Sunday, 10 AM, Fushikawa Bunko, small reception room of the editorial departnt.
Kaede looked at Editor Nakajima and Editor Machida sitting opposite him, and said with a sullen face, "So, wasn't I supposed to be on vacation? Why did you call here, and insist on keeping it a secret?"
Editor Nakajima took a sip of tea and said with a laugh, "Hahaha, this idea today wasn't mine, it was Editor Machida's. He asked to call you over too."
"Is that so?"
Kaede looked at Machida Sonoko.
Machida Sonoko also smiled and explained, "Kaede-kun, wasn't the selection for our Bunko's Newcor Award over? The gold prize-winning work has been decided for publication, and that new author has been assigned to . Sister, I finally have a flagship author! And, she happens to be from the sa school as you. She'll be coming over today to discuss her light novel, so I thought I'd ask you to co too and get to know each other. Authors from the sa Bunko, and also peers from the sa school, isn't that great?"
"…Eh?"
Kaede belatedly realized who he was about to et.
He did know about the Bunko's Newcor Award before it started, but he hadn't paid much attention to it afterward. Plus, it was close to graduation at that ti, and he was also preparing for his entrance exams, so his writing ti was greatly reduced, and he certainly wouldn't care about the results of the Newcor Award.
And at school, although a few classmates had ntioned the second-year high-achiever Kasumigaoka Utaha, he hadn't actually t her face-to-face.
The sudden request to call him out to et and get to know her as a colleague really caught Kaede off guard.
Seeing Kaede in a daze, Machida Sonoko also showed a mysterious smile: "Kaede-kun, this new author is a great beauty, you know. As your elder sister, I've given you a great opportunity to get close to her, don't miss it!"
"…"
Coming back to his senses, Kaede looked at Machida Sonoko and said, "Editor Machida."
"Hmm?"
"Why are you like my mom, constantly worrying about my love life? You should focus on your own emotional issues. You've been working for several years and are still single. That's not good."
"Pfft… Hahahahaha!!!"
Editor Nakajima, who was next to him, couldn't hold back and burst into laughter, saying, "Machida, I told you before, there's no need to talk about such things with Kaede-kun. Now you're being roasted, aren't you?"
"Senior!!!"
After glaring at Editor Nakajima, Machida Sonoko looked at Kaede opposite her and said with an indignant expression, "Kaede-kun! I've been so concerned about you, and you're actually roasting in return? Don't go too far!"
"Well, I apologize for that," Kaede apologized without hesitation, then said, "As compensation, I'll talk to my parents later. If there's a suitable candidate, I'll introduce them to Editor Machida, how about that? My parents' social circle includes many excellent people, which should help Editor Machida quickly find a partner."
Hearing Kaede say this, a flicker of obvious excitent crossed Machida Sonoko's face, but it was hidden the next second. She pretended to be calm and said, "Ahem, well, that's up to fate, up to fate."
"Then… then no introduction?"
"Ah, no!"
Just as she reached out, she saw Kaede looking at her with a smile, and Machida Sonoko imdiately knew she had been tricked. The thick skin she had developed over years in the workplace also flushed red.
Fortunately, at this mont, the reception room door was opened in ti, and an editor from the editorial departnt ca in and said, "Editor Nakajima, Editor Machida, Utako Kasumi-sensei has arrived!"
As if saved, Machida Sonoko quickly said, "Then let Utako Kasumi-sensei co over."
"Okay."
Soon, the reception room door was pushed open, and a girl with long black hair wearing a Toyosaki uniform walked in: "Excuse ."
"Oh, Utaha, co in quickly!"
Machida Sonoko happily stood up and waved at Utaha.
After Utaha entered, she also saw another boy besides the two editors, who would be one of her future colleagues at the Bunko.
However, this wasn't their first eting. After learning Kaede's identity from Machida Sonoko, Utaha had seen him several tis at school. Of course, he wasn't aware of this, and even seed a bit paranoid due to her several secret observations.
Thinking about how she finally got the chance to debut through the Newcor Award, but had stayed up late for a long ti struggling with writer's block while writing the entire first volu, and how this boy in front of her had successfully debuted in junior high and his light novel was very popular, Utaha's slight inner apology imdiately vanished completely.
At Machida Sonoko's call, Utaha sat down next to Kaede, leaving one seat between them, and then spoke first: "You must be konosuba's Kurenai Momiji-sensei. Please take care of . My na is Kasumigaoka Utaha, and my pen na is Utako Kasumi."
"You're too kind, Senpai. My real na is Kaede, just call by my na. Please take care of ."
Although he knew Utaha had a sharp tongue, since she was so polite upon eting, Kaede naturally reciprocated, as they would undoubtedly have many more interactions in the future.
Seeing that they both knew each other, Machida Sonoko clapped her hands with a smile and said, "One of you has already published a light novel, and the other has won the gold prize in the Newcor Award and will be published soon. You two must help each other and work hard together in the future! So, Utaha, tell us about your light novel's upcoming plans. Do you have any preferred illustrators?"
"Illustrator?"
Kaede looked at Utaha with so surprise and asked, "Haven't you chosen an illustrator yet?"
Nodding, Utaha said with so distress, "Actually, Editor Machida and Editor Nakajima both recomnded several illustrators who collaborate with the Bunko. I also looked at their works, and they are indeed very good. But my light novel is a youth romance, and those illustrators are mostly fantasy style. I'm worried that if the illustrator changes their style, it might not quite fit my light novel."
Style, that is indeed a problem.
Kaede nodded in agreent. If the styles are different, even if the illustrations are of high quality, there will be a sense of disharmony, which is a very important issue for a new book.
Editor Nakajima also said, "So, I told Utako Kasumi-sensei that she could look for suitable illustrators or doujin artists these past few days, and if she found any, she could tell us, and we would contact them to see if we could collaborate. So, Utako Kasumi-sensei, have you found a suitable one?"
"That's right."
Utaha said happily, "After searching for several days, I finally found a doujin artist whose art style is gorgeous and deeply to my liking, it's just that her fa seems to be quite significant."
Machida Sonoko heard this, patted her chest and said, "It's alright, we know most of the artists in the industry, and we at Fushikawa can contact them. So, Little Utaha, just tell us."
"Since Editor Machida said so, then I'm relieved."
Utaha smiled and revealed the na of the doujin artist she had her eye on.
"The other party's main profession is a doujin artist for a doujin circle, and her pen na is Kashiwagi Eri."
"Pfft!!!!"
Kaede, who was beside her, imdiately spat out a mouthful of water.
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