"Er … I am." Seiji blinked.
"My apologies, I was a little agitated." The orange-haired girl realized that her tone wasn't quite right, so she put down her notebook and stood up properly.
"Nice to meet you, I'm Saki Yoshizawa, Thunder Bunko's editor."
She took out a name card as she said this. Seiji Mukai bowed slightly and handed it over with both hands.
"Nice to meet you …" Seiji took the name card, glanced at it, and put it away.
"Yoshizawa-san, there's no need to be so stiff — he's just a high school student." Rika Amami smiled wryly as she observed from the side.
"You could've just had a casual conversation, but you're making the atmosphere even more tense."
'That's right, boss lady!' Seiji gave her a thumbs-up in his mind.
"Is that so?" Saki Yoshizawa tilted her head slightly: "But no matter if he's a high school student or not, work is work, and you should take it seriously."
"I didn't say that you shouldn't take it seriously, but … this isn't the editorial department, and it's not office hours. He's my employee, and you're my cousin's good friend, so there's no need to make it seem like a formal meeting." Rika shrugged.
"A serious conversation is a serious conversation, but there's no need to make the atmosphere awkward — that's what I meant."
"Oh …" Saki blinked as if she understood.
"Harano -san, do you think it's better to relax as well?"
"That's right. Also, there's no need to call me mister — just call me Harano. "Seiji smiled.
Saki Yoshizawa narrowed her eyes slightly at his smile.
"Alright, Harano, you can call me Yoshizawa as well," she said decisively.
Seiji's expression froze slightly.
Normally, shouldn't she respond with "Harano-kun?" Calling him by his surname seemed a little awkward, and asking him to call her the same way …
Seiji didn't know what to say.
Rika Amami facepalmed as she watched from the side.
Saki didn't seem to notice the subtle atmosphere at all. She picked up the notebook from the sofa and flipped through it.
"I've read through your work once, Harano."
"Other than the fact that the story is a little cliché and the characters are a little rough around the edges, this short story … is quite well completed."
"Especially Amami-san's praise for your writing, I have to admit that your writing is … perfect!"
"Now, I've only briefly looked through it. If I were to make an evaluation based on this impression …"
As Saki spoke, she looked up at Seiji Mukai's face with a burning gaze.
"This is a very charming piece of work. It has completely reached the standard of being published in the library!"
'I received quite a lot of praise …' Seiji smiled.
This was a review from a legitimate light novel editor!
It was different from his own reading experience and the evaluation of the Lady Boss, who was a light reader. It was a rather weighty statement.
"Thank you, I'm quite happy to receive Yoshizawa's … Editor's approval … I feel like a huge weight has been lifted from my heart." Seiji scratched his face awkwardly.
After all, this was his first time writing a story, and he was quite nervous.
"If you'd like to submit this short story to us, you're more than welcome, but we generally only accept electronic files or printed drafts, so you'll have to enter it into your computer," Saki continued.
"Also, although your story is already above average even without any editing, I think there's still room for improvement … If you'd like, I can read through it in detail and give you my opinion on what can be improved, so that you can use it as a reference."
"Please do so!" Seiji requested decisively.
Although his system gave him powerful writing skills, he was well aware that he was still lacking in various areas. An experienced light novel editor's suggestions for improvement were undoubtedly what he needed.
Saki Yoshizawa blinked at Seiji's decisive attitude and smiled for the first time since they met.
Rather than saying that an iceberg had just melted, her smile was more like a flower blooming amidst a thicket of thorns; it was unexpectedly gentle and beautiful.
Perhaps this was her true nature hidden beneath the cold, hard shell of a professional woman. Seiji couldn't help but think that way.
A female editor who was hard on the outside but soft on the inside …
"Alright, since that's what you want, after you enter all this into your computer, send a document to my email, and I'll look over it and write my suggestions before sending it back to you so that you can complete the final draft."
"My email address is on my business card." Saki handed the notebook to Seiji as she spoke.
"Alright, thank you." Seiji took the notebook back.
That was the end of their discussion.
As for other matters, such as how to submit the story and what would happen after it was submitted, he would only find out after the final draft was completed.
* Cough cough. *
Just as Seiji was about to leave, Saki Yoshizawa coughed violently.
"That's all about the story for now … Harano, there's something else I'd like to discuss with you."
The female editor's gaze turned sharp once more. Her gaze became even sharper than before!
Seiji suddenly felt as if he was facing a female leopard.
"I heard that you're going on a date with Peach-er … with Mayuzumi at the school festival?"
'So she was talking about this!'
Seiji's expression stiffened slightly as he glanced at the store owner.
'Young man, take care of this yourself …' Rika Amami shot him a glance before she calmly joined the crowd.
'Hey hey! You were the one who started this!! Why did you just toss it to me!? ' Seiji inwardly retorted.
He really wanted to betray the store owner, but when he thought about his salary …
"Mmm … yes, I had such an agreement with Peach-sensei." Seiji's lips arced upwards as he spoke.
"Mayuzumi has a deep androphobia," Saki said in a low voice as she took a step closer to Seiji.
"I know … this is also to help Sensei cure her androphobia … although I'm not sure how effective it will be." Seiji took a step back.
"Can you guarantee that you'll protect Mayuzumi at that time? No, before that, as a man, can you guarantee that you won't hurt Mayuzumi!? "Saki took another step closer to him.
"I … I'll do my best to not scare Sensei and protect her … I promise!" Seiji took another step back.
"What are you using to guarantee!?"
Saki continued to approach him until her face was almost touching his. Her gaze was as sharp as a knife, and her aura was like that of a leopard about to pounce.
'What do you want me to use to guarantee it!?' Seiji could only smile wryly in his heart.
He forced himself to glance at the store owner out of the corner of his eye and discovered that Rika Amami was covering her mouth with her hand and her shoulders were trembling slightly …
'Is she laughing? 'She's definitely laughing!?
'What the hell! If you have the time to laugh, try to comfort her!!
Seiji suddenly became inexplicably angry and shouted without a care in the world.
"I … I swear on my life! If you hurt Sensei, you'll have to take responsibility for the rest of your life!! "
Saki Yoshizawa instantly froze in place.
Rika Amami was stunned as well.
Seiji only realized what he'd said after he finished shouting.
'Damn it, isn't that a little ambiguous!?'
He only wanted to express that he would do his best no matter what, but his impulsive words didn't seem quite right.
"A … responsibility for the rest of my life?" Saki Yoshizawa muttered.
Then, she blushed.
Just a moment ago, she was as fierce as a leopard, and the cold and unyielding female editor was actually blushing from embarrassment!?
This was such a huge contrast … Seiji was rather stunned by this scene.
'Eh, I think I saw something similar last week?'
"This … this … is fine." Saki glanced at his face and nodded while still blushing.
"You actually have such a deep resolution to marry Mayuzumi, that gave me a fright … but it's good."
'Damn, this is such a huge misunderstanding!'
Seiji shouted in his mind.
You've already exceeded your reading limit for today. If you want to read more, please log in.
Login
Select text and click 'Report' to let us know about any bad translation.
