Kuroba Akira's words landed right on Aizono Momo's heartstrings.
To be honest, Aizono Momo had always wanted to do something for everyone. Whether it was the Literature Club's member crisis or her best friend's literary pursuits, she'd never been able to help much…
She knew perfectly well she was bad at socializing—she couldn't attract new members. And in pure literature, there's hardly ever a need for an illustrator.
If only Shiroi wrote light novels—then maybe, just maybe, she could actually help… She'd had this thought more than once.
So the first time Kuroba Akira grabbed her hand, she'd really been happy. Sure, she was scared she wouldn't be good enough, but even more than that, she'd made up her mind to at least give it a shot.
And now, learning her best friend was joining the light novel project too, Momo felt like she was dreaming. She hugged Shiroi Shiori in her arms, face shining with surprise and delight.
"Ah…! Really? Shiori, you'll be working on the light novel with us?"
"Mhm. It's true. I've already promised Akira-kun, but I'll just be in charge of editing."
"That's wonderful…! Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful!"
"Momo, you're overdoing it…"
Aizono Momo hugged Shiroi Shiori and bounced on her feet. To make such a shy girl this lively and excited—she was genuinely over the moon.
Watching these two childhood friends so close and happy together, Kuroba Akira felt more and more that recruiting Shiroi Shiori as his ghostwriter was just the most perfect move.
This way, Aizono Momo would be all fired up—no matter how many revisions he asked for, she'd accept them all without complaint.
Perfect! Everything was coming together!
Meanwhile, as the Literature Club president, Anri Hitomi found herself excluded by her own club members. She looked at Kuroba Akira with a pout and a jealous, abandoned-wife sort of gaze.
"Kuroba-kun, what about me?"
Uh-oh… There was a dark aura rising off Class Rep.
But of course, Akira hadn't forgotten about Class Rep. If not for her bringing him into this treasure trove of a Literature Club, he'd never have gotten the chance to restart his light novel dreams. Honestly, calling her his lucky star wasn't an exaggeration.
So Akira grinned and said,
"Heh, don't worry. How could I forget our great Club President? I've decided: you'll be the supervisor for this project!"
"Oh? So I'm in charge of chasing manuscripts?"
"Exactly! And also, trial reading and proofreading! I hope you'll give us your first impressions and help catch any typos or awkward sentences."
Basically, he was giving Class Rep the role of supervisor.
Now, the production process for this light novel was starting to look like a fan translation team.
First you need a source novel, then it goes through translation, editing, and QC before release—only, instead of translation, they'd be making illustrations.
Kuroba Akira would be the novel source, coming up with the outline. Aizono Momo would draw the illustrations. Shiroi Shiori would handle the main text and editing. And finally, Anri Hitomi would supervise.
Originally, supervision should've been Akira's job, but handing it off to Class Rep gave her a sense of presence—plus, he didn't have to pay her.
Free labor—who could say no to that?
Anri Hitomi tapped her cheek, thought for a moment, and then smiled:
"Hmm… It does feel like you just threw me a bone to keep me from complaining, but since you didn't forget me, I'll gladly accept this responsibility."
Akira had known Class Rep would accept—she definitely didn't want to be left out.
The Literature Club where no one gets left behind—complete!
"So, this will be our Literature Club's first official project—collaborating to make this light novel! Let's all do our best!"
Kuroba Akira held out his hand, and the three girls immediately understood and stacked their hands on top of his.
"Let's revive the Literature Club!"
"Yeah!" x3
The atmosphere was like a sports club declaring "We're aiming for Nationals!" After lying dormant for so long, the Literature Club was burning bright again.
Akira was smiling the brightest of all—he was practically glowing inside.
You're all just helping build my soft rice dream, you know! Wahaha!
When the morale-boosting bit was done, Akira sat down and took out the three copies of the manuscript he'd already prepared.
"Anyway, let's take a look at my light novel for today. Shiroi, you didn't get to finish it yesterday, right? Let's read the rest together now."
"Mhm, I really wanted to finish it yesterday. I've been dying to see what happens next."
Shiroi Shiori had wanted to see where the story would go for a while. The other two also took their manuscripts and started reading in earnest.
…Literature Club Reading Time…
Anri Hitomi finished first. But instead of praising Akira's novel, she looked up with a slightly odd expression and asked,
"…Kuroba-kun, if you don't mind me asking… do you have a little sister?"
"Huh? No, I don't."
At least… I don't think so.
Actually, even Akira couldn't be totally sure.
But after learning from Tashiro Benika that this world's Kuroba Akira was his isekai counterpart, their family backgrounds should be the same.
Back in his previous life, Akira could have had a younger sibling.
He remembered his mother telling him that when he was three, she'd gotten pregnant a second time.
But because of the one-child policy, the family didn't keep the baby, so Akira grew up as an only child, carrying everything on his own… Sometimes, he did wish he'd had a brother or sister.
But maybe it was because he didn't have a little sister that he could write this kind of siscon novel! This is the power of fantasy!
"I see… If you did have a little sister, she'd probably blush and freak out after reading this light novel."
It's practically a super-long love letter to a little sister…
Good thing he didn't have one. Otherwise, it might have caused some serious family misunderstandings—maybe even a full-on disaster.
"But this story really is interesting, Kuroba-kun. You're truly talented…"
"Heh, thanks for the praise."
Anri Hitomi's admiration was genuine, but her unease only grew stronger.
When this light novel gets published, it's probably going to set off a nationwide siscon boom.
As the originator, the book's sales would skyrocket.
He'd get really famous and make a ton of money, and then she'd just become less and less important to him…
This couldn't go on.
She had to work even harder to catch up… Otherwise, he'd never look her way. He'd only get further and further away.
Once again, Anri Hitomi steeled herself. As his friend, she would—no matter what—find a talent that would let her walk at his side.
She absolutely could not be left behind.
---
T/N: money making
T/N2: yeah no excuse this time :sob: WAIT NO I WAS STARTING NEW TLS SO HA! yeah sorrrey heres the 4 chapters!
bonus chaps
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300 stones -> 3 chapters
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