Room 3!
Upon entering, Hachiman noticed that the room was already occupied by a person—a beautiful girl seated within.
The girl had long, straight black hair and exuded an air of elegance and dignity. Her presence was quiet and composed.
Adorning her long black hair was a white headband. Her face was delicate, boasting alluring, graceful contours. She wore black stockings on her legs and small black leather shoes on her feet.
Upon observing this beauty with black stockings, Hachiman's eyes widened in surprise—wasn't this Utaha Kasumigaoka?
And wasn't I in the world of Oregairu? Why has Utaha Kasumigaoka appeared here? Could she also be a dimensional traveler like me?
As Hachiman entered and noticed Utaha, he saw her gaze linger on his youthful appearance, though her surprise was subtle. After all, geniuses were scattered everywhere, a truth she was well aware of.
Utaha offered a nod of greeting to Hachiman, who reciprocated the gesture. Following the exchange, silence ensued. Neither of them were particularly skilled at initiating conversation, and being strangers to each other further contributed to the quiet atmosphere.
Taking a seat, Hachiman's gaze passed through the glass in the living room, affording him a clear view of the opposite editorial department. The staff appeared engrossed in their tasks, indicating that they would likely have to wait for some time.
With this in mind, Hachiman retrieved his mobile phone and began to play games.
...
An hour passed as Hachiman immersed himself in his gaming, but his concentration was broken when the door to the office room was gently pushed open. Stepping inside was a woman with short dark blue hair and light blue eyes, elegantly dressed in an office lady outfit.
Her capable demeanor was reflected in the slight sway of her short hair as she walked. While her delicate features might not rival Kasumigaoka Utaha's, she exuded a mature charm that Utaha lacked. Overall, she was a beauty on par with Utaha.
The woman entered the room with a purposeful stride, capturing the attention of both Hachiman and Utaha.
"Ah, I apologize for the wait. It's been a busy day. I'm Machida Sonoko, the editor assigned to your project," she said with a hint of embarrassment, addressing both Hachiman and Utaha Kasumigaoka.
Her introduction broke the silence, and both Hachiman and Utaha nodded in acknowledgment.
"It's not a problem, I haven't waited for too long either. I'm Utaha Kasumigaoka," Utaha replied, shaking her head to show her understanding.
"I see. I'm Hikigaya Hachiman. Thank you for taking the time to review our novel amidst your busy schedule," Hachiman added, acknowledging her effort. He couldn't help but sneak a glance at the beautiful editor in front of him.
Tsk tsk, another woman in black stockings with a mature aura. It's undeniably tempting in some aspects, but Hachiman's focus lay elsewhere. Passing the novel review was his current priority.
"I also appreciate both of your understanding. Would you like something to drink?" Machida Sonoko asked with a smile.
"Coffee!"
"Coffee is good!"
The two replied almost in unison.
"Sure, no problem!" Sonoko Machida brought over three cups of coffee and then turned her attention to Hachiman and Utaha, saying, "Let's not waste any time. Who would like to start?"
"Ladies first, please go ahead, Ms. Kasumigaoka!" With a sense of gentlemanly politeness, Hachiman allowed Kasumigaoka to go first, given her status as a lady.
"Sure, Editor Machida, please take a look. This is my novel," Kasumigaoka nodded, took out the manuscript from her folder, and handed it to Machida Sonoko.
"'Koisuru Metronome,' a romance novel?" Upon receiving the manuscript, Machida Sonoko didn't waste time on small talk and delved straight into the work, browsing through it swiftly.
With her extensive experience as an editor, Machida Sonoko had honed the skill of rapid reading. In just half an hour, she managed to read through the thick manuscript.
After perusing the manuscript, Sonoko Machida closed her eyes and took a moment to reflect. After a brief pause, she opened her eyes and directed her gaze at Kasumigaoka Utaha.
Utaha, too, straightened her posture, sensing that the decisive moment for her novel's fate was approaching.
"Miss Kasumigaoka, may I ask have you never been in a relationship?" Machida Sonoko inquired after the brief silence.
"Yes," Kasumigaoka nodded, a bit puzzled by the unexpected question.
"How should I put it?" Sonoko Machida collected her thoughts, "While the prose is eloquent and the emotional dynamics are well-balanced, the plot still seems somewhat lacking in depth."
"Really?" Kasumigaoka's disappointment was evident upon hearing this; she seemed to believe that her novel had not made the cut.
"But this aspect can be improved. I have confidence in your abilities, Ms. Kasumigaoka." Just as Kasumigaoka Utaha was about to assume it was mere consolation, Machida Sonoko shifted the conversation, "Overall, your manuscript meets the criteria for publication."
"Really?" Kasumigaoka was a little taken aback by the sudden turn of events; she had been bracing for a rejection.
"Absolutely. If a twist is added to the ending of the first volume, I believe it will elicit a strong response." In a final note, Editor Machida offered Kasumigaoka a suggestion for enhancement.
As Utaha pondered over the advice, Sonoko Machida set aside the manuscript she had been reading, turned her attention to Hachiman, and said, "Now, let's move on to Mr. Hikigaya's work."
"Absolutely, this is my manuscript. Please go ahead and review it," Hachiman stated, handing over his work.
"'Sword Art Online'? A story set in another world?" At the sight of the title, Sonoko Machida immediately assumed it was an isekai novel and began her assessment without hesitation.
"Virtual reality... death game... strategic team..."
With each passing line, Machida Sonoko became increasingly engrossed in the narrative. This time, it was evident that the manuscript left a more profound impact on her compared to the previous one.
About an hour later, Machida Sonoko set down the manuscript, closed her eyes in contemplation, and then turned her gaze towards Hachiman.
"What's wrong? Editor Machida, is there a problem with my novel?" Sensing her scrutiny, Hachiman felt a twinge of uncertainty.
"No, it's not that there's a problem with the novel," Sonoko Machida shook her head in response. "On the contrary, your work is quite impressive and it meets the requirements for publication."
"Though there are some areas where the writing is still immature, as long as your story continues to develop, it has the potential to yield quite a good result."