This Ruined Idea Might've Given me Another

I continued to try and explain today’s itinerary to her but she would have none of it. We decided to re-convened after some breakfast, hopefully food would get her listening.

“Today, Akimoto-san, we are going to turn you into someone truly incredible. Someone inspirational, someone that an artist would look at and say, “I must draw her!””

She stared at me listlessly and continued to scratch her back.

“I don’t— I don’t know what this means…”

“You don’t need to, that’s the beauty of it!”

We were sitting side-by-side leaning against my room’s small table. She was clearly directing more attention to the Otome game on the screen, but still was half-listening to my speech.

I leaned closer to her face—I might’ve been getting a bit too excited.

“Just think, Akimoto-san. Your likeness, the cover of this world renowned light novel series. Fuka-sensei could make you into the most desirable heroine ever!”

I was practically caking her face in spit.

“Kiyotaka-kun… Two things.” She set down her Sintendo Nitch controller and pushed me back. “One, you stole that speech. And two, Fujioka-senpai said she wouldn’t work with you multiple times. How haven’t you given up on that?”

She absolutely murdered my excitement—it was criminal.

“This is what you aren’t getting… Fujioka will see your main-heroine-ism and not be able to resist drawing you. This plan will be what convinces Fujioka.”

“Convinces me to do what?”

Stepping through my room’s open window was the black-haired beaut— girl herself. Did we say her name too many times and summon her? What’s with this timing!?

“W-we we’re going to convince you to… cut your hair! A short style might look really nice on you.”

I’d like to try and say I smiled, but unlike writing, smiling isn’t a strength of mine… It feels wrong to call what I did a smile.

“Why were you two discussing my hairstyle? It concerns neither of you in any way.”

Fujioka strode over to my bed and sat herself down like it was hers—she folded her legs and arms.

“Well.” Akimoto took over. “It started as a discussion about our character’s hairstyles and the conversation just drifted, ya’ know?”

“Mhm… Anyway, I’m simply here to ensure there’s no illicit lewd behavior going on. Also to check your progress.”

She stood up and in a few quick steps sat in between Akimoto and I.

“You know there’s an entire table to sit around…”

The three of us sat shoulder-to-shoulder. The room felt like it shrunk by an order of magnitude with just her presence alone.

“I’m very aware, Makoto, however this spot is optimal for reviewing your work.”

“Right…”

The silence for Akimoto and I was definitely awkward, but it posed no issue for the paid-professional sitting between us.

It took a little over ten minutes until she turned towards me.

“I’m surprised, good work. You followed the outline well and the formula worked.”

“Really!? You think so— I mean. Of course it worked.” I pushed up my glasses. “How could I have failed?”

“Looks like I should have a bit more faith in you two. It seems the combined room temperature IQ of Akimoto plus your ego is a half decent combination.”

“Thanks…”

“Yes. Thank you Fujioka-senpai.” Akimoto gave our senpai a sideways glance. “I do remember though, you mentioned you won’t be coming by this weekend because of a certain deal you turned down. So I think it’s time for you to leave.”

“Hm. Since it’s such a nice morning I won’t be petty and stay because of that comment.”

Akimoto’s face said she had a lot more throw back but was resisting.

Man, this is more awkward than that time I had to get directions at that con from a mime.

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“Hey, Kiyotaka-kun. You stared at senpai’s chest for like a full minute and she left. You’re weren’t being subtle at all.”

Akimoto waved a hand in front of my face.

“Hm? Wha?”

“You good?”

“Oh yeah I was just uh— remembering something… nevermind it’s— Hey, where’d Fujioka-san go?”

“...I just told you. She left.”

“Oh. Right."

“A few things, Kiyotaka-kun—”

What, is she making a list of demands? It seems like there’s always, “a few things” with her.

“---I won’t be any kind of reference for Fujioka-senpai. There’s no way I’m working with her anymore than I have two. And second, even if she was nicer, I’d rather not be a model for that kind of stuff.”

“Huh!? Why!? Wa-wa-I don’t— You’ve done all those cosplays to help with writing scenes! Why not this!”

“Because…” She hunched forward slightly and covered her chest. “I get a weird feeling she’d force me to do some creepy modeling and touch me…”

“Noo… There’s no way. She can be a bit… Peculiar, but nothing like that.”

Simultaneously we panned our heads towards my room’s window. Fujioka was motionlessly sitting at her’s staring in at us.

I closed my blinds.

“What I said still stands.” She straightened out. “I won’t do any “modeling” work for her.”

“Haaa— That’s like my entire plan out the window, you know.”

***

The majority of this day seemed pretty productive for Akimoto. She was almost always typing—also she’s incredibly easy to read. Whenever she had an idea her face would light up like she was promised ice cream.

On the other hand, I got… seven… words. Yes you’re hearing— reading me right. Seven words.

Writer's block launched the greatest surprise attack on me in human history. The only way to describe it is a massacre.

“The day’s still not over though!”

“Hm?”

Akimoto peaked up from her laptop.