Chapter 1125 - 来客は連なり
Perhaps thanks to the energy replenishment, the editing work in reality saw its completion in exactly two days, as targeted.
Though it didn't change the fact that it was a Death March with no room or leisure, we were active college students overflowing with infinite vitality. We didn't stop our hands, moving with momentum and resolve.
Combined with the fact that it was during a long vacation that felt infinite even if it wasn't, the fact that mental leeway was secured was also a big factor. In the end, even Miki, our synonym for composure, had ended up in a strange tension... but anyway.
The "final package" was done. For now, after a day had passed and our hearts had calmed down────that is, today, the four of them except for me are scheduled to do a final check once more.
Well, there's probably no need to worry. Even if the late-night tension has spilled over into the video, that's that; the Team Clown policy is to consider it 'Haru-like' and call it good.
What on earth does it mean that late-night tension is 'Haru-like'?
────And so on.
While I was leisurely going through my morning routine after waking up and spacing out for a bit, having been removed from the final check personnel to build up more energy for what's next────
"............Mm."
Resounding in a room of the Yotsuya Lodgings, my castle, was a stylish melody announcing a visitor. It was the elegant and calm sound of an arrival, neither a bell nor a chime, which I had now grown completely accustomed to.
Called by that sound, while confirming that I was at least minimally presentable... I headed to the entrance and opened the door, and standing there was────
"Hi. Good morning."
"...Morning."
────Kazu-san. Kazuharu Chitose, the exclusive chef of the Yotsuya Lodgings. Our stomach-commander.
...Or rather, the one who was still unclear as to how much of a small elite they were, but was practically the top 2 of the personnel in 'Yotsuya Development.' He was the Assistant to the Yotsuya Representative.
"Ah—... You're early. How was it?"
There was no surprise; it was a visit that had been decided from the start.
I said he was early, but since I had also considered the possibility that a reply might come at the fastest possible time—exactly the 'playback time'—after I handed it over, that was also just idle talk.
Or rather, it was just that my head wasn't quite working yet since I'd just woken up.
"────I think it's good. If you combine it with the other one, it'll be a piece that can be thoroughly enjoyed."
"Right. Phew, that's good..."
Receiving the answer... the impression of that 'final package' I had handed over yesterday, I felt my consciousness wake up comfortably along with a sense of relief.
Yes. Normally, I wouldn't bother asking the Yotsuya side to check every single video I'm going to publish in the archives────but this time, I felt it was necessary.
"About that, even the final part...?"
"As I said beforehand, there's no problem."
"I see."
Including that, we now had complete approval. As Kazu-san said, I had received the okay beforehand, but the sense of security is different when it's for the actual finished product.
In name and reality, it's probably fine to call the crystal of our souls "complete."
"If your live commentary is added, it'll become entertainment on a completely different level. I don't know if I'll be able to watch (check) it in real-time on the day, but I'm looking forward to it."
"Please keep your expectations moderate."
Then, Kazu-san finally left with his usual calm, capable-man smile────
"You look tired. Get some rest."
"Yes, sir..."
Without forgetting to be considerate.
He likely had plans to go out in his perfectly fitted suit, as he briskly left the room.
◇◆◇◆◇
And then, a few hours later. In short, the timing of lunch.
"Mm."
The melody chime resounded again. Announcing another visitor.
Now, again, there was no surprise in the visit itself. Since there are three or four faces that visit my room suddenly and unexpectedly even without an appointment, the calling sound is a daily occurrence.
However, because there are several, I do tilt my head every time wondering 'who is it'... and more importantly, it's precisely because there are candidates who wouldn't be strange no matter when they visited────
"Oh my."
"Hehe, hellooo."
Relying on the security I fully trusted, I opened the door without even checking the intercom. The moment I did, I saw a face outside the candidate list, and as usual, I was belatedly surprised.
Standing there was a woman flirtatiously tilting her head and swaying her flaxen hair.
I wonder why—or rather, is it her fixed fashion, or a disguise tool? As she removed the sunglasses she wore every time, pale chestnut eyes appeared.
Her titles were many.
"Yes, hello...? Eh, I don't think so, but—"
Painter-cum-idol voice actress-cum-illustrator Archiver (active college student?), Hiyori Mitsueda────or rather, Hiyori Saegusa-san. Nia's best friend, who was invincible in many ways.
"Hehehe... I've come to deliver the goods."
She was one of the many people I admitted I couldn't beat.
────Now, normally I wouldn't let her into my room.
"Is it the first time since Nia-cha's birthday? As for a solo intrusion, let's see. Since when..."
"Why did you say birthday like a native? Also, are you aware that 'intrusion' is a bad thing?"
This time, because of our respective positions, and because of the nature of the business—not in the sense of players in a virtual world, but in the sense of people in the real world being 'client' and 'artisan.'
"Fuhehe... the sense of immorality is the taste of honey, isn't it?"
"As we get to know each other, my conviction deepens, but you're seriously a bad influence on Nia, aren't you?"
"Hey, what a thing to say!"
With a legitimate reason, I couldn't block what she called her solo intrusion.
...Well, despite what she said, she must have already obtained permission herself. She's a person whose awareness and consideration in that regard are far superior to mine.
I've already informed Nia that I'm 'requesting' something from her... or rather, since I asked Saegusa-san through Nia in the first place, everything has truly been shared. There should be no problem.
I hope there isn't.
If Saegusa-san were to lose her mind and start rampaging, I'd flee without a second thought────
"Are you thinking something additional and rude?"
"It's scary how you read me even though we're not that personally close yet, I'm telling you."
And so, an artistic half-lidded glare was delivered from those blinking chestnut eyes. Truly, today as always, every one of her behaviors was enough to knock out any man in the world in one hit, but...
"Oh, stop it. After all, aren't you and I close, Haru-san?"
"More importantly."
"More importantly (that)......?"
"Yeah. More importantly."
Too bad. My heart is already occupied to every corner by an angel, a fairy, and a princess. It's a carry-over of a capacity-over (?). If you're looking for someone to tease, find them elsewhere.
"I can't hide my surprise that you came to deliver so fast despite how busy you must be. Eh, seriously? It's finished already? It hasn't even been a week since I asked."
Is it like that? Is the delivery speed after asking an illustrator for work like that? ────When I honestly tilted my head without hiding my ignorance, which was now a bit late,
"More importantly............──well, yeah, it's that. In my case, if the model is clear, and since mini-characters and deformed characters are my specialty, it's like..."
"Like?"
"It's a cinch."
"A cinch."
The truly invincible painter-cum-idol voice actress-cum-illustrator Archiver (active college student?) showed a muscle pose that didn't suit her slender arms, with a melting smile that suited her meltingly sweet voice. She showed her full confidence without hiding it, knocking out the men of the world, etc.
...I think Nia is also influenced by this kind of thing.
Likely, Nia's way of being, where confident behavior and unconfident behavior mysteriously coexist, is half-and-half. The former is influenced by Saegusa-san... or rather, she's imitating Saegusa-san, and the latter is likely her true foundation.
Her basic way of speaking is like that too, but she's a kid who loves her best friend so much, she's super cute────
Click.
"Huh?"
"Sent... there."
"Huh?"
While I was internally gushing over her, she mysteriously took a photo and sent it to someone.
Huh?
"What are you doing???"
"No, it's likely a happy event where my best friend's love interest was just gushing over my best friend... but setting that aside, you see."
"That's why I'm saying your reading ability is scary. Am I seriously that easy to understand?"
"Setting that aside, as a female creator who admits to being a mass of desire for approval, it's not that it's not irritating to be not even slightly noticed."
"Wh-what, wha, what are you say—"
"So, to settle the irritation in my stomach, I sent that gushing face to Nia-cha. With a high-pressure message saying, 'Your boyfriend is making this kind of face in front of me—!!!'..."
"What have you done!"
And so, a few seconds later, the melody chime resounded.
I shouldn't have been guilty, but I instinctively panicked and looked back and forth between the face of the culprit and the direction of the entrance. And the culprit was gracefully tilting her coffee cup with a half-smile.
What happened after that?
The delivery and receipt work was swallowed by a chaos that was completely unnecessary.
Even if it was a fun time in its own way. It goes without saying that the degree of 'Caution: Wanted' for the name [Hiyori Saegusa] rose within me based on the facts.