Why wasn't I the one who got the male lead's script?

"It just means you have to hurt yourself, or give up the benefits you originally had, such as not being able to complete the game you want to sell on time - instead of promoting it online at no cost. Are you still willing to do that?"

She paused and swallowed back the words, "Or, are you willing to exchange your disreputable reputation for the success of your favorite author?"

Because originally these assumptions were just tests to prove her speculations, and there was no need to take them seriously.

“………Don’t take it seriously, I’m just talking.”

She also knew that there would be no answers to her questions.

Akitomo didn't respond with words, but the conflicted emotions on his face were obvious.

Is he too lazy to even say perfunctory words, or is he unable to even put together a lie?

"That's enough, my dearest, faithful reader."

Kasumigaoka Utaha stood up from her seat, looked at Eriri who was sitting next to her staring at her phone with a bad expression, and finally just nodded to Aki gracefully.

"That's all for today—thank you for everything so far."

She used the most polite words to create the most distant social distance, and Aki Tomoya also noticed this.

It's that bad feeling again.

There was another person—about to leave him behind.

An Yi looked at Shiyu who had gradually calmed down and regained her composure, then looked at Eriri who put her phone back on the table with a very ugly expression, with a glimmer of unwillingness to give up in her eyes.

"Even though that's the case, we can still get along well as seniors and juniors, right?"

He waved his hands in panic, trying his best to reverse the situation which was very bad for him.

"Indeed, as an executor of the decision, I'm helpless if your work doesn't sell, Senior Shiyu. After all, puberty syndrome is something you can't fight against. So, removing you from our creative team is a helpless move. Senior, you should understand me on this point, right?"

Shiyu was still listening quietly to his explanation, so An Yi seemed to sense that there was still hope, and continued to express his true thoughts eloquently.

"And, besides, if we can't be partners, we can still be friends, right? After all, we are... well, the kind of close friends who appreciate each other like Bole and Ziqi, aren't we?"

An Yi forced a smile. The implication of his words was very clear - there was no need to make the relationship between them so awkward.

"...I can't continue to be friends with a man I once loved and then was truly disappointed in."

However, Shiyu's calm and rational reply made the stiff smile on his face seem a little awkward.

"I'm not as clear-headed as you, Amiya-kun. Even though there are several girls around me who are interested in me, I still keep my original intention."

He even felt that the smile in Shiyu's eyes was a sarcastic remark towards him.

Don't feel it, this should be it.

"No, it's not..."

An Yi subconsciously stood up as well, wanting to stand in front of Shi Yu and explain further to her——

But he was blocked in the middle by Eriri who had an ugly expression on her face.

"...Aren't you ashamed yet, Renye?"

Eriri Sawamura said nothing, she didn't even stand up - she just stared at the phone on the table with a beautiful frown, sitting on the sofa with her fists clenched.

It is obvious that Eriri Sawamura is in a bad mood.

"There's a limit to being ungrateful... You've been avoiding the main point, always... always avoiding the important issues. Since you walked in, you haven't said a single word."

She raised her head, and for the first time, she, who always gave people the impression of being naive and stupid, showed her fangs to Aki Tomoya.

"Kasumigaoka Utaha is in such a bad state right now. Anyone with a conscience would want to help her get through this, right? But you're only thinking about how to avoid being implicated, and even came to her to try to distance yourself from her. Don't you think this is cruel? If this is how you treat the people around you..."

She curled her lips, and her eyes flashed with hostility and disappointment as she looked at An Yi.

Eriri Sawamura has never been a fool, she just occasionally chooses to believe in people or things she shouldn't believe.

"...Then I won't be bothered."

----

Eriri is actually not stupid (maybe), but emmmm she is a bit dumb in the original work.

There is only one more chapter left to finish this chapter (probably)

Kasumigaoka Utaha's Impossible End of Talent: Final Chapter: Reversal, Past, and Future (10)

Eriri, who always has a bad temper and gets angry easily, spoke in a very gentle tone this time, so gentle that it didn't sound like she was blaming anyone.

"It's just that you really disappoint me."

But these words she said lightly made Aki Tomoya shudder all over.

——Eri is probably not joking.

"...That's enough, stop talking."

Sitting at the edge of the sofa, Shiyu, who looked a little haggard, shook her head and lowered her head sadly to interrupt the conflict between the two that was about to break out.

"Let's stop here...Aki-kun."

She ordered them to leave in a tone that was so soft that it seemed extremely powerless.

"Please go back. The time for entertaining guests is over."

It was obvious that Shiyu was trying to give both parties a way out. Still somewhat irritated, Eriri groaned softly, glared at Aki, then pouted and picked up her phone again to refresh the comments section.

And An Yi grabbed his pants very embarrassedly, looked at Eriri who looked unhappy with a somewhat helpless look, then looked at Shiyu who had made up her mind to let him leave here, and finally he could only shut his mouth in frustration and not say anything.

"Ugh...!"

“Let’s go!!”

He could no longer bear this atmosphere of being targeted by the two of them, so he left the table angrily. After hastily changing his shoes at the entrance, he slammed the door and walked out.

"…………hiss."

Kasumigaoka Utaha, who had been watching Aki leave with a calm expression on her face, frowned and rubbed her temples after Aki slammed the door and left, revealing her haggard and embarrassed appearance.

She picked up her phone and wanted to dial a number - but there were always text message alerts ringing one after another.

That is the prompt sound when the author's private message box has new messages.

Every one or two minutes or even tens of seconds, many readers would send her private messages of encouragement such as "Come on" and "The author's book is very good, I support your originality". Even Xia Shizi's account on social media has received a lot of tweets.

Many reader IDs that were once active in their own comment areas have returned. Everyone expressed their indignation and anger about the plagiarism of Kasumi Shiko, and also promised her, "It's okay, we support Kasumi Shiko in defending her rights, and we also support Kasumi Shiko in publishing her new work for more people to see!"

The new book that Shiyu had not had much confidence in submitting has risen rapidly in the ranking of the Library Awards. It has now soared from outside the top 1,000 or 2,000 to the top 50, and is showing a trend of surpassing others at any time.

Kasumigaoka Utaha saw all of this.

Readers are back, recognized "talent" is back, and excellent grades are back.

She took it all in—

But there was no trace of a happy smile on his face.

Because, while you are gaining the attention and goodwill from the public, there must be another guy hiding in the dark corner, bearing the malice that he does not have to bear.

Kasumigaoka Utaha didn't even dare to click on the color palette post again. She didn't want to see the dirty and even obscene words in the comment section again.

"…Sorry, I didn't mean to explode."

Eriri apologized awkwardly first, and she turned her face away reluctantly but helplessly.

"But that guy Renye... I don't know when he started to become such a jerk. I couldn't help but insult him a little... Maybe I shouldn't have been so harsh."

Of course, it is also possible that she has never looked at Tomoya Aki as a jerk, so she has never noticed his disgusting side - Eriri made excuses for herself in her heart.

"But that guy was really too harsh. He treated me like that before, and I really feel guilty towards him... Qing and Kasumigaoka, you don't owe him anything, yet he treats you like that... I really can't stand it."

"No, I owe him a favor, but I feel I've almost paid it off."

With her head lowered, Shiyu did not look at Eriri, who was reflecting on herself but still very indignant, but just stated the facts lightly.

"But this time... I owe you a huge favor again."

The phone she was planning to dial gradually slid onto the sofa as her hand grew weaker.

"Sawamura-kun...how can I pay it back this time?"

She curled up, and as if she was a little afraid of this repetitive process, she gently lowered her usually proud back.

He showed a rare vulnerable side in front of Eriri Sawamura.

"........."

Eriri suppressed the hostility and irritability that had just emanated from her body, and looked at the black-haired girl in front of her who had lost all her pride in a somewhat dazed manner.

She hesitated for a moment, and finally chose to gently put her hand on her shoulder.

“No, it’s okay…”

The girl with blonde twintails carefully considered her lines before finally speaking words of comfort in a particularly clumsy and inflexible tone.

This is what she is least good at doing, but it seems she has to do it now.

"That guy Qing... is easy to talk to, don't be afraid."

Even Eriri, after experiencing all these things, could guess who wrote the color palette article.

"I know his behavior seems a bit too extreme, but the effect is indeed outstanding, isn't it? There's no need to worry too much, Kasumigaoka. As long as you convey your gratitude to him, he might be very happy. So--"

Eriri paused, then tried to soften her expression, her deep blue eyes that usually seemed full of disdain and coquettishness now overflowing with tenderness.

"Just have a good talk with him, and don't take guilt or anything like that too seriously."

"……is that so?"

"Yeah, I know him very well. He has a sharp tongue but a soft heart, and he's very soft-hearted. As long as you're a little frank, you'll definitely be able to handle your relationship with him."

Eriri knew what Shiyu was worried about.

I was worried that just like my relationship with Tomoya Aki, my feelings towards the other boy would become a mess because of the guilt and gratitude in my heart.

This time, Eriri showed her considerate and gentle side, which was unusual for her, and gently touched the black-haired girl's head.

"You're not a bad guy by nature, you'll definitely be able to chat with Qing. Don't worry."

"...?"

The black-haired girl, who had been trying her best to suppress her emotions, was stunned, silently feeling the somewhat indirect tenderness coming from Eriri.

These should be Eriri Sawamura's heartfelt words.

That willful and stubborn Sawamura Eriri who refused to admit her mistakes - today she saved me and comforted me one after another, and even said comforting words.

"Tsk...why are you looking at me like that?"

After noticing Shiyu's somewhat surprised look, Eriri turned her eyes away with an embarrassed blush, looking a little embarrassed.

"Really? Is there still a day when people don't grow up?"

After she said this, she put the phone that had fallen on the sofa back into Kasumigaoka Utaha's hand.

"Okay, it's your turn next."

The blonde girl's blue eyes sparkled with anticipation and hope.

The opportunity to overcome the past and grow up is in her hands.

And at this moment, the phone screen suddenly lit up——

It was a call from a teenager.

----

Okay, I'll just write one more chapter to end this volume. If I had known earlier, I would have split the final chapter into two chapters orz

Kasumigaoka Utaha is unlikely to have run out of ideas: The tacit monologue between the two at the end (Part 1)

This night near the end of summer vacation is full of stars.

Closing his laptop, the black-haired boy with the phone in his hand stood up and stretched in the dark room.

He glanced at the blonde girl who was lying on the bed and slowly closing her eyes, as if she was resting quietly. Then he quietly pushed open the French window, walked to the balcony and dialed the phone.

After a brief ring, the call was connected.

"……Hey."

A girl's dry and low voice came from the other end of the phone.

"Senior Kasumigaoka, I am Hoshimi."