Comics, daily stories

Page 199

"Mai-senpai? All sorts of stories, and then they fell in love, right?" Nomiyama opened the document and read aloud, saying, "How did you know, senpai?"

"Sakurajima Mai confessed to a junior, which is quite famous. But what's strange is that there's been no news about the fact that you, junior, have a girlfriend." Kasumigaoka Utaha didn't care that he was looking through those documents, but just sighed, "Otherwise, this matter would have been even more popular."

"I see." Nomiyama clicked on the next document and continued reading.

With Haruno now holding most of the power in the Yukinoshita family, plus Sayuri's side, it would be easy to suppress some negative influences.

"There should be more, Kato-senpai." Kasumigaoka Utaha flicked an empty can with her finger. "I really don't know anything about her."

Nomiyama paused, turned his head, and looked at his senior.

Hui is the kind of person who is easily overlooked. He is indeed not well-known. Most people's understanding of Hui is probably just that they walk with him every day.

Kasumigaoka Utaha also realized something. She didn't meet his gaze, but just quietly watched the rolling can.

She didn't want to admit that she had been paying attention to the other person's life, especially under the current circumstances.

Nomiyama didn't explain why you knew about Megumi; he just continued reading the manuscript: "Megumi is a very quiet, gentle, and lovely girl. Her cooking is the kind that you could eat every day without getting tired of it."

"He sounds like a very nice person."

"Of course, it's excellent, it couldn't be better."

Nomiyama closed the document, released the mouse, and began to bring up the other person's matter: "Nine drafts, senior is really amazing, one confession plot, nine different confessions and reactions."

Kasumigaoka Utaha didn't deny his impressive statement. She simply shifted her gaze to the computer with its screen lit up: "Actually, there are more than nine. There were many discarded drafts before. These are the ones that were kept, but they will probably become discarded drafts as well."

"Hmm? What, it's not good? I skimmed through it, and the writing style is no worse than what my senior used to do." Nomiyama recalled the plot she had just read. "The confession part was alright too?"

“Yeah, it’s alright.” Kasumigaoka Utaha reached out and rubbed her temples. “Alright means there’s something wrong with it. This is the most crucial confession scene in the whole book.”

Nomiyama shook his head: "Senior, don't be too demanding. With your foundation, even if this part of the story isn't as outstanding as the past, you can make up for it with other parts of the story later."

Kasumigaoka Utaha frowned, as if talking to herself: "No, it's not a problem with the beginning anymore. I can feel that even if I manage to get through this part, I won't be able to write at the level of the first five volumes."

She gave a wry smile: "Junior, do you remember the New Year's gift you gave me two years ago?"

Nomiyama's eyes flickered slightly: "Kenji Miyazawa, Night on the Galactic Railroad."

Which part is your favorite?

Kasumigaoka Utaha asked, and before Nomiyama could answer, she continued, "It's Southern Cross Station, the only station leading to heaven."

“The little girl said, ‘We can only get off here, because this is the only way to heaven.’”

"Junior, I can't get to Southern Cross Station right now. I'm taking trains all over the Milky Way, but I can never reach the destination."

Nomiyama said softly, "It's not that scary. Senior is just hitting a bottleneck."

Kasumigaoka Utaha looked at him at that moment: "Junior, do you know why I was able to write so smoothly before?"

She asked herself and answered, "Because I have experience in relationships, I can imagine the male lead's reaction, so everything flows naturally."

"But I can't imagine what will happen next. I don't understand what it means to like someone, I can't imagine confessing my feelings, and I can't imagine what life as a couple would be like after confessing."

"Forcing it will only result in a jarring and jarring piece of writing."

Nomiyama sighed slightly, "Others write beautiful love stories because they have the most beautiful fantasies about love. How come you've done the opposite, senior?"

"Who knows?"

Kasumigaoka Utaha leaned weakly against the wall, looking up at the ceiling: "Junior, you said I am those flowers and waters separated by darkness, but it seems you've misunderstood."

"I feel so tired. Every time I force myself to write, the result is always a disgusting draft."

"Then let's stop writing, take a break, and let the readers experience the malice." Nomiyama casually decided to let the readers bear everything.

Kasumigaoka Utaha's eyes became bright at this moment, but not with a sense of salvation.

Nomiyama stared, slightly taken aback, at those eyes whose emotions were so complex they were almost impossible to discern.

A slightly hoarse voice rang out: "If I don't write, what's the point of my coming to Tokyo?"

"It's so big here, and it's so crowded. No matter which tram you take, it's packed with people. If you want to buy a cup of milk tea, you have to wait in a long line. When a new movie is showing, you always have to accept that someone is sitting next to you. Every time I pass through those intersections, I feel like an ant crawling in this city."

"Junior, it's too painful not to write."

Looking at her senior who was clearly in pain, Nomiyama thought of that snowy day many years ago.

Back then, my senior sister toned down her flamboyance, quietly read through the first printing of the first volume, and then said, "I'm going to Tokyo. It'll be easier to communicate with the editors there, and it'll also be more convenient if there are any events at the paperback."

She was certain she would become famous when she wrote the first draft.

On that snowy field, the senior student said a lot of things, neither sarcastic nor nitpicky, neither flamboyant nor arrogant.

In the end, she said nothing more and just quietly looked at herself.

Perhaps I should have said something more, instead of just a simple 'goodbye'.

Nomiyama suddenly brought up the topic from when the two first met.

"Senior, what do you think love is now?"

Kasumigaoka Utaha's expression softened somewhat, and she said thoughtfully, "Running together in a rainy summer night..."

Nomiyama chimed in: "We'll kiss at traffic lights, like the same author's work, rent a house with a balcony together, get a cat, wake up in the morning light every day, go for a walk together late at night, throw snowballs at each other in a snowy world, and watch a movie together and cry our eyes out."

Kasumigaoka Utaha stared in disbelief as he continued to recite those beautiful fantasies without pause.

Nomiyama shrugged: "See, isn't it all good? I can even imagine more scenes, think of every season, every moment that makes people feel warm."

"But these aren't romance; they're just embellishments in the process of romance. Romance is simply two people who like each other forming a new relationship, while liking someone is..."

Nomiyama recalled for a moment and became certain: "We don't need to say anything or do anything. Just being together makes us very happy."

Kasumigaoka Utaha's lips moved slightly: "Even if you tell me all this, I still can't write it down. I've never experienced love, and my understanding of romance, just like you said, is nothing but a fantasy."

“Yes, I know, so,” Nomiyama’s expression turned serious, “just don’t write about romance.”

“I won’t write about...love…” Kasumigaoka Utaha murmured.

Nomiyama looked at her senior and said, "If you can't imagine liking and being in love, then don't write about it."

Kasumigaoka Utaha frowned: "You mean..."

Nomiyama's lips curled into a smile: "Let this romance fall apart, break the relationship back to square one, make the readers furious, and then, start all over again."

Kasumigaoka Utaha was stunned.

Almost the instant the opening was created, countless ideas surged into my mind.

"Yes, if you can't write it now, then don't write it. Use a reasonable method to confess your feelings after a failed attempt..."

She murmured to herself, looked at the computer, supported herself with her hands, and prepared to get up, but then, exhausted, she leaned forward.

Looking up, Kasumigaoka Utaha saw the person supporting her. He didn't seem surprised, but simply said, "Sitting for too long, combined with alcohol, hunger, and fatigue, makes you unsuitable for writing right now, unless you want to create more literary garbage."

Kasumigaoka Utaha listened to his words, but said in a weak voice, "Junior, I'm so hungry."

"Okay, wait a moment, I'll go get you a bowl of noodles." Nomiyama put her down and got up.

"No, no need for that, that bowl will do." Kasumigaoka Utaha didn't want to trouble him any further.

"Hmm? Are you sure?" Nomiyama glanced at the bowl of noodles he had brought, which he was preparing to eat casually later.

It was warm, and then the dough clumped together.

"Yes, I'll take that bowl."

"alright."

Nomiyama bent down to pull her up from the ground.

"No, let's eat like this. I really don't have the strength to sit on the bed. I'll have to trouble you, junior, to carry my bowl of noodles for me."

Kasumigaoka Utaha sat astride her duck, her eyes still reflecting weakness, apology, and some inexplicable emotions.

Nomiyama glanced at her, but didn't think much of it. He simply picked up the bowl of noodles and sat cross-legged in front of her.

Kasumigaoka Utaha looked at the person in front of her, picked up her chopsticks, and put a big mouthful of noodles into her mouth.

She ate very quickly and hurriedly, with large movements, her cheeks bulging as she chewed vigorously, giving off a similar feeling to the meal at Nomiyama earlier.

Nomiyama held his bowl of noodles and quietly watched his senior, without making a sound to disturb her.

Of course it won't taste good. Once the noodles clump together, they can't possibly taste very good.

Like the senior student now, she was so disgusted by the food that she cried.

"It's so delicious, it makes me want to cry."

Nomiyama looked down at the empty bowl, which had been completely emptied of soup, and raised an eyebrow: "Senior, pica?"

Kasumigaoka Utaha was still crying. She reached out, took the tissue he offered, and wiped her mouth. "Yes."

She laughed and said, "So, if you have the chance, junior, please cook me another bowl sometime."

Nomiyama casually replied, "If there's an opportunity."

He stood up: "Alright, senior, have a good rest today. Editor Machida is outside. I'll talk to her and give you some time. Of course, you can also chat with her before you rest."

He carried two empty bowls outside and turned off the computer that had been on all along.

"Is my junior going back to Chiba?"

Kasumigaoka Utaha braced herself against the edge of the bed and managed to stand up.

"Uh, I kind of want to go home. I won't keep up with that crybaby senior today." Nomiyama turned around and clicked his tongue.

"Is it ugly?" Kasumigaoka Utaha smiled.

Nomiyama hesitated for a moment and said, "I'm fine now, but I looked rather awkward while eating the noodles earlier."

"so."

Kasumigaoka Utaha took a deep breath and then whispered, "Junior, I like you."

Nomiyama paused slightly, then his attitude became serious: "Thank you for your kind words."

Kasumigaoka Utaha wasn't surprised, but she didn't let him say anything more. She just smiled and said, "Be careful on the road."

Nomiyama looked at his senior for a moment, then turned and walked outside: "Okay, good luck, senior. Don't drink anymore. I hope you can achieve your goal soon."

Kasumigaoka Utaha responded, "Okay."

After the door was opened and closed again, Kasumigaoka Utaha finally ran out of strength and collapsed onto the bed.

I liked him, and then I was rejected.

That's how everything can start anew.

There was a knock on the door, and it was Yuanzi's voice: "Shi-chan?"

Kasumigaoka Utaha tried to perk herself up: "Please come in."

After the other person sat down by the bed, Kasumigaoka Utaha finally spoke: "Yuanzi, I've figured out how to write it. I'll give you the manuscript in a while."

Machida Sonoko was slightly taken aback. This was an inspiration?

"Then, next year, I plan to go back to Chiba."

"Huh?" Machida Sonoko was even more surprised. "Why? Chiba isn't far, but it's still a bit of a hassle."

"For my first love that just failed."

The girl smiled, rolled around on the bed, and pulled the blanket over herself.

"For delicious noodles."

......

"Eri, how did your discussion with the editor go about the illustrations?"

"Of course it was a success. Who do you think I am?"

"Yes, Eriri Sawamura?"

"nonsense!"

Nomiyama took out his phone, ready to check the new messages.