Tokyo Soft Rice King.

"Look, even Moe said that. So, Shiori, you just don't want to sign my autograph, right? Are you that reluctant to part with your pen?"

"You bastard..."

Shiori Shirai was so angry she felt a gritted teeth, as if she were recalling how Akira Kuroba had first come to the Literature Club and how he had gone against her.

Damn it, why did I fall for this kind of man?

I always embarrass myself... I always end up looking my most pathetic self in front of him...

Shiori Shirai blushed again as she recalled taking off her full armor in her room.

Perhaps it's because I feel completely exposed in front of him that I can no longer lie to myself and have to show my true self.

Yeah... Let's admit it, I'm actually quite happy when people ask for my autograph.

That's what she said, but the stubborn Shirai Shiori certainly wouldn't just agree like that, and she crossed her arms and retorted.

"Even if you want my autograph, you didn't bring my artwork. You have no sincerity at all. Where am I supposed to sign it? On your hand? Or on your face? Huh?"

"Who said I didn't bring it? I wanted you to sign it here."

Kuroba Akira chuckled and took a book out of his bag, but it wasn't the short story that Shirai Shiori won the award for; it was a sample copy of "Sister's Journey."

Last week, Akira Kuroba said that the sample book would arrive this week. He even asked Shiori Shirai and Moe Aizono if they wanted it, but they both said they would buy it themselves. So in the end, only the sample book that Akira Kuroba had was sent.

"Hehe, this novel will be available in bookstores all over the country next Monday."

Seeing the sample book that Kuroba Akira had placed on the table, Aizono Moe's eyes lit up. She excitedly grabbed Shirai Shiori's hands and exclaimed with delight.

"Wow... Shiori, look! It's my drawing! The cover is my drawing!"

Aizen Moe looked extremely happy, after all, this was the first time her work had appeared in a formally published magazine.

"Hmm, it looks pretty good."

Shiori Shirai was also very happy, but what made her happiest was seeing the author's name 'Shirako' on the cover, which gave her a sense of accomplishment.

She also put a lot of effort into this work, and the published work is like the creator's child, the more you look at it, the more you like it.

Then Aiyuan Moe also asked her best friend for a favor.

"Please, Shiori! You have to sign this book! This is our first collaboration, a truly memorable one!"

Aiyuan Moe felt that leaving her signature on this book was a very meaningful thing.

Akira Kuroba readily pushed the light novel in front of Shiori Shirai and said with a smile.

"Look, even Meng Hui said so, why don't you sign one?"

"Seriously... this isn't a work I did all by myself, why do you insist on me signing it... why don't you just sign it yourself?"

"My handwriting is terrible, so if there's ever a signing event in the future, Shiori, you should go. Consider this a practice session for signing your name."

"What?! There's a book signing event?! I've never heard of such a thing!"

"Not yet, but once the novel becomes a bestseller, there will definitely be a book signing event."

"They're really optimistic... even though they don't know how the sales will be..."

"It'll definitely be fine! On my own, the outcome might be a bit uncertain, but with your polishing and the adorable illustrations, this light novel will absolutely be a bestseller!"

After finishing speaking, Kuroba Akira realized he had forgotten about the head of the Literature and Art Club, so he quickly added.

"Oh, right, the class monitor's supervision is also an indispensable part."

"Alright, Mingjun, I know I wasn't much of a help, so there's no need to include me. This work belongs to the three of you."

Hitomi Anri very considerately extricated herself from the situation, which deepened the bond between Akira Kuroba and Ai Shiroba.

"Humph……"

Shiori Shirai also felt that the light novel would be a great success, and she hoped that its sales would be booming, so she stopped being sarcastic and instead reluctantly took out her pen, turned to the title page, and wrote a word on it.

Shiori Shirai simply wrote the character 'white' and then pushed the book and pen back to Akira Kuroba.

"You can fill in the remaining character yourself."

"Oh?"

"I'm not shameless enough to claim this novel as my own work... You should write one too!"

"You want me to write '子'?"

"Yes."

After all, this is my child with you... or something, just kidding.

"Hey, that works too."

Kuroba Akira moved a chair and sat down next to Shirai Shiori. He first tried writing on other paper, since he hadn't written in a long time and needed to practice before he could write properly.

Feeling the presence of the man beside her and watching him intently writing, Shiori Shirai felt her heart racing.

"I have a feeling... you seem to have matured a little bit?"

"I'm naturally mature."

The soul is an adult.

"Before, you just seemed to have the air of an adult, but today you really seem to be exuding the aura of an adult..."

This flavor is quite addictive...

It's like... the smell of snow after you've played in your room?

It's a scent of intoxicating passion...

Shiori Shirai glanced at Hitomi Anri and noticed that her best friend's clothes were unmarked and her expression remained calm and composed.

But knowing her best friend very well, she noticed that Anri Hitomi's scent was different today, as if she had deliberately sprayed perfume. She remembered that Hitomi never used any perfume before, and her scent was always natural.

So there must be a reason why I wore perfume today, such as to cover up certain scents I don't want others to smell...

Suddenly realizing something, Shirai Shiori blushed again and fell silent.

Today, it's no longer just her wishful thinking; something definitely happened between Kuroba Akira and Anri Hitomi.

However, after figuring it out, Shiori Shirai felt not anger or jealousy, but a sense of loss.

She knew this was the 'normal development'. After all, Kuroba Akira was brought here by Hitomi, and he and Hitomi had the best relationship. It wasn't strange that things had developed to this stage; rather, it would have been strange if they hadn't become this kind of relationship.

But if that's the case, my chances are pretty slim...

Is it true that I'm going to be heartbroken right after I've just confirmed my feelings?

I feel a little resentful... I haven't even tried, given anything, or fought for anything yet, and it's already over before anything has even begun?

What kind of relationship is this?! It's so lame!

While Shiori Shirai was struggling with this feeling of resentment, Akira Kuroba was also feeling a little panicked.

If there's any reason for becoming more mature, there's only one: this body has also become an 'adult,' and the number of people with experience after losing their virginity has skyrocketed to 2.

He had already witnessed the accuracy of a woman's sixth sense countless times with Ziyin and the class president, and now it seemed that Shirai Shiori possessed the same quality.

If she found out, what would she think of me?

Do you look at yourself with the same eyes you would look at trash?

Just thinking about it... how come I'm actually a little excited?

Kuroba Akira quickly shook his head, refocused, and added the character "子" after the character "白" written by Shirai Shiori, fortunately without writing it crooked.

"Hmm, is what I wrote alright? At least it looks pretty 'appropriate,' like it was written by one person, right?"

"...Yes...it is very 'suitable'..."

Looking at the pen name formed by combining her own name with that of Akira Kuroba, Shiori Shirai once again clearly realized the feelings she had developed for Akira Kuroba...

This unprecedented joy could only come because of him.

I'm sorry, Hitomi...

I still like him after all.

I want to express my feelings no matter what.

I'm afraid I'll only be able to give up after he explicitly rejects me.

However, it's not the right time yet, because Kuroba Akira doesn't consider her a romantic partner yet, and Shirai Shiori is well aware of this.

Shiori Shirai isn't love-obsessed; she doesn't go crazy pursuing someone she likes... that doesn't fit her aesthetic.

As a young woman with a love for literature, she prefers the slightly old-fashioned, but more heartwarming, way of exchanging love letters or diaries.

As long as the two continue to share a pen name and continue to create together, there will always be opportunities for their relationship to progress further.

She wasn't in a hurry and didn't want to be influenced by other women. Instead, she decided to proceed at her own pace. If it didn't work out in the end, it would only mean that she and Kuroba Akira were destined to be apart.

This love, along with the experience, will become the material for my writing... allowing my heart and writing skills to grow, and making my works more able to convey true feelings.

Unlike Hitomi Anri and Shion Murasaki, Shiori Shirai never believed that love was her everything, nor did she think that Akira Kuroba was the only one for her in this life.

Regardless of whether this relationship ultimately comes to fruition, she will continue on her path of self-reliance and keep moving forward.

However, she hoped that Kuroba Akira could accompany her for a while...

It would be wonderful if we could reach the end together.

Chapter 280 A Dream Rekindled

After signing his name, Kuroba Akira felt something was missing, so he made a suggestion to Aizono Moe on the other side.

"Hey Moe, how about you draw a chibi-style little sister portrait or something in the background?"

"Huh? Is that okay?"

"Of course you can, or rather, please do draw one."

After all, illustrations are the soul of light novels, so if it's to be signed, it should definitely be signed by Aizono Moe, who is the biggest contributor.

"Okay, okay! I'll draft it first..."

Seeing Aiyuan Moe's serious expression, Kuroba Akira smiled and then talked to her about the website's mascot, or the website girl.

"Oh, right, Moe, I have something to ask you."

"Yes! I'm here! May I ask what's the matter? I'll definitely do my best to help Kuroba-kun!"