Chapter 13

A few days after I moved into my new home.

At my new workplace.

This is the new publishing label with Uematsu as the editor-in-chief.

Its name is [STAR RISE Bunko].

Commonly known as [SR Bunko].

Since it's just been established, the office is in a corner of a mixed-use building.

Having just moved, there are mountains of cardboard boxes...

"Wait? Teacher Rulia... you want to write for us?"

In front of me, a girl is sitting politely in a chair.

Kaita Rulia.

One of the light novel authors I worked with at my previous job.

Her white hair and red eyes give her a rabbit-like appearance.

Her features are as refined as a Japanese doll.

"Yes. Could I please be allowed to write here?"

Rulia, despite her youthful appearance, speaks in a formal manner.

She must have been raised well.

"That would be a great help for us. However, Teacher Rulia, to be honest, the manuscript fees at TAKANAWA Books are higher."

Since it's a new label, we can't print as many copies as the major publishers, and we can't offer as much in royalties.

"Moreover, SR Bunko is a new label, so we have less money for advertising and fewer bookstores to place our books. Even if you are a famous author, the risk of failure is higher with this label. I don't want to damage your career."

"..."

Rulia smiles delicately, covering her mouth.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing... I just thought it was a world apart from that trash."

"Trash?"

"It's my way of speaking. ...You are indeed a trustworthy editor. If you prioritized the company's profit, you would have happily accepted my request, but you are considering the author's interests and future first."

"Of course. Without the authors, we are just ordinary company employees. Our top priority should be the authors' interests, followed by entertaining the fans of their works."

Only with the authors, their works, and their fans can books sell.

I believe we must prioritize selling books and not lose sight of the essence.

"There are many foolish editors who can't understand this."

"..."

This way of speaking...

Perhaps she isn't getting along well with the editor who took over from me.

Senmo. Teacher Rulia's debut work.

The final volume of the manuscript was completed with me.

After that, I handed over the responsibility to the new editor, Jyukken, and left the rest to her.

But... if she came to me, it must mean things didn't go well with her.

"Okaya, please. I want to work with you. I don't want to work with anyone else."

With teary eyes, Teacher Rulia pleads.

"Teacher Rulia, it's still better to avoid publishing here."

"Wh-What!? Why!? Do you dislike me?"

She changes her expression and grabs my arm.

"Please calm down. I like you."

I love the world she creates.

"..."

She sits down quietly, her white skin turning red, fidgeting.

"It's not about personal feelings. Teacher Rulia, your next work will definitely sell. I am certain of that."

"..."

"You are such a talented author... but this label doesn't have the strength yet."

No matter how great a work Teacher Rulia creates, it won't reach many fans if it can't be widely distributed.

"Light novels today are based on media mix. Successful light novels almost always become anime. However... our label, unlike TAKANAWA, is still small. Even if it sells, we don't have the power to make it into an anime."

In other words, even if it sells, it's difficult to expand beyond just publishing the book due to financial constraints.

"Fans will be disappointed, and more importantly, it will damage your career."

If it sells but doesn't become an anime, it could lead to bad rumors and harm your reputation as an author.

"I see... Okaya, you always think about the... Kaita Rulia, don't you?"

Rulia places her hand on her chest and smiles.

But then, her expression turns serious, and she straightens her back.

"Even so, I want to write here. I want to work with you. Please..."

Even after saying this much, she still won't change her mind...

I can't turn away an author who is willing to sacrifice her career to join our label.

"Alright. I will do my best. Let's work together. I'm counting on you."

"! Really!?"

Rulia smiles, grabs my hand, and bows.

"Let's have a long and fruitful collaboration!"

In the end, we only exchanged greetings that day, and the discussion about the work was postponed.

"Oh, right. Okaya, you don't need to worry about money."

As she was leaving, Teacher Rulia said something strange.

"Something good will happen soon. I hope you can look forward to it."

Rulia bowed gracefully and left.

"...I have to work hard."

An author is willing to sacrifice her career to join our label.

I have to make sure her work sells and do my best to get it made into an anime...

Just then,

"Hey, Okaya! It's a big deal!"

Uematsu, the editor-in-chief, burst in, flustered.

"What's wrong, Editor-in-Chief?"

"We've received a major advertising job from a large company!"

We are a small publishing company.

We can't yet survive on light novels alone.

So we also take on advertising agency work.

"Listen, it's from the Kaita Group!"

"Kaita Group... Are you serious? They own Kaita Bank, right?"

The Kaita Group is a huge corporation with roots in the old zaibatsu.

If we get a major job from such a company, it will be a huge boost for our company.

"No, it's true. They just came to our office... It's lucky but scary."

"Hmm... What did they come for?"

"I... I don't know..."

Both Uematsu and I are puzzled.

"Oh, right. What about Teacher Rulia?"

"She wants to write for us."

"Good... Then we have to work hard! We can't let her talent go to waste!"

The editor-in-chief, like me, cares about the authors' careers.

"Hey, Okaya. Is Kaita Rulia her real name?"

"No, it's a pen name."

Her real name is [Kaita Ruriko].

"Kaita... Could she be related to the Kaita Group?"

"No way."

Why would someone from a major corporation be a light novel author?

A wealthy young lady wouldn't need to work.

"Rich heiress light novel authors only exist in comics and light novels."

"True. She can't be related to the Kaita Group."

"No, she's not."

"Definitely not."

"★"

Work ends at 7 PM, and I return home.

"I'm back."

"Welcome home!"

The twin high school girls greet me with smiles.

"You don't have to welcome me every time."

Since we started living together, they always come to the door when I return.

"It's fine. We want to do it!"

"Welcome back. I'll take your bag ♡"

My younger sister, Gal Akari, is wearing an apron.

And my older sister, Nanako, is also wearing an apron.

"We cooked together today!"

"We... We tried our best! I, I put a lot of love into it!"

"That's great, I'm looking forward to it."

We head to the living room.

We always eat dinner together.

Today, we have ginger pork.

"Delicious..."

"Yay!"

They high-five.

Their large chests jiggle.

"Is it good pork?"

"Nope. I found it on sale at the supermarket."

...In this heat, they went to multiple supermarkets.

I feel bad.

"You don't have to choose the cheaper options just to be considerate of me."

I cover all the living and food expenses.

Perhaps they are being considerate.

"Okarin, you don't understand. It's fun to get good things at a low price!"

"Supermarket hopping is Akari's hobby."

"Right. So it's fine, Okarin. Don't worry about it."

"Besides, since we're living in your home, we shouldn't waste money."

They aren't being considerate.

Akari says it's a hobby, but I think she's thinking about the household budget.

Not just me, but they are also thinking and acting to make this life work.

"Thanks, both of you."

"Huh?"

"Thanks for the delicious meal."

They look surprised, but quickly shake their heads.

"We should be the ones to thank you!"

"Of course! We're being supported."

"No, you make my life better by cooking and cleaning. I'm grateful to you. Thanks."

When I say this...

The twins look at each other and smile like flowers blooming.

"Hehe~ ♡ I love you, Okarin ♡"

Akari has a sunflower-like smile that makes you feel energized.

"Teacher. We always appreciate you. We love the kind you."

Nanako has a cherry blossom-like smile that makes you feel warm.

They both smile at me.

I am the one who should be grateful.

They heal my heart, which was hurt by my ex-wife and the previous label.

Without them, I would probably be in a much worse state.

Thanks to their support, I can live a normal life now.

I resolve to work even harder from now on.