"Mashiro?" Utaha Kasumigaoka froze. When she heard that editor Sonoko didn't think much of the final volume of Love Metronome, even she had started to waver. But what she hadn't expected was for Mashiro to speak up for her at a time like this—and to express confidence in the final volume...
If even Mashiro had such faith in her, then why should Utaha Kasumigaoka, the creator of the work, lose confidence?
"Sonoko, looks like the final volume I wrote isn't so bad after all!"
Sonoko Machida: "..."
ヾ(ゞ)
Could it really be her fault? Otherwise, why had the final volume she thought would be rejected and sent back for revisions been approved for publication so smoothly? The second volume of Utaha's had sold a million copies. With sales like that, the publisher would want the author to stretch the story out as long as possible for profit. Finishing it in three volumes? What a joke.
And yet, the final volume Utaha had written had somehow secured publication so smoothly. At first, she'd thought the publisher had changed its tune. Could she have simply judged it wrong? Did the publisher think Utaha's final volume would be more profitable than letting her continue the story?
At the thought, Sonoko Machida asked without thinking:
"Utaha, do you still have a copy of the final volume's manuscript?"
"Didn't I give it to you?" Utaha Kasumigaoka asked, puzzled. "Besides, it's almost ready for publication. Why are you asking now?"
Sonoko Machida: "..."
She wanted to read the manuscript again and see whether she'd overlooked something! But how could she say that outright?
Seeing Sonoko Machida's awkward expression, Utaha Kasumigaoka seemed to understand. "Sonoko, you didn't just give the final volume of Love Metronome a quick glance, did you...?"
Sonoko Machida lowered her head and said