manga artist Kirito

Page 258

Kiritani-kun stared at the woman before him.

very beautiful!

Kiritani rarely praises others, but Akane Kousaka is beautiful no matter how you look at her. Even now, with her eyebrows slightly raised and a slightly inexplicable expression, she still looks good. Hmm... she has a unique kind of cuteness.

"Um... what do you want to say? Is it urgent?"

I tilted my head slightly. The environment here was a bit dark, but if the lights were on, the scenery around would be quite nice, although there were two men on the side who were placing something there, which was a bit of a nuisance.

"Yes, it's quite urgent, and it's the kind of situation where I absolutely can't do without you."

Kiritani's gaze shifted slightly, just like when a teacher asks you to memorize the textbook content, and you diligently memorize it, but when you need it... you find that you've forgotten it, and now you're trying hard to recall it.

"Then just say it straight, what is it?"

"Ah, actually there are two things. The more important one... um, I haven't figured out how to say it yet... so let's talk about something else first. Also, you absolutely mustn't get angry!"

His expression grew increasingly strange, and he seemed somewhat complicated and tense. Kiritani took a deep breath and looked directly into Akane Kousaka's eyes. "Gotanda no Cardinal, your debut work, the anime adaptation of the work I've been discussing with Akiyuki Shinbo recently, that's the remake of this work..."

At this point, Kiritani gently raised his eyelids and cautiously glanced at Akane Kousaka, seemingly worried that she would be very angry.

However, Akane Kosaka lowered her head, her breathing becoming much heavier. Due to her bangs, shadows, and the angle, Kiritani-kun couldn't see Akane's expression at that moment, but judging from the change in her breathing... she was displeased, or even perhaps angry.

"Um... I haven't fully confirmed the remake yet. After all... well, this is your work, so you'll definitely need to sign the contract. I... well, I'm here to ask for your opinion."

"Oh yes, both Shinbo Akiyuki and I have watched this work in its entirety. It's a great story, and I really like it, so... um, I want more people to see it."

"Although it wasn't quite right of me to take your manuscript without telling you beforehand, I don't want you to have any regrets about this work!"

"This is your debut work, but many creators on the bestseller lists can't compare to it..."

Kiritani-kun kept talking for a long time, mainly because he was a little flustered.

"...Will you say yes?"

"...Tell me about the other matter."

Akane Kosaka's voice was a little deep.

Kiritani-kun found out, and Watermelon felt annoyed.

"Well... the other thing is..."

boom!

A slightly deafening sound was followed by a sudden burst of light from all around.

Dazzling, noisy, yet magnificent and beautiful, colorful fireworks.

Fireworks arranged in a heart shape surrounded Kiritani and Akane Kousaka, an unexpected warmth in the cold winter. Akane looked up in surprise at the colorful fireworks, her irritation gradually melting away, replaced by... surprise and joy.

"I heard that doing this will make the woman happier."

Sniffing, putting aside the matter of the anime adaptation for the moment, Kirito looked around at the fireworks, then smiled at Akane Kousaka, "Would you like it?"

"Well, it looks good."

With her lips pursed, Akane Kosaka nodded slightly, but her expression didn't change much. She simply looked directly into Kiritani's eyes, waiting for him to say what he would say next.

"Well... fireworks, is that a way of... asking someone to date you?"

"Well, that's right."

"So, you're my...girlfriend now, right?"

Filled with intense anticipation, yet also with considerable anxiety, Kiritani spoke cautiously, a little afraid... afraid that the response he would receive would be completely different from what he expected, or very anxious that he would receive a negative response.

"It shouldn't... count, right? Besides, shouldn't it be done this way? Don't you think something's missing?"

Akane Kosaka tilted her head slightly, her pretty eyes filled with a deep meaning.

"Uh, I... I just don't understand."

If it's a storyline or a comic book script, let alone this kind of plot, even if you let him come up with a whole story full of sour and stinky odors, it wouldn't be a problem. But a story is a story, and it won't be the same as reality.

"Then, how should I put it?"

"I do not know."

"...Ah, anyway, I don't care, you'll definitely agree, right?"

Raising his hand and scratching his head, Kiritani-kun, looking slightly embarrassed and conflicted, suddenly became firm, "Anyway, from now on you're my girlfriend!"

"Wow, they completely disregard my opinion, don't they even consider whether I want to or not?"

"So, you're willing, right? You'll agree, won't you?"

Kiritani pursed his lips, waiting for Akane Kousaka's answer, his face filled with shyness and excitement.

"Okay, I agree, you idiot!"

"I... um, I'm a little... a little excited."

With a gentle smile, Xigua stepped forward and embraced Kiritani-kun, whose pretty face was filled with smiles, holding him tightly.

What does it feel like to hug someone?

It's the feeling of being loved, the feeling of warmth, the feeling of happiness.

—What does love feel like?

Longing, being unable to control oneself, thinking of that person every moment—perhaps this is love.

Just moments before, he had confessed his love for me.

I am now holding the person I love most in my arms.

I don't know if this counts as happiness, but... I feel very content and warm.

This winter is warmer than usual, and even more so, more pleasing to the eye.

"Then, about the anime adaptation..."

"I will agree to whatever decision it is."

Snowflakes drifted down, and the still-burning fireworks beside me melted away with their heat.

Under the hazy moonlight, the boy slightly raised his chin, filled with joy, "From now on, Watermelon, you are mine."

However, the girl pushed him away slightly, her posture somewhat forceful, "Let me correct you, you're mine!"

"Well……"

Before Kiritani could even react, the watermelon-colored lips parted slightly and kissed him.

—I think I understand the concept of happiness now. I am very satisfied, very lucky, and very happy to be able to spend the rest of my life with you!

—To know you is a bond that will last forever!

"I love you"

PS:

This chapter is written in a rather strange way, but I won't tell you that some of the dialogue is from conversations I had with other people today.

Besides that, I... I think I'm in an online relationship?

(perhaps

531

【NO.521 Long Time No See】

As April arrives, the temperature in Chiba is already transitioning towards summer, but the warm temperature gives people a lazy feeling. The cherry blossoms on both sides of the street have not yet faded. Even if you ignore the cherry blossoms that have fallen to the ground, you can still see the cherry blossom petals falling at a rate of five centimeters per second.

On a street in Chiba City, at an open-air café, a blonde girl holding a warm coffee had a nostalgic smile on her lips, as if she were immersed in some beautiful memories. Her cute appearance and gentle smile attracted a lot of attention, but the girl, lost in her thoughts, did not notice.

Or rather, even if they did discover it, they probably wouldn't care too much.

Wearing a sky-blue dress and a plain white coat, with two long strands of hair parted on either side of her head by white headbands, her delicate face made her look exceptionally lovely—Alice, Alice Qingbelk, had left this peaceful yet extraordinary city many years ago, a city that held both her love and her dislike.

Now, back in this familiar yet unfamiliar city, I can't help but feel a bit emotional.

Although she had just returned, the girl's heart was far from calm. She wondered how the person she had been thinking about since many years ago, even since she left, was doing now. Was his life as monotonous as before, or was he doing well, with someone to walk with, play with, and who had decided to spend the rest of his life with?

Ah, thinking like that really makes me feel heavy-hearted.

Her tongue licked her lips and brushed between her teeth, her taste buds clearly reflecting the bitterness and subtle aroma of the coffee. The smile on the girl's pretty face gradually faded. She was still considering how to re-enter that person's life, but she was also a little afraid... afraid that the passage of time had made that person completely forget her memories.

"This is really frustrating..."

With a slightly troubled expression, the girl put down her coffee, rested her chin on her small, fair hand, and looked somewhat worried.

The azure and clear sky was tinged with the colors of dusk, and the pedestrians on the street became increasingly hurried. The rare tranquility and sunset in the bustling city, with its faint red glow quietly falling on the young girl, created a highly poetic scene. However, the indelible melancholy in the scene seemed somewhat out of place...

"Miss, the housing and school arrangements have been made."

The peaceful atmosphere was abruptly broken as Tenjouin Sho, dressed in a maid outfit, appeared behind Alice, holding a tablet computer. As she spoke, she adjusted her glasses, perfectly showcasing her maturity and intellect. A heavy suitcase lay at Tenjouin Sho's feet; although most of her belongings had been arranged to be transported directly to the newly purchased house by a moving company.

"...Hey, Xiaoqi, do you think I should go find him right now? That would be a nice surprise, wouldn't it?"

Alice turned around, eagerly awaiting Tenjouin Ryouki's response, but her expression held a hint of uncertainty, or rather, a lack of confidence.

"...Beautiful lady, who are you?"

Tenjouin Ryouki pushed up his glasses and tilted his head to look at Alice. "Although my young lady can be very quiet and peaceful at times, and even a bit aloof in front of unfamiliar people, she will switch to a strong state when it comes to someone... Well, you could also say she's a nymphomaniac? In short, she is always worried, like a loser, which is not the Alice Qingbelk I know."

"Wow! That's so mean! They actually called me a 'loser' or something..."

After a moment of shock, Alice seemed to realize something. The worry on her pretty face vanished, replaced by a look of utter disdain. She raised her hand and clenched her fist. "I'm going to be the main character, you know!"

"Yes, you can only be the protagonist's woman!"

Calmly making a comment, Tenjouin Shoki checked the time. "It's 5:47 PM now. If nothing unexpected happens, that person should have already gone home from school. If Miss goes there now... perhaps she can have a rather artistic encounter with him in front of the apartment?"

Alice rolled her eyes, almost too lazy to even comment anymore. "Isn't this too deliberate?"

With a flick of his wrist, he swiped away the various ways to encounter the monsters displayed on the tablet, and Tenjouin Shoki suggested the next option, "Shall we meet him using the 'new neighbor's visit' method?"

"...Shut up, Laughing Rider! I like him, I want to date him, and I even want to spend the rest of my life with him!"

With a soft sigh, Alice turned to look at Tenjouin Shūki and said seriously, "But, romance is romance! What's the difference between these plans you've made for me and a strategy guide?! Keep a calm mind! -- No, shouldn't I be the one keeping a calm mind? So why do you seem to care more about this than I do?"

"Forget it, let's go!"

With a slightly conflicted expression, Alice wiped her mouth with a tissue and walked towards the car parked by the roadside. Tenjouin Saki, with a meaningful smile, turned and walked to the counter to pay.

"Honestly, what are you thinking about!"

With her lips slightly pursed, the girl scratched her long golden hair. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a black-haired boy walking past her. His slender frame and somewhat androgynous face gave her a sense of familiarity that seemed to have triggered a strong reaction in her heart, causing her heart to race.

"I, Tong..."

She stopped in her tracks and unconsciously made that sound.

The black-haired boy must have heard her. He slowly turned his head to look over. His calm eyes didn't show much emotion, but the corners of his mouth turned up slightly as Alice became excited. He smiled and extended his hand, "Hello, Alice!"

"...Hello, Kazuto!"

The girl bit her lip lightly, her eyes slightly red. She never expected to meet him like this. I... I was still struggling with this decision...

"Hmm? Then, let's try a different approach."

Looking down at the outstretched hand that wasn't being grasped, the boy wasn't particularly embarrassed. Instead, he smiled slightly, then reached out and put his arm around the girl's shoulder, pulling her into a tight embrace. "Long time no see... Welcome home!"

She tried to relax as much as possible, but the tightness of her embrace remained undiminished. The girl greedily inhaled his scent, rested her chin on his shoulder, and slowly closed her eyes.

"I'm back."

532

【NO.522 The Promise We Once Had】

The television was still playing a popular animated series. Although Alice had been following it, she had absolutely no interest in watching it now. What actually kept her somewhat engaged was the room's decor. It was a very minimalist space, with few game-related items, mostly strange books and literary stories.

Besides that, there wasn't anything else that I was particularly interested in.

Yes, the things they're talking about that I care about a lot are things like photo albums, photos with other girls, etc... Well, I should have been mentally prepared for this by now, but I'm still really curious about how Kiritani-kun has been doing all these years.

Alice tilted her head slightly, looking at the kitchen behind her, which was emitting the noise of the range hood. She gently pursed her lips, and an uncontrollable smile appeared on her face. It seems that Kiritani-kun doesn't have many female friends right now.

The kitchen door opened, and a boy wearing an apron poked his head out. Seeing Alice sitting on the sofa, still looking a little reserved, he rolled his eyes. "Make yourself at home. Dinner will be ready soon."

"No, I was just wondering if girls often come to visit Kiritani-kun's house."

"Living in a dream world! You might as well think about whether someone like me has actually made any friends."

"...Have you made any friends?"