"You just said that you're Yukimi Sakura, correct?"
"That's right."
"...May I ask about your gender and age?" Machida Enko chose her words carefully, afraid of provoking him.
This was her first time meeting Sakurakoji Talent in person. Before today, they had only exchanged a few emails. Prior to that, she had known absolutely nothing about Sakurakoji Talent's name, gender, or other details. She had never expected the author she was meeting to be such an unusual person!
How could she have guessed that even after meeting him, she still could not determine something as basic as his gender or age?
All she could say was that if one lived long enough, one really could see anything.
"Male. About high school age, I suppose." Sakurakoji Talent picked up his cup and carefully took a sip of tea. Being questioned did not stir the slightest ripple in his heart. He was used to it, used to it.
After all, he insisted on keeping that long, straight white hair that invited suspicion, along with an even more confusing androgynous face.
Image: "I really need to teach you a lesson," Location: "Images/1755749302-100446961-113719147.jpg"
Author: By the way, which female protagonists does everyone want to see? Leave a comment and tell me. I'll use it as reference. If enough people like someone, I'll really add her and write her later.
The Daily Life of Attracting Bees and Butterflies: An Upcoming Meeting with Kasumigaoka Utaha
Male? And a high school student?
Machida Enko mused to herself. Proper features, elegant manners, overflowing talent... wasn't he basically a copy of Little Utaha? And judging by talent alone, he even seemed to surpass Little Utaha...
Had heaven taken pity on her hard work and sent her another star author?
And they were both handsome boys and beautiful girls in high school. If she could put those two together and hold a live press conference, just how much buzz would it generate?! Book sales would definitely explode too! A sharp gleam flashed in her eyes as though she could already see the day she ousted the editor-in-chief and took her place.
Of course, that was only a fantasy. At least one of them definitely would not agree.
"I never expected Yukimi Sakura-sensei to possess not only such talent, but such looks as well. You really gave me a fright," Machida Enko said sincerely.
"Allow me to introduce myself. I'm Machida Enko, deputy editor-in-chief of Fumikage Bunko and your editor from now on. It's a pleasure to work with you."
"You flatter me." Sakurakoji Talent set down his cup and met her gaze directly as he introduced himself as well. "My real name is Sakurakoji Talent. You can call me Sakurakoji or Talent from now on."
"This is my first time entering the industry, so I'll be relying on your guidance."
His manners were impeccable too. What a serious Good Child. He probably would not cause her much trouble in the future, Machida Enko nodded inwardly.
"Then I'll call you Talent, okay?"
"By the way, why did you want to write Light Novels, Talent? Was it to make money?" she asked, voicing her doubts.
Talent, huh? That was acceptable, Sakurakoji Talent thought helplessly, reluctantly accepting it.
"No, I'm simply interested in it. I like watching anime and reading manga." Sakurakoji Talent scratched his cheek with a finger, looking slightly embarrassed.
"So I also became interested in some Light Novels. After reading enough of them, I gradually wanted to give it a try, so I asked an acquaintance to help me submit my work."
"I see." Machida Enko suddenly understood. That reason was within her expectations. Plenty of young people were interested in 2D these days.
She only knew that DanMachi had been ordered by higher-ups to be published ahead of schedule. She did not know the details, much less Sakurakoji Talent's relationship with them. Now, it seemed that he probably had connections among Fumikage's upper management. And since he was not writing for money, his family probably was not short on cash either?
You lost in another area, Utaha, Machida Enko sighed inwardly.
For some reason, ever since earlier, she had unconsciously kept placing the two young people together and comparing them. Perhaps it was because they had too many similarities.
As time gradually passed, after chatting for quite a while, both of them gained a deeper understanding of the other.
Of course, although Machida Enko considered herself experienced at dealing with young people, socially adept and naturally approachable, how much of the information Sakurakoji Talent gave her was actually trustworthy remained unknown.
"Um, there's one more question." Machida Enko was unusually shy, her fingers twisting together. "Were the illustrations for DanMachi really drawn by you, Talent?"
"Yes. Because of my family, I learned a lot of drawing when I was young as well. Is there a problem?" Sakurakoji Talent admitted it openly, looking at her in confusion.
"No, it's nothing..." Machida Enko pursed her lips. At last, her expression turned resolute, as though she had made some sort of decision. She pulled several books from the nearby shelf, bowed, and presented them to Sakurakoji Talent.
"Actually, I'm one of your fans too! Could you sign these books for me? Please!"
It was somewhat unexpected, but still understandable. Sakurakoji Talent put away his startled expression and replied with a smile, "Thank you for liking my work. Of course, no problem."
Taking the several fairly weighty books, Sakurakoji Talent glanced at them. They were hardcover editions. He then signed his pen name on the blank space of every cover.
"Y-yes!" Machida Enko tucked an elbow beneath her arm in excitement, her face filled with emotion.
Being able to obtain a handwritten signature from an author one liked was a blessing for every star-chasing otaku. As for why she had him sign several copies, do not worry about that for now.
Carefully hugging the hardcover books, whose ink had yet to dry, Machida Enko wore a satisfied expression.
"Ah, right, Talent. Since the first volume of DanMachi sold extremely well, the editorial department is planning to hold a celebration party for you. Would you be interested in attending?" Remembering this, she asked Sakurakoji Talent.
A celebration party? There was no need to attend just for a meal, so he shook his head.
"There's no need for a celebration party. But if it's some kind of industry networking event, I'd be somewhat interested..." Sakurakoji Talent glanced sideways at Machida Enko, revealing his true purpose.
"A networking event?" Machida Enko rested her chin on her hand and considered it for several seconds before answering with a smile, "Then your timing is perfect. Next week, Fumikage will be holding its annual spring writers' gathering. Are you interested?"
"A writers' gathering?" A glint flashed through Sakurakoji Talent's eyes as he asked tentatively, "Will all the authors attend?"
"Not all of them... but most authors above a certain level will be invited."
"Oh, right, I also have a bestselling author around your age. I'll introduce you two when the time comes!"
What else could he say after she put it that way? Sakurakoji Talent agreed without the slightest hesitation. "Alright, I'll attend."
"You really decided quickly." Machida Enko was somewhat surprised by how swiftly he made up his mind.
"Because I want to meet more colleagues in the industry." Sakurakoji Talent pursed his lips in a light smile, brushing it off.
"That makes sense. That's one of the purposes of the gathering itself." Machida Enko nodded in agreement, completely unsuspecting.
After chatting idly for another half hour, the two had a wonderful conversation. Thanks to his broad knowledge and answers deliberately framed from her perspective, Machida Enko nearly regarded him as a kindred spirit!
In the end, Sakurakoji Talent was the one who ended the conversation.
"Let's leave it at that for today. If anything comes up later, you can contact me through my online account at any time. Here's my contact information."
The two added each other as friends on their phones, and Sakurakoji Talent quickly got up to take his leave.
Only after walking out of the Fumikage building and feeling his treatment points increase did Sakurakoji Talent reveal a gratified smile.
His special trip here had not been in vain. Today's gains were quite substantial: not only had he gained treatment points through Machida Enko, but he had also secured a future meeting with another major figure.
At this rate, his future was boundless!
His steps becoming a little lighter, he checked the time and set off down the path of a working animal in the night.
The Daily Life of Attracting Bees and Butterflies: Who Wants to Crossdress?
Two days later, at Ten no Yashiro.
Aoyama Nanami rushed up to Sakurakoji Talent, slamming her palm onto the table. Her flushed face was filled with panic.
"Young Master! The wardrobe, the wardrobe..."
Sakurakoji Talent looked at her, who had suddenly lost control of her emotions and was acting completely unlike usual, utterly baffled. What happened?
What on earth could have happened to turn someone as calm and decisive as her into this? Did Ultraman come knocking?
"Calm down, Nanami." Sakurakoji Talent gestured with his hand. "What happened exactly?"
After a bout of intense trembling, Aoyama Nanami took a deep breath and gradually calmed down. After taking a moment, she looked deeply at him, her expression complicated.
"Young Master, what exactly are those clothes in the wardrobe?"
"?" Sakurakoji Talent did not understand. "They're just my clothes. Is there something strange about that?"
"Although I admit the number is a little high, there's no need to be that shocked, is there?"
"It's not just a little high! The clothes in a single wardrobe outnumber all the clothes back at my family home! And there are more than a dozen wardrobes like that!" Aoyama Nanami could not help complaining.
"There's nothing I can do about that. You know my family comes from a line of designers. Having a few more clothes is perfectly reasonable, understandable, right?" Sakurakoji Talent calmly took a sip of tea, explaining himself.
Tch, it was only a few more clothes. Was there any need to get this worked up? Her mental fortitude still needed improvement.
"I do know that, so there's nothing to be done about it... No, wait!" Aoyama Nanami had initially wanted to say that was indeed the case, but she quickly remembered that the key point was not that at all.
"I can understand having a lot of clothes, but why are the clothes themselves..."
"?" That was not the issue? Then what was? Sakurakoji Talent thought for a while before continuing, "I admit the styles of clothing are somewhat varied too."
"But you know my family is a family of designers, and I'm also a near first-rate designer. Sometimes, I even use the family studio to release my own works."
"To follow trends and understand the connotations, philosophies, and aesthetics of different styles, it's understandable for me to buy more clothing of different types to mix and match. There's no problem with that, right?"
"That makes sense, I understand... No, no, that's not the issue either!" Aoyama Nanami was still agitated, clenching both fists as she loudly retorted.
"Still not?" Sakurakoji Talent frowned, truly unable to figure out what she was trying to say.
"Could it be the price? Although every piece is indeed a little expensive for ordinary people, you know my family is relatively wealthy, and we own our own clothing factory."
"Many clothes were designed by me. I had them made and sent over, so even if some pieces cost a little more, there's no problem with that, right?"
"...Young Master Talent, do you really not know what I'm trying to say?" The warmth gradually vanished from Aoyama Nanami's eyes, and she looked at him as if he were a stranger.
"Ahem, just kidding." Sakurakoji Talent coughed lightly and stopped teasing her.
In truth, he had known Aoyama Nanami's purpose from the beginning. If it had been any of the previous issues, with her personality, she would at most have expressed amazement rather than become this agitated. The reason she was acting this way was obviously something far more unusual.
And since they were talking about the wardrobe, the answer was naturally obvious.
Clearly, Aoyama Nanami had also realized that Sakurakoji Talent was deliberately changing the subject, so she directly exposed him.
So perceptive, Sakurakoji Talent clicked his tongue. As expected of a serious top student.
"Fine, I admit it. Those are mine too," Sakurakoji Talent said frankly.
"What?!" Aoyama Nanami was utterly shocked. Though she had already suspected it, she had not expected it to truly be the case.
"Young Master, why would you..."
"Stop, stop!" Sakurakoji Talent hurriedly raised a hand to stop her, arguing, "I should be the one asking what's strange about it. As an aesthetician, what's wrong with calmly accepting and contemplating every beautiful thing in the world?"
"Besides, my little sister Ashiri highly approves of it. She even likes it more than I do!"
"This proves that there's nothing strange about it and nothing worth making such a fuss over! Thinking there's a problem is merely an illusion caused by your sensibilities!"
"Your younger sister has even seen it... Forgive my bluntness, but your sister—the young lady—doesn't seem quite normal either." Aoyama Nanami was completely speechless and could only offer that thought.
"Don't say that. You just haven't seen it yet. Once you do, you'll change your current opinion."
"Don't decide that for me. I absolutely—don't want to see it!"
"Then I have to criticize you, Nanami." Seeing how resistant she was, Sakurakoji Talent earnestly advised her, "It's not good to reject something so strongly when you haven't tried it. Only after truly understanding it do you have the right to speak."
"Besides, you do this sort of thing every day too, so what right do you have to say that about me!"
"How is that the same?" Aoyama Nanami looked at him as though he were an insect.
"It's perfectly normal for women to wear women's clothes, but why do you own hundreds of sets of women's clothing?"
"..." Sakurakoji Talent fell silent. "That's gender discrimination. Who says women's clothing can only be worn by women?"
"Don't you know that in the arts, men wearing women's clothing and women wearing men's clothing are completely normal?"
"Forget freedom of dress. At the annual award ceremonies over there, if I randomly threw a brick, I could hit two or three famous world-class gay men and lesbians!"
"...That kind of art world would be better off destroyed." The light vanished from Aoyama Nanami's eyes.
It was foreseeable that she would not change her view because of Sakurakoji Talent's few simple explanations.
Sakurakoji Talent had a headache too and could do nothing about her. He only wanted to create better works, which was why he had decided to personally experience the beauty contained in different things throughout the world. Women's clothing was merely for him to comprehend delicate beauty. What had he done wrong!
Just as the two were deadlocked, his phone rang.
He looked at the name and answered the call.
"Hello, Ichiyo?"
"What did you say? Really?"
"Got it. Have the car wait downstairs, and get some desserts from the underground café. I'll be down right away."
Setting down his phone, Sakurakoji Talent sprang to his feet and headed into the inner room.
Before you continue