My Stepsister in Kyoto

Sonoko wasn't sure how to describe her emotions. While she had to admit that his story was engaging, interesting, and so lovely that she couldn't stop reading, she also felt worried about the development of this story. Yet, she didn't deny him since she realized that he had made many clues that this story definitely wouldn't be such a fluffy and warm one. 

While it was true that the protagonist dated the president of the astronomy club, his relationship with the others wasn't far, and it could be said that they were so close. 

If the president of the astronomy club didn't do anything, it wouldn't be weird for the protagonist to date the others. 

Yet, even so, would others give up?

Sonoko could imagine this story would become a bloodbath. As an editor, her reading speed was fast and natural. In just a while, she had read the manuscript of the second volume, which was written by him, before taking a deep breath, then stared at Mizuto fiercely. 

"You are going to make him have a harem?" 

"...yes." 

"You scoundrel!" 

Sonoko thought that Mizuto was an innocent and shy young man, but as expected, like any other man, he was so naughty! 

However, as an editor, she couldn't deny him, and she also felt that his story was interesting, but—

"Are you sure you can do this? If you do this, the ending can't be predicted, you know?" 

If the protagonist dated the president of the astronomy club alone, then there was no doubt that this story would be predictable, but even so, it was fun to read, and it was also easy to predict that this book would definitely be sold, especially when the warm, fluffy love story was currently on fire in the market. 

Yet, if it followed Mizuto's wish, then the result would be unpredictable. 

However, Sonoko couldn't deny that this was much more interesting. 

"Yes." Mizuto nodded. "I believe that I can write it." 

"You will be hated." 

"That's natural, isn't it? I can't please everyone." 

Watching his firm expression, Sonoko sighed and said, "As your editor, I feel like you should take a safe and stable course by pairing the protagonist with only a single heroine, but at the same time, I can't deny that the prospect of where he dates everyone is also interesting." 

"Right?" 

"I am not praising you!" 

However, Mizuto only smiled, causing Sonoko to blush and look away, feeling that this young man was too dangerous! 

Frankly, Sonoko wondered whether this innocent and warm smile of his was just a guise of his greedy nature. Yet it was their first meeting. Even if they had contacted each other for quite a while, she felt that it was unprofessional of her to ask about his private life. However, she had to say she was curious. 

"...are you dating several girls now?" 

"I don't think that's something that we should talk about now, Machida-san. What do you think of this story?" 

Mizuto didn't intend to talk about his private life, especially to this editor of his. He wouldn't mix his job and his private help, especially when he knew how messy his private life was. 

Struggling, Sonoko thought for a moment and said, "Finish volume 2 now, and when you finish it, we can talk about that matter later." 

"Huh? Now?" Mizuto was startled. 

"Now!" Sonoko suddenly became stern and said, "Or rather, if you don't finish volume two now, I won't let you go home!" 

"Wait, wait! That's impossible. It isn't easy for me to write all of them!" 

Did she think that he copied this story from his previous life?

No way! 

This was his original, and he needed at least an hour or so to write 1,000 words! 

While he might have written half of it, it was definitely impossible for him to finish volume 2 of his book in a day! 

In other words, he might not even go home!

"There is nothing impossible! You can use my laptop here. Just write, or I won't let you go home." 

To keep him in her room, she also had taken the key and stood near the door so he couldn't escape. 

"Moreover, tomorrow is Sunday, so there shouldn't be a problem with the school, right? There is no excuse that you can't complete the story." 

"Can I just tell you to outline?" 

"No." Sonoko shook her head and said firmly, "You need to write a complete book. You don't need to worry. I will prepare everything for you, whether it is food, drink, or even your clothes, even if you need to. Fortunately, we're in the hotel, so everything is prepared, so write!" 

"...demon." 

Sonoko sighed, then looked at Mizuto and said, "Listen, Irido-kun. What you did is a gamble. You are going all out, betting on everything. You will either fail or succeed, but I definitely want to see you succeed, so let me see whether you can write this story, or else you might as well rewrite from the beginning and focus on your relationship with one heroine." 

"....." 

Mizuto knew that Sonoko was a responsible editor, and she wanted the best for him. It was also because of this that he knew he couldn't escape. Moreover, as she had said before, if the romance was only with one heroine, there was no need for him to work hard, and he could even write it while he was sleeping, as everything would be predictable.

Mizuto knew well his strength in writing was his smoothness, ease of understanding, logic, and simplicity, yet he also had melancholy beauty that could make readers immersed in the world of his writing.

Having one heroine was definitely the best for him, and he also understood why Sonoko and even the head editor had high hopes for him due to his writing style and maturity in his writing, which resulted in his novel definitely being easy to sell, especially with his excellent illustrations. 

However, if the story became like how Mizuto wished to be where the protagonist decided to date so many heroines at the same time, it would definitely be hard to predict the sales. 

The guys aside, the girls who the publisher predicted might buy his work would refrain from reading such a book. Nevertheless, as his book definitely wasn't mainstream and even tried to fight it, developing into something that had never been tested on the market, no one could imagine the result. 

Still, he didn't write his story because he wanted money. He did this because he wanted to write about what was happening in his life, like Raymond Radiguet, who wrote about his experience of having an affair with a married young woman. 

This was why he had never thought of the sales and also felt uncomfortable by Sonoko's high expectations since he didn't think his book would sell much. 

Or rather, he didn't even think that this book could attract the attention of such a humongous publisher at all! 

Still, with how pushy Sonoko was, Mizuto somehow had the urge to buy Kadokawa Corporation, teaching this woman what it meant to try to force him. Yet, he erased that urge, thinking how childish he was. 

Staying in silence for a while, he knew that he wrote this book for his determination. 

"...give me your laptop." 

Hearing his words, Sonoko smiled and said, "You don't need to worry. I will help you with all of your needs." 

Mizuto was stunned by his words, and his expression turned weird. "...don't say something that might cause a misunderstanding." 

Sonoko was startled by his words, and her ears quickly turned red. 

As for why her face didn't blush?

Well, it was because she wore make-up, so it was impossible for her blush to be seen. 

"Stop saying something stupid! Hurry up and write!" 

"Okay, okay." 

Trying to get into the mood, Mizuto started to write, but what he didn't realize was that Sonoko's gaze on him became complicated as she felt like... she might not be able to reject him if he asked her for help in that area. 

'While it's impossible to go all the way... it should be okay with just my hands, right?'

Looking at her smooth and white hands, she wondered whether she could do it well. 

---

Should I?