A\N:
Hey guys! This story is written based on one of my reader, Shiranai Atsune's request.
Thank you for the great idea!
I hope you enjoy, guys! ^^ Please, leave a review. :)
The great bestseller novelist Usami Akihiko was sitting in front of his laptop when Misaki slowly opened the door, doing his best not to disturb the author.
"Usagi-san, I'm going to work now. I'll be back by 9 or 10."
"Alright," the author glanced at him for a second, then looked back at the screen, his fingers dancing on the keyboard.
Misaki closed the door, then went to put his shoes on, and left the house. He walked down the streets towards Marukawa Publishing, the gentle breeze blew into his face.
Lately, he started to feel some kind of passion towards books. When Usagi-san released his latest book, he just read it which surprised both him and Usagi. That book wasn't about gay romance this time, but was some kind of love story with loads of plot twists which Misaki found really genius and interesting. It was about a girl, who dated a boy for a long time, but she started to have feelings for her boyfriend's sister, and as the story came to an end, said sister found it out, and started to keep distance from the girl. So, she ended up staying with the boy, forgetting about this awkward situation.
Surprisingly, Misaki enjoyed the story, and after finishing the book, his mind started to create ideas about romance. Not simply about romance, but Girls' Love. But each time an idea crossed his mind, he shook his head to get rid of it.
Stop making ideas about lesbians! he told himself.
He sighed as he entered Marukawa, heading towards the lift.
"Ah, Misaki-kun!" someone called his name. He turned just to face Aikawa. "It's so good to see you."
"Aikawa-san," Misaki smiled at her. "I thought you'd have a meeting with Usagi-san."
"Yes, but... you know, the last three chapters of his new book are still missing, so we had to put the meeting at another date," she explained, a heavy sigh escaped her mouth. "He's always so late!"
"Yes, he is," Misaki chuckled as the lift arrived at the fourth floor with a loud ding. "But I read his latest book."
"Eh?" Aikawa looked surprised. "Misaki-kun, did you really... read his book?"
Misaki and the editor stopped in the corridor, "I did. It was really interesting."
"Aw, I'm really glad to hear that!" Aikawa said with a huge, happy smile. "How did sensei react?"
"He was surprised by seeing me reading a book which was actually his," Misaki laughed. "I'm planning on reading more of his books from here on out."
"Sensei would be really happy about it for sure. I will be going now."
"Alright," Misaki waved.
Aikawa left, and Misaki headed to his department, too. Arriving, he found Kirishima-san with a strict looking man there, next to Shizuku and Ijuuin-sensei.
"Ah, Takahashi, just in time!" Kirishima said when he turned around and saw the boy. "We were discussing about us making you a helper of Ijuuin-sensei with The Kan."
"Eh?" Misaki got surprised and excited at the same time. "But why?"
"Both Shizuku and I need a hand, and I picked you, Takahashi-kun," Ijuuin smiled. "Is there a problem with that?"
"No, no, of course there isn't!" Misaki waved his hands, slightly blushing. "I would help gladly!"
"It's good to hear that," the mangaka said, then turned back to Kirishima, Shizuku and the unknown man.
"See, Yokozawa," Kirishima said with a laugh. "With Misaki's help, Kyo can finish the new book of The Kan."
"Alright, alright," said man sighed, then started his way towards the door. "Just finish it. Oh, and we should discuss about the animation, too."
"'Kay!" Kirishima said, and Yokozawa left them. Then the golden-haired guy turned towards the others. "Takahashi, when can you start?"
"A-anytime!" Misaki said in excitement.
"Great! Then I will leave the rest to Kyo and Shizuku."
Before going home, Misaki went to the nearby convenient store to buy some things he needed for the dinner.
"I'm home," he said, when he entered. "Usagi-san, I will make curry for dinner!"
Since no answer came, he put the bag down, and went upstairs to check the author if he was okay.
"Usagi-san," he entered his office, carefully, silently opening the door. "Is everything..."
He found the author sleeping in front of the laptop, head on the desk, glasses beside him.
Shall I wake him up?
After a few seconds of thinking, he walked towards him, placing his palm on his shoulder, gently shaking it.
"Usagi-san!"
With a groan, the author opened his eyes, then rose from the desk, yawning.
"Ah, Misaki."
"Gosh, don't just fall asleep anywhere!" Misaki scolded him, but deep inside he understood Usagi.
"This is what an author's life looks like," Usagi yawned again, then stood up, following Misaki downstairs. "What's the menu?"
"Curry," Misaki said, packing out from the bag. "That's okay with you, isn't it?"
Usagi only nodded while pouring coffee. Misaki started to cook, and the author sat down on the violet couch, next to Suzuki-san.
"Anyway," Misaki started, "I met Aikawa-san today."
"Is that so?"
"Yeah. She said you had to pick a new date for the meeting. You should concentrate more on your work, Usagi-san!"
Usagi only chuckled in the background, "You're not an author, Misaki, you have no idea what troubles it causes to write a book."
…what troubles it causes to write a book. These were the only words that remained in Misaki's mind as he stood in front of the countertops, filling a pit with hot water and rice.
Usagi-san... You don't know that, but... lately I felt a strange passion to start and write a book. Just by living with you, and seeing you day by day, I learned everything about an author's life. And I think I could handle this.
After having a quiet dinner together, Usagi went back into his office, and Misaki as well went into his room. He sat down to his laptop, and stared at the screen before he, with racing heart and clenching stomach, opened Word.
He swallowed, took a deep breath, then licked his dried bottom lip.
There is a complete story in my head. All I need to do is... is to write. But...
With a sigh, he ended up closing the program, and shut the laptop down.
Am I stupid? he sighed. I can't even write an essay for Kamijou, why do I think I could write a book?
"Takahashi!"
When Misaki turned around in the school corridor, he saw Toudo running after him.
"Ah, hello, Toudo!" He greeted his friend.
"Let's have a lunch together, 'kay?"
Misaki nodded, and followed Toudo to the dining hall. They took their seats, and Toudo started to talk about The Kan, and how much he waited the new book, but Misaki wasn't really listening. That Girls' Love story stuck in his mind, and he couldn't get rid of the idea, nor the thought and urge to become a Girls' Love novelist.
"Hey, Takahashi, are you with me?" Toudo waved his hand in front of Misaki's face which made him come back to reality.
"Oh, y-yeah, sorry, I was just... eerr…"
"It seemed like you were thinking about something tough," Toudo said, tilting his head to the side.
"No, it's just... emm..." Misaki stuttered. "What would you suggest someone struggling with novel ideas?"
For first, Toudo lifted his eyebrows, then he furrowed them. "Hmm... I'd write them for sure. Yeah. If I had a really good idea, and a plot, I'd definitely write it." He laughed.
"I see," Misaki nodded, then licked his lips and started to eat his lunch.
After school, Misaki, as he was walking home, though Usagi was busy with his book and meeting to pick him up, saw two girls walking in front of him, laughing and chatting. As they passed him, he looked after them, then brushed some locks away from his eyes.
Just like the characters I created in my mind. Should I really start to write it? There's nothing to lose after all. I give it a try, and if it turns out wrong, I will just delete the file, and no one on Earth will find out anything about it.
With a grimace at his own thoughts, he continued his way home, slowly wandering on the sideway, until he reached a bookstore. He decided to go in, and look around. There is nothing to lose, right?
He went around, looking for some Girls' Love manga or book for inspiration. He was walking among the shelves, then after a while, he gave up and looked for an employee to ask where he'd find it. As he glanced around, he found a tall, brunette guy.
"Umm… excuse me!" he called out to the guy.
"Ah, good evening!" the brunette turned around. "Can I help you?"
"Yes, umm…" Misaki quickly read the card on the guy's chest. "Yukina-san, where can I find G… Girls's Love manga?"
Asking this made Misaki embarrassed, and he blushed so deeply that the brunette instantly noticed it.
"Don't be so embarrassed!" he said. "Go to the right, and you can find them in the sixth shelf."
Misaki nodded. "Thank you very much!" The boy then started his way towards the said bookshelf, but then turned back. "Umm… C-Can you suggest me some works?"
Yukina looked down at him, and shook his head. "I'm terribly sorry, but I'm in charge with Shoujo manga." Then he looked around, and waved to a colleague of him. "Senpai, can you please show this guy the Girls' Love section, and suggest some mangas?"
The other guy nodded, then smiled at Misaki, and started his way towards that section, and Misaki followed him. When they reached the long, tall bookshelf, the guy took down some works, and showed them to the brunette.
"This one here is the bestseller, Kawada Yuri, and her first work, Paper Flowers," he started. "I personally love this one, and this was my first Girls' Love manga I've read. It's a little similar to Shoujo mangas. It's so lovely, and sparkling, and the atmosphere makes the reader wanna always read."
He chuckled as he explained the storyline, then showed the next one. "My second favourite, I've read it umm… three times, I guess. It's Murasaki Erika's Night Dance. Well, it's a little different cause there's some ecchi in it. But you can skip it, that doesn't affect the story."
Misaki nodded, listening carefully to the guy. Then the employee showed a third manga. "And here's another one. This is the one almost the every one of us read. It's Kitade Mariko's Wishes. I could say that all of us liked it. So, you can pick one."
Misaki hesitated for a moment, and looked at all the cover images, then picked the first bestseller one. He then paid for it, and left the bookstore, finally going home. As he got home, he found Usagi and Aikawa sitting on the couches across from each other, the editor still reading the story.
"I'm home," Misaki said.
"Oh, Misaki, finally," Usagi stood up. "Pack your stuff, we're leaving to abroad!"
"Usagi-san, stop joking around, and do your work properly!" Misaki sighed. Aikawa just kept on reading. Seemed like they went over this argument once or twice.
"Nah, I'm leaving," Usagi said, but Misaki stopped him.
"Hey, Aikawa-san works so hard, and she is as tired as you, so just go back, and sit down!"
Usagi was looking at Misaki for a long minute, then went back to the couch. Misaki then walked straight up into his room, and sitting down on his bed, he started to read the manga.
The story was so great that time seemed endless. When he put a bookmark at the spot he ended the story, he checked his wrist watch. It was already eleven. He yawned as he put the book on the shelf, then opened his laptop.
Shall I really write it?
He bit his bottom lip as Toudo's words popped in his mind. If I had a really good idea, and a plot, I'd definitely write it.
Misaki then opened Word, and typed the possible title he'd give his novel. The he typed 'chapter 1' under it.
Alright, Misaki. Now or never!
And with that thought, he started to make his very first idea become a real novel.