Chapter 201: Kaede's Novel Illustrator
After instructing the inexperienced Shirogane Miyuki on various useful dating tips, Kaede finally ended the call and walked out of his studio.
In the living room, Eriri had also finished her call and was watching TV.
Hearing footsteps, Eriri turned her head to look at Kaede and said, "Kaede-kun, are you done with your call?"
"Mhm, just finished."
Sitting down beside her, Kaede smiled and asked, "What did Shinomiya-senpai talk to you about? The celebration for the Senior?"
Eriri nodded, "Yes! And she told me something really funny! Ah, it's such a pity, I could have won our bet."
"Are you talking about the Shuchiin principal calling?"
"You know about that too, Kaede-kun?"
"Yeah, the Senior told me." Kaede shook his head, "It was so close! If the Senior had confessed, I would have lost."
"Exactly, exactly! It was just that close."
Leaning on Kaede's shoulder, Eriri laughed happily.
"When I was chatting with the Senior just now, her expression was truly furious, yet she couldn't do anything about the principal, since he called because it was Senior Shirogane's birthday.
When the Senior told me, she was so annoyed that she had completely forgotten about the principal."
"I can understand that.
After all, if this hadn't happened, no one would have known that the Shuchiin principal would personally call to wish the Senior a happy birthday.
But thinking about it now, the Shuchiin Student Council, especially the Student Council President, is responsible for many things, and the Student Council manages and coordinates many student affairs.
It makes sense for the principal to call at a time like that."
"Hehe, exactly! At least this principal is quite decent.
Apparently, he's already given the Senior a letter of recommendation, which will be a powerful stepping stone regardless of which university he wants to attend in the future.
But Kaede-kun, do you want to know why the principal called at that exact moment?"
Looking at the squinting Eriri, Kaede asked curiously, "Hmm? Eriri, you know?"
"I do know~~" Eriri nodded, saying with a hint of schadenfreude, "The Senior investigated afterward and found out! It turns out Ishigami, who was leaving the school building, ran into the principal and mentioned the matter!"
(T/N: R.I.P Ishigami)
"Ishigami..."
Kaede was momentarily speechless. So it was that Ishigami guy.
*Sigh*, Ishigami probably did it unintentionally. Hopefully, Shinomiya Kaguya won't hold it against him.
As for Shirogane Miyuki's plan to ask Shinomiya Kaguya out on a date and confess, Kaede did not tell Eriri.
He kept it as a secret between the two boys, Kaede and Shirogane Miyuki.
But it looks like their previous bet is about to be reversed...
Whether it reverses or not isn't clear yet, because besides this, Shirogane Miyuki has another matter to deal with: his term as Student Council President is ending, and he will soon step down.
Shirogane Miyuki plans to wait until he officially steps down from his position, gathers his strength, and then asks Shinomiya Kaguya out for a perfect confession.
Knowing this, Kaede found it reasonable and offered no further opinions.
Just like that, a week passed.
After finishing the new volume of his light novel, Kaede decided that after school today, instead of going to the club, he would make a trip to the Bunko to hand in the manuscript.
Since Kaede wasn't going, Eriri naturally wouldn't go to the club alone.
The two of them skipped today's club activities and went to the Bunko after school.
Upon entering, they saw Takasu Yasuko working diligently at the front desk.
Takasu Yasuko was now a competent company receptionist, handling matters meticulously, and thanks to her gentle and cheerful personality, she was quite popular at the Bunko.
Seeing Kaede and Eriri approach, Takasu Yasuko happily said, "Oh, it's little Kaede-kun and Eriri! Are you here for the Editorial Department today?"
"That's right." Kaede walked over, registered, and said, "Aunt Yasuko, is work going smoothly?"
"Of course!" Takasu Yasuko laughed happily.
"The work isn't difficult, and everyone is very nice. I enjoy working here.
If you have time, remember to come over to my place, I'll treat you to a meal!"
"Sounds good, no problem."
After smilingly agreeing, Kaede and Eriri stopped disturbing Takasu Yasuko's work and headed to the Editorial Department.
In the Editorial Department, Editor Nakajima was already waiting for them and had prepared drinks for the two.
"Hahaha, you're here! Come, take a seat."
After leading Eriri to sit down and taking a sip of his drink, Kaede pulled out the manuscript: "Here, the manuscript for the new volume."
Taking the manuscript and flipping to the first page, Editor Nakajima nodded happily, "Not bad, not bad, your efficiency is high.
By the way, little Kaede, if you're not in a hurry, stay a little longer.
Someone will be coming over soon, and I'd like to introduce you."
Kaede asked curiously, "Someone is coming? Who is it?"
"Your novel illustrator, of course!"
Editor Nakajima continued while reading the manuscript, "You two have been collaborating for so long, yet you've never met in person.
This time, the artist also took on illustration work for another novel, and they'll be coming over shortly.
You should get acquainted."
Hearing this, Eriri looked at Kaede and said, "I remember your novel's illustrator is Sagono Fumio, right, Kaede-kun? You've never met him?"
"That's right." Kaede nodded.
"My requirements for the illustrations are simple: as long as the character designs meet my expectations, everything else, Editor Nakajima will naturally handle for me.
I just need to focus on writing the book.
But since they're coming today, I might as well get to know them."
Sagono Fumio was an artist from a doujin circle whose usual work, besides doujinshi, involved taking commissions for light novel illustrations.
His art style was excellent.
After reviewing a number of artists, Kaede finally decided to collaborate with him.
As for meeting and getting acquainted, Kaede's thinking was the same then as it was now: he could just leave it to the editor to handle, and he only needed to manage the written content.
Furthermore, he was busy with school at the time, and after school, he went home to write, so he didn't have much time to visit the Bunko.
It was normal that they hadn't met.
After waiting for more than ten minutes, drinking their beverages, and chatting with Machida Sonoko, who had finished her work and was free, the Editorial Department door opened, and someone finally walked in.
"Excuse me~~",
Kaede originally thought his illustrator had arrived, but the person who entered was a girl.
A girl with two short pigtails, wearing a dress, and looking like a university student, walked into the Editorial Department and headed straight towards Editor Nakajima.
"Editor Nakajima, I'm here!"
"Oh, you've arrived!"
Then, under the shocked gaze of Kaede and Eriri, Editor Nakajima said, "Little Kaede, let me introduce you.
This is Sagono Fumio, your novel illustrator.
Hahaha, didn't expect that, did you? The pen name and the person are wildly different!"
"..."
Kaede widened his eyes, looked at the smiling girl in front of him, and said, "Editor Nakajima, are you saying this is Sagono Fumio-sensei?!"
Eriri also looked incredulous.
She had been to Sagono Fumio's booth selling doujinshi before, and he was clearly a guy!
Involuntarily, Eriri felt a sense of crisis, and her gaze sharpened.