With my golden curls curled and a gray sweatshirt that read "I'm my own friend" draped over my shoulders, I settled into the soft seat of the tinted black car. On its door was the Scaipia Book Group logo, a geometric hexagon with a central star that drew attention.
"I've never understood this obsession with flat geometric shapes. Although, what does it matter?"
A thought flashed through my mind as the car slowed down abruptly. The driver gestured towards the door, which opened smoothly, revealing a majestic blue tower with gleaming glass panels that seemed impenetrable.
"Okay, okay! Let me grab my things!"
After placing the flash drive containing the completed manuscript and the copy of the manuscript in my pocket, I carefully stepped out of the car and approached the tower, noticing small irregularities on its top.
"There must be a helipad on the roof, shaped like a hexagon."
My thoughts were interrupted by an unusual crowd of people waiting for someone at the entrance, but when I saw that one of the people was holding a sign with my name, I shouted:
— Waaay! Vyatko-chan, your books are amazing, I love you!
— Please tell us what will happen in the next story!
— Why is the detective's brother on the run in the third volume, and you haven't explained what happened? Will there be a description in the fourth book?
The shouts grew louder, each person calling out my name in hopes of an answer. As I felt the crowd's energy intensify, I quickly pulled the gray hood over my head, donned my sunglasses, and gratefully followed the security guards.
They swiftly escorted me inside the corporate building, leaving the crowd behind.
— Thank you, guys, that's what I need you for.
I said with a sense of appreciation. The guards didn't respond, just smiled and silently escorted me to the creative room.
It was a spacious office with bright walls and a cozy atmosphere. The team responsible for editing my book was sitting on a red sofa. There were five people in the room, including Keji Watanabi and myself.
Keji, a man of boundless energy, moved around the room with joy, his voice filling the space. He was on the phone. It was likely with shareholders preparing to support the fourth volume of my book.
I knew their support was vital to the project's success.
The team looked focused. Pages were printed on the tables, marked with red and blue markers.
Each team member was endowed with unique skills, allowing them to work together seamlessly. I knew that their professionalism and experience would play a key role in the final form of the book.
The room was filled with energy. It smelled of coffee and fresh pastries. I felt a wave of excitement wash over me.
— How are you? Did the amount for these four months go down?
A dark-haired girl asked with a hint of curiosity. She looked like the kind of person who always wears a gold medal around her neck and a fifth-dan karate belt around her waist. Although it's unlikely that she was actually interested in karate.
Akaha Kuefi was my editor, and her directness was always impressive. She didn't hesitate to point out any mistakes in my writing. Her criticism was constructive, but sometimes quite harsh.
One day, she even broke into my house by kicking down the front door. I was shocked, but I knew that was her style. She made me rewrite ten whole chapters of the second volume of my mystery novel.
It wasn't easy. I remember sitting at my desk trying to figure out what exactly was wrong with my writing. Akaha didn't spare me. Every time I thought I had it down, she found something new.
In the end, her persistence led me to see my mistakes from a completely different perspective. I learned to appreciate her advice.
I still remember how she stood by my head until five in the morning, keeping me awake. That's why I'm a little cautious now.
— I'm fine. Thank you, Akaha.
I replied, trying to hide my fatigue.
— Ah-ha-ha , why are you so uncooperative? Are you still sulking about the time I kicked down your front door?
Akaha said with a smile, tilting her head slightly to the side. Her laughter was contagious, but the memory of that incident was still fresh in my mind.
Damn, she knows how to use her eyes, I better not argue with her, it seems like this girl can read minds.
— Akaha, don't bother her...
Suddenly, my protector, a creative illustrator named Bas Vai, intervened. He was the kind of guy who looked like a teenager, but was actually in his thirties. With his creativity and easygoing attitude, he always knew how to lighten the mood.
Bas was known in our circle as someone who wasn't afraid to speak his mind. His sharp sense of humor and unique perspective on the world made him an indispensable friend. I knew that I could feel safe around him. In those moments, I wished he would always be there for me.
— Don't worry so much...
I said, finally looking away from Akaha. Her laughter didn't seem so harmless anymore. It was important to maintain a certain distance. I didn't want my editor to think I couldn't handle myself. Every time I let others interfere, it made things more complicated.
— Did you bring the material? That's what we're interested in, and that's why we're all here.
Finally, the silent orange cat sitting in the corner of the couch responded. He's the one who always moves from talking to action. With his green eyes tinged with matcha and short orange hair, he's responsible for promoting and advertising my work — Tomo.
He decided that everyone would call him by that name, even though it was just a username.
I handed Tomo a flash drive and took a copy of the material out of the folder for the guys, and they quickly grabbed the materials like hungry animals in a zoo that had just served breakfast.
When I imagined them as animals in a zoo, I felt a admiring gaze on me, and my skin crawled. Kenji Watanabe stopped talking on the phone and approached me from behind, catching me off guard.
—How's our star?
"Well, if I didn't know him, I'd punch him in his smug face."
— Um, I've been thinking a lot lately.
— That's obvious from the draft you brought us.
Akaha suddenly replied, reading my draft at a rapid pace and correcting some mistakes with a red pen.
— Are you tired? Maybe you should take a year off. You've been working non-stop for two years.
Keji Watanabi took my thin, ink-stained hands with a smile that indicated that these were not really questions, but rather hints.
—I hadn't really thought about it.
All four people in the room looked at each other and smiled slyly, showing that they already had a plan, and I didn't like it.
—Starting tomorrow, you'll be taking a paid vacation with our organization.
Keji surprised me with this news, and I didn't know how to respond.
—But what about my work? What about...
— Your work won't go away, and we'll keep in touch with you from time to time. Besides, we have other things to do.
Bas Vai waved a copy of my fourth volume of detective stories in front of me.
— Look, you need a break to get inspired, and this year you can travel the world, try new things, and maybe do something you haven't done before. We don't want our writer to get depressed and procrastinate by staying indoors.
I had no choice but to agree, especially since the vacation was paid. Who would turn down such an opportunity? Although I'm not quite sure what to do yet. Pulling my hands out of my boss's strong grip, I reached into my jacket and felt for a flyer.
— M, what else did I put in my pockets besides the flash drive?
A flyer with the name of the VR MMORPG game "Log Apofis" fell onto my team's desk. They put down a copy of my novel and looked at me and the flyer in bewilderment.
— It seems that you have already found something to do on your vacation?
Tomo smiled with a smug face and poked his finger at the flyer with the game's image. I quickly took the paper and hid it in the bottom pocket of my hoodie.
— It's not what you think! And I'm not a fan of playing games...
— Yes, then why don't you throw away this flyer? If you're not interested.
I didn't say anything, just looked at the guys thoughtfully, until the boss brought me a document about my paid vacation, although it was nice, but how difficult, I didn't ask for it.
— Perhaps this is a chance to try something new?
Keji Watanabi's words kept running through my mind as I sat in the dark, tinted car, my thoughts unsettled. What if I really should try something new?
My hand reached into the pocket of my hoodie and pulled out the game flyer again.
Damn, it's annoying, but there's something about it... so, Log Apophis. Yes?
My head didn't know anything about games, so the first name that came to my mind was my brother, who knew a lot about this world. When I got home, I quickly dialed my brother's number, and to my surprise, he answered quickly.
— Sister, what's the reason for your call?
— Katzu, hi. Could you help me with something related to games?
—…
— Katzu, can you hear me?
I could hear something breaking on the phone, followed by a sudden laugh.
— Ho-ho-ho! You don't like games. What happened to my sister?
— I'm serious! Will you help me or not?
— Calm down. Don't shout, if you're serious, I'll be there in two hours.