Chương 7: [7] (Edited)
Room 3!
Upon entering, Hachiman noticed that the room was already occupied by a person—a beautiful girl seated within.
The girl had long, straight black hair and exuded an air of elegance and dignity. Her presence was quiet and composed.
Adorning her long black hair was a white headband. Her face was delicate, boasting alluring, graceful contours. She wore black stockings on her legs and small black leather shoes on her feet.
Upon observing this beauty with black stockings, Hachiman's eyes widened in surprise—wasn't this Utaha Kasumigaoka?
And wasn't I in the world of Oregairu? Why has Utaha Kasumigaoka appeared here? Could she also be a dimensional traveler like me?
As Hachiman entered and noticed Utaha, he saw her gaze linger on his youthful appearance, though her surprise was subtle. After all, geniuses were scattered everywhere, a truth she was well aware of.
Utaha offered a nod of greeting to Hachiman, who reciprocated the gesture. Following the exchange, silence ensued. Neither of them were particularly skilled at initiating conversation, and being strangers to each other further contributed to the quiet atmosphere.
Taking a seat, Hachiman's gaze passed through the glass in the living room, affording him a clear view of the opposite editorial department. The staff appeared engrossed in their tasks, indicating that they would likely have to wait for some time.
With this in mind, Hachiman retrieved his mobile phone and began to play games.
...
An hour passed as Hachiman immersed himself in his gaming, but his concentration was broken when the door to the office room was gently pushed open. Stepping inside was a woman with short dark blue hair and light blue eyes, elegantly dressed in an office lady outfit.
Her capable demeanor was reflected in the slight sway of her short hair as she walked. While her delicate features might not rival Kasumigaoka Utaha's, she exuded a mature charm that Utaha lacked. Overall, she was a beauty on par with Utaha.
The woman entered the room with a purposeful stride, capturing the attention of both Hachiman and Utaha.
"Ah, I apologize for the wait. It's been a busy day. I'm Machida Sonoko, the editor assigned to your project," she said with a hint of embarrassment, addressing both Hachiman and Utaha Kasumigaoka.
Her introduction broke the silence, and both Hachiman and Utaha nodded in acknowledgment.
"It's not a problem, I haven't waited for too long either. I'm Utaha Kasumigaoka," Utaha replied, shaking her head to show her understanding.
"I see. I'm Hikigaya Hachiman. Thank you for taking the time to review our novel amidst your busy schedule," Hachiman added, acknowledging her effort. He couldn't help but sneak a glance at the beautiful editor in front of him.
Tsk tsk, another woman in black stockings with a mature aura. It's undeniably tempting in some aspects, but Hachiman's focus lay elsewhere. Passing the novel review was his current priority.
"I also appreciate both of your understanding. Would you like something to drink?" Machida Sonoko asked with a smile.
"Coffee!"
"Coffee is good!"
The two replied almost in unison.
"Sure, no problem!" Sonoko Machida brought over three cups of coffee and then turned her attention to Hachiman and Utaha, saying, "Let's not waste any time. Who would like to start?"
"Ladies first, please go ahead, Ms. Kasumigaoka!" With a sense of gentlemanly politeness, Hachiman allowed Kasumigaoka to go first, given her status as a lady.
"Sure, Editor Machida, please take a look. This is my novel," Kasumigaoka nodded, took out the manuscript from her folder, and handed it to Machida Sonoko.
"'Koisuru Metronome,' a romance novel?" Upon receiving the manuscript, Machida Sonoko didn't waste time on small talk and delved straight into the work, browsing through it swiftly.
With her extensive experience as an editor, Machida Sonoko had honed the skill of rapid reading. In just half an hour, she managed to read through the thick manuscript.
After perusing the manuscript, Sonoko Machida closed her eyes and took a moment to reflect. After a brief pause, she opened her eyes and directed her gaze at Kasumigaoka Utaha.
Utaha, too, straightened her posture, sensing that the decisive moment for her novel's fate was approaching.
"Miss Kasumigaoka, may I ask have you never been in a relationship?" Machida Sonoko inquired after the brief silence.
"Yes," Kasumigaoka nodded, a bit puzzled by the unexpected question.
"How should I put it?" Sonoko Machida collected her thoughts, "While the prose is eloquent and the emotional dynamics are well-balanced, the plot still seems somewhat lacking in depth."
"Really?" Kasumigaoka's disappointment was evident upon hearing this; she seemed to believe that her novel had not made the cut.
"But this aspect can be improved. I have confidence in your abilities, Ms. Kasumigaoka." Just as Kasumigaoka Utaha was about to assume it was mere consolation, Machida Sonoko shifted the conversation, "Overall, your manuscript meets the criteria for publication."
"Really?" Kasumigaoka was a little taken aback by the sudden turn of events; she had been bracing for a rejection.
"Absolutely. If a twist is added to the ending of the first volume, I believe it will elicit a strong response." In a final note, Editor Machida offered Kasumigaoka a suggestion for enhancement.
As Utaha pondered over the advice, Sonoko Machida set aside the manuscript she had been reading, turned her attention to Hachiman, and said, "Now, let's move on to Mr. Hikigaya's work."
"Absolutely, this is my manuscript. Please go ahead and review it," Hachiman stated, handing over his work.
"'Sword Art Online'? A story set in another world?" At the sight of the title, Sonoko Machida immediately assumed it was an isekai novel and began her assessment without hesitation.
"Virtual reality... death game... strategic team..."
With each passing line, Machida Sonoko became increasingly engrossed in the narrative. This time, it was evident that the manuscript left a more profound impact on her compared to the previous one.
About an hour later, Machida Sonoko set down the manuscript, closed her eyes in contemplation, and then turned her gaze towards Hachiman.
"What's wrong? Editor Machida, is there a problem with my novel?" Sensing her scrutiny, Hachiman felt a twinge of uncertainty.
"No, it's not that there's a problem with the novel," Sonoko Machida shook her head in response. "On the contrary, your work is quite impressive and it meets the requirements for publication."
"Though there are some areas where the writing is still immature, as long as your story continues to develop, it has the potential to yield quite a good result."
Chương 8: [8] Hachiman Doubting the World(Edited)
Hachiman's expression held a touch of helplessness. He thought, "Since I wrote it well, there's no need to put on such a serious expression. It's a bit scary, isn't it?"
"Then, Editor Machida, can my work be signed?" After hesitating for a moment, Hachiman tentatively asked.
"Of course, Kadokawa won't let go of such an excellent piece of work. Mr. Hikigaya, Ms. Kasumigaoka, please wait a moment. I'll prepare the contract right away," Sonoko Machida replied with a smile. She then got up to prepare the contract.
Kasumigaoka Utaha and Hachiman were once again the only two people left in the living room. The silence persisted, but now there was a trace of curiosity in Utaha's gaze as she looked at Hachiman. She hadn't anticipated that this guy, with his seemingly indifferent eyes, could write so well and receive such high praise.
From Editor Machida's words, she could gather that his work surpassed hers by more than just a little. To realize that someone younger than her could outshine her to this extent was quite unexpected.
This realization stirred a sense of unease in Utaha, who had always been regarded as a talented individual since her childhood.
Not long after, Machida Sonoko returned to the living room with two contracts.
"Okay, here are the contracts for the two of you. Take your time to go through them." Machida Sonoko distributed the contracts in her hand to both of them.
Hachiman took a look at the contract in his hand and nodded in approval. Seeing that they would receive a 12% share of the manuscript fee, he considered it to be quite good. The percentage might seem small, but it's essential to recognize that physical novels and online novels are entirely distinct in terms of printing and publicity. Bookstores undertake significant risks, and for a new author, a 12% share is indeed favorable.
Moreover, both of them would retain the copyright. Therefore, regardless of whether the work is adapted into a manga or anime in the future, they would receive a share of the proceeds once again.
After reviewing the contract, both of them found no issues, so they took pens, signed their names, and then handed the contracts back to Sonoko Machida.
"Congratulations to both of you on signing the contract. Now, you need to decide on a pseudonym. Of course, you can also use your real names," Machida Sonoko mentioned.
"A pseudonym? Then I'll go with 'Wakamono'!" After a brief contemplation, Hachiman settled on this pen name.
"Then I'll use the pen name Utako Kasumi." Utaha decided on her pen name at that moment.
"Wakamono? Utako Kasumi? Sounds good."
Machida Sonoko nodded, considering that pen names weren't a big deal as long as they weren't overly complicated.
"By the way, we'll also set up Kadokawa blog accounts for both of you. Make sure to manage your accounts when the time comes," Sonoko Machida reminded.
"Got it!" Hachiman and Utaha both nodded.
After finalizing the contract, Machida Sonoko checked the time and saw that it was already past twelve.
"It's lunchtime. You must be hungry. I'll treat you to lunch!"
"This... would it cost you, Editor Machida?" Hachiman hesitated.
"It's okay, it's okay, the company will cover it. Consider it a celebration for signing the contract," Sonoko Machida assured him with a smile, patting Hachiman's shoulder. Then, she turned to invite Kasumigaoka Utaha, saying, "Ms. Kasumigaoka, please come along."
"Editor Machida, you can just call me Utaha. Thank you," Kasumigaoka Utaha replied with a nod.
"Great! Let's go then! I'll treat you both to some delicious food," Machida Sonoko said enthusiastically, leading the way.
When the three of them walked out of the Kadokawa building, Komachi, who had been waiting in the shade, immediately ran towards Hachiman.
"Onii-chan!" Komachi called out excitedly to Hachiman.
"Komachi? What are you doing here?" Seeing his sister, Hachiman was taken aback. He couldn't understand why Komachi had come all the way to Kadokawa.
"Um... Hehe, I followed you, Onii-chan," Komachi admitted with a slightly embarrassed smile.
"What?" Hachiman exclaimed, a mixture of surprise and annoyance. "You came to Tokyo alone? What if you encountered any danger on the way?"
He was genuinely concerned about Komachi's safety. The thought of something happening to her made him anxious and worried.
"Komachi, know she was wrong." Seeing that Hachiman was really angry, Komachi shrank her neck, "It's because Onii-chan has been secretive all day long and hasn't told me, I was genuinely worried about you!"
In the end, Komachi's actions were driven by her concern for her older brother.
"Hey..." Hearing Komachi's explanation, Hachiman's frustration softened. He sighed, reached out to rub Komachi's head, and said, "I'm at fault this time. Just don't do something like this again, okay?"
Komachi's face lit up with a smile. "Sure thing, Onii-chan."
The siblings shared a moment of understanding and reconciliation.
"I apologize, Editor Machida. This is my younger sister, Komachi. She followed me to Tokyo today," Hachiman explained to Machida Sonoko with a hint of embarrassment as he pulled Komachi along.
"Don't worry about it. Your sibling relationship seems really wonderful," Machida Sonoko remarked with a smile, likely piecing together the situation. "Since she's your sister, Hachiman, why not join us for lunch?"
Utaha, observing the scene, couldn't help but feel a twinge of envy. As an only child, she couldn't fully comprehend the dynamics of a sibling relationship.
"Thank you for understanding, Editor Machida," Hachiman said sheepishly. Despite the added her sister, he knew he couldn't leave Komachi alone, especially if she hadn't eaten yet.
"No trouble at all," Machida Sonoko replied with a smile.
All four of them climbed into Machida Sonoko's car and before long, arrived at a seemingly modest-sized restaurant.
"Don't be fooled by its size; the taste here is exceptional," Machida Sonoko remarked mysteriously, introducing the place to the trio.
Gazing at the small restaurant, Hachiman's expression turned peculiar. He recognized the name of this restaurant as the "Yukihira Family Restaurant."
"That's correct, it's the restaurant run by the male lead, Yukihira Soma, and his father, Yukihira Joichiro, in 'Food Wars,'" Hachiman realized with a hint of surprise.
"Onii-chan, are you okay?" Komachi questioned, noticing Hachiman's unusual expression.
"It's nothing, just lost in thought," Hachiman reassured her, shaking his head.
As Hachiman mulled over his circumstances, he realized that his journey might not be confined to a single world. Meeting characters like Utaha Kasumigaoka and Machida Sonoko indicated a potential blending of worlds.
With this revelation came a mix of anxiety and hope. Hachiman pondered the possibilities, hoping that no overpowering characters from other worlds would disrupt the balance and happiness he sought.
However, who could predict the future? Hachiman realized he might be overthinking things, and his priority at the moment was to satisfy his hunger. Besides, he was genuinely intrigued by the cuisine attributed to Yukihira Joichiro. After all, in "Food Wars," Joichiro was renowned as one of the best chefs.
With his stomach growling, Hachiman eagerly followed Machida Sonoko into the restaurant, his face lit up with anticipation.
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