Izumi Yu admired Sayuri's graceful figure, his gaze lingering on her round, firm curves as if he were appreciating art.
This did not escape Eriri's notice, and she exclaimed in surprise.
"Huh? What happened?" Hearing her daughter's voice, Sayuri, who was preparing tea, stopped what she was doing and turned to look at Izumi Yu and Eriri with a hint of confusion.
She glanced at Eriri with a subtle expression of dissatisfaction, as though blaming her for being so out of control in front of their guest.
[Looking at the girl who invited a wolf into the house, you can't help but sneer in your heart. The other party obviously only realized now that she had invited a hungry wolf, but it was too late. You decided to taste the girl in front of you first, just as an appetizer.]
I feel like letting you live in my mind is really inviting a wolf into the house, Izumi Yu thought to himself.
Ignoring the narrator's snide commentary, Izumi Yu composed himself. Sitting on the sofa with perfect dignity, he leaned forward slightly with his hands resting on the table.
There was no panic or uneasiness on his handsome face. He spoke seriously, "Sorry, I was looking at Mrs. Sayuri's kimono just now because I was thinking about something for my novel, and I couldn't help zoning out."
His calm demeanor and confident explanation, paired with his poised posture, gave him the air of a master artist immersed in his craft.
"Huh?! Yuu-kun's creative spirit is really admirable~!" Sayuri said, walking toward him with a tray of tea in her hands. Her smile was warm, and her cheeks flushed faintly as she set the cup of freshly brewed black tea in front of Izumi Yu.
Only now did Sayuri piece together the situation. That feeling of being watched earlier—it turned out Izumi Yu had been looking at her. And then Eriri had caught him in the act.
"Hehe, then what did Izumi-sensei come up with?" Eriri asked, her tone skeptical as she tilted her head and crossed her arms. Her smirk betrayed her disbelief.
Pretend all you want, she thought. Let's see how far you'll go with this excuse!
Eriri didn't believe a word of his explanation. To her, it was obvious that Izumi Yu had been staring at her mother. Too embarrassed to admit it, he had come up with a story about his novel instead.
"I was thinking," Izumi Yu began, his voice gentle but tinged with excitement, "that it would be an interesting idea to have princesses, saints, and knights in a fantasy world dressed in kimonos during their youth."
"Huh?! This is a light novel set in a fantasy world. Kimonos don't belong in that setting, no matter how you think about it!" Eriri exclaimed, her cheeks tinged red as she immediately refuted his claim.
Despite her objections, the concept sparked her imagination. A small part of her wondered if there might be merit in his idea.
Could he actually be serious?
Sayuri, on the other hand, fell into thoughtful silence, a hand resting lightly on her chin as she considered his words.
"This is something you've never seen before, Ms. Kashiwagi," Izumi Yu continued, his tone steady. "That's exactly the point. It's a clash of Eastern and Western civilizations. The stark contrast creates a unique visual impact that's bound to appeal to readers and audiences alike. Imagine it—a noble and elegant princess donning a kimono while serving the male protagonist in a grand palace…"
"Oh?!" Sayuri's eyes lit up as her interest was piqued.
Eriri, who had been unconvinced until now, began to hesitate. "Hmm… It does sound like an intriguing idea," she muttered, her voice softening as her skepticism gave way to curiosity.
Could I have misunderstood him after all? Eriri thought to herself, guilt creeping into her chest.
But Izumi Yu wasn't finished. "And that's not all," he said. "There are countless other possibilities. Yukata, JK uniforms, cheongsams, swimsuits… These elements of modern and Eastern culture could seamlessly merge with the fantasy world. The contrast and chemistry created by this cultural collision would be exactly what readers want to see. And when it comes to showcasing the charm of the female characters, these elements bring their appeal to an entirely new level."
Sayuri nodded thoughtfully, her cheeks faintly pink as she murmured, "Hmm~! It seems like a really new and fascinating idea…"
Eriri, too, was caught off guard by his passion and the depth of his explanation. She glanced at him, her initial anger replaced by a mix of admiration and embarrassment.
"Yuu-kun really is a genius," she said hesitantly. "You truly deserve the title of a master writer—someone capable of creating an epic like Brave Abin! I've gained so much inspiration just listening to you."
As Eriri spoke, a pang of guilt struck her. She realized how quick she had been to judge him. How foolish she felt now, having misunderstood his intentions so completely.
Izumi Yu, for his part, remained calm, hiding the earlier awkwardness of being caught staring. He sipped his tea with a composed demeanor, as if the situation had never been an issue to begin with.
"Yuu-kun's ideas are really very advanced~! This is a path no one has ever opened up before!" Sayuri looked at Izumi Yu with amazement and said, "If Yuu-kun writes a new work, please let me read it first!"
Sayuri couldn't help but marvel at the young man before her. She was stunned not only by his creativity but by his elegant and composed demeanor.
I didn't expect that Izumi Yuu could come up with so many creative ideas just by looking at the kimono I'm wearing. Geniuses really can capture inspiration from the simplest details in life, Sayuri thought to herself.
["A road that has never been opened up by anyone!" You quickly caught the hidden meaning in the young woman's words. Clearly, she's asking you to open up a new route for her. How can you refuse such kindness? Adventurous as you are, you're determined to oblige. But first, you'll need a bottle of lubricant, a dozen small umbrellas, and the supplies stored upstairs...]
What kind of "hint" is that?! It's a pity you aren't doing reading comprehension for exams! Izumi Yu inwardly rolled his eyes at the narrator's wild commentary.
Maybe help me with my Japanese language exams instead!
"Huh?! No! I want to see it first!" Eriri said anxiously, cutting into her mother's enthusiasm. "Izumi-sensei promised that I'd get to see it first!"
"What?! Eriri is actually competing with me—her own mother—over this now?!" Sayuri clutched her chest dramatically, as though struck by an invisible arrow. "This is so sad..."
"You can let mom take care of everything else, but not Izumi-sensei!" Eriri declared firmly, her expression unyielding.
"Eriri has grown up... She's starting to rebel against her mother now," Sayuri said tearfully, wiping away an imaginary tear. Her delicate face was filled with sorrow, as if the two were quarreling like a mother and daughter who had fallen out over a man.
"Hey~! Mr. Izumi, you promised me that I'd get to read your new work first. You're not going to break your promise, are you?!" Eriri turned to Izumi Yu with a determined look, trying to get him to settle the dispute.
"Huh?!" Izumi Yu froze.
What is this?! It's fine if the two of you are arguing with each other, but now you're dragging me into it?!
[Looking at the mother and daughter fighting over you, a male succubus, guilt wells up in your heart. To make up for your "mistakes," you imagine a delightful feast: ○ Female ○ Rice. But first, you need to put the sleeping pills in the drawer and the blue pills on the table into their cups, just in case. Afterward, you can savor your meal in peace...]
What kind of "feast" is that?! Izumi Yu's mind reeled.
No way! I refuse!
I always say no to anyone who thinks they're right!
Ignoring the absurd narration in his head, Izumi Yu forced a smile. "Don't worry. I'll send the electronic version to both Mrs. Sayuri and Ms. Kashiwagi at the same time. That way, you can both see it first."
"Huh?! Really?! That's great!" Both Sayuri and Eriri's faces lit up with excitement as their argument came to an abrupt end.
For both of them, Izumi Yu's new work was a source of great anticipation. It also marked the start of his next project. Ever since reading the first volume of Brave Abin, they had become die-hard fans of his writing.
If anyone dared to criticize Izumi Yu's masterpiece, the mother and daughter would likely rush to defend it without hesitation.
"Speaking of which," Sayuri said with a sly smile, "doesn't Eriri have some work-related matters to discuss with Yuu-kun? The two of you should spend some time alone. I won't disturb your in-depth communication. I'll bring some puffs and other desserts later."
Sayuri's gaze shifted to Eriri, taking in her daughter's carefully chosen outfit—a white coat, pleated skirt, and white stockings that didn't reach her thighs. With a knowing smile, she looked at Izumi Yu.
"Huh?! Okay... O-okay!" Eriri stammered, her face turning crimson as she nodded shyly.
Oh no! I've been found out!
Her heart filled with embarrassment. She felt as though her mother had seen right through her intentions, leaving her utterly exposed.
As an otaku artist, Eriri typically spent her time at home in a state of disheveled chaos. She'd wear old junior high sportswear, thick glasses, and tie her hair in a loose ponytail, embodying the image of a classic homebody.
But today, she had dressed up with great care. It was evident to anyone who looked at her.
"Okay, then I'll leave it to Mrs. Sayuri," Izumi Yu said with a polite smile, though he couldn't shake the feeling that Sayuri's smile was growing more and more ambiguous.
Why does it feel like she's looking at me so strangely?
[Solitude, puffs, and "in-depth communication." You catch the keywords instantly. The girl beside you, who usually looks disheveled, has dressed up in a beautiful skirt and white stockings. She's gone to great lengths just to please you. You decide to reward her efforts with some puffs. But before that, you'll need blue pills and some safety measures...]
What the hell?!
Izumi Yu stared blankly, his mind struggling to process the narration's wild assertions.
Wait... Did the narration just say Eriri dressed up carefully?
For a moment, Izumi Yu found himself speechless. He extracted the "real" keywords from the narration and glanced at Eriri, who was avoiding his gaze.
Taking a look at the girl with twin ponytails and white stockings sitting on the sofa opposite him, Izumi Yuu couldn't help but curl up the corners of his mouth.
No wonder I felt something was off about Eriri today. She seems a little different from what I remember.
It turns out Eriri had dressed up carefully today. She looked even more refined and exquisite than yesterday.
That explains why Sayuri's eyes were so strange earlier.
Above the girl's head, Izumi Yuu noticed the color of her favorability gradually changing from yellow to pink.
[Name: Eriri Sawamura]
[Favorability: 61 (A secret admirer who secretly loves you)]
[Status: A winner (loser) striving toward her ideals and goals!]
Yes, after a while, Izumi Yuu had discovered that favorability had corresponding colors.
Favorability at rock bottom, such as hatred or hostility, was black and gray—like Aki Tomoya's attitude toward him. Strangers' favorability appeared white. Friends were green, confidants were yellow, and pink signified romantic interest. The colors beyond pink? Izumi Yuu hadn't observed them yet, but he guessed red might represent something deeper.
And now, Eriri's favorability for Izumi Yuu was turning pink.
As if sensing Izumi Yuu's gaze, Eriri grew increasingly self-conscious.
Once Sayuri entered the kitchen, Eriri turned her gaze toward him. Her eyes met his deep, dark pupils and handsome face, and for a moment, she couldn't help but get distracted.
Realizing her thoughts were wandering, Eriri quickly forced herself to remain composed.
"I didn't dress up like this just because Izumi-sensei is coming!" Eriri turned her head slightly away, speaking in a timid tone.
Izumi Yuu was momentarily stunned but couldn't help laughing at her awkward denial. He quickly responded with a calm smile, "I understand."
Her attempt to cover up her thoughts was truly a textbook case of tsundere behavior.
After regaining her composure, Eriri stared at Izumi Yuu's face and spoke again. "Um... I feel that certain aspects of the protagonist aren't easy to express. That's why I wanted to consult you, Izumi-sensei."
Seeing Eriri fidgeting uneasily, Izumi Yuu offered her a reassuring smile. "Kashiwagi-sensei, if there's anything you want to ask, feel free to ask directly."
Eriri nodded and, after a brief hesitation, pointed at the draft she'd placed on the table. Sitting closer to him now, she said, "The protagonist in your book is a time traveler from Wa Country, right? But why did you set him as a blonde-haired boy? Doesn't that seem inconsistent with his identity?"
The character in the draft bore an uncanny resemblance to Izumi Yuu—almost an 80% match in appearance. The only difference was that the draft's protagonist had blonde hair, while Izumi Yuu had black hair.
It wasn't as though Eriri deliberately drew Izumi Yuu as the protagonist; the resemblance was simply because Izumi Yuu had modeled the character after himself. This way, he felt more connected to the story and confident that readers as "handsome" as himself would find the protagonist relatable.
"Well... First of all, it's true not everyone is born with such artistic golden hair like Mr. Kashiwagi," Izumi Yuu joked, leaning back on the sofa. "But I did mention in the story that the protagonist's hair color changes after awakening the 'power of yellow hair.' Making it feel natural and extraordinary depends on your skills, Kashiwagi-sensei."
After explaining, Izumi Yuu glanced at Eriri, who sat beside him.
It had to be said—Eriri's appearance was stunning. Her delicate facial features seemed flawless, and her porcelain-white skin had the luster of a finely crafted doll.
The pleated skirt and knee-length white stockings she wore added an indescribable charm and purity to her presence. She exuded a faint scent of lilies that was subtle yet enchanting, almost overwhelming Izumi Yuu's senses.
Particularly given their close proximity, Izumi Yuu couldn't help but feel a hint of nervousness.
"Tsk~! As a talented painter, small details like that won't stump me at all!" Eriri huffed with confidence, dismissing her own doubts about the draft.
"Of course," Izumi Yuu said smoothly, adjusting his sitting posture. "I have complete confidence in your abilities, Kashiwagi-sensei. After all, if you can't manage it, I doubt any other painter could achieve the effect I want."
"Hmm..." Eriri's cheeks flushed at his words. Her heart raced as shyness and joy filled her chest.
Being recognized by someone she admired deeply gave her an immense sense of accomplishment.
Still, to hide her emotional turmoil, Eriri quickly shifted to a serious tone. "There's another issue, though. The protagonist's weapon of choice… isn't it a little unrealistic? A 20-centimeter blade seems absurd, and the idea of having to suppress it during every use is just... unbelievable! Were those aspects intentionally exaggerated during the design?"