"Did I mess up?"
Hongzaka Akane asked Hashima Iori, honestly, she didn't expect things to turn out this way.
Aki Tomoya left so resolutely, Machida Sonoko suddenly became so tired, and even her subordinates looked troubled.
It seemed like it would have been best if this chance encounter hadn't happened at all.
"Aki Tomoya is an outsider now, after all."
Hashima Iori said helplessly, looking at the deserted room alone.
He also wanted to leave, but definitely not now, but much later.
After all, no one could have anticipated such an unexpected event.
"Hehehehe, but it was that group of people who left with an outsider, even Machida Sonoko did. It's really interesting."
Hongzaka Akane said with a smile, while turning back to look at Kasumigaoka Utaha.
"Xia Shizi Teacher, you messed up too!"
Just now, Machida Sonoko was trying her best to fight for Kasumigaoka Utaha, but after being rejected like that, she could still suppress her voice and leave. Hongzaka Akane couldn't help but look at her with new respect.
Kasumigaoka Utaha slightly frowned upon hearing this: "If it's Machida-san, there won't be a problem."
"Yes, with such a good editor like Machida Sonoko, Xia Shizi Teacher is truly enviable."
Hongzaka Akane didn't know if Kasumigaoka Utaha had seen through it, but she knew that no matter how much Machida Sonoko valued Kasumigaoka Utaha's ability, or how much she liked this author, Machida Sonoko was still a person.
"Excuse me, I'll take my leave first."
Kasumigaoka Utaha said softly, there was no need to continue now.
As for the answer she gave in the other room earlier, she chose to keep it to herself.
Seeing Kasumigaoka Utaha leave, Eriri immediately chased after her.
Meanwhile, on the streets of Tokyo, Aki Tomoya was walking towards the train station with Hyodo Michiru's band and Izumi Hashima.
"I want to go to the Sky Tree!"
"Idiot."
"There you go again, it's only seven-thirty now, are we going back just like this?!"
Hyodo Michiru was quite dissatisfied. She hadn't even finished enjoying the lovely kaiseki meal, and now she was enduring the cold wind on the streets of Tokyo.
However, at this moment, Aki Tomoya suddenly stopped walking: "Did I call you an idiot because of this? Go and get to know someone who can help you properly. For people like you, getting appreciated by Hongzaka Akane is much better than working part-time!"
"But what should I do without you? I don't understand anything!"
Hyodo Michiru clenched her fists and retorted.
"Don't overestimate me. I'm very scared. You left us there and made me talk to that woman. What did you expect me to say?"
Looking at the usually optimistic Hyodo Michiru showing such a vulnerable side in front of him, Aki Tomoya frowned and hesitated for a moment, finally speaking slowly: "Just stay there, Hashima Iori will help you. Also, I won't be your manager. Become independent sooner."
Giving such earnest advice to his cousin, who was born a little earlier than him, Aki Tomoya felt that he had truly helped as much as he could.
"Don't expect people to push you along, get moving yourself. Cherish the limited opportunities you have now. I only have one year left, how can I help you more?"
"...I'm sorry."
Hyodo Michiru lowered her head in shame.
She couldn't tell if Aki Tomoya was angry, but she realized how lucky she was.
Her first performance allowed her to sing in front of hundreds of people, and through Aki Tomoya, she was able to meet Hashima Iori, who could help them.
But in the end, when she had another chance to fight for an opportunity, she backed down, even after Aki Tomoya had reminded her.
"Aki-kun, don't be so harsh on girls. Some things, you can never learn if you don't experience them yourself!"
Machida Sonoko's voice came from a few meters away, and she slowly walked towards them.
Seeing Aki Tomoya and the others here again surprised Machida Sonoko a little.
At the same time, Hyodo Michiru's appearance reminded her exactly of how she looked the first time she made a mistake.
"Machida-san, didn't you stay?"
Aki Tomoya looked at Machida Sonoko with some surprise.
That gathering, it seemed, really ended unhappily.
What a shame!
"After all, they didn't need me anymore. And if Xia Shizi Teacher is willing, Hongzaka Akane can indeed help her, which is also good for our bookstore."
"Your tone sounds quite pitiful."
"Hehe, I'm just tired."
Machida Sonoko chuckled softly.
New Year's Day is indeed not a day for talking about work.
"I envy you, being able to stand aside and leave so freely."
"Don't worry, it's likely that Xia Shizi Teacher and that person won't get along well."
"So confident!"
"After all, a good editor like you is hard to find. Xia Shizi Teacher's mind shouldn't be muddled, right?"
As soon as she finished speaking, both of them burst into laughter.
Aki Tomoya didn't like people with excessive self-awareness at all, but mutual utilization was different.
The only pity was that Hongzaka Akane couldn't even make him think about mutual utilization, just like people from two different worlds who would never intersect at one point unless there was an accident.
"Aren't you mocking me?"
Machida Sonoko looked at Aki Tomoya, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.
Although she didn't need to worry like Aki Tomoya said, if possible, she still hoped that Kasumigaoka Utaha could get along well with Hongzaka Akane.
She felt that she couldn't convince her about the fatal problem with the new work anymore, and Aki Tomoya, the fervent fan who could convince Kasumi Shiko, was now out of it. The only one who could have an effect was Hongzaka Akane.
"If only I could become the chief editor sooner!"
"Good luck."
Aki Tomoya really wanted Hyodo Michiru to learn from Machida Sonoko right now.
The opportunities she seized didn't just come knocking.
However, just as Machida Sonoko said, some things, if you don't experience them, you really don't know how to cherish them.
The group who came out of that unhappy gathering were all heading towards the nearest train because they were going the same way.
"Here are the keys. You guys go back first. I still need to take Izumi Hashima back."
Aki Tomoya temporarily parted ways with Hyodo Michiru and the others at the station.
Hashima Iori had entrusted Izumi Hashima to him, and now he had to make sure to take Izumi Hashima home properly.
"Senpai, aren't you angry?"
"Angry? Are you talking about Hyodo Michiru?"
"No, our gathering just broke up like that..."
Aki Tomoya immediately understood when he heard this. Izumi Hashima was talking about Hongzaka Akane, wasn't she?
Suddenly barging into their room and causing this New Year's Day gathering to end unhappily, anyone would be angry, right?
Aki Tomoya was indeed unhappy inside, but it hadn't reached the point of getting angry.
"She didn't break into my house, and this was your brother's gathering. He's the one who's most helpless. You should comfort him well when you get back."
He didn't organize the gathering, so Aki Tomoya's unhappiness was more for Hashima Iori. He had even reminded Hyodo Michiru before she ran out with him.
The one who should be most angry was definitely Hashima Iori.
His superior ruined his perfectly good gathering, and as a subordinate, he could only swallow all the complaints.
"I just feel like Senpai, my brother, everyone is working so hard."
Izumi Hashima leaned next to Aki Tomoya, holding her hands tightly and whispering with her head down.
"It's also hard when you're drawing, Izumi Hashima, but after you finish a work, you'll definitely feel a sense of satisfaction."
"Then, after you get into University, Senpai, you must rest well!"