Thus, Komachi's assessment was not entirely wrong—it was simply that, in his eyes, Ishikawa Hikaru looked even more detestable.
"In my opinion, he's just an inherently wicked brat suffering from writer's syndrome."
"Brother, how can you talk about Ishikawa-nii like that?" Komachi Hikigaya said with clear displeasure. "That comment just cost you points with me."
"I suspect any evaluation I give about Ishikawa will cost me points," Hachiman Hikigaya muttered as he picked up the dessert knife, accepting this cruel reality. "Are the pictures done? Once they are, I'm going to cut this cake to pieces and annihilate it."
"Your wording just cost you even more points!"
"Yes, yes, yes—"
Hachiman placated his foolish little sister, picked up the knife again, and with a swift motion sliced the magnificent cake before him into four clean pieces, effectively dividing it into eight. Using the spatula, he carefully lifted one slice and placed it on the plate in front of his sister.
"Even after being cut, it still looks beautiful! The layers even have watermelon and cantaloupe inside! Isn't that amazing?!"
Komachi's eyes sparkled as she held up her phone, excitedly snapping picture after picture of the exquisite cake.
Unlike his sister, Hachiman didn't have any "friends to share with," so he served himself a slice, quickly snapped a single photo of the expensive-looking dessert, and immediately scooped a bite into his mouth with a spoon.
The moment the cake touched his tongue, the dead-fish eyes that usually hung lifelessly on Hachiman Hikigaya's face suddenly lit up with a faint glow.
"Huh?!"
Komachi looked at him curiously.
"How does it taste?"
Hachiman chewed slowly, swallowed, and then gave Komachi a thumbs-up.
"It's unbelievably delicious."
"Komachi wants to try some too!"
The moment the cake entered her mouth, Komachi's face blossomed with bliss, as if she were melting under the sweetness of cream and fruit.
Although Hachiman's reaction was less exaggerated, he was clearly just as pleased, completely captivated by the blend of cream, sugar, and fruit.
The Hikigaya household was a dual-income family, with both parents working. Their finances weren't poor by any means, but they weren't wealthy either.
Komachi, who received the largest allowance in the family, only got about five thousand yen a month. If she needed extra money, however, her parents would usually give it to her.
Hachiman's own allowance had dropped to just two thousand yen.
Given their circumstances, it wasn't that they couldn't afford cake or fruit. It was simply something they could only enjoy occasionally.
"Damn money power!"
Hachiman turned his frustration into appetite and devoured the slice of cake on his plate.
After all, the cake had been something Ishikawa Hikaru forced him to bring home under the pretense that it was a "reward for Komachi-tokkei."
In truth, Hachiman had never wanted to bring it back at all.
But Ishikawa had threatened him.
"If you won't take it, then I'll personally bring the cake to Komachi-tokkei's house. Her favorability toward me will definitely skyrocket."
And so, Hachiman had been forced to give in.
Although he still wanted to scold Ishikawa to his face about everything that had happened recently—
The cake that cost 11,800 yen was simply too delicious.
---
21.Does a Problem Child Want to Find a Partner?
"I'm home."
Ishikawa Hikaru slipped into his slippers the moment he entered the house.
"Welcome back," his mother called from the living room. "How was school today?"
"I met a lot of interesting new friends. They're all pretty fun," Hikaru replied as he walked into the living room.
He sat beside the sofa where his mother was sitting, picked up an apple from the coffee table, and took a bite.
"Has Dad come back from his business trip yet?"
"Not yet," his mother replied. "But he said his work is finished, so he should be back soon."
"I see."
Hikaru continued eating the apple.
His father, Ishikawa Taishi, worked in trade with China, which meant frequent business trips to cities like Shanghai and Beijing.
Whenever his father traveled, Hikaru would ask him to bring back books—poetry collections, historical texts, and other materials that were difficult to obtain in Japan.
His mother asked curiously,
"Did you meet any pretty girls at school?"
"Yeah, I did."
Hikaru answered casually.
"I became friends with Miura—the most popular girl in class. She's also very fashionable. Because she's basically the center of the class's social circle, I also got to know a fujoshi named Ebina."
"Oh?"
His mother looked even more interested.
"Is there a chance you might date Miura?"
"Miura has a crush on someone else in our class—the ace of the soccer club. His name is Hayama Hayato."
Hikaru finished half the apple.
"But based on what I've seen, Hayama doesn't have any romantic feelings for her. Of course, whether Miura might eventually win him over is impossible to say. Still, that means there's basically no chance for me."
"If it's only a crush, then there's still a chance, right?"
"I wouldn't do something like that."
Hikaru finished the apple and casually dropped the core into the empty fruit bowl so it could be thrown away later.
"There's no need to rush, is there? I'm still in high school. I'm not even worried about my future career yet, so there's no reason to rush into dating."
"It might be too late by then."
His mother seemed determined to persuade him.
"If you keep thinking like that, you might end up waiting until you're thirty. And when that happens, what kind of woman your age will still be suitable for marriage? Wouldn't it be better to start looking for a future partner while you're still in high school?"
She continued,
"And dating doesn't mean you have to get married immediately. If you miss the chance to experience a sweet high-school romance, you might never get that chance again in your life."
"That's true…"
Hikaru didn't want to continue the discussion, so he stood up.
"I'm going to write my novel."
"Should I call you when dinner is ready?"
"No need. I'll come down myself."
He returned to his room on the second floor, turned on his computer, and sat down at his desk.
In truth, he understood his mother's concerns.
After all, their teacher, Hiratsuka Shizuka, remained unmarried even now—a shining example of what could happen.
Besides, Hikaru didn't need to worry about work or salary, the things most people stressed about.
So naturally, his parents' expectations had shifted to something else entirely.
When will you get married?
When will we see a grandchild?
Coincidentally, Sobu High School was actually one of the best places to meet girls.
Its entrance score requirements were among the highest in Chiba.
Even though Yuihama Yui was often called an idiot by Hachiman and Hikaru, the students who attended Sobu High weren't actually stupid.
It was simply that, compared to people like Hachiman Hikigaya and Yukino Yukinoshita, Yuihama appeared somewhat foolish.
Still—
Right now, Hikaru simply wanted to enjoy his peaceful life and had no intention of thinking about major life decisions yet.
"I'm only seventeen."
He opened LINE and began chatting with Yamada Elf about the Zaimokuza incident earlier that day.
He also complained about his mother's suggestion that he should "marry early."
---
Popular Writer Yamada Elf
"It seems a little early for you to think about marriage, doesn't it? Aren't you only seventeen?"
Hikaru:
"That argument won't convince my mom."
Hikaru:
"The law changed recently. It used to allow boys to marry at eighteen and girls at sixteen. Now the minimum age for both is eighteen."
Hikaru:
"So in theory, you can get married right after graduating from high school. That's why she wants me to start dating now."
Popular Writer Yamada Elf
"I support your idea! Your life path should be decided by you!"
Popular Writer Yamada Elf
"Want to play games?"
Hikaru:
"Not today. I'm writing my novel."
Popular Writer Yamada Elf
"Okay."
Popular Writer Yamada Elf
"Let me know when the next volume is finished! Heidein still needs warriors of light like us!"
Hikaru:
"Thank you, Ultraman Yamada."
Popular Writer Yamada Elf
"I am NOT that Warrior of Light!"
---
Hikaru glanced at Hayama's group chat on LINE.
Most of the conversation revolved around typical "normie" topics—talking about new restaurants, fun places to visit, good food, and invitations to hang out.
He lurked silently for a moment before closing the app and opening his writing document.
The usual cycle for producing a light novel volume was three to four months.
That included writing the manuscript, editorial revisions, illustration coordination, and marketing.
Even if he submitted the manuscript for Volume 5 today, it would likely be released within one to one and a half months.
Which meant he wouldn't gain much free time.
However—
If he could finish writing Volume 7 before the deadline for Volume 5, he would effectively secure seven months of freedom.
One month for Volume 5's release cycle.
Three months for Volume 6.
Three months for Volume 7.
By doing that, he could temporarily return to the life of a normal high school student.
He wouldn't have to worry about missing important events or losing inspiration due to looming deadlines.
"Time to keep writing."
---
22. So, Does the Problem Child Spend Lavishly Just for Fun?
The day after Ishikawa Hikaru encountered the incident titled "The Sword Saint General Wants to Become a Light Novel Author"—
He took the day off.
There wasn't anything particularly urgent to deal with, and he also intended to avoid the Service Club discussion about "wanting to become a light novel author."
He still hadn't found a suitable chance to explain to Yui Yuigahama that he had "misled Miura and the others with clever wording," expanding the list of people who needed to receive thank-you gifts to include Miura as well, in order to stabilize the relationships within their group.
However, considering Yuigahama Yui's astonishing ability to create lethal cuisine, it would take time before she could produce cookies that were actually edible.
So there wasn't any real urgency.
Besides, he currently had the perfect excuse of "rushing a manuscript."
Taking a day off to focus entirely on writing was perfectly reasonable.
—All for the sake of avoiding the suffering of a future deadline.
After writing diligently for hours—until even his legs began protesting from sitting too long—Ishikawa Hikaru stretched at his desk and stopped typing.
"If only I had Yamada ability to write an entire volume of a novel in one night."
Although Ishikawa considered himself a genius, geniuses had different specialties.
He didn't possess Yamada's terrifying creative burst that could produce 100,000 words in a single day and night.
At best, he simply wrote faster than the average light novel author.
In ideal conditions, he could finish a manuscript in about two weeks.
But no one stayed in peak condition every day.
If he forced himself to treat writing like a job, he would eventually lose the joy of creating altogether.
"Alright. Time to play a game."
Hikaru immediately opened LINE and messaged Yamada Elf.
[Are you free to play games today?]
Popular Writer Yamada Elf:
[You're asking this in the morning? Aren't you supposed to be at school doing your human observation?]
[I asked my mom to tell the teacher I'm taking the day off.]
Popular Writer Yamada Elf:
[Voice call!]
The call request came instantly.
Hikaru muted his speakers, put on his headset, and answered.
A young yet energetic voice rang through the headphones.
"Hello? Can you hear me—"
"Ah, Lord Fairy has arrived. We are saved."
Hikaru seized the opportunity to flatter her.
Yamada laughed proudly.
"Ho ho ho! Of course. It is I—Lord Yamada Elf. Be grateful for my arrival."
"If Lord Fairy hadn't appeared, what would have become of Earth?"
"It would surely be plunged into eternal darkness. The dead would never rest, flowers would wither, and humanity would hide underground in despair…"
"But fear not!"
"Lord Yamada has arrived!"
"The Earth will not fall into such tragedy!"
"So what world is Lord Fairy saving today?"
"Today we are saving Eorzea."
"Ah."
Hikaru opened the Final Fantasy XIV launcher.
"But I'm not raiding with you."
"I bought another house in Mist. Come look at how I decorated it."
"…You bought another house?"
"That kind of thing is trivial for Lord Fairy," Yousei said smugly.
"If I like something, I buy it."
"I'm even planning to buy a house in Tokyo, you know."
"Planning to move to Tokyo?"
"My editor told me in advance that my novel, Dark Fairy of the Explosion, is entering the anime production stage."
Yamada burst into smug laughter like a victorious queen.
"Since the anime adaptation is starting, I'll have to attend script meetings as the original author."
"So I figured I might as well buy a house in Tokyo."
"It'll be convenient for attending meetings."
"A condominium?"
"No!"
"I'm buying a detached villa!"
Yamada Elf declared proudly.
"If it's not a detached house, I won't have space for my piano, my books, and all the other things I'm interested in!"
"So it has to be a detached villa!"
"…Just like how you bought another house in Mist," Hikaru said.
"I think you simply want to buy a villa."