Sato's expression darkened slightly. He glared at Kasumigaoka Utaha and said, "If it's an interview, then just do the interview. Why make such a fuss?"
Utaha curled her lips and raised her brows. "What's it to you!"
Looking at the scheming girl's expression that clearly said if you don't like it, come fight me, Sato truly felt a bit helpless.
He casually asked, "This is an interview under Fujikawa Shoten?"
"Mm, it's for that ACGN weekly under the magazine department. Machida-san figured you'd probably refuse, so she asked me instead!"
"Oh?"
Sato raised an eyebrow and looked at her. "And what makes her think that if you come, I won't refuse?"
What makes her think…
Utaha's mind drifted back to when Machida Sonoko had called her.
…
"Refuse? If he refuses, then think of a way!"
Fresh out of the bath, she sat on the bed wrapped in a bathrobe. Her fair, smooth thighs shimmered under the light like polished jade.
Machida Sonoko's voice was full of fervor, almost like some manipulative leader trying to brainwash her.
"If even you can't do anything about him, what can I possibly do?"
She sat on the bed, pouting slightly as she applied rose-colored nail polish to her toenails.
"That's not necessarily true. I have to treat him like a god, but you don't. Even in the worst case, you could…"
Hearing the meaningful tone from the other end, she paused and instinctively asked, "What are you trying to say?"
"For example, that move… that move…"
"Huh?"
For the first time, she found talking to Editor Machida so difficult. Since when did this woman start speaking in riddles?
"Sigh! Little Utaha, how did you suddenly get so slow? I mean that move… seduction!"
"Huh?!"
At that moment, she really wanted to smash the phone straight into Machida Sonoko's face, but distance made that impossible.
She replied coldly, "Then why don't you use that move, Editor Machida? Even if you're getting old, you still look fairly attractive."
"..."
"Calling me old and past my prime, Little Utaha, you're too much!"
Her brow twitched as she stared at the phone. "Don't you think you're the one going too far?!"
Sensing that she was getting annoyed, Machida Sonoko quickly changed the subject.
"Alright, alright, I was joking. But Little Utaha, you have to help me. His anime adaptation is about to start production, we have to build hype before volume thirteen releases!"
She let out a long sigh, a mix of jealousy and helplessness in her voice. "He's not even in a hurry himself, so why are you?"
Why don't I ever see you arranging all this for me?
"Of course I'm in a hurry! His results are tied to my performance, and there are still so many bags I want to buy!"
"Little Utaha, please!"
When a nearly thirty-year-old unmarried woman acted cute in your ear, Utaha felt her brain trembling.
"Fine, I'll help you. But I can't guarantee he'll accept."
"As long as you agree, that's enough. I'm sure he'll accept. After all, Little Utaha is an absolute beauty. No guy can resist your charm!"
"If this works out, I'll consider allocating some extra resources for your next volume release."
Hah, damn capitalist!
She hung up the phone angrily, though the mention of extra resources was indeed tempting.
…
"Kasumi Utako, what are you thinking about?"
When Utaha snapped back to reality, she saw Sato waving a hand in front of her.
Her eyes gradually narrowed. "I told you, Miyabi-sensei, don't call me that at school."
"Alright."
Sato did not bother pointing out that he had said the same thing earlier. Instead, he said, "Then Kasumigaoka, please start quickly. School will be over soon."
"I believe I also mentioned this, Miyabi-sensei. At school, call me Utaha, or Kasumigaoka-senpai. You can choose one."
There was a deep smile in Utaha's eyes, her cherry-colored lips forming a pleasant curve.
So… this woman really was difficult to deal with.
"Then… Utaha?"
Sato tried calling her that. Somehow, saying the name gave him a subtle, strange feeling.
It was not just him. Utaha, sitting across from him, felt the same. She even shifted slightly in discomfort.
"Ahem, just answer the question first."
After taking a deep breath, she spoke in a composed tone.
"Alright."
Sato thought for a moment, then answered seriously, "When I first debuted, I was quite young. For personal protection and other considerations, I declined interviews and public appearances…"
Across from him, Utaha quickly took notes.
"..."
On the empty rooftop, the two went back and forth in a simple question-and-answer rhythm, quickly finishing the entire interview.
After completing the task, both of them let out a sigh of relief at the same time.
"Finally done. Don't come looking for me for this kind of thing again. It's always the same questions. You could just make something up yourselves."
Sato stood up, stretched toward the sea, then turned to look at Utaha, who was packing up her notebook.
She rolled her eyes. "Like I want to do this? Even if you invited me next time, I wouldn't come."
"By the way, what exactly did Editor Machida promise you to make you take this on?"
"Want to know?"
A knowing smile appeared on Utaha's face.
Sato glanced at her and suddenly said, "You're about to say you won't tell me, aren't you?"
Utaha froze for a moment.
He actually… saw right through her.
Sato showed an expected expression and teased, "Looks like the so-called Utaha isn't all that impressive after all."