Chapter 5

The company I work for is a large publishing house called Takanawa.

TAKANAWA Books is the label I belong to.

It mainly deals with light novels, and in recent years, it has published *Digital Masters*, which has become a social phenomenon through movies and anime.

The author of *Digital Masters* and a super popular writer, Kamimatsu, and the author of *Arts Magic Online* (AMO), the genius Shiroba Ouji, are part of our label.

I belong to one of the top labels in the light novel industry... but.

"Okazaki-kun, I'm sorry, but I want you to leave the TAKANAWA Books label."

...The person in front of me is the chief editor.

Jūnikan-san.

She is 34 years old and has climbed to the position of chief editor, a veteran female editor.

She has her black hair in a ponytail.

Her sharp eyes and glasses give her a cool impression.

"Leave... Why all of a sudden?"

As soon as I came to work this morning, I was called by Chief Editor Jūnikan.

We are facing each other in a small conference room.

"It's simple. There's a rumor in the editorial department that you're having an affair."

"Huh...!?! Having an affair!? Why would that happen!?"

It was a completely baseless rumor.

Or rather, I was the one who was cheated on!

"Calm down. I believe you were married, right? You were having an affair with the girlfriend of one of our label's children, weren't you?"

"No! Who said such nonsense!?"

"Kiso-kun."

...Everything made sense.

Kiso. My wife Misae's affair partner.

He... was covering his own ass.

If it came out that he was having an affair with another man's wife at the same workplace, he would be in a difficult position.

So he took the initiative.

...Unfortunately, I came home late last night.

Kiso left for work at the same time, and then he must have spread the lie to Jūnikan.

"Why don't you think he's lying?"

"I don't. Kiso-kun isn't the type to lie."

"..."

I was sad.

Not because I was thought of as someone who would have an affair.

...But because my words were not trusted over Kiso's.

...Indeed, Kiso and Jūnikan were close.

They probably judged that a young, communicative subordinate was better than a long-serving, unapproachable one.

"...Maybe it's time."

"Huh?"

"No... Never mind. I understand. I'll quit. This company."

Jūnikan's eyes widened.

"Quit... the company...?"

"Yes. Isn't it convenient? You said you wanted me to leave, right?"

"N-no... I just wanted you to leave the TAKANAWA Books label, not quit the company."

"Doesn't matter. I'll quit. Excuse me."

...I didn't bother to defend myself.

It was ridiculous.

Kiso and Jūnikan... or rather, Jūnikan, ultimately looked down on me.

"Damn..."

I sighed as I left the conference room.

As I walked down the hallway, I saw a potted plant.

"Damn it!"

Angry, I kicked the pot.

Someone... put it back upright.

"Hey, that's not nice to the plant."

"Shōji, Deputy Chief Editor..."

The man standing there was smiling gently, wearing glasses.

Shōji Shōji.

The deputy chief editor of our label... the second most important person.

He is always gentle and approachable, and he will talk to you if you seem troubled. He is a very good person.

"Hey, Okazaki-kun. Want to talk for a bit?"

★

We ended up on the company's rooftop.

I told the deputy chief editor everything.

"I see... I get it. I thought it was a strange story."

The deputy chief editor sighed.

"There's no way a serious person like you would have an affair. I told Jūnikan that, but he ignored me. He probably doesn't listen to an old man like me."

The deputy chief editor chuckled.

He is older than Jūnikan but has a lower position.

Jūnikan always looked down on Shōji.

"...Do you believe I didn't have an affair, Deputy Chief Editor?"

"Of course. You're not that kind of person. I can see that."

He smiled and patted my shoulder.

"You always stay late, work harder than anyone, and contribute to us. You've been supporting TAKANAWA Books no matter what people think. There's no way a serious person like you would have an affair."

"..."

Unlike Jūnikan, this person saw me as an individual.

"...I'm glad."

Tears fell.

There was someone who understood and recognized me.

"Should I try to get the label transfer canceled from above?"

"...No, I said I'll quit the company."

"Quit... the company?"

"...Yes. I don't want to be here anymore."

I didn't want to see Kiso or Jūnikan.

I didn't even want to be in the same company.

"I see... Hey, Okazaki-kun. If you don't mind..."

The deputy chief editor said seriously.

"Would you like to start a new label with me?"

"A new label...?"

"Yeah. I'm planning to start a new light novel label soon."

"Right now... a new label?"

It's too risky...

The light novel market is saturated.

There's no guarantee that a new label will succeed.

In fact, it's more likely to fail.

"Big publishers have a lot of limitations. For example, low-point works on Syosetu aren't often published here, right?"

Syosetu is a website for aspiring novelists.

It has a point rating system.

High points mean high ratings = sales, so popular works are often approached by many labels.

Low-point works, on the other hand, rarely get attention.

Especially in our case.

"There are interesting works with low points. I don't like it when they disappear without being seen. But it's difficult to publish them here. So... I want to create a new label to provide a stage for buried talent."

...I was moved by the deputy chief editor's vision.

Not everything that shines brightly on the surface is good.

There are things that work hard, even if they're not visible.

...I was overlapping myself with those works.

"Also, I have complaints about the way things are done here. Working on weekends is the norm, and coming home late is expected. Isn't that strange? We are employees, right? Don't you think it's normal to wake up in the morning and come home at night?"

...Akarin pointed this out to me before I left home.

You're right, it is strange...

"I want to create a label where both writers and editors can smile."

The deputy chief editor extended his hand.

"I want your help. Will you come with me?"

...I quit TAKANAWA.

It wasn't just because I was dissatisfied with Chief Editor Jūnikan and employee Kiso.

I was also dissatisfied with the way things were done and the working conditions.

...I wanted to follow Deputy Chief Editor Shōji, who understood me better than Jūnikan.

"Please, I would be honored."

I took the deputy chief editor's... no, Shōji's hand.

That's how I decided to rejoin the workforce on the same day I quit the company.

★

Okazaki Kōhiko decided to start a new label with Deputy Chief Editor Shōji.

Chief Editor Jūnikan heard about it later.

"Hmph. Fine. He was a burden to us. I'm relieved to get rid of him."

Jūnikan doesn't know.

In fact, Okazaki was the one who had been supporting the label behind the scenes.

After Okazaki left...

Jūnikan would learn everything.

Okazaki's importance and true strength.

And that Kiso was the one having the affair...

She would realize all the mistakes and, along with Kiso, go to Okazaki to beg and grovel. It wouldn't take long.