I Managed to Bring Down the Entire Family of That Impossible-To-Conquer S-Class Beauty, Completely Filling in Her Outer Moat
โWhere are we going next?โ
โI think I’ll stop by the bookstore last.โ
By the time we finished our crepes, the sky had turned completely crimson.
The bookstore we reached after walking a few minutes was an ordinary, run-of-the-mill shop.
โIs there a book you want?โ
โWell, if I must say, the latest volume by the author I’ve been a fan of since forever.โ
โHuh? Who’s that?โ
โMaster โNatsuki Ouโ.โ
โHuhโฆ huhโฆโ
โHe’s the author I’ve always admired!!โ
โI see.โ
I froze for a split second, reacting a few seconds later.
Let’s be clear. I was shaken. The reason was simple.
(That’s me, isn’t it!?)
Natsuki Ou. Put those three kanji together, and lo and beholdโit spells โNozomu.โ
I started sweating buckets, unable to manage more than a forced smile.
If I tried saying something like, โActually, that’s me~,โ I might get a denture-filled rocket flying at me for misinterpreting it.
I’m incredibly grateful for the fandom, but it’s a bit traumaticโฆ
โSo, shall we buy that and call it a day?โ
โNo, why don’t we gather at my place and chat?โ
โJust out of curiosity, about whatโฆ?โ
โAbout the Natsuki Ou, of course.โ
โNo thanks!!โ
You’ve got to be kidding me. If she went on and on about me, I’d die of embarrassment.
I ended up refusing rather strongly, and next to me, Sachiko-san looked downcast, muttering, โYou really don’t want toโฆ?โ
Anyway, we arrived at the bookstore, and Sachiko-san headed straight for the light novel section.
โFound it! โAmanagi-san at the Abandoned Bus Stopโ Volume 3! How long have I waited for the latest installment of this bittersweet romance comedyโฆ!โ
โY-yeah, that’s great!โ
โThis romantic comedy where Amanagi-san, who only appears at the abandoned bus stop on rainy days, has her past and present intertwine is just unbearably good!โ
Well, it didn’t seem like she’d notice, so I’d just quickly get her to buy it and then excuse myself.
I followed her to the register, watched her make the purchase, and stepped outside the store.
โNozomu, thanks to you today, I got some great material. I’m grateful.โ
โNah, nah, I had fun too, in my own way.โ
โI’m glad to hear you say that.โ
That’s a wrap.
Amidst that atmosphere, my phone vibrated. A call from someone.
โUh, excuse me for a sec.โ
โNo problem.โ
I pulled out my phone and answered the call.
It should be fine now. Thinking that, I must have let my guard down at that moment.
I accidentally put the call on speaker.
‘Natsuki Ou sensei! I wanted to say congratulations on your new release, but please send the manuscript for your other work ASAP!!โ
โWha-!? Abababa, w-wait a moment!!โ
‘I know you have many hobbies, but the deadline was set considering that! Please meet it this time!?’
The editor unleashed a torrent of words at me, then abruptly hung up.
I’m a bit lax with deadlines, so I guess they’re being firm with me like this, but I really wish they hadn’t done that nowโฆ!
โNatsuki Ouโฆ?โ
โAh, ah! No, no, Sachiko sab! Actually, I like it too, and we were just joking around with friendsโโ
โSensei, I’m a huge fanโฆ! Autograph, please give me an autograph!? I beg you~~!!โ
โH-hold on, don’t hug me, Sachiko-san!!โ
The moment she was certain I was someone she admired, she wrapped her arms around my waist and pleaded.
Her eyes sparkled like a child’s, radiating innocence.
She was so strong I couldn’t pry her off! What the hell is this crazy strength!?
โAn autograph, huh? Umโฆ here! I signed the book you just bought! Please let me go now!!โ
โOh! I’ll treasure this foreverโฆ! Oh, and please teach me your amazing composition skills and word choice!โ
โIโฆ I have things to do, so I gotta go!โ
โAh! S-Sensei!!โ
I took off at full speed, leaving the scene and saying goodbye to Sachiko san.
It felt like I’d be stuck here forever if I stayed, so I had no choice.
Well, it was just a chance encounter, right? I doubt I’ll ever see her again.
Thinking optimistically, I kept kicking the ground and running forward.
ใใ๏ผใใ๏ผใใ๏ผ
After finishing her homework at home, China came to her grandmother’s room to relax.
โGrandma, you there?โ
โI’m here. What do you want, China?โ
My grandmother looked so much like me it felt like looking in a mirror.
But unlike me, she had silver hair and wore it braided, so there were quite a few differences.
Grandma seemed to be wearing glasses and typing something on her laptop.
โJust came to take a little break. Were you doing something?โ
โAh. Just writing as a hobby.โ
โYou’re writing light novels now, right? Grandma, your stories are so interesting, they’d probably get published in books right away.โ
โDon’t underestimate it. It’s quite a challenging path, you know.โ
She said that, but she looked really happy.
No, actually, she looked happier than usualโฆ more like she was overjoyed. Did something good happen?
โGrandma, did something good happen?โ
โYes it did! Actually, I got to meet the author I’ve always admired, Natsuki Ou!!โ
โReally?! That’s wonderful!โ
โI’ve also written part of my latest work. I’m off to the bathroom. You can read it if you like. Here we go.โ
With that, Grandma left the room.
I slid across the tatami mats toward the cushion where Grandma had been sitting.
Then I started looking at the open laptop on the desk.
โOh, a romance comedy! Let’s seeโฆโ
I skimmed through the novel up to that point.
The story was about the protagonist and heroine’s families becoming close friends before their eyes, while the two of them remained oblivious, their relationship deepeningโฆ
But wait, this heroineโฆ Could it beโฆ?
โIs thisโฆ me? An S-class beauty, Unreachable? The name’s Sena, and the appearance matches mine perfectlyโฆโ
Honestly, if the whole family gradually figures it out, the heroine should notice too.
It lacks that kind of realism, but since it’s just a story, maybe it’s fine to enjoy it.
โโฆIt wouldn’t actually happen, right? But it could be fun!โ
If I were to use myself as an example, it’d be like my little brother knowing Mom and Dad, and even Grandpa and Grandma, but me being the only one who doesn’t know.
That couldn’t possibly happen. Thinking that, I continued reading the text from top to bottom.
โฆCompletely unaware that a relationship was actually forming beneath the surface, and that fiction was turning into reality.
Maiasa