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Page 88
After the meal, Kasumigaoka Utaha's spirits were noticeably better. She took the initiative to clean up the dishes and even made two cups of black tea.
"Junior, I have some new ideas about the later plot." She took out her notebook and began to discuss it with Yuto.
This time, her thoughts were much clearer, and she was no longer as confused and disoriented as before.
The two talked until late at night.
“…That’s about it.” Kasumigaoka Utaha closed her notebook and let out a long sigh of relief. “I feel much clearer now.”
“Yes, that’s a good direction.” Yuto nodded. “Maintaining the balance between Sayuka and Mayu, while deepening the male protagonist’s inner conflict, is the only way to capture the readers’ hearts.”
"Thank you, junior," Kasumigaoka Utaha said sincerely. "Without you, I might have remained depressed for a long time."
"You're too kind." Yuto stood up. "It's getting late, I should go back."
“I’ll see you off.” Kasumigaoka Utaha also stood up.
The two walked to the entrance hall.
"By the way, junior." Kasumigaoka Utaha Kujuu Sulfur Death Tumor Qi Ba Erba suddenly called out to him.
"Ok?"
"Where's the black tea cake you mentioned?" She narrowed her eyes, revealing a familiar, slightly sly smile.
“Uh…” Yuto was taken aback, then remembered the lie he had told that afternoon to get in the door, “Well… I was accidentally carried away by a dog on the way.”
"Oh? Is that so?" Kasumigaoka Utaha crossed her arms, looking at him with a half-smile. "What kind of dog likes to eat black tea cake so much?"
“A… very greedy dog,” Yuto said, forcing himself to speak.
"Hmph." Kasumigaoka Utaha snorted lightly, but didn't pursue the matter further. "Fine, I'll let you off this time. However, you owe me a black tea cake, remember to pay me back."
"Definitely, definitely," Yuto quickly agreed.
Seeing that his senior had returned to her usual self, Yuto Itsuka was completely relieved.
"Then I'm leaving. Get some rest and don't stay up late."
"understood."
……
Over the next few days, Yuto Itsuka continued to immerse himself in the creation of the third volume of "Farming King".
Perhaps because he had resolved the matter of Kasumigaoka Utaha, his state of mind had become much calmer, and his writing progressed by leaps and bounds.
During this time, Machida Sonoko called to tell him that Kasumi Shiko had returned to normal and had begun revising the paperback version of volume three, as well as outlining the fourth volume.
"Thanks to you, Itsuka-sensei," Machida Sonoko said gratefully on the phone. "I really don't know how to thank you enough."
“It’s no big deal,” Yuto said.
"Yes, thank you anyway," Machida Sonoko said with a smile. "By the way, how's your progress on volume three? Could you send me a portion to read first?"
“…I’m trying.” Yuto’s smile froze on his face.
"Go for it, Mr. Itsuka! I'm really looking forward to it."
After hanging up the phone, Yuto sighed.
It seems that he's about to enter hell mode in the days to come.
……
……
[P.S.: I've only managed to write 4,000 words in the last few days, stopping before midnight each day. This isn't good; it's too lazy.]
Volume 1: Chapter 106: The First Toyosaki Creative Support Association
The scorching August sun baked the asphalt road until it was slightly warped, and the cicadas chirped tirelessly from the trees outside the apartment, as if trying to stuff the whole summer into people's ears.
Yuto Itsuki closed the window and enjoyed the coolness brought by the air conditioner.
He was sitting in front of the computer, his hands flying across the keyboard, displaying the manuscript of the third volume of "Farming King" on the screen.
Since resolving the matter of Kasumigaoka Utaha, his mood has recovered, and his thoughts are clearer than ever before.
The memories of the Izu training camp are no longer a distraction, but rather a source of rich material. The little moments spent with the girls and the delicate emotional fluctuations have all quietly blended into the world I create.
He added a scene in a seaside town for the protagonist, incorporating his observations and experiences from Atami and Ito.
Although the story is set in another world, the details derived from real-life experiences give it a more relatable feel.
"This makes the development of the relationship between the protagonist and the female lead more natural," Yuto Itsuka muttered to himself, looking at the paragraph he had just finished writing with satisfaction.
His understanding of romantic scenes is now far beyond what he once was, when he was a complete novice who needed Megumi Kato's help to write sitcoms.
Just then, my phone screen lit up; it was a message from Kasumigaoka Utaha.
"Kasumi Shiko: Junior, I've sent the revised manuscript of my third volume paperback edition to Editor Machida, and she's very satisfied."
"Who's more handsome than me? Congratulations, Kasumigaoka-senpai, I knew you were the best."
"Kasumi: Hmph, of course. However, to thank Mr. 'Greedy Dog' for his professional guidance, I've decided to give you a chance to thank me in person."
You tsundere...when did you learn that from Eriri?
Yuto Itsuka looked at the screen and could almost see his senior's smug, slightly smug expression.
Before he could reply, another message came in.
"Kasumi Shiko: By the way, I need the opinion of a 'professional' regarding a few key plot points in Volume 4. You wouldn't refuse a beautiful upperclassman struggling with creative troubles, would you?"
That's a very confident and assertive statement.
Yuto Itsuka smiled helplessly, and just as he was about to type, another chat window popped up; it was Eriri.
"Eriri: You idiot Yuto! Are you there?"
"Who's more handsome than me? Hey, what's up?"
"Eriri: Are you free today? I... I drew a few character designs for a new work and I'd like you, the original author, to take a look."
Yuto was slightly taken aback.
Eriri's illustration work is already finished, and there's still a long time before the third volume is due, so starting to prepare character designs now seems a bit too eager.
He could almost guess that this young lady was probably bored out of her mind at home.
Just as he was about to reply, another message came from the four-person group chat that had been created for the training camp.
Yudou was somewhat helpless. Did you guys plan to come to our door together?
"Random Girl: Everyone, how's your summer homework going?"
Oh right, there was such a thing.
Yuto then realized that half of summer vacation had already passed, and his brand-new notebook was still lying quietly in the corner of his schoolbag, never opened.
"Eriri: Homework can be done in the last few days!"
Kasumi Shiko: Hehe, it seems that this blonde mixed-race young lady's brain can only hold games and comics.
Eriri: Are you done yet!?
Kasumi Shiko: Hmm~
Eriri: Damn it!
"Who's more handsome than me? By the way, I'm currently writing the third volume, and I feel like I'm making pretty good progress."
Eriri: Really?! How much have you written? Let me see!
"Xia Shizi: Oh? Please allow me to read it as well."
"Random girl: Itsuka-kun is working really hard."
Yuto rubbed his temples, feeling a headache coming on.
He suddenly had an idea: although working in isolation can be efficient, it can sometimes lead to a dead end in one's thinking.
If we all get together, we might come up with different ideas, since we are all creators.
He glanced at the vacuum cleaner in the corner and the cardboard boxes next to it that hadn't been tidied up yet.
Living alone, cleaning is also a hassle.
If anyone can come...
Yuto carefully considered his words and posted in the group:
"Who's more handsome than me: Since everyone has creative needs, or rather... has time."
"Who's more handsome than me? How about coming over to my place this afternoon? We can work together, supervise each other, and exchange ideas."
After the message was sent, there was a brief silence in the group.
The first to respond was Megumi Kato.
"Passerby Girl: Okay, I happen to have some questions I'd like to ask Itsuka-kun."
Next up is Eriri.
"Eriri: Going...to your place? Not necessarily! It'll be a good opportunity for you to see my new drawing, and I can also keep an eye on you, you procrastinator!"
"Kasumi Shiko: Since my junior has invited me so sincerely, it's only right that I, as your senior, go and check out your work environment."
"Kasumi Shiko: Besides, my junior has already visited my home, so it's only polite for me to pay him a visit."
"Eriri: What?! You idiot Yuto! What's going on?!"
Yuto Itsuki had a headache.
"Who's more handsome than me: It's about some writing stuff, anyway, come to my house first."
After managing to appease Eriri, the afternoon's "collective creative session" was finalized.
Yuto Itsuka tidied up the clutter in the room a bit, and then went downstairs to the convenience store to buy some snacks and drinks.
At 2 p.m. sharp, the doorbell rang.
Yuto opened the door, and standing outside was Megumi Kato.
She was wearing a refreshing light blue dress and holding a folder in her arms, which looked like summer homework.
"Excuse me, Itsuka-kun." She bowed slightly, her voice as steady as ever.
"Welcome, Kato-kun, please come in." Yuto stepped aside to let her in.
Kato Megumi walked into the room, looked around, and then said in her flat tone, "Itsuka-kun doesn't seem to have much time to do housework."
As she spoke, she picked up the vacuum cleaner from the corner and began cleaning. This natural action made her look every bit the lady of the house.
"Ahaha, I can't accept this, Kato-kun. Let me do it."
Kato Megumi declined Itsuka Yuto's "kind offer." The room was small, and she finished cleaning it in less than ten minutes.
Just then, the doorbell rang again, and this time it was Eriri.
She was wearing a green sweatshirt and sweatpants, with a sun hat on her head, and clutching a large drawing board tightly in her arms, looking as if she were facing a formidable enemy.
"I-I'm here!" She said somewhat awkwardly, her cheeks flushing slightly as she saw Yuto open the door.
Welcome, please stay tuned.
Eriri didn't argue, changed into slippers, and quickly walked into the living room.
She was clearly taken aback when she saw Kato Megumi sitting there peacefully.
"Good afternoon, Eriri," Kato Megumi greeted her.
"Good afternoon... Kato." Eriri replied somewhat reluctantly, then sat down in the seat furthest away from Kato Megumi, tossing her twin tails behind her.
The last guest arrived ten minutes late.
Yuto opened the door, and Kasumigaoka Utaha was standing outside, holding a delicate paper bag in her hand.
She wore a black long dress today, which was different from her usual school uniform attire and made her look more mature.
"Junior, it's not gentlemanly to make a lady wait outside for so long," she said with a smile.
"Excuse me, senior, please come in."