In this crossover anime, Yoshikage Kira longs for a peaceful life.

"Readers who originally wanted to see the innocent romance between Sayuka and Naoto will not be able to accept it, and sales will naturally continue to plummet."

"There are actually many similar examples, such as the numerous 'pseudo-harem' stories in light novels. They start out as harem stories, but end up with a single female lead. No matter how well these novels sell, they are nothing more than a disgusting piece of toilet paper in the eyes of readers."

"In fact, if the author had continued in the style of the first volume when writing the second, *Love Metronome* might very well have become a niche gem. Unfortunately..."

Kira Yoshikage paused, and Kasumigaoka Utaha's face grew even paler as she muttered to herself:

There are no "what ifs" in this world.

Kasumigaoka Utaha tilted her head back, tears welling in her eyes, and gave a bleak smile:

"You're right, 'Love Metronome' is just a roll of... toilet paper."

"Poetry Sauce".

Machida Wanko felt increasingly distressed.

"I am fine."

Kasumigaoka Utaha wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes with the back of her hand, looked at Kira Yoshikage, and whispered:

"I'm sorry, I've let you down..."

To analyze something so thoroughly, the other person is clearly a loyal reader. Deep love breeds deep resentment. To be able to give such a harsh review of toilet paper, they must be very disappointed in her, right?

Kasumigaoka Utaha felt a little bitter. It wasn't that the readers had let her down; it was that she had let the readers down!

Yoshikage Kira glanced at the girl who seemed somewhat guilty and said frankly:

Actually, no, because I'm not your reader.

Machida Wanko was somewhat speechless:

"How could someone who isn't a reader of Shijiang analyze this so thoroughly? Don't tell me this is your friend's analysis!"

"No, that's just my own feeling. But I'm definitely not her reader, because I've never spent a penny buying her books."

"..."

Kasumigaoka Utaha opened her mouth, unsure what to say for a moment, and subconsciously asked:

"So how do you read books?"

"I used to work at a bookstore, and I just flipped through it casually."

Kasumigaoka Utaha was somewhat annoyed: "This isn't something that can be done by just flipping through it casually!"

To be able to analyze it so thoroughly, you must have read it many times from beginning to end!

So what if I didn't spend any money? Why can't I just admit to being her reader? Is she unworthy?

"Mmm~"

Machida Wanko tried to smooth things over again:

"In short, this isn't Shi-chan's fault. One failure doesn't mean anything; failure is the mother of success. The Shinazugawa Bunko Grand Prize deadline is still four months away. Shi-chan, learn from this experience and submit your work before then. It will definitely be a bestseller next year!"

Kasumigaoka Utaha remained silent; she wasn't actually that confident.

Yoshikage Kira glanced at the two of them and suddenly said:

"Actually, it's not entirely hopeless. There's no need to consider the next book so quickly."

"Huh?"

Machida Wanko's eyes lit up:

"Do you have any suggestions, sir?"

"The current poor sales are because the original readers were deceived and stopped buying in. However, the author has never admitted that his novel is a 'single female lead' novel. So he can just claim that it is actually a harem novel, only that Tokisaya Yuka has more screen time in the first volume."

"As long as they are willing to spend money on promotion, 'Love Metronome' still has a chance to be revived."

Chapter 32 I will definitely make you mine!

"Introducing new readers?"

Machida Wanko's eyes lit up; this was highly feasible!

The first volume filtered out readers who liked harem novels, leaving only those who preferred single-female protagonists to buy her books. The factional infighting in the second volume disappointed loyal readers of the first volume, which is why sales continued to decline.

However, if the marketing is re-launched, the single female lead that was originally the selling point can be transformed into a harem.

That would attract new readers. These readers who came for harem stories would be more tolerant of the 'pseudo' single female lead in the first volume once they knew that the second volume would be a harem story.

In this way, as long as the third volume continues the theme of factional struggles and harem elements, the selling point of "harem novel" can be fully established! It is even possible to revise and reprint the first volume, adding some scenes featuring Shinichi and Yui, thus solidifying the "harem novel" label.

Machida Wanko took out her phone and said excitedly:

"Poetry Girl! I'll go talk to the editor-in-chief right now, maybe..."

Kasumigaoka Utaha grabbed Machida Wanko's right hand, which was holding the phone, and pursed her lips tightly:

"I don't want this to happen."

Machida Wanko was stunned, but Kasumigaoka Utaha said dejectedly:

"I don't want them to keep disappointing me, so this is fine..."

"Poetry Sauce".

Machida Wanko looked somewhat helpless. She knew that Kasumigaoka Utaha felt sorry for the loyal readers of the first volume, so she wanted to just let it go. But if Kasumigaoka Utaha herself gave up, and no one was going to write the third volume, then even if Machida Wanko could persuade the editor-in-chief, it wouldn't make a difference.

Kasumigaoka Utaha looked up at Kira Yoshikage and whispered:

"I'm sorry, let's end the story here. That way, at least Sayuka from the first volume will remain in your heart..."

Yoshikage Kira glanced at her and hesitated for two seconds:

Is it possible, I mean possible, that I'm actually a harem fan?

Kasumigaoka Utaha froze for a moment, then her face turned red, feeling that her self-esteem had been insulted.

How could you be a harem supporter?

You clearly gave a review of the toilet paper, wasn't it because you deeply resented the content of Volume 2?

Why would you be a harem fan?!

Yoshikage Kira understood the meaning in the girl's eyes, and spoke calmly:

"That's why I said I'm not your reader."

How could someone who enjoys harem stories be a reader of single-female protagonist novels?

Kasumigaoka Utaha was somewhat indignant and embarrassed:

"Then why are you looking at my book? Don't tell me you were just flipping through it randomly. There are so many books in the bookstore, why did you pick mine out of all of them?"

Yoshikage Kira replied earnestly:

"Because Sayuka's illustrations are really amazing!"

Because Sayuka's hands are just so amazing, just like the hands of the author of "Love Metronome"!

Kira Yoshikage's gaze lingered on Kasumigaoka Utaha's hand, a strong urge to possess her welling up within him.

Kasumigaoka Utaha was so angry she couldn't speak, so isn't this just saying her book is toilet paper?

The illustrations are really great, but the book is just toilet paper—is it a mockery that her book is just buying the illustrations and getting toilet paper for free?!

"It's decided!"

Kasumigaoka Utaha's pride was deeply insulted, and she gritted her teeth, saying:

"I will definitely make you my reader!"

Didn't you read her books because of the illustrations? Don't you like harem stories?

Then I'll write a harem story, making you unable to stop loving "Love Metronome"! Then you'll see how I slap you in the face!

"Oh."

Yoshikage Kira nodded, and just then he seemed to remember something, took out his phone, glanced at it, and turned to walk out from behind the bar.

Kasumigaoka Utaha shouted in dissatisfaction:

"I haven't finished drinking yet. Where are you going?"

Kira Yoshikage left without looking back, leaving behind only a casual remark:

"Sorry, I'm off work. Please find someone else to serve you."

A black-haired waiter took over Kira Yoshikage's post, and looking at the girl's stunning face, asked somewhat solicitously:

"Miss, what would you like to drink?"

"I'm not drinking anymore!"

Kasumigaoka Utaha gritted her teeth, angrily got off the bar stool, and rushed towards the elevator without saying a word.

I'm already so angry, what's the point of drinking?!

"Shi-chan, wait for me!"

Machida Wanko was somewhat helpless. After paying, she hurriedly chased after him.

-----------------

At Shujiwon Academy, girls have two different styles of uniforms for winter and summer, but boys wear the same uniform regardless of the season.

He wore black trousers on his lower body and a black stand-up collar uniform and a white shirt on his upper body.

The only difference is that in the summer, you can take off the black stand-up collar uniform and just wear a short-sleeved white shirt.

Therefore, as long as Yoshikage Kira takes off his black uniform and wears only a white shirt and black trousers, he will be regarded by outsiders as an ordinary office worker.

And in fact, that's exactly what he did.

As for why I don't wear a white suit, it's because I only have one suit, and white gets dirty easily and needs to be washed frequently, so I can't wear it every day. Therefore, I only wear it when I need to for an interview.

So when Yoshikage Kira, dressed in a white shirt and trousers, appears in front of strangers, he is simply seen as an ordinary office worker who works late into the night, and no one pays him any attention.