I really don't want to be reborn.

Saori is probably a well-behaved young lady from a respectable family in her daily life, so among the people she knows, the only true purebred homebody is probably Kuroneko.

He loved the cat, loved her passion and persistence for her hobby—because only a lonely child could gather all that passion together.

"Oh, Kousaka-kun, that was a great move... Sigh, I lost again. Don't you really play games often?"

Kosaka smiled mysteriously: "Didn't I say before that I can do a little bit of everything, including playing games?"

The girl's eyes widened, and she asked jokingly, "You can do everything?"

He thought for a moment and answered seriously, "Having children is not an option."

The long period of time and rich experience have made him incredibly mature. He has tried a little bit of almost every job in the world, and at the same time, he can also fake a lot of different temperaments.

Just as Dazai Osamu said.

I pretend to be mature, and everyone says I am mature.

I pretended to be a lazy person, and everyone spread rumors that I was a lazybones.

I pretended to be a conman, and people said I was a big conman.

I act rich, and everyone thinks I'm a big shot; I pretend to be indifferent, and everyone says I'm a heartless guy.

(I pretend to be dirty, and many people call me a dirty loli.)

I pretend to be a science whiz, and many people say I'm good at both arts and sciences.

I pretended to be a cultured young man... well, there's no need to pretend.

"Kousaka-kun is a boy who likes to talk big."

Xiaomai suddenly became a little hesitant: "You just said... um, your sister also likes playing games?"

"Yes."

"You like watching cartoons?"

Yes, that's right!

Seeing her embarrassed expression, Kyosuke immediately understood her desire to make friends with other otaku. He smiled and said, "I have to introduce you to her. That guy is always so smug and thinks he's so great. Introducing someone as great as you will make him blush."

After sending an email to the black cat about bringing Doma Umaru into their otaku community, Kyosuke walked out of Doma's house and realized that time had passed quickly; it was almost dusk.

The early summer sunset was so red it seemed to have lost its shape, spreading across the horizon like a festering wound in the sky.

The sluggish flowers and plants lay sprawled on the ground, wilted by the sun.

As he went for a walk before preparing dinner, someone he hadn't heard from in a long time suddenly called.

The caller was Pudding.

The editor at Dengeki Bunko whose real name is Ryunosuke Kumagai.

"Hello, Pudding Sauce!"

"...I was going to congratulate you on the great success of your work, but after hearing you call me that, I won't."

"You're not calling about something else, are you?"

Pudding-chan, who looked like a demon, exhaled: "There are other things. What about your next volume?"

"..."

I knew they were calling to urge me to finish the manuscript!

Pressuring authors to submit manuscripts is a significant factor leading to disharmony between authors and editors.

In traditional light novel publishing houses, the relationship between editors and authors is one of collaboration. Editors keep track of market trends and reader tastes, providing authors with inspiration for their writing.

The author's task is to write interesting stories so that editors can help their work go further.

Ryunosuke Kumagai was an excellent editor, and his understanding of the market coincided with Kyosuke's. Their collaboration was actually quite pleasant.

"The results are in. Just as you predicted, Spice and Wolf is in the Silver Award this year, and the Grand Prize goes to Masaya Koga. Can you guess who won the Gold Award?"

Mr. Pudding spoke in a light tone, clearly in a good mood.

Kyosuke was slightly startled: "It couldn't be me, could it?"

"Ah, I'm surprised too, but it really is you. Even though I said that before, I still have to congratulate you now."

He said he shared the joy, but in his heart he was still comparing Kumagai Ryunosuke and Kazaoka Mari.

—What's the point of comparing these two?

What if we turned Mr. Pudding into a female character...?

------

I need monthly tickets and sword blades, and I want recommendations too! Is there a tip?

Should we punish first and then reward?

It's okay, it's acceptable.

Recommending books... I vaguely remember someone asking me to make a deal, but suddenly I can't remember. Oh no.

Chapter Twenty-Five: The Rift of Silk in June

In his first life, four years later, Kyosuke Kousaka discovered a cruel phenomenon: light novel readers generally... didn't look at the illustrations.

what's the situation?

Don't you like the cute art style?

Don't you all really like anime/manga waifus?

Look at those otaku on the other side of the mainland. They're all well-informed people. As soon as a new illustration comes out, they flock to it. They can translate and they can bypass the Great Firewall.

So why are readers in this country not interested in illustrations?

Later, he gradually understood the problem, and it was quite profound.

A good light novel reader doesn't look at the illustrations.

For a period of time, Kyosuke Kousaka worked at Kadokawa for several years, not as an author, but as a member of the management team.

Therefore, he had a good understanding of the market in the following years.

When Kumagai asked him about illustrations, Kyosuke politely declined, saying, "Actually, Pudding, I can draw myself, so you don't need to worry at all."

Yes, he had previously drawn sketches of his sister.

...not a nude sketch.

Pudding on the other end of the phone finally couldn't hold back and roared, "How can you know everything? Are you a coach?... No, why didn't you say so earlier!"

"You didn't ask."

"..."

"I'll send the drawing over once I'm done. I don't want you to have to find someone to help with the colors."

I ended the call in a good mood, but after walking a few steps, I received an email from my sister asking why I introduced Ms. Doma to the otaku community.

"My little sister, haven't you noticed that your brother is trying to increase the number of your friends?"

Yes, it was out of good intentions.

Kirino was too shy to reply for a long time, but eventually she replied that she wanted him to play games.

That game is also quite different from previous dating games.

"Real girls raping? A fighting game? Is this some kind of masochistic act?"

Kirino puffed out her cheeks, put down her phone, and rolled around on the bed hugging her pillow, her round face full of happy, silly smiles. When she took out the sketches she had kept carefully, her happy smile became even sillier.

Or rather, that silly grin makes them even happier.

The sketch was drawn by her brother. It depicted her sitting on the bed. Although it was just a sketch, it was very lifelike, especially her somewhat shy movements and expressions, making her instantly recognizable.

There are almost no traces of correction on the sketch.

It was as if he knew every detail of her body perfectly, and could do it all in one go with his eyes closed—this sweet thought made her bite her lip and look away from the paper.

It kicked and bit at the air.

She was fierce, but her fists were soft and weak, as if she were coaxing someone, or like a lonely little wildcat from a few months ago.

She looked at the sunlight outside the window.

The light of the setting sun was fading from her sight, retreating so slowly, with several pauses, like a silent sob.

Kirino thought of what Kasumigaoka Utaha had said.

Does she truly only feel familial affection for her brother?

Are you sure that's not love?

But no matter which one it was, she loved him.

Such deep feelings, yet so difficult to express.

She just felt that she would probably never be able to say the word "love." According to her personality, if she truly loved someone, she would be unable to say anything nice.

Because sweet words are mostly spoken to strangers.

Kirino loves him cautiously.

Carefully transforming myself into love.

She was afraid that she wouldn't do well and that her brother would think that his sister's love was nothing special.

The girl covered her face with the sketch and thought the girl in the drawing was extremely beautiful.

You are so beautiful, you have always been more beautiful than me.

—Chien Chen

…………

Dugu is Dugu.

In fact, the story of these three months, about my life in another world, can be summed up in just one sentence.

Life is life.