Shinobu Publishing, Editorial Department Elevator Lobby.
Ding-dong—!
"Ara." Watching Utaha step out of the elevator alone, Machida Sonoko, who had been waiting for a while, rested her chin on her hand and asked with a light chuckle. "Ara ara, didn't you say yesterday that Miyahito-kun was coming with you? Why is it just you, Kasumi Utako-sensei?"
Carrying only a handbag, wearing a refreshing low-cut white dress and a light blue blazer, Utaha stepped in light-colored high heels toward Machida, who was roughly her height. Her expression was perfectly calm.
"Miyahito suddenly had something come up and left early this morning. But he told me he'd come pick me up to go home later."
Finishing, Utaha shot a mildly exasperated look at Machida's slightly mischievous smile and retorted, "Why are you smiling so weirdly? And, he's my boyfriend. Please be mindful of your influence, Editor Machida. You're not close enough to call him by his first name yet."
Her smile stiffening, Machida paused, then put on a slightly aggrieved expression, looking at the calm Utaha and whispering, "Y-yes, yes, I got it. Mou, Utaha-chan, you're so stingy. It's just a name."
Listening to the editor who practically had "Unreliable" written all over her face, Utaha shook her head helplessly. "Editor Machida, could you please handle business first?"
"It seems they haven't arrived yet. At least take this time to give me a brief on who we're meeting."
"Yes~~" Folding her hands over her stomach and bowing slightly in an obedient pose, Machida smiled. "Please follow me, Ojou-sama."
"Mhm."
A short while later.
"That's the gist of it." Putting down an interview article about Kosaka Akane, Machida looked unusually professional as she analyzed it for the deep-in-thought Utaha. "At this point, you should understand what the name 'Kosaka Akane' represents in the industry."
"Million-selling hits, classic works, a monster of talent... Honestly, any editor would pull out all the stops to convince their author to hand over the adaptation to her."
"But I still want to ask you one thing, Utaha-chan. Do you really want to entrust Love's Metronome to Kosaka Akane?"
Utaha didn't answer immediately. Instead, she shot a flat look at the serious Machida and counter-questioned. "The meeting starts at ten. Do you really think I need to consider that right now?"
"Ahahaha." Feeling looked down upon, Machida laughed it off. "Desu yo ne, we're already about to discuss the specific details, ahahaha."
Curving her index finger and lightly tapping the table to cut off Machida's feigned ignorance, Utaha leaned forward slightly, resting her chin on her right hand, and spoke softly.
"Will Miyani really be here later?"
As she said it, a playful glint flashed in Utaha's wine-red eyes.
However, Machida, who happened to be looking down and sipping her coffee, missed the subtle look in her author's eyes.
Hehe. As expected, Utaha-chan still doesn't know about Miyahito's identity.
Keeping a completely straight face, Machida slowly set down her coffee cup. She furrowed her brows slightly, acting perfectly cooperative as she spoke hesitantly. "He should be. When I contacted them yesterday, they confirmed they'd definitely come."
Still acting. Keep up the act.
Watching Machida spout nonsense with a completely serious face, Utaha internally scoffed, Hypocritical adult.
Lifting her coffee cup, she took a small sip while deciding to throw more fuel on the fire for the gossip-loving editor. "Last night, when I told Miyahito I was a Miyani fan, his expression felt a bit off."
"Editor Machida, do you think I shouldn't have told him?"
The moment Utaha said that, Machida's expression instantly changed. Her whole demeanor could only be described as "beaming with excitement."
"N-n-n-n-o, Utaha-chan, it's definitely your imagination! How could Miyahito-kun possibly mind you being a Miyani fan? It's just the love between an idol and a fan. Don't worry, Utaha-chan. Miyahito-kun isn't that petty."
Watching Machida's radiant smile and her enthusiastic thumbs-up like a shonen manga protagonist, Utaha's eyes grew slightly colder. She lowered her head slightly.
Heh. Gotcha.
You definitely already know his identity. Case closed. Time to execute.
Just then.
Knock knock—!
The meeting room door was suddenly knocked. The two women instinctively exchanged a glance.
[They're here.]
Without wasting time, Machida quickly tidied up the desk, stood up, and walked to the door.
She opened it.
"Welcome, everyone."
Looking at the tall, red-haired, red-eyed beauty standing at the front, and the two young men behind her, Machida smiled.
"Representative Kosaka Akane, Hashima-kun... and," turning slightly, she secretly glanced at Utaha, who had already stood up and bowed politely.
"Miyani-sensei."
After greeting the guests and briefly introducing them to Utaha in the room, Machida took a small step back, wearing a look of pure anticipation for the show about to unfold.
However.
"Hello, nice to meet you, Kasumi Utako-sensei."
"Thank you for coming all this way, Representative Kosaka."
Watching the polite yet formal exchange between Utaha and Akane, and especially seeing Miyahito walk in behind Akane before standing completely naturally beside Utaha, a giant question mark slowly floated out of Machida Sonoko's head.
Wait... this isn't how it's supposed to go!
Did Utaha-chan not hear my cue? Or was she too surprised to react?
After everyone took their seats... except for Miyahito, who was about to sit next to Utaha but was instantly called back by a single, sharp glare from Akane, only Machida, representing Shinobu Publishing and serving as Utaha's editor, remained standing awkwardly in place.
"Editor Machida?"
"Ah, right, sorry." Snapped back by Miyahito's quiet reminder, Machida quickly hurried over and sat beside Utaha.
'Utaha-chan...'
Feeling Machida's questioning gaze, Utaha silently withdrew her stare from Miyahito (now sitting beside Akane) and turned back, a faint, dismissive curve touching her lips.
Want to watch a show?
Heh. You can dream all you want, Editor Machida.