Chapter 156: Living Together!
Chapter 156: Living Together!
He had heard that Iida Ayano was a strict, meticulous, and blunt editor. She gave sharp critiques that struck at the heart of the matter right away. In the editorial department, she was known for her sharp tongue, even called poisonous.
Seeing her today, well, it was true.
Himekoji picked up the papers that had been on the floor and stood back up.
He breathed out quietly, thinking to himself that he really might have come at the wrong time today.
It was only now that he remembered. In his previous life, the comic “One-Punch Man” had apparently blown up with a web serialization first, before going into print.
So, no wonder Iida Ayano treated him this way.
A comic with terrible art. A sleazy, notorious pervert who was infamous across the editorial department. Such a combination deserved cold sneers and dislike. Maybe it was only natural…
Truth be told, Himekoji wouldn’t even have gotten angry over just that. He was long used to that indifferent attitude ever since he became known as a pervert.
What truly ticked him off was Iida Ayano looking down on “One-Punch Man,” which he respected so much, as utterly worthless.
If he had drawn this comic himself, he might have humbly accepted her criticism. She was an editor, after all, coming at it from a more professional and rounded view. Take the good points, improve where needed, and that’s that.
But the original work behind this comic wasn’t his at all.
The comic came from the System, exchanged for points. It was the work of another sensei, another artist, from a different world line.
Since he had shamelessly stolen the fruits of someone else’s knowledge, the least he could do was to defend the honor of their masterpiece, right? Use his own lips to do his duty?
So why should the great work of ONE-sensei from that other world line be looked down upon?
Himekoji never pretended to be a righteous man. After all, he felt just fine about stealing others’ work to make money.
He was just an ordinary guy. If people thought he was scummy, then so be it. He was scummy.
All he wanted was to earn a little more money. To make life a little better for himself and his Imouto. Nothing more than that.
But… was that wrong?
Isn’t that just how people are?
At least it was better than being some hypocritical moralizer, right? The kind who uses grand excuses about “advancing this world’s anime and manga industry culture” to shamelessly copy work and feel smug about it. Isn’t it still copying?
They were noble. For the world, for humanity.
Compared to those people, Himekoji seemed shallow indeed. He only did it for himself, for his Imouto, and for money.
…
“Thank you…?”
Mashiro was still squatting on the floor. She hadn’t gotten up, holding the position from helping Himekoji gather the papers. The girl tilted her head, her clear eyes gazing up quietly at him from below.
She seemed confused. Why was this boy about her age thanking her, once again?
Huh, wait!
They were way too close!
Also, stop staring at him so intensely like that!
Disaster would happen!
Big disaster!
[Ding!]
[Quest Completed!]
Sure enough…
He really felt like his ability to jinx things was getting better and better…
Himekoji’s face darkened. He pulled his lips into something between a frown and a helpless twitch.
The location… still the editorial department.
No wonder the people in the department looked at him with aversion. If he were in their shoes, he wouldn’t give a pervert a friendly look either!
While mentally grumbling bitterly about his situation, he still knew there was no escaping the consequences of his choices.
Himekoji took a deep breath and spoke seriously—
“Mm, thank you! Thank you!”
“To express my gratitude…”
“Our first meeting: Please live with me!”
O-Out! He said it out loud!
The two quests today in the editorial department were both verbal pervert-acts. In this unfortunate situation, that was also, unfortunately, lucky.
Himekoji comforted himself, feeling like crying but having no tears.
…
“He’s at it again?!”
“I feel like calling the cops…”
“What’s weird is, why is this light novel-writing pervert causing trouble in our manga department? Shouldn’t he stay over there?”
“Hey, isn’t this funny, though?”
The onlookers chattered among themselves.
The editorial department became noisy all of a sudden.
Iida Ayano couldn’t tolerate it any longer; she didn’t mince words. With her personality, she naturally couldn’t stand such low, crude, disgraceful perverted behavior from Himekoji.
Her attitude toward him earlier made that perfectly clear.
Without hesitation, Iida Ayano stood up. She stepped forward to shield Mashiro and warned Himekoji coldly:
“You’d better show some respect!”
“Ah, sorry, sorry.”
Since the quest was over, Himekoji opted to apologize honestly. He turned to leave.
He walked two steps and then froze. Footsteps came from behind him?
Very quiet, very soft. But they were definitely there!
He spun around sharply and found himself face-to-face with Shiina Mashiro. The girl had walked right past Iida Ayano, who was protecting her, and now followed right on Himekoji’s heels.
Huh?
What the?
She… followed him?
She really had zero guard against strangers!
Not just Himekoji, even Iida Ayano and the rest of the editorial department staff watching this spectacle were dumbstruck.
“H-Hey, what are you following me for?”
“Living together?”
“Don’t answer a question with another question!”
“Oh. Then. Living together.”
The girl obediently and sweetly corrected herself…
Even though her face remained expressionless, like a pure, untouched blank sheet of paper.
…
“What? Are they a couple?”
“Even if they are, that’s no good! They’re both minors!”
“What are you guys thinking? How could they possibly be a couple?! That pervert just said ‘first meeting’!”
The editorial department burst into an uproar, buzzing with chatter and various opinions.
Logically speaking, shouldn’t the normal outcome be the pervert Himekoji being ruthlessly scolded, then running away cradling his head?
This wasn’t normal!
Himekoji was stunned too.
She must be joking? This girl…
He laughed awkwardly a couple of times, not knowing how to respond.
While this was happening, the weight of all those staring eyes became too much. Himekoji clearly couldn’t stay in the manga department. He decided a strategic retreat was best!
Quick as greased lightning, he turned to make his escape!
Yet, that strange girl immediately followed, matching his step with her own small strides.
They left the editorial department, one after the other, almost in lockstep.
“Hey, wait! Why are you following me? You don’t actually want to live together, do you?”
Himekoji turned back to ask the girl, his voice laced with disbelief and exasperation.
“Want to try.”
The girl replied softly, her voice calm.
That answer stunned Himekoji.
W-Want to try?
No way? Was she that progressive?!
She didn’t look it at all!
“Try what?! Stuff like that… can you just randomly try it?!”
“Why not?”
Mashiro blinked, slightly confused.
“Not tasty? Make your stomach hurt?”
Huh?
What is she talking about?! Seriously!
Himekoji felt a headache coming on, thick black lines forming in his mind.
…
…