CH 53

“But why are you involved with Dojima …… I started talking with Dojima first.”

It was during a short break, when Takeru was going to the restroom.

Miyuki Mitobe, the leader of the group I was in, suddenly grabbed me by the shoulders.

“Eh, w-what?”

I was surprised when she suddenly started talking to me after ignoring me.

This is the girl who changed her color and became silent when I told her that I had made a book.

I still don’t know what bothered her. I just know that I was excluded from the whole class.

“….I was the only one who knew about Dojima. Why did you–“

I used to be so scared that I didn’t know what was going on, but not anymore. I can deal with Miyuki with a calm mind.

For some reason, Miyuki had a regretful expression on her face. I don’t know what that means.

That is why–

“Hey Miyuki, why have you been ignoring me?　Is it because you got carried away by the fact that I made a book?”

“……You are so annoying. I’m also ……, I’m also …….”

Obviously, Miyuki was acting strangely. Her classmates were worried about the situation, but they could not interfere.

“Hey, I really don’t know. But I was so sad that everyone ignored me. I kept thinking that I had done something wrong, and I felt like I was going crazy. But Miyuki is not the kind of girl who would do such a thing, and I don’t understand. I wish I could just hate everyone, but all I can do is stay in my shell. ……”

I was on my feet. No matter what, we have to talk about it before we can move forward. Miyuki was a very kind girl, I thought. She cared about me, the dumb me.

That’s what my brother and sister told me. It’s not too late for my situation.

Miyuki remained silent and looked down. She seemed to be trying to hold something back.

I couldn’t hear her footsteps. Before I knew it, Takeru was standing behind Miyuki.

“Ooh, is that Mitobe-san? Oops, sorry, I guess you don’t want me to talk to you at school because I’m what you call a gloomy person. But this situation……”

Miyuki looked at Dojima and had a complicated look on her face. She looked happy and sad …….

“Do-Dojima……I-I……I……”

Miyuki gritted her teeth and walked out of the classroom.

HR is about to start.

Dojima mumbled to no one in particular.

“I used to meet and talk with Mitobe-san in the library once in a while, but she hasn’t come to the library for a month now. I don’t know the reason for her change, but ……, I can’t read the rest of her novel anymore.”

“Novel?”

“Yeah, she’s been showing me the novels she’s written. I remember she looked more happy than she did in the classroom.”

“I see. Thank you, Takeru. I’m going after her.”

“Yeah, I don’t know what’s happening, but good luck, Chisa.”

Takeru’s words alone were enough to give me courage. So I left the classroom and followed Miyuki.

I found Miyuki cowering in the corner of the library, sitting.

She noticed me, but didn’t look up. I sat down beside Miyuki.

The silence continued.

“…… Sorry.”

Miyuki blurted out.

“Yes, it was very painful. Hey, but why?”

” ……There’s something you have that I don’t. ……”

“I see. I was so excited that I had made it into a book, wasn’t it?”

“No, it’s not your fault, Chisa. It was my fault for being so narrow-minded. I’m really sorry. Ignoring you was childish of me. …… I didn’t know what to do. I was looking forward to going to Destiny with Chisa. …… I’m sorry, I’m sorry. ……”

“I’m all ears.”

Miyuki began to speak slowly.

Miyuki has been writing novels since she was a child, and when she entered the third grade, she was approached by Blue Lightning Library to write a book. As a gal, Miyuki had been hiding the fact that she was writing a novel from her friends.

Her childhood dream had come true, and she was excited to prepare for the book launch, but she hadn’t heard from the editor.

As she was getting frustrated, suddenly the Blue Lightning Collection itself was discontinued. The possibility of publishing Miyuki’s work was gone. The shock made it impossible for Miyuki to write novels.

At that time, when an amateur who had started writing novels a year ago heard that KADOWA, a major publisher, was going to publish his work, she was so frustrated and sad that she couldn’t understand why.

A little-known publisher approached her with a book deal, she got excited and lost it, and then I, who had been writing for a shorter time than she had, was approached by a major publisher to write a book…….

It seemed that Miyuki met Dojima regularly at this library.

Dojima was here at a certain time. Miyuki showed her novels only to Dojima.

Spending time with Dojima, who was a little different, made her feel like she could go back to her pure self as a child.

She couldn’t come to the library anymore because she couldn’t write her novel after the book deal fell through.

“It’s miserable. I’m jealous and I’m taking it out on you. ……”

We’re still kids compared to my sister and brother. We are still in middle school.

We make mistakes all the time.

I didn’t know what to say with my bad communication skills.

That’s why…

“What’s your pen name?”

“Eh?　C-Chisa, what are you talking about?”

“Just tell me your pen name. What website do you write for?”

“Well, my pen name is ‘Armadillo’, and I write under Kakuyome…….”

I took out my phone and did a search. It came up immediately.

“Wai, hold on, d-don’t read it!”

I ignored Miyuki’s words and started reading Armadillo-sensei’s works. Many of them are about villainesses. There were so many of them. The one with the highest rating had a sign that said …… has been made into a book.

It hasn’t been updated for two months now.

“Stop it, ……, it’s embarrassing.”

I ignored Miyuki. Miyuki has been ignoring me, too. So, please wait for me until I finish reading.

It was a strange feeling. I was reading Miyuki’s novel in the library, when I was usually in class at this time.

The main character was just like Miyuki. She was selfish and girlish, but kind…….

The hero boy is just like Dojima. He’s inorganic, unpredictable, and robotic, but the emotions he shows from time to time are impressive.

Frankly speaking, it was very interesting.

“—–It’s frustrating.”

I was muttering to myself.

“Why are you so good at writing?　It’s so frustrating. The characters are lively and the plot is unpredictable and interesting. It’s a different genre, but it’s really frustrating.”

“W-What are you talking about? It’s a work that couldn’t be made into a book. ……”

“But look at this.”

I showed Miyuki the screen of my phone.

On the screen, there were a lot of comments from readers.

There were readers who were worried about the author who had stopped updating, readers who were talking about how interesting the work was, readers who were strongly hoping for more.

“Ah I-I haven’t been logged in for a while ……. So much feedback. …….”

I handed the phone to Miyuki. Miyuki was crying and looking at her thoughts the whole time.

I just stayed by Miyuki’s side. That’s all I could do.

There are emotions that only a writer can understand.

Miyuki handed my phone back to me and started working on her own phone.

Then, the activity report of Armadillo-sensei was updated.

“Sorry for the delay!　Due to a number of reasons, the book has been cancelled and I was unable to continue. But after seeing your feedback, I’m going to try again …….”

As Miyuki puts her phone away in her pocket.

Then, she squeezed my hand.

“……Chisa, I know it’s too late now, but can we be friends again……? I will never do anything to make my friends sad again,……, higu, I’m sorry, Chisa, I’m sorry,…….”

I wrapped my other hand around Miyuki’s hand.

It’s okay, I’m stronger now that I met my sister, brother, and Takeru.

We’re still–

“Yes, it’s not too late. From now on, let’s talk about our novels together.”

Miyuki hugged my chest and cried.

I felt an irresistible urge to write a novel. Maybe I’ll write a romance novel once in a while.

When I was thinking about this, for some reason, I saw Takeru’s face in my mind.

“Oh, Chisa and Mitobe are holding hands!!　Wonderful, marvelous!”

After that, I sorted out a lot of emotions and discussed them with Miyuki, and when I returned to the classroom for lunch break, the classroom was in an uproar.

For some reason, Takeru, wearing boxing gloves, was happily talking to us.

“W-What are you doing?!　I mean, is he dead, Saejima-kun!!”

“Mumu, I went easy on him with 5% of my strength, so he’s fine. What, Saejima-kun asked me to play, so I had no choice.”

Saejima, who was almost held against the wall, held his stomach and his eyes were dead.

I-I think he was a junior high school boxing champion, at one point. ……

I was more interested in the expression on Takeru’s face.

Takeru, who had been expressionless and inorganic, seemed to be enjoying himself.

“Come on, Chisa, let’s have lunch. I made a special dish today that I hope you will enjoy.”

Takeru smiles at me and speaks.

Miyuki murmured beside me.

“Ah, disgusting. I’ve never seen an expression like that before. Good luck, Chisa.”

Miyuki pushed my back and I staggered towards Takeru.

“T-That is dangerous!?”

Takeru, who is always calm, made an impatient sound and supported my body. The movement was too fast for me to register what was happening.

“T-This is, embarrassing, isn’t it ……. uhm, Chisa?”

“….Thank you”

For some reason…….I hugged Takeru just like that

End of the side story