Taki's reappearance made the users of the entire fan website somewhat excited, as he was the one who had created this paradise.
After he announced his retirement from being an otaku and transferred the webmaster position to someone else, Taki hadn't appeared for a long time.
Online otaku friends still showed kindness towards this predecessor.
In Kasumi Shiko's previous work love metronome, many of the foreshadowing laid out in the early stages were dug out by Taki, which was how everyone found out and continued to look forward to the plot of the next volume.
Now, Kasumi Shiko's new work was still illustrated by Kashiwagi Eri, and both old and new fans were looking forward to it.
With two volumes already released, no one expected Taki to come out at this time to express his thoughts on the new work.
Similarly, after reading Taki's long discourse from an editor's perspective, which seemed to be subtly conveying some message, some people began to suspect if this was really Taki himself.
"Isn't Taki preparing for exams?"
"Will your homepage reopen?"
"Are you the real person?"
"WWWWWWWWW"
"Resurrection OR Hacked?"
Machida Sonoko could ignore all the fan comments. She wrote that post hoping that Kasumigaoka Utaha would see it and take it to heart.
Whether she wanted to reach the top with this new work, or ignore the hidden danger of starting strong and ending weak, Machida Sonoko was also feeling nervous when she posted it, hoping that Kasumigaoka Utaha would read it out of respect for "Taki".
It's important to note that Machida Sonoko was also under pressure. If the new work had problems later and failed, it wouldn't just be Kasumigaoka Utaha who failed.
Vice Editor?
At the top of the Undead River Editorial Department's pyramid, it wasn't easy for Machida Sonoko to stand firm. She had to make fewer mistakes and not give others anything to hold against her.
In fact, Kasumigaoka Utaha did see it. After discovering that the Taki account on the fan website had posted a new thread, she immediately rushed in.
She read the content inside first, and then reacted, "This isn't Taki!"
Kasumigaoka Utaha was 100% sure that the person speaking with the Taki account was definitely not Aki Tomoya.
After Aki Tomoya established this fan website two years ago, Kasumigaoka Utaha had seen every one of his posts, and she had long since memorized his style.
Moreover, putting everything else aside, just this tone, after reading it, gave her a strong sense of déjà vu, almost identical to her editor, Machida Sonoko.
So Kasumigaoka Utaha didn't hesitate to call Machida Sonoko's office.
Over at Undead River, in Machida Sonoko's Vice Editor's office, she was stunned for several seconds after hearing Kasumigaoka Utaha's roar.
Meanwhile, Eriri quickly covered her mouth, afraid of making even the slightest sound that Kasumigaoka Utaha might hear.
Let's just pretend she was never here!
Machida Sonoko took a deep breath, then asked seriously, "Xia Shizi Teacher, since you've read it carefully, are you still planning to ignore it? Are we enemies?"
"...I understand."
Just as Machida Sonoko was bracing herself for a tough battle, on the other end of the phone, Kasumigaoka Utaha's reply was unexpected by Machida Sonoko.
Hearing such a reply, Machida Sonoko was a little taken aback, and just as she was about to let out a sigh of relief and talk to Kasumigaoka Utaha about how to revise the manuscript for the next volume of the new work, the other party's voice rang out again.
"Before you give advice, tell me who gave you the account first."
From the receiver, Kasumigaoka Utaha's calm voice drifted into Machida Sonoko's ears, yet it made the latter feel a chilling cold to the bone.
She could compromise on the new work issue, but she also needed to know what was going on with Taki's account. Machida Sonoko's mood was a bit complicated.
Machida Sonoko's gaze slowly shifted towards Eriri. Under the latter's questioning look, she pretended to be thinking and said, "Who gave the account?"
Upon hearing this, Eriri excitedly began to gesture.
Reminding Machida Sonoko that she absolutely must not sell her out!
"...Since it's Taki-kun's account, no one else could have gotten it without his consent. I definitely didn't do anything illegal!"
"So, you're saying that last year, you and that guy almost fell out over promotional and interview matters, but after the start of this year, your relationship became so harmonious? That's ridiculous, it doesn't make sense! I can understand Eriri, but you and him, I'm afraid I can't understand!"
Machida Sonoko didn't know why Kasumigaoka Utaha would mention last year's events, but that was the truth of the matter.
As for last year's matter, after talking properly with Aki Tomoya himself during the New Year's Day gathering this year, she found him to be quite nice and able to understand her difficulties. Let the past unpleasantness just vanish like smoke.
"Um, did that matter from last year have such a big impact? Aki-kun and I both felt that matter..."
"Which event do you think was the fuse for my heartbreak?"
The answer was that after Machida Sonoko persistently bothered Aki Tomoya last year, Aki Tomoya found her the very next day.
"Huh, wait, huh huh!!!"
What is this?
Machida Sonoko didn't know, okay? After that incident last year, although she was often given the cold shoulder by Kasumigaoka Utaha, she didn't think in that direction.
"Excuse me, you didn't hear anything, and I didn't say anything. Now please tell me, did Machida-san go and ask for that account, or did Eriri get it?"
Kasumigaoka Utaha's voice was incredibly calm, filled with the grace a cultured young girl should possess. It would have been even better if the phone call hadn't been accompanied by the grating sound of fingernails scraping on the desk.
"What if it was me?"
"I'm coming over right now."
What a dangerous tone!
"Then, Kashiwagi Eri-sensei?"
As Machida Sonoko was speaking, Eriri's eyes widened excitedly.
"...Thank her for me."
Compared to the dangerous tone before, this sentence was quite complex, even carrying a hint of guilt.
Machida Sonoko also used this to clarify her position in Kasumigaoka Utaha's heart.
"Last question, did he see it?"
The voice on the other end of the phone had completely calmed down, leaving only Kasumigaoka Utaha's settled tone.
"He, who?"
At first, Machida Sonoko didn't react to who Kasumigaoka Utaha was referring to and subconsciously asked.
"...Taki."
Kasumigaoka Utaha hesitated for a moment, saying Taki instead of directly saying Aki Tomoya.
"Right, did Taki see it..."
At the same time, Machida Sonoko looked at Eriri again. How would she know if Aki Tomoya had seen their new work before giving the account to Eriri?
Eriri should be the one to answer this question.
Eriri shook her head, and Machida Sonoko could only answer truthfully, "I'm sorry."
"...I understand. I will find time to discuss it with Machida-san, and then stop that Eriri from doing unnecessary things. I also don't want to hear anything more about Hongzaka Akane!"
Having said that, Kasumigaoka Utaha hung up the phone.
At this moment, Machida Sonoko completely relaxed, then sighed, "Taki is indeed useful, huh? But what's going on between Xia Shizi Teacher and Taki? Do you know, Kashiwagi Eri-sensei?"
"You ask me, who should I ask? But isn't Taki a bit too effective?"
Eriri said she didn't know. Aki Tomoya hadn't mentioned that matter, nor had Kasumigaoka Utaha. She didn't know, and she didn't dare to ask.
However, the surprising effectiveness of the enthusiastic fan Taki this time left Eriri astonished.
"...Well, it used to happen often."
Machida Sonoko lay on the desk, an awkward smile on her face.
Two years ago, after Aki Tomoya and Kasumigaoka Utaha met, Machida Sonoko also discovered something.
Compared to listening to her advice as an editor, Kasumi Shiko actually cared more about the opinions of the enthusiastic fan Taki.
Machida Sonoko had almost forgotten about Kasumi Shiko who cared so much about Taki's opinions.
After April or May of last year, she hadn't heard the other party mention Taki even once, and she even frequently received resentment from the other party's eyes.
Now Machida Sonoko understood a little.
"I'm not going to think about those complicated things. It's enough if Kasumigaoka can listen to reason. But after this time, the Taki account might not have any meaning anymore."
Eriri didn't quite understand what was going on between them.
"Oh right, let's take this opportunity to ask the current webmaster if they are willing to give some of the website's permissions to us at Undead River. Thanks to the two teachers' popular new works this time, the old work 'love metronome' has recently started to pick up again, attracting many new readers!"
Machida Sonoko used the account that Aki Tomoya still had administrator privileges for to try and contact the current webmaster.
If this fan website is managed well, it can gradually expand in the future and become more than just a fan website for 'love metronome'.
After all, quite a number of fans have gathered here, and many people implicitly consider this place the main base.
The question is whether the current webmaster is willing to support Undead River's work.
"Okay, sending!"
After sending Undead River's intentions, Machida Sonoko rubbed her neck.
Just as she was about to cheer that the new work was successfully completed, the current webmaster of the fan website quickly replied to her message.
"It's my own fan website, I'll be responsible for it myself. There's no need for Machida-san to help here. As for the matter you mentioned before, I will discuss it properly with you after the exams."
Machida Sonoko's eyes widened, and she looked at this reply in surprise.
"Kasumi Shiko Teacher? But..."
Machida Sonoko remembered that the current website domain holder she had investigated earlier was not Kasumigaoka Utaha, but another female fan. If it hadn't been for this coincidence, she had planned to contact the current holder in a more formal manner.
However, this reply now made Machida Sonoko feel uncertain and surprised.
"Kasumi Shiko Teacher took over the 'love metronome' fan website from Taki-kun, what's going on exactly..."
Machida Sonoko muttered to herself.
"Aki-kun, do you know the truth about this matter?"
Thinking of this, Machida Sonoko raised her head and looked at Eriri.
And after Eriri noticed Machida Sonoko's strange expression, she couldn't help but ask, "What's wrong now?"
"Nothing, it's just that the website situation is a bit complicated..."
Machida Sonoko shook her head and replied, pretending to be calm, but she was thinking of something in her heart.
Taking over the website under the guise of a work's fan, Kasumigaoka Utaha continued to operate the fan website on behalf of Aki Tomoya. She didn't know whether she should keep this matter to herself or explain the situation.
She looked at Eriri and thought for a long time.
=
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