The taxi parked downstairs of a publishing house in Chiyoda District, Tokyo. After Hanai paid the fare, he saw Mafuyu in the back seat looking absentmindedly out of the car window in the rearview mirror, and couldn't help but shout, "Mafuyu."

"……ah?"

"Ah what, we're here, get off the car."

"Oh." Mafuyu responded in a muffled voice and followed Hanai out of the car.

This is not her first time coming to the publishing house. As one of the hottest newcomers in the industry, Mafuyu and Ayoshiki both won awards at the publishing house’s celebration party last year. The internal encouragement awards were specially set up for the two of them. That time

Ayushoku's award was received by Hanai on his behalf.

In the publishing house, I often see editors and responsible authors holding seminars. Because it is a semi-open space, you can hear each other's discussions even if you are close. When they see Mafuyu, most of them smile and say hello.

It didn't happen that the senior writers were jealous and made things difficult for them. Mafuyu wondered if it was because she had knocked out a few blind people when Ayoshiki came before, so everyone was so polite to her junior.

When he met someone who greeted him, Mafuyu could only smile. In the past, he could reply a few words, but now he really wasn't in the mood.

Sensing something was wrong with Mafuyu, Hanai put down her bag at the office, pulled her into the small cubicle where the business was held, and asked about the situation.

——I ask you again, how did you write those works?

Ayuushi's words were still echoing in her ears. She said these words without any expression, which made Mafuyu feel extremely depressed and heavy.

Compared to the shame of being caught copying books, she could not stand the feeling of being knocked off the altar with a stick. The balloon filled with arrogance and complacency was suddenly punctured by a sharp needle, and returned with a bang.

The most primitive and unbearable posture.

Akimoto Mafuyu is not a genius at all. She is not even an ordinary person according to Aushichi. She calls herself a writer, but she does things that the creator despises the most.

In the past, she could use various excuses to excuse herself, but now that the fig leaf has been ripped away by Ayoshiki, a genius of the same age, she can no longer cover herself up.

Under Hanai's questioning, Mafuyu told her roughly the conversation he had with Ayuushi in the room after he went downstairs to drink water.

"That brat! He's talking nonsense again!" Hanai gritted his teeth and held his forehead. He originally thought that two writers of the same age would have a common language when they met, and they would take this opportunity to build a good relationship. I didn't expect Ayushiki to speak so freely. What was coming to his mind?

say what.

No, Hanai knew to some extent that Ayoshiki was rude to her, so she delayed arranging for Mafuyu to meet her. This time, it was more because she was confused and anxious to confirm whether the girl who caught a glimpse outside the venue was Ayushi.

He wanted to eat, so he hurried over with Mafuyu.

What a mistake, she thought.

"Mafuyu, don't pay attention to what that brat says. She's used to saying whatever she thinks. Just ignore her."

"Does Xiaohuajing think so too?"

"What?"

"Those works were not written by me."

"Who else could have written it if it wasn't you," Hanai said, "Mafuyu, you won't start to doubt yourself just because of Hibiki's words, right? You are the new writer who I think has the most potential, bar none. Written by Hibiki

She is indeed very good, but she has a big problem with her character and is easy to get into trouble. People with her personality can be reformers and subversives, but they may not necessarily be the most accomplished writers in the future."

"But Ayoshi said I'm an ordinary person...it hurts."

Hanai struck Mafuyu on the head with a knife, "I am also an ordinary person. I can't look down on ordinary people."

Seeing that Mafuyu was in a depressed mood, she smiled and said, "Do you still want people to say you are a weirdo, like Hibiki?"

"...I didn't say it would go to that extent."

"Actually, in my eyes, Mafuyu, you are much weirder than Hibiki." Hanai said suddenly.

"Strange? What's strange?" Mafuyu raised his head and asked.

"Do you want to listen? Let me say it first. This is not a good thing."

Seeing Mafuyu nod, Hanai said, "Hibiki has caused so many troubles because her outlook on life is somewhat different from that of ordinary people like us. That child thinks that right is right and wrong is wrong. There is no such thing in her novels.

She has expressed this stance on right and wrong, because she knows that clear things are boring, right things are boring, and wrong things are the same. What is interesting is precisely those things that are entangled and cannot distinguish right from wrong. So.

Different people will come to different opinions after reading Hibiki's novel."

"And Mafuyu," Hanai paused for a moment and met Mafuyu's gaze, "you do look ordinary. Compared with ordinary people, you are just a child who occasionally acts willfully and is slightly over-spoiled. However, the inner weirdness is stronger than

Much more noise.”

"Mafuyu, you have never respected anyone at all, right?"

Hanai's words sounded confusing at first, but Mafuyu felt his fingers gradually getting colder, and his body temperature passed through his fingers like a hole in a water balloon.

"Kohanai," Mafuyu's mouth was a little dry, "You can't just because I don't use honorifics..."

"It's not about honorifics." Huajing interrupted her.

Now that she had started this, she had to continue talking. There were some things she had been holding in her heart for a long time.

"To be honest, I have met many writers during my time as an editor. Some are arrogant, some have low self-esteem, some are timid but want to wrap up a shell of arrogance to protect themselves, and some are arrogant and arrogant both internally and externally.

Yes, but it’s not difficult to get along with you like Mafuyu, but as time goes by, the weirder one becomes.”

Mafuyu suddenly regretted opening this topic. At this point, the panic of wanting to stop Hanai from continuing and the anticipation of hearing her continue were entangled together. She didn't know what to do.

"It's not a big deal not to use honorifics. Hibiki can be quite arrogant sometimes, but your problem is much more serious than hers, Mafuyu. No matter when it comes to your sister, your parents, classmates, teachers, native students, or me, I have never listened to you.

I felt a little bit of respect in his words.”

"Mafuyu, do you know what's weird about me getting along with you? The age gap between us is not that big, at least less than ten years, but even so, you still have the concept that I am an older person.

.However, when I talk to you, I always feel like you are looking at me from another dimension."

"How should I put it? When I was chatting and laughing with you, you were also laughing. I could feel that your emotions were real, but if I looked closely at your eyes, I would find that there was something missing in them. It should be said that it was recognition.

Feeling or something. You seem to have drawn a circle, and you are standing in the circle chatting with me. Everything is real, but the positions are staggered."

"'You stand outside the circle, and I stand in the circle, this fact will never change.' Your words and deeds are like telling me this fact, always making me feel this sense of isolation and being unable to rely on

Trying to downplay the isolation.”

Hanai took a deep look at Mafuyu, whose body was completely frozen.
Chapter completed!