How to raise a random guy's wife

“But some things, if you don’t say them out loud, others won’t know. If others don’t know, they won’t take any action, and your situation won’t change.” Machida Sonoko looked at Kasumigaoka Utaha with concern.

Kasumigaoka Utaha looked away. "I'm fine now."

"Really? You clearly hate ineffective communication between people, and a large part of a producer's job involves frustrating ineffective communication. Plus, you're a very thoughtful person, so just thinking about it would probably give you a headache, let alone actually starting to work on it—creation is more suitable for you."

Kasumigaoka Utaha looked at Machida Sonoko with a calm expression, "I became a producer to create better works. Everything I'm facing now will be the material for my future creations."

"But there are better ways, so why did you choose to become an animator?" Sonoko Machida pointed out incisively, "When you encounter difficulties in one type of creation and want to find a new direction, the best way is to change the type of creation and try creating other content, right?"

"What I want is to broaden my horizons."

"Wouldn't traveling be more suitable? It would also help you relax."

Kasumigaoka Utaha pursed her lips into a thin line.

This is why she instinctively wanted to refuse Machida Sonoko's invitation at first.

Machida Sonoko knows her too well.

If you chat for even a short while, Machida Sonoko will discover a lot.

The subsequent questioning will bring to light the issues that Kasumigaoka Utaha has been avoiding all along.

The actions we take now are not the only way to break through our limitations.

There are more suitable and effective methods.

for example......

“There’s no need to get stuck in one industry.” Machida Sonoko swirled the liquid in her glass. “With your abilities, you should have a better chance of winning the Naoki Prize, right?”

They left the animation industry and moved towards traditional literature.

Kasumigaoka Utaha stared at the ginger ale in her glass.

It is similar to wine, but fundamentally different.

Chapter 644 Welcome

There was a somewhat eccentric writer named Soichi Uemura.

At the age of thirty-one, he adopted a pen name, splitting the character "植" (zhi) into "直木" (zhimu) as his surname, and using his age as his given name, thus becoming known as "直木三十一" (zhimu sanshiyi).

Later, he changed his name every year as he got older, from "Naoki Thirty-Two" to "Naoki Thirty-Three," until he was 35 years old, when "Naoki Thirty-Five" became the name he would never change again.

Naoki was a close friend of renowned author Ryunosuke Akutagawa during his lifetime.

After their deaths, the Akutagawa Prize and the Naoki Prize were established in their honor.

The Naoki Prize that Machida Sonoko was referring to is the Naoki Prize.

The reason I recommend the Naoki Prize instead of the Akutagawa Prize is that the Akutagawa Prize is awarded to new writers of pure literature, while the Naoki Prize is mainly awarded to established writers of popular works.

The Naoki Prize appreciates works with strong storytelling, that is, novels that prioritize entertainment and commercial appeal over artistic merit.

The selection process never considers established figures, but rather focuses on newcomers and unknown writers, and winners typically receive the award only once.

The prize money is about 20,000 RMB, which is not very high.

However, once a writer wins an award, they can easily secure commissions and high salaries by relying on this title, and it is therefore regarded as a stepping stone for aspiring writers.

As a light novel author, Kasumigaoka Utaha has a very good chance of winning the Naoki Prize.

Many light novel authors have won the Naoki Prize before.

Although Machida Sonoko was not by Kasumigaoka Utaha's side for a long time, she always thought about Kasumigaoka Utaha's future.

Although she wrote the wildly popular "Bunny Girl Senpai" series, Kasumigaoka Utaha's writing style is finding it increasingly difficult to survive in the light novel world, where the pace is getting faster and faster and book titles are used as synopses.

In comparison, developing towards the Naoki Prize would suit her better.

With a light tap of her fingertips on the rim of the glass, Kasumigaoka Utaha said calmly, "I have considered it."

Machida Sonoko expressed doubt, "Really?"

“But striving for the Naoki Prize would mean that all my previous efforts in the industry would be in vain,” Kasumigaoka Utaha pointed out. “I want to break away from Eri Kasumigaoka, break away from RER, break away from the field I am familiar with, and return to creating on my own.”

"Aren't you going to miss them?"

“I can’t bear to part with any of it,” Kasumigaoka Utaha said frankly. “Whether it’s the familiar environment, the familiar people, or my existing achievements.”

Machida Sonoko stared blankly at Kasumigaoka Utaha for a long while before a gentle smile gradually appeared on her face. "Utaha has grown up too."

If it were the old Kasumigaoka Utaha, she wouldn't be so honest.

“Being a producer is really an experiment.” Kasumigaoka Utaha took a sip of ginger ale, feeling inexplicably a little bland. “I tried to break away from Kasumi Eri and do things on my own, and it didn’t feel good. But with their help, I can keep going. If I completely broke away and tried to achieve the Naoki Prize on my own, I don’t know how long I could keep going.”

“That’s true.” Machida Sonoko breathed a sigh of relief. She was worried that Kasumigaoka Utaha was getting stuck on things and pushing herself too hard.

Now that Kasumigaoka Utaha has revealed her thoughts, Machida Sonoko is much relieved.

“Even if I don’t have a smooth journey as an animation producer, I can use these experiences to create works. If the works fail, I can still use my previous experience to do a production assistant job.” Kasumigaoka Utaha fiddled with the empty glass. “If I were to go straight for the Naoki Prize, everything would be fine if I succeeded. But if I failed, I don’t think I would have the energy and ability to learn like I do now if I were immersed in my own creation for a long time.”

“I was thinking that if you wanted to pursue the Naoki Prize, I could accompany you.” Machida Sonoko downed her drink in one gulp. “I didn’t expect you to be even more thoughtful than I was.”

“Even for this reason, I won’t go all out for the Naoki Prize.” Kasumigaoka Utaha rolled her eyes. “Why would I follow me down this narrow path when my future looks so bright?”

“What you see as a narrow bridge is a broad road in my eyes,” Machida Sonoko chuckled. “It was only after I discovered you, this top-tier gem, that I went from an ordinary editor to editor-in-chief.”

"That's your own ability. With such a responsible editor like you, any author would have achieved something."

“I can’t be responsible for everyone like that…” Machida Sonoko waved her hand. “Also, later on, I met Sora Ao and used his works to secure my position. That was also good luck brought by you.”

Kasumigaoka Utaha sighed, "Don't give me all the credit..."

Machida Sonoko swirled her glass. "It's rare for Shi to be so candid. Shall we have a drink?"

"If I drink it, how will I get home?"

"Someone will come to pick us up." Machida Sonoko gestured to the owner to serve Kasumigaoka Utaha a drink. "Don't worry, don't worry~"

Kasumigaoka Utaha hesitated for a moment, then sang softly.

It doesn't taste very good, but it seems...not bad?

Kasumigaoka Utaha held her wine glass and took another sip.

My head was spinning with excitement.

To ensure the quality of her work, Kasumigaoka Utaha usually doesn't drink alcohol.

I tried it now, and it feels amazing.

It seems that all the previous frustration and distress have been washed away.

"Have something to eat," Machida Sonoko said, handing over some grilled bird skewers. "Otherwise, you'll get drunk very easily."

Kasumigaoka Utaha casually took it, and the taste of the roasted bird seemed to have undergone some subtle changes.

So this is what drinking feels like?

Kasumigaoka Utaha calmed herself down, trying to gather her thoughts and feel the changes in her body. "That's right," she remembered something important, "who's coming to pick us up?"

"Welcome." A bell jingled softly as the door was pushed open, mingling with the tavern owner's greeting.

A woman with long, wine-red hair pushed open the door and walked in, her long legs encased in black stockings... well, not particularly long because of her height, but well-proportioned. She came to the two men's side and said, "Boss, the usual."

"Akane Akasaka?!" Kasumigaoka Utaha's eyes widened. She was a little drunk just now, but she sobered up immediately. "Why are you here?"

"Can't I come?" Akane Akasaka asked back, crossing her legs. "It's been a long time, Shii."

"Don't call me that so intimately." Kasumigaoka Utaha casually took out her phone and sent a message to Eriri.

I'd better let her come pick me up.

"How cold~" Akane Kousaka took a big gulp of sake. "We used to get along so well."

Kasumigaoka Utaha glanced at her sideways. "Obviously, we have very different definitions of happiness."

"Don't drink!" Machida Sonoko couldn't stop Akane Kousaka. "How can you drive if you drink?"

Chapter 645 Desperate Measures

"You're the one who's not happy," Akane Kousaka retorted irritably. "You told me to come to the bar to pick you up, but you won't let me have a drink?"

Machida Enzi helplessly held her forehead.

I must have drunk too much, because I actually forgot that Akane Akasaka is an alcoholic.

"Don't worry," Akane Akasaka said, downing another large glass of wine. "I told Sora Ao, he'll be coming over later."

“Korao is really pitiful,” Machida Sonoko complained. “Thinking about how long he took care of you, I feel sorry for him.”

"What kind of talk is that? I was the one taking care of him before," Akane Akasaka said, displeased. "Do you think that kid back then could take care of an adult like me?"

Without a second thought, Machida Sonoko replied, "Yes."

"..." Akane Akasaka opened her mouth, then turned to look at Utaha Kasumigaoka, "How have you been lately? Have you made any breakthroughs in your writing? Or are you feeling upset seeing others create interesting works but not saying it? Are you dissatisfied with how things are going but can't change it?"

Kasumigaoka Utaha narrowed her red eyes slightly, "You came all this way just to make me unhappy?"

Akane Kousaka shook her head. "Of course not."

Kasumigaoka Utaha snorted coldly, saying that Akane Akasaka wasn't too bad.

“I just happened to come by,” Akane Kousaka added.

Kasumigaoka Utaha: "......" This woman is just so awful!

The gentle demeanor she displayed in front of Ran Kobayashi was absolutely a facade.

This woman has never changed from beginning to end.

Out of sight, out of mind, Kasumigaoka Utaha turned her head to the side and drank her own sake.

"I heard you've been trying to become an anime producer lately?" Akane Kousaka clearly wasn't going to let Utaha Kasumigaoka off the hook. "Did you go to the hospital?"

"Huh?" Kasumigaoka Utaha thought she had misheard. "What are you saying?"

"It's giving me a headache." Akane Akane tapped her temple. "As a creator, dealing with investors about funding allocation is enough to give you a headache, let alone doing it."

“It’s not that bad,” Kasumigaoka Utaha retorted stubbornly. “You’re a creator and producer too, and you’re fine, aren’t you?”

"I am not like you."