It was now July, with less than ten days left before Fall Guys launched. The dev team was already fully prepared and had even begun developing more skins and stages for future updates.
After lunch at campus, Ichin dropped Utaha off at the publishing house, then returned to campus for his afternoon classes.
Sitting in the lecture hall, he listened halfheartedly to the professor explaining knowledge he already knew, while his mind wandered back to game development—specifically, the GARO adaptation.
The battle system had already been designed, simplified from the one being made for Tales of Berseria, with new mechanics tailored to specific characters. The combat was guaranteed to feel thrilling.
As for the story, Ichin planned to meet with GARO's original author and scriptwriter later to discuss and shape a narrative path suitable for a game.
Just the first season plus the special episodes wouldn't be enough to fill an entire game—he'd need to add more.
After class, he turned down classmates' invitation to go sing at KTV. No one was upset; everyone knew Ichin was busy managing a company.
Leaving the lecture hall, he headed to the library, where Yukino was waiting for him with a book. They had already agreed yesterday that they'd have dinner at his place tonight and later go pick up Haruno from work.
Sure enough, when he arrived at Yukino's study area, all the nearby seats were occupied by male students.
Ichin doubted they were really here to study. Yukino had already rejected several confessions, yet these guys didn't seem to give up.
He figured it must be because her sharp tongue had softened since high school. If she were still that caustic, there probably wouldn't be so many guys sitting around her now.
Carrying two cans of juice, Ichin walked straight over and sat beside her.
He glanced at the book she was reading—it was full of law content, far outside his expertise.
Setting the juice down in front of her, he whispered, "Still reading? Take a little break."
Without looking up, Yukino murmured, "Mm, just let me finish this section."
Ichin didn't rush her. He cracked open his juice, took a sip, and idly scrolled through his phone, ignoring the hostile stares radiating from nearby.
He didn't believe these guys didn't know about his relationship with Yukino—but jealousy rarely cared about logic. He was used to it anyway; back in high school when he dated Utaha, and even now at Todai, he'd long since learned how to brush it off.
After about ten minutes, Yukino finally closed her book and finished the last of her assignments.
Seeing her rub her temples, Ichin asked softly, "Is law classes tough? There's so much to memorize, isn't there?"
"There really is a lot, especially concepts you have to memorize and fully understand without any mistakes."
She took the juice and drank, then asked, "Are we picking up Utaha-senpai first?"
"Yeah, it's on the way. She's just discussing the release prep for her new volume and grabbing tea with Sonoko. Rest a bit, we've got time—we'll head out in about ten minutes."
Yukino nodded, sipping her juice. She was tired after a full day of study.
Ichin glanced at the guys around them and said quietly, "Yukino, I bet people from other departments sometimes come sit in on your classes too, huh?"
"…Hm?" Surprised, she followed his gaze, then sighed, a hint of annoyance in her tone. "Yes, but thankfully the girls in my class sit around me, so I don't get bothered too much."
Her personality had mellowed a lot, and though there weren't many girls in her major, they had good tempers and got along well with her. They were happy to help, so classes were manageable.
"Good, that's a relief. Haruno's asked me more than once to keep an eye on you at collage." Ichin smiled. "Since you're on good terms with your classmates, maybe you can rely on them a little too. Tomorrow, if I've got time, I'll treat your friends to milk tea."
As Yukino's "god-brother," it was only right to show his thanks.
But Yukino hadn't expected that. Her cheeks warmed slightly as she whispered, "That's not necessary… I can treat them myself."
"It's fine. You can still take them out shopping or treat them later. I just want to meet the new friends you've made. And besides, if I don't go, then Haruno will—and compared to her, isn't it better if I go?"
At that, Yukino fell silent. He had a point. Her relationship with Haruno was much better now, but given her sister's personality… who knew how far she might tease or meddle with her classmates. Better let Ichin go.
"…Then I'll trouble you."
After finishing their drinks, Yukino packed up, and they left the library together. As soon as they were gone, the boys who had been crowding her area began trickling away too.
Yukino hadn't driven that day—Ichin had picked her up in the morning, so she rode back with him in the afternoon.
They headed to Fujikawa Publishing. After sending Utaha a message, she told them to come in first. Ichin parked the car, and he and Yukino went inside.
They walked straight to the editorial department, where Utaha was sitting with Sonoko Machida.
"Good afternoon, Miss Sonoko."
Ichin greeted her, then asked, "Is there still something unresolved?"
Smiling, Machida replied, "Don't worry, it's nothing major. We're just waiting on the sample copies of Utaha's new volume—they're on the way. What would you two like to drink? I'll prepare it."
Ichin and Yukino both asked for coffee, so Machida headed to the break room.
This was only Yukino's third time here, so she looked around curiously. "There aren't many editors here today."
"It's the start of the month," Utaha explained with a smile. "Most of them are out chasing manuscripts. Some went to pick up printed samples."
Her novel was already in its latter half and progressing smoothly. All that was left was to wait for the anime adaptation schedule to move forward.
Though many new authors had debuted in the past two years, none had managed to overshadow Utaha. At this rate, she was already on track to become the pillar author of Immortal River Publishing.
*
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