I was sixteen when I encountered Godlike Author Kamimatsu’s Digimas.

That experience revealed the existence of light novels to me, and showed that in this world, there were works so wonderful they could give people dreams...

Before I knew it, I was writing my own light novel. "…………" The summer I turned sixteen.

I had arrived at the building housing the publishing company [Takanawa].

"Miss... are you really going in there by yourself?"

Standing behind me was a large man in a black suit and sunglasses, Sanro Nierigawa.

Though he appeared merely as a tough bouncer, the sight of him visibly agitated and fidgeting was quite amusing.

"For you to carry your manuscript alone to a publisher... that's taking too much of a risk."

I stood there holding a bundle of manuscript paper wrapped in a cloth bundle.

Inside was the first work I had ever written in my life. "There is no need to worry."

"But... Miss. If you asked Lord Takahara, couldn't they publish your book without you having to do all this?" Sanro was right about that.

But I had absolutely no intention of invoking the name Aida.

"I wrote it in secret from Grandpa, so I can't exactly go asking him for help, can I?"

That said, my intentions were different.

For the first time in my life, I had done something behind my parents' backs.

Until now, I had simply carried out whatever was given to me, trying to become a woman befitting the Harada household.

This was the first time I had acted of my own will.

My heart pounded... excitement surged through me.

I didn't want to ruin this thrill in my chest by bringing up the name Harada.

"Oh, is that so... Then I won't say another word. I'll be looking forward to your novel, Miss!" Miro smiled broadly.

"You put your whole soul into it, so the editing team is bound to be surprised! They're going to see a total work of genius come in!" "W-won't they...?"

"Everyone will surely praise you as a prodigy author emerges! I'm certain of it!"

"You're overestimating me... It's just a debut piece by an amateur, there's no way it would be highly regarded..."

...Even as I said that, deep down, I secretly hoped that this work would be appreciated.

"So, Miss! I'll be waiting here!" "Yeah, gonna head over now!"

Trying to keep my excitement in check, I headed toward Takana's editing department... ★

"...hiccup, sniff... waa..." One hour later.

I was huddled away in the women's restroom of Takana's building, crying. ...Let me get straight to the point.

My manuscript had been trashed. Absolutely gutted.

After I got to the editorial office and showed this work to the editor...

"Umm, this is sub-shit, isn't it?"

"And hey, what with the handwritten stuff? You think this is some game? Write your drafts on a computer. That alone kills my vibe."

"Too much exposition. No need for internal monologue or character introspection. Not now. The trend is light, easy-to-read Isekai reincarnation and cheat-system harem stories."

"Stress buildup? You kidding me? Haa—hey, brat, you're taking Light Novels way too casually. Modern readers hate stress the most. Why would anyone seek stress for entertainment? Are you an idiot?"

"I didn't read to the end, but I guess this is just garbage. The fact that a reader couldn't finish it makes it a trash manuscript anyway."

"So basically, this draft isn't even worth discussing. You have no talent."

The editor who took me on as a client was that [Kiso River] guy.

But at the time, I was in such a shock that I didn't realize it was him—the one who had bullied Okayu.

"Ugh... fgh... waaah!"

...I burst into tears like a child.

I hadn't even cried when my parents died, yet here I was......

It hurt that the things I wrote were being rejected.

To have my own work so thoroughly put down...... I had no idea how painful that really was......

"...I never should've aimed to be a light novel author in the first place."

The world of light novels—the first thing I ever became truly obsessed with.

I wanted to bring my own envisioned world into it. ...But the result was a humiliating defeat.

I had just received the official stamp from a professional publisher confirming that I lacked talent.

...Right when I thought a new world was finally opening up before me.

My spirit was completely broken……

“…Go home. Sauro is waiting.” I stepped out of the restroom. And just then, I noticed. “Ah… my manuscript paper… I forgot it.”

The bundle of pages containing the draft I had written wasn’t in my hand.

I must have left it behind at the editing department. “…Never mind it now.”

I turned on my heels to leave, but just then— “Excuse me!”

Someone had called out to me.

When I turned around, standing there was… a man.

He was an unremarkable-looking person, but he was tall… and above all, he had gentle eyes. “You must be Ms. Nagata Ryuko?”

“H…? Ah, yes… how did you know?”

In the man’s hand, he clutched a bundle of sheets containing my manuscript paper.

“I work in editing at Takanawa Books. My name is Okaya.”

It was here that I first met Okaya, the person who would become my destiny.

"Mr. Hirata, did you forget this at the editing department?"

"You went out of your way to deliver it...?"

"Yes. Ms. Kisogawa... one of her subordinates was about to throw this away. Feeling that would be bad, I came to look for it. I'm glad you were still nearby."

He let out a breath of heartfelt relief with a smile. But my expression remained clouded.

"...It would have been better if you just threw it in the trash as is." Then...

"To throw it away? Never!" "Wh...?"

To me, standing there dumbfounded, he said with a serious expression.

"The work you wrote is a wonderful piece. I couldn't possibly do something like throw this away."

...Perhaps because I had been harshly rejected before.

His words praising the work seeped into my heart. "...Is it really...?" "Yes. It's true."

"...U, ugh, waaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!"

His gentle words wrapped around my shattered heart and held it together.

I was so happy that, like a child, I burst into tears once more. ★

"I'm sorry for showing such an unsightly side of myself just now..."

The cafe where we were sitting was in the neighborhood of Takana-awa.

We had come here to discuss our next steps; Okaya and I were there to meet up about it. "......"

Before coming, I had let Sapro know what was going on.

He said some stupid things like, "It's a date! Let's go! I have to make sweet rice!" It is a date... no, but.

H-How strange, sitting alone with a man at a cafe...

So, a date. Is this what a date looks like...? "Mr. Horita?" "I-I'm sorry..."

Okaya, who had been looking over the manuscript, looked straight into my eyes. My heart skipped a beat.

For some reason, I felt an uncharacteristic racing of my heart.

Looking at his eyes, I felt shy and couldn't help but look away.

"I read it again, and I truly think it's a wonderful piece of work."

“R-really... really? You said the recent edits weren't good, but...”

“Well... what he said was certainly true.”

Okaya’s face briefly twisted into a grimace for some reason.

“Light novels, in particular, tend to favor lighter, more playful works.” “I see...”

Seeing me dejected, Okaya spoke to me with firm words.

“But Mr. Hino. Your work is very charming.”

When I looked up, he was smiling.

“Within these pages of the manuscript, the characters you created are living and existing properly. A solid writing style, appealing characters... and above all, a deep love for the work is imbued here.” “...”

“The twist at the end was masterful too. The painful developments in the middle were merely setup for this emotional payoff.”

Okaya had read my manuscript thoroughly.

He had perfectly grasped the thoughts and intentions I poured into the work.

This was the first time anyone had understood [me] to such a degree.

"I've never seen such a brilliant work up to this point. You have a great talent, Aida."
"S-Sorry..."

Tears rolled down my face. Poro poro... droplet after droplet...

Unlike before, these were tears of joy.

...I cry too much, don't I?

But just a little while ago, this was something I couldn't even imagine.

To me, who had been living as if dead, light novels... gave color to my life.

And... the man in front of me now gives me happiness.

I was happy. I was simply, purely happy.

"Have you ever written works for publication elsewhere, Aida?"
"No... this is my first time."

"I see. Wonderful. You're a genius."
"S-Stop it..."

I couldn't look him in the eye properly, so I covered my face with both hands. "P-Please stop with the flattery."

"No, I'm not flattering you. You truly possess amazing talent. In time, you will become a magnificent writer."
I can become a writer.

When I heard that, my heart leaped.

I have a talent for writing.

For the first time, it felt like a path had opened up—one where I was not merely the woman of the Karita family.

Knowing that there was a way to live besides being Karita Ryuko... tears of joy sprang to my eyes. ...But I quickly regained my composure. "It's impossible." "Why?" "Because... I am,"

I was born as the daughter of the Karita house, and I know no other way to exist.

I was afraid whether I could truly become a writer.

"...It's impossible for someone like me, just a young girl, to become an author, even if it were Professor Kaimatsu of Dejimas."

Then my mother gently enveloped my hand in hers. "...Hm?"

"It's all right. Please have some confidence. Karita [Sensei]."

He looked at [me] directly and honestly. Not as the granddaughter of Karita Kogen,

Not as Karita Ryuko either... but into [my] eyes.

With pure eyes, uncolored by any prejudice whatsoever... looking straight ahead.

“You have talent. A rare writer’s gift that leaves readers with dreams lingering in their minds... You truly possess an extraordinary ability.”

In that instant, I [fell].

Oka’s words, her very presence, settled into the depths of my heart with a gentle plunk...

She saw no trace of lineage or upbringing.

She looked only at me—and at the talent sleeping within me.

Until now, no one had ever seen me as I truly was.

No one had treated me normally, without handling me like a tumor to be handled with excessive care and caution. This person was the first.

Not as an heir to the Matarada house. Not as an unfortunate girl who had lost her parents... Someone who truly saw me.

“Trust me, and follow me. I will make you the greatest light novel writer in existence.” Oka extended her hand toward me.

...At that moment, he stood before me like a prince on a white horse straight out of a fairy tale.

At that time, I had two paths before me.

The path to living alone, defined solely by my status as the woman of the Matarada house.

The other path was to walk beside this man, hand in hand, and live as a writer. "Oh... not at all!"

I took his hand and squeezed it tightly.

As if grasping a shining destiny.

"Make me the best writer there is!" "Yes, I promise you."

At that moment, my hell ended.

In this colorful world, I found a man. Okaya. Okatani Mitsuhiko.

The prince who rescued me from hell.

After that, I shared joys and sorrows with Okaya. The grueling revision work. The writer's block. And then... the anime adaptation.

No matter what, Okaya was always by Araida Ruisan's side.

As we worked together, my affection for him grew too strong to keep locked away in my heart.

I had decided on this long ago.

Once my debut work was finished, I would confess to him. ...Hey, Okaya. I like you.

Even if there are a thousand other women who love you, to me, you are one of a kind and utterly irreplaceable.

You are the one who freed me from the curse of my blood and taught me the joy of living. You have no idea that, do you?

Even so... I am grateful to you for it.

For your sake alone, I would offer up this blood, this flesh, this soul, and even my future.

I believe I could surrender all of me. So then...

Would you make me yours?