Chapter 66: A Love Confession That Wasn't
Lucien leaned back in his wheelchair, his eyes shining with determination. "Eri, let me tell you the basic setting of my new work, Your Name."
Eriri leaned closer, curiosity bubbling in her eyes.
"In a rural town deep in the mountains," Lucien began, his voice low and steady, "a high school girl named Mitsuha Miyamizu lives a stifling life. Her father is caught up in politics, and the traditions of her family's shrine weigh her down. She longs for escape, for the lights of Tokyo."
Eriri blinked, already intrigued.
"One day," Lucien continued, "she dreams of waking up in the body of a Tokyo high school boy. She experiences the city through his eyes… And at the same time, that boy—Taki Tachibana—dreams of waking up in Mitsuha's body, living her countryside life."
Eriri's lips parted slightly. "Body-swapping between a boy and a girl… that's… pretty novel."
Lucien smiled faintly. "It's a love story—romance, with a touch of science fiction."
Eriri tilted her head, frowning. "Romance? Can you even write romance? You've never even been in love. Didn't you once say that only someone who's experienced love can write it realistically?"
She smirked, her twin tails swaying as if in triumph. At last, she had him cornered!
But Lucien didn't look flustered. Instead, he leaned forward, locking his gaze onto hers. His eyes were calm, unwavering.
"…Eri," he said softly, "I am in love."
Her heart skipped.
Her cheeks warmed instantly, and her pulse hammered against her chest. Wh-what? Is he… is he saying this to me?
It was too sudden—too direct! Her brain scrambled between panic and joy, disbelief and… hope.
She opened her mouth, ready to refuse gently, to preserve their friendship, when—
"I've fallen for Mitsuha Miyamizu," Lucien declared, utterly serious.
"…Eh?"
The silence stretched.
Eriri's brain froze for several seconds before reality hit.
Her relief was immediate, but so was the sting of disappointment.
Lucien continued, "An author once said, to create vivid characters, you must love them. To make Mitsuha real—to give her a soul—I need to fall for her, even if it's only in spirit. I've decided to have a spiritual love affair with her."
Eriri gawked at him, then groaned, pressing her forehead into her palm. "Seriously? All that buildup… for this? You scared me!"
Lucien chuckled. "Why? Isn't it normal? You like fictional characters too, don't you?"
Eriri hesitated, then crossed her arms. "…Fine, fair point."
Indeed, she had her own beloved paper characters—Rukawa Kaede, Allen, countless Galgame and otome heroes. The perfect, unchanging two-dimensional world had always been her secret sanctuary.
Lucien grinned at her sulky acceptance. "Tomorrow, I'll start creating Your Name. Once I'm done, you'll be my first critic, Eri."
She frowned. "You're already juggling Attack on Titan and Slam Dunk. Do you really have the energy for another project? You just got better—don't push yourself!"
"It won't be a problem," he reassured her. "It's a short series. Two to three weeks, tops. I'll pace Slam Dunk slower if I have to."
She pursed her lips but eventually sighed. "You better not collapse again…"
They shifted topics back to Slam Dunk. Eriri chuckled. "You know, people say your weekly updates are too slow."
Lucien rolled his eyes. "Of course. The more exciting the story gets, the more impatient readers become."
"Not just readers," he teased, eyeing her knowingly.
She immediately turned red. "I-It's not me! Just check your phone comments if you don't believe me!"
Lucien let it go, smiling quietly.
After a pause, Eriri crossed her arms. "You know, monetization isn't evil. Why not charge for Slam Dunk? You'd make a lot with its current popularity."
Lucien shook his head firmly. "Free keeps the reach wide. It's about exposure now. Your Name, however… that one I'll charge for."
Her eyes softened as she studied him. He wasn't greedy—he was chasing something bigger.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, Eriri pushed him back toward the ward. Their conversation drifted to Mitsuha and Taki, to love and fate, until it was time to part.
---
On her way home, Eriri hummed softly, her mood unusually light.
"If Lucien keeps improving… maybe he really will recover. Maybe he'll live long enough for new treatments, maybe even be cured someday…"
Hope warmed her chest.
Her thoughts drifted until a familiar figure appeared ahead—a tall, elegant girl in Toyonosaki Academy's uniform, her long black hair swaying.
"Kasumigaoka Utaha…"
The school's most admired beauty.
Even Eriri, as a fellow girl, couldn't deny her allure.
Their eyes met. Utaha's lips curved into a small, knowing smile.
"Good evening… Sawamura-san."
---
✨ End of Chapter 66
250ps=1 extra chapter
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