The morning after I left Hasumi Kanoko's apartment.
Kato Yusuke first went home and made some preparations, and then went out on his mountain bike.
He used the time on the road to sort out his current situation in his mind.
First is the Immortal River side.
Including the newly released issue yesterday.
"Chainsaw Man" has been serialized for five issues so far, and the content ends at episode 13.
And in terms of comic manuscripts.
After settling the matter of visiting and expressing condolences, he also sent the new manuscripts of Chapters 19 to 23 to the Immortal River Comics Department.
The manuscript fee this time is 1,152,000 yen.
Including the previous manuscript fee (excluding the repaid debt), the total purchase price is approximately 4.59 million.
The second is recent expenses.
In addition to the 450,000 yuan spent on mountain bikes and 500,000 yuan spent on specialty products.
Including water, electricity and property fees, transportation fees, communication fees, food expenses, etc., the cost is about 150,000 yen.
After deducting these accordingly, excluding the tax part, and adding discounts and exemptions, the amount on hand is 2,917,500 yen.
Finally, there is 75 million from the copyright transaction income, and 19.1 million in arrears returned to the Sawamura family.
After everything is settled.
The total amount in his account now is:
——58817500 yen.
The above is his current financial situation.
…
--squeak.
Under the rising sun, the mountain bike stopped.
The time now is 7:05 in the morning.
Kato Yusuke looked at the building in front of him.
The curtains on the second floor have been opened, and the ceiling in the corner of the room can be faintly seen through the glass.
Then he looked back.
He didn't even get off the mountain bike, he just put one foot on the ground, pedaled with one foot, and waited quietly.
Chichi, chirp~
Under the gradually brightening sky, sparrows pecked at something leisurely on the ground, and then flew back into the sky again.
While listening to the leisurely chirping of birds, I straightened the collar of my new shirt and unbuttoned the first two buttons of the stand-collar jacket and shirt.
Then he took out a bottle of oolong tea from the plastic bag placed in the basket and took two sips to soothe his throat.
About ten minutes later.
——Kadah.
"...Then, I'm going out, hoo~"
Bang.
With a slightly tired face, the neatly dressed target appeared in Kato Yusuke's field of vision.
The girl has short black hair that reaches her chin. Every time she takes a step, her hair sways.
A cherry-pink hairpin was pinned to her head, shining slightly under the sunlight.
The person involved has an elegant appearance, a slender and graceful figure, and a wonderful atmosphere of leisure and indifference exudes around him.
She wore a dark blue single-breasted uniform jacket, a white shirt with a collar neatly attached to the jacket, and a red ribbon tie on her chest.
A pair of fair and beautiful thighs extend from under the short skirt, and black calf socks further modify the curves of the legs. The graceful lines make people look very comfortable.
The other party was wearing a pair of dark brown loafers and was walking towards the door of the house with his footsteps clicking.
Kato Yusuke unconsciously relaxed his lips and moved the mountain bike forward a little, just in time to block the girl's path.
"Good morning, Hui." He said, "Would you like to go to school together?"
…
"……Huh?"
Obviously confused about the situation, Hui's steps paused.
"...Yu...suke...?"
A pair of clear and moving eyes swayed, filled with surprise and confusion, and they looked over blankly.
"Morning, Megumi."
Kato Yusuke greeted again and asked with a smile: "Although it is a bit inappropriate, it is rare to see your expression like this. Can I take a photo?"
"...Hmm~?"
As if her instinctive reaction was triggered, the girl blinked twice.
The right hand that was raised slightly seemed to be subconsciously trying to fix the hair, but then it woke up and put it down again.
Such actions are really endearing.
The smile on Kato Yusuke's face became even bigger and he said, "Anyway, can we go to school together today? I have something to tell you."
Three seconds passed.
"...Basically, you should contact us in advance for this kind of thing, right? - But..."
Hui turned her face slightly as she spoke, alternating her eyes between the back seat of the mountain bike and him, and asked, "Do you want to take me away? Yusuke."
Rustling, the street trees blowing in the breeze make a deep sound.
Kato Yusuke stretched out a hand forward and nodded in response: "Give me your backpack."
The gentle skirt swayed.
"...Oh~~Then I'll leave it to you."
Accompanied by the misty fragrance, the shoulder bag was handed into his hands.
The girl's steps were light and she sat down on the back seat naturally, and then seemed to think of something——
"Ah, and good morning, Yusuke."
She continued: "Also, if this happens again next time, can you explain it to me in advance? Otherwise, it will be difficult for me to determine various aspects of things."
"knew."
Kato Yusuke smiled and nodded, and handed over a bottle of coffee au lait.
"Anyway, if you're ready, let's go."
"Okay~ That's enough."
A pair of hands gently grasped his waist.
…
——Zhizhizhi.
As the mountain bike swayed, the two quickly left Kato's house and embarked on the journey to school.
"So Yusuke." Hui asked, "What do you want to say?"
"Before that, didn't you ask me about my coming to your house?"
"Hmm~~? Now that I've said everything I need to say and got on the bicycle, I think there's nothing more to ask... Or should I ask here?"
"That's not true."
Kato Yusuke shook his head in denial and said while riding his bike: "I want to report and discuss some things with you."
"Well, regardless of what you want to discuss, what does it mean to report that statement?"
"Any questions?"
"Because, this sounds very formulaic, and doesn't it make it seem like I am Yusuke's superior? It's completely the opposite."
"Aren't supervisors and those under supervision also part of our relationship?"
"Ah, speaking of which, there is something like that..."
Hui seemed to have just remembered and said, "Sorry, I thought that matter was over."
"it's over?"
…
"Isn't that right~?"
“Why didn’t I know about this??”
"Eh~~~? Even if you say so...but hasn't the matter been resolved?"
Kato Yusuke said confused: "I'm sorry, can you explain it more specifically?"
"after all--"
An emotionless voice sounded from behind.
"Yusuke, weren't you very considerate in sending Kasumigaoka-senpai home yesterday? In front of everyone, you used this bicycle."
"Well……?"
"So, Kasumigaoka-senpai's problem has been solved, right? Isn't it~?"
"Well……?"
"Ah, and the bottle of oolong tea I gave you at that time yesterday~"
"No, um, I don't think I drank..."
"Speaking of which, Kasumigaoka-senpai kissed you in front of everyone. It was so amazing. I admire her from the bottom of my heart."
"——!"
Kato Yusuke was unconsciously speechless and didn't know how to react.
"So~" Megumi asked in a casual tone: "Yusuke, are you dating Kasumigaoka-senpai?"
The two of them had discussed this issue before, but the meaning was obviously different between now and then.
"benefit……"
"I'm here~I'm listening too."
"...You won't attack me afterwards, will you?"
"I don't know. Did you do something to Kasumigaoka-senpai that I should attack you for?"
"I don't think so."
"--oh?"
The cold voice made Kato Yusuke's back feel cold and he swallowed a mouthful of saliva unconsciously.
Although I have done nothing wrong, is this something that I can discuss with Kei, who is not quite right now?
He was a little unsure, but he didn't want to lie to her.
While he was thinking, a calm voice came from behind.
"——Don't you want to report? Aren't you going to tell me?"
"Listen to me, Hui, I didn't take this opportunity to do anything unforgivable to Senior Shiyu."
"Hmm~~ As soon as I wasn't around to take care of you, you took the opportunity to date the senior sister. Is this the relationship between us that would make me unforgivable if you do this?"
"Isn't this statement too malicious?"
"I don't know either~~~"
Hui said calmly: "After all, Yusuke never told me what happened after he was taken away by Kasumigaoka-senpai... Speaking of which, you also followed me obediently."
The corners of Kato Yusuke's eyes twitched, and then he whispered:
"I'm really sorry. My thoughts were on other things at the time. But judging from the facts, I did break the agreement with you and attacked other girls."
"It's strange. Although a large part of me is just joking, as for what happened between you and Kasumigaoka-senpai, I actually don't care too much...but-"
Megumi continued in a normal tone:
"Yusuke, you are not my boyfriend, and you didn't hide your relationship with Kasumigaoka-senpai. In this case, do you need to feel guilty?"
"benefit……"
"So, you'd better think more about the meaning of apologizing to me in this situation?"
There was a hint of irritability in his calm words.
…
It's like admonishing and convincing myself.
Before Yusuke Kato can think about it deeply...
"Besides—"
Hui murmured: "Yusuke, you didn't break your agreement with me. We all decided to go to the dinner together, so you shouldn't focus on me alone..."
"...Sorry, I will apologize to everyone after school."
"Yeah~ That's good. Also, I'm sorry, I shouldn't have used that annoying term."
"No, I should apologize."
"Hey, Yusuke."
"What?"
——Why do you always have to obey me like this?
Hui paused for a moment, and then said: "On the day of the off-campus teaching... No, let's forget it after all. Is there anything you want to say?"
The street scenes on both sides continued to recede, and bicycles were riding on the streets where people were scattered.
Kato Yusuke was silent for a moment, "Anyway, I still want to discuss something with you."
"That's it, then you can say it?"
"About that game studio thing, I want you to join."
"Didn't you mention this matter in the student union yesterday?"
"That's true, but your reaction at the time seemed a bit cold. I want to know if you have any concerns."
"...Well~~If you really want to say it, what do you want me to do, Yusuke?"
Hui said with some trouble:
"You know, I can't draw pictures like Eri, nor can I be in charge of scripts like Kasumigaoka-senpai.
I don't even understand the sounds and programs at all.
It would be fine if it was just a club activity where everyone has fun together, but the game Yusuke is going to make is real, right?
Is it really okay to let a person like me who knows nothing join in?"
"I see, is this Hui's concern?"
"Well, basically, that's pretty much it."
"..."
Kato Yusuke's face was tense, and he suppressed the nervous and cautious emotions in his heart, and said slowly:
"What would you do if... I just want you to be by my side?"
The blank time suddenly spread.
Wild cats nimbly jumped out from the roadside fence, crows neighed in the distance, and bicycle tires squeaked.
For a moment, the hands on the waist seemed to shake slightly...
a long time--
"...Although there is something about this sentence that worries me, I will be wise enough not to ask this question here."
Hui breathed softly and said, her tone slightly fluctuating, as if she was trying to stay calm.
Then, she continued.
"...Well, if you just want me to attend the event, Yusuke, I will be there. There is no other place to go anyway.
However, people like me who don’t know anything don’t necessarily have to join the workforce.
As long as I'm here to take care of you...and everyone else, that's all, right?"
"——That won't work."
Kato Yusuke whispered firmly: "I want Emitsu to join and participate.
Not as a bystander, nor putting yourself in a secondary position to take care of me or everyone else.
…
Instead, we go forward together as partners and shareholders."
The hand on his waist pinched him gently.
"...I'm telling you, Yusuke."
Hui was a little dumbfounded and troubled and said: "...the request you made is too strong and difficult to accept. I have just said it..."
"——Production in progress."
Kato Yusuke forcibly interrupted her, "Have you heard of this? I want you to do this."
"Production...going on...?"
"Well, it's also called a production manager. It's one of the jobs in the animation industry. Many famous directors started in this position."
"Ah, I don't quite understand it, but it sounds complicated..."
"not at all.
Because we are making a game, I will explain it based on our situation here.
Generally speaking, the production manager is mainly responsible for checking the progress of specific work such as art, scripts, sounds, programs, etc.
Coordinate, assign and manage the personnel of each group through the production project and overall plan formulated in advance.
Ensuring that a project can be completed within the specified time is what the production process is about.”
Kato Yusuke stopped here and then continued in a more relaxed tone:
"Because this is a very important job, I want to hand it over to Megumi, who I trust most. Are you willing to accept it?"
——Clang.
It was as if the sound of breaking glass sounded in my head.
Vaguely, Hui seemed to finally see the piece that could lead to something special, something that belonged only to her——