How to raise a random guy's wife

"Is there a problem with the manuscript?" Kobayashi Sora picked up the manuscript and glanced at it again. "It feels pretty good, although it's a bit angsty... well, very angsty, but that's exactly what you wanted, senpai."

"The manuscript is fine." Kobayashi Megumi shook her head. "The problem... the problem might be with the animation adaptation of the manuscript."

"Oh?" Kobayashi Megumi and Kasumigaoka Utaha's conversation made Kobayashi Sora notice something unusual, but it was just something unusual.

He hadn't figured out exactly what the problem was.

“Look…” Kobayashi Megumi pointed to the manuscript, “Elementary school, a lonely boy and girl, who get to know each other because they like the same books and have similar experiences, are ridiculed by their classmates, and are eventually forced to separate—what comes to mind?”

"This kind of thing is quite common. Although I haven't experienced it myself, but... wait a minute?" Kobayashi Sora thought of something.

Although he did not experience it.

But some people have experienced similar things...

Kobayashi Megumi tilted her head. "You figured it out?"

"Hmm." Kobayashi Sora nodded. "Thinking about it now, it still feels a little unsettling."

"That's exactly what I mean. If you feel this way, what about Eriri?"

"Senior is... reopening Eriri's wounds," Kobayashi Sora realized.

This article is very good.

But that's great.

It's so good that people with similar experiences can immediately recall those experiences.

For example, Eriri.

But this was not a good experience.

Eriri, who served as the artist for this short film, deeply empathized with the story, which is a good thing for the production of a short film.

However, this production process was clearly not a pleasant experience for Eriri.

To fabricate one's past painful experiences bit by bit and present them to everyone... is like tearing open a wound and showing others the convulsing, spasming flesh.

“I don’t think my senior did this on purpose.” Kobayashi Megumi carefully examined the manuscript. “It started as a vague inspiration, but as she wrote, it turned into specific emotions that reflected real experiences. By the time she came to her senses, it had already become like this.”

Kobayashi Sora tapped her forehead lightly, "This is... actually a bit difficult to handle."

“Yes, the manuscript is so good, it would be a shame not to make it. But if the manuscript is so good, making it would be too cruel for Eriri.” Kobayashi Megumi put down the manuscript. “That’s why I asked you that, senpai. Obviously, you’re also struggling with this.”

"If this matter isn't handled properly..." Kobayashi Sora looked somewhat conflicted.

"Actually... I feel fine."

"Ok?"

"Being able to write a piece of this caliber shows that you have a deep understanding of this emotion," Kobayashi Megumi chuckled. "Actually, when you first said you were going to write about regrets, I thought you would write about your own, but I didn't expect it to be Eriri's."

Kobayashi Sora was taken aback. "So that means..."

“That’s right.” Kobayashi Megumi nodded. “When she thinks about regrets, she doesn’t think of herself first, but of Eriri.”

-

"Ranran~" Eriri, who had just returned from her research trip, brought a large bag of souvenirs, most of which were for Ran Kobayashi. "Look what Mom brought you!"

"Godmother~" Xiaolin Ran happily hugged Eriri and counted the various snacks and gifts with her.

Once Lanlan calmed down, Eriri showed everyone her work.

A series of dreamlike yet realistic landscapes unfold before the viewer's eyes, and the masterful skill of the renowned artist captivates the audience.

"Hmph~ Now you've seen how powerful I am, haven't you?" Eriri said smugly, then looked at Kasumigaoka Utaha provocatively, "Although your script isn't the main point, don't drag it down too much—you should have finished writing it by now, right?"

"..." Kasumigaoka Utaha put down Eriri's drawing. "Well... of course."

"Let me see..." Eriri took the manuscript. "Why is it told from the female protagonist's first-person perspective? Shouldn't it be told from the male protagonist's point of view?"

"Let's write about the female lead first to get a feel for it. Once we've set the tone, the male lead's part will be easier to write." Kasumigaoka Utaha replied casually, her gaze fixed on Eriri.

After Eriri read this story...

At first, Eriri was slowly flipping through the pages, but after a while, she started to read faster and faster.

The relaxed expression on his face disappeared, replaced by obvious hesitation.

Upon seeing the last sentence, my smile froze instantly, and with tears welling in my eyes, it melted into an unbearable sadness.

"Kasumigaoka Utaha!" Eriri stared at Kasumigaoka Utaha with bloodshot eyes, gritting her teeth, "You..."

Kobayashi Megumi and Kobayashi Sora exchanged a glance.

coming.

Although they had expected it, Eriri's reaction was still much more intense than they had anticipated.

"What's wrong?" Kasumigaoka Utaha asked casually.

"You devil! You monster!" Eriri clearly wanted to throw the manuscript at Kasumigaoka Utaha's face, but she couldn't bring herself to do it.

"Hmm..." Kasumigaoka Utaha blinked, "That's it?"

"Damn it..." Eriri gritted her teeth in annoyance, "You just wait!"

Kasumigaoka Utaha raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"

Eriri looked at her drawing, "I will definitely draw a picture that is even more wonderful than your story!"

"You want to draw it?" Kasumigaoka Utaha's surprise was undisguised.

"Why don't you draw it?" Eriri countered, glancing at the draft before suddenly realizing, "I mean... you don't actually think I'd project myself into it, do you?"

Chapter 522 Birds of a feather flock together

Kobayashi Sora and Kobayashi Megumi exchanged a glance.

Whether Kasumigaoka Utaha thought so, they didn't know.

But that's exactly what they thought.

Now it seems that things are somewhat different from what they expected.

Kasumigaoka Utaha narrowed her red eyes slightly, her gaze towards Eriri quite complex.

"That look you're giving me is really unpleasant," Eriri said with a displeased expression. "It's like..." She hesitated for a while, unable to find a suitable description.

"I was worried that the other person would get too involved in the story I wrote, which would affect their mood," Kobayashi Megumi said with a laugh. "When I found out that the other person wasn't involved, I felt that my story was somewhat unsuccessful, that I hadn't made the other person feel involved, and that I felt a bit frustrated—that's probably how it felt?"

“Yes!” Eriri could not quite put it into words, but she understood the feeling. Kobayashi Megumi clearly described this feeling, her azure eyes glaring at Kasumigaoka Utaha. “Your personality is really awful!”

"Thank you for the compliment~" Kasumigaoka Utaha rested her chin on her hand, showing no sign of guilt.

She did not deny it.

Because what Kobayashi Megumi said was true.

When writing this story, she deliberately avoided touching on Eriri's sensitive spots.

To some extent, he even forcibly suppressed his creative desires.

But in the end, I decided to write it out exactly as it is.

It's not just to satisfy my own desire to express myself, but also to be honest with Eriri.

Creating something is essentially a process of self-analysis.

The more you put your heart into creating, the less you can hide your true feelings.

Kasumigaoka Utaha knew that since she had written a story about regret, and this story was to be shown to Eriri, she couldn't hide her feelings from Eriri.

In that case, it's better to be open and honest in expressing what you want to say.

Eriri can refuse or get angry, it's up to her.

At least it's much better than Kasumigaoka Utaha's hesitant and roundabout way of expressing herself, Eriri's confused guessing and uncertain speculation, and finally choosing to hide her thoughts because of uncertainty.

Compared to ambiguous expressions and responses, Kasumigaoka Utaha prefers clear and straightforward statements and direct feedback.

"Question time." Kobayashi Sora raised her hand. "Eriri, don't you feel uncomfortable? To be honest, I feel a little disgusted just looking at you."

"Who said I didn't feel uncomfortable?" Eriri said angrily. "I'm so annoyed! Super annoyed!" She paused, waving the manuscript in her hand. "I'm super annoyed by this gloomy woman! But the manuscript is really good... So why does such a good manuscript have to be written by someone like this? Damn it!"

"I don't know either." Kasumigaoka Utaha tossed her long, flowing hair. "Maybe it's because some girl who isn't gloomy can't write it?"

"Kasumigaoka Utaha!!!" Eriri started grinding her teeth, then smiled. "Well~ thinking about it carefully, I feel a little sorry for someone."

Kobayashi Sora and Kobayashi Megumi both turned to look at Kasumigaoka Utaha.

Most of the time, when Eriri refers to "someone," she is specifically referring to "a single person."

with no exceptions.

Kasumigaoka Utaha clicked her tongue.

Kobayashi Sora and Kobayashi Megumi's movements and expressions were almost identical, with similar turns of their heads and expressions that were like copy and paste. Fortunately, they knew how to go too far.

These two guys made absolutely no attempt to hide their thoughts.

"Are you pitying me for not being able to write a good plot?" Kasumigaoka Utaha skillfully launched an attack. "Well... this situation certainly deserves sympathy."

"You..." Eriri almost exploded again, but quickly calmed down, broke free from Kasumigaoka Utaha's rhythm, and began to gather her strength for a counterattack. "The story is full of entanglements~ It's obvious that the writer was worried about all sorts of things from the beginning, so as a result, many parts were deliberately avoided. Two elementary school students develop feelings for each other because they like classical literature? Do you think that's possible? It's more believable that you can empathize with each other because you both transfer schools frequently!"

"It's because you're an otaku that you can't understand the merits of classical literature," Kasumigaoka Utaha retorted stubbornly. "Don't assume your own situation applies to everyone."

"Shouldn't I be the one saying that to you?" Eriri didn't dwell on the issue, steadily laying the groundwork for her attack. "I'm afraid you hesitated at the very end about whether to write it this way, revising it several times before finally finalizing it, right?"

“That’s a problem only people who can’t write plots have.” Kasumigaoka Utaha looked away. “I can write in one go, with a flood of inspiration.”

They just removed the ellipses.

It doesn't count as repeated deletions and revisions.

Eriri's lips curled slightly. "Regrets, you have them yourself, but you insist on writing about other people's. It seems that in someone's heart, other people's regrets are more regrettable than their own."

Eriri has grown up too.

Kobayashi Sora sighed inwardly.

Birds of a feather flock together.

After spending a lot of time with Megumi Kobayashi, Eriri has begun to learn some of Megumi's way of thinking.