Tokyo Soft Rice King.

"what?!"

This time, it was Kuroba Akira's turn to widen his eyes, reveal an incredulous expression, and utter a sound like an idiot.

Even if they share the same pen name, it's unreasonable for them to share all the royalties with themselves, right?

What was she thinking? She must know how important royalties are to authors! They're their main source of income!

Shiori Shirai wanted to laugh at his surprised look. "I was the one who opened my mouth like an idiot just now. Now it's your turn, isn't it?"

She put her hands on her hips and raised her chin haughtily as she spoke.

"Of course, I'm not saying I'll share royalties with you unconditionally. I hope you can continue to guide me in my writing, and when I write new works, you should also be responsible for reviewing them and offering suggestions like you did today."

"So you mean you want me to be your novel's advisor and supervisor?"

“That’s right. I think I’m not mature enough yet, while you, Mingjun, have much more experience than me. So I need to learn what I lack from you so that I can take another step forward in the field of literature.”

"I understand. It seems you want to eat me and turn me into your nourishment."

Shiori Shirai blushed at his ambiguous remarks.

So you know...! It's because you always say things like that that I've had so many misunderstandings!

However, looking back now, this kind of metaphor is actually a rhetorical device that only the author would use. If Shiori Shirai had seen it in the article, she would have liked this kind of description.

He's really incorporating his creative work into his life... I should follow his example!

Thinking this, Shiori Shirai changed her previous speaking style and spoke very boldly.

"That's right! I'm going to devour you completely!"

Chapter 127, Article 2: Souvenirs

"Ah……"

Kuroba Akira smiled happily.

He suddenly felt an urge to say in a melodramatic, "If you want it, here you are! Take it! Everything I have is here!"

In short, this was a proposal that was entirely beneficial to Akira Kuroba.

Shiori Shirai has the potential to become a well-known and respected writer, and perhaps even a literary giant whose name will be etched in history.

Akira Kuroba originally intended to get to know more geniuses and nurture them. Although Shiori Shirai lacked writing talent, her passion for creation and powerful memory were enough for Akira Kuroba to consider her as a new source of "money."

"Okay! I accept!"

Kuroba Akira snapped his fingers and made a figure-eight gesture with his chin as he continued speaking.

"As for how the royalties will be divided, we'll talk about that when you actually publish it. But I'll only take what I'm entitled to, so don't worry about that."

"Yes, it's a pleasure to work with you, wise ruler."

"Although I haven't worried about that..." Shiori Shirai added to herself.

Shiori Shirai never thought she would make a lot of money by writing novels.

Her parents had told her that they had left her enough money to live comfortably for the rest of her life, so she could do whatever she wanted. Shiori Shirai was very grateful for her parents' support.

It was precisely because she was born into such a privileged family with enlightened parents that she was able to immerse herself wholeheartedly in novel writing.

After stretching, Kuroba Akira took out his phone and checked the time; it was already 8:30.

The main reason is that exchanging works takes a long time. If it were just about appreciating Shirai Shiori's nude dogeza (a traditional Japanese gesture of kneeling in reverence), we should have been able to go back much earlier.

However, this trip was indeed very worthwhile. Not only did I get a feast for the eyes, but I also repaired my relationship with Shirai Shiori and even gained a reliable future meal ticket.

"Let's call it a day then. I should head back now. It'll be almost time for your parents to come home, Shiori. It would be really awkward if we ran into them."

"Okay, I'll see you out."

Shiori Shirai nodded. She didn't want her parents to find out that she brought a boy home. If her gossipy mother found out, she would definitely tease her and make a fuss about cooking red bean rice...

It's just that I was seen naked... It's nothing...

Okay, it's still quite embarrassing.

In ancient times, being seen in public would be considered a loss of chastity, and the person would have to marry the victim... But that's not the era we live in now!

Akira Kuroba also said that close friends would draw nude portraits of each other, so... SAFE!

Shiori Shirai tried to justify her embarrassing behavior in her mind.

"Oh, by the way, Shiori, could you lend me some money? I don't have enough for the subway."

"Ha... No wonder you made me buy two tickets when we came. Are you short of money, Mingjun?"

Kuroba Akira spread his hands, feigning pitifulness.

"I have no choice. I'm staying with someone else right now, and I don't have any pocket money at all."

"Stay here..."

I see. No wonder he wanted to make money by writing novels; it must be because his family was struggling financially.

Unlike me... he's having a tough time.

At that moment, Shiori Shirai thought of those famous writers who faced hardship but still persisted in creating, and she held him in even higher regard.

Her initial impression of him as greedy turned into one of striving for success, and her admiration for Kuroba Akira deepened, making her feel that he was truly an extraordinary man.

Moved, Shiori Shirai took out a 1,000 yen bill from her wallet and gave it to Akira Kuroba.

"Mingjun, you can take this money for the subway. You don't need to pay me back, since I was the one who forced you to go home."

Kuroba Akira scratched his head and said, pretending to be embarrassed.

"That's too much... It's just a subway ride, a few coins would be enough, there's no need to take out a thousand yen."

Kuroba knew that coins were used very frequently in Japan. Buying a drink from a vending machine would dispense a bunch of coins, so almost everyone had a coin purse specifically for holding coins.

Therefore, it's impossible for Shiori Shirai not to have a coin.

Shiori Shirai obviously took out the banknotes on purpose.

"Consider the rest as a thank you gift. Today you helped me look at my work, pointed out my shortcomings, and even offered to let me improve your work... But I still feel that this little bit of money is not enough for you."

"Oh ho..."

"Besides, I kept you here until now, which delayed your dinner time, so I'll use the remaining money to treat you to a bento box."

Kuroba Akira felt a surge of satisfaction. He had read her pornography today, criticized her work, hired her as a ghostwriter, and even agreed to share her royalties in the future. In the end, he even got paid...

Good things keep happening!

I used to think that Shirai Shiori was a cold and aloof girl, and that it would be difficult to get along with her, but now all I can say is... she's an angel who just gave me away!

It was a misunderstanding! Everything before was a misunderstanding!

Shiori, we've always been good friends!

"Hehe, then I'll accept it without being polite. See you in the Literature and Art Department tomorrow."

"Okay, see you tomorrow."

Kuroba Akira smiled and held the banknotes in his hand. After saying goodbye, he prepared to leave the room.

Just as Kuroba Akira was about to leave Shirai Shiori's room, following his footsteps, Shirai Shiori noticed a piece of cloth on the floor.

Upon closer inspection, it turned out to be my own underwear that I had taken off!

How could I forget to wear underwear...? Was it because I was so engrossed in talking to him...? No wonder I kept feeling a chill under my skirt...

So, did that mean I was chatting with him in a vacuum the whole time?

Well……!

In an instant, Shiori Shirai's level of embarrassment was about to explode.

However, upon closer reflection, she realized that he had already seen her entire body... so it didn't seem like a big deal that she wasn't wearing anything underneath...?

After experiencing the impact of the full-on dogeza (a type of Japanese kneeling ritual), Shiori Shirai's embarrassment meter has been completely ruined.

Then, Shiori Shirai suddenly remembered what happened when she first met Akira Kuroba in the Literature Club activity room, and she angrily took off her indoor shoes and threw them at him.

He not only caught it, but also picked it up and smelled it...

Okay...! You like the smell, right!

A twisted desire for revenge arose in Shiori Shirai's mind. She walked over, picked up the underwear, and then suddenly called out to Akira Kuroba.

"A wise ruler! Turn back!"

"Ok?"

The moment he turned around, Shirai Shiori crumpled up the pure white underwear she had worn all day and threw it at Kuroba Akira, hitting him squarely in the face.

Caught off guard, Kuroba Akira picked up the pure white underwear hanging on his nose, glanced at it, and gave it a strange look.

"Uh... Shiori, you..."

"Here you go! Take it as proof of your victory! It's also evidence that I kept my bet!"

"..."

Winning means getting a girl's underwear? Is this some kind of adult game plot?

After getting the class monitor's underwear, this was the second pair of fresh, used underwear that a high school girl had worn that Kuroba Akira had obtained.

Chapter 128 Remember to go to the toilet before bed

If I have the chance to get Aizono Moe's underwear in the future, I'll have collected all three members of the Literature Club's underwear... Will that unlock some weird achievement?

However, Aizono Moe is a shy girl and shouldn't be as bold as these two, and this was purely an accident.

Given Shiori Shirai's personality, she definitely wouldn't have thrown her underwear over if she hadn't just taken it off and forgotten to put it back on, so getting this souvenir is considered good luck.

The only person who would give underwear to someone upon meeting them is the class monitor... However, the class monitor is a different story; her values ​​are quite unique.

However, after hearing about the class monitor's mother's methods of educating him, Kuroba Akira was able to understand why the class monitor had become like this.

This distorted value system stems from her rebellion against her family. The class monitor deeply resented accepting what her family provided for her, which is why she always tried to find value within herself.

Essentially, it's a strong desire to prove oneself.

Perhaps only after gaining her parents' approval can the class monitor resolve her inner conflict and return to normal...

Come to think of it, this plot is quite interesting. I might as well write it into the later plot. Kuroba Akira thought to himself, holding the underwear in his hand.