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Chapter 292: Drunken Mistakes Don’t Exist!
🕑 Added 2025-04-17 10:43:19 +0000 UTC[You brought the manuscript to meet with Yamashita, an editor from Kodansha.]
[This time, after reading her novel, Yamashita showed clear interest.]
[After confirming the copyright ownership and discussing the profit distribution with both of you, he stated that there shouldn't be any major issues with publishing the novel, though some sections would need to be refined with the help of the publisher and Satou herself.]
[Satou had no objections to this.]
[After numerous discussions and negotiations, the contract was finally settled.]
[It was a coincidence—her book was set to be published the same month as yours.]
[The only difference was that your debut print run had been 60,000 copies, while Kodansha was only willing to print 10,000 copies of her novel.]
[But even so, she was overjoyed.]
[Because this meant she was finally at the starting line, even if you had long since left her in the dust.]
[She started trying to become independent, handling the final refinements of the novel on her own without relying on you.]
[The process was difficult, but in the end, she overcame it beautifully.]
[After much thought, she titled the book The Emotionally Deficient A-ko and chose the pen name 'Sugar.']
['A-ko' referred to both the protagonist of her novel and all the girls in the world who suffered from emotional deficiency.]
[Mid-month arrived before you knew it.]
[Unlike you, who remained indifferent and unconcerned about sales, she was visibly nervous today.]
[You understood how she felt.]
[Many new authors were like this, afraid that their books wouldn't sell well—that they would just sit on store shelves, collecting dust.]
[When the time came, she personally watched as her novel was placed one by one onto the bookstore's display shelves.]
[Among the small stack of books, beneath the mountain of her novels, there was even a tiny promotional standee featuring an anime character.]
[The moment she saw her book, standing outside the glass display, she couldn't contain her excitement.]
[She let go of your hand and ran straight into the store.]
[When she came back out, she was holding two hardcover copies of her own novel.]
[Beaming with joy, she handed one to you while keeping the other for herself.]
[You looked at her with amused affection, teasing her. "We already asked the publisher for a set to read—why spend money on it?"]
[She simply smiled, shaking her head. "I don't know either."]
"We already have the copies Kodansha sent us. Why waste money on this?"
Dressed in a light spring outfit, Minami reached out to touch Satou's cheek, his gaze warm.
Now in university, Satou no longer dressed like she did in high school.
The two small buns on her head—like little bear ears—were gone.
Her vibrant pink hair now cascaded freely down her back, exuding an effortless sense of freedom.
Faced with her boyfriend's mild scolding, Satou simply chuckled and obediently tilted her face toward his fingertips.
She knew that Minami had always loved the feeling of her soft, fair cheeks beneath his touch.
"I don't know why I did it either."
As Minami's fingers gently pressed against her cheek, Satou lowered her gaze to the book in her hands.
Yeah.
She really didn't know why she had spent money on her own novel.
But just the thought of the story she and Minami had created together now sitting on display in a bookstore…
She couldn't hold herself back—she had to buy it with her own hands.
"This is only the beginning, isn't it, Minami-senpai?"
She lifted the novel in her hands.
Satou whispered softly.
And Minami noticed.
The girl's voice had never sounded so cheerful before—so full of anticipation for the future.
Minami let go of her soft cheek, taking the book from her hands and lifting it up.
Under the bookstore's lights, the plastic wrapping around the hardcover gleamed, reflecting the brightness of her heart.
"Yeah… this is only the beginning."
Minami wrapped an arm around her slender waist, gazing at the book as if he could see Satou, hunched over her desk, writing under the glow of a lamp, night after night.
[Afterward, the two of you celebrated with a bottle of ramune soda.]
[The summer sunlight filtered through the glass, passing through the transparent marble inside the drink. Looking at the long line forming outside the bookstore, you both felt an indescribable sense of vitality.]
[Ramune was pretty to look at, but not particularly tasty. All it really had was that clear, glassy marble inside.]
[Unlike the soda, however, her novel was unexpectedly well-received.]
[Perhaps because it was a light novel, easy to read and relatable, she gained a solid readership. The theme of 'emotional deficiency' also struck a chord with many who shared her struggles.]
[So, despite The Emotionally Deficient A-ko having a rather niche plot, all 10,000 copies sold out in just a few days.]
[Kodansha hadn't expected this outcome. They initially assumed her novel would attract a small but dedicated audience.]
[What they hadn't predicted was that the entire print run would sell out at such a rapid pace.]
[Because of this, they contacted Satou directly to inform her that they would be reprinting the novel.]
[This was undoubtedly great news.]
[On the day Kodansha announced the reprint, you gathered all the girls for a celebration.]
[It had been a long time since she last saw the members of Kessoku Band, Shinjo Akane, Futaba Rio, and the girls from LycoReco. Excited, she helped you prepare the food.]
[The night was filled with laughter, drinks flowing freely. Now that you were all of legal drinking age, and given the occasion, it was only natural to indulge a little too much.]
[Especially Yamada Ryo and Nishikigi Chisato.]
[Those two spent the night going around, urging everyone to drink.]
[You saw right through them.]
[They were probably hoping to get everyone drunk so they could take advantage of the situation under the excuse of 'drunken mistakes.']
[You had some concerns. In this life, you hadn't built up any alcohol tolerance, unlike your past self. You might not be able to handle their aggressive drinking games.]
[But considering it was a night worth celebrating…]
[You didn't refuse them and accepted each drink they offered.]
[And so, the drinking continued late into the night.]
[Eventually, you covered the now-passed-out Yamada Ryo and Nishikigi Chisato with blankets.]
[You hadn't expected it—those two, who had been the most aggressive about drinking, were the first to go down.]
[Around them, the other girls lay sprawled out in various states of unconsciousness.]
[Sighing, you started carrying them one by one to rest in different rooms.]
[Luckily, it was summer, so you didn't have to worry about anyone catching a cold.]
[When you finally reached Satou—]
[She suddenly reached out and wrapped her arms around your neck.]
[Her half-lidded eyes were hazy, her lips mumbling incoherently, cheeks flushed a beautiful shade of red. She was clearly drunk beyond reason.]
[You could feel the warmth radiating from her soft, curvaceous body, the slight scent of alcohol in her breath. Your gaze instinctively drifted to the deep valley of her chest…]
[You had also had a few drinks. At this moment, the alcohol was making its way through your system, dulling your judgment.]
[Reaching out, you did what you always did—you pinched her cheek, hoping to wake her up.]
[But before your fingers could make contact—her soft, cherry-colored lips parted, taking them into her mouth without hesitation.]
[The sensation was warm and gentle, making your thoughts waver for a moment.]
[A mischievous idea crossed your mind. After all, if anyone asked later, you could just blame it on the alcohol.]
"Oh?"
In reality, Minami straightened up a little, suddenly more focused on the simulation unfolding before him.
[But wait… Would someone who was truly 'dead drunk' react like this?]
[That obviously didn't fit the definition of 'wasted beyond reason.']
[You saw through her act instantly. She wasn't actually drunk—she was just pretending, using alcohol as an excuse to pull something.]
[So, with a knowing smirk, you tugged at her cheek and teased her.]
[Caught red-handed, she awkwardly turned her head away, embarrassed. Scrambling to her feet, she hurriedly tried to put an end to her little act.]
"Huh?"
Minami glanced at the simulation with disbelief.
Wait.
He hadn't actually taken off his pants or anything, but… wasn't this getting interesting?
And yet, this was where it ended?
The simulated version of himself was way too much of an airhead!
She had basically spelled it out for him, and he was still pretending not to get it?
Frustrated, he clutched his forehead, feeling like his simulated self was a hundred times dumber than he actually was.
But then—
[The blush on her face was stunning.]
[In the end, you couldn't hold back your desires anymore. Smiling, you leaned in toward her.]
[She was the one who ignited the small flame inside you, yet now she wanted to slip away unscathed? That was far too easy.]
[In the end, the two of you continued your little game.]
[Perhaps the noise grew a bit too loud, because Yamada Ryo and Nishikigi Chisato, who had been sound asleep, gradually woke up.]
[Staring at what was unfolding before them, their minds briefly short-circuited.]
[They had been the ones to set this whole scheme in motion, so how did Satou end up reaping all the benefits?!]
[The sheer reversal of the situation made them deeply unwilling to accept it.]
[So, under Yamada Ryo's mischievous instigation, the two of them quietly joined the party as well.]
[Your mind, already clouded by alcohol, grew hazier still…]
[That night, the mischief lasted until very, very late…]
"Uh."
The twists and turns of the story left Minami slightly dumbfounded in reality.
He really hadn't expected that midway through, Miss Yamada and Miss Nishikigi would willingly join in.
He had assumed that someone like Nishikigi Chisato—high attack, low defense—would just secretly watch from the sidelines.
And yet…
Minami turned his head slightly, glancing at the real Nishikigi Chisato beside him.
She wasn't the most elegant sleeper. At this moment, she was clinging onto him, murmuring in her sleep, "No… Minami-kun, not there…"
…He was definitely curious about what kind of dream she was having.
But after hesitating for a moment, Minami ultimately decided not to ask.
Better to just continue watching the simulation.
[For now, your couple's playful antics were set aside.]
[Kodansha had officially reprinted The Emotionally Deficient A-ko, with a total of 30,000 new copies scheduled for release at the end of the month.]
[While this was nowhere near the scale of your own sales, for a newcomer, her results were exceptional—better than even many veteran authors.]
[With this, 'Sugar' had officially made her debut as an author. You even posted a congratulatory message on your Twitter, which immediately sparked curiosity about the identity of this newly debuted writer.]
[After all, in the two years since your debut, you had never interacted with any other authors. Your Twitter was strictly used to announce book releases.]
[This sudden deviation made people naturally speculate about your relationship with 'Sugar.']
[But neither you nor Satou paid any mind to the rumors.]
[Beyond The Emotionally Deficient A-ko, she was already preparing her next novel.]
[She had finally begun to grasp the rhythm of writing.]
[At the same time, your own hands were overflowing with inspiration…]
[The following month, your novel She Who Hides in the Azure Mountains was met with widespread acclaim.]
[And the next season, her newest work A Certain Person's Melancholic Blank Life surpassed the sales of The Emotionally Deficient A-ko, propelling her total book sales even higher.]
[It felt almost like a silent rivalry—like something between lovers.]
[Every time 'Minami' released a new book, 'Sugar' was sure to follow.]
[Your book sales were consistently strong, and while her numbers still couldn't match yours, each of her novels sold better than the last.]
[For her, that was more than enough.]
[Neither of you ever interacted with other authors—only with each other, exchanging congratulatory messages.]
[It was a secret code between you, one only the two of you could understand.]
[And even though it was just a simple gesture, it made her indescribably happy. Some nights, she would stay up late, scrolling through posts speculating about your relationship.]
[Through these interactions, readers gradually started piecing things together.]
[At the same time, magazines and newspapers began reaching out, eager to interview you both about your connection.]
[In response, you and Satou simply smiled—then openly announced your relationship, along with your future marriage plans.]
[That year, you had just graduated from university. She had just entered her third year.]
