Chapter 2
Minato glanced at Takatsuki Sen, who was now working hard to finish her manuscript.
Then he looked around at the chaotic mess surrounding her.
He sighed helplessly.
Picking up cleaning supplies from the corner, he skillfully started tidying the room.
This girl had been his first author after joining the publishing company.
For various reasons, he had only recently become a junior editor. But his salary at the time was not enough to cover his daily expenses.
An editor's salary was tied to the authors under their supervision, but Minato did not have a single author assigned to him yet. The best authors had already been taken by the senior editors.
If things continued like this, he might actually starve to death.
But just as he was worrying about it, he met her.
"Kid, what are you doing here? Where are your parents?"
Minato had just finished work when he noticed a little girl hiding near the publishing house.
She wore a tattered raincoat and clutched something that looked like a manuscript tightly in her hands.
Rain pattered against her face.
She carefully protected the papers in her arms, doing everything she could to keep them from getting soaked.
But eventually, the manuscript became wet, and the handwriting blurred.
There was nothing she could do.
Minato frowned.
He was still new to Japan and unfamiliar with how things worked here.
Could this girl standing in the rain be part of some strange scam?
His own identity could not withstand scrutiny.
The girl remained silent.
She did not even raise her head.
The two stood in silence.
Then—
Growl...
Growl...
The sounds happened almost simultaneously.
Both of them were hungry.
Somehow, that strange moment brought them a little closer.
The girl slowly lifted her head.
To be honest, Minato had been stunned.
Although her face was dirty, her features were delicate.
Most striking of all were her emerald eyes.
Minato found himself unable to look away.
What emotions hid inside them?
Confusion?
Sadness?
Or something else entirely?
The girl was like a lotus flower blooming in a chaotic world.
Yet at the same time, she carried a dangerous aura.
Contradictory.
Beautiful.
Captivating.
At least, that was how Minato saw her.
Feeling her gaze on him, Minato scratched his head awkwardly.
"I'm hungry. Are you hungry too?"
The girl nodded.
For reasons even he did not understand, Minato brought her back to his apartment and treated her to dinner.
Dinner consisted of a single apple.
The girl looked at the red apple in her hand but did not take a bite.
Minato felt embarrassed.
After all, this was his last bit of food.
He had secretly taken it from the publishing house.
A struggling editor who had arrived in another world with no food.
A lonely child carrying a manuscript with nothing to eat.
Somehow—
They suited each other.
"Eat."
Minato sat inside his tiny ten-square-meter apartment and picked up the girl's manuscript.
The girl glanced at him before finally taking a bite of the apple.
(Note: According to Tokyo Ghoul:re, Eto Yoshimura possesses part of V's bloodline and can consume normal human food, though eating humans is what truly strengthens her.)
"Let's see..."
Minato started reading.
Honestly, he had not expected much.
She was just a child.
But as he continued—
He realized he had been completely wrong.
Having studied countless literary classics in his previous life, Minato knew his own writing skills were not extraordinary.
But his eye for talent was excellent.
From the very first pages, he could see the girl's brilliance.
"You wrote this?!"
Minato stared at her in shock.
The girl did not look up.
She quietly continued eating her apple.
She truly seemed hungry.
"If this is really your work..."
Minato inhaled sharply.
This level of writing might still be far from a world-class literary award—
But in Japan?
It would absolutely become a sensation.
He was confident enough to say that.
"Um... do you like writing?"
Minato asked carefully.
The girl finished the apple.
Then she seemed ready to eat the core.
Seeing that, Minato quickly stopped her.
"Don't eat that."
The girl glanced at him.
Then she quietly lowered it.
For some reason, Minato felt uneasy.
It was almost as though this girl could see straight through him.
A strange chill ran through his body.
But now was not the time to think about that.
"Do you like writing?" Minato asked excitedly.
"If you do... come work with us."
His excitement was not just because of the girl's talent.
It was because he wanted people to experience writing like this.
To appreciate it.
To treasure it.
This could become a classic.
The girl nodded.
Then she spoke for the first time.
"I came here to submit my work."
Her voice was clear and crisp.
Like wind chimes ringing during summer.
"Wait."
Minato blinked.
"You originally came here to submit your manuscript?"
The girl nodded.
"But they kicked me out."
Minato froze.
"Was the person reviewing submissions an idiot?"
He could hardly believe it.
Someone in his publishing company had rejected a talent like this?
Ridiculous.
Absurd.
How could someone like that become an editor?
The thought of beautiful writing being discarded by incompetence made Minato irrationally angry.
The girl stared at him strangely.
She did not understand why he had suddenly become so passionate.
Was her writing really that good?
Then why had that editor rejected it?
The girl tilted her head.
"Um... are you an editor?"
Minato nodded.
"My name is Minato. I come from China, across the sea. I'm a newly hired editor."
"China..."
The girl quietly repeated the word.
She had never left Japan.
She had no idea what existed beyond the ocean.
"If you ever get the chance, go see it," Minato said.
"The culture there is wonderful. The people are amazing too."
Naturally, he could not resist promoting his homeland.
"So?"
Minato smiled.
"Want to become my first author?"
"I'll give you special treatment."
The girl hesitated.
Then quietly asked:
"Will I make money?"
"Of course."
Minato nodded firmly.
"I'll make you one of Japan's top-selling authors."
Hearing those words—
The girl nodded.
"Okay."
"I agree."
Then she fell silent again.
Her eyes drifted back toward the apple core.
As if she still wanted to eat it.
"Um..."
Although she had agreed, Minato suddenly realized something.
This girl was clearly underage.
Signing contracts required guardians.
"Where are your parents?"
The girl quietly touched the apple core.
Then answered emotionlessly:
"I don't have parents."
Minato froze.
He had stepped on a painful topic.
"Do you have another guardian?"
The girl shook her head.
Her expression remained calm.
As though none of it mattered.
"I'm sorry."
An orphan?
Minato pressed his lips together.
No wonder she looked like this.
A child from a normal family would not end up alone in the rain.
"What is your name?"
The girl suddenly froze.
The apple core slipped from her fingers and rolled onto the floor.
"What's wrong?"
The girl shook her head.
"Aito Yoshimura."
"Aito Yoshimura..."
Minato quietly repeated the name.
For some reason—
It felt gentle.
Warm.
Perhaps her parents had left her for reasons beyond their control.
At least—
That was how Minato chose to see it.
He never liked assuming the worst about people.
"Oh, right."
"If you're going to become a writer..."
Minato smiled.
"How about a pen name?"
"We can't use your real name forever, right?"
"Pen name?"
The girl tilted her head.
She slowly repeated the unfamiliar words.
"Yeah."
She frowned.
Naming things clearly was not her strength.
"Pick one for me."
"Huh?"
Minato blinked.
"You're letting me choose?"
The girl nodded.
Minato thought for a moment.
Then smiled.
"Then..."
"Let's call you Takatsuki Sen."
"Takatsuki... Sen?"
The girl repeated the name quietly.
"Why this one?"
Minato smiled.
"Because I think it sounds nice."