"..."
"Ne, Author-san, is this thing working?"
"I... think so? They should be able to see."
"Ah, alright! Ahem," Yokka cleared her throat, standing up-straight while reading from a small paper sheet. "So, dear readers, our dear Author-san has decided to, uh... what was it again?"
"I'm taking a break."
"EEEH?! A break?!" Yokka gasped out in shock. "You're barely nine chapters in! And that's without counting the patre-whatever chapters! How are you already going take a break when you're barely getting started?!"
"I dunno. I've been feeling... iffy.
If anything, I really should've thought it through when starting this series. Maybe writing 1000 words a day, but clearly motivation is insanely inconsistent, as proven by my recent slump." I admitted with a sigh. "Sorry."
"Sorry doesn't begin to cut it. Do you have any idea how much I've been waiting for my turn? I can't even use Fire Release jutsus yet, you meanie!"
I winced at that. She's kind of right.
"If I force myself to write mindlessly, I'll end up writing some garbage just to fill word counts and be done with it. I wouldn't want to ruin this fic because of that."
"Faaaaaiiiir..." Yokka pouted. "How long are you going to be on break for?"
"Uuuuuh...
Maybe around two weeks or so? I'll be seeing a therapist in that time, sort out some issues, figure out what to do, stuff like that. Plus, I want to focus on school."
"Booooring! School? Nobody wants to read about these books. Just skip it or something and keep writing about us!"
I snorted, "Yeah, and who's gonna keep writing this if I fail my exams? I'll be stuck studying for an eternity. I also have to work, unfortunately..."
"Censor that word. Imagine having a j*b and w*rking, actively contributing to society! You wouldn't ever catch me doing that—mostly because I'd set the place on fire before they even put me behind a cash register."
We chuckled together for a few moments, before another voice chimed in.
"Yokka!!"
"Claire?" Yokka squinted, tilting her head. "I thought you were eating at that Yakiniku Q location that just opened up."
"I was, but they closed down and kicked me out for some reason. Tell Author-san to let me borrow some money, I'm planning to go for this buffet-style restaurant next. Just a little loan, promise."
"Oh hell no," I instantly denied, waving my hands around for emphasis. "You're not making me go even more broke than I already am, if that's even possible."
"And that's why you're still single!"
It felt as if an arrow was stabbed straight through my heart.
Damage 100, indeed.
"Author-kun is taking a break?!" Yet another voice piped up, "Guinea pig, you must stop him in his tracks as soon as physically possible! The story cannot go on without me getting even just a tiny sliver of screentime!"
"N-Nova-san?! You're—you're not even supposed to be in the story yet! How are you even here?! Go back to your lab and keep researching the limits of ninjutsu or whatever, we still have some more stuff to announce!"
"No can do, guinea pig. The pursuit of chakra's limits through the power of science awaits no one!" Nova declared dramatically, throwing her arms wide like she's a generic villain. "If Author-kun takes a break, my research—and my debut—will be catastrophically delayed! You simply cannot allow such an act!"
I huffed, still gravely injured by Claire's malicious remark attack of doom and despair.
"Can I... can I actually speak, please?"
"""No!"""
'Ah, I can't even have freedom of speech in my own story. Fun.'
Truly, it was a misery.
"Oh!"
Yokka perked up, suddenly remembering something.
"By the way, do not—absolutely not buy anything from the patr3on thingy. Apparently, Author-san is going to polish it up a little, and some chapters are missing."
"That I will."
"Right? So, just wait until then!" Yokka beamed at some kind of invisible camera, pointing at it. "Make sure to wait patiently, okay?!"
"Yup."
"And...
Author-san."
Every single hair on my body spiked up in fear, sensing the imminent danger, though it was coming from a literal 6 year-old it did not change the fact that this very child could strike terror never felt before into the depths of my soul.
"If you do, for some reason, abandon this story... abandon us...
I'll hunt you down. To the ends of the earth. I'll burn down everything you love.
I'll set your PC ablaze. Your phone will be reduced to nothing but ashes, too. Try as you might,
You will not escape."
"I-I-I... I-I'll do my best!" I stammered, frantically nodding in fear. Why is a child this fucking scary?!
"Glad we are clear on that! Don't stop writing about us, okay?"
"Guinea pig, I'm running out of lab supplies! And sustenance for my body, too. I will need your assistance as soon as can be managed!"
"Oh, coming!"
"Tell Narika to come, too!"
"I ain't even get any screen time this chapter... This ain't fair, ya know."
...
So, yeah.
I'll be taking a break.
See you guys in two weeks or so, haha.