Hikigaya Hachiman is still in the dark

"Do you have an appointment with anyone else this morning, Yuigahama?"

"Probably not. Besides, my friends probably don't know my new address yet."

"I just returned to China not long ago, so it's unlikely that someone would come to visit me right now." Yukinoshita thought, "It seems that it can only be your editor. He came really quickly."

"If it's about expediting the submission, I'm confident their speed is world-class."

"I can understand your feelings a little bit..." Yukinoshita and the others responded to me with sympathetic looks.

It has come to this point. There is no way for me to slip away now. It seems that I can only continue to pretend to be sick, and a more serious one!

"I'll go open the door." Yuigahama said, and ran out. Then, there was the sound of the door opening and the noisy sound of a group of people stepping into the entrance hall.

"Welcome, Caiyu-chan. How did you find this place?"

"Of course it was my senior who told me. He told me when we met before." Yuigahama and Isshiki were having this conversation as they slowly walked into my room.

I don't remember ever telling you such a thing! And if I think about it normally, I won't go around telling everyone that I live with someone else... Otherwise, it would be a major crisis for me in many ways!

Although I want to claim my innocence, this is not the time to explain this. I have to pretend to be very weak in order to get away with it. Yes! Now I am at the end of my life, like I will die in the next second!

"Senior, are you okay?" Isshiki saw how weak I looked, and quickly ran to my bed. He looked at me worriedly and said, "I didn't hear that you were sick, what happened? What happened to you suddenly, Senior?"

"Xiao Caiyu, don't worry, it's just that Xiao Qi is sleep deprived. He's much better now..."

"Oh? Are you sick?" A cold voice came from outside the door. When I heard this voice, I was stunned.

"Are you really sick, Hikigaya? I remember that you did pretend to be sick to avoid deadlines before." The visitor spoke softly, as if he was saying something unimportant, but my sweat kept flowing down uncontrollably.

I remember that time, you found out and the result was that I had to finish twice as many manuscripts as before...

"Don't be so harsh. After all, I'm sick. You should pay more attention to this." A gentle male voice sounded at the side. Yes, pay more attention to my illness itself. Rushing to finish the manuscript is just a joke. Please don't worry about it!

"Brother, please don't say anything. We cannot compromise on this point. Why can't writers who delay submitting manuscripts be sentenced to death? The Constitution is really troublesome."

Am I still alive today because of the protection of the Constitution?

"I often procrastinate on submitting manuscripts, too..." Senior Ai Shang responded with a wry smile.

"My brother is special..."

This is totally discriminatory treatment, right? Wouldn’t such obvious favoritism really affect the fair operation of the publishing house?

"I'm troubled by your words..." Senior Ai Shang still smiled bitterly: "By the way, Hikigaya, what is this setting change you mentioned?"

"Wait, brother, let's punish him for delaying the submission of his manuscript first." The chief editor's voice came: "And we also need to confirm whether he is really sick. What if it's the same as last time..."

"Xiaozhi..." Senior Ai Shang squatted down and stroked Editor Xiaozhi's head: "Caring about the author's health and important things like setting changes is what a good editor should care about. Now is not the time to worry about those trivial details."

Senior Ai Shang's voice seemed to have a different kind of magic. Editor Xiao, who was full of fighting spirit just now, instantly became docile. Her eyes narrowed slightly, and it seemed that she was enjoying Senior Ai Shang's touch. At the same time, her cheeks became unnaturally rosy.

"That's true. Now is not the time to be concerned about these things."

Senior Ai Shang is the tallest, please accept my knee!

"Let me confirm first, Yukinoshita-san and Yuigahama-san, is Hikigaya really sick?"

I see, should we ask someone else to confirm it? If Editor-in-Chief Koji comes to confirm it himself, it will definitely be exposed, but if it is Yuigahama and Yukinoshita, they will definitely say that I am sick! In this way, even if Editor-in-Chief Koji doesn't believe it, he can only accept this statement. You are really worthy of it, Senior Ai Shang!

"He is indeed feeling a little unwell."

"Xiaoqi hasn't been feeling well since yesterday."

After receiving affirmative answers from Yukinoshita and the others, Senior Ai Shang looked at the editor-in-chief. Editor Xiaozhi pouted stubbornly and said nothing more. After seeing Editor Xiaozhi's tacit approval, Senior Ai Shang stood up.

"Well, let me talk to you in detail about the setting changes you mentioned..."

"Senior, you are meddling too much. I am Hikigaya-senpai's editor!" Just as Senior Ai Shang was about to ask me about changing the settings, he was pushed aside by Isshiki with a terrifying smile on his face.

One thing conquers another? That’s how it feels…

"I understand. You can just ask." Senior Ai Shang responded helplessly and stepped aside. Editor-in-Chief Xiaozhi followed in his footsteps.

"What exactly is it like, Senior?"

"It's nothing actually. I just need to change some of the initial conditions, so I told you." I said this. Indeed, if I think rationally, this setting change is just the condition for changing the body, and it is not something that fundamentally shakes the most basic setting of body swapping.

As I was saying this, Yuigahama had already run to the living room to make tea and prepare to entertain Isshiki and the others. That's great. She is becoming more and more service-minded! This way, I can feel more at ease at the flower shop.

"What exactly is it? If we change the initial conditions, besides exchanging bodies, it's probably the conditions for exchanging bodies. When we discussed it before, it was indeed said that the two of them would exchange bodies every morning. What does it mean to change the conditions now? Are there any more interesting settings for exchanging bodies?"

"As expected of you, you grasped the core of the problem quickly." I praised Isshiki first. It seemed that she was not used to my direct praise and she looked a little embarrassed.

"As you said, I want to modify the conditions for two people to swap bodies. To be specific, I want to completely ignore the conditions. If two people swap bodies, they will not be subject to any control, there will be no restrictions on time and space, and there will be no need to deliberately trigger certain events to swap bodies. How about it, do you understand?"

"It would be strange if I didn't understand! What on earth are you worried about, senior?" After looking at me with a dissatisfied look, Isshiki was thinking seriously with his hands on his chest.

Generally speaking, aren't these actions only performed by characters with big breasts? Your barren plain is really not suitable for such actions.

That's true. Now in the industry, some actions are gradually becoming exclusive to big-breasted characters, as if they are hiding something! Sure enough, there should be some actions that only plain characters can have, but what are they? Plain avoidance? It seems that I accidentally walked away again...

"I understand what you mean, Senior. If it is set up like this, the plot arrangement will indeed be more innovative. At the same time, the story will be more interesting. From these aspects, it can indeed attract more readers."

"Right, you agree with that, right?"

At this time, Yuigahama had already brewed the black tea. She poured a cup for her seniors one by one, and Isshiki also took the black tea that Yuigahama handed to her.

"Thank you."

"You're welcome."

After answering like this, Isshiki placed the tea on the table. "Please listen to me carefully!" Isshiki's voice suddenly became louder. Damn it, recently Isshiki's life form has been evolving more and more towards the horrible creature of editor!

"That's true, but doesn't it go against your writing style? Your style should be a mixture of bitterness and sweetness. The original idea was for the two of them to forcibly swap bodies, experience different youth, and comprehend different styles! Moreover, the original setting basically remained in the meaning of change." Isshiki knocked on the table and the wooden table made a crisp sound.

"Do you understand what I mean? If the original setting is still in line with your style of bitter and sweet routine, then your new setting is completely like an ordinary love comedy. It is very dangerous for the author to suddenly change the style of writing, just like someone suddenly deciding to change his hairstyle.

As I emphasized before, your original idea of ​​the novel is to swap bodies and experience different youth, but if the conditions are changed, then what is the idea of ​​the novel? Unrestricted swapping, no matter how you look at it, it is more humorous! "

"But since the premise of the exchange has not changed, the theme should not change either. We can just stick to the original theme. The original setting is that the lower-class people and the upper-class people in the academy exchange bodies, experience different campus events, and interact with each other in different positions. So, as long as the story is still centered around this aspect, it shouldn't have much of an impact."

"In theory, this is correct, but Senior, have you ever thought about the readers' expectations?"

"Readers' feelings?" I was stunned. Isshiki seemed to have said something extraordinary! Is this still the Isshiki I know, the one who doesn't care about his work?

"Brother, can I really not hit that person over there? Now, my fist is really a little out of my control."

"Xiaozhi, calm down. If you go all out, someone could die..."

Indeed, if the editor-in-chief who is a black belt in Taekwondo takes action...

"Although we have the same idea, Xiaoqi is still sick after all, please let him go."

"Keep your opinion neutral. If the author gets hurt accidentally, you won't be able to handle it, right? You should stay rational first, and then find a way to make him commit suicide!"

Your opinion doesn't sound like you're helping me at all. In a sense, you're more dangerous!

Chapter 155 Hikigaya is always like this

"So, it's the reader's feelings, or, you have to think from the reader's perspective! Can you understand the meaning of my words, Senior?"

"Of course I can understand it." Although I said it loudly, I didn't really understand it, so I didn't feel very confident. Isshiki noticed this and sighed softly.

"Senior, although you are a well-known author, you still can't forget the author's attitude too much. If you make such a setting, because it is random, readers will definitely think of interesting events. For example, if there is a setting of random body swapping, some readers will definitely think what will happen if they swap bodies during physical education class or when changing clothes? What if it's in the shower? What if someone confesses to you? And so on."

"Iseki, you are so disgusting..."

"Listen to me carefully!" Isshiki tapped my forehead lightly, probably because he was concerned about my health. "Get to the point. What I mean is, if the setting is changed, the style of the novel will become more entertainment-oriented and romantic comedy-oriented. Can you handle it? After all, your previous novels were not famous for this, right?"

“You’re right.” Isshiki was thinking from the perspective of the editor and me, and I couldn’t find any reason to refute him. “But, sometimes I also want to change my style. Although the style of my work is more inclined towards romantic comedy, in the middle period, I can also write according to the novel routine I originally envisioned, and overall it won’t be too biased…”

"That's right, but the rhythm in the early stage is not easy to grasp. After that, we should basically be able to follow the original settings. But senior, as I said before, if you suddenly change your writing style, it will be very dangerous! Not only should you be prepared to lose your original readers, but you will also have to face a lot of malicious and slanderous comments..."

"I know all this." Many of my friends have been criticized by countless malicious comments for failing to change their writing style, and have lost many of their original readers. In this way, they have gradually ruined their careers as writers in an irreversible situation...

Although I know all this, I occasionally want to make a change. I also want to write novels that are easy to read and simply write them as romantic comedies. Even if they fail, I have nothing to say.

Change is like this. If you don’t try, who knows if you can succeed?

"I still have to do it." I looked at Isshiki with firm eyes. Being stared at by me, Isshiki did not escape, but kept staring at me closely.

"Forget it, it's really troublesome. I'll just leave it to you, senior! It's always like this. I won't care about you anymore!" After a long time, Isshiki turned his head and muttered.

"Aiyu-chan, are you shy?"

"No, Yuigahama-senpai, please stop talking nonsense."

"It looks like the problem has finally been solved." Yukinoshita was thinking: "If you don't mind, would you like to have breakfast here?"

"Hey, how do you know we didn't have breakfast?" The editor looked at Yukinoshita in confusion: "We didn't say we didn't have breakfast, right?"

"You were together when you answered the phone before, right? Ignoring the fact that you worked together, you should have gone to have breakfast together. Then, because of Hikigaya's matter, you rushed here in a hurry. If we infer this way, it is natural to conclude that you didn't have breakfast." Yukinoshita said slowly.

Although it was a very sophisticated reasoning, Editor Xiaozhi had already cautiously hidden behind Senior Ai Shang. His vigilant gaze undoubtedly put Yukinoshita on the danger list.

Smart women are indeed scary...

"Yukinoshita-san, you are right. We haven't had breakfast yet. If it's not too much trouble, could you please bother us for a moment?"

"That's absolutely no problem. Besides, we haven't had breakfast yet. We were so busy taking care of Xiaoqi that we didn't have time to eat. Fortunately, there's still a lot of breakfast made by Xiao Yukino and the porridge I just cooked. It should be enough for us." Yuigahama replied to her senior enthusiastically.

"I'd be grateful if that were the case."

"Then I'll go prepare it." Yuigahama ran to the living room briskly and brought out the prepared breakfast.

"Hikigaya, if you delay submitting your manuscript again, I will prepare a special dark room for you." As the editor was about to leave, he looked at me and stroked his neck with his hand.

A naked threat...

After Yukinoshita and the others left, Isshiki still didn't move. I looked at her in confusion. She should have confirmed everything, so why was she still staying here?

"Seniors, although this is a private matter, why are Yukinoshita-senpai and Yuigahama-senpai here? Is it simply because you are sick that they come to take care of you? That's impossible, right? So, why is that? Are you, Yuigahama and Yukinoshita-senpai neighbors? That's understandable, but could it be a deeper relationship? Seniors, are you and Yuigahama and Yukinoshita-senpai..." Isshiki paused deliberately, looking at me with a smile: "Seniors, are you so close that you can live together?"

Oh no, this is bad... Isseki's words made my heart tighten. Indeed, seeing this situation, everyone would be suspicious of the relationship between me and those two people.

What should I do? It’s too troublesome to explain, and I think explaining it will probably lead to more misunderstandings. However, if I don’t explain it here, I will not be able to justify myself.

This is indeed a very troublesome situation. What should I do? How about pretending to be sick and fainting? Or saying that I know nothing?

It would be strange if you don’t know!

"Seniors, I know from your reaction." Isshiki spread his hands and said as if giving up: "Seniors, you are still not very good at lying like before. Seeing your reaction, I roughly guessed it. You, Yukinoshita-senpai, and Yuigahama-senpai, are really living together now?"

"I didn't do this voluntarily. There is a reason for this."

I wanted to say something else, but Yise waved his hand to signal me not to continue: "Senior, what you said must be due to various reasons, right? I know that, senior, after all, you are like that, right? I can understand."

I was inexplicably forgiven in an inexplicable place...

"I will keep this a secret for you, Senior." Isshiki put his index finger on his lips and said, "But, Senior, my funds are a bit tight recently. If someone could treat me to shopping and dinner, that would be great."

It’s called cuteness, but is it actually blackmail?

Even if you look at me with such a smile, I can't agree to you. I am completely poor now and don't have any extra money to treat others to a meal...

"There's nothing I can do. I don't have any extra money right now..." I lowered my head. I felt really embarrassed to say that I was poor in front of others.

"I roughly understand. Senior, the incident you are involved in this time is much more troublesome than I thought." Isshiki sighed softly, "Ah, it's really troublesome. There is so much work recently. I didn't expect that the editor is much busier than I thought, although the salary is very high! Even though I am still an intern, I am still taken care of by my seniors, and I have received a lot of salary because of this. Where should I use the first month's salary?

It seems that I need to use it to get in touch with the authors under my company, which will be more conducive to future work! "Yi Se looked at me secretly: "It's too boring to go shopping alone. As a girl, it would be great if someone could accompany me!"

The sound is deliberately dragged out. Are you trying to put on a funny show?

"It would be nice if someone could accompany me." Your voice is deliberately raised and prolonged, and your impatience can be clearly detected.

"It would be nice if someone could accompany me!" This time, she spoke slowly, enunciating each word with great courage.

"Senior, you did it on purpose, right?" This time, her voice returned to normal. It seemed that she had been discovered!

"I understand. If it's the weekend, I'm still free. For the rest of the time, please let me go."

"What are you talking about, senior? I am also an office worker now, and my time is no different from yours. Senior, please don't go back on your word." After saying this, Isshiki walked out of my room.

"I see. There's no need to remind you this deliberately. I'm not the kind of person who doesn't keep my promises." After muttering a few words, I took out a small notebook from the bedside table and began to rethink my novel.

"Are you there, Hikigaya-kun?"

"You were in the living room the whole time, so you must have noticed whether I left the room or not, right? You really have a bad taste, senpai."

"No, I just wanted to tease you a little."

"That's it. That's the bad taste. Please be more aware of this."

In response to my reminder, Senior Ai Shang just smiled.

This person definitely didn't listen!