"Tch."
"Am I interrupting your little moment here?"
The door swung open from the outside, revealing Machida Sonoko, who clicked her tongue in annoyance.
She glanced at the two, who had somehow gotten closer than when she had left the room.
The displeasure on her face likely stemmed from memories of her own youth being stirred by the scene before her.
"Cough, cough." Kasumigaoka Utaha choked on her coffee, caught off guard.
For a guy, moments like these were usually a win, but unnecessary misunderstandings were best avoided.
Akifumi chuckled and clarified, "You're mistaken. We were just discussing the upcoming Story Creation Contest."
"Oh, that!"
Machida's eyes lit up in realization, then she smiled. "Come to think of it, our company is actually one of the sponsors."
"Seriously!?"
"Yes, but as a sponsor, we have no involvement in the competition's proceedings or theme selection. So if you were hoping to gather some insider information, Akifumi-sensei, I'm afraid you'll be disappointed."
Akifumi rolled his eyes. "Do I look like that kind of person?"
"My apologies," Machida said with a sheepish smile. "I just couldn't help but recall some past experiences, which made me react a bit strongly."
Hearing about the contest brought back memories of four years ago, before she became an editor-in-chief.
Back then, several authors she managed participated in the event.
Once they learned she had no insider information to offer, they switched to another publishing house within a month or two.
That was when she decided to stop treating every author under her care equally.
Shaking off those thoughts, Machida grinned. "If you're planning to participate, Akifumi-sensei, this year's contest is bound to be exciting."
Akifumi rolled his eyes again. "You're overestimating me."
"Overestimating?"
Considering that he had created works like Madoka Magica, WorldEnd, Steins;Gate, Anohana, and Your Lie in April, there was no way that was an overstatement.
In fact, any of those stories could have easily won the championship if they matched the contest's theme!
But rather than pressing the point, Machida simply shook her head and changed the subject. "Alright, enough small talk."
She handed over a manuscript. "Here's Shi-chan's draft, Akifumi-sensei."
"Then I won't hold back."
Akifumi took the manuscript and immediately began reading.
Seeing this, Machida also found a seat and started reviewing her own copy.
Meanwhile, Utaha, who had been nonchalant moments ago, suddenly tensed up. Her fingers unconsciously clenched the hem of her skirt under the table.
With every turn of the page, time had never felt this agonizingly slow.
An Hour Later
"Phew."
Akifumi let out a satisfied sigh as he set the manuscript down.
Machida followed suit almost simultaneously.
"Well?" Utaha asked anxiously.
Akifumi glanced at Machida, clearly signaling that this was the editor's role to judge, not his as an outsider.
"It's amazing. I'd even call it perfect," Machida said, giving Utaha a thumbs-up. "You can publish it anytime."
"Phew…"
Hearing such affirmation, Utaha finally relaxed. Her tense expression softened, and her whole body unwound.
But…
"What does Akifumi-kun think?" she asked expectantly.
What kind of response would he give? Would he recognize her effort?
In this moment, Utaha was like a girl yearning for her idol's approval.
"It's absolutely captivating. As a reader, I couldn't help but be completely immersed in it," Akifumi said with a smile. "As expected of senpai, even I'm not confident I could surpass this."
Utaha's face lit up with joy, but she quickly pouted and shot him a playful glare. "You're just trying to flatter me!"
"Flattery? That's not something I do."
"As a writer, I'm fully aware of the gap between my work and WorldEnd," she admitted.
Akifumi shook his head. "Different genres have their own fitting styles. If your novel had the same tragic tone as WorldEnd, that would be downright terrifying, wouldn't it?"
"This novel, which focuses on heartwarming romance, is undoubtedly an outstanding work in its genre. Even I have a lot to learn from it."
"At the very least, the first volume is at that level."
At some point, a faint blush had appeared on Utaha's cheeks. Avoiding his gaze, she shyly muttered, "I… I see."
"Sorry for misjudging you earlier."
Akifumi simply smiled. "It's fine."
'Tch.' Machida frowned. 'How did a manuscript review turn into a romantic scene?'
'This sickeningly sweet atmosphere! The stench of romance is unbearable!'
Still, as someone committed to being a supporting character, she delivered the perfect assist.
"Just as Akifumi-sensei said, there's no doubt about the quality of this work!"
"So, Shi-chan, you should have more confidence in yourself!"
"Understood!" Utaha nodded seriously, then looked at them with gratitude. "Thank you both so much!"
Machida rolled her eyes. "I am your editor. This is my job, you know."
Akifumi waved dismissively. "I didn't do much. Just shared my thoughts after reading it."
"If anything, I should be the one thanking you two for letting me experience such a great story."
Saying that, Akifumi checked his phone—11:28 AM.
With an apologetic smile, he said, "It's already this late. If there's nothing else, I should be heading out."
"Oh? How about lunch together?" Machida suggested.
Utaha also looked at him expectantly.
"I already told my family I'd be home for lunch. They're probably almost done preparing it."
Akifumi smiled apologetically. "To make it up to you both, how about I treat you next time?"
"I'll be looking forward to a feast then!" Machida grinned playfully.
Utaha smiled as well. "Then, I'll be eagerly awaiting your invitation, Akifumi-kun."