In crossover anime, who isn't a childhood friend?

When he saw his youngest daughter's best friend come to visit, the smile he showed always seemed forced and tired.

Time slips away quietly.

With the National Kendo Championships for Middle Schools over, it was already mid-August before we knew it.

Eriri has been showing more and more anticipation and excitement these past few days!

"My Eriri is so cute. Every plan for the future includes the names of Chiya and Yukino."

Mrs. Sawamura came to wake her daughter up early in the morning, but she couldn't get her to move.

I did see the schedule she had compiled on her desk for the summer fireworks festival in late August.

"mom!"

Hearing her mother's teasing, Eriri, who had just wrapped herself in a thin blanket like a caterpillar and pretended to be asleep, jumped up in embarrassment and snatched the schedule that her mother had picked up!

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

"...Is Shiyu skipping breakfast again today?"

“She told me yesterday that she would come down by herself if she was hungry, and if there’s nothing else to do… don’t go up and disturb her.”

"Is it because of the novel she wrote?"

"..."

Sensing the dissatisfaction in her husband's words, Mrs. Kasumigaoka sighed softly.

"You know Shiyu, she has a high sense of self-esteem just like you, and she's stubborn and unwilling to give up easily. She finally got recognized by the publisher and was able to print her work into a book and sell it. She must be putting all her heart into it."

"But her novel didn't sell well either. Instead of persisting, it's better to face reality sooner. Right now, the main thing is to stabilize her grades and enrich herself in her spare time. If she really wants to be a writer, she can wait until after she graduates from university..."

"Alright, stop with your lecturing, especially in front of Shiyu. You and your daughter have been talking less and less these past few years. If you keep telling her this, you'll just have to wait until she starts to hate you."

To this, Mr. Kasumigaoka could only sigh in disappointment and helplessly lower his head to eat his rice.

He may be strict, but he just doesn't want to be disliked by his only beloved daughter.

His boss is a cautionary tale; he had a conflict with his daughter from high school, reportedly a huge argument, and the issue remains unresolved to this day.

My daughter is now an adult and works abroad, and she doesn't come back even once a year.

Mrs. Kasumigaoka wrapped up her daughter's meal and put it in the refrigerator. She looked up at the upstairs with concern.

Like her husband, she also felt sorry for her daughter.

During this period, Shiyu's diet and daily routine were extremely irregular. Sometimes when she went to the bathroom in the middle of the night, she could see light coming through the crack in her door.

If you lean in close and listen, you can hear the intermittent sound of her typing on the keyboard.

Occasionally, when we bump into each other in the living room downstairs, we can clearly see her dark circles under her eyes, her pale complexion, and she looks listless and lacking energy.

Mrs. Kasumigaoka is more anxious than anyone else about her precious daughter, whom she carried for ten months and gave birth to, being in this state.

She even considered calling the publishing company that had signed her daughter to ask how many copies of her daughter's novel needed to be sold to avoid being canceled.

At worst, she could just buy all of her daughter's books out of her own pocket!

But when she calmed down, she realized that this was not an effective way to solve the problem.

In any case, in the end, it all depends on her precious daughter herself, and she can only pray silently in her heart.

Mrs. Kasumigaoka didn't have high expectations for her daughter's work to suddenly become a bestseller; she just hoped that her daughter could get over this failure soon and get back on her feet.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

On the second floor, in Kasumigaoka Utaha's room.

The thick curtains were drawn, making the place seem dark even in broad daylight.

The desktop computer, with its screen lit up, entered lock screen mode, projecting colorful bubbles onto its display.

As for Kasumigaoka Utaha herself, she was hugging her legs and quietly curled up in the corner of the bed, her eyes vacant and lifeless.

She has been in this state since the beginning of the month, after the release of the second volume of her novel "Love Metronome".

She revised the second volume again and again, believing it to be in its most perfect state, but it still failed to create the miracle she had hoped for.

Sales were even worse than the first volume, almost to the point of being ignored.

She went to the same bookstore two days later to check on the situation, and found that her novel was placed in a corner and had not been touched at all.

The book whose cover had been removed and was available for inspection was also completely new, without the slightest sign of having been handled.

I should have realized it sooner, when the editor gave me an apologetic look and talked about the possibility that "Love Metronome" might be canceled...

This is reality.

But why is it that even now, when the time has actually come, I still feel unable to accept it?

Kasumigaoka Utaha rested her chin on her knees, staring blankly at her fair and delicate toes.

My toenails have grown quite long; it seems like they haven't been trimmed in a while, and they don't look good anymore.

When did I become such a sloppy girl...?

She took a deep breath and slowly stood up.

She hadn't been eating properly for the past few days because she had been holding one position for too long. When she got out of bed, she hadn't even stood up properly before she plopped back down onto the bed.

She suddenly smiled and chuckled, but there was no positive or cheerful emotion in that smile.

She was laughing at herself for not having the ability but having ambitions that were too high.

Now it's all good; it has finally been tested by the market.

She wasn't even qualified to enter the field of traditional literature.

The emerging light novel series did take a crucial first step, but it was immediately canceled.

Back when she was signed by the editor, she was secretly delighted, thinking that she might have an extraordinary talent in the field of light novels and that she would soon achieve success.

It's ridiculous...

What am I so proud of...?

Like a clown...

Kasumigaoka stood up, sat down at the computer desk, and started moving the mouse.

The screensaver disappears, and a text editing box pops up.

It is covered with densely packed novel content.

This is the opening content of the third volume that she has been preparing these past few days, hoping that she might pass this test.

But now, her inner expectations and pride are being gradually eroded.

She felt it was time for her to accept reality.

Stop harboring illusions and stop doing these meaningless things.

Perhaps I really don't have a talent for literature, perhaps I will never be...

"Buzz—buzz!"

The phone on the table vibrated.

Kasumigaoka Utaha hesitated for a moment before taking it.

She looked at the nickname "Ms. Machida" on her phone.

What should come is always coming.

The editorial department must have finished their meeting and officially decided to cancel "Love Metronome".

Kasumigaoka Utaha took a deep breath and pressed the answer button with a dark look in her eyes.

"Ms. Xia Shizi, that's wonderful! We've reprinted it!"

kindness?

What is Ms. Machida saying...?

Great…reprint…what?

"Many bookstores have called to say that the Love Metronome is selling very well. Many customers who couldn't buy one have placed pre-orders, asking us to reprint it as soon as possible! That's great!"

"..."

Kasumigaoka Utaha sat there blankly, and after understanding the editor's words, a rainbow slowly shone from the depths of her eyes, which had been somber for so long.

…………

059: A Historic Meeting (6500) (12)

"Dengdengdeng..."

With a muffled sound.

The Kasumigaoka couple, who were having breakfast, saw their daughter, dressed casually, run down the stairs without saying a word and rush into the bathroom.

The couple exchanged a puzzled look.

"Is Shiyu... having an upset stomach?"

"go with!"

Mrs. Kasumigaoka gave her husband a light spit and got up worriedly to go to the bathroom door.

The next moment she saw that her daughter, who always appeared elegant, was brushing her teeth at three times the speed, and then washing her face was also quick and casual.

She didn't even bother to dry the moisture in the hair between her forehead with a towel before immediately running to the entryway.

Mrs. Kasumigaoka was stunned by the urgency of the situation.

"Shiyu, what's wrong with you...?"

"Mom, I'm going out for a bit!"

"But breakfast..."

"Don't eat!"

As soon as she finished speaking, Kasumigaoka Utaha, who had just changed into her sandals, rushed out of the house.