Crossing her legs, Machida rested her chin on her right hand on the table, her gaze somewhat subtle as she looked at Utaha across from her.
For some reason, why did she suddenly feel a sense of inferiority when seeing Utaha-chan this time?
What went wrong...
Sensing her editor's subtle gaze, Utaha looked up from the magazine she was leafing through and smiled at Sonoko.
"Is something wrong, Wanko?"
Hmm? The feeling is even stronger now.
Machida Sonoko didn't speak. Frowning slightly, she carefully examined Utaha. Then, as her gaze moved from Utaha's wine-red eyes, which had gained a few more charms after the precipitation of time, to the calm, shallow smile at the corner of her lips.
"Why do I feel... your womanly charm has increased quite a bit?"
"....What kind of comparison is that?" Rolling her eyes at the nonsense-spouting Sonoko, Utaha closed the magazine in her hand and tossed it onto the table. "Are you implying I need to go home and take a good shower?"
"No, no, that's not what I meant."
Machida Sonoko scratched her head, looking troubled.
"More like a woman? No, that's not it. More composed? Nope. Elegant and graceful? Aaaah, seriously! I can't find the right words!!"
Listening to the series of meaningless descriptors spilling from Sonoko's mouth, Utaha's gaze, which had merely been disdainful, gradually shifted to looking at her as if she were some sort of non-recyclable trash.
Can someone who can't even string a sentence together really have graduated from Sōda University's literature department?
I'd better work hard to get into Keio University then. Not only can I study with Miyahito, but I also won't have to be an alumna of a woman like this. Two birds with one stone.
Her face showing absolutely no trace of her inner thoughts, Utaha took out her phone, checked the time, and put it away.
Seeing this, Sonoko smiled ambiguously.
"Oh my, are you waiting for your man to pick you up from work?"
When she said this, she expected some interesting reaction from Utaha.
However, to her surprise, the girl just nodded blandly, her expression completely flat, and replied with a single, barely audible word.
"Mhm."
No way? Just one word? And you didn't even open your mouth properly... What an annoyingly nonchalant answer!!
The little person in Sonoko's heart was clutching her head in frustration. At this moment, she finally realized what had been causing her strange feeling earlier.
"Listen, Utaha-chan."
Sonoko slumped dejectedly onto the table, looking up at the completely composed Utaha across from her with a resentful, almost abandoned-wife look.
"I get it now."
"Get what?" Utaha didn't even bother to look at her, her tone as perfunctory as if she were humoring a child.
"It's your current vibe and attitude!" Sonoko said, looking at her author with resentful eyes, thinking about how she was almost (BEEP!) years old and still single... while the person sitting across from her, barely sixteen, was already enjoying the sweetness she couldn't have.
"Ahh, I feel like my life has no meaning."
"....." Hearing Sonoko's weird talk, Utaha finally lifted her gaze from her magazine.
Her eyes, as if saying 'Are you crazy?', landed on Sonoko.
Instantly.
Sonoko felt her life get even grayer.
"Sigh, grow up, okay?" Shaking her head helplessly, Utaha decided to temporarily put aside her editor, who was doing who-knows-what again. Just then, she felt her phone vibrate in her pocket.
Subconsciously leaning slightly to the side, Utaha took out her phone. Seeing the contact name "My Dear" on the screen, she was just about to answer.
At this moment, a sentence carrying an indescribable mix of envy and resentment blew past her ear like the cold wind of midwinter.
"'My Dear'... ah, how nice... love..."
"Please stop saying weird things, okay? Editor-san." A faint blush of embarrassment rose on her pretty face. Utaha turned and shot a shy, annoyed glare at Sonoko, who was spouting nonsense, then turned her back to her and answered the call.
"Hello... mhm, I got it... okay... whatever you decide is fine... that works too... mhm... mhm... mhm, I'm coming down now... mhm, I'll wait for you at the usual place... okay... alright, I got it... bye-bye."
Enduring Sonoko's dead-fish, lifeless gaze, Utaha hung up her boyfriend's call with a completely calm expression.
Then.
"Sigh." Putting on a 'I can't help you' expression, Utaha looked up, meeting the lifeless eyes of Sonoko, and said silently.
"Alright, stop looking at me like that. I know there are a few very nice gentlemen at Miyahito's agency."
"Do you need me and Miyahito to recommend some for you?"
Hearing this, the grayness in Sonoko's eyes was instantly lit up. Her pupils sparkling with anticipation, she said in a tone full of surprise.
"Really!?"
"What else?" The corners of her lips curled into a doting arc, but Utaha slightly narrowed her wine-red eyes, her gaze carrying a meaningful flavor.
"Well, so... my new book~~"
"Rest assured!" The moment the words fell, Sonoko patted her chest, with an attitude of 'if anyone doesn't give me face, I'll flip the table', and said solemnly.
"There will be plenty of time, I guarantee it! Before you even have an idea, I'll take all the pressure from the publishing house!!"
"Then I'll thank you. Good job, the respected Editor Machida."
"No problem! Leave it to me!!"
.....
"So." Stopping at a red light, balancing the motorcycle on one foot, Miyahito tilted his head slightly, looking through his helmet at Utaha, who was hugging his waist. His tone was somewhat complex.
"Did you just sell Editor Machida out like that?"
"What are you talking about!" Utaha, wearing a red helmet, complained coquettishly. She tilted her head up and lightly bumped her helmet against his, pouting in dissatisfaction.
"It's a win-win cooperation, okay?"
"That woman helps me hold off the pressure from the publishing house, and I provide a tiny bit of help for her love life problem. If that's not a win-win, what is?"
"...." Hearing this, Miyahito felt even more sympathy for the poor Sonoko.
After all.
"Uh, if I remember correctly, aside from Mr. Aino, who does makeup, everyone else at the agency is married..."
"And Mr. Aino just broke up with his boyfriend."
After Miyahito's words fell, the two of them fell into a simultaneous silence.
When the red light turned off and the green light came back on, the motorcycle carrying them restarted and slowly accelerated down the road home.
"...Um, Miyahito, do you know anyone else...?"
"Nope."
"Not a single one."
"Mhm, not a sin... wait, does Tooru count?"
"....What do you think?"
"If Tooru doesn't mind, I guess it's not impossible."
"Miyahito."
"Hmm?"
"You're definitely going to get beaten to death by Tooru's future girlfriend."