Arthur: "Alright then, let's hear it—what's the second good news?"
Machida Sonoko: "I don't want to say anymore. ╭(╯^╰)╮"
Arthur couldn't help but play dumb.
"Why not?"
Machida Sonoko: "You tell me! Angry kitten.jpg"
Arthur: "So, Machida-san, did you ever find yourself a boyfriend or not?"
Machida Sonoko: "Nope. Not looking either. Men only get in the way of my work efficiency."
Arthur: "Admirable, admirable. If I were a boss, I'd definitely hire someone like you first."
"Tell you what—if I ever start my own company, why don't you come work for me?"
"Don't worry, I'm not a stingy boss. I'd make sure you're well compensated."
"..."
Machida Sonoko stared at the message on her phone. Her crimson lips—tinted with just a touch of lipstick—curved into a faint smile.
A mature, womanly smile.
She typed back—
Machida Sonoko: "Sure, I'll look forward to the day Little Shiro becomes a boss. So, what position do you plan to give me? Don't tell me I'll be cleaning toilets?"
Arthur: "How about… secretary?"
Machida Sonoko: "Secretary, hmm… sounds like a pretty nice position."
Arthur: "Of course. Every male boss loves his female secretary."
After all, when there's work to be done—the secretary handles it.
When there's nothing to do… Well, there's still the secretary.
Machida Sonoko: "???"
As an editor for Fujikawa Press, a nearly-thirty career woman who'd read way too many novels, she caught the implication immediately.
Wait a second—did this kid just start flirting with me?
When did this conversation turn into that kind of talk?!
Being teased by a guy thirteen years younger than her…
Even someone as composed as Machida felt her cheeks warm a little.
Don't be fooled by her mature air—
She still hadn't even had her first kiss.
The only reason she wasn't mad was that… she didn't actually dislike him.
Otherwise, forget blushing—she'd have already scolded him into next week.
Machida Sonoko: "Oh, you've gotten bold, haven't you? Since when did you learn to tease your elders, Little Shiro?"
Arthur: "What do you mean learn? I've always been like this. I was just younger back then—now I'm grown up."
Machida Sonoko: "???"
For some reason, after realizing he could talk like that, she started hearing double meanings in everything he said.
Especially that last bit about "growing up."
Better to change the subject before things got dangerous.
Being a mature, level-headed woman, she cleared her throat—
Machida Sonoko: "Alright, fine. I'll tell you the second good news~ˇ"
"Congratulations, Little Shiro-sensei! Your debut novel Game of the Gods has officially surpassed 15 million copies in total sales."
"After a meeting, the editorial board decided to double the first print run of Volume 11—from 100,000 to 200,000 copies."
The new volume—Volume 11—was set to release on April 26th, which happened to be next Saturday.
"Over fifteen million already?"
Arthur raised his brows, genuinely surprised.
Last time he checked, it was only around fourteen million—and that was three months ago.
Just then, another message popped up.
Machida Sonoko: "So? Good news, right?"
Arthur: "Not bad. Thanks, Machida-san. You've worked hard."
Machida Sonoko: "Aww, just a verbal thank-you? That's it?"
Arthur: "Then how would you like me to thank you?"
Machida Sonoko: "Hmph, that's something you're supposed to figure out yourself. Asking me shows no sincerity at all."
Arthur: "Alright then. How about this—next time you have a day off, I'll take you out for a nice dinner. My treat."
Machida Sonoko: "Dinner's fine. Just skip the fancy restaurant part."
Arthur: "Heh, see that? You're not even my secretary yet, and you're already saving money for your future boss."
"You're making me feel all warm inside."
"But don't worry, your boss has money to spare. And if I ever run out, I'll just rob a bank to feed you."
Machida Sonoko rolled her eyes as she typed back—
Machida Sonoko: "Yeah, yeah. Try that and you'll be stitching shirts in prison in no time."
Yet despite the words, she couldn't help but smile faintly.
Arthur: "Relax. If I don't want to get caught, no one can throw me in prison. I could rob America's treasury if I felt like it."
Machida Sonoko: "Huh? Why do I see cows flying in the sky right now?"
Arthur: "Sigh, the world these days… No one believes honesty anymore. So sad, so blue, such a mushroom."
Machida Sonoko: "(?_?)?"
Arthur: "Anyway, enough nonsense. When's your next day off? I'll make a reservation."
Machida Sonoko: "Tomorrow, actually. I've got the day off."
Arthur: "Oh? That won't get in the way of any blind date plans, will it?"
Machida Sonoko: "Ha! Blind date? As if I'd waste time on something that doesn't exist. Don't jump to conclusions."
Arthur: "Shame, really."
Machida Sonoko: "???"
Arthur: "Alright, I'll pick a restaurant and message you later."
Machida Sonoko: "Okay."
Their chat came to an end.
Inside the lounge at Fujimi Shobo, Machida Sonoko stood up and stretched, crossing her arms above her head.
Her figure was… impossible to ignore.
The graceful lines of her body—the perfect curve of her waist, the gentle rise and fall of her chest—seemed almost to defy gravity.
She bent over slightly to pick up her phone from the table, glanced at her LINE conversation with Arthur… and froze.
"...Boyfriend, huh?" she murmured.
Her eyes flickered.
Unbidden, an image of Arthur flashed across her mind.
"Eh?!"
She stiffened, cheeks instantly flushing pink.
Why did I just think of Arthur?!
Am I really that hopeless? Just one mention of 'boyfriend' and my imagination runs off on its own?
No, that couldn't be right.
Sure, he was handsome—tall, confident, and ridiculously talented—
But still… She was thirteen years older than him!
To a high school boy like him, she was practically an old lady.
Wait—old lady? Excuse me?
She wasn't even thirty yet!
She was still young and beautiful!
It's just that high school boys couldn't appreciate a woman's mature charm.
"Ugh, what am I even thinking?!"
Realizing how far her thoughts had gone, Machida Sonoko pressed a hand to her flushed face, mortified.
"Calm down, calm down."
She slipped her phone into her pocket, cupped her cheeks with both hands, and took a deep breath.
See? This is exactly why men ruin productivity.
If just thinking about one could make her this flustered…
Actually dating someone would be disastrous.
Once she managed to steady herself, she checked her reflection with her phone's camera—
Good. Still composed.
Satisfied, she pocketed the phone, straightened her posture, and resumed her cool, professional demeanor.
Time to switch back into work mode—Machida Sonoko, the elite career woman.
"Oh right, I forgot to tell Shii-chan the news."
Just as she was about to leave the lounge, she remembered something, pulled her phone back out, and opened her chat with Shii-chan.
A few seconds later, in another part of Tokyo—Taitō Ward—
Utaha Kasumigaoka, sitting at her desk and brainstorming new plot ideas for Love Metronome, received a message from her editor, Machida Sonoko.
And so, the ripples of Arthur's "good news"… began to spread once again.
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