I, Aki Tomoya, will not be a simp.

Page 105

Two years ago, after Aki Tomoya established this fan site, Kasumigaoka Utaha had read every single one of his posts and had long since memorized his style.

Moreover, putting everything else aside, the tone alone gives off a strong sense of déjà vu, almost exactly like the editor in charge of her, Machida Sonoko.

So Kasumigaoka Utaha didn't hesitate to call Machida Sonoko's office.

On the other side of Shinazugawa, in Machida Sonoko's office as deputy editor-in-chief, she was stunned for several seconds after hearing Kasumigaoka Utaha's roar.

Eriri quickly covered her mouth, afraid that she would make a sound that Utaha Kasumigaoka could hear.

Let's just pretend she was never here!

Machida Sonoko took a deep breath and then asked seriously, "Kasumi Utako-sensei, now that you've read it carefully, are you still going to ignore it? Are we enemies?"

"……I see."

Just as Machida Sonoko was preparing for a tough battle, Kasumigaoka Utaha's reply on the other end of the phone was unexpected.

Hearing this answer, Machida Sonoko was somewhat taken aback. Just as she was about to breathe a sigh of relief and then have a good talk with Kasumigaoka Utaha about how to revise the manuscript for the next volume of the new work, the other person's voice rang out again.

"Before you make any suggestions, tell me who gave you the account."

Kasumigaoka Utaha's calm voice drifted into Machida Sonoko's ears through the microphone, yet it sent a chill down the spine of the latter.

Machida Sonoko was conflicted; she could compromise on the new project, but she also needed to know what was going on with TAKI's account.

Machida Sonoko's gaze slowly shifted to Eriri, and under the other's questioning gaze, she pretended to ponder and asked, "Who gave you the account?"

Upon hearing this, Eriri excitedly began to gesture.

This serves as a reminder to Machida Sonoko that she must never sell her!

"...Since it's TAKI-kun's account, no one else could get their hands on it without his permission. I absolutely did not do anything illegal!"

"So, you mean that last year, you and that guy almost had a falling out over publicity and interviews, but after the start of this year, your relationship has become so harmonious? That's ridiculous, it doesn't make sense! I can understand Eriri, but you and him, I'm sorry, I can't understand it!"

Machida Sonoko didn't know why Kasumigaoka Utaha brought up last year's events, but that was the truth.

What happened last year, I had a good talk with Aki Tomoya this year because of the New Year's Day gathering. I found that he is a very nice person and can understand my difficulties. Let bygones be bygones.

"Um, was the incident last year really that big of a deal? Both Aki-kun and I felt that the incident..."

"What do you think was the trigger for my breakup?"

The answer is that after Machida Sonoko relentlessly pursued Aki Tomoya last year, Aki Tomoya found her the very next day.

"Wait, wait a minute, wait a minute!!!"

what is this?

Machida Sonoko didn't know, okay? After that incident last year, although Kasumigaoka Utaha gave her a lot of attitude, she never thought about it in that way.

"Excuse me, you didn't hear anything, and I didn't say anything either. Now please tell me, did Ms. Machida ask for that account, or did Eriri get it?"

Kasumigaoka Utaha's voice was incredibly calm, full of the composure expected of an intellectual young woman; it would have been even better if it hadn't been accompanied by the grating sound of fingernails scratching on the table.

What if it were me?

"I'll come over now."

What a dangerous tone!

"So, Ms. Kashiwagi Eri?"

As Machida Sonoko spoke, Eriri's eyes widened with excitement.

"...Please thank her for me."

Compared to the previous dangerous tone, this sentence was very complex, even carrying a hint of guilt.

Machida Sonoko also realized her place in Kasumigaoka Utaha's heart through this.

"One last question, has he seen it?"

The voice on the other end of the phone had completely calmed down, leaving only Kasumigaoka Utaha's composed tone.

"Him, who?"

Machida Sonoko didn't realize at first who Kasumigaoka Utaha was talking about, so she asked instinctively.

“...TAKI”.

Kasumigaoka Utaha hesitated for a moment before saying "TAKI" instead of directly saying "Aki Tomoya".

"Yes, has TAKI seen it...?"

At the same time, Machida Sonoko looked at Eriri. How did she know that Aki Tomoya had given Eriri money from his account and whether she had seen their new work?

This question should be answered by Eriri.

Eriri shook her head, while Machida Sonoko could only answer truthfully, "I'm sorry."

"...I understand. I'll talk to Ms. Machida when I have time, and then I'll make sure Eriri doesn't do anything unnecessary. I also don't want to hear anything about Akane Kousaka anymore!"

After saying that, Kasumigaoka Utaha hung up the phone.

At this moment, Machida Sonoko breathed a sigh of relief and exclaimed, "TAKI really worked! But what exactly happened between Kasumi Utako-sensei and TAKI? Do you know, Kashiwagi Eri-sensei?"

"You're asking me? But who am I supposed to ask? And isn't TAKI a little too amazing?"

Eriri said she didn't know. Neither Aki Tomo nor Kasumigaoka Utaha had mentioned it. She didn't know either, and she didn't dare to ask.

Eriri was amazed by the incredible effectiveness of the enthusiastic fan TAKI this time.

"...Well, that used to happen often."

Machida Sonoko lay on the table, giving an awkward smile.

Two years ago, after Aki Tomoya met Kasumigaoka Utaha, Machida Sonoko also discovered them.

Rather than listening to the editor's advice, Kasumi Shiko actually cares more about the thoughts of her enthusiastic fan, TAKI.

Kasumi Utako, who cares more about TAKI's thoughts, is almost forgotten by Machida Sonoko.

After April and May of last year, she never heard the other party mention TAKI again, and even often received resentment from the other party's eyes.

Now Machida Sonoko understands a little.

"I don't want to think about those complicated things. I just hope that Kasumigaoka can understand what I'm saying. But after this, the TAKI account may not have any meaning anymore."

Eriri didn't quite understand what was going on between them.

"By the way, let's take this opportunity to ask the current site administrator if they'd be willing to give us some website privileges. Thanks to the two authors' new works that are so popular, our old work, 'Love Metronome,' has recently started to revive and has attracted a lot of new readers!"

Machida Sonoko used an account that Aki Tomoya still had administrator privileges to try to contact the current site administrator.

If this fan site is managed properly, it can gradually expand into more than just a fan site for "Love Metronome".

After all, a lot of fans have gathered here, and many people assume that this is their main base.

The question is whether the current site administrator is willing to support Shinazugawa's work.

"OK, send!"

After sending Shinazugawa's wishes over, Machida Sonoko rubbed her neck.

Just as she was about to cheer that her new work was a great success, the administrator of the fan site quickly replied to her message.

“I’m in charge of my own fan site, so I don’t need Ms. Machida’s help here. I’ll discuss the things you mentioned before with you properly after the exam.”

Machida Sonoko stared wide-eyed at the reply with surprise.

"Ms. Kasumiko? But..."

Machida Sonoko remembered that the current owner of the website domain she had investigated before was not Kasumigaoka Utaha, but another female fan. If it weren't for this opportunity, she would have planned to contact the current owner in a more formal way.

However, this reply left Machida Sonoko feeling uncertain and doubtful.

"What's going on with Kasumi Shiko-sensei taking over the fan site for 'Love Metronome' from TAKI-kun...?"

Machida Sonoko muttered to herself.

"Aki-kun, do you know the truth about this?"

Thinking of this, Machida Sonoko looked up at Eriri.

When Eriri noticed Machida Sonoko's strange expression, she couldn't help but ask, "What's wrong now?"

"It's nothing, it's just that the website situation is a bit complicated..."

Machida Sonoko shook her head and replied calmly, though something was on her mind.

Using the guise of being a fan of the work, Kasumigaoka Utaha took over the website and continued to run the fan site in place of Aki Tomoya. She didn't know whether to keep this to herself or explain the situation.

She looked at Eriri and pondered for a long time.

=

Chapter 128 A Discussion on Life? (1/4)

That was in May of last year. After hearing that Aki Tomoya, or rather TAKI, had begun to consider selling the fan site for "Love Metronome," Kasumigaoka Utaha approached him under the guise of other fans, expressing her willingness to take it over.

Since Aki Tomoya doesn't even want this fan site anymore, Kasumigaoka Utaha doesn't want it to fall into someone else's hands either.

Using someone else's account and name, Kasumigaoka Utaha and Aki Tomoya quickly agreed on a price.