Tokyo: Oreimo

Takashiro Ryou glared at him.

What's wrong with me? A woman's charm is clearly defined by her curves, but instead I'm asked to draw characters with legs as thin as chopsticks.

While it is indeed cute, it lacks any allure.

"How long will it take you to draw all the names I gave you?"

Takashiro Ryouno made a rough estimate and gave a timeframe: "Before the end of winter break, I guess."

Ryosuke was somewhat surprised, "So fast?"

"Of course, otherwise how do you think I could keep up with the serialization schedule just by using the weekends?"

At this point, Ling Nai proudly puffed out her chest and glanced at Ryosuke.

Is it a tentacle monster?

Ryosuke recalled that she had just redrawn the sketch until the figure appeared on the paper, which took only two minutes, and that was only because he repeatedly asked for revisions.

My younger sister's talent for drawing is almost ridiculously good.

"Let's call it a day then."

Ryosuke picked up his coat from the hanger and put it on.

At the same time, he took off Ling Nai's coat and pretended to throw it to his sister who was walking over.

The boy and girl left the studio together and boarded the tram home.

.....

For the next few days, Ryosuke and Ayano shuttled back and forth between the studio and home, while also tutoring each other in the evenings, and this continued for a week.

After confirming that Ryosuke's art style was on the right track, he never left the house again.

Recently, Rumi Hayakawa called him twice. It is said that the publication of "Kino's Journey" is progressing very quickly, and it is estimated that a batch will be completed and put on the shelves soon.

The third volume will officially begin serialization the following month.

At this pace, in order to alleviate the pressure of writing after returning to school, he needs to finish the manuscript of Volume 4 as soon as possible before the end of the winter vacation.

Unlike his peers who spend their time playing video games or socializing, he leads a very fulfilling life.

Friday.

Ryosuke was working on his manuscript in his bedroom when the door behind him suddenly slammed open with a loud bang, as if it had been kicked open.

Ryosuke Takagi was hunched over his desk when he heard the noise behind him. He calmly closed his notebook.

He turned his head and saw a blonde girl standing in the doorway with her hands on her hips, looking aggressive.

"Hey, come with me to Tokyo today. The royalties from Kadokawa have arrived in my account."

Takagi Ryouno spoke in a commanding tone, quickly walked to Ryosuke's bedside, and sat cross-legged on it without saying a word.

"Is it about submitting the original manuscript of 'Moon Witch Transformation'? You can handle this yourself, right?"

Ryosuke Takagi tilted his head, not giving a direct answer.

A round trip to Tokyo isn't cheap, and while Ling Nai has plenty of savings, Ryosuke only has so little.

Instead of asking him to come along, it would be better to have Ruri Aragaki accompany her; that would be more comfortable for the girl.

He's not just sitting around doing nothing.

"What are you talking about? If I called you, it must be for something else."

Takashiro Ryou glared at him.

"The original manuscript for the first five chapters of Cardcaptor Sakura is finished. I plan to take it to the new editor to see while I'm submitting the missing manuscript."

So fast?

Ryosuke was somewhat surprised.

For a typical comic artist, releasing two chapters a week is already considered highly productive.

This guy not only finished the final chapter of "Moon Witch Transformation", but also produced five chapters of original manuscript?

The speed at which they draw is truly astonishing.

If that's the case, then it's not that you can't go.

Ryosuke hesitated for a moment, then nodded in agreement.

"What? If your name wasn't in the credits, I wouldn't have asked you to come with me."

Takashiro Ryou snorted and strode towards her room across the hall.

How annoying, this guy looks so unwilling.

If Liuli hadn't been busy with her modeling work lately, she wouldn't have asked him for a favor!

Although Ryono has recently gained a new respect for Ryosuke because of "Cardcaptor Sakura", their relationship has not improved as a result.

Because this older brother often flirted with her while tutoring her in her studies.

It's infuriating to hear him say things like, "Why does it take so long to think about such a simple question?"

Takashiro Ryouko stood in front of the full-length mirror in her bedroom, looking at herself in the mirror, quite satisfied with her outfit for going out today.

Wearing a pink knit sweater paired with a red and black pleated skirt, she exudes youthful energy, and still sports bare legs.

"If that guy sees me dressed like this, he might start gossiping again, right?"

The thought popped into Takashiro Ryouno's mind for no apparent reason.

After hesitating for a moment, the blonde girl took out a pair of slightly thick cotton socks from the closet.

She sat on the bed, her toes tucked into her cotton socks, slowly stroking her calves upwards, revealing her fair and rosy skin covered in black.

The girl's movements stopped abruptly at her thighs.

"It's a bit tight. Could it really be like that guy said, that my legs will get thicker if I don't wear pants when it's cold?"

Chapter 21 Ritsu Saito (Thanks to 'Iron Armor' for the monthly vote~)

I'm going out.

Ryosuke Takagi greeted his mother, Mieko, inside the house, and only after receiving a response did he open the door and leave.

Ling Nai said that if they went out together, his mother would mistakenly think that the two of them had a good relationship, so he was told to leave first and meet up at the Kadokawa Building later.

To come up with such a reason, this younger sister really looks down on herself.

Ryosuke Takagi thought with a hint of helplessness.

However, judging by the time, the two should arrive at about the same time. He chose to take the train to save money, while Ling Nai would most likely choose the JR, which would be much faster than him.

The boy boarded the tram and found a seat to lean against.

At Gao Cheng's house, Ling Nai was still struggling with her black cotton socks.

"It must be a size problem. That's right, I'm still growing, it definitely can't be because I'm cold from not wearing pants!"

Ling Nai struggled to pull the cotton socks onto her legs until they covered her thighs, then looked at herself in the full-length mirror.

She stood tall and graceful, with long, straight legs.

But his face showed a sullen expression.

Because only she knew that a small tuft of flesh had been squeezed out between the hem of her skirt and her cotton socks.

This has never happened before, which means that she has indeed gained some weight. We hadn't noticed it before because she doesn't like wearing pants.

"hateful!"

The blonde girl reluctantly covered up the full-length mirror.

That guy was right.

"I need to eat less lately. I don't know how long it will take to lose this little bit of extra weight."

Takashiro Ryouno picked up her shoulder bag containing the manuscript and left the house looking unhappy.

.....

Shinjuku, Kadokawa Building, 32nd floor.

During working hours, employees clocked in one after another.

Hayakawa Rumi sat at the small round table in the lounge, took a sip of coffee, and ate a rice ball in small bites.

Two men were sitting at the table: his boss, Hattori Takuya, and Saito Ritsu, the editor in charge of the manga department next door, whom he had only recently met.

"I've really been causing you a lot of trouble lately. If it weren't for Editor Hayakawa giving me Mr. Takashiro's phone number, I might have had to make a trip to Chiba Prefecture to visit that manga artist in person."

Saito Ritsu, holding a cup of tea, expressed his gratitude to his two colleagues in a relaxed manner.

"Editor Saito, you're too kind. It's just a way to contact you."

Hayakawa Rumi quickly waved her hand, saying that the other person was a senior, and she had only done what she thought she should do.

Moreover, Shi Yuze-sensei sent a text message afterwards to express his gratitude, saying that it would be a very troublesome thing if the editor really came to his door.

What kind of unspeakable secret is it for the brother and sister to cooperate with Kadokawa?

Hayakawa Rumi didn't understand this point, and she was too embarrassed to ask directly.

"By the way, how did Ms. Hayakawa meet that person from the Takashiro family? Could it be that he's a light novel author?"

Saito Ritsu suddenly spoke up and asked.

Eh?

Hayakawa Rumi looked at her with a puzzled expression and subconsciously glanced at Hattori Takuya, who was sitting next to her.

Didn't editor Hattori tell editor Saito about Mr. Sigsawa?

Noticing the gaze of his trusted subordinates, Hattori Takuya sighed inwardly and shook his head helplessly.

"It was just a coincidence."

"I knew it! With such young geniuses, it's already remarkable to have even one. How could there be two?"

Saito Ritsu suddenly burst into laughter.