This is Not a Side Quest!

Sorry about no new chapters for so long! I have moved to Japan for the next five months! I've been meeting so many people and setting up bank accounts etc... I hope you understand!

“Yes. I made that fairly clear, no?” Fujioka glanced at her jewel-studded watch and sighed—must’ve been a sign that lunch break was nearing an end. “I think that conclusion is more than fair. A simple solution to the issue: Don’t pull anything like you have in the past and I won’t leave.”

“Easier said than done…”

“Hm? What was that?”

“I—I won’t of course.” I really don’t want to! You have to believe me! But when there’s such a massive issue as this, it’s impossible not to do something she’d define as “pulling something.”
I was thinking about it before… but in the scheme of things, Comiket isn’t too far off. Imagine having a stand and selling volume one with illustrations! No need for shitty critics to tell me my—our—masterpiece is bad! We’d be selling a real light novel on our own!

Yes!

No!

I can’t! That’s exactly it! Get a grip Makoto, that’s pulling something…

“The aggravating grin you’re wearing suggests otherwise.” Fujioka collected the last of her items and pushed past me towards the door. “Haa… Makoto… I’ll level with you. I ask you to not make any irrational moves. If you do, I’ll act accordingly. Not only that, but such moves can greatly impede your progress along with your will to write.”

She left me standing alone in the writing club. I stared at the space where her back was just a moment before. It wasn’t me that liked to pull “stupid moves” it was her! As the director and president I have the best interest of the— who am I kidding…

The last of my classes slipped by quickly as they usually do. It’s not my fault I space-out, maybe they should teach writing light novels instead of algebra. I skipped the writing club as well, I’m fairly certain Kaoru could handle it…

She’s a leader type… I hope…

What I need… What I need? A bite to eat and some alone writing time…

Time to think…

Time to move the chess board that is writing a novel in my favor…

But how…

How?

How…

How is the ever burning question…

How?

…How?

“Hey! Makoto!”

What now!? Why me! I thought I could rest until the next scene— I mean I just wanted some food! Why is it always a jumpscare when someone wants my attention? They can never message me, or schedule a meet-up… it’s always, Hey! Makoto!

“Have you even been listening to me?”

“Hm?” I was so tired at this point in the day that such a simple thing as turning my head was sluggish and half-assed. “Oh, Takechi, of course I was listening… You were just talking about… about uh—”

“About how I need this trip with Sato to be perfect! It feels like our friendship has been on the rocks for the longest time!”

I seriously for the life of me pay attention to him—the sky had become overcast. Was it supposed to rain today? I swear I checked the weather forecast… “Foresure, yeah, I know what you mean… Hey, any chance you know what day it is?”

“Of course, It’s Monday the twenty-fifth.”

“The twenty-fifth… Monday…” The deadline is the thirty-first… and I had thirteen days left on Monday. A few numbers add that and… “A week!? It’s been a week!?”

***

5 DAYS REMAIN

Monday

***

“Week?” Takechi parroted back to me. “That’s not the point Makoto. I need a massive favor as a friend from you.”

More distractions? “I don’t know. I got-a lot goin’ on man.” Like writing? Yeah, like writing, that’s important.

“Pleeeeeeease~ I really need this!” He made a almost girly face—it was puppy dog eyes in an extremely feminine way. Someone could describe it as cute—b-but I’m not saying I would, okay? Just a general consensus use of the term cute. Not me. Generally. “

“Okay-okay I get it though, massive favor. You don’t have to do the whole face thing… please.”

“Horray! Thank you Makoto! I know I can always—”

“A-alright… Just what is it?”

“Glad you asked.” You’re the one that told and asked me! “Sato just hasn’t been talking the same to me recently, I know him, and I know he always has so much to say and so many feelings. But he won’t communicate any of them! It’d be such a help if you went to his work today and chatted with him. I’m so worried.”

My cell phone dinged, naturally I pulled it out to check the notification. My map app was open and a red-marker appeared a few miles away in the city—is that Sato’s work? “H-hey, how’d you do this?” I turned my screen towards him.

“I’m so glad you decided to help, I’ve been so worried.” It’s like he said it with emotions, but emotionlessly—creepy if anything.

Ever since Kaoru came into my life it’s been nothing but a circus! A clown show! She brings in her wacky cast of weirdos and her weird lifestyle, weird brother, the Geisha. And on top just stupid stuff like this. “At a certain point I can’t be bothered any more…”

“Be bothered by what?” A boy in a black dress shirt with a black apron over it spun around towards me. “Can I help you Kiyotaka?”

It was Sato.

“Uhm… yeah… actually…” I took a quick peek at my cell phone. A notification popped up simultaneously reading: Investigate how Sato is feeling—try asking about his job to start.