Now that she put it that way, they really were old acquaintances.
Wait a minute!
Only now did Kamashiro Shiro react, staring at Hanabi in disbelief. "So the company we're working with this time is... Eagle Jump?!"
"Mhm. I told you, it's an old friend of yours."
Hanabi nodded calmly, taking a sip of her coffee. It was obvious she already knew about Kamashiro's past work writing scripts for Eagle Jump.
"But… but isn't Eagle Jump a game company?!"
Kamashiro still couldn't believe it. Had he misheard earlier?
Did Hanabi say gamification instead of animation?
But what in Aqua could even be turned into a game? Even Otaku-chan alone was enough of a hassle for Eagle Jump!
"Ara~ Seems like Kamashiro -kun isn't too up to date with recent industry news.
We at Eagle Jump are preparing to venture into animation. And our very first project will be yours, Kamashiro-kun. So Kamishiro-kun you must be touched right?"
Hazuki Shizuku placed a hand on Kamashiro's shoulder, smiling brightly as she explained.
That expression… like a hungry wolf spotting a helpless lamb~
(.;゜;:_:;゜;.)
"Well then, it's happily decided~"
Everything was settled. Hazuki Shizuku's smile was radiant as she shook Kamashiro's hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. "Looking forward to working with you, Kamashiro-kun. Come by the company more often if you're free—Hifumi really misses you~"
The corner of Kamashiro Shiro's mouth twitched as he thought of the shy girl who loved cosplay.
"...Yeah."
"See you then~"
Hazuki Shizuku waved goodbye to the two of them. Since most of this had already been finalized, this meeting hadn't taken much time at all.
As he watched Hazuki walk away, Kamashiro shed a silent tear. He felt like his first anime adaptation was doomed to fail.
This was clearly a guinea pig trial!
Originally, Kamashiro wanted to refuse—he didn't have much confidence in Eagle Jump.
But...
They were offering way too much!
And they were even letting him be the scriptwriter for the adaptation. How could he resist?
"Hanabi-chan, are you sure this is okay…"
Hanabi shot him a glare. "You were pretty eager just now—where was this worry then?"
"Ahem, that was because I trust you."
"Cut it out. It was obviously the power of money. Besides, they asked you to be the writer—what are you afraid of?"
"Now that you mention it…"
Kamashiro Shiro nodded. At least if he was involved, he could ensure the plot wouldn't be too badly butchered. It was far better than authors who had no creative control.
"More than that, I want to know what's going on with this Hifumi girl. You're such a sinner."
"Ahem… that was an accident."
"Please. Every time you mess with a girl, you say it was an accident."
Hanabi didn't believe a word of it. She knew more than a handful of girls he'd charmed. They couldn't all be accidents.
"Alright, get in the car. We're heading to the next place."
"Next place? We have more to do?"
Kamashiro looked surprised. He had no idea there was another stop.
"You'll see when we get there."
Hanabi grabbed his arm and started dragging him toward the car.
"Wait, wait! I want to say goodbye to Touka-chan!"
"No need. You two won't have anything to do with each other."
"Outrageous! Are you questioning my charm?!"
"I'm questioning your courage. A coward who has to go incognito just to come to Tokyo."
"I'm just cosplaying as a celebrity…"
The fragile Kamashiro-kun was shoved unceremoniously into the passenger seat by his fierce editor. Before they left, Kamashiro Shiro cast one last pitiful glance at the girl sitting inside the café.
Hanabi felt like she was the villain in some sort of tragic drama.
She smacked him on the head.
"You should seriously consider acting. Dream big, you drama queen!"
Inside the café—
Seeing the scene unfold, the squinty-eyed manager smiled. "Our Touka's quite the charmer."
Irimi teased her too, nudging Touka with her elbow. "That boy was kinda cute~ are you not tempted?"
Hearing everyone's teasing, Touka sighed helplessly. "Spare me. He's clearly a playboy."
（λ?_??）
"Playboys can be sweet too. Once you catch him, he's all yours.
And you wouldn't be getting the short end of the stick either—look at that face, that waist, slurp~ If you don't make a move, I will!"
"Hey! I'm still here, you know!"
Enji Koma was stunned. How did watching this drama end with him getting betrayed?!
"Sorry, Koma~ I realized I still prefer the young ones~"
"Damn it, I'm getting plastic surgery."
"Hahahaha—!"
The mood inside the Anteiku café turned cheerful again. Even Touka smiled as she looked out at Kamashiro Shiro's departing figure.
She had a feeling… they might cross paths again.
"Don't tell me this is our destination?"
Kamashiro Shiro was stunned as he stared at the familiar building in front of him. He never expected his beautiful editor to bring him here.
" Thirty-Four Love Hotel"!
He thought they were here to talk business, and she brought him to a love hotel?!
Kamashiro turned his head stiffly and saw that his editor's expression looked a bit unnatural. Her face was slightly flushed.
Her tight-fitting business suit accentuated her curves, and her long legs wrapped in black stockings gave off a certain allure.
#GLARE!
Noticing his heated gaze, Hanabi glared at him furiously, then strode toward the entrance.
"Hurry up and follow me!"
Σ(っ °Д °;)っ
"W-Wait, are you serious?!"
Kamashiro stood frozen. Was he dreaming? Was Hanabi-chan really offering herself like this?
Was it… because he was too handsome?
"Mhm. Isn't this your favorite kind of thing?"
"Ahem, I think you might have misunderstood. I mean, this sort of thing…"
"Then we're not going?"
(;?＿?)
"Well, since we're already here… we might as well take a look."
"Tch."
Hanabi cast him a disdainful look but didn't say no. She entered the Thirty-Four Love Hotel with him.
"Hanabi-chan, are you sure you're okay? Did something happen recently?"
Kamashiro still felt uneasy. This happiness came way too suddenly.
Hanabi tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "No. I've just come to a realization lately. I asked you to come here because of that."
!
"So… it's a long-harbored feeling?"
"Mhm. You could say that."
(?ˉ??ˉ??)
Kamashiro Shiro's expression grew more and more lecherous.
Ah, so that's how it is—feelings developed over time~
Looks like even his strict editor couldn't resist his charm!
But it made sense. She wasn't young anymore. They were both adults. These kinds of needs were natural.
Ehehehe.
Hanabi-chan~
Even if she wasn't the innocent schoolgirl version anymore, the mature, business-suited Hanabi-chan had her own special charm!
Thinking about it made Kamashiro Shiro all the more excited. This Tokyo trip was definitely worth it!
It even explained why Hanabi interrupted his flirting with Touka-chan earlier.
She was jealous!
Ah…
What an adorably dishonest editor~
Meanwhile…
Looking at Kamashiro Shiro's perverted expression, Hanabi also smiled—but her eyes were filled with murderous intent.
Long-harbored feelings?
Yes—long-harbored hatred for a serial procrastinator!
Did this bastard really think handing in just a rough draft would be enough?! Let's see how he reflects in the dark room!
And the one upstairs? another delinquent writer!
Perfect—two birds, one trap.
Kill!
Kill all the procrastinators in the world!
Hanabi the Pigeon Slayer was trembling with anticipation!
"This place is new right? The name feels weird'
Kamishiro Shiro looked around the environment of this love hotel. It was unexpectedly nice with a retro vibe.
"How do you know"
Hanabi looked at him, puzzled. This hotel was indeed newly opened, but how would Kamishiro Shiro, who had been staying in Izu, know that?
"Of course I know. Before I left, I practically visited every love hotel in Tokyo."
"..."
Looking at Kamishiro Shiro explaining himself with a completely serious face, Hanabi suddenly had the urge to punch him.
You're actually proud of that?!
Just how many girls have you led astray?
She suddenly felt like she was performing a public service...
However, Kamishiro Shiro didn't think he had said anything wrong. He was just stating a fact. After all, love hotels in Tokyo weren't nearly as safe as the Love Hotel back at izu.
If you didn't switch places frequently enough, you might get caught and blown up by those beasts.
"You really are such a bastard."
"No choice, I was forced to~"
Kamishiro Shiro spread his hands innocently—blame those beasts for being too outrageous.
"So, why is it called that?" Kamishiro asked in confusion. Usually, weird names like this had some kind of meaning behind them, like the Longhu Love Hotel.
"I heard it's a combination of the boss and boss lady's names."
"Combination?"
What kind of name combo ends up as Thirty-Four? How absurd does it have to be?
"Yeah, the boss lady's name is Okita Mitsuba. As for the boss, no one knows exactly, but I heard he's a cop."
"..."
(???)
Oh.
Now he understood how it became Thirty-Four. The other one must be Hijikata Toshirou!
Wait a second—he's a cop running a love hotel instead of chasing down Katsura? That's totally fine, right?!
Hold on again?!
A cop running a love hotel.
Kamishiro Shiro's grin slowly turned wicked. He'd just found the perfect spot. Next time he came to Tokyo, he wouldn't have to worry about being bothered by those people anymore.
Absolutely perfect!
At this thought, the look he gave Hanabi was tinged with appreciation. No wonder she was his editor—she got him!
(???)
"Please don't look at me like that, Kamishiro. Also, we should head up now."
Hanabi's words snapped Kamishiro back to reality, and his grin turned even more pervy. "Right, let's get to business!"
(?ˉ??ˉ??)
Ehehehe, Hanabi-chan~
…
With excitement in his heart, Kamishiro pushed open the door that symbolized the adult world~
However, just as he cracked the door open a bit, a tremendous force yanked it wide open.
A silver-white blur, like an unleashed husky, pounced on him. Her red lips landed on his face like a storm.
"Senpai!"
That voice—so familiar.
That hair color—so familiar.
That nudity—also very familiar.
That delinquent behavior—definitely familiar.
"Nayuta Kani?!" ( Kazuko Hashima from imouto sae ireba)
Kamishiro was stunned to see the naked girl in front of him. Once he regained his senses, he shoved her back inside the room.
Cold sweat dripping from his forehead, he looked at his editor, whose face was laced with mischief. "This intense, huh?"
"Hehe, it gets even better. Go on in!"
Kamishiro felt a foreboding chill rise in his heart and tried to flee. "I just remembered I have club activities! Gotta go!"
As he turned to run, he was fully aware—if it was only Hanabi, he could believe that maybe she was doing this for him. But three people right off the bat?!
No way!
Hanabi didn't chase him. Instead, she opened the door wider, revealing the adorable and very naked Miss Kanou Nayuta—aka Nayuta Kani.
"Senpai!"
With one shout, Kamishiro was once again tackled to the ground!
Hanabi thoughtfully covered Nayuta's exposed body with a bedsheet.
Then she grabbed Kamishiro by the legs and dragged him into the room—where they'd be staying for the next day or two.
"AAAAHHH! Hanabi-chan, you lied to me! This isn't what you said at all!"
"Did I say anything, Mr. Kamishiro? And isn't having a beautiful woman in your arms exactly what you want most?"
"Ehehehe, senpai~"
Gurgle~
Feeling Nayuta's smooth skin, Kamishiro found it hard to say anything against his will.
But still…
He just couldn't believe Hanabi had gone through all this just to help Nayuta seduce him!