While Arisu Sakayanagi was preparing to return to Chiba City, Kotomi Izumi was also getting ready to leave for Kyoto.
Kotomi sat at her desk, working on her tablet, drawing the latest chapter of Chainsaw Man.
After a two-week delay of Chainsaw Man's first volume release, Shueisha had finally confirmed the new release date—early November.
Although many readers expressed their frustration with Shueisha's delay on social media, when pre-orders opened online, the first wave sold out almost instantly.
For this delay, Asuka Chizuru personally called Kotomi to apologize and explain the situation.
It turned out that when Chainsaw Man Volume 1 was sent to the printing factory, all of the machines broke down. The partnered printing company had to spend an entire week on repairs before operations could resume.
As a result, not only Chainsaw Man but all other works in the same printing batch were delayed.
The difference was that those other series weren't nearly as popular as Chainsaw Man, so Shueisha didn't offer much compensation—just a slightly higher manuscript fee for the delayed volume.
But for Chainsaw Man, Shueisha's compensation was generous. The company was straightforward like that—everything depended on performance. If your work was popular, you received privileges that ordinary authors could never dream of. But if sales later failed to meet expectations, no matter how much support or fame you had at the start, they would cut you off without hesitation.
Shueisha had already instructed all partnered bookstores to put up promotional posters outside and display Chainsaw Man Volume 1 in the very first shelf visible upon entering the store.
Since this wasn't Kotomi's first time publishing a volume, she felt calm about it. Her prior experience with Sword Art Online had already prepared her for the process, and besides—she was confident in Chainsaw Man's quality.
Right now, Kotomi's goal before departure was to finish drawing the new chapter.
She didn't have to worry about Sword Art Online drafts. She had nearly finished the story—its ending already set. Kirito would form his harem, marry all the heroines, and take them all to home base.
They said Sword Art Online was a pure love story between Kirito and Asuna, but Kotomi thought differently. She had written it to be an exhilarating, over-the-top story with no dull moments—pure, unfiltered satisfaction from start to finish.
She wrote Sword Art Online to push the "thrill" factor to the extreme. And with that goal in mind, how could she not give the protagonist a harem?
A bunch of heroines all loving the same main character, only for him to pick just one in the end? Kotomi found that kind of story painfully boring. If you're going to make it thrilling, then go all the way! Why stop halfway? A house full of wives and lovers—now that's satisfying!
Anyway, Sword Art Online had plenty of manuscripts in reserve, so she didn't need to rush any new chapters. But for Chainsaw Man, her backlog was running low, and Kotomi definitely didn't want to miss Shueisha's submission deadline.
Even though her popularity had been rising steadily as a new mangaka, skipping a single update could still harm her reputation and momentum.
With her small hand gripping the stylus, Kotomi drew swiftly across her tablet. Ever since her art skill had improved, her drawing speed had increased significantly.
Being able to maintain high quality while working faster—what more could a creator dream of?
"Today, I'll definitely finish this chapter before leaving," Kotomi said confidently.
"Kotomi, come downstairs for lunch!" Akina Izumi's voice called from below.
"Guess I'll continue after I get back," Kotomi murmured.
She set down her stylus.
Moved her mouse.
Save.
Save successful.
Computer shutdown.
Outside, pigeons cooed softly.
Coos… coos…
...
After lunch, Kotomi returned to her room. There were still six hours left before departure, so she decided to take a nap.
It wasn't her first time going to Kyoto. Although this trip's destination differed slightly from her previous one, having been there once already, Kotomi was familiar with the routes and schedule.
Thinking back to her previous trip to Kyoto, Kotomi Izumi couldn't help but recall the top courtesan of Gion's Hanamachi—Ayani Kika.
And along with that memory came the recollection of their seemingly casual conversation at the Meigetsu Café.
Kotomi had always felt that Ayani Kika had many things she wanted to say back then, yet for some reason, even when they parted, those words remained unspoken.
Their first meeting had felt abrupt, as if it had happened in haste and ended just as quickly. Yet Ayani Kika had left Kotomi with the strange impression that they had met somewhere before—perhaps several times in a distant past.
What Kotomi remembered most vividly, however, were Kika's eyes.
Her gaze seemed veiled beneath a weight of sorrow so deep it could never fully fade. Though, over the years, she had learned to soften that sorrow, to hide most of it beneath layers of calm composure. It wasn't that she had forgotten or come to terms with the pain—it was simply that she had learned how to bury it deep within.
Especially when she wore that white dress—she looked like a paper flower pressed beneath the weight of winter snow.
When Kotomi recalled their conversation in the café, it seemed like they had talked about many things, yet none of her doubts were truly answered. If anything, that conversation had only deepened her curiosity and confusion.
Unconsciously, Kotomi opened their old text messages. Though they had exchanged contact information back then, neither had reached out since her return from Kyoto. Neither side had made the first move.
Ayani Kika's presence, like everything else about her, was quiet. When they exchanged contacts, she had only given her original phone number—usable for calls and texts.
She did have a LINE account, which Kotomi added, but before doing so, Kika had said something that stayed in Kotomi's mind:
"Even if you add my LINE, it won't be of much use. If you really want to reach me, calling is the quickest way."
Once Kotomi added her LINE, she immediately understood why Kika had said that.
Her profile picture and status were all default blanks, like an account that had just been registered—or one long since abandoned. It was obvious she rarely logged in or used LINE.
Still, Kotomi couldn't bring herself to delete the contact after adding it. After all, she had added it for a reason.
As mentioned, everything about Ayani Kika was quiet.
So quiet that Kotomi sometimes wondered—was Ayani Kika even real? Was she perhaps a ghost only she could see?
Their first encounter in the Hanamachi, their talk at the Meigetsu Café, and even that final image of Ayani Kika in a white dress, standing at a distance and watching her leave Kyoto… these few memories—so few they could be counted on one hand—felt almost too ethereal, as if they belonged to a dream.
Scrolling through their old texts, Kotomi saw the last exchange still frozen in time from her last trip to Kyoto.
Kotomi Izumi: [Next time I come to Kyoto, will you spend the whole day with me? When that time comes, I really want to ask you what you truly think of me.]
[Please don't refuse.]
Ayani Kika: [Of course. When you come to Kyoto again, call me in advance. I'll be ready and waiting. From morning to noon, noon to afternoon, and afternoon to night—I'll be with you the whole time.]
[Take care on your way home. Goodbye. Keep in touch with me often.]
Looking at the messages, Kotomi sighed softly. Though Kika had said "keep in touch," this was actually the first time Kotomi had opened their chat since returning from Kyoto.
She hesitated for a moment, unsure whether to send a message.
Even though she had once said that the next time she came to Kyoto, she wanted Kika to accompany her for a full day, back then she had imagined that "next time" to be far in the future—a solo trip.
She hadn't expected to return to Kyoto again so soon. And this time, she wouldn't be alone—she'd be with Yukino Yukinoshita and Yui Yuigahama. Yui, after all, was one of her girlfriends.
If she went to Hanamachi alone to meet Ayani Kika and spent the entire day with her… Kotomi Izumi could already imagine the fallout. Forget Yukino Yukinoshita—even the usually easygoing Yui Yuigahama would probably get upset.
"Maybe… I just won't tell her about it this time," Kotomi muttered under her breath.
Just as she was about to close the message window, her phone chimed softly—a new message.
It was from Ayani Kika.
Ayani Kika: [It's been so long since you returned to Chiba. Why haven't you sent me a single message? Even a casual chat would be fine, you know. Pay me some attention, won't you?]
[Look at the time of the last message I sent you. I even told you to stay in touch after you went home.]
[Are there that many pretty girls in Chiba City?]
For some reason, though her words didn't carry anger or reproach, Kotomi could sense a faint trace of wistful melancholy within them.
"Could she really be… a ghost?" Kotomi wondered. "Maybe she only appears to be in Kyoto's Gion, but in truth, she's right here beside me!"
Feeling half amused by her own thought, Kotomi carefully typed a short reply.
Kotomi Izumi: [Are you a ghost?]
Message sent.
Read.
Ayani Kika: [Oh? Are we talking about ghost stories now? Unfortunately, I don't know much about that. Even though courtesans have quite a bit of downtime, I prefer watching lighthearted, everyday movies to relax. But if you like ghost stories, the next time you come to Kyoto, I can watch them with you all day.]
[Anyway, to answer your question—no, I'm not a ghost.]
Reading that, Kotomi couldn't help but smile helplessly.
There was always something strange about the way Ayani Kika spoke—but that very strangeness carried a peculiar warmth of familiarity.
It felt like they were two people who had once known each other long ago—familiar strangers meeting again after many years.
After thinking for a while, Kotomi tapped her phone again and replied.
Kotomi Izumi: [Haha, just forget what I said—it was a random thought.]
[Actually, I'm heading out for a trip today. My luggage is already packed. I'll be leaving at 6 p.m. tonight. It's a seven-hour ride on the shinkansen, so I'll arrive early tomorrow morning.]
Ayani Kika: [Have a safe trip. I hope you enjoy your journey.]
[May I ask where you're going? If you'd rather not say, just ignore this message.]
Kotomi Izumi: [Now you're making it sound like I'm hiding something. I'm going to Kyoto again.]
Seconds later, a reply popped up.
Ayani Kika: [Kyoto? Welcome back to Kyoto, then.]
[You must really like this city. I'm not sure if I count as a native Kyotoite—I don't know where my parents were from—but I grew up here. I suppose you could say I'm quite fond of this city I've lived in for over twenty years.]
[Even if I spent my whole life here, never leaving, I don't think I'd have any regrets when I grow old.]
[Anyway, enough about me. When will you arrive tomorrow? Which station? I'd like to come pick you up—if that's alright.]
Ayani Kika wanted to meet her at the station.
Kotomi wanted that too… but she hesitated. If she were going alone, she would've immediately said yes.
But with Yukino and Yui by her side, things were different. If Ayani came to greet her at the station, how was she supposed to explain who Ayani Kika was? Or how they knew each other?
After all, she couldn't very well say she met her during a visit to Gion's Hanamachi, could she?
And even then, she hadn't actually gone in—she'd just wandered outside the area and fled out of embarrassment when the courtesan herself invited her in.
After thinking it through, Kotomi decided to just tell the truth.
Kotomi Izumi: [Just imagining seeing you waiting for me at the station when I arrive makes me feel so happy. But… even though I'm heading to Kyoto again, I'll be going somewhere different this time—to the Seiyarou Inn for a hot spring.]
Ayani Kika: [That's fine. Just tell me which Shinkansen line you'll be taking.]
Kotomi Izumi: [JR Tokaido–Sanyo Shinkansen.]
Ayani Kika: [Perfect. That's not too far. The hot springs at Seiyarou Inn are wonderful—great for relaxing and unwinding. I'll drive over to pick you up.]
[Don't let my being a courtesan fool you. As the number of visitors to the Hanamachi has declined, the old rules have gradually loosened. I can drive, you know.]
[If you're not in a rush after I pick you up, I'd love to treat you to a meal first. What kind of food do you like? There's a restaurant in Kyoto that specializes in yudofu—tofu hotpot. It's delicious.]
Reading the long reply, Kotomi suddenly remembered something.
Ayani Kika had once told her she wasn't good with phone keyboards—so she always wrote messages by hand.
As Kotomi read through Kika's lengthy text, she couldn't help but imagine her handwriting those words on her phone screen, her slender fingers moving gracefully as she composed her message.
Just that thought… painted such a vivid image in her mind.
Kotomi really wanted to see Ayani Kika wearing a white dress again—waiting for her at the station. She wanted to ride in Kika's car, to dine together at that tofu restaurant she mentioned, to spend an entire day with her.
Kotomi Izumi: [As much as I'd love to, I should probably decline. You don't have to go through all that trouble for me—but thank you.]
Ayani Kika: [You once said that when you came to Kyoto again, you wanted to spend the whole day with me. Are you lying to me again?]
[Sorry, I wrote too quickly and added an extra 'again.']
Kotomi Izumi: [Of course not. It's just… I'm not going alone this time. I'm going with two of my friends.]
She sent the message, planning to explain further, but Kika's reply came almost immediately.
Ayani Kika: [I see. Then I understand. I won't bother you, of course. But if you have time, you can always reach out. I hope this time, we can do what you said before—spend the whole day together.]
[There are many things you want to ask me—and many things I want to tell you.]
Kotomi stared at the screen for a long time, unsure how to respond. Finally, she sent a single word.
Kotomi Izumi: [Okay.]
Ayani Kika: [Have a safe trip, and enjoy yourself.]
Kotomi didn't reply. She set her phone down and let out a long sigh.
Even just through text, Ayani Kika's words carried an indescribable feeling—a quiet weight that lingered, the same sensation Kotomi had felt at the Meigetsu Café. That same urge to exhale deeply after their conversations, as if to release something heavy within.
She had planned to play some games afterward, but after that exchange, Kotomi only wanted to set her phone on the nightstand, pull up her blanket, and take a nap.
And nap she did—until five in the evening.
If Aimi hadn't come to wake her, Kotomi might have slept straight until morning.
"If you're still sleepy, maybe you should just skip the trip," Aimi said softly, her voice filled with concern as she looked at Kotomi's sleepy, half-awake face.
Aimi wasn't eager to see her sister leave for several days. Even though she knew Yukino Yukinoshita and Yui Yuigahama were good girls who wouldn't try to steal her sister away, she still couldn't help but worry. What if some Kyoto girl fell for her sister too?
If not for school, Aimi would've followed her to Kyoto herself—just to make sure no "bad women" tried anything.
"It's fine. That nap actually refreshed me quite a bit. The tickets are already bought—no way I'm skipping. Alright, I'm heading out now. I'll bring you back a gift. What do you want?"
"I don't need anything. It's not like I'm some glutton who gets hungry every three minutes," Aimi muttered under her breath.
"Then how about a toy? Or maybe a limited-edition galgame set from Kyoto?"
"I'm not a little kid who plays with toys. And you can just order galgame limited editions from the official site yourself."
"Then what kind of gift do you want?" Kotomi asked with a gentle smile.
"What I want…" Aimi's cheeks turned slightly red, her voice growing quieter with each word. "When you get back, will you go out with me? We haven't gone out for food or seen a movie together in ages."
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