How to raise a random guy's wife

Kobayashi Sora sought out Eriri not just to create a game, but more so to spend enough time with her and entice her to join the game through its storyline.

If Eriri can draw the first picture according to his idea, it means that she will also draw the second and third pictures.

The feedback from readers will allow her to gradually take initiative and make full use of her talent and drawing skills.

Of course, if he could, he also hoped that he would tremble with fear and Eriri would immediately bow down and become a diligent and conscientious drawing tool.

Unfortunately, reality doesn't unfold as he hoped. Right now, he still needs to focus on making the game better and showcasing his collaborative value in the process.

And so, my three years of high school came to an end.

Nothing good has happened in these past three years.

Hearing the mournful voice of a male singer coming from the television screen, Kobayashi Sora turned her attention to the living room in front of her.

"Ah," Kato Megumi said with a somewhat innocent expression, "it seems we failed."

"That's how it was at the beginning. I guess I chose the wrong option." Kobayashi Sora nodded. "You've basically experienced one route. What are your thoughts?"

“Hmm…” Kato Megumi thought for a moment, “They don’t study at all, even though they are high school students.”

"So let's change the approach. What if we incorporate learning into it? Before a date, you could review your lessons, answer questions, solve equations, and so on."

"Then I don't want to play anymore," Kato Megumi replied truthfully.

“That’s exactly what I mean,” Kobayashi Sora suggested. “Let’s do it again, and I’ll give you some pointers.”

“But it’s already very late,” Kato Megumi stood up. “I should probably go home.”

"Ah, sorry, I didn't notice." Kobayashi Sora realized that it was already getting dark outside. "I'll take you back."

"It's not far, I can get back by myself." Kato Megumi got up to grab her bag. "See you another day."

"Send me a message when you get home."

"Okay." Kato Megumi nodded. "Give me your phone number."

After exchanging numbers and watching Kato Megumi walk away, Kobayashi Sora closed the door and went back inside, stretching out with a big yawn.

Excellent. He successfully incorporated the unplanned developments into the overall plan, and the familiar sense of security made him feel much more relaxed.

Kobayashi Sora reorganized the documents she had hastily packed away, categorizing them by importance and urgency. She then typed some of the handwritten content into the computer, printed it out, labeled it with the date, and placed it on the bookshelf in the empty room.

"Meow~" Rice cake heard the sound and made a curious sound.

"This is the work area," Kobayashi Sora said, pointing to a small room with bookshelves on three sides. "You can't come in."

"Meow?" Nian Gao tilted his head, as if asking, "Can you say something that a cat can understand?"

"Hmm..." Kobayashi Sora felt that Nian Gao didn't understand, and looked at the empty cat food bowl, "Do you want something to eat?"

"Meow!"

Excellent, another unplanned development has been successfully incorporated into the plan.

Chapter 14 Face-to-Face Interview

"After 'Love Metronome' finished, I checked the sales figures at various bookstores," said Kobayashi Sora, Kasumigaoka Utaha's editor, already in work mode in the Fantastic Bunko editorial department meeting room at Shinazugawa Shoten. "The ending, where Makoto and Naoto, who only appeared in the second volume, got together—an unexpected yet logical conclusion—has indeed sparked a lot of discussion—although that wasn't the author's intention..."

"Kobayashi." A cold glint flashed in the previously languid senior's half-closed eyes, and her sleepy expression instantly transformed into the preparatory stance of a tiger before hunting. "You called me here to talk about this?"

As expected, the failure in her relationship was something she couldn't accept.

Kasumigaoka Utaha's last little move was an unexpected development for Kobayashi Sora, so she took the opportunity of this meeting to test the waters again.

That makes sense. It's understandable that Kasumigaoka Utaha would resort to underhanded tactics when a beautiful girl with both talent and looks uses the final chapter of her debut work to express her love to her fans, only to be ruthlessly rejected.

For Kasumigaoka Utaha, this was like a tiger's tail—it would bristle at the slightest touch.

Kobayashi Sora's previous words and actions went far beyond just touching; they practically shaved her hair off.

"Of course not. Although 'Love Metronome' wasn't highly anticipated based on predictions, the five-volume novel sold 500,000 copies after its completion. Even if it's not number one, it has been recognized by readers and the industry." Kobayashi Sora cleared her throat twice as she probed the other party's bottom line. "However, after the initial wave of discussion subsided, the popularity noticeably declined, and we need some activities to boost it."

"Oh..." Kasumigaoka Utaha resumed her languid demeanor, casually sprawling on the table. "Let's just tell you the time for the autograph session."

“Book signing events are designed to attract fans who buy books. We’ve done it a few times before, but it’s been a bit of a waste,” Kobayashi Sora suggested. “Releasing color illustrated editions, character illustration editions, special collector’s editions, perfect commemorative editions, and special perfect collector’s commemorative editions now is a bit too early. If you want to increase sales, it would be best to release a new book.”

"Great idea. I wish I could be as relaxed as you say and write new works at will."

“A new work will naturally be on the agenda, but there’s no need to rush it like this. Just release the news.” Kobayashi Sora took a magazine out of her bag and handed it to Kasumigaoka Utaha. “Undead Magazine by Shinazugawa—a bi-monthly light novel magazine published by Shinazugawa Shoten. It’s full of introductions and reports on Shinazugawa Fantastic Bunko works, as well as short stories, manga adaptations, and other attractive content.”

Kasumigaoka Utaha glanced at it; she knew this magazine. The news of the end of "Love Metronome" had been published in this magazine. "So?"

“The interview with the new author, coupled with her identity as a beautiful high school student writer, will inevitably reignite the waning popularity, boosting sales of the old work while raising expectations for the new one.” Kobayashi Sora took out a recorder. “If the quality is guaranteed, the expectations will translate into real sales. Even if there are some mistakes, there is the precedent of ‘Love Metronome’ to back us up, making readers look forward to the future development.”

Kasumigaoka Utaha frowned in displeasure. "It seems you never considered that I would refuse."

"You don't want to reveal your identity? I thought you wouldn't care about this since you've done book signings before, so let's not reveal it then."

"..." Kasumigaoka Utaha tilted her head. "I'm hungry. When I'm hungry, I don't want to do anything."

"Pineapple bun, strawberry milk, anything else?"

Kasumigaoka Utaha pursed her lips. "Pocky."

Pocky, also known as Pocky, is made up of biscuit sticks covered in chocolate. The name comes from the Japanese onomatopoeia for the sound made when you bite into a Pocky stick.

Kobayashi Sora took out a box of strawberry-flavored Pocky.

"I want chocolate flavor."

"This box is mine." Kobayashi Sora placed the strawberry-flavored box next to her and then took out a box of chocolate-flavored boxes. "This is for you."

Kasumigaoka Utaha narrowed her eyes slightly. "And black coffee."

Kobayashi Sora took out a can of black coffee.

Kasumigaoka Utaha looked at his bag suspiciously.

“I introduced the last editor who left because of you to their new job,” Kobayashi Sora pushed the food and drinks toward Kasumigaoka Utaha. “Can we start the interview now?”

Kasumigaoka Utaha felt like a lump of dough in Kobayashi Sora's hands, no matter how she changed its shape, it was always in his palm. "Feed me, I don't want to move when I'm hungry."

This feeling of being controlled made her quite unhappy.

“That won’t do,” Kobayashi Sora refused. “The voice recorder is only for recording; I still need to use my hands to take notes.”

“You can use your right hand to take notes.” Kasumigaoka Utaha raised her chin. “Feed me with your left hand.”

“I used my left hand last night, if you don’t mind.”

"..." Kasumigaoka Utaha opened the Pocky packaging, pulled out a Pocky stick, stared at Kobayashi Sora with her red eyes, and put the tip between her lips - crunch crunch crunch crunch!

With a series of rapid, rustling sounds, Kasumigaoka Utaha devoured the Pocky she was holding between her fingers, leaving only the uncoated portion untouched.

"Alright, let's begin the interview." Kobayashi Sora pressed the recorder button and picked up a pen. "Ms. Kasumi Shiko, thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedule to be interviewed. Come to think of it, this is your first time being interviewed."

Kasumigaoka Utaha swallowed the milk in her mouth. "Did you have to ask at this time?"

We should at least wait until she finishes eating.

"I see. As both an author and a reader, I understand how eager readers are." Kobayashi Sora wrote furiously. "Why didn't I give an interview before?"

“If you’re planning to pretend I don’t exist and just make things up,” Kasumigaoka Utaha took a bite of her pineapple bun, “then why are you interviewing me?”

"So it turns out that she wanted readers to focus more on the story and immerse themselves in it, so she deliberately hid herself to avoid affecting the readers' reading experience." Kobayashi Sora nodded in praise, "No wonder she was the author who decisively ended her previous work when it was popular. Speaking of her previous work, we have to mention Kasumi Shiko's new work."

"Don't you even bother to avoid mentioning the person involved when you're gossiping about others?"

"I see. So you didn't intend to avoid the previous work, but rather wanted to follow your heart and write the story you wanted to write?" Kobayashi Sora wrote with flowing strokes. "In other words, characters and locations from the previous work might appear in the new work, right?"

"So what exactly did I come here for?" Kasumigaoka Utaha tossed her long hair, tapping her leg in frustration. "Whether it's an interview or a new work, why don't you just write it yourself?"

Chapter 15 Translation

Kobayashi Sora looked up and said, "I've already written one volume. If you want it, you can sign it as Kasumi Shiko."

Kasumigaoka Utaha's eyes turned cold. "I overestimated your bottom line."

“Right estimate,” Kobayashi Sora said, shrugging. “My bottom line is flexible.”

“I’ve read your light novel,” Kasumigaoka Utaha stared into Kobayashi Sora’s eyes, trying to read his thoughts from those fox-like eyes. “You have the talent to be a novelist, so why be an opportunist?”

Kobayashi Sora's eyes narrowed into crescent moons. "So you accepted my invitation to come here for this?"

"Answer me." Kasumigaoka Utaha's red eyes were aimed at Kobayashi Sora like the muzzle of a gun.

When Kasumigaoka Utaha first met him, she wanted to stand up for Machida Sonoko, but he ended up making her lose her composure.

Once she calmed down, Kasumigaoka Utaha realized the key to her failure: Kobayashi Sora knew her weaknesses, but she knew nothing about Kobayashi Sora.

To gain the upper hand in the struggle against him, it is necessary to obtain his information.

How do I obtain it?

Just ask.

High-level hackers often use the most basic techniques.

The once languid senior student now rested her hands on the table, leaning forward like a predatory tiger closing the distance. Her already alluring figure became even more seductive with the change in posture, and the buttons on her neckline showed signs of strain.

Chocolate crumbs still clung to the corners of his mouth.

Kobayashi Sora averted her gaze. "If this is part of the job..."

Kasumigaoka Utaha raised an eyebrow, discovering a weakness in Kobayashi Sora. A smile played on her lips as she leisurely sat back in her chair, twirling a strand of hair between her fingers. "If you want me to cooperate with your work..."

"Okay." Kobayashi Sora closed her eyes, straightened the papers in her hands, and reopened them. "Senior, would you like your work to be adapted into a manga?"

Kasumigaoka Utaha nodded.

"Adapted into animation, games, movies, figurines, Blu-ray discs..."

“Every author has this expectation,” Kasumigaoka Utaha answered truthfully.

"So," Kobayashi Sora whispered, "would you rather your work be adapted into a masterpiece or a piece of garbage?"

“Of course it’s a masterpiece…” Kasumigaoka Utaha paused, “No, it’s just average.”

Why did you change your mind halfway through your sentence?

"Of course, it's common for an excellent original work to be turned into a terrible anime." Kasumigaoka Utaha unconsciously shook her leg. "They could have just adapted it according to the original, but instead they insisted on being clever and making up nonsense. There are also cases where the budget ran out halfway through, or even when the project was just used to fill the gaps in the broadcast schedule. There are countless examples of masterpieces turning into garbage. Who can guarantee that an adaptation will be a success?"

"Me," Kobayashi Sora answered succinctly.