"Kashiwagi Eri-sensei, I wonder what you have considered, can you give me an answer now?"
On the rooftop of Toyosaki Academy, two beautiful girls stood facing each other in the twilight.
The two girls, equally popular in the school, had an atmosphere between them that carried a hint of fierce competition.
However, compared to the obvious vigilance Eriri showed, Kasumigaoka Utaha's expression remained unchanged. She stood tall and graceful, like a proud high-mountain flower.
"Let's not talk about that first. Is it necessary to meet on the rooftop every time you ask me out?"
Meeting on the school rooftop after school in the twilight, anyone who didn't know better would think they were doing something illicit.
Perhaps the place where she spent the most time alone with Kasumigaoka Utaha was the school rooftop.
"Kashiwagi Eri-sensei, do you think the matter we are about to discuss can be made public? Or is it that the school's famous blonde young lady is actually an 18X artist in secret, and this can be known to others?"
If the identity of Kashiwagi Eri, who is famous in the underground world, were to be revealed here, it would definitely cause a huge stir here.
At that time, the school would be like a tsunami, raising huge waves.
"Whether it's writing or talking, you have two brushes, Kasumi Shiko!"
Eriri naturally wouldn't take Kasumigaoka Utaha's words just now as a threat, because one thing needs to be clear.
When it comes to being an otaku, Kasumigaoka Utaha can't deny this fact either.
The remarks just now were just a routine bickering between them.
But this wasn't the point. The point was why the rising light novel author Kasumi Shiko wanted to collaborate with her.
It's too strange!
When they officially met last year, their relationship hasn't reached the point where they can talk properly even now.
But as fellow creators, even if their fields are different, there is still a sense of mutual appreciation at times. If Eriri were truly indifferent to Kasumigaoka Utaha's so-called collaboration proposal, she could have refused her from the beginning.
In short, when she heard that her favorite author Kasumi Shiko wanted to collaborate with her, Eriri, in her position as the artist Kashiwagi Eri, showed much more honesty than her words.
"Suddenly coming to me for collaboration, your new work doesn't even have an outline. I really don't understand what confidence you have to talk about collaboration with me!"
Eriri was not at all merciful with her words.
Talk about collaboration?
Okay, where's your outline?
No character designs, no outline, the new work you originally planned to overturn after hearing you say you have a new idea?
Consider the readers who are looking forward to your new work, okay? After the completion of love metronome, how many readers like Eriri are looking forward to Kasumi Shiko's new work?
Moreover, last month, Undead River's official website ambiguously revealed the news that the new work of the currently popular rising light novel author Kasumi Shiko is being prepared and will be released!
Seeing that Undead River was preparing for large-scale promotion and tilting resources towards Kasumi Shiko, didn't this ambiguous action create a sense of full anticipation among the readers who had always supported Kasumi Shiko?
As a result, when Kasumigaoka Utaha came to her that time, the first thing she said was collaboration.
To be honest, if she could see the first draft first, Eriri would still consider it for a while.
However, Kasumigaoka Utaha told her that the new work she had been preparing for a long time was overturned, and she had a new plan!
New plan?
What new plan, what better idea?!
You've been slacking off for several months, and then you say you have a new idea and have overturned the previous new work plan.
The key point is not here. Hearing that the other party has a better idea is actually quite exciting.
But the main point is that Kasumigaoka Utaha hasn't finished the outline yet, and there is only one male protagonist design, and that male protagonist's design feels a bit too familiar.
Just looking at the setting that makes her stomach hurt so much, who is that scumbag?!
Do they all know him?!
Just looking at the male protagonist design that wasn't completely finalized made Eriri feel a bit creepy. Was the person in front of her really an author who wrote youth romance novels?
Eriri was about to collapse!
"You only have an unfinished male protagonist design on hand and you're coming to me to talk about collaboration with this thing. Even a child wouldn't be fooled by a bad author like you!"
Eriri finished speaking and proudly raised her pale neck.
Collaborating with Kasumigaoka Utaha was certainly something to look forward to, but the things Kasumigaoka Utaha had on hand didn't give Eriri any sense of conviction.
Kasumigaoka Utaha frowned, as if thinking about something.
Seeing that she didn't speak, Eriri sighed slightly in her heart, thinking that Kasumigaoka Utaha might have been stimulated by something recently, which is why she is making such an unprepared move now.
Before talking about collaboration, there is capital, and then there is sincerity.
Even if Eriri didn't want to admit it, she actually saw the persistence in Kasumigaoka Utaha's eyes regarding sincerity.
But what about the capital?
If it were the new project plan that Kasumigaoka Utaha had prepared before, Eriri might have wavered, but now, she can't even see an outline. How is she supposed to imagine the story based solely on a tentatively decided male protagonist setting?
Moreover, just looking at the male protagonist's setting, Eriri's stomach really hurts.
In fact, Kasumigaoka Utaha had been preparing all along, writing from mid-last month until the end of Golden Week.
She didn't know how many sheets of manuscript paper she had discarded. Writing by hand gave her more inspiration than typing on a computer.
Mother at home was also complaining about the wads of discarded drafts piled up in Kasumigaoka Utaha's room.
She racked her brain to come up with a story, but in the end, no matter how she looked at it, she wasn't satisfied. The outline was rebuilt and discarded more than once, and only one character setting remained somewhat complete.
The inspiration from that day was still in her heart and had not completely dissipated. Kasumigaoka Utaha wanted to write a good story. Unlike last time, she wanted to break the lie of love!
It was precisely the obstacles encountered during this process, such challenging things, that made Kasumigaoka Utaha see a new direction.
As long as she grasped that spark of inspiration and broke through, the story could take shape.
And what is the most important thing for a light novel?
Character design, illustrations!
Excellent character design and illustrations, coupled with an excellent story, is truly intoxicating to think about.
Therefore, she absolutely must win over Eriri!
"Heh!"
Kasumigaoka Utaha's exquisite and delicate eyelashes trembled slightly, and a confident smile gradually appeared on her face.
Under Eriri's astonished gaze, she stepped forward and grabbed Eriri's hand, saying with impressive spirit in her eyes, "I will create an unparalleled story, so I need you, Kashiwagi Eri!"
Putting aside her past prejudices against Eriri, as a creator, Kasumigaoka Utaha yearned for Eriri's hands.
And at this moment, in terms of momentum, Eriri was completely defeated!
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