"There's a good saying that things one has never experienced will actually make someone more imaginative about them."
"And I! Am that type of person."
Ryunosuke patted his own chest, speaking with full confidence. However, Hiyori looked unconvinced.
"Oh? No love experience, but can write such touching life-and-death stories?" Hiyori waved the three romance novels by Ryunosuke in her hand.
The corner of Ryunosuke's mouth twitched.
(This is bad, what now? She wasn't fooled...)
"Haaah..." Hiyori sighed, she no longer cornered him.
After all, she felt she had no right to make things difficult for him. Until now she wasn't his girlfriend, so she had no right to control Ryunosuke. Hiyori looked a bit listless.
Ryunosuke immediately changed the subject. "Is the author of this book from your father's company?"
Hiyori came to her senses and nodded. "That's right, she's a contract writer at my father's company, it's just..."
She said hesitantly, "This writer is called Kasumi Utako-sensei. The first volume of her Koisuru Metronome got quite good results, the first print run reached 5,000 copies."
"Oh~ Only 5,000." Ryunosuke propped his chin, feeling the number 5,000 was somewhat small.
Hiyori glared at him sharply. "You think everyone is like you? Can write novels that good? Your writing level is already at a stage that even first-class writers may not necessarily reach, of course you can print 120,000 copies."
"I think the number will keep increasing, breaking through one million shouldn't be a problem."
"Whereas Kasumi-sensei, although initially only 5,000, but reaching 50,000 or 60,000 in the future definitely won't be a problem. And that's already second-class writer level, especially since she's a newcomer writer. If developed normally, becoming a first-class writer isn't just a dream."
"It's just very unfortunate..." Hiyori hugged volume two of Koisuru Metronome to her chest while sighing. "Not everyone is like you, whose first three books immediately became masterpieces. Kasumi-sensei's volume two clearly experienced a quality decline. Most likely it will be axed... Even though I really like reading Kasumi-sensei's novels."
Hiyori sighed again, looking very regretful about it. Clearly she liked this novel, but was sad because this novel was threatened with cancellation.
Hearing her words, Ryunosuke stroked his chin while thinking.
"Since you really like this novel, I'll help promote it on my personal page. As for whether this novel can survive and not be cancelled, that depends on herself."
Hiyori's eyes sparkled. She stood up enthusiastically and brought her face close to Ryunosuke, very close until their faces almost touched...
"Really?! Akasaka-kun, you're so kind!" Hiyori clasped both hands, looking very enthusiastic.
Clearly she really liked Koisuru Metronome. Although the writing quality in volume two declined somewhat, she still wanted to save this book.
Ryunosuke slowly pulled his hand away awkwardly. Hiyori also came to her senses and sat back down shyly, her cheeks felt a bit hot because she had just clasped his hand without thinking.
Ryunosuke didn't say much, he used his terminal phone to upload a post on his personal LINE account. The content more or less praised Kasumi-sensei's work as very good and asked everyone to support it.
LINE was a social media application widely used in Japan. Since Ryunosuke's novel had just been released with a first print run of 120,000 copies, he already had some name recognition. Every word of his would be followed by many followers. Even though he only said "good" on his account, that was enough to reverse Kasumi Utako's fate.
◆━⊰✿✧✿⊱━◆
In an apartment outside school.
Currently, Kasumigaoka Utaha was confining herself in bed because her novel sales had plummeted.
She covered herself with a blanket, as if wanting to escape from reality. However, under that blanket, she still launched "verbal attacks" through the screen, debating with netizens who criticized her work.
How could an Utaha not strike back?
[What do you know?]
[Can you really understand my work?]
[If you don't understand, don't give ratings on my Love Metronome! You're not worthy.]
After replying to a netizen, Utaha's chest rose and fell with anger.
This was the 21st person she had debated with today, it felt endless...
Utaha massaged her head. She hadn't slept well for several days, there were even dark circles under her eyes.
She walked to the vanity and saw her current appearance.
Although still beautiful, her hair was messy and her clothes weren't neat; the jacket on her shoulders had slipped showing her snow-white skin. Though she looked tired, her smooth skin and tempting legs proved she was indeed Kasumigaoka Utaha.
Utaha stared at the mirror and sighed, she ruffled her hair irritably. "Never mind, let's eat first. I haven't eaten all day."
Utaha couldn't cook, she usually bought unhealthy ready-made food like bread and instant noodles. But even so, her growth didn't stop, as if ignoring the law of equivalent exchange. Even though she only ate instant noodles, her body was still very good; if "flat-chested" girls knew, they would surely die of envy.
Utaha opened the refrigerator which turned out to be empty, only one apple and several bananas remained. She was too lazy to go out, so she took those fruits to fill her stomach. She returned to bed while carrying bananas and apples, intending to eat while seeing if there were other netizens who needed to be verbally beaten.
Since she got money from writing novels, she decided to live alone so she could be independent. She was a very vindictive independent woman; if she met a hater, she would immediately strike back.
While lying lazily while swinging her legs looking for the next target to attack, she accidentally saw a post from a new writer named "Sinful Money." This writer's novel was immediately printed 120,000 copies in the first print run, of course he was very famous.
Utaha bit her apple, intending to see the activities of her fellow writer. She froze when she saw that writer recommending her novel. So shocked, the apple in her hand fell to the floor without her realizing it. She stared sharply at the comment column in "Sinful Money's" post.
She immediately sat in a "w-sitting" position on the bed. At that moment, her chief editor, Machida Sonoko, called with a very hurried tone.
Utaha answered it, and Sonoko's enthusiastic voice was heard. "Kasumi-sensei! That newcomer who's trending in the novel world recommended your novel! Your novel exploded!"
"Our boss has already given instructions to reprint 50,000 copies of your novel. As long as this trend exists, maybe Kasumi-sensei's work can rise again!" Sonoko said enthusiastically.
Of course she was happy, because as an editor, a writer's success meant commission for her.
Hearing that noisy voice, Utaha said in her characteristic toxic tone. "Never mind, Machida-san. This is just riding on someone else's fame. If the quality of the work doesn't improve, this novel will still be cancelled. Why are you so happy?"
Sonoko wasn't angry, instead laughed. "Don't be like that, Kasumi-sensei. You can leverage 'Sinful Money's' big name to make your work a big hit. As long as your novel sells, my commission will..."
*Beep... beep... beep...*
Utaha hung up the phone. She felt her editor was very boring. She lay flat on the bed, staring at the ceiling, then picked up her phone again to follow "Sinful Money's" account. She placed the phone on her chest and muttered:
"Who exactly are you, Sinful Money-sensei?" The corner of her lips formed a beautiful curve. "I, Kasumigaoka Utaha, am not an ungrateful person. After I find you later, if you are a man~"
"Then let's have a beautiful meeting."
Utaha turned over, hiding her face under the blanket, and let out a laugh that sounded a bit perverted. "Hehe! Sinful Money-sensei~ don't let me find you~ otherwise, I'll consume you without remainder."
Utaha licked her red lips with full seduction. She intended to find the writer who helped her and give him an appropriate "reward" in return. If he's male... then, let's just date.
She looked back at the ceiling with a longing expression.
What girl doesn't yearn for love?
Even an Utaha once yearned for it... Unfortunately, the men around her were all useless. Even the handsome ones weren't attractive to her.
Utaha wasn't someone who only looked at appearance (visual). In the original story, she was trapped with Aki Tomoya because she wanted to repay a favor, even almost giving herself to help Tomoya's naive dream. However, because of "interference" from Kato Megumi, she no longer had a chance and chose to give up.
This time, because of Ryunosuke's interference, Utaha shifted that feeling to the figure of "Sinful Money." Even though Ryunosuke didn't think far at all; he just wanted to make a girl named Shiina Hiyori happy, but unintentionally he had helped Utaha.
Utaha didn't think about that. Her mind was now full of plans to repay the favor, smiling foolishly like a girl who was obsessed (stalker/delusional).
◆━⊰✿✧✿⊱━◆
Meanwhile, at Advanced Nurturing High School, Ryunosuke suddenly felt chills for no reason.