Nayuta: Miss Chiba no Daten Seikokuneko, please take a picture with your phone and send it to me.
Because Gokou Ruri wrote it on paper, she had this request.
Gokou Ruri only wrote short stories, so it didn't take long for her to photograph all the content and send it out.
"This, what should I even say…?"
Looking at the novel's content, Kani Nayuta scratched the back of her head, her expression helpless, feeling speechless.
Let's put it this way: if she saw a work like this at a convention booth, she would definitely chew someone out!
This was completely defiling the senior's work!
However, since she was currently in the position of a mentor, she naturally had to be careful with her words.
Nayuta: Well, it's not written very well…
Black Cat: I know, but may I ask what parts need to be corrected?
Not being recognized, Gokou Ruri was no exception. After all, a submitted work that didn't even receive a response could be said to be nothing in Nayuta's eyes, right?
Nayuta: First, the opening text is too verbose. It's a fanfiction, so don't randomly add some inexplicable settings. Respecting the original work is enough. Secondly, your writing style is also very drawn out, your expressive ability is insufficient, and the characters you've created are too aligned with the original…
"Uh, isn't that just 'garbage'?"
Gokou Ruri bit her lip, on the verge of tears.
Nayuta's way of speaking was quite high in emotional intelligence, and she wasn't stupid, so she naturally understood.
She felt a bit ashamed from the criticism. If Kiririn Rino had said that, she wouldn't have felt anything and would have argued back, but since it was Kani Nayuta, she chose to comply.
Only by trusting the other party's guidance could she possibly break out of this strange loop.
Black Cat: Please, Nayuta, teach me how to correct it!
Nayuta: Mm! But there's no need to rush, we need to take it step by step…
Nayuta: Also, if you successfully debut, I hope you can promise me one thing.
Black Cat: What thing?
Nayuta: That is, to cosplay Homura.
"I thought it was some difficult problem."
Gokou Ruri looked at this request and breathed a sigh of relief.
For someone who could wear her self-made cosplay outfits out on the street, this was nothing at all.
She was getting a huge bargain!
…
Kani Nayuta began to mentor Black Cat, and Izumi Chihiro's life was also proceeding in an orderly fashion.
"Izumi-sensei, how about I introduce you to a tax accountant?"
Machida Sonoko suddenly called.
"Why are you bringing this up this year?"
He asked, puzzled.
Authors work as individuals, and every year at a certain point, they need to determine their taxes and get back tax refunds.
When publishing houses pay royalties to authors, they withhold income tax at a certain percentage, but in most cases, they withhold too much. Therefore, when determining the tax amount, by reporting the correct income, one can get back the overpaid tax.
Last year, he hadn't paid any attention to this matter at all.
"Because I also didn't expect you to be so straightforward, Sensei… But Izumi-sensei's income has increased significantly this year, and with the help of a good tax accountant, you will definitely be able to get back a considerable sum of money."
Machida Sonoko said casually.
"…Alright then, I'll go over there at that time."
In a few words, Izumi Chihiro made an appointment with the editor.
He thought about it. If it succeeded, it would indeed be a significant income, and it wouldn't take much time, so he simply agreed.
Thus, one day at the end of the winter break, he came to the headquarters of Fujikawa Bunko after a long absence.
Strictly speaking, he seemed to have never actually been inside.
He took the elevator to the office on the 14th floor.
"May I ask who you are?"
Upon arriving at the entrance, the receptionist noticed his arrival.
"I'm here to see Sonoko-san."
"Please wait…"
After receiving notification, about a minute later, the glamorous OL beauty editor walked out.
"Oh, I'm sorry, Izumi-sensei, for keeping you waiting."
Machida Sonoko led him inside.
"It wasn't long."
He shook his head.
A minute's wait was not long.
"Looking at Sonoko-san's expression, it seems she was dealing with something earlier?"
Izumi Chihiro added.
"Izumi-sensei, actually, you've come at just the right time. I just happen to need your help…"
Machida Sonoko no longer hid anything.
"Oh?"
Izumi Chihiro let out a soft exclamation.
She needed his help?
It was the first time Sonoko-san had ever said that to him.
In the meeting room, a tall, black-haired, beautiful girl was waiting in a chair, her wine-red, captivating eyes fluttering, enchanting all who saw them.
The girl wore a white headband, and her delicate features gave her the air of a literary girl, but the black sheer stockings paired with her curvaceous, full figure suggested a different kind of beauty if she were to stand up.
Her name was Kasumigaoka Utaha, currently in her third year of junior high, soon to be a first-year high school student.
As a genius, she was always challenging herself with things that piqued her interest.
Some time ago, a chance encounter sparked in her the idea of becoming a light novel author, and she began serializing her work on a website, ultimately winning the Fujikawa Fantastic Grand Prize.
She took a different path from Izumi Chihiro, which was indeed the conventional process for publishing novels.
Today, she had originally come to discuss publication matters with her editor, Machida Sonoko, but she suddenly received a call, so she informed Sonoko and left to meet someone, without revealing any further details.
The girl's beautiful legs unconsciously began to tremble, her mood growing anxious.
Who could it be?
Not long after, the door was pushed open again, and Machida Sonoko walked in with a young man who appeared even younger than her, which greatly puzzled Kasumigaoka Utaha.
"Nayuta-sensei happened to be here this time, so he can help me look at Kasumigaoka Utaha Sensei's shortcomings, and hopefully offer some useful suggestions," Machida Sonoko said to the young man.
She also dug a pit for the other person present.
"Wait, this is my work, it's not something anyone can just comment on casually. Is he qualified to give me suggestions?" Kasumigaoka Utaha's red lips parted slightly.
As a girl who had never suffered a setback until now, her confidence was overflowing, even to the point of being arrogant. How could she humbly accept such a 'demeaning' tone from her editor?
She believed her words were sufficiently measured; if it weren't for their first meeting, she would have already unleashed her venomous tongue on him.