As a veteran couch potato, Sogo Doma truly could not understand why anyone would ignore the shortcut and insist on taking the long way around. However, Utaha Kasumigaoka put it this way:
"Whether it's April or Pancreas, they have one thing in common: even if I left and someone else took over, they could still write them. When I think about it that way, what role did I, as the creator, really play?"
"I see..." Well, it was not as if Sogo Doma truly did not understand. "I hadn't thought it through. Did I overlook your pride as a creator? Is that why you wanted to create a story that belongs solely to you...?"
"Bingo!" Seeing that he understood her thoughts, Utaha Kasumigaoka could not help saying, "I'm sorry. As a creator..."
"Why are you suddenly apologizing?"
"Because Sogo-kun found so many wonderful subjects for me, yet I abandoned them and stubbornly insisted on my own way..."
"Huh? Why do I feel like I'm the one who should be apologizing?"
"How could that be...?"
"Knowing full well that you're an independent creator..." Before Utaha Kasumigaoka could finish, Sogo Doma explained, "I still presumptuously tried to map out routes for you..."
"Sogo-kun!"
"Hm? What is it now?" Sogo Doma said instinctively after being interrupted.
"Didn't you say you didn't understand yasashii?"
"Huh?" Sogo Doma froze. "Does this count as yasashii?"
"Hehe..." Utaha Kasumigaoka laughed at that. "Anyway, I'll remember those words. Whether they count as yasashii or not can be left for the readers to decide."
"..." Sogo Doma broke into a slight sweat. "You're still gathering material?"
"Sogo-kun, I'm writing our story..." Utaha Kasumigaoka said. "Since it's our story, naturally I can gather material anytime, anywhere..."
"Then why did you specifically run to the door to wait for me?"
"Some