At 11 o'clock in the morning, Kasumi Shiko's first autograph session ended successfully. After thanking the other staff members at the venue, Kasumigaoka sat back down in her chair. Her facial muscles were already stiff, and she wanted to rub them with her hands, but she found that her right hand was also not functioning well after signing for two hours.
"Thank you for your hard work. This is a gift for you~" Machida Sonoko's gentle voice floated over as she presented a box of milk to Kasumigaoka.
"Help me plug it in..." Kasumigaoka's voice was weak. She probably didn't want to hear the words "signing event" for a while.
"Kasumigaoka, is it really that tiring? I'm afraid you've never been this tired, even when you were writing," Machida smiled, inserted a straw into the milk carton, and handed it to Shiyu.
"Mechanical and repetitive labor is always a double torture for the human body and mind. Book signing is undoubtedly such a job, Editor Machida." Kasumigaoka Utaha still spoke softly, but there was a hint of resentment in her tone as she took a big sip of milk.
"Okay, we don't have anything to do now, so we can enjoy ourselves. It's already eleven o'clock in the morning. Let's go, Xiaoshi, let's have a meal to celebrate; it's my treat." Machida Sonoko helped the slumped Kasumigaoka Utaha up, and the two left the venue together.
There is a large Ginza across the street from the book signing venue. Considering that many readers would linger around after the event, Machida and Kasumigaoka decided to find a restaurant farther away to address their lunch needs.
"Editor Machida... isn't this place a bit too expensive?" Kasumigaoka Utaha asked worriedly as she looked at the uninviting steakhouse in front of her.
"Don't worry, Xiaoshi. You've worked so hard for several months; you deserve to enjoy yourself. Just eat as much as you want today." Machida patted her bag, reassuring Kasumigaoka that she didn't need to worry. Indeed, Machida Sonoko's professional income was upper-middle class, and she typically lived alone, making it easier for her to save money.
Kasumigaoka Utaha shrugged. Since the other woman said it was fine, she decided not to refuse.
While waiting for their orders, Kasumigaoka Utaha recalled a male reader who had impressed her at the book signing event and decided to discuss it with Editor Machida.
"By the way, Editor Machida, when I was signing books just now, I noticed a reader who looked at me in a very strange way," Kasumigaoka Utaha said thoughtfully.
"What! Was he a pervert? Is he following us?" Machida Sonoko suddenly became excited and looked around suspiciously.
"What are you thinking, Editor Machida? If there really was such a person, I would have told you already. He is a teenager, younger than I am, but the way he looked at me—I don't know how to explain it—there was a sense of great relief in his gaze. It was as if he was saying I had finally accomplished something."
"Relieved..." Machida Sonoko paused for a moment, then quickly understood, a smile forming on her face. She decided to confirm it one last time. "Wasn't he a very elegant young man wearing a pair of glasses?"
"Yes! Editor Machida. Do you know him?" Kasumigaoka Utaha asked curiously.
"I'm sorry, Shiyu, I don't know him. I just noticed that he stood out when I was observing the people in line. Don't you think so?"
"Is that so...? Yes, he was indeed very conspicuous. He and the girl who came with him have temperaments that are completely out of sync with the surroundings."
"Together with a girl! What girl?" Machida Sonoko instantly became upset, having assumed that Mr. Hachiman had come to the book signing event alone. She didn't expect that another woman would suddenly appear. Speculating maliciously, the face of her beloved senior, Imamura, emerged in her mind.
Kasumigaoka Utaha was shocked. Why did telling Editor Machida about a stranger being accompanied by a girl provoke such a big reaction?
"Let's put the girl aside for now, Editor Machida. You know her, right? Who is she? Tell me quickly," Kasumigaoka urged, her exhaustion not affecting her judgment.
Machida regretted her earlier gaffe, and just as she was formulating a new excuse, the door of the restaurant opened. Facing her, with her back to Shiyu, walked in the boy wearing glasses who made Machida's heart skip a beat.
"What a coincidence, Editor Machida! You're also having dinner here today!" he said, noticing Machida and walking over to greet her. Behind him was a young and beautiful girl.
——————
The four of them sat together, and aside from Haruno, the other three felt a bit awkward. Haruno, however, was unfazed; she wished more people would see her with Hikigaya-kun.
"Well, let me introduce you all again," Machida Sonoko said, feeling slightly uncomfortable under the intense gaze of Kasumigaoka Utaha. She decided to speak first. "Kasumigaoka, this is the 'master' who inspired your novel, Hikigaya Hachiman-san. Of course, you're probably more familiar with his other name, Hachiman-san."
At this point, there was no need to hide anything; many secrets simply lack the right occasion to be revealed.
"Hello, Mr. Hachiman. My name is Kasumigaoka Utaha, pen name Kasumigaoka Utako. To be honest, it was after reading your writings that I decided to pursue a career in writing," she said, her fiery gaze fixed on Hikigaya as she firmly shook his hand. Hikigaya glanced at Haruno out of the corner of his eye and noticed that she remained poised, calm, and composed, maintaining perfect etiquette.
"Hello, Kasumi... Shiko-sensei. Your second volume of 'Love Metronome' is very well written. I hope it becomes a big hit," Hikigaya replied. He had initially intended to call her "Kasumigaoka-senpai," but changed his words at the last moment, remembering that his only designated senior was sitting next to him.
"This is my senior, Yukinoshita Haruno, a third-year student at Sobu Municipal High School," he introduced.
Upon hearing her junior's introduction, Haruno, who had been steady and composed, nodded at the two before her. "Hello, Editor Machida and Writer Kasumi Shiko. I often hear about you from Hikigaya-kun. It's an honor to meet you today."
Kasumigaoka Utaha couldn't help but think that the relationship between Mr. Hachiman and Yukinoshita-senpai must be special. Especially with Yukinoshita Haruno, who displayed calmness and elegance throughout their interaction, exuding a sense of confidence that suggested she felt in control of the situation. Kasumigaoka found herself contemplating the significance of this confidence, pondering its connection to her relationship with Mr. Hachiman.
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