After hearing Yae Miko's explanation, Editor Kuroda looked surprised and couldn't help but say:
"As expected of Lord Yuuko!"
Now, the way Kuroda looked at Yuuko had changed.
Before, he was puzzled why Yae Miko always favored such an inconspicuous young writer.
Until today, when he saw how explosively popular Yuuko's new book was.
And after seeing how easily Yuuko solved the difficulties of Yae Publishing House, Editor Kuroda's mind changed.
Subsequently, Editor Kuroda belatedly lowered his head:
"I apologize! This mistake was entirely my fault! Please calculate all resulting losses and charge them to me!"
Yuuko waved his hand helplessly:
"The matter isn't over yet. Let's focus on solving the problem first. While we have this time we bought, quickly print the new stock."
"Yes!" Editor Kuroda nodded heavily, then scurried off to handle the task.
After Editor Kuroda left, Yae Miko, who was nearby, smiled:
"Yuuko truly has leadership talent. Even when faced with such a troublesome situation, he easily bought us enough time."
"And he perfectly guided the situation toward a positive outcome."
Yuuko smiled, then changed the subject:
"It's getting late now. Since we know the situation with the new book, let's go have dinner."
"Alright~"
...Finally, the two arrived at a relatively famous restaurant in Inazuma, a place called Uyuu Restaurant.
This establishment was only recently built, and because its dishes were quite unique, business was usually pretty good.
Especially during a festival like the Irodori Festival, business was even more booming.
Originally, all the rooms here were fully booked today.
But who knows what scummy method that scum woman Yae Miko used to successfully get the owner to vacate a room.
So, Yuuko and Yae Miko would have their dinner at Uyuu Restaurant today.
After waiting for a long time in the room.
Looking at the large table full of dishes, Yuuko said helplessly:
"Miko, you ordered way too much. There are only two of us; can we finish it all?"
Yae Miko replied with a laugh: "Hehe, whether we can finish it or not isn't important. This is mainly to celebrate Yuuko's new book becoming explosively popular~"
"The issue with the new book launch hasn't been completely solved yet, and you're already thinking of celebrating..."
"Celebration is bound to happen sooner or later anyway, and if we wait to celebrate later, it won't be just the two of us anymore," Yae Miko waved her hand.
Yuuko looked at the bottles of Inazuman specialty wine on the table and complained helplessly:
"Then why did you order so much alcohol? You clearly know I'm not very good at drinking..."
"If Yuuko isn't good at drinking, wouldn't that be even better?" Yae Miko chuckled scummily.
Yuuko: "..."
"Come on, drink~ Come on, drink~ It's rare to have such a good time today." Yae Miko held a cup filled with wine and repeatedly offered it to Yuuko.
This left Yuuko completely helpless.
Because he really didn't like drinking alcohol.
Seeing Yuuko continuously decline, Yae Miko smiled again:
"Don't worry, Yuuko, I would absolutely never force myself upon you after getting you drunk."
"I can't pretend I didn't hear that..." Yuuko complained helplessly.
"Hehe, I'm just kidding. Did Yuuko take it seriously?"
Suddenly, Yae Miko's expression inexplicably became very serious:
"Yuuko, this is an important moment of celebration. You're not really going to refuse, are you? That would really spoil today's atmosphere."
She probably realized that being gentle wouldn't work, so she resorted to force.
Seeing Yae Miko's serious demeanor, Yuuko sighed helplessly:
"Fine, I'll have one cup then."
Anyway, it was just one cup of alcohol; nothing bad would happen if he drank it.
Furthermore, Yuuko's tolerance for alcohol wasn't bad; he simply didn't like drinking.
Picking up the cup, Yuuko gently sniffed the aroma of the wine wafting from it, then tilted his head back and downed it in one gulp.
That spiciness immediately swept through Yuuko's entire throat.
It made Yuuko cough slightly.
It seemed the wine Yae Miko ordered was the kind with an extremely high alcohol content... "Cough, cough, cough... This wine is so strong..."
"Of course it's strong! After all, this is the 'One-Cup Knockout, Special Wine for Your Beloved' that the shop advertises~" Yae Miko said with a smile.
Yuuko: "Can you please stop making such terrifying jokes..."
After speaking, Yuuko frowned again and said:
"By the way, why does this wine taste strange? Why do I keep sensing a medicinal flavor?"
Yae Miko said matter-of-factly: "Because I drugged him."
Yuuko nodded: "Is that so..."
After a few seconds, he belatedly uttered an "Hm?" and looked at Yae Miko with a terrified expression.
Yae Miko chuckled softly: "Hehe, just kidding."
"I see." Yuuko breathed a sigh of relief.
He was genuinely afraid that Yae Miko was trying to sneak attack him by secretly slipping him strange drugs.
"Saying I was kidding was a lie, by the way. I put in an aphrodisiac~" Yae Miko laughed again.
Yuuko once again looked at Yae Miko with a terrified expression.
"Hehehe, Yuuko's reaction is truly amusing." Yae Miko chuckled scummily.
After speaking, she waved her hand, poured herself a cup of wine, drank it in one go, and then said with a smile:
"Don't worry, how could I possibly force myself upon Yuuko? No matter what, I will respect Yuuko one hundred percent."
Hearing this, Yuuko sighed in relief again.
It was good that he hadn't actually been drugged.
Otherwise, Yuuko was truly afraid of losing control of himself... Just as he was about to say something to ease the atmosphere.
Yae Miko suddenly said this:
"I have always respected Yuuko... After all, I like Yuuko the most."
Perhaps due to the effects of the alcohol, a faint flush appeared on her face at this moment.
Her eyes were also deeper than ever before.
It was clear that her attitude at this moment was extremely serious.
Yuuko was stunned for a moment, then waved his hand with a wry smile: "Alright, alright, Miko, you're teasing me again."
Yae Miko instantly reverted to her usual scummy appearance, covering her mouth as she laughed:
"Hehe, after all, Yuuko's reaction is truly interesting."
After speaking, Yae Miko stood up and smiled:
"Yuuko, you eat first. I'm going to check if the other dishes are being prepared."
Yuuko didn't think much of it and nodded: "Thank you, Miko."
Yae Miko nodded with a smile and then walked out of the private room.
After leaving the private room, she didn't walk away but leaned against the wall next to the doorway.
Her cheeks were flushed, and her breathing seemed very heavy.
She stared blankly ahead, her eyes slightly unfocused, and reached up to cover her chest, feeling the rapid thumping sound.
She muttered softly:
"My heart is beating so fast..."
"That childish joke I just made, I usually say it casually to anyone countless times..."
"Why is my heart pounding non-stop when I say it to Yuuko..."
"Is the wine too strong..."
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