Chapter 25: Choking on Water
Sunday, 10 AM, Fushikawa Bunko, small reception room of the editorial department.
Kaede looked at Editor Nakajima and Editor Machida sitting opposite him, and said with a sullen face, "So, wasn't I supposed to be on vacation? Why did you call me here, and insist on keeping it a secret?"
Editor Nakajima took a sip of tea and said with a laugh, "Hahaha, this idea today wasn't mine, it was Editor Machida's. He asked me to call you over too."
"Is that so?"
Kaede looked at Machida Sonoko.
Machida Sonoko also smiled and explained, "Kaede-kun, wasn't the selection for our Bunko's Newcomer Award over? The gold prize-winning work has been decided for publication, and that new author has been assigned to me. Sister, I finally have a flagship author! And, she happens to be from the same school as you. She'll be coming over today to discuss her light novel, so I thought I'd ask you to come too and get to know each other. Authors from the same Bunko, and also peers from the same school, isn't that great?"
"…Eh?"
Kaede belatedly realized who he was about to meet.
He did know about the Bunko's Newcomer Award before it started, but he hadn't paid much attention to it afterward. Plus, it was close to graduation at that time, and he was also preparing for his entrance exams, so his writing time was greatly reduced, and he certainly wouldn't care about the results of the Newcomer Award.
And at school, although a few classmates had mentioned the second-year high-achiever Kasumigaoka Utaha, he hadn't actually met her face-to-face.
The sudden request to call him out to meet and get to know her as a colleague really caught Kaede off guard.
Seeing Kaede in a daze, Machida Sonoko also showed a mysterious smile: "Kaede-kun, this new author is a great beauty, you know. As your elder sister, I've given you a great opportunity to get close to her, don't miss it!"
"…"
Coming back to his senses, Kaede looked at Machida Sonoko and said, "Editor Machida."
"Hmm?"
"Why are you like my mom, constantly worrying about my love life? You should focus on your own emotional issues. You've been working for several years and are still single. That's not good."
"Pfft… Hahahahaha!!!"
Editor Nakajima, who was next to him, couldn't hold back and burst into laughter, saying, "Machida, I told you before, there's no need to talk about such things with Kaede-kun. Now you're being roasted, aren't you?"
"Senior!!!"
After glaring at Editor Nakajima, Machida Sonoko looked at Kaede opposite her and said with an indignant expression, "Kaede-kun! I've been so concerned about you, and you're actually roasting me in return? Don't go too far!"
"Well, I apologize for that," Kaede apologized without hesitation, then said, "As compensation, I'll talk to my parents later. If there's a suitable candidate, I'll introduce them to Editor Machida, how about that? My parents' social circle includes many excellent people, which should help Editor Machida quickly find a partner."
Hearing Kaede say this, a flicker of obvious excitement crossed Machida Sonoko's face, but it was hidden the next second. She pretended to be calm and said, "Ahem, well, that's up to fate, up to fate."
"Then… then no introduction?"
"Ah, no!"
Just as she reached out, she saw Kaede looking at her with a smile, and Machida Sonoko immediately knew she had been tricked. The thick skin she had developed over years in the workplace also flushed red.
Fortunately, at this moment, the reception room door was opened in time, and an editor from the editorial department came in and said, "Editor Nakajima, Editor Machida, Utako Kasumi-sensei has arrived!"
As if saved, Machida Sonoko quickly said, "Then let Utako Kasumi-sensei come over."
"Okay."
Soon, the reception room door was pushed open, and a girl with long black hair wearing a Toyosaki uniform walked in: "Excuse me."
"Oh, Utaha, come in quickly!"
Machida Sonoko happily stood up and waved at Utaha.
After Utaha entered, she also saw another boy besides the two editors, who would be one of her future colleagues at the Bunko.
However, this wasn't their first meeting. After learning Kaede's identity from Machida Sonoko, Utaha had seen him several times at school. Of course, he wasn't aware of this, and even seemed a bit paranoid due to her several secret observations.
Thinking about how she finally got the chance to debut through the Newcomer Award, but had stayed up late for a long time struggling with writer's block while writing the entire first volume, and how this boy in front of her had successfully debuted in junior high and his light novel was very popular, Utaha's slight inner apology immediately vanished completely.
At Machida Sonoko's call, Utaha sat down next to Kaede, leaving one seat between them, and then spoke first: "You must be konosuba's Kurenai Momiji-sensei. Please take care of me. My name is Kasumigaoka Utaha, and my pen name is Utako Kasumi."
"You're too kind, Senpai. My real name is Kaede, just call me by my name. Please take care of me."
Although he knew Utaha had a sharp tongue, since she was so polite upon meeting, Kaede naturally reciprocated, as they would undoubtedly have many more interactions in the future.
Seeing that they both knew each other, Machida Sonoko clapped her hands with a smile and said, "One of you has already published a light novel, and the other has won the gold prize in the Newcomer Award and will be published soon. You two must help each other and work hard together in the future! So, Utaha, tell us about your light novel's upcoming plans. Do you have any preferred illustrators?"
"Illustrator?"
Kaede looked at Utaha with some surprise and asked, "Haven't you chosen an illustrator yet?"
Nodding, Utaha said with some distress, "Actually, Editor Machida and Editor Nakajima both recommended several illustrators who collaborate with the Bunko. I also looked at their works, and they are indeed very good. But my light novel is a youth romance, and those illustrators are mostly fantasy style. I'm worried that if the illustrator changes their style, it might not quite fit my light novel."
Style, that is indeed a problem.
Kaede nodded in agreement. If the styles are different, even if the illustrations are of high quality, there will be a sense of disharmony, which is a very important issue for a new book.
Editor Nakajima also said, "So, I told Utako Kasumi-sensei that she could look for suitable illustrators or doujin artists these past few days, and if she found any, she could tell us, and we would contact them to see if we could collaborate. So, Utako Kasumi-sensei, have you found a suitable one?"
"That's right."
Utaha said happily, "After searching for several days, I finally found a doujin artist whose art style is gorgeous and deeply to my liking, it's just that her fame seems to be quite significant."
Machida Sonoko heard this, patted her chest and said, "It's alright, we know most of the artists in the industry, and we at Fushikawa can contact them. So, Little Utaha, just tell us."
"Since Editor Machida said so, then I'm relieved."
Utaha smiled and revealed the name of the doujin artist she had her eye on.
"The other party's main profession is a doujin artist for a doujin circle, and her pen name is Kashiwagi Eri."
"Pfft!!!!"
Kaede, who was beside her, immediately spat out a mouthful of water.