"Time to sleep."
Izumi Chihiro sent the fully completed first volume of Re:Zero to Sonoko and then wearily lay down on the bed.
He tilted his head slightly, looking out the window.
The sky was full of twinkling stars, and the moonlight was bright.
"The moon tonight is quite beautiful."
Izumi Chihiro slowly closed his eyes.
Under the same starry sky, someone was still busy.
Her thoughts momentarily interrupted, Kasumigaoka Utaha stopped what she was doing.
"The first volume has a very good start, but if it's just like this, it's probably impossible to surpass that person."
She looked at the sky outside the window and suddenly thought of that person, that formidable presence she considered her rival.
With that person's guidance, her "love metronome" had been smooth sailing. In terms of initial sales data, it even surpassed that person's debut work.
But there was nothing to be proud of.
Part of it was due to the other party's guidance, and it might also be because the words she wrote on the flyleaf caused a slight stir.
Moreover, being strong in the early stages doesn't mean one can continue to exert effort later on.
She had heard from Miss Machida that many works start with good popularity in the first volume, but then the second and third volumes can't keep up and end up getting axed.
This made her feel pressure.
If she hadn't received help from that person, would such a situation have occurred?
It's highly likely.
Because looking back, she could now see how serious the flaws in her first volume truly were.
"No inspiration..."
Kasumigaoka Utaha sat in front of her computer for a while longer, and when she found she really had no inspiration, she just went to bed.
As a creator, when inspiration strikes, thoughts flow like a spring, and typing speed matches writing speed. But when writer's block hits, it's as slow as a snail, and sometimes she can't even come up with a plot after sitting in front of the computer all day.
Now, she was barely experiencing the pain of being a light novelist.
"I really want to ask him how he solves this problem..."
With that thought, Kasumigaoka Utaha burrowed into her blanket.
The next day, early in the morning, she went to school.
She wasn't a psychic with infinite energy, so she fell asleep on her desk as soon as class started.
The teacher glanced at her, her lips moved, but she still said nothing.
This wasn't the first time; in fact, she slept in class every day.
If it were anyone else, it would be a different story.
But in the first monthly exam, Kasumigaoka Utaha scored first in her grade, so gradually everyone habitually turned a blind eye.
Her day at school was spent almost half-asleep.
She had considerable talent in various aspects, including academics, so she could maintain such grades through regular self-study and occasional listening in class.
Of course, Toyogasaki Private Academy itself was only an above-average high school, and with her talent, she naturally felt no pressure.
After a period of such days.
"Finished."
Kasumigaoka Utaha looked at the newly released second volume of "love metronome," and a self-satisfied smile bloomed on her lips.
After completing the work, her first thought wasn't to send it to her editor, but to another person.
Kasumigaoka Utaha: Teacher Izumi, could I trouble you to take a look at the second volume for me? I'd like to hear your thoughts.
Izumi Masamune: No.
"Huh?"
Kasumigaoka Utaha was stunned, her beautiful face adorably blank.
Rejected so quickly, does my charm really have no effect on this man at all?
Unexpectedly, the other party quickly sent another message.
Izumi Masamune: Just kidding.
Izumi Masamune: Since we're both under Miss Sonoko, I have no reason to refuse, and exchanging ideas with Teacher Kasumigaoka Utaha is also beneficial for me.
"What an interesting man."
Kasumigaoka Utaha propped her chin with one hand, looking at her phone, and immediately displayed a smile that outshone roses.
She then sent her painstaking work, feeling as nervous as she was before her debut.
Because she was still so eager to know what kind of evaluation that man would give.
After Izumi Chihiro saw the message Kasumigaoka Utaha sent him, he naturally wouldn't refuse.
Although her achievements were not as good as his, and it seemed unlikely she would surpass him in the future, exchanging ideas with different authors and sparking intellectual fire was very beneficial to him.
Moreover, in terms of wording and phrasing alone, he could indeed learn a bit more from Kasumigaoka Utaha.
In the end, everyone got a satisfactory result.
It's worth mentioning that during their exchanges, Kasumigaoka Utaha often discussed parts of "puella magi madoka magica," ""White Album"," and even "Demon Slayer" with him, and her words were quite profound.
It was a true 'Izumi-style' conversation.
Izumi Masamune: It seems Teacher Kasumigaoka Utaha already understands me quite well.
Kasumigaoka Utaha: Of course, after all, it's the famous Teacher Izumi... it's only natural to understand.
Izumi Masamune: You're not going to make me guess what word you left out, are you?
Kasumigaoka Utaha: I typed too fast and didn't notice, is something wrong, Teacher Izumi?
Izumi Masamune: Hehe.
Kasumigaoka Utaha: Hehe.
...
Their conversation only ended after ten rounds of "Hehe."
In some ways, they also had similarities.
Just three days later, Izumi Masamune's new work was finally revealed.
Title: Re:zero - Starting Life In Another World
Synopsis: High school student Subaru Natsuki, who was heading home after leaving a convenience store, was suddenly summoned to another world. When he encountered robbers, a mysterious silver-haired beautiful girl and a cat spirit suddenly appeared and saved him from his predicament. Under the guise of repaying her kindness, he volunteered to help the girl find something. However, just as he finally found a clue, he and the girl were attacked by unknown assailants and died—
The cover of the first volume, of course, featured the silver-haired half-elf Emilia, with silver hair reaching her waist, blue-violet eyes gazing intently, and soft facial features that were both alluring and youthful. This was a perfect drawing from Eromanga-sensei.
Silver hair, half-elf, excellent facial features, perfect figure, and a cute yet sexy character image—it could be said that she perfectly fit the 'XP' of many otaku readers.
Sagiri's progress during this period was also reflected in this cover, and Eromanga-sensei's personal style gradually became more distinct.
This was also proof of a painter gradually stepping onto a new rung of the ladder.
The title was a perfectly normal one, but in Izumi Masamune's works, it seemed somewhat special, especially combined with the cover and the slightly spoiler-filled synopsis.
Immediately, everyone became lively again.
---
💯 PS = 2 bonus chapter