Kazuya never thought that this meeting with Shiyu would change from a simple chat at the beginning to the current sabre-rattling situation, but Kazuya is definitely not the kind of indiscriminate person who will completely sacrifice himself to fulfill others. When he was pushed out of the Fantastic library as a pawn against Shiyu, he was already ready to compete with Shiyu.

Of course, he hadn't realized the huge pressure that Shiyu was under before, but even now that Shiyu had clearly told Kazuya about her determination and the situation she was facing that she couldn't lose, Kazuya would only face it at this time. Although deep down Kazuya still has a way to get the best of both worlds - for example, the sales of Shiyu's novels are significantly ahead, but his debut as a rookie is relatively stable, but vaguely, reason tells Kazuya that this situation is not possible.

For the first time in more than a month, Kazuya has a feeling of exhaustion since he solved the problem of the atmosphere of the club with his own choice, and troublesome things always come together when you are unprepared, and Kazuya now truly feels this feeling.

What's more, this feeling that he knew about the coming troubles, but couldn't prevent them in advance, could only watch the events develop in his unpredictable direction, and couldn't change anything until the final ending appeared, really made him feel a little uncomfortable.

However, he didn't know if it was his own delusion, although his current mood was very bad, but Shi Yu on the other side seemed to be relieved, and there was only that kind of determination for the upcoming duel on his face, and there was no other superfluous expression.

"That, Senior Sister Shiyu," looking at Shiyu like this, Kazuya was a little hesitant, and asked uncertainly, "Although war has been declared, can you be sure?" The two of us should still be friends, right? ”

"Friend, what are you talking about? Kazuya-kun? What answered him was Shiyu's usual elegant smile.

"That's good." Kazuya secretly breathed a sigh of relief and said, though even he didn't know why he was relieved.

"But, even if it's a friend, I'm not going to show mercy in the future—of course, I can't show mercy anymore, and all I need to do now is try to cooperate with the Machida editors in publicity. We'll all use what we can - I remember that Lunya's blog has recently returned to normal operations, right? ”

"That's right," Kazuya nodded and replied, "But Lun isn't the kind of person who will help the propaganda without reservation because of your request!" ”

"Of course, when the first book of the new work was published, I also remembered Lunye's comment - for Teacher Xia Shizi, this is a very good attempt at transformation, but, judging from the development of the plot of the first novel, it is just an excellent transformation attempt, whether it can play the level she embodies in "Love Metronome" in the new series, we still need to observe again." Shi Yu nodded and said.

"That's right, anyway, I also argued with Lun at the time, saying that he was too demanding of you, and then he used a sentence of 'Only when you are demanding is you really respect the creation of Senior Sister Shiyu'!"

"So, the second book in this series, I can basically judge the success or failure through Lunye's evaluation!"

"But, Shiyu-senpai," Kazuya looked at Shiyu seriously and said, "You can ask Lun to help you promote it, and in the same way, my work is also okay - in this respect, our starting line is the same." ”

"That's right, if your work can be approved by him, it seems that you are very confident!"

"Well, it's also a guy who can make me give up after being used by the fantastic library.,Become a work that can be pulled out to be cannon fodder for a senior sister!" Kazuya smiled a little self-deprecatingly.

"So, let me see, a year and a half later, now, what extent have your 'cannon fodder' works reached!"

"yes, I'm looking forward to it!" Kazuya nodded, and there was a little fighting spirit in his eyes.

And looking at Kazuya, who finally embodied a positive atmosphere instead of a depressing atmosphere on his body, Shiyu's heart was also a little mixed.

I don't know how much you're looking forward to it, but I can't imagine how much I'm looking forward to your work! Do you know how I felt when I learned that day that you had also been approved by the editor and that your work was ready to be published? The feeling of regaining my spirits when there was little hope and a glimmer of light reappeared in front of me.

I thought that no matter whether your work was a success or a failure in terms of sales, at least I would be satisfied if I saw your shadow again. But that's not the truth at all, because I still want you to prove yourself, and if you can prove yourself, you're proving that my judgment is not wrong.

But now, if I were to bury you with my own hands, I don't know what you would think at that time, but now I always have a painful feeling of destroying myself!

But we can't stop anymore, Kazuya-kun! ――

Dividing line-

Yes, we can't stop anymore.

Kazuya didn't know what Shiyu was thinking in his heart, but he could clearly feel the impending stormy atmosphere, and he didn't even know what kind of state the two people who could easily say "we are still friends" would become in the end.

It's normal for writers to become friends with each other, and if it's a writer under the same library, it's not uncommon for two works to be linked, but if a rookie writer is crushed by a popular writer for no reason when he debuts, then this friendship between writers will probably become a joke!

Kazuya only hopes that no matter what the final outcome is, things don't develop to that point where people feel irreparable.

"So, the next time we meet, I think it should be the next discussion of Kirino's novel." Somewhat suddenly, Shiyu said.

"Uh-" Faced with this sudden change of topic, Kazuya was a little unable to react for a while.

However, Shi Yu just took care of himself, and said as if he was explaining the current Kazuya: "After all, I won't be coming to school in the next few days - it is an accident to come to school today, after all, I am a guaranteed student!" But not necessarily! Maybe next time, it's just the Kimura editor who will come to meet with you alone, and I don't think the next time the Machida editor will allow me to meet in person and mess around with you. ”

"What do you mean by meeting in person to mess around-" Kazuya complained a little subconsciously.

"--But, Kazuya-kun, all you need to know is," Shiyu said, turning her face in one direction, "whether I will participate in Kirino next novel discussion meeting or not, the next time we meet, we will be rivals, or rather, not just opponents, but enemies!" ”

It wasn't until this time that Kazuya finally discovered the momentary stunned and momentary gaffe of Shiyu, who had been showing a lot of fighting spirit before. However, even this momentary emotion was quickly covered up by Shi Yu.

"If I can, I really don't want to be a rival with Shiyu-senpai," Kazuya smiled bitterly and said, "But, next time we meet, I wish you all the best of luck!" ”

Kazuya reached out and prepared to hold Shiyu's hand.

"yes, good luck to us!" Shiyu didn't resist either, and stretched out his right hand to hold Kazuya.

And also Shi Yu had held hands before, that was when it was a simulated date, and also remembered Shi Yu's hand at that time, although it was calloused because of long-term typing, but it was still a pair of warm and delicate hands, but, when shaking hands now, that delicate feeling still exists, and the warm feeling has been completely replaced by a cold touch.

"It may need snow today! Senior sister, pay attention to keep your hands warm! Kazuya looked at the playground with some embarrassment, the artificial turf did not show a withered color at this time, and it was still a perfect bright green.

"yes, you should keep yourself warm!" Shiyu also nodded, and also looked at the court.

"If you just look at the grass, you won't feel like it's winter!" And also a little embarrassed.,Forced to open the topic as if he was talking.。

"Well, but if it's snowing and the lawn is covered in white, it's easy to recognize!" Shi Yu also replied a little hazy.

"It's almost February, and the weather hasn't warmed up yet—there have been a few good days in a row, but it's snowing again today, and this year's winter feels a little long!"

"yes, it feels like winter has just arrived." Shiyu dreamed, and replied to Kazuya-

Dividing line-

The reunion with Shiyu ended in an atmosphere where the two of them seemed to be casually talking about the weather, but it didn't seem to be talking about the weather. As Shiyu said, Kazuya didn't even know what kind of attitude he should face Shiyu in the next meeting with Shiyu, he just knew that it would definitely not be easy.

People have always been the most vulnerable at such times, and at this time, Kazuya feels that he desperately needs the comfort of others. However, this person can't be Ying Lili, because Kazuya always feels that if he tells Ying Li Li about this conversation between himself and Shiyu, it will cause his girlfriend's undeserved worry and further guilt.

So, lingering at the door of Ying Lili's class for a long time, looking at Ying Li Li who was shaking her double ponytail with excitement as usual, and a group of girls surrounding her, Kazuya even heard Ying Lili's somewhat shy words of "Hey, you have been asking me for a week, can you change the question", but, in the end, he still avoided the others with some caution and walked back to his class quickly.

There, at least, it looks like there's a nice object to comfort with.

Although the words can't be said in too much detail, chatting with Kato for a while always has the effect of lifting the spirits - even forcing yourself to complain is a kind of uplifting, and he also told himself so.

However, when he walked into the classroom, he was somewhat surprised to find that Kato, who was usually alone in the corner and silently reading a book, was rarely surrounded by several boys.

When Kazuya walked into the classroom, his eyes were habitually in the direction of his seat and Kato, who was sitting next to him, and coincidentally, almost at the same time, Kato's eyes were also on the door of the classroom. The eyes of the two met like this.

As if he didn't know how to explain the situation around him to Kazuya, Kato frowned slightly, and then tilted his head slightly, revealing a little anxious color.

"Uh, what does that mean, let me help her out?" Kazuya looked at Kato's eyes in confusion, and thought to himself with some uncertainty.

"Well, but that's it, it's okay to break the siege, although I don't know why Kato was suddenly surrounded by boys, but now it's right to take her out and help me adjust my emotions." Soon, Kazuya made up his mind and walked in the direction of his own actions.

"Do Kato-san's songs are any good at? If you can, why don't you find a chance to go karaoke together? ”

"Yes, yes, I feel like Kato-san usually only talks to Kazuya and An Yi a lot, but lately, Kazuya that guy has been going to accompany her every day.

"Speaking of Yasui's interest, some of us are also playing games, and if Kato-san wants to talk about something, it should be okay to talk."

Hey, you're dating your classmates, it's obviously more natural, even if it's better to talk about school life, why do you want to do the same as a pick-up! Or is Kato usually like a stranger to you - if it's a stranger, don't talk to Kato?

Is it my delusion, though? Recently, Kato's presence and popularity in the class have increased?

Looking at Kato, who slowly showed a look of embarrassment, Kazuya thought uncertainly.

Forget it, it's always a good thing to have an increased presence, and all in all, it's the right thing to drag that guy out of here. With such thoughts, Kazuya came to Kato's side, grabbed the arm of the girl next to him, blocked Kato behind him, and said:

"Okay, okay, the invitation to Kato-san is over for the time being, so let's let me, who usually talks to her a lot, requisition her!"