As the link between the publishing house and its authors—an editor—Sonoko Machida was highly conscientious. Whether it was for the publishing house's profits or to make the authors under her wing wildly popular, she truly worried herself sick. For example:
She urged Utaha Kasumigaoka to hold a signing event, urged Utako Kasumi to hold a signing event, urged... ahem. In short, Sonoko Machida had always been busy. Utaha-chan had originally agreed to hold a signing event, but once the book became a hit, Utaha-chan lost all interest in it.
Sonoko Machida: (ノ益)ノ彡┻━┻
So what if your book was popular? Sonoko Machida had to let Utaha-chan know one thing: when a book became popular, it really was a big deal. A signing event was negotiable. Before, she had been urging her; now, she could play the emotional card too...
Wasn't it just a signing event? What famous author had never held one? Sonoko Machida really didn't understand why Utaha-chan was so resistant.
So she kept probing Utaha Kasumigaoka. Hard work paid off, and she finally got the answer. But why did it have something to do with that guy Sogo Doma again? Just what had Sogo Doma said to Utaha-chan?
Sogo Doma—he had probably spoiled something. Sorry, he hadn't meant to at the time. If he had another chance, he guaranteed he would spoil it even more thoroughly! For example, he could have Shaqiang turn the original plot into an anime, then share it with her. Ahem, he was just such a plain, unpretentious, and kindhearted guy.
Let's leave that aside.
When Utaha Kasumigaoka, speaking as a friend, told Sonoko Machida about the malice—spoilers—Sogo Doma had described, Sonoko Machida was stunned as well.
As the editor of Love Metronome, Sonoko Machida knew exactly how much effort Utaha Kasumigaoka had poured into