Chapter 66: Editor

"Occasionally, I also read light novels as well . Although I probably don't read as often as you or Mayuzumi, I think I can distinguish between what's good and what's not . "

"Ah... I'll be more than happy to let you read it . " Seiji nodded as he placed his notebook on the table . "Then feel free to have a look . Give me your review after you finish... I'm going to go change clothes for work now . "

"Alright, you go ahead . "

Rika picked up and opened the notebook as Seiji left the room .

'Unexpectedly, he hand-wrote the whole thing... His handwriting is pretty neat . I didn't know that Haruta-kun had such a talent . "I'll die if I don't become handsome!" is the title? Haha, could it be... Did he really use himself as the model for his main character?'

The somewhat unorthodox title instilled Rika with a sense of curiosity, so she began reading, filled with expectation .

'His word choice isn't bad at all... It's easy to read, and the sequences are pictured vividly in my imagination . All in all, it's quite interesting .

'There are a few references that I don't get, but the commentary is hilarious; there's a subtle feeling of enjoyment .

'The girls are lovely as well! Hah—I wonder if he based them on people he knew...'

The beautiful store manager slowly lost herself in reading Seiji's story .

...

This morning, the kitchen employees felt that something strange was happening .

The joint store manager and owner, Rika Amami, didn't show up until really late, and it was obvious that her heart wasn't in her work . She kept leaving for some unknown reason .

Her uncharacteristic daze was a huge contrast with her typical reliable and strict nature .

What was going on?

The kitchen employees chatted with each other about this topic whenever they had some free time in between baking .

"Did something happen in her family?" This was the normal line of thought .

"My guess is that an ex-boyfriend called her . " This was a gossipy way of thinking .

"Could it be that she's on her period?" This was a biological way of thinking .

"You're all so naïve! Heh heh, according to my deduction, the store manager is actually wondering if she's pregnant or not!" This was an outlandish way of thinking .

"Who's pregnant, you say?" The store manager's icy cold voice suddenly sounded in their headset's channel .

The male employee who had been acting rather pretentious with his ridiculous deduction suddenly froze up as the others all stared in his direction . They gave a sympathetic glance towards the microphone on his headset which he had forgotten to turn off before they averted their gazes in unison, pretending to be unfamiliar with this idiot .

"Katou, would you prefer to have a salary deduction or kneel and apologize to me? It's your choice . "

"No!!! I'm sorry!! Forgive me, Store Manager—!"

The other employees inwardly cringed upon hearing such a desperate yet silly reaction from him .

"What's going on back in our kitchen?" Seiji sighed as he adjusted his headset .

"Well, who knows?" His coworker Tanaka shrugged, displaying that he, too, was unaware of what was happening .

After the store's rush hour, Seiji finally received an opportunity to rest .

After the store's rush hour, Seiji finally received an opportunity to rest .

Seiji returned to the store manager's office and noticed Rika Amami was still reading his notebook .

"Harano-kun... you've come . "

Rika lifted her head and smiled in greeting at the boy entering her office .

"Your story is pretty good . " She directly gave him an excellent review . "As a normal reader, this story is one that I'd be willing to purchase . "

Naturally, Seiji was delighted to hear such a review . "Thanks for your appreciation, Store Manager . I'm happy to hear that you enjoy it . "

Rika Amami's smile arced upwards, adding to her already potent allure .

"I'm also happy to become your first reader, Harano... no, Haruta-kun . After finishing your story, I can say that your writing style left me with the deepest impression .

"Both your literary talent and your descriptions are also top-notch; in fact, it's the best I've ever seen among all the light novels I've read... Well, I haven't read all that many light novels, though .

"Your depictions are excellent to the point that... while I'm reading, I can visualize each and every scene . In addition to this, I can visualize the characters' movements and actions in my mind! It's almost as if I wasn't reading, but instead watching an anime which showed me everything visually!"

Rika let out a heart-felt sigh of appreciation .

"Such an excellent story makes me want to re-read it multiple times . You must have polished it many times over, right? I can literally feel your passion through the story!"

Seiji smiled in response .

While it definitely contained his passion, this story only took him one night to finish... But it was probably better to not say that out loud, heh .

After all, that would sound too pretentious .

"Disregarding your depictions, your plot and characters are excellent as well . However, my experience in light novels is rather limited, so I won't say much else about it . I'll contact the editor I was talking about earlier right now . She's the editor for Mayuzumi's story and a nice person . "

"Disregarding your depictions, your plot and characters are excellent as well . However, my experience in light novels is rather limited, so I won't say much else about it . I'll contact the editor I was talking about earlier right now . She's the editor for Mayuzumi's story and a nice person . "

Rika Amami took out her cell phone and called a number from her list .

"Hello, Yoshizawa-san . Sorry to call you at this time, but there's something I'd like to discuss with you..." Rika succinctly briefed the editor about the current situation .

"Mayuzumi mentioned him to you before? Yes, he's the high school student in question . You'll be coming over immediately? Yep, he's in the store... I think he'll be fine with it . " Rika glanced at Seiji . "Alright, that's how we'll do it then . "

The beautiful store manager hung up the call .

"You heard that, right, Haruta-kun? That editor is coming here soon to read your story... as well as meet you . "

Seiji nodded in response . "Peach-sensei mentioned me to her before?'

"That's right . Mayuzumi told her about her upcoming date with you . " Rika sighed before continuing, "Of course, Mayuzumi wouldn't tell her your real name; all she said was that she was going to go to a school festival together with a first grade high school student from Genhana High School named Seigo Harano . "

"Doesn't that mean that she told her editor everything about me except my real name?"

"Indeed... There's no helping it; the two of them were high school classmates, and the editor is one of Mayuzumi's few trusted close friends . It's only natural that Mayuzumi told her editor about this . "

Seiji nodded again .

"You don't mind, do you?" Rika blinked her eyes cutely .

"Of course not . This isn't an important secret or anything . "

"The thing is, because Mayuzumi told her about you, it seems like she's really taken an interest in you..."

After a subtle silence .

"Allow me to ask, about Yoshizawa-san..." Seiji tugged on his mouth, "is she... into that?"

After a subtle silence .

"Allow me to ask, about Yoshizawa-san..." Seiji tugged on his mouth, "is she... into that?"

"Nope . " Rika apparently understood his meaning as she smiled wryly . "She's not into that, but perhaps because she has a deep friendship with Mayuzumi ever since high school, or for some other reason... At any rate, she treats Mayuzumi a little... specially?"

What was with that uncertain tone of hers?

Upon seeing the look in his eyes, Rika seemed to realize Seiji had noticed her uncertainty, so she awkwardly coughed twice .

"Anyways, she'll be coming over soon, so you'll meet her in a bit . She's a good editor, so no matter what, she'll assess your story fairly... I think . "

'Hey, Miss, that last comment of yours really makes me nervous!'

Seiji suddenly felt like perhaps it wasn't a good idea after all to have the store manager introduce an editor to him?

Well, forget about it . He might as well meet the editor .

Approximately one hour later .

Seiji was summoned to the store manager's office once again . When he arrived, he was greeted by the sight of an unfamiliar woman sitting on the sofa and flipping through his notebook .

She was a well-proportioned woman and wore a short, yellow one-piece dress with stockings the same color as her skin . She had a long, shiny orange-colored braid, slightly bushy eyebrows, a sharp chin, a light coating of lipstick, and a sharp glint in her dark yellow eyes .

With the sharp aura emanating from her, she gave of the impression of a cold yet clean beautiful young businesswoman .

"Hello..." Seiji prepared to greet her .

The woman suddenly lifted her head and looked directly at him, that sharp glint flashing fiercely in her eyes .

"You're Seigo Harano?"