How to raise a random guy's wife

In reality, love is a luxury.

Treating luxury goods as necessities leads to exhaustion from constant overspending, until what were once necessities become luxuries.

Only by loving yourself well can you love others well.

Why did you keep asking Kato Megumi how she felt?

Only now does Kasumigaoka Utaha have a vague answer in her mind.

She always thought that Kato Megumi was a girl with a lot on her mind.

Although occasionally the thought, "Am I overthinking this?" pops into my head.

However, whenever Kato Megumi gets the results she wants, Kasumigaoka Utaha feels that Kato Megumi and she are similar in some ways.

They all possess keen observation skills and complex minds.

However... their emotional development took completely different turns.

Where is the problem?

Perhaps the answer can be found in her mindset before and after she put on the ring.

So, before Kasumigaoka Utaha could figure it out, she and Eriri instinctively pressed her for answers.

Is it because of the different people you meet?

Kasumigaoka Utaha had this question.

And now, she finally understands.

The problem lies not with the other party, but with oneself.

If you don't even love yourself properly, how can you expect others to truly love you?

It is indeed romantic to be willing to risk everything for love.

But the prerequisite is love.

Without even knowing whether you love someone or not, the whole "love without hesitation" thing is just a joke.

Kasumigaoka Utaha smiled.

what.

I am a joke.

It used to be.

Eriri stared blankly at the smile on Kato Megumi's face.

What is it that I want to ask, what is it that I want to hear?

The moment she saw Kato Megumi's smile, she finally understood.

All she wanted was an answer.

The question is, if even childhood sweethearts become strangers, then does love... really exist?

Kato Megumi standing before me right now is proof of that.

No need for a complicated past, no need for heavy memories.

You can find happiness just by meeting the right person.

Megumi Kato is like the answer key to the final, most difficult question.

Although I don't understand it, it's enough that the answer exists.

Kasumigaoka Utaha and Eriri exchanged a glance and noticed a striking resemblance between their own expressions on each other's faces.

"Congratulations, Megumi." Eriri took Megumi's hand. "The way you touch your skin feels different after you put on the ring."

"There's no need to say 'I wish you happiness'," Kasumigaoka Utaha chuckled. "Just seeing you makes it clear that you are very happy right now."

They are so happy that others envy them.

Kato Megumi blushed slightly, "You will definitely be happy too."

"And then?" Eriri grabbed Kato Megumi's hand and pressed, "How many times did it?"

"Eh?"

"I heard the first time is quick..." Eriri urged, "Tell me quickly, how did it feel? This is a rare find!"

“That’s right.” Kasumigaoka Utaha nodded. “You should also describe in detail your feelings at the time. How did the different postures affect your feelings?”

“Um… I can understand Eriri,” Kato Megumi said, looking at Kasumigaoka Utaha. “Aren’t you a light novel writer, Senpai? This kind of content is a bit too much, isn’t it?”

“Although I can’t write,” Kasumigaoka Utaha shrugged, “I can write it down and have people draw it.”

“That’s right, that’s right.” Eriri nodded repeatedly.

"You two have such a good relationship now..." Kato Megumi blinked, "like best friends."

"Who...who is her best friend?!" Eriri immediately bristled.

Kasumigaoka Utaha looked at her with disdain, "Eriri, can you not be so easily swayed?"

"Huh?" Eriri finally realized after being reminded by Kasumigaoka Utaha, "Megumi!"

"I'm just stating the facts..."

"Stop talking nonsense and confess!"

“That’s right,” Kasumigaoka Utaha chimed in, “Resistance will be met with severe consequences!”

"I'm back." Kobayashi Sora opened the door, carrying groceries.

"Welcome back~" Kato Megumi took the opportunity to slip away, took the ingredients and went into the kitchen.

"Tsk." Kasumigaoka Utaha said unhappily, "She got away."

"Isn't there another one?" Eriri stared at Kobayashi Sora. "Confess!"

Kobayashi Sora looked bewildered. "Confess what?"

"Frequency, posture, mood, body!"

"Do you want to listen to what you're saying...?" Kobayashi Sora sighed.

"To ask a boy such a question," Kasumigaoka Utaha said with a smile. "As expected of you, Kashiwagi Eri-sensei."

"Huh...?" Eriri's face turned red at a speed visible to the naked eye.

"Senior, Eriri," came Megumi Kato's voice from the kitchen, "What would you like to eat?"

"I want teriyaki chicken!" Eriri seized the opportunity to escape.

“Creamy soup.” Kasumigaoka Utaha shook her head with a smile.

-

Winter break is over, but the winter chill remains.

Kato Megumi and Kobayashi Sora were walking to school. The scarf around Kobayashi Sora's neck was knitted by Kato Megumi.

Kato Megumi's small hand was enveloped by Kobayashi Sora's large hand and placed in Kobayashi Sora's pocket.

It's warm and cozy.

"Good morning~" Eriri, who still looked petite despite wearing winter clothes, joined the group and took Kato Megumi's arm.

"Good morning, Eriri," Kato Megumi replied with a smile.

“Speaking of which,” Kobayashi Sora said, glancing at Eriri, “about the progress of the packaging cover illustration…”

"Ah~~" Eriri avoided his gaze, "The weather is nice today."

Look at how guilty this guy looks.

"I mean, there's no rush regarding the progress of the packaging design."

"Huh?" Eriri turned her head back again.

"Because some things happened," Kato Megumi explained. "Do you remember the game we helped develop overseas?"

"Ah... The Gospel of Eternity and Moment?"

"Yes, that's the one." Kobayashi Sora nodded. "Although it sells well, its reputation is so-so."

"Huh?" Eriri asked, puzzled. "I played that too. The content is great, and the CG of the sea voyage is amazing, although it's not as good as mine."

"So you still have time to play games while rushing to finish your manuscript...?"

“I…” Eriri looked away again, “I’m trying to balance work and rest.”

Chapter 297 Creative Bottleneck

“You overworked before, it’s good to know how to balance work and rest.” Kobayashi Sora didn’t mean to criticize Eriri. “As for the reputation, the game itself has a very good reputation, but there are some problems with the sales methods.”

“Iori Hashima…” Eriri guessed who the culprit was. “Is he using money-grabbing sales tactics again? For example, offering different bonuses to each doujinshi shop, including randomly designed collection cards, or demanding exorbitant prices on consignment and causing a huge dispute with the shops?”

Kato Megumi was somewhat surprised, "You look so familiar."

“These are all common methods, and besides, she is the victim.” Kobayashi Sora smiled. “However, Iori didn’t use these methods this time.”

Just like Xiaolin's mother said, there is no need to take these measures when the game is selling well.

"What happened?"

"Because 'The Cherry Tree Promise' was out of stock, I had to buy 'Eternity and the Gospel of Setsuna,' which has a similar style," Kobayashi Sora explained further. "That's the discussion with the store manager, but it's much more heated online."

Eriri was somewhat aware of this. "So you're using a massive distribution strategy to bully smaller groups and take advantage of them, right?"

"That's roughly the rumor." Kobayashi Sora shrugged. "Obviously, the person saying this doesn't know that the producer of the small club is the president of the big club."

“Out of stock…” Eriri frowned. “This shouldn’t happen to you, unless… you did it on purpose? Is this some kind of scarcity marketing?!”

“Let’s be reasonable,” Kobayashi Sora glanced at her, “the reason is you.”

"what?"

"You said you would make new packaging to reward players, but you kept delaying the release of the images. So the game was completed, but without packaging, it couldn't be sold, resulting in a shortage."

"Then why do you say you're not in a hurry?!"