This Won't Help my Writer's Block

“The day’s still not over though!”

“Hm?”

Akimoto peaked up from her laptop.

“Ah, nothing. Just talking to myself.”

The day is still young… it’s not over. I can overcome this writer’s block I have before and be right back in there!

…

And I don’t have a plan anymore to get Fujioka to work with me… And Akimoto is writing more than me… And I only got seven words… How are words this hard to write! I think millions a day! I can’t put more than seven on a page!?

…

…

Where would I get a model from…? Yoshika is conventionally attractive, but she’s not that main heroine type.

Ah. I see. Therein lies the issue. I don’t know any other girls than those three. And in reality, do I even know Akimoto that well?

Without being conscious of what I was doing I glanced up at her—our eyes locked for a moment. She gave me a small smile and returned to typing just as quickly as she looked up.

“Hey, Akimoto-san.”

“Mmm— Yeah?”

She dragged out her response as she was finishing writing a sentence.

“What’s your favorite song?”

The words just came out of me—I didn’t even know I wanted to ask that question.

“A good question… I’d probably say something by— Junko Ohashi? Maybe I Love You So. Her vocals really are incredible.”

“Junko Ohashi? She’s an older singer, right? From the eighties?”

“Mhm. My mom would always listen to her when I was growing up so I guess I naturally like that sort of music.”

We both fell into a natural silence after her response—it seemed that was the extent of our conversation. Was this supposed to inspire me? Why’d I ask that?

“Is it really not coming to you at all today?”

Akimoto asked, wearing a sheepish smile.

“...No.”

“Would eating something make you feel better?”

“No! Don’t just suggest that because you’re hungry!”

“Sorry-sorry…”

The air around us began to settle as neither of us said a word.

Part of me would like to believe she was suggesting that to genuinely cheer me up, but let’s be honest, okay? She’s just hungry…On second thought though, I could use something to eat…

I’m not admitting that.

…

God! I’m so close to finishing the draft and I’m stuck now!? Now! I was so close to moving to the next phase!

If there’s one lesson I’ve taught myself it’s that taking a break never helps. You gotta suffer and push yourself through the burnout. It’s like a horseshoe—you’ll get so burnt out you’ll unburn… or something. I think.

I hope so.

“Kiyotaka-kun.”

“W-wha? Hm?”

“Let’s go for a walk.”

***

“Do you even know where we’re going? Akimoto-san?”

“Mmm~ No. But that’s not the point.”

“Do you even know where we are!?”

“...Yes?” Akimoto tilted her head to the side.

“That’s not reassuring at all!”

“The reason we’re on this walk is to not worry, and that’s all you’re doing. So just like, don’t think about writing, where we are, who you are, or why that shady looking person has been following us for three blocks.”

“What!?”

“Okay-okay. Be subtle about it—they’re around the corner of that clothing store.”

I whipped my head around and sure enough, a figure dressed in black, wearing a mask and sunglasses quickly ducked into the alley.

“The evil writing government is following us!?”

Akimoto’s eyebrows dropped and she gave an exaggerated sigh.

“There’s no way you’re this stupid… If you paid attention to them at all you’d notice something.”

“What!? What!?”

“They’re around one-hundred eighty centimeters, and look a bit feminine. Who in your life do you know that has these characteristics?”

I’m drawing a blank here. Should I know this!? Is this an easy question!? No, if anything it’s probably a trick question!

“The right answer is no one. There can’t possibly be a one-hundred eighty centimeter tall woman— OW! Hey! What was that for!”

I received a hard smack on the head.

“It’s Fujioka-senpai!”

“Ohh— Yeah that makes sense, alright.”

After another sigh and head shake Akimoto and I continued walking.

“She’s most likely following us because she saw us leave your apartment together. Why’d she be worried? Is it about “morales” or whatever? I mean it’s not as if that sort of stuff is happening between us…”

Hold on, I’m confused.

“That sort of stuff? What’d you mean?”

“...You know, like what boyfriends and girlfriends do together.”

We both kept our gazes on the sidewalk ahead of us.

“Right…” I don’t want to sound like an idiot here. Tread carefully. “Like holding hands…?”

“No, more, ya’ know, lewd stuff.”

“Like… hugging.”

Akimoto produced her loudest and most drawn out sigh yet.

“Yes, Kiyotaka-kun. Like holding hands and hugging.”

Nice, nailed it.