My deskmate is actually my yandere reader.

After arranging the tables, chairs, bookshelves, cabinets, and other items, it was already 5:15.

For the final clean-up, the three of them took mops, brooms, and rags and divided the work to clean the department, making it look brand new.

Having finished everything, Kurose Izumi stretched out her sleeve, wiped the sweat from her forehead, and looked at the scene inside with satisfaction.

"Shall we buy one... or two laptops tonight and leave them here?"

To make games, computers are absolutely essential.

But one machine isn't enough, because they need one for writing the script and another for writing the screenplay.

As an artist, Inari Yuki doesn't use a computer; she draws entirely with a drawing tablet.

"Okay, that's settled then." Shiraishi Chiren nodded, then glanced at the sky outside the window, which should have been bright but had turned twilight. "It's getting late, let's call it a day."

“Yes, Minister!” Inari Yuki replied cheerfully.

Kurose Izumi glanced at her and found it strange that she didn't seem very tired.

Even though he, as a boy, was feeling exhausted, Inari Yuki, this petite and adorable junior, was still so energetic!

'It can't be that I'm incapable, right?'

Kurose Izumi muttered to herself, picked up her schoolbag, and left with the other two.

At the shoe lockers in the teaching building, the three split into two groups and waved goodbye.

"You've had a tough day," Kurose Izumi said, opening the shoe cabinet, taking out her indoor shoes, and putting them on.

"I'll cook tonight. Kurose, you're so tired, you should get some rest," Shiraishi Chiren said softly, taking out indoor shoes from the closet full of love letters and putting them on.

She ignored those love letters and couldn't be bothered to deal with them.

Even if you take everything away, it will still be stuffed full the next day, which is incredibly annoying.

Kurose Izumi glanced at the situation in Shiraishi Chire's shoe cabinet and said with a smile, "You're really popular."

This sentence doesn't have any special meaning; it's just a simple expression of emotion.

But this gave Shiraishi Chiren the perfect opportunity.

As the twilight streamed in from outside, she turned her head, her hair falling in countless strands, tinged with a deep yellow.

"It's enough for me to be liked by you alone."

Shiraishi Chiren smiled the gentlest smile she had ever given, the one that most captivated Kurose Izumi.

Seeing that smile, Kurose Izumi hurriedly lowered her head, turned around, pursed her thin lips, and her heart was pounding.

'This...this is a confession?!'

The thought of this possibility made him blush and his heart race; his mind went completely blank.

"Hmph... You're making a good expression." Shiraishi Chiren chuckled softly, the latter part of her words spoken in a very low voice, almost as if she were lip-reading.

She felt that it would be good to keep Kurose Izumi in suspense for a while longer and maintain an ambiguous relationship with him.

This way, you can see more of his adorable expressions when he's panicked, excited, or overthinking.

"I'm going back, Shiraishi."

"Well, go back."

After changing their shoes, the two walked out of the school one after the other and strolled along the cherry blossom slope where cherry blossoms were falling.

Kurose Izumi always walked ahead—because she didn't dare look at Shiraishi Chiren.

Knowing he was embarrassed, Shiraishi Chiren followed behind him with a smile, keeping a step's distance.

This step, just like their relationship, is that as long as one party is willing to get closer, they will definitely be able to get back together.

Whether it's Shiraishi Chiren taking the initiative or Kurose Izumi, it's fine.

As long as Izumi Kurose turns around, she can see that Chire Shiraishi is always right behind her, within arm's reach.

He could reach out and touch her, and possess her.

Unfortunately, confessing her feelings in the music room exhausted all of Kurose Izumi's courage.

Even though he already knew that Shiraishi Chiren probably wouldn't reject his confession, it would be difficult for her to say it again.

Thinking about it carefully, confessing your feelings in that atmosphere seems a bit too frivolous, doesn't it?

Therefore, Izumi Kurose thought that there was no rush, and she should spend more time getting to know each other before confessing her feelings at a suitable time and naturally getting together.

They are not in a hurry now, because as soon as they open their eyes and turn around, they can see each other within easy reach.

This kind of relationship and distance is the best, the most comfortable, and the most heartwarming.

-

-

I've been quite tired from writing lately.

The author is not a full-time writer and has a real-life life.

With the Lunar New Year approaching, there's a lot going on. I only sleep about six hours a day, spending the rest of my time busy. My mental state has been poor, and I feel very lethargic.

I squeezed out time to write, staying up all night and not going to bed until 7 a.m.

Everyone in the book club knows this; I've been online all night.

Honestly, when I woke up this morning, everyone was saying that the male lead was too pretentious, had no redeeming qualities, was useless, and too immature...

It's a little vulnerable.

In the past, I would explain in the comments section why I wrote it that way, explaining the reasons, logic, and why I wrote it that way.

Now, I'm too lazy, and I don't have the time.

If I can read it, I'll read it; if I can't, I'll just remove it from the bookshelf. I don't really care.

It's quite tiring.

I currently have 20 chapters saved up, and I'm still writing every day, just to accumulate more chapters and fulfill my promise to update rapidly after the book is published.

I didn't want to break my promise, but when I woke up, I was dizzy and saw everyone saying that the male lead's performance was bad, which greatly reduced my creative motivation.

I'm not some kind of genius, just an ordinary level 1, struggling newbie writer. It's normal that my writing isn't up to your expectations.

We can only improve slowly, and maybe we won't improve at all.

The chapters I'm writing now are all free. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that I'm doing this out of love, would it?

Even after it was released, the sales were poor. The constant reports left me exhausted.

I didn't make any money, and I almost lost my life. It's kind of ridiculous when I think about it.

What I said above was just me being sentimental.

Those comments are nothing special; it's normal for an author to receive them.

I hope you don't mind, I just wanted to say that I'm really feeling tired.

I will continue writing the book, regardless of the results.

So be it.

Sorry.

It exuded negative emotions.

70. I love Shiraishi, and you are the only one.

At 7 p.m., Kurose Izumi and Shiraishi Chiren, who had bought groceries on the way, returned to their home in Jimbocho.

"I am back."

"Sorry to bother you."

Hearing Shiraishi Chire's greeting, which sounded different from her own, Kurose Izumi smiled and said, "Shouldn't you be saying, 'I'm back'?"

This is their home; there's no question of disturbing them.

If you're back, just say so.

That would be more cozy, giving the feeling of living together... right?

"Yes, I'm back." Shiraishi Chiren nodded gently, a faint blush appearing on her pretty face.

It seems she also realized the meaning of those words and understood Kurose Izumi's underlying intention.

When Izumi Kurose, who had asked Chire Shiraishi to say that, heard her actually say it, he scratched his head.

After that, the two of them found themselves in a strange and awkward situation.

The slightly awkward atmosphere was broken when Shiraishi Chiren reached out and took the ingredients that Kurose Izumi had been carrying, saying that she was going to make dinner.

Kurose Izumi watched her walk into the kitchen and disappear from sight before turning his gaze away and sitting down in the living room.

He first brewed a pot of tea to moisten his dry throat, then took out his homework and started writing.

Time flies. Before I knew it, it had gotten dark outside.

The crystal chandelier on the living room ceiling emitted a warm yellow light, dispelling the darkness.

I don't know when it started, but on the dining table next to the living room, there are now plates of brightly colored dishes, emitting an enticing aroma.

But what surprised Kurose Izumi the most was that Shiraishi Chiren, with her hair in a single ponytail and wearing an apron, was sitting on the sofa next to him, quietly watching him.

When did you arrive?

He was so focused that he didn't even notice Shiraishi Chiren.

After thinking for a moment, Shiraishi Chiren replied, "About five minutes ago?"

"Then why didn't you call me? You had already prepared dinner."

"Seeing how serious you are, I figured it wouldn't hurt to wait a little while."

"Aren't you bored? Just staring at me like that must be pretty boring, right?"

"No, it's very interesting." Shiraishi Chiren shook her head gently and smiled. "Finished writing? It's time to eat."