'Damn it! That woman!'
Even though reason told her it was impossible, the girl clung to a shred of hope like a drowning person grasping at the last lifeline.
Her mood soared in an instant, only to be replaced by simmering frustration at a certain editor's twisted sense of humor.
Machida Sonoko was the perfect editor—hardworking, always pushing her to improve, and looking out for her when she was younger.
But sometimes, she treated her like a child, playing pranks and giving her that ridiculous nickname, "Shi-chan." No matter how many times she protested, the editor outright refused to stop.
But this—this was too much! Such an important piece of news, and that woman was deliberately teasing her! Unforgivable!
Restless, the girl started tapping her foot impatiently.
If it were anyone else, they might be scolded for such an unladylike habit.
But considering how her plump thighs rippled with each movement, anyone thinking of criticizing her might find themselves too distracted to even form the words.
She got up, opened her bedroom door, and walked into the living room.
She didn't bother turning on the lights. The glow from her bedroom stretched her shadow long against the floor.
In the darkness, the black-haired, red-eyed girl stared at the front door, one hand clutching her chest as she felt her heart racing.
Ever since her novel flopped, it had been a long time since she had felt this alive.
'Ding-dong!'
The moment the doorbell rang, she bolted toward it.
The second she opened the door, she grabbed the excited woman standing outside and yanked her inside without hesitation.
Even though she was being manhandled, her bobbed hair swaying from the rough treatment, Machida Sonoko—the deputy editor-in-chief of Fujikawa Shoten Publishing and Kasumigaoka Utaha's direct supervisor—showed no sign of annoyance.
Instead, her blue eyes gleamed with excitement.
"At least let me take off my shoes first," Machida said with a grin.
"Enough with that! Explain everything, now!"
Utaha let go, pulled a pair of guest slippers from the shoe cabinet, and crossed her arms, staring her editor down.
"Shi-chan, your chest is as enviable as ever," Machida mused as she bent down to change her shoes.
Her gaze lingered on the ample curves, made even more prominent by Utaha's crossed arms.
Too powerful… And she's only in middle school.
"Quit the nonsense! Staring at mine won't make yours grow even a fraction of a centimeter! You'd be better off focusing on your work and keeping your writers happy."
"Ugh, Shi-chan, that's so mean!"
The usually mature and composed deputy editor playfully flung herself at her author after finishing with her shoes.
"All right, Machida-san, I think it's about time you got to the point," Utaha said, fixing her with an impatient stare.
Faced with her author's deep red eyes and anxious expression, Machida finally reined in her excitement. She opened her briefcase and pulled out a folder.
"I've brought the reprint contract. The first print run completely sold out today. We're urgently reprinting fifty thousand copies!"
Before Utaha could even open the folder, she clapped a hand over her mouth, her crimson eyes widening in disbelief as she took a step back.
"If you're lying to me, your cup size will shrink by two!"
Even as she teased her editor, Utaha quickly composed herself and opened the folder.
The black-and-white contract. The beautiful numbers on the royalties section.
Her confidence was back.
"You're so cruel, Shi-chan."
Ignoring the complaint, Machida waltzed over to the fridge, grabbed a chilled bottle of barley tea, and took a long swig.
"Seriously, I came all the way here in the middle of the night to deliver good news, and you won't even offer me a drink."
Confirming the bookstore reports, tallying the demand, attending meetings, finalizing contracts, and then rushing here… Compared to her lazy days earlier this week, today had been exhausting.
But it was all worth it.
Watching the ecstatic black-haired girl double-check the contract, Machida felt a surge of happiness herself.
The prodigy with unfathomable literary talent was back.
She didn't interrupt the moment. Instead, she sat quietly on the sofa, sipping her tea, letting Utaha bask in her rediscovered success.
This apartment, an unused property owned by Utaha's family, was her personal writing retreat—free from any disturbances as they celebrated this unexpected victory.
"But… why? This morning, it was still—"
It was real.
As long as she signed, she'd receive 2.5 million yen in royalties within a week. Even after taxes, it was a hefty sum.
But more than the money, what mattered to Utaha was the reason behind all this.
Who had picked up the shattered pieces of her pride, pieced them back together, and allowed her to hold her head high again?
A fiercely independent person, she had once secretly prayed to the gods—just this once—for her novel to be revived. She swore she'd do anything, accept anything…
And afterward, she had loathed herself for being so weak.
But now, it was as if the gods had truly answered.
Books that had been packed away for return to the publisher that very morning had completely sold out by evening.
If that wasn't a miracle, what was?
Confusion. Joy. Disbelief. Gratitude that had no outlet.
These emotions churned inside her, waiting to ferment into something unknown.
"The exact reason isn't clear yet," Machida said.
"But from what the bookstore owners told us, the buying frenzy started in Tokyo's Bunkyo Ward and spread outward from there."
"The first bookstore to call us for restocks was Higashi Books near Higashi High School. The company suspects something happened there."
"Higashi…?"
Utaha repeated the name as she signed the contract.
"Shi-chan, let's celebrate properly. You've been holding back for too long, haven't you?"
With business done, Machida excitedly lifted the plastic bag she had brought.
"All this fuss over a simple reprint?"
Utaha's words were sharp as ever, but she accepted the bag with a small smile and headed to the kitchen to plate the food.
"Cheers!"