally, she also wanted to understand Senior's truest side from the work, like digging for treasure.
She couldn't see through human disguises, but from writing, she could discern many things that were otherwise invisible.
...
For the next week, the Silver-haired Girl hid in her room all day reading, and when Izumi Chihiro was free, she would pick up her phone and chat with him.
There was no discussion of anything else, only matters concerning light novels.
If she wanted to pursue other goals, she first had to crawl out of the mire.
A person without a future cannot pursue a future.
For now, by following the path Senior pointed out, she might be able to become a officially debuted light novelist.
In that case, she wouldn't be as distressed as she was now.
Only with financial support could she exist as an individual, possess her own personality, and separate from that person a little sooner.
Doing so would be good for everyone.
"Senior, it's enough now, I'm confident to start my own creation!"
The Silver-haired Girl edited this message and sent it, then lay down on her bed.
Outside, a red sun hung high, shining brightly in all directions.
She turned her head, looking at the bright sunlit scene outside the window, her gaze full of longing, and couldn't help but reach out to grasp it.
That was hope.
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Thanks for the power stones