Weekend afternoon at the edge of Bunkyo Ward, Tokyo.
Near the subway station, small shops lined the street. A bakery, a convenience store, and a narrow bookstore at the corner with its shelves open to the sidewalk. Right beside it stood an ordinary old house that looked easy to miss if you weren’t looking for it.
Two n in suits stopped in front of the gate.
"Um, Yamashiro-san," the blond young man said, glancing around the quiet street.
"Mhm?" his senior replied.
"Is this really the right house?"
The junior looked confused. He hadn’t expected the author they were eting to live sowhere like this.
[Yagami Kazutake — First year with the company. New employee. 0 volus moved.]
"Yes," the older man said calmly. "And don’t be disrespectful. We’re at the correct address. As editors, we should show proper respect regardless of age. Stay calm and observe."
[Yamashiro Rentarou — 11 years with the company.Deputy Editor-in-Chief. 600,369,000 volus moved.]
"Yes, sir!"
Yagami nodded quickly. Despite his serious expression, he was secretly excited.
They were about to et a rising mangaka who had suddenly beco famous.
Rentarou adjusted his necktie, took a slow breath, and pressed the doorbell.
*Ding~! Dong~!*
The chi echoed through the quiet house.
A mont later—
*Click!* Shiiii—
The sliding door opened.
Both n blinked in surprise.
A beautiful woman stood in the doorway.
Her hair was black as obsidian, tied loosely over one shoulder. Her skin was pale, almost like snow under the afternoon light. Golden almond-shaped eyes watched them calmly. A faint red mark rested on her forehead above a slender, elegant face.
She wore a Taishō-style maid kimono, the kind you might see in a maid café.
[Image:]
...
For a mont, both n forgot to speak.
"May I know who you are?" the woman asked coolly.
"Ah—!*Cough*" Rentarou coughed lightly and regained his composure. "Yes. We’re from Weekly Shōnen Magazine. We ca to see Asahi-sensei."
The woman studied them quietly.
Sothing about her gaze made Yagami feel strangely nervous.
"...I see," she said.
She stepped aside and opened the door wider.
"Please co in."
The two editors entered the house as she guided them toward the living room.
"Please relax here for a mont. I will call Master."
Without waiting for their reply, the woman turned and walked gracefully toward the stairs.
Rentarou and Yagami watched her go in silence.
Yagami leaned slightly toward his senior and lowered his voice.
"Yamashiro-san... do you know who that woman is?"
Rentarou frowned faintly and shook his head.
"No. This is the first ti I’ve seen her."
He crossed his arms and glanced toward the staircase where the woman had disappeared.
"The last ti I visited this place, Weeb-sensei is the one greeted himself. His assistant was with him too, but I’ve never seen that woman before."
Yagami blinked in surprise. "Really?"
He leaned back slightly on the sofa, still staring at the stairs.
"She looked... different."
"Different how?" Rentarou asked.
Yagami hesitated for a mont before answering.
"I don’t know how to explain it... but when she looked at us, it felt really cold. Like she was staring right through us."
He rubbed the back of his head awkwardly.
"And the way she talked... it didn’t really feel like we were guests."
Rentarou remained quiet for a mont, thinking.
Then he gave a small sigh.
"Don’t overthink it. Maybe she’s just a new maid hired by Weeb-sensei."
Yagami nodded, though he still looked uncertain. "...Yeah. Maybe."
---
anwhile, Amaterasu infront of the door.
A small wooden sign hung on the door.
Otaku Collection Room.
[Do Not Enter – Private Property]
Amaterasu reached into the pocket of her apron and took out a small set of keys.
*Click!*
The door unlocked.
She slid it open quietly and stepped inside.
The room was size of house factory filled from floor to ceiling with collections.
Manga volus lined up different genre the shelves in perfect rows.
Ga consoles and limited-edition boxes were stacked neatly along the walls.
Several glass cases displayed ani figures and rare collectibles.
It looked less like a normal room and more like a personal museum.
Amaterasu walked deeper into the room until she reached the far corner.
There, sitting on the floor among several open manga volus, was a young man.
A faint holographic projection floated in front of him, displaying panels from a manga that didn’t physically exist.
Beside him sat Tet, quietly reading along with the projected pages.
The images were being reconstructed from fragnts of Asahi’s mories.
Asahi turned another projected page when he suddenly noticed soone standing beside him.
He looked up.
"Oh," he said. "Is sothing wrong, Amaterasu?"
"You have visitors, Master."
Asahi blinked.
"Visitors?"
He tilted his head slightly.
"Hmm... I don’t rember having an appointnt today."
"They said they ca from your workplace, Master," Amaterasu replied calmly. "They are from Weekly Shōnen Magazine."
Asahi froze for a second.
"...Mhm?"
His brows slowly furrowed. "Rentarou-san?" Confusion spread across his face.
Why was he here?
He had already submitted his manuscript before the deadline.
Actually he already passed the advance Chapter too so he can relax for a mont.
So why would his editor suddenly visit his house?
He stared at the floating manga panels in silence, deep in thought.
Sothing about this felt unusual.
Asahi nodded, "Okay, I will go and et them." He stand up and look
---
Back in the living room, the house remained quiet.
Yagami and Rentarou sat on the sofa, waiting.
From upstairs, faint footsteps echoed through the hallway.
Step... step... step...
Both n looked toward the staircase.
"Soone’s coming," Yagami whispered.
Imdiately, the two editors stood up from the sofa out of habit and respect.
The footsteps grew closer.
Then two small figures appeared at the top of the stairs.
Yagami blinked.
A... kid?
The first was a red-haired boy with ssy hair and a relaxed expression, wearing a casual shirt and shorts.
Beside him walked a small blonde girl.
Her hair shone softly in the afternoon light from the window. But what caught Yagami’s attention the most were her eyes.
They were different colors.
One crimson red.
The other deep blue.
Yagami froze.
Heterochromia...?
He had seen it in manga and ani many tis, but seeing it in real life was completely different. For a mont, he found himself staring without realizing it.
The girl noticed.
Her mismatched eyes shifted toward him calmly.
Yagami suddenly stiffened and looked away awkwardly.
anwhile, Rentarou stepped forward without hesitation.
"Weeb-sensei, Tet-sensei" he said politely with a small bow. "It’s been a while."
The red-haired boy stopped halfway down the stairs and looked at him.
Then a small smile appeared on his face.
"Ah, Yamashiro-san. I already told you, Asahi is fine if we’re at ho."
Rentarou straightened and adjusted his glasses.
" We’re on business hour so I hope you two understand and looks like you enjoyed your vacation in Italy."
Then suddenly behind Asahi, Tet wave at him.
"Hello~Its been a while, Rentarou-Ojisan. Look like you getting older."
Rentarou mounth’s twitch and replied complain, "Hey, Im not that old."
"hehehehe"
Asahi and Tet chuckling casually walked down the remaining steps.
he replied lazily. "Italy was nice. Though soone kept dragging around every tourist spot she could find."
The blonde girl beside him imdiately protested.
"Hey! Don’t make it sound like you hated it," she said, placing her hands on her hips. "You were the one who ate three plates of pasta."
Asahi shrugged. "That’s because it was good."
"Hahaha, looks like you two enjoy."
Yagami’s head snapped toward him in shock.
Vacation...?
His brain struggled to catch up couldnt help ask.
"Wait."
Everyone look at the Yagami shock expression.
"That kid is Weeb-sensei?!"
Yagami stared again at the red-haired boy standing infront of them.
His idol.
The rising mangaka.
The genius behind the series that had taken by storm.
Was...
A kid.
Asahi look at Rentarou just sigh and realise what is happening.
’Interesting...’ He though.
"Thats , alright."
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