Eriri always remembered the lessons from the past. This time, she didn't want to escape.
"Didn't Aki Tomoya teach me this? If you lose something once, you don't want to lose it a second time."
In Eriri's heart, she still considered Kasumigaoka Utaha a companion, although she didn't know what the other person was thinking.
"I don't deserve the compliment, but Eriri, you really surprised me."
"Like?"
"As normal friends, I really enjoy talking to you now."
"Ah, doesn't that mean you hated me in the past?"
Eriri looked at Aki Tomoya with some resentment. His words, when reversed, meant he saw his past self as very troublesome.
This made Eriri a little concerned, but it was all in the past. Their current relationship didn't need to dwell on the past too much, though sometimes thinking about it brought a little regret.
"Not hate, but it was really troublesome in the past, wasn't it?"
Aki Tomoya smiled helplessly.
"Let's not talk about this anymore!"
"As you wish."
Continuing on this topic would deviate from the main point.
They were talking about some headaches that had happened recently surrounding the new work. Past issues were no longer a big problem. The important thing was the current problem at hand.
"That Kasumigaoka-senpai now doesn't really trust anyone other than herself, even the excellent editor Machida-san. Does she trust you?"
"She should trust my ability very much."
"Is that so? That's also true. Your ability is indeed trustworthy."
Kashiwagi Eri's drawing skills were well-known in the industry. After Eriri graduated from third year, she could step into Japan's top national art University with one foot, and if she wanted to, there were countless avenues for further study in Europe.
Her ability was naturally trustworthy, but her saying that also meant that Eriri's say was still pitifully small.
"Your collaboration is a bit abnormal. Your say is too small. You're a big shot, after all. You should also know how much sales your illustrations can drive."
If Aki Tomoya were to say it, she should directly tell Kasumigaoka Utaha that light novels were things where you buy illustrations and get toilet paper. Whether the character design in the illustration is the soul of the light novel, she should have some idea.
Even if Kasumigaoka Utaha's story was indeed wonderful, she shouldn't occupy all the say.
"New light novel author Xia Shizi Teacher, Kashiwagi Eri-sensei, who has been active in the industry for nearly ten years. Normally speaking, you are also a Senior in the industry, although one is light novels and the other is doujin."
Aki Tomoya's words made Eriri feel extremely ashamed.
Under normal circumstances, she should have been very confident in front of Kasumigaoka Utaha.
One was a light novel author who became famous two years ago, and the other was an artist who had been famous for a long time.
"If you were a little more assertive, you wouldn't have so little say, Eriri."
"I don't want to either..."
Eriri really hadn't thought about these things.
But now, talking about having a say was useless.
What made Eriri difficult now was still the problem with the work.
Although Eriri wasn't responsible for how the story was, as the artist of the work and a reader who loved Kasumi Shiko, Eriri still hoped that Kasumigaoka Utaha could face the problem squarely.
"Even Machida-san couldn't convince her, Aki Tomoya, whose voice do you think Kasumigaoka can still listen to?"
Hongzaka Akane?
Thinking of that person gave Eriri a headache. Although Machida Sonoko had repeatedly hinted that Hongzaka Akane could help them, putting the current Kasumigaoka Utaha and Hongzaka Akane together was simply a disaster.
Especially since Hongzaka Akane's words about their work at the beginning were completely merciless.
Aki Tomoya thought for a moment, sighing in his heart. Did this matter have anything to do with him?
It seemed it really did. If you traced it back, it could go back to April last year, and even further back to the winter two years ago!
"I said too much back then..."
Aki Tomoya muttered softly.
In short, if this matter was really traced back and blamed, it seemed he had a share of the blame, and it might even become the source of all evil.
One Hongzaka Akane was enough in this world, there was no need for a second one!
Thinking this, Aki Tomoya took out the small notebook from his breast pocket, tore off a page, and lightly wrote something on it.
"Here, let Machida-san use this."
"What is this?"
Looking at what seemed like an account name and password written on the slip of paper, Eriri looked at Aki Tomoya in confusion.
"The 'love metronome' website I built before, my administrator account."
"Tsk, Taki!"
How nice, there's even a fan who built a website specifically!
Eriri was a little envious.
"But is this okay?"
Eriri looked at Aki Tomoya with some worry.
He clearly seemed to not want to be involved with that person anymore, but now he was doing something that could cause a misunderstanding.
Moreover, this was deceiving someone, right?
From Machida Sonoko, Eriri had learned even more about the matters between Kasumi Shiko and her fans.
"What are you referring to?"
"Of course it's Taki, didn't you quit being an otaku?"
"Anyway, she can tell. Let Machida-san use this account to post her thoughts on the new work on the website. Don't pretend to be me. See if you can get her to take a look or two."
"Aren't you having Machida-san pretend to be Taki and discuss the new work with Kasumi Shiko?"
Eriri looked at Aki Tomoya, not quite understanding.
Would transferring the fan website administrator account to Machida Sonoko really be useful?
"Pretending is too easy to expose. It's better to just use the Taki account to post some thoughts on the fan website. Maybe she'll take a look or two. This is the only method I can think of right now."
It's better not to do something that's so easily exposed.
If it's exposed, it won't be good for them. It's better to just use the Taki account to see if it can attract Kasumigaoka Utaha's attention and get her to take a look or two.
"Absolutely do not pretend to be me!"
Watching Eriri take the note, Aki Tomoya warned her again seriously.
Kasumigaoka Utaha could probably tell at a glance if it was Taki speaking, not to mention that when he was active in the industry as Taki, his style was unique.
If she really tried to use the Taki account to speak while pretending to be him, it would just be asking for trouble.
"What if it doesn't work?"
"Then I can't do anything. I don't know what's going on with your work."
"Then take a look!"
"No!"
"Just a little bit!"
"No means no!"
No matter what nice things Eriri said, even if she was acting spoiled, Aki Tomoya didn't want to look.
"Lunch break is almost over, I'm leaving first. Absolutely don't pretend to be me, or I won't take the blame if something happens!"