Tokyo: Oreimo

Ling Nai turned over to face him. Her eyes were bright in the darkness, and although her expression was unclear, one could feel her gaze on his face.

"Until you kick me out."

Ryosuke fell silent, and Ling Nai turned over, her back to him.

"I'm going to sleep. Goodnight."

Ryosuke didn't answer; she was gambling that he wouldn't kick her out.

Ryosuke watched her retreating figure and sighed softly in the darkness.

The eighth day was Saturday, and Ryosuke went to ANIPLEX.

Saori was waiting for him in the president's office, where two cups of coffee and an open business plan were laid out on the table.

The cover of the project proposal was printed with the words "Re:Zero -Starting Life in Another World-", and below it were densely marked character settings, world view framework and plot outline.

"You're late." Saori took off her glasses and rubbed the bridge of her nose.

"The tram was five minutes late."

“Sit down.” Saori pointed to the sofa opposite him and waited for him to sit down before speaking. “I’ve finished reading the script for ‘Re’. It’s a completely different style from ‘SAO’. You die at the beginning and then reload your save file. This setting is very impactful.”

Will it sell well?

"Yes." Saori's answer was unambiguous, "but there will definitely be some players who will be so frustrated during their first playthrough that they will give up. Are you planning to use Gen Urobuchi's pen name for this game?"

Which one do you think is more suitable?

“Gen Urobuchi.” Saori picked up her coffee and took a sip. “It would be a waste to use any other pen name for a script that tortures the reader like this.”

Ryosuke chuckled.

“Then I’ll do as you say.” Saori turned to the last page of the proposal. “I just took a quick look at the budget. The production cycle is estimated to be more than a year. In addition to the game itself, we can also plan ahead for the subsequent animation and merchandise.”

"You can arrange it," Ryosuke said.

Saori put down her coffee cup, crossed her hands on the table, and looked him up and down with a scrutinizing gaze.

Ryosuke felt a little uncomfortable under her gaze, so he picked up his coffee and took a sip.

"Have you been sleeping poorly these past few days?" Saori suddenly asked.

Ryosuke paused for a moment while holding the coffee cup, then casually put it down.

"good."

"You've got dark circles under your eyes." Saori's voice held a hint of amusement. "Not used to the new house?"

"I'm not a fan of sleeping in the same bed." Ryosuke said, only then realizing that this phrase had been frequently used by another person recently.

Saori stared at him for a few seconds, a cryptic smile curving her lips, but she didn't press him. Instead, she steered the conversation back to work.

"The SAO anime project passed the production committee's review last week, and Ritsu Saito has already started recruiting. There are a few storyboards in the series composition draft you submitted last time that need to be adjusted."

She took a marked document from the drawer and handed it to him, saying, "I've written my comments on this; take a look when you get back."

Ryosuke took the document and flipped through two pages. Saito Ritsu's annotations were neatly written, and each revision was accompanied by a detailed explanation.

“I’ll have it fixed by Monday,” he said.

The two discussed production details for another hour, from voice actor selection to music style. Saori's thinking was as clear and efficient as ever. When Ryosuke was leaving, Saori called him back.

"Shi Yuze".

He turned around and saw that Saori had put her glasses back on and was looking through another document without looking up.

"Ling Nai moved in with you, right?"

Ryosuke's footsteps froze at the doorway.

Saori pushed up her glasses, her gaze still fixed on the documents, her voice as calm as if she were just mentioning it casually, "You said last time that you two were sharing an apartment near Waseda."

"……Correct."

"Hmm." Saori turned a page of the document, her movements as natural as ever. "Go back and get some sleep. Don't stay up so late."

Ryosuke looked at Saori's profile, wondering what she was thinking.

But Saori just stared intently at the documents, her pen scratching across the paper, as if her earlier words, "Go home early," were merely expressions of concern.

The office door slowly closed behind him.

"Oh, right."

A voice suddenly came from inside the door, and Saori called out to him.

"I will take three days off next week, as we agreed before."

Saori stopped writing, looked up at Ryosuke who had already reached the door, and smiled radiantly.

"Can you stay with me?"

Chapter 273 Admission (joint chapter)

Monday at Waseda University, the day of the entrance ceremony.

April in Tokyo was still a bit chilly, and the campus was filled with new students in brand-new suits. Some were taking pictures of cherry blossoms with their phones, while others nervously flipped through the admission guide.

Ling Nai walked half a step ahead of Ryosuke, her golden ponytail swaying gently with each step. The hem of her brand-new suit skirt was just above her knees, and a dark red ribbon was tied at the collar of her white shirt.

She was clearly in a good mood since leaving the apartment, chattering away the whole way.

Ryosuke responded casually, carrying a canvas bag containing lecture notes and notebooks for the afternoon.

After entering the school gates, things began to change.

Most of the cherry blossoms on both sides of the central avenue had already fallen, but the influx of new students was denser than the blossoms. Ling Nai's appearance was like a pebble thrown into a calm lake.

"Hey, look over there, the blonde one."

"Is she a freshman? She's so pretty."

"Mixed-race? Or dyed? Either way, they're super cute."

The boys passing by began to whisper among themselves, their eyes following Ling Nai's retreating figure. Some slowed their pace, while others nudged their companions with their elbows.

Good-looking girls are always the center of attention wherever they go.

Ryosuke immediately felt many scrutinizing gazes fall upon him.

Ling Nai, of course, also noticed this gaze.

She naturally took a half step to the left, reached out, and took Ryosuke's arm.

"Ok?"

Ryosuke felt the touch and warmth on his arm and glanced at her.

Ling Nai looked straight ahead, a slight smile playing on her lips, and let out a soft hum.

"There are too many people; if we don't do this, we'll get separated."

"There is only one straight road from here to the main building."

"So what? I just want to walk away hand in hand. Don't be ungrateful for the benefits you've taken. Aren't those guys envious of you?"

She turned her head away confidently and gestured towards the group of boys not far away.

Ryosuke followed the gaze and saw several boys clutching their chests with pained expressions.

They probably treated them as a couple, and it's a pity that their budding feelings were nipped in the bud before they could even blossom.

Ryosuke was both amused and exasperated.

He doesn't really care how others perceive him, but lately he feels he should keep some distance from Ling Nai; they've gotten a bit too close.

But after a moment of silence, Ryosuke did not withdraw his hand.

If he were to break free from her here, given his sister's personality, she would probably spend the entire next day angry with him.

Besides, it's her first day of school, so she's in a good mood. It's no big deal to make her happy.

Ryosuke found a plausible reason for himself, and then let her take his arm as they walked across the central avenue toward the main building.

……

Several lines had already formed at the new student orientation area in front of the main building.

The entrance ceremony was held in the lobby on the third floor. New students were required to sign in at the information desk and receive their admission materials and seat numbers.

Students in their second year and above enter through the side gate with their student IDs to participate in the opening ceremony, which is open to all students, not just for new students.

When the girls queuing in front of the information desk saw Ryosuke, several of them glanced at him a few more times, but when their gazes fell on Ryouna, who was holding his arm, they all looked away.

"Alright, we're here." Ryosuke stopped.

Ling Nai glanced at the long queue, then at her own seat number, and finally let go of his arm.

"Are you going to class?"

"I have an elective class in the morning. I'll text you after class."

"Okay, okay." Ling Nai waved her hand, turned and walked towards the freshman registration area, then turned back after a few steps, "Where will you wait for me after school?"

"The manga club activity room. You can go there after the entrance ceremony. The president and the others should be there."

Ling Nai nodded, then, as if suddenly remembering something, added, "Liuli also got into Waseda University. We agreed to meet after the entrance ceremony. I'll go talk to her then and wait for her."

"Aragaki is also at Waseda?" Ryosuke was somewhat surprised.

“Yeah, we’re not in the same department, but the teaching building is right next door.” Ling Nai’s tone carried a hint of smugness. “So after the entrance ceremony, I might go to her place for a bit. Just text me.”

"it is good."

Ryosuke watched her turn and walk towards the registration area. Her blonde ponytail stood out in the crowd. After walking a few steps, she was surrounded by several girls who came to register at the same time.

Being good-looking makes you popular, and you can probably make new friends very quickly, right?

Ryosuke withdrew his gaze and walked towards the teaching building.

……

The elective course in the morning was literary history. Ryosuke sat in the back row, opened his notebook, and occasionally marked a few key points on the handout.

His phone was on the table, and there were no new messages on the screen.