Meeting Kasumigaoka Utaha's question, Hayashi Maki smiled, holding her gaze with a slightly heated look.
"Utaha-senpai, what do you think? In my book, how will the protagonist choose? Would he really flip-flop and end up hurting both girls?"
Utaha folded her arms and shot him an exasperated glare.
"I'm the one asking you—that's why I asked, because I don't know."
"Heh, sorry. I just care about what you think. If you really want my answer… then: no."
Hayashi Maki's expression turned firm. "My protagonist won't hurt either girl. It'll be a happy ending where everyone is satisfied."
"Ha? You're sure about that?" Utaha faltered. "Kouhai, I didn't come here to sway your writing, but readers won't buy that, will they?
"In reality, you can't have the MC marry both. Choosing one means giving up the other—there's no 'perfect' version. Some readers will mail you razor blades for not picking their favorite, sure, but it's the imperfections that make a story memorable."
Hayashi Maki's smile only brightened.
"Senpai, after the way you wrote volume two of Love Metronome, you're saying that to me?"
"But it seems you've learned the essence—'imperfection is what lingers.' Then let's brandish our pens and march onto the battlefield together—let the world feel pain!"
"Let the readers' razor blades come harder!"
Utaha burst out laughing at his chūnibyō declaration, then gave him a languid, flirtatious eye-roll.
"'Let the world feel pain'? This is light-novel heresy—pure cult talk! Do you really like writing stomach-ache plots that much?"
Hayashi Maki spread his hands. "Weren't you the one who told me to keep that imperfect edge? If I write a story that makes readers clutch their guts, you deserve some of the credit."
Utaha huffed; her full chest rose and fell so sharply you'd worry about a button popping.
"You write whatever I say now? Which of us is 'Kurosora Twilight,' you or me?"
"Isn't that the point? Senpai's opinions matter—a lot—to me."
That line hit one of Utaha's soft spots: the sort of male lead she longed for was one who believed in her, trusted her, and doted on her. She drew a breath, cheeks flushing, and patted her chest to calm her racing heart.
"Hayashi-kun, you're very good with words."
"But even if that makes me happy, I still want you to follow your vision. I want to see Kurosora Twilight-sensei conquer the industry… and make the world feel pain."
"No problem. I'll think it through," Hayashi Maki said readily.
Then he launched into his outline.
"Utaha-senpai, I'm thinking: push the plot forward and, in volume three, reveal the MC is actually Hoshino Nagi's biological older brother—a babies-switched-at-birth twist. Turns out he's the true heir of the Hoshino family. As the sister, Nagi naturally has to bow out."
Utaha gave him a strange look. "Razor blades confirmed—and the first batch will be from me."
She was glad he'd pick Miyabi, but don't bully Nagi. From 'man I love' to 'big brother'? That blade comes out of nowhere.
"Heh, I'll accept Senpai's razor blades gratefully."
"But don't interrupt—I'm not done."
"After volume three's blade-fest, let readers think Miyabi is secure as the girlfriend. Then volume four—another twist: Miyabi is actually the Hoshino head's illegitimate daughter. She's the MC's sister too."
Utaha shot to her feet—then, staying seated, slid out a black-stockinged foot and stepped on the top of his shoe.
"Oh, so that's what you were waiting to spring on me! Kouhai, that's your perfect happy ending?"
"Uh… isn't it? The MC and both heroines become family. Isn't that happiness?"
"Happiness my foot! That's a disaster! How are the three of them supposed to face each other after that?"
"And the public blowback! Family members who dated? That's deranged."
She kept venting, toes pressing down on his shoe to punctuate her disapproval.
Hayashi Maki waved his hands. "I'm still not done—there's volume five."
"Another reversal: the Hoshino matriarch had an affair; the MC isn't actually a Hoshino. He's the heir to someone outside the country instead."
"And in that country, the king can marry multiple wives—so he marries both. No problem now, right?"
Utaha froze, then lunged forward to hug his head, fingers digging into his hair.
"No problem? It's all problems! Where do you even get ideas like this? That twist leaves people speechless!"
It made sense on paper, but it yanked readers' hearts around. The blade sales would take care of themselves. And before his "perfect" ending landed, all three would be wrung out—crushed by feelings they couldn't act on. If volume five didn't drop, the trio were still siblings; no matter how much they liked each other, they couldn't cross the line.
Hayashi Maki felt his face pressed into softness, an intoxicating scent speeding his breath. Utaha… this close?
She mussed his hair a good while before shyly letting go, then fussed with her uniform, a little flustered.
"Sorry, Kouhai. You gave me a flood of inspiration—paths I couldn't see before—and I got carried away. I just—mmph!"
Hayashi Maki boldly pulled her into his arms, inhaled deeply, and then released her.
"I got carried away too, Utaha-senpai. We're even now."
Her cheeks flamed. She hadn't expected him to be so daring. Pulling her into a hug like that—wasn't that practically a confession?
"Mm… let's call it even," she murmured, turning her face aside, heart thudding like a startled fawn. It was her first time getting this close to a boy—and she'd been the one to hug first and ruffle his hair. A strange, fizzy feeling bloomed in her chest.