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

The young man introduced himself in a very natural tone and then quickly got to the point.

"If you've seen today's post, I don't need to explain it any further. You can log in to your social media accounts now to check the number of views and comments. If they return to their previous state, then it proves that the syndrome has been overcome."

He stated his reasoning directly and had no intention of saying anything else.

"You can also contact the editor tomorrow to discuss publishing your new work. If it's recognized, then everything will be fine."

Having said that, the young man, who had not rested for the past few days, covered his mouth and yawned, rubbing his tired eyes.

"Then I won't disturb your rest. Good night—"

"and many more."

However, Shiyu obviously had no intention of letting this matter go so easily.

"Besides that...is there nothing else you want to say to me, Hoshimi-kun?"

"Ok?"

"...Are you still planning on pretending nothing happened?"

The girl's voice on the other end of the phone sounded somewhat helpless.

"I originally sought your help, not to ask you to sacrifice your own interests to help me to the end. In this case..."

How should I pay it back? This might be what she was thinking.

"...There's no need to worry so much. This is just a small matter to me."

Xingjian noticed this keenly, and then curled his lips indifferently.

"Besides, the double act thing never hurt me personally—at least not in my opinion."

He seemed particularly leisurely, resting his hands lightly on the railing and gazing at the clear night sky nonchalantly.

"If you, like me, have experienced years of indifference and neglect, even backstabbing from your supposed best friend, you wouldn't find the dirty talk online so offensive. So relax."

He spoke in a nonchalant tone, words that made Kasumigaoka Utaha frown slightly - how could she, who had always enjoyed the feeling of being the center of attention, possibly understand such a feeling.

Everyone has different limits on how much stress they can handle, but many people use their own standards for bearing difficulties to measure others, making it impossible for them to empathize with others.

But this boy should be the complete opposite of this kind of person.

"I understand why Sawamura-san has changed so much because of you, Hoshimi-kun."

"Ok?"

"...Right now, I don't know how to express my gratitude to you. A simple thank you would be too frivolous. Why don't you ask me to do something for you? As long as it's reasonable, I will definitely do it."

Kasumigaoka Utaha on the other end of the phone said these words solemnly. To be honest, Xingjian had never seen her make a promise to someone so seriously.

"...Hey, sir, are you Aladdin's lamp? The kind that can grant me a wish? Any wish?"

At this point, the boy's voice became light-hearted and amusing—and his teasing tone, which seemed to have ulterior motives, also made Shiyu a little nervous.

“…Ah, ah, that’s right. Once a word is spoken, it can’t be taken back.”

However, even though she was worried that the boy would ask some strange questions, Kasumigaoka Utaha still cleared her throat pretending to be calm.

No matter what, you still have to put on a show.

"...But I've already expressed this wish."

Xingjian also noticed Shiyu's nervousness through the phone, so he chuckled and gave up the idea of ​​teasing her any further.

"...?"

"Be responsible for your own work, be responsible for yourself - this is what you, as an author, should do most, and it is also what I, as a reader, want to see most."

The emphasis he placed on the word "readers" made Shiyu on the other end of the phone a little distracted.

Some time ago, someone also used the identity of "reader" to exclude himself.

However, Kasumigaoka Utaha felt some subtle differences between these two people.

"...Let me confirm one last time, Hoshimi-kun, you don't have any...sexual feelings towards me, do you?"

"Hey...what did I do to give you this misconception, Senior?"

The young man who was smiling just now suddenly frowned and looked a little helpless.

"...Because I always thought that no one would go to such lengths to help others."

"I think you're being too nice to her, so you're worried I might have other intentions."

The Xingjian boy curled his lips and denied it in a very serious tone.

"That's completely untrue. If you were the one I liked, I wouldn't stop at just this."

"...?"

"Although I still don't know what it feels like to like someone, but if someone like this really appears in the future..."

The boy raised his head and looked at the starry sky.

"If she really encountered such difficulties, let alone the loss of her interests, it would be worth it for me to sacrifice myself to rescue her."

Perhaps the boy's tone was too sincere, Kasumigaoka Utaha on the other end of the phone couldn't help but hold her breath and didn't say anything else.

"—That's a bit off topic. Regarding you, Senpai, I only have respect and admiration for you."

The young man withdrew his gaze and casually brushed off the moment when his emotions had just been revealed.

He doesn't like to show too much of himself in front of others.

"I'm lending you a helping hand simply because I don't want the work I want to see to die."

"Ah, that's a rather heartless answer."

Shiyu on the other end of the phone shook her head, and her tone sounded a little helpless.

But perhaps because she also got the "answer" she wanted, she felt more relaxed and comfortable than before.

"But being ruthless is indeed the best state. Romantic debts arise from excessive love."

Maybe the distance now is just right.

----

I didn't expect that I couldn't finish this chapter by the end. I'll finish writing this volume tonight! I hope the bosses can give me some votes too, gkd! !

Kasumigaoka Utaha is unlikely to be out of ideas: The tacit monologue between the two at the end (Part 2)

Kasumigaoka Utaha and Hoshimiya Haru do not have a relationship of mutual understanding and resonance of souls, but there is an unspeakable bond between them.

In public, their relationship is only that of senior and junior students, and in private, their relationship is only that of author and reader.

Of course, Kasumigaoka Utaha was able to recognize this - in fact, it was also thanks to Hoshimi that she never expressed her feelings ambiguously.

"Yes, so it's fine like this now."

Hoshimi smiled and nodded. The fact that Kasumigaoka Utaha could recover to her previous state was actually the best reward for his efforts over the past few days.

"I will fulfill your wish and become a competent and worthy author, Mr. Reader."

"Ah."

"I will no longer be depressed, nor will I show my work to anyone for their opinion. From now on... I will only write the books I want to write."

"If that's what you really want, that's fine."

"...That's right. After all, I now understand that relying on others for my career and hobbies is a bit too foolish."

No, Kasumigaoka Utaha actually understood this a long time ago - she just had been deceiving herself.

"However, thank you for everything you have done for me during this period. From now on, I will be completely self-centered and put my career first to move forward."

Now, she has been able to let go of the past and express her gratitude to the young man honestly.

"……Um."

The boy just nodded quietly and accepted her thanks.

"This is the Kasumi Shiko I know."

His words made the black-haired girl laugh a little.

"Ah, am I some kind of selfish workaholic in your eyes, Hoshimi-kun?"

"Not really, but I'm happy to see my favorite author become a workaholic. By the way, can you please push for updates? I really want the second volume of the new work to be released soon."

"If you really want to see it, I can give you spoilers in advance."

"Forget it, though. I don't want to hear the plot unfold from the original author's mouth, nor do I want to interfere with the author's creative thinking—that would make reading much less enjoyable."

He made his position very clear from beginning to end.

Hoshimi Haru is Kasumi Shiko's reader. She was in the past, is in the present, and will always be in the future.

"……Thanks."

Shiyu couldn't help but say this without thinking too much.

"Hmm? Thank you for what?"

Xingjian didn't remember what he had just said that was worthy of gratitude.

"Thank you, Xingjian-kun, for not leaving any room for misunderstanding from the beginning to the end. Otherwise, I would definitely think that you fell in love with me."

It was unclear whether the girl's sweet smile and tone were a joke or a real one, but Xing saw her classmate shaking his head seriously.

"That's absolutely impossible. Senior, the only thing you have in common with my type is your figure. We have absolutely nothing else in common."

"...Ah, so now I should be sincerely thankful that you, Hoshimi-kun, didn't set your sights on me."

"It's okay, it's okay. When you misunderstood that I liked you, I was also thinking that if you were to target me, I would be in big trouble. We're both on the same page."

Shiyu twitched the corners of her mouth. In the past, Xingjian would at least pretend to be innocent when arguing with her - but now he seemed too lazy to even pretend.

"All in all, this matter has come to a successful conclusion."

Seeing that Shiyu stopped talking, the boy smiled and brought the topic back on track.

"School is about to start, and everyone's life will be able to return to normal."

It's great to be able to get so much trouble out of the way during the summer vacation.

"………Um."

After a moment of silence, Shiyu softly agreed.

"After the new semester begins, I will re-evaluate my opinion of you, Hoshimi-kun."

"Ok?"

"Looking back now, I think I was a bit too self-centered before - now I try to understand those who I once viewed with prejudice."

There was a hint of laughter in her voice when she said this.

"For example, I once thought you were just an ordinary person, Hoshimi-san."

"Eh...does that mean I'll get preferential treatment?"

"It's not preferential treatment, but it's a new entry point for me to observe the human world."

"After all this time, it's still creative material..."

Although Xingjian shook his head in some trouble, there was still a slight smile on the corner of his mouth.

"--Never mind, it's up to you, Senior."

After all, when the new semester comes, everyone will have a new beginning.

He turned his head to look at the blond girl who was sleeping quietly and cutely with her upper body lying on the bed, and his eyes became a little melancholy.

During the few days when he was staying at home, Hayasaka went to his house every day without any complaints to take care of his life.

"Well, that's all. I'll try to get my mind together and write for the next few days. See you after school starts, Mr. Reader."

"Well, see you at the beginning of the school term, Kasumi Shiko-sensei."

They both hung up the phone almost at the same time and put it back in their pockets.

Hoshimi, who was standing on the balcony, looked at Hayasaka's sleeping face in the house with a calm and quiet look in her eyes.

With a sigh of relief, Kasumigaoka Utaha patted her chest and met Eriri's affirmative gaze.

They all had a reassuring smile on their faces.