Kato Megumi: Don't Look Back, I'm Tomoya-kun

"Huh?!" Upon hearing Izumi Yuu's words, a seductive blush instantly appeared on Kato Megumi's fair face.

Is this... a confession?!

The girl felt her brain practically overheating!

After leaving the classroom, Kato Megumi and Izumi Yuu slowly walked toward the college gate.

The two chatted idly.

"Come to think of it... tomorrow's the weekend," Kato Megumi's voice carried a hint of melancholy.

This meant she wouldn't be able to go to school with Izumi Yuu tomorrow.

"Yes, it's time for another happy weekend," Izumi nodded with a smile. "What plans do you have, Kato-san?"

"Hmm... I'll probably go to the mall with Tomoya to collect materials?" Kato Megumi tilted her head thoughtfully. "We agreed to gather some inspiration for the club activities. After all, it's not a date, just work. It wouldn't be good to skip it."

To prevent Izumi Yuu from misunderstanding, she added an extra explanation.

"I see. After all, Kato and Tomoya-san are both serious about their work. I understand that." Izumi smiled, "I hope you two can collect your materials smoothly! But I really envy Tomoya-san, who gets to spend the weekend alone with you."

Seeing that Izumi Yuu didn't seem upset about her going out with Aki Tomoya, and that he was simply expressing envy, Kato Megumi couldn't help but feel relieved.

Kato Megumi smiled. "Then, I'll just have to ask for your blessing! Besides, Tomoya and I are just working together for the club, not on a date. If you need my help, I won't refuse!"

If it were Tomoya-kun...

Maybe I'd be really upset and angry by now, saying something harsh about Izumi-kun?

Thinking this, Kato Megumi felt a strange and complicated emotion.

"It's settled, then! If you need Kato's help in the future, I won't hesitate to ask," Izumi Yuu said with a smile.

Looking at his bright smile, Kato Megumi found herself distracted for a moment. Realizing she was losing control of her emotions, she quickly regained composure, nodding. "Yeah! So, what are your plans for the weekend, Izumi-kun?"

"Well... I probably have some part-time work to deal with. I'll need to meet with a part-time partner to discuss work matters. After that, I'll probably stay home and take care of my sister," Izumi Yuu said after thinking for a moment.

"Izumi-kun is really family-oriented," Kato Megumi said, impressed. "Balancing part-time work and taking care of your sister... you're such a reliable person."

Her words made Izumi Yuu feel a warm appreciation for her.

They were close to the clubroom now.

Izumi Yuu waved at Kato Megumi reluctantly. "Kato-san, see you next time!"

"Why are you here?!" Before Kato Megumi could respond, a gloomy voice suddenly interrupted them.

"Eh?! Tomoya-san?" Kato Megumi turned and saw Aki Tomoya standing behind them, his expression grim. "Izumi-kun was just heading home, and we happened to be walking in the same direction."

"Yeah, Kato and I just happened to be walking this way," Izumi Yuu said, looking at Tomoya with some concern. "Tomoya-san, you don't look so well. Are you sick?"

But in Tomoya's eyes, Izumi Yuu's handsome face, which almost seemed unfair, looked like a provocation.

"This is our club's activity room. It holds the secrets of our club! If you don't have something important, stay away!" Tomoya snapped, his eyes hidden behind his black-framed glasses, slightly red with frustration. "Besides, I don't need some hypocrite like you worrying about me!"

"Everyone hasn't arrived yet, and we haven't started working. There's no need to be so serious and unfriendly," Kato Megumi said, a bit annoyed. "Izumi-kun is just concerned about you, Tomoya-kun. Please don't always target him."

"Huh?! So now you're here to teach me a lesson on behalf of this guy?!" Tomoya's chest heaved with frustration as if he were holding his breath in.

"It seems like Tomoya-san has a prejudice against me. Is it because I'm too close to Kato-san?" Izumi Yuu looked at Tomoya with some confusion. "But didn't Tomoya-san say that he and Kato-san are just friends in the club? I don't think I'll interfere with your club activities."

"You..." Hearing Izumi Yuu's words, Tomoya's face turned purple. He wanted to retort but couldn't find the words. All he could manage was, "I just don't want Kato to be influenced by you and end up becoming a qualified heroine. Our club doesn't welcome you!"

[Looking at the poor soul before you, a bit more pity stirs within. You consider giving him something to warm his heart during this cold spring. You could ruin his date tomorrow—wait until they're at their meeting spot, and when the girl goes to the restroom, you could let him overhear the intimate sounds she makes... but it's too soon.]

Izumi Yuu couldn't help but feel a little regretful.

However, this plan could be saved for later, as long as Aki Tomoya still had an opportunity.

"Mr. Tomoya, you're going too far!" Kato Megumi, standing beside him, now showed a hint of irritation, a rare expression on her usually calm face. Her voice, typically gentle, became colder.

"Although I don't quite understand tomoya-san logic, it seems he doesn't welcome me. To avoid causing any trouble for you, I'll take my leave now." Izumi Yuu shrugged, his tone light. "But if tomoya-san doesn't like Kato and you two aren't a couple, perhaps you shouldn't interfere so much. After all, only a boyfriend should make decisions about these things."

Turning to Kato Megumi, he smiled again. "Then, I'll take my leave. Kato-san, do your best today!"

"I'll do my best. Goodbye, Izumi-kun," Kato Megumi said with a sweet smile, waving.

After glancing at the favorability value above Kato Megumi's head, Izumi Yuu left without lingering.

[Name: Kato Megumi]

[Status: A stranger heroine who is gradually finding a new life.]

[Favorability: 57 (A young girl whose feelings for you are quickly sprouting.)]

With a final wave, Izumi Yuu walked out of the clubroom door and headed home.

Only Tomoya Aki and Kato Megumi remained, both with solemn expressions.

"Izumi-kun is such a considerate and kind person. He left on his own to avoid causing trouble between me and Tomoya... But what Izumi-kun said is true. Tomoya clearly doesn't show any affection for me, yet he acts as if he's making decisions for me like a boyfriend," Kato Megumi said, her mind in a whirl.

She glanced at Tomoya, who still wore an unpleasant expression, and couldn't help but feel more confused.

Does Tomoya really like me? Why else would he be so hostile to Izumi-kun? But Tomoya never says anything, and even seems to avoid me.

Is he just using me for the club's sake? Or is he truly selfish, caring for nothing but himself?

Kato Megumi drifted into thought.

"Huh?! Was that guy just now Izumi-san? He's so handsome!" A lively voice suddenly interrupted her.

A girl with yellow hair approached, looking at the tense atmosphere between Tomoya and Kato Megumi with confusion. "Tomoya, Kato-san, what's wrong? It seems like something big just happened that I don't know about."

"It's nothing. Time for club activities," Kato Megumi said, snapping out of her daze. She quickly shook her head.

With that, Kato Megumi entered the activity room.

Tomoya followed behind, his steps heavy, like a walking corpse.

"There's definitely something wrong between them!" Eriri, the lively girl, sniffed the air and added thoughtfully, "This smells like the start of something big!"

After leaving the academy, Izumi Yuu headed straight for his publishing house, Dengeki Bunko.

He had already asked for the day off, so he didn't need to worry about his part-time job.

Originally, Izumi had taken this job just to experience life and avoid starving himself and Sagiri-chan.

But now, it seemed there was another reason why he couldn't quit just yet.

Thinking of the timid girl he had met yesterday, Izumi reflected thoughtfully.

He had planned to quit once the light novel was published... but now, it seemed he'd need to stay on the job a little longer.

Izumi Yuu shook his head, pushing the uncomfortable thoughts aside. He hoped that during this time, the female manager's husband and son wouldn't come over to his house and accuse him of trying to seduce their wife and mother.

Ding Dong!

The elevator bell rang, signaling Izumi Yuu's arrival at the Dengeki Bunko Publishing.

As Izumi Yuu was about to step into the publishing house, a commotion caught his attention.

"Hey! Do you understand what I'm saying? I want Eromanga-sensei to draw illustrations for my new work!" A clear and anxious voice, tinged with dissatisfaction, came from the front.

"First of all, Eromanga-sensei is already working on illustrations for our new project. Secondly, why would I do something that benefits a competitor?" A calm, mature female voice responded, tinged with helplessness.

Izumi Yuu looked up to see Kagurazaka Ayame, the editor to whom he had submitted a project a few days ago, facing off against a blonde girl.

This blonde girl was persistently bothering Kagurazaka Ayame.

The girl had long yellow hair, a bow in her hair, and wore a Lolita-style skirt. Her exposed skin was fair and delicate, and her features were remarkably cute, like a little fairy from a storybook.

There was a light screen in front of her.

[Name: Elf Yamada (Emily Granger).]

[Age: 16.]

[Status: ???]

[Favorability: 25 (Strangers who see you as a love rival.)]

Hmm...

Izumi Yuu thought with a raised eyebrow. She's an interesting character.

"Huh?! As long as you let Eromanga-sensei draw illustrations for me, I'll choose to publish my new work in your library!" The girl immediately shot back impatiently at Kagurazaka Ayame.

[Hearing this, you realize that you have always considered yourself a Minotaur, but never expected to be outdone. The little blonde in front of you is clearly competing for the artist who was originally yours. A revenge plan starts to form in your mind. You know she lives next door to you and likes to play the piano after a bath. Perhaps you could sneak in, take pictures of her in those moments, and use it against her…]

God, I'm a Minotaur, not a stalker!

Izumi Yuu mentally scolded the narrator, shaking his head in disbelief. How does this idiot expect me to carry out such ridiculous plans?

"No!" Kagurazaka Ayame quickly shot down the girl's proposal, her face showing some exasperation. "We can't do that. Ms. Yamada, please leave."

Izumi Yuu suddenly remembered who the blonde girl was after a moment of recollection.

Ah, right. This must be Elf Yamada , the mischievous, beautiful light novel writer from a rival publishing house. I've heard of her before.

"Hey! Do you even understand the value of a super-popular genius light novel writer?!" Yamada placed her hands on her hips, clearly agitated. "Don't you know how important my works are to readers?! I'm a master!"

[Gold content?!] You're starting to notice the key words in the girl's speech. As a top-tier writer, you'll have to show this little blonde exactly how ridiculous her claims are. But before that, you should try to convince her to stop using that small umbrella so you can properly measure her gold content.]

What's with all this talk about gold content?!

Izumi Yuu sighed, frustrated with the ridiculous comments from the narrator. This is absurd.

"Really?" Kagurazaka Ayame stood her ground, looking at Elf Yamada with a raised eyebrow. "I've heard some readers say that your writing sounds like it was written by an elementary school student. There are even comments like 'How could such a bad novel be published?'"

"Huh?! That's not true! I just want my readers to understand my story more easily!" Yamada flushed red, clearly agitated by the mention of her writing's quality.

Izumi Yuu couldn't help but smile inwardly. This girl really has a fragile ego.

"Okay, if there's nothing else, Ms. Yamada, please leave so Mr. Izumi and I can continue discussing the publishing matters," Kagurazaka Ayame said with an air of finality.

"Huh?!" Elf Yamada froze, noticing Izumi Yuu standing at the door. Her eyes widened as she stared at him, taken aback by his good looks. After a moment of flustered distraction, she snapped out of it and asked, "Who's Mr. Izumi?"

"Mr. Izumi is a new debut writer, and we all believe his works will become bestsellers once they're published!" Kagurazaka Ayame smiled warmly at Izumi Yuu. "If we're talking about geniuses, Mr. Izumi is the real deal. He hasn't even released a book yet, but his debut work 'The Brave Abin' is already a masterpiece! Plus, his upcoming projects, like 'Saint griffith' and 'Peace Night Watchman,' are set to be phenomenal. His stories are rich and interesting, erotic but not obscene—he's the perfect light novel author."

"Huh?!" Elf Yamada face twisted with disbelief. "You're telling me this guy can become a best-selling author without even having a published book yet?!"

"It's not as exaggerated as it sounds. I've read a few billion more books than the average person, so I guess that helps," Izumi Yuu said modestly. "But of course, it's not just reading; it's about knowing how to write in this world's style."

"Damn it! There's someone who can surpass me?! I'll show you that I won't lose to you!" Elf Yamada clenched her fists, glaring at Izumi Yuu.

"Anyway, we still need to discuss the work details. Ms. Yamada, it's time for you to leave," Kagurazaka Ayame said, her tone firm.

Elf Yamada huffed, still agitated. "I really want to work with Eromanga-sensei, but she ignores my messages! Can you at least tell her to work with me?"

"Fine, I'll help pass on your message, but whether Eromanga-sensei agrees is up to her," Kagurazaka Ayame said with a sigh. "Eromanga-sensei is very willful. She only does things according to her own preferences. For example, she agreed to work with Mr. Izumi without even looking at his work!"

"I get it! Thanks so much!" Elf Yamada brightened up immediately, her mood shifting from frustration to joy.

She turned to Izumi Yuu with a serious look, clenching her fists. "I won't lose to you! I'll make sure Eromanga-sensei works with me instead!"

With that, Elf Yamada walked confidently toward the door, arms crossed, clearly thinking she had the upper hand.

[Hearing her words, you decide to show her who the real Minotaur God is! You plan to use your predicted leverage to control this girl, and in front of her, you'll enter Eromanga-sensei's mind while asking her to help you with the illustrations. You, my friend, are the true Minotaur God and the real illustrator! Of course, you won't leave her just watching. When you're exhausted, you can always let her push you from behind…]