My Cartoonist Girlfriend

"Ah! She's a diplomat's daughter."

After listening to this, Asakura Reiko was even more satisfied with Eriri. Her appearance was completely satisfactory and her family background was impeccable as well.

"What about personality?"

"Uh... pretty good."

Hearing what Asakura Feng said, Asakura Reiko immediately said, "Xiao Feng, come on! Try to get this child, then we will have a daughter-in-law!"

Asakura Feng rolled her eyes in response: "...Mom, I've only known him for a short time, aren't you thinking too much?"

"I didn't think too much about it." Asakura Reiko said, "There will definitely be a lot of people who like a girl like this, so it's best to act in advance!"

"Your mother is right." Asakura Takaichi also said, "Xiao Feng, this girl must be very popular in school, right?"

"Emm...it is true."

After all, I received a love letter not long after school started.

"So do you have feelings for him? But you're lying to us!"

"...Well, I do have some feelings for him."

"That's right, isn't it?" Putting his arm around his son's shoulder, Asakura Takaichi said with a smile, "Dad has been through this before. When I was in college, your mom was one of the most popular girls in the school, and I went through a lot of trouble to pursue her. Now that you've met a girl you like, don't hesitate, go for it bravely. Our son will definitely succeed!"

"...Why do I feel like what you said is like a hot-blooded comic book, Dad?"

Asakura Feng also complained speechlessly, put away his phone and stood up.

"Alright, alright, I get it. You don't have to worry about this matter. I know what I am doing."

In the afternoon, I did have some ideas, but now is not the right time, so let's take it step by step.

Chapter 25 A mouthful of water sprayed out

Sunday, 10 a.m., in the small reception room of the editorial department of Fuzugawa Bunko.

Asakura Feng looked at the two editors, Nakajima and Machida, who were sitting opposite him, and said with a gloomy face, "So, didn't you say you were going to give me a holiday? Why did you call me over here, and why did you insist on keeping it a secret?"

Editor Nakajima took a sip of tea and said with a smile, "Hahaha, this idea today wasn't mine. It was Editor Machida who asked me to call you over as well."

"Is that right?"

Asakura Kaede looked at Machida Sonoko.

Machida Yuanzi also smiled and explained, "Feng Jun, didn't our library's new author award selection end? The gold medal work has been decided to be published, and the new author has been assigned to my team. I finally have a face-to-face author! Moreover, she happens to be from the same school as you, and she will come here today to discuss the novel, so I want you to come and get to know her. It's great to be an author from the same library and a peer from the same school, isn't it?"

"...well?"

Asakura Kaede reacted belatedly and realized who she was going to meet later.

He did know about the Rookie Award before the event started, but he didn't pay much attention to it afterwards. Plus, he was about to graduate at that time, and he was also preparing for the entrance exam, so he had much less time to write, and he didn't care about the results of the Rookie Award.

At school, although quite a few classmates have talked about the second-year high school student Kasumigaoka Utaha, they have never actually met her in person.

This time, he was suddenly called out to meet the other party to get to know him, as a colleague, which really caught Asakura Feng off guard.

Seeing Asakura Feng in a daze, Machida Yuanzi also showed a mysterious smile: "Feng Jun, this new author is a great beauty. As your elder sister, I am giving you a good opportunity to get close to her. Don't miss it!"

"..."

Coming back to her senses, Asakura Kaede looked at Machida Sonoko and said, "Editor Machida."

"Ok?"

"Why are you like my mom, always concerned about my love life? You might as well pay attention to your own relationship problems. You've been working for a few years and you're still single. This is not okay."

“Pfft…Hahahaha!!!”

Editor Nakajima on the side couldn't hold back his laughter first and said, "Machida, I told you before that there was no need to tell Xiaofeng about this kind of thing. Now you're being criticized, right?"

"senior!!!"

After glaring at Editor Nakajima, Machida Sonoko looked across at Asakura Kaede and said angrily, "Kaede-kun! I care about you so much, but you actually complain about me in return. Don't go too far!"

"Well, I apologize to you about this." Asakura Feng apologized without hesitation, and then said, "As compensation, I will talk to my parents and introduce you to Editor Machida if there is a suitable candidate. How about that? My parents' social circle knows all good people, and they should be able to help Editor Machida find a partner quickly."

Hearing what Asakura Feng said, Machida Yuanzi's face flashed with obvious excitement, but she hid it the next second and said calmly: "Uh, as for this, just follow fate, just follow fate."

"Then... no more introductions then?"

"Ah, no!"

As soon as she stretched out her hand, she saw Asakura Kaede looking at her with a smile on her face. Machida Yuanzi immediately knew that she was being fooled. The thick skin she had developed after years of working in the workplace now turned red.

Fortunately, the door to the reception room was opened in time, and an editor from the editorial department came in and said, "Editor Nakajima, Editor Machida, Teacher Kasumi Shiko is here!"

As if she was saved, Machida Yuanzi quickly said, "Then let teacher Kasumi Shiko come over."

"Ok."

Soon, the door of the reception room was pushed open, and a black straight-haired girl wearing a Fengzhizaki uniform walked in: "Excuse me."

"Hey, Xiao Shiyu, come in quickly!"

Machida Sonoko stood up happily and waved to Kasumigaoka Utaha.

After Kasumigaoka Utaha came in, she also saw another boy besides the two editors, who would be one of her future colleagues in the library.

However, this was not the first time they had met. After learning about Asakura Kaede's identity from Machida Sonoko, Kasumigaoka Utaha had seen her several times at school. Of course, she was not aware of this, and even seemed a little suspicious because of her secret observations.

When she thought about how she had finally won the opportunity to debut through the Rookie Award, but had to stay up all night to write the first volume, and the boy in front of her had successfully debuted in junior high school, and his novel was also very popular, the slight regret that Kasumigaoka Utaha originally had in her heart also disappeared immediately.

At the invitation of Machida Yuanzi, Kasumigaoka Shiyu sat down next to Asakura Feng, and then spoke first: "This must be Suqing's teacher Hong Fengye, please give me your guidance. My name is Kasumigaoka Shiyu, and my pen name is Kasumi Shiko."

"You're too polite, Senior. My original name is Asakura Kaede, so just call me by my first name. Please give me your guidance."

Although he knew that Kasumigaoka Utaha had a sharp tongue, since she was so polite after they met, Asakura Kaede would naturally treat her with courtesy. After all, they would definitely have many more contacts in the future.

After seeing that the two knew each other, Machida Yuanzi smiled and clapped her hands and said, "One of you has already published a novel, and the other has won the Rookie Bounty Award. The next one will be published soon. You must help each other and work together in the future! Then, Xiao Shiyu, tell me about your next plan for the novel. As for the illustrator, do you have any favorite candidates?"

“Illustrator?”

Asakura Feng looked at Kasumigaoka Utaha with some surprise and asked, "Has the illustrator not been chosen yet?"

Nodding, Kasumigaoka Utaha said with some distress: "Actually, editor Machida and editor Nakajima recommended several cooperating illustrators from the library to me before. I also read the works of those illustrators, and they are indeed very good. But my novel is a youth romance novel, and those illustrators are basically fantasy-style. I am worried that if the illustrator changes his style, it will not fit my novel."

Style, that's indeed a problem.

Asakura Kaede nodded in agreement. If the style is different, even if the level of the illustrations is very high, there will be a sense of disharmony. This is a very important issue for a new book.

Editor Nakajima also said at this time: "So, I told Teacher Kasumi Shiko that you can look for it yourself in the next few days. If there are suitable illustrators or fan artists, please let us know and we will contact them to see if we can cooperate. So Teacher Kasumi Shiko, have you found the right one?"

"Yes."

Kasumigaoka Utaha said happily: "After searching for several days, I finally found a fan artist with a gorgeous style who really won my heart, but his reputation seems a little too big."

Machida Yuanzi heard this, patted her chest and said: "It's okay, we know most of the painters in the industry, we can contact them, Xiao Shiyu, just tell me."

"If Editor Machida says so, I feel relieved."

Kasumigaoka Utaha smiled and said the name of the doujin artist she liked.

"The other party's main job is a doujin artist for a doujin club, and his pen name is Kashiwagi Eri."

"puff!!!!"

Asakura Kaede, who was standing by, spat out a mouthful of water.

Chapter 26 I always feel that it will be interesting

"Puff! Uh cough cough!!!"

Asakura Feng quickly took two tissues to wipe his mouth, but still couldn't hide his inner shock.

Just now, he seemed to have heard the name Kashiwagi Eri? How did Kasumigaoka Utaha come up with the idea of ​​asking Eriri to draw illustrations?

Could it be that Eriri's identity has been discovered?

That doesn't make sense. I haven't noticed any special changes in Eriri's mood these days. Could it be that Kasumigaoka Utaha found out about it herself? Or maybe she was simply attracted by Eriri's painting style but didn't know her identity?

After thinking about it, Asakura Feng felt that this should be the case. If she really knew Eriri's identity, Kasumigaoka Utaha would have invited Eriri herself a long time ago.

When Kasumigaoka Utaha saw Asakura Kaede like this, she couldn't help but chuckle: "Alala, I didn't expect Asakura-kun is not such a good boy either."

"cough......"

After coughing for a while, Asakura Feng calmed down and said, "You can't say that. After all, in order to find a suitable illustrator, I also got to know a circle of painters in the industry. Teacher Kashiwagi Eri is also very famous in the fan community. I know it's normal."

"Oh~ Really?"

Kasumigaoka Utaha glanced at Asakura Kaede, but did not ask any more questions. She turned to look at the two editors opposite her and said, "My candidate is Kashiwagi Eri. This is the artist whose style I like the most after looking around. I wonder if we can invite her to come?"

"It's Kashiwagi Eri."

Machida Yuanzi was still thinking without saying anything, while editor Nakajima rubbed his head and said, "As for this guy, I have some connections that can contact the club where Kashiwagi Eri is, and it's April now, and there is still a lot of time before the summer CM exhibition, so there should be a schedule. But the price may be more expensive than that of ordinary illustrators."

"Price is not a problem!" Kasumigaoka Utaha said immediately after seeing the opportunity. "In addition to the initial payment, I can also add a part of the payment as a thank you after the novel is released."

As for money, Kasumigaoka Utaha doesn’t care that much. She hopes that her novel can have a good start.

Seeing that Kasumigaoka Utaha said this, Editor Nakajima nodded and looked at Machida Sonoko who was standing beside her.

"Then Editor Machida, I'll give you the contact information later, and I'll leave the work of contacting you, the editor-in-charge. Is that ok?"

Machida Yuanzi immediately said with confidence: "No problem, leave it to me, senior!"

Asakura Kaede was thinking about something at this moment.

Machida Sonoko is going to contact Eriri's club, and if they agree, she will come over to discuss cooperation. Then, Eriri doesn't seem to know Kasumigaoka Utaha yet, and she doesn't know her identity as a light novel writer.

At the same time, Eriri also thought that Asakura Kaede didn't know her identity as Kashiwagi Eri.

And if they really agree to cooperate, and we meet at the library later, the scene will be really interesting.

Unconsciously, a smile appeared on Asakura Kaede's face, and he began to hope that Eriri would agree to this cooperation.

Kasumigaoka Utaha also happened to see the smile on Asakura Kaede's face at this moment, and was a little puzzled. But it didn't matter much, the most important thing now was the matter of her novel.

In the following period of time, Asakura Kaede was the first person to read the first volume of "Love Metronome" by Kasumigaoka Utaha, apart from the library.

After quickly browsing a portion of the content, Asakura Feng looked at her and said, "As expected of a senior, you are very proficient in the use of words, and your character creation and plot arrangement are excellent. You are worthy of being the winner of the gold medal."

Being praised for her novel, especially by her peers, Kasumigaoka Utaha smiled happily: "Thank you for the compliment. Is there anything that needs improvement?"

"Improvements..."

After Kasumigaoka Utaha asked this, Asakura Kaede put down the manuscript and thought seriously, "Hmm... there is indeed a point. It can be regarded as my little suggestion."

"Oh? Tell me?"

Not only Kasumigaoka Utaha, but even the two editors sitting opposite looked over curiously.

Then Asakura Feng also said: "Senior, your novel type is rare in the current light novels. There are no other elements. It is simply a type of youth campus romance. Such a novel, if the author has good writing skills, can have a good response and effect. But at the same time, as a light novel, you also have to consider the length of the novel."

When Asakura Kaede said this, editor Nakajima agreed and said, "Indeed, for example, Xiaofeng's KonoSuba: God's Blessing on This Wonderful World is a light novel about reincarnation in another world. The setting allows him to fill it with various contents, thereby expanding the length of the novel. And as long as the plot is not boring, readers are happy to extend the length of the novel. But your Love Metronome is a novel about reality, and the first volume at the beginning has basically set the tone."

The words of Asakura Kaede and Editor Nakajima also made Kasumigaoka Utaha fall into deep thought.

Nodding, she also said: "Indeed, I have not thought about this problem. I just submitted my manuscript out of my passion for creation. I am very happy that it can be published. But in terms of the length... I really can't guarantee it, because I am a novice. Editor Nakajima, Editor Machida, do you have any good suggestions?"

As editors of novelists, it is also their job to help writers solve creative problems.

Machida Yuanzi also said in distress: "Xiao Shiyu, your work is indeed amazing at the beginning, but as they said, the subject matter limits your creativity. If you want to write a long romance novel, there is only one way, that is to add more characters, create various misunderstandings, love triangles, love triangles, etc., to give readers stomach medicine.

But this method is not a long-term solution, you can't do it this way for the whole article. Although as an editor of the library, the most desired result is that the novel is long and sells well, but from the perspective of being responsible for you, I hope you try not to procrastinate too much, and be straightforward when it's time to finish it, after all, the subject matter of the work is here. "

Kasumigaoka Utaha nodded and looked at Asakura Kaede who was standing beside her: "Asakura-kun, what's your opinion?"

"As for my opinion..." Asakura Feng said after thinking for a while, "It's still the first volume, so it's not too late. I suggest that you decide the outline of the whole book as soon as possible, how many characters to add, and what kind of plot to add. Otherwise, if you think about it and add it at the last minute, it will seem that the novel will be disconnected from the beginning."

After all, they are authors of the same library and the genres do not conflict, so Asakura Kaede still gave her opinions very pertinently.

Kasumigaoka Utaha also gladly accepted it and thanked her: "Thank you for your advice. I will think about the plot carefully when I return. Then, the only thing left is the illustrator's job."

As for the illustrator...Asakura Kaede herself is also looking forward to it.