manga artist Kirito

Page 21

Kasumigaoka Utaha found a seat by the window and called over a waiter. Although it was a coffee shop, it didn't just sell coffee. They also sold desserts like cookies, pastries, and biscuits, as well as light meals and pizzas. After ordering a pizza and a coffee, Kasumigaoka Utaha rested her chin on her hand and stared blankly at the pedestrians outside the window.

So what exactly happened? Was I out of my mind yesterday? I had a nervous breakdown and actually made an appointment for this morning. Not only did I skip class because of this, but I also came here early and am now waiting like an idiot...

Her wine-red eyes narrowed slightly, revealing an unusually languid posture. She looked at the monotonous street outside, her gaze lingering on the energetic boys and girls in their school uniforms. Ordinary daily life... Hmm, Sayuka's life seemed just as ordinary.

However, it seems that its initial sales were poor, perhaps due to its rather mundane nature. Later, it appears that a well-known blogger's promotion and speculation about the content of the second volume sparked interest and skepticism among readers, allowing the novel, which was almost cancelled in its early stages, to continue preparations for a sequel. However, the third volume seems to have significant problems as well…

Fujiwara Echizen, the most famous scriptwriter in the super popular circle rouge en rouge, can easily produce scripts of various styles; it wouldn't be an exaggeration to call him the ultimate scriptwriter. However, Sayuka's story, which has only just begun, seems very big to him.

To be honest, Kasumigaoka Utaha also found the second volume incredibly tedious; she didn't even know what her mindset was when she wrote it. She was genuinely a little tired of it, and thinking that canceling it prematurely wouldn't be so bad… just kidding. Although she lacked the initial enthusiasm, Sayuka's story—had only just begun!

Well, listening to the advice of seniors might bring unexpected benefits.

Speaking of which, Machida is really amazing. He knows so much about Fujiwara Echizen. If you don't look carefully, you won't find out that besides being an erotic artist, Fujiwara Echizen is also a veteran of rouge en rouge.

Soon, the waiter brought over the pizza and coffee. Kasumigaoka Utaha looked up at the time and raised her eyebrows slightly. That guy was completely late.

After taking a small sip of her steaming coffee, Kasumigaoka Utaha picked up her pizza and started eating. "Does this guy lack any gentlemanly manners, or is he trying to use his seniority to give me a hard time?"

"You're overthinking it... Ugh." A calm yet slightly weary voice came from a boy wearing an old-fashioned red sweatshirt and black trousers. He pushed up his slightly droopy black-rimmed glasses and plopped down in the seat opposite Kasumigaoka Utaha without any ceremony, then yawned casually.

"you are late."

"You'd better think about the timing before you make an appointment next time." Kirito gestured to the waiter, holding two light novels and a stack of manuscripts in his hands, and then looked at Kasumigaoka Utaha and said, "It's so early in the morning, I'm already pretty good to be able to get up. You know, I didn't close my eyes until six o'clock."

"But you're still late."

"...Alright, because there are so many beautiful women on the street, and the streets are full of gleaming white legs..." Kirito said, raising the corners of his mouth slightly. "Let me borrow a quote from a certain celebrity—the moment you see short sleeves, you immediately think of white arms, then of nudity, then of genitals, then of sex, then of hybridization, then of illegitimate children. Human imagination can only leap so high in this respect."

That said, this celebrity doesn't seem to have a very normal way of thinking, otherwise how could he possibly make such a series of connections from a cricket's white arm...

"And I, I've lost my way on this path of life!"

"..." Kasumigaoka Utaha's expression froze for a moment before she opened her mouth, then propped her cheek up with her hand and stared at Kirito with interest. "So, this is why you're late? I must say, as expected of Fujiwara-sensei, every scene in life could probably be used as a script by Fujiwara-sensei, right?"

"Well, art imitates life." Kirito seemed oblivious to the awkwardness in the other person's words, continuing his boastful talk, "Let me tell you, about that black outfit you're wearing..."

Please continue to recommend and vote with monthly tickets! There will be an extra chapter this afternoon! (??????)??

055

[NO.54 I didn't interrupt]

"Let me tell you..." Kirito tilted his head to look under the table, and under Kasumigaoka Utaha's look of disbelief, he continued, "Judging from your current posture and those black stockings, I can easily conjure up a doujinshi plot."

"...However, black stockings are a heretical path!"

"Huh?" Kasumigaoka Utaha looked at her with disdain, as if she were an idiot. "Are you even a man? Black stockings are definitely the best! For women with leg defects, not only can they perfectly hide the defects, but they also create a visual illusion, making the legs of women wearing black stockings appear very slender no matter how you look at it. You pervert!"

"Are you out of your mind?" Kirito would naturally refute being called a pervert, after all, he could consider himself a gentleman, but definitely not a pervert, because perverts and gentlemen cannot be confused at all.

"Let's not even talk about how this deceptive tactic of identifying flaws can affect a man's aesthetic sensibilities. Black stockings may be alluring, but just one glance is enough to conjure up images of buttocks and breasts—how vulgar is that! Look at white stockings, how beautiful they are, pure white, especially on a little girl..."

"Lolicon?"

"What lolicon! I just like the purity of white stockings on cute girls' legs! Yes, white stockings accentuate their purity even more!"

"In the end, you're still a lolicon, aren't you! I think I should call the police." Kasumigaoka Utaha looked at Kirito with disdain. "You were just looking like you were drained of energy and had a nervous breakdown, but when it comes to lolis, you're like a male gorilla in a zoo that's been starving for years, completely excited... Um, if you can, could you please not look at me? I can totally feel how lewd your eyes are."

"You don't know anything! I've already said that life originates from... I mean, art originates from life. Every moment we see and hear can be born as stories under our pens!" Kirito said these words in a calm and measured tone, pushing up his glasses like an old scholar.

"You need to understand, the problem isn't the black stockings, it's people's filthy thoughts!" The calm voice held a strange pride, along with a touch of adolescent arrogance. "Everyone has different opinions... Anyway, damn black stockings!"

Just think of Asuna's white stockings!

Black stockings? Ha...

"As an erotic artist, do you think you have the right to say that others have dirty minds?" Kasumigaoka Utaha, who has a particular fondness for black stockings, squinted at Kirito. Her usual languid demeanor had vanished completely, and her domineering words had utterly robbed her of her literary girl style.

"What I draw is art, and works are meant to be appreciated!" Kirito tilted his head, looking at those guys nearby who were babbling and pointing at the place... If you're so capable, come over here and say it! Do you dare to come up to me and say what you're thinking in front of me?

Pointing fingers, pointing fingers, do you think I didn't hear you talking about erotic novels?

Even the Chaoyang residents can be arrogant sometimes, why don't you all learn from them?

"If it really is an artwork, then why is it sold amidst a sea of ​​doujinshi? And why do you always include a line like 'Prepare tissues' when you release a new work? It's really just for..."

"Please don't tell dirty jokes in public, thank you." With a slightly serious expression, Kirito looked at Kasumigaoka Utaha as if she were an educator watching a student go astray, almost shaking his head and sighing.

"..." Her words were cut off before she could finish. Kasumigaoka Utaha took a deep breath, then narrowed her wine-red eyes, "But actually, isn't it still..."

"Didn't you see the strange looks you were getting from the other guests and waiters sitting next to you? How can a girl act like this in public... I mean, even if no one's around, it's still not okay." Kirito slightly curled the corners of his mouth as he looked at Kasumigaoka Utaha's 'Ugh, so annoying' expression.

Like when I was teaching Suguha and those kids in the dojo, to deal with someone with a sharp tongue, you have to be even more sharp-tongued than them, or use your own strengths to attack their weaknesses... etc. Why is this so vulgar?

In short, dealing with a sharp-tongued person is actually very simple. You just need to shut them up with your words. Besides, a sharp tongue can be considered a special kind of adolescent angst. Anyone with a little eloquence can cure them.

"Actually, you have no right to judge me. If you haven't seen it, how do you know my doujinshi booth is in the center of CM convention, and how do you know I add that line every time I release a new work?" Kirito seemed to remember something, rubbing his chin. "Hmm, next time, I should add that I need to bring extra batteries?"

"Didn't you just say..."

"Since it's already been said, why bother caring?" Kirito shrugged. "Besides, Lao Tzu once said, 'Food and sex are human nature!' They had already foreseen how modern people's thinking would change and prepared their arguments for us."

"..." Kasumigaoka Utaha stared blankly at the boy in front of her who looked quite literary but whose mouth was full of things related to that kind of thing. She really didn't know how many times this guy was going to contradict what he had said before.

"Speaking of which, the famous quotes left by these celebrities are really..." Kirito scratched his head in frustration, "While it's true that they don't need to memorize them, there are just too many of them, and many of them can even be used to slap themselves in the face..."

"So, can you please stop telling dirty jokes?"

"I never said that! You've been the one saying it all along, you can't just slander me like that!" Kirito tapped the table with his finger. "I clearly remember saying some famous quotes before..."

"Well then, let's hear your opinions on my work." Utaha Kasumigaoka interrupted Kirito, feeling that if Kirito continued, he might go on until noon, and besides, those so-called famous quotes... weren't they all just dirty jokes that could be associated with that kind of thing?

"Don't you know how annoying it is to interrupt someone before they've finished speaking?" Kirito took off his glasses, wiped the lenses, and looked at Kasumigaoka Utaha with dead fish eyes.

"You know it's really uncomfortable to be interrupted before you've finished speaking, right? How many times did you interrupt me just now?" Kasumigaoka Utaha replied with narrowed eyes, completely unaware of just how... Sakura-chan's words were coming out of her mouth!

With a startled expression, Kirito shifted his body slightly backward.

"...Don't talk nonsense, I didn't interrupt you!"

An extra chapter brimming with sincerity! Please recommend! Please vote with monthly tickets!

056

[NO.55 Her story has only just begun!]

Kasumigaoka Utaha and Yukino Yukinoshita ...

Let's talk about some superficial aspects. For example, Yukinoshita can see her toes just by looking down... and Kasumigaoka Utaha also has her imperfections.

Kasumigaoka Utaha, she only looks like a quiet and beautiful girl.

Ugh! My temper is flaring up!

With her eyes slightly narrowed and fixed on Kirito, Kasumigaoka Utaha's hands were pressed on the table, her fair fingers turning slightly white from the excessive force. Kirito then noticed that Kasumigaoka Utaha's body trembled slightly. Before she could even put on her cleaned glasses, Kirito immediately pulled his feet back and pressed down.

As expected, Kirito firmly pinned down a thigh covered in black stockings, and Kasumigaoka Utaha's expression changed slightly, seemingly not expecting Kirito to be able to discover her actions.

In reality, Kirito's reaction was purely instinctive, especially considering Kasumigaoka Utaha's fingers, which were white from the force of her grip on the edge of the table. While it's possible to flip a table with a backhand, the prerequisite is having the strength.

If it were Hiratsuka Shizuka, she might actually be able to do it, but Kasumigaoka Utaha isn't Hiratsuka Shizuka and doesn't have that kind of strength. Besides... the table is fixed to the floor.

In addition, Kirito had also learned that Kasumigaoka Utaha had a habit of stomping her feet when she became irritable, which is why Kirito was able to block Kasumigaoka Utaha's kick so precisely.

However, a person has at least two legs, and Kirito only pinned down one of the other's legs.

Kirito's brow twitched violently, and his expression changed almost imperceptibly. Looking at Kasumigaoka Utaha's smiling lips, Kirito calmly released his feet from Kasumigaoka Utaha's leg, then smiled and pushed up his glasses.

"Well, enough joking around, isn't it time to get down to business?"

Oh my god! Is Kasumigaoka Utaha cursed? She actually kicked at the shinbone!

"We can begin now, Fujiwara-sensei," Kasumigaoka Utaha said obediently with a mischievous, triumphant smile. However, when it came to serious matters, Kasumigaoka Utaha became a little worried. Kirito was undoubtedly a senior in the industry, and in this country that values ​​seniority so much, if Kirito really used his seniority to criticize her... well, she didn't know what to do.

"So, tell me, what do you want from me?"

"Huh? It wasn't you..."

"Alright, you don't need to say anything more." Kirito interrupted Kasumigaoka Utaha, rubbing his forehead with a hint of hesitation. This child... seems to think that when he asked her to go back and read "Love Metronome" carefully last time, she thought he was going to criticize her?

Well, if that's really your opinion, then let me say a few words.

How much did you watch?

"finish watching."

"how do you feel?"

"...It's alright...maybe?" Kasumigaoka Utaha's words lacked any confidence, and she seemed somewhat flustered.

"Even the author doesn't have the confidence to think this is a good work?" Kirito pursed his lips, raised his eyelids, and looked at the slightly nervous girl. "So, what do you think of this work? Is it simply a way to make money? A work done out of interest? A spur-of-the-moment decision?"

"Well, I can be considered your senior in the industry, and I have a bit more experience than you. There aren't many common mistakes that newcomers make in your work, but... well, for example, the protagonist should have bumped into a girl at the corner when he went out, but in your case, he bumped into a car instead. After a long part of the plot, the protagonist didn't get any benefit... If you want to talk about torturing the protagonist, that's fine, but this is completely irrelevant."

"If you're in one of those mindsets, then there's nothing more to discuss. I'll finish the illustrations within two days, and then I'll send them to you. After all, you know your own situation better than I do. In the second volume, you can't see any passion the author poured into the work at all. The third volume is slightly better, but if you look closely, it still feels a bit perfunctory..."

Finally, Kirito looked at Kasumigaoka Utaha, whose face was growing increasingly pale, and laughed.

"Sayuka, she's practically a lifeless thing!"

Sayuka is the female protagonist of "Love Metronome," and the story of "Love Metronome" unfolds because of her, but now in Kirito's words, she has become an inanimate object...

“You…” Biting her lip, Kasumigaoka Utaha’s expression turned serious. She seemed oblivious to the pain coming from the corner of her mouth. She was in a terrible mood. The joy she had felt from her successful sneak attack had completely vanished.

As if someone had hit her sore spot, she lowered her head in disbelief, looking at Kirito who had said those words. The expression on his pretty face was as disgusting as if her long legs in black stockings had been bitten by a disgusting guy.

"I'm just stating the facts." Seeing the girl's reaction, Kirito took a small sip of the coffee next to him, then pursed his lips, "It's a bit cold."

"So, what did you see while you were reading this story?"

Although the issue of Kasumigaoka Utaha was originally due to Machida's editor, it is undeniable that Kasumigaoka Utaha is indeed a promising talent. Despite the fact that her new work was almost canceled, it still managed to sell over 30 copies. Akane Akasaka should be able to take notice of her, right?

Moreover, although Kasumigaoka Utaha's second volume was poorly written, her readers still had high expectations for it, which is also a kind of charm. Perhaps Kasumigaoka Utaha herself did not realize that she had planted a hidden plot in the text that made people look forward to it.

If she can find it and develop the storyline... maybe sales will double?

Well, while many readers don't really use their brains when reading, and it's normal for them not to notice foreshadowing or anything like that, you still need to use your brain a little when it comes to romantic light novels that are full of sweet moments.

Now, let's return to Kasumigaoka Utaha's perspective.

In a large sense, her works align with what Kirito had previously said: they are created out of interest and on a whim, and she doesn't really care much about making money from them.

But Sayuka... no, Sayuka and her story are only just beginning!

Looking at the boy in front of her, whose attention was not actually on her, Kasumigaoka Utaha was certain of this.

057

[NO.56 This is the title]

Kiritani Kazuto

Under 16 years old, Group C, Year 1

She has a very pretty appearance, no less so than those cute girls. She is an otaku, a well-known ecchi artist, a veteran of a super popular circle, and a top-notch scriptwriter. Her current goal is to become a manga artist, and she is working hard to enter the manga industry. She occasionally takes on illustration commissions to earn some extra money.

He has a girlfriend, and they've supposedly been together for a few years. She doesn't stand out too much at school, at least not as much as that lazy nerd with the same voice he had at the opening ceremony. Her personality isn't quite clear yet, but she's very decisive in her actions. Once she decides to do something, she works very hard to see it through. She's full of dirty jokes and can be quite sarcastic at times...

His grades seem average, but there's actually a big problem. It's said that he always barely passes... He's a very strange person.

Looking at the boy who, not long ago, was giving a long, rambling lecture, picking out the flaws and shortcomings in his own work... who also held the roles of both senior and junior, Kasumigaoka Utaha rested her chin on one hand and listened attentively.

However, judging from his lazy appearance, he doesn't look like he's paying attention at all.

Kirito was holding two books, both of which were the second volume of "Love Metronome". One of them was the one Kirito had read before, and it was covered with colorful sticky notes. Compared to this book, the other one he was holding had fewer sticky notes.

At the same time, among the shortcomings pointed out by readers and creators of the same book, Kirito, as a reader, found more than Kasumigaoka Utaha, as a creator. Targeting the corresponding problems, Kirito began to analyze and offered some opinions from time to time.

Of course, there are some intricacies that Kirito doesn't fully understand, but he has seen and knows more, and this experience allows him to stay ahead of others.

Kasumigaoka Utaha's writing relies entirely on talent; she feels that something should be written this way, so she writes it that way... There is logic involved, but sometimes, some things don't have logic.

Imagine you go to a convenience store to buy a bento box, but you encounter a group of guys who are like thugs fighting for their lives. You, who just wanted to buy a bento box, get caught in the crossfire and end up in the hospital... There's really no logic to this, right?

There's an even simpler way to put it—love at first sight!

What the hell kind of logic is this?!

Is everything alright as long as there is love?

This is a shortcoming of Kasumigaoka Utaha's works. Because she writes entirely on instinct, she can't find the problem itself when it arises... This can probably be described as writer's block.

Of course, you could also say it's due to a lack of communication.

As mentioned before, brainstorming and intellectual exchanges among creators can take things a step further. Everyone has their own circle, and Kasumigaoka Utaha is now stepping into that circle.

"Sometimes, when you can't imagine what a character is thinking at a certain moment, you can give up on describing their inner thoughts and instead focus on their facial expressions and behavior..."