"I don't think I introduced myself... how do you know my name?" Machida Sonoko asked, her curiosity getting the better of her.
Shiro Sakamaki gave her a look, equal parts amused and speechless, and simply pointed at the work badge dangling from her chest.
Sonoko blinked, then let out an awkward chuckle. "Right... that was a bit silly of me."
She quickly brushed it off, attributing the lapse to how deeply she'd been immersed in Kasumigaoka Utaha's manuscript—so focused she'd lost track of the details around her.
Utaha's writing had always stood out to Sonoko: elegant, flowing, and emotionally resonant. But in the publishing world, good writing wasn't always enough. A manuscript needed hooks, buzz, and most importantly—sales appeal.
That was where Utaha's latest work had fallen short.
In the original timeline, it was only with Tomoya Aki's promotional efforts that Utaha had gained traction and narrowly avoided being dropped. But with Shiro in the picture now, Tomoya Aki had... vanished from relevance, and with him, Utaha's marketing support.
"As a general rule, students aren't allowed to submit manuscripts directly ," Sonoko said, flipping through Shiro's thick stack of pages. "We have a designated submission box for that."
"But since you're here with Teacher Kasumi Utaha, I'll make an exception this time."
Shiro offered a calm smile. "I appreciate that, Editor Machida. Thank you—and thank you as well, Teacher Kasumi Utaha."
Sonoko nodded and began reading his manuscript.
The further she got, the deeper her brows furrowed—not in confusion, but in fascination.
Shiro's novel was built from standalone supernatural stories, each eerie and evocative. But what truly stood out was how seamlessly they connected. Hidden threads wove the stories together into a larger, mysterious tapestry. Characters appeared across narratives in subtle but meaningful ways, encouraging the reader to keep going—to uncover how everything fit.
It felt... authentic. As if the author had lived these supernatural events himself.
It was a hundred thousand words—not an overwhelming length, but enough to showcase vision and execution. By the time Sonoko put it down over an hour later, she let out a long breath and looked at Utaha with a mix of disbelief and excitement.
"Teacher Kasumigaoka... you brought me a real surprise today."
Utaha's eyes widened slightly. Coming from Sonoko, who rarely praised lightly, those words carried weight.
From Sonoko's expression alone, Shiro could tell his manuscript had struck gold.
"Mr. Sakamaki—no, I should say Teacher Sakamaki—do you have any specific requirements for the terms of cooperation?" she asked, now fully composed and professional.
Shiro thought for a moment. "I'm new to the publishing world, so I'll trust you to handle the details. Draft a contract, and I'll have someone review it."
He planned to pass it on to Yukinoshita Haruno, who was far more knowledgeable in business and legal matters.
Sonoko, clearly relieved, stood up suddenly. "Please believe in our sincerity, Teacher Sakamaki!"
Shiro blinked, slightly taken aback by her sudden fervor.
Realizing her outburst, Sonoko quickly sat back down and gave a polite bow. "My apologies. I've just been under a lot of pressure lately."
"I get it," Shiro said, shrugging it off. "And feel free to call me Teacher Sakamaki or simply Sakamaki—whichever works."
Sonoko nodded, silently scolding herself for slipping. But it couldn't be helped—Shiro's manuscript felt like a lifeline. With Utaha's works on shaky ground and few strong writers under her, Sonoko had been desperate for a breakout.
"We'll have a draft contract sent to you by tomorrow," she said. "But until then, please don't submit your manuscript to any other companies."
Though their company was one of the top publishers in the light novel industry, competition was fierce. If Shiro submitted elsewhere, other editors would snap him up in an instant.
Shiro gave a calm nod. "I don't like unnecessary complications, so don't worry."
Those words alone were enough to ease her tension.
"In that case, may I have your address?" Sonoko asked.
Shiro jotted it down without hesitation. He wasn't one to hide from editors or fear being hounded for deadlines.
As Sonoko looked at the address—an upscale apartment complex—she mentally confirmed what she'd suspected. His Shuchiin Academy uniform and composed demeanor already hinted at wealth. The address sealed it.
"Well then," Shiro said, rising from his seat, "I'll leave it in your hands, Editor Machida. I have some other things to attend to."
"I won't hold you up then."
He turned to Utaha. "Teacher Kasumi Utaha, heading out?"
Utaha hesitated briefly, then nodded. "Yes, let's go."
The two exited side by side. As the elevator doors slid open, they stopped short.
Inside was an editor who had stormed out earlier, now calmly leading a disheveled young man with a dead-eyed expression. His signature "editorial bat" hadn't seen any action after all.
The editor smiled awkwardly, nodding at them as the elevator closed.
Once inside, Utaha turned to Shiro, her voice more hesitant than usual.
"Teacher Sakamaki... I have a request."
He glanced at her. "Go ahead."
"Would you mind... letting me read your manuscript?"
"If it's inconvenient, forget I asked."
Her voice was unusually soft. Clearly, she was aware of how sensitive unpublished work could be. But she also wanted to learn—Machida's stunned reaction had made her curious, perhaps even a little envious.
Shiro gave a small chuckle and handed the manuscript to her without a second thought.
"Of course. It's a supernatural story, so I don't know how useful it'll be to you, but feel free."
Utaha's eyes lit up. "Thank you... In that case—here."
She reached into her bag and pulled out a copy of Metronome of Love.
"This is my novel. If you don't mind... could you give me some feedback? I'm on the verge of being cut, and I only have a few days left."
Shiro took the book and nodded. "Sure. Let's exchange Line contacts to make it easier."
Utaha hesitated for a beat, then gave a small, genuine smile. "I'd like that."
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