Tokyo: Oreimo

Whether it's "Fate/Zero," or Hiroshi Tono's "Boogiepop Doesn't Laugh," which won the Grand Prize at the same time, or "Kino," they all represent the current market trend.

The public seems to prefer surreal themes, especially fantasy works.

The same principle applies to the recently popular magical girl anime.

"It's probably set in a school... plus some superpowers? If I had to categorize it, it would be science fiction adventure."

Ryosuke roughly summarized his impressions of a certain work.

This work, written at a time when we are about to enter the new millennium, should be well-received.

Campus life...sci-fi adventure?

When Ryosuke uttered those two words, the first thing Hayakawa Rumi imagined was the work that competed for the Newcomer Award at the same time as "Kino's Journey".

The novel "Metal Frenzy" was written by the famous author He Dong, and the deputy editor-in-chief Hattori Takuya personally took charge of its follow-up.

"By the way, let's use the pen name Shi Yuze again this time."

Ryosuke suddenly spoke up.

"Huh?"

This surprised Hayakawa Rumi, who thought Ryosuke would want to start over as a newcomer again.

"After all, this novel isn't that dangerous."

Ryosuke chuckled softly.

While some aspects may still draw criticism from readers, it will never escalate to the point of sending razor blades or engaging in real-life offline confrontations.

"Although I didn't quite understand what Teacher Shi Yuze meant, it's confirmed that you won't change your pen name this time, right? That's perfect. I'll do my best to fight for your rights!"

Hayakawa Rumi made a guarantee.

With this confidence, and with her previous best-selling works as a guarantee, it would be easier for her to submit her work to the monthly meeting and be voted into the serialization competition.

"Then I'll leave it to Editor Hayakawa. We'll meet in person to discuss it."

"Okay, Mr. Shi Yuze, have you thought of a title for the work?"

"This? Yes, I do. It's okay to tell you in advance."

Hayakawa Rumi held her phone, and Ryosuke's reply came through the receiver.

"This work will be named after the main character."

"Her name is Haruhi Suzumiya."

Chapter 114 Scarf

Since Hayakawa Rumi commissioned him to write an article, Ryosuke has started to compile his manuscript.

Because this time we plan to serialize it normally, there is no urgency to publish it all at once, so we have a lot more time.

I can also spare some time each day to doodle some drafts of "Puella Magi Madoka Magica".

The days went by steadily, and Christmas was drawing ever closer.

As the weather grew colder, Ryosuke reduced his outings and chose to stay in his room to work on his manuscript.

In stark contrast to him, Takashiro Ryōno spent even less time at home, going to the company every day to rush to complete character design drawings. While helping company members with CG drawing guidance, she also took the time to learn the latest drawing techniques.

She has become completely accustomed to drawing on the graphics tablet, and she can do it even faster than she used to draw comics.

This talent amazed Ryosuke, who marveled at how useful a young mind could be.

...

On Christmas Eve, Takashiro Ryouno neither went to the company nor stayed at home.

Because I had made a promise with Ruri Aragaki beforehand that we would spend time together.

Ling Nai left home early in the morning and met Aragaki Ruri at Shinjuku Station in Tokyo around 10 o'clock.

"It's so cold today."

Ruri Aragaki intimately linked arms with Ryoko Takashiro, as if doing so would bring her a sense of warmth.

"Is it alright? It doesn't feel as cold as last year."

Takashiro Ryouno had no idea what was going on; she had always been quite resistant to the cold.

"Actually, the temperature is the same as last year, but Ling Nai, you seem to have taken care to keep warm this year."

Ruri Aragaki smiled and looked at her friend's long legs, which were covered by thick black cotton socks.

At this time last year, if I remember correctly, Ling Nai went out with bare legs, even in the dead of winter, she would still wear a skirt.

It doesn't feel as cold as before, probably because of this.

Just looking at her friend made her worry; it would be terrible if she caught a cold in this season.

But now we can rest assured, it seems they have grown.

"You mean this?" Ling Nai realized what Aragaki Ruri was referring to.

"I wasn't planning on wearing them, but that guy suddenly brought it up again, saying that if you don't wear pants when it's cold, your legs will get thicker."

Ryosuke also gave a reminder around this time last year.

This proved to be true; it took Takashiro Ryouko quite a long time to lose that little bit of extra weight.

Therefore, when the other party brought it up, she didn't even have the interest to refute it, and immediately went back to her room to put on a pair of cotton tights.

We've mentioned my elder brother again.

Ruri Aragaki muttered to herself.

Their relationship became so good that she started to feel jealous.

The girl gripped Ling Nai's hand tightly, their fingers intertwined, as if afraid she would run away.

"By the way, Ling Nai, is there anywhere you'd like to go today? Or how about we go shopping at the mall?"

Ruri Aragaki regretted bringing up the other person's clothing and tried to change the subject.

This reminded Takashiro Ryouno of something, as if she had remembered something.

"How about we go to Isetan? I'd like to buy another one of these scarves."

The blonde girl pointed to the red scarf wrapped around her neck.

This was purchased by the two of them while shopping at Isetan Department Store before winter. Isetan is a high-end department store in Shinjuku that gathers almost all fashion brands.

"I've already bought two items, so that should be enough for washing and changing, right?"

Ruri Aragaki was somewhat puzzled.

With that in mind, she reminded Ling Nai to buy an extra black one so that she wouldn't have to worry about it getting dirty and unusable.

Buying a third one would seem redundant.

"No, it's because Christmas is coming soon, isn't it? I promised to give that guy a present."

Takashiro Ryouno pouted.

"That guy told me to just send anything, so I might as well buy a scarf to make do."

Upon hearing her friend's words, Ruri Aragaki's expression froze.

This was the first time she had ever heard of her friend giving a gift to a guy. In all the years she had known him, she had only ever given a gift to her father, and that was a rare occurrence.

And they even gave me a scarf...

Is it perfunctory?

Giving this kind of gift for Christmas is both appropriate and practical, and I'm planning to buy the same one anyway.

Wasn't this a decision made after careful consideration?

Ruri Aragaki knows better than anyone how dishonest her close friend is.

That's why she suddenly felt an unprecedented sense of crisis.

It seems that the older brother is holding an increasingly higher place in Ling Nai's heart.

"Honestly, I don't even know if he'll wear it. I've never seen him wear a scarf before. Wouldn't that be a waste?"

After entering the mall, Ling Nai picked up a sample on the hanger and compared it to Ryosuke's clothes, pondering how it would look on him.

"It's really hard to deal with people who say they don't particularly want anything."

"Tsk, whatever, I'm buying this one. If they dare to refuse or I don't like it, I'm ignoring them!"

Takashiro Ryouko muttered to herself, agonizing for a long time before finally buying the same red scarf.

Ruri Aragaki watched silently from the side, her face ashen.

In a daze, she seemed to see the person she liked getting further and further away from her, running wildly into the distance, and the direction of his goal was none other than her older brother.

......

In the evening, I parted ways with Takashiro Ryouno at Chiba Station.

Ruri Aragaki returned home in a daze, simply greeted her parents, and then went back to her room.

He then collapsed onto the bed.

Although, as is customary, Ling Nao would always prepare a gift for herself on Christmas Day, she would never be as attentive as she was to Ryosuke.

She wanted that scarf too.

If I were to buy it myself, I could easily afford it, but since it wasn't given to me by Ling Nai, it's meaningless.

Even if she didn't want to admit it, she was indeed jealous.

She was jealous that Ryosuke and Ayano could live under the same roof, and jealous that their relationship had become so close. She also wanted to be talked about by the person she liked from time to time.

Why did it turn out like this?

Ruri Aragaki never considered Ryosuke a threat at first, because Ayano disliked him quite a bit at the time.

Is it just because he's an otaku? Because he shares the same hobby as Ling Nai, that he's able to get so far ahead of her?

They are clearly siblings, but judging from Ling Nai's behavior, they don't seem like it at all.