Even Kato herself doesn't know how much falsehood and self-deception there is in this last sentence, but she knows very well that since Kazuya and Eiri Riri, her initial simple idea of "as long as you are humble enough to restore everyone's relationship to the original one" has not been realized, but has begun to collapse continuously.

Now this conflict between Kazuya and Shiyu is just a concrete manifestation of the collapse.,In addition to the still ambitious Lunya.,Kato and Yingli and Shiyu, who know a little bit about Kazuya and other girls.,They all understand,The relationship between everyone now,It's no longer possible to restore the beginning.,At this time,Even if someone wants to gather everyone in the name of "making games", they can't do it.

And this process of collapse gradually becoming obvious from inconspicuous to obvious is actually the process of Kato's mentality slowly becoming discordant.

Initially, when Blessing-Software could still stay together in the same club classroom for the final production of the previous game, Kato could also joke with Eiri and Kazuya, and could also be a mediator between the two, and even, when Kazuya showed her love to Eiri on the football field, although there was a slight tingling in her heart, she was still able to happily offer her blessings to Eiri. At that time, Kato almost thought that he had solved his psychological problems.

However, what followed was Honkai, the cessation of club activities, and the subsequent inexplicable competition and confrontation between Kazuya and Shiyu in all aspects, which made the sensitive Kato realize that this might be the harbinger of the final collapse. But at that time, Kato still had a naïve idea of "cutting off the existing relationship and starting over with a new attitude", which is why she advised not to be weak in the confrontation with Yu Shiyu at that time. However, this time, although she also made the same advice to Kazuya, she has realized that the so-called "severing existing relationships" does not mean that she can face others with a new attitude, she can't do it herself, and Shiyu can't do it.

For Kato, it was a chance for Kazuya to redeem Shiyu, and it was also his last attempt to redeem everyone and his goal of being with everyone - but it turned out that her attempt failed again.

Therefore, in this case, Kato said "support" and "backing", not so much to stand behind Kazuya to support him, but to say that she was trying to grasp the last straw for herself. The former Kato has become accustomed to being alone, accustomed to watching other people's various fights and wrapping himself in an inconspicuous coat in a corner, but, after having such a collective, Kato has known that he cannot go back to the past.

So, even if you can't reshape the whole collective, as long as you can tie yourself to the other two people of the collective, Kazuya and Eiri Pear, in this way, it should be a kind of redemption for yourself, which is something that Kato doesn't even want to admit in her heart, but she has to constantly warn her true thoughts.

However, Kazuya, who was exhausted by other things about himself, didn't, couldn't understand Kato's mood, or rather, he hoped to find a way out, and of course, as he had done countless times before, chose to trust Kato unconditionally, and chose to unconditionally, at the last moment, also counting on the miracle that such a seemingly ordinary girl could create.

Even if this girl and him don't seem to have anything to do with him except friends, even if this girl is actually crushed by the psychological pressure she is carrying, even if the person who has made an agreement with him to "bear it together and face it together" is another person.

However, at least for now, Kazuya's flustered mood became a little calmer because of Kato's comfort, and he patted his face a little, and Kazuya said seriously: "If you come this far, there is no way back, right?" So, Kato, let's take another look at my novel, although I know that you may have the idea of procrastinating the time before, but this time, it was my own suggestion! ”

"I don't think that's necessary, Aragaki-san." Kato shook his head, "Judging from the situation just now, I think it might be better to wait for the editorial department to notify you of the specific sales." ”

"No," Kazuya vetoed Kato's suggestion, "I and Shiyu-senpai's books should be placed in the 'new book recommendation' section of the bookstore, so as long as you go to the bookstore and wait a little for an hour to see the percentage of my and Shiyu-senpai's books sold, maybe you can have a preliminary estimate." ”

"Well, since you've said so." Kato looked at it, although his expression was normal, but his eyes slightly revealed a faint plea and a weak Kazuya, and finally nodded helplessly.

Two hours later.

"Although the overall statistical sample is still insufficient, it can basically be seen that the sales ratio of Aragaki classmate's work and Kasumigaoka's work is about 1:2, which is almost a crushing result, obviously from the perspective of pre-sales, the gap is not so big." Kato and Kazuya stayed in front of the new book showcase for a long time, and it was not until the clerk repeatedly looked at them with distrust that the two chose to leave, but before leaving, they still had a general idea of how the novel would sell.

"After all, in addition to pre-sales, people who come to bookstores to buy light novels for a while pay more attention to the author's name and illustrations, right? I don't have any advantage on these two points, so in addition to pre-sales, it is relatively normal to pull out the gap in specific sales, I don't know if the number of pre-sales can make up for the relative gap. Kazuya, who has regained his composure, is very calm in the face of this situation and analyzes it objectively.

"It would be nice if I could ask Eiri to illustrate for you, but it's a pity—" Kato replied casually, and then, realizing that she had said the wrong thing, she embarrassedly forced her to stop the conversation.

"It's nothing." Kazuya shook his head and said, "If the novel can not be cut in half, then when the next volume is published, if it can be reconciled with Ying Lili, then the illustration will not be a problem at that time." ”

"Yes, I hope so." Kato replied simply.

"Shall it be the end of the matter? Although today's sales survey is a little worse than I thought,But I think it should still be within the range of sustainability.,Next, it's the same as our previous game.,The most important thing is the word-of-mouth feedback from readers tonight.,I'm still very confident in this.,This is also a link where I have the opportunity to counterattack.,After all,This work of Sister Shiyu is a work of transformation.,And my "Friends Young", but it's an orthodox light comedy work.,The controversy won't be so big.。 ”

"I have the impression that the two stories that Aragaki wrote before don't seem to be comedy stories, right? Are you so confident in yourself? ”

"Of course." Kazuya bowed his head lightly and said confidently.

Of course,This self-confidence comes from the confidence in the guy who reads Hirasaka.,Although the ending is a cheat.,But as a light novel that can be adapted for two seasons of animation.,There's also a live-action version of the light novel.,The beginning is still a type of residual comedy.,Although "Friends Young" is not a topical work,But it's still very worthwhile as an ordinary popular work.。 Moreover, although it is a comedy of residual thoughts, on the whole, "Friends and Youth" also has an orthodox love comedy style, that is, there are innovations, but on the whole, it is still based on steady and steady, and such works cannot be despised at any time.

"I don't know where your confidence comes from, but you've said so." Kato shook his head helplessly.

"Hey, I knew I should have let you take a look at the senior critic Taki-kun, An Yilun also gave me an evaluation, his evaluation of my novel is not bad, don't you have a 'your novel is just relying on the previous hype to catch fire, and now it will come to an abrupt end', okay?"

"Shouldn't I show an expression of 'Ah, Aragaki is so confident, and if he's really a genius light novel writer'?" Kato replied matter-of-factly.

"Well, I don't need that." Kazuya scratched his head a little dumbly and laughed softly.

It wasn't until this time that he realized that this was the first time he had shown such a relaxed expression in the course of his conversation with Kato for more than a month, you know, as the former "partner" who was stupid and responsible for complaining, it is definitely not uncommon for Kato to show a helpless, relaxed, or mocking smile in front of Kato, but this time, it was the first time in more than a month that he showed such a smile in front of Kato.

"Aragaki-san, what's wrong?"

"Uh, nothing." Looking at Kato's puzzled expression, Kazuya shook his head embarrassedly, he didn't want to admit that he was happy to realize that he finally laughed in front of Kato, but he still wanted to convey this feeling, "However, it feels like we haven't had a conversation like this for a long time?" ”

"It's been a long time?"

"Of course, I can't even remember the last time we had such a relaxed conversation."

"Really? It seems like this. Kato asked himself, and then, he also showed a somewhat nostalgic expression, "Ah, it seems, that feeling, this feeling." ”

"Wait a minute, what's that like?"

"Well, I don't think it's necessary to talk to Aragaki about this feeling."

"Hey, Kato, is this feeling very private?"

"Eun, not really, but I just think Aragaki-san's didn't tell me what you thought just now, so I won't tell you what I think now, this should be considered a flat point, right?"

"Hey, there's no such thing." Kazuya showed a helpless expression, "At least it should, uh, Kato?" ”

Kazuya, who suddenly found Kato's originally relaxed expression stunned, looked at Kato's eyes.

Then, he saw the bright blonde hair, and the signature ponytail.

Wearing a cold-toned coat that doesn't match her usual atmosphere, high boots, which makes Yingli Li's body shrouded in a more cold atmosphere, and she is still holding a light novel tightly in her hand, judging from the cover, there is no doubt that it is Kazuya's just-published "My Friends Are Few". Her slightly tired face was a little pale from the cold wind, but that didn't stop her from having a beautiful face and mesmerizing blue eyes.

Eiri Sawamura, almost after not seeing each other for a month, stood there abruptly, looking at him and Kato silently.

If it weren't for Kato's daze eyes, Kazuya would almost think that this was another "chance encounter" arranged by Kato for him, but he also knew that even if it was a chance encounter, Kato would not let him see Eiri when he was with him.

"How did you get to Hehe City?" The words of shock blurted out almost unpreparedly.

"What's the matter," Ying Lili's eyes were cold, even when she was telling herself that she wanted to calm down, even if it was ten years of cold war between the two, she had never shown this expression to Chaohe, this was the expression that she usually performed to other boys to refuse to be thousands of miles away, and this time, Ying Li Li Chaohe also showed this expression.

"What's the matter," Ying Lili replied coldly, "Can't I come to Hehe City?" When and also can you restrict my personal freedom? ”

"Well, that's not what I mean," Kazuya looked at such a pear pear, and then looked at Kato beside him, and said a little overwhelmed, "That, and then Kato's words-"

"-There's nothing to explain, but you're coming with Kato to see Kasumigaoka Shiha's book signing party, and that's the same purpose for me, isn't it? It's just that I didn't come with you. ”

"Not really." Kazuya opened his mouth and tried to explain, however, in exchange for only Ying Riri's quick turn away.

"I'm sorry, Kazuya, I don't know if this is the result of your calmness, if so, I think I can congratulate you, if not, then we are still in the cooling-off period, right?"

"Listen to me, Ying Lili, it's an accident." Kato also joined in persuading Eiri, "At least Aragaki-san's didn't want to take the initiative to find me. ”

However, what was left for the two of them was only Ying Lili's back, and her somewhat trembling words: "Originally, I'm just a fool, why did I come to find this book, if I didn't come, I wouldn't be able to see it, right?" So, why, why am I doing this? ”――

PS――

Suddenly I found that the collection of the starting point broke 12,000, although the bookseller changed first, but I was still curious about how many people followed the book at the starting point