Ero Manga Sensei - Volume 10 - Chapter 4

EROMANGA SENSEI VOL. 10 CH. 4

== Chapter 4 ==

We began exploring the Nahonaha School. Our party included me, Sagiri,
Muramasa-senpai, Elf, Megumi and Shidou. Five people in total.

The duo of Kusanagi-senpai and Aya-chan had already gone to the middle
school area. On the other hand, we decided to start by visiting a tarot shop.

It was a dimly lit classroom with many smaller shops inside. Each of them was manned by a girl in a long coat, with only their eyes visible. At the very least, they were using crystal balls to see the future. That looked promising.

“It’s compatibility fortune telling! Sagiri, Muramasa, Megumi, Kunimitsu! Let’s see how compatible we are with Masamune!”

“Does everyone want to try?” Muramasa-senpai asked.

Like she was dancing, Elf gracefully moved around us, and puffed out her chest:

“Of course! Let’s see who the winner is – the most compatible with Masamune!”

“Sure! I will do my best to become Nii-san’s number one ♪”
“Kuh…I won’t lose.”

“Hm….Nice, I will take on this challenge.”

Sagiri and Muramasa-senpai were fired up. For some reason, even Megumi
was fired up too. Shidou-kun is the only one who is confused.

“Eto… Why do I have to check my compatibility with Izumi?”

“Ahaha, we won’t leave you out of this, Kunimitsu! Because you are also a
member of Masamune’s harem.”

“I am not!” He fiercely denied.

No one actually thinks of me as a gay man, but for some reason he is still keeping his distance from me. By the way, I really hope they don’t say “Masamune’s harem” again. It is so embarrassing.

Megumi patted Shidou’s back:

“Okay, okay ~Kunimitsu-sensen, please go with the flow. For everyone else’s sake!”

“…Sure.”

Thus, we made a decision.

It was a bit cramped inside the smaller shop, but we managed to all fit inside.

We sat down in front of the soothsayer. She asked:

“I heard your conversation… You want to see how compatible you are, correct?”

Weird? I think I’ve heard this “mysterious” tone before. Where was it?

“Your 「 friendship compatibility level 」… and this… cute young man’s… love
story…. let us ask the crystal ball…”

“Cute young man?”

Why does this soothsayer sound so harsh?

“Please write your name on this paper. And you on the tablet, you can ask
someone else to write in your place.”

The soothsayer totally ignored me and continued her work. She muttered an
aria, and then…

“Okay, here is the result.”

We swallowed hard and waited for the result. It was a very suspicious fortune teller shop, but we still wanted to know the answer.

“First, the most blessed lover is —“

“Kunimitsu-sensei and Izumi Masamune-sensei!”
“Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!???”

Shidou screamed. At the same time, I realized:

“You! You are… Suzune, aren’t you!”
“Oh my, and I thought I was hiding very well!”

Suzune stuck her tongue out and removed the hood.

“I noticed your voice.”
“Oh, what a pity. But the fortune telling’s result is totally real.”

“Could you please stop with this scary joke?”
“I’m not….”

“You ARE joking! Good! And we are done talking about it! So –? Why are you here? What about your class’s shop?”

We’ve only known each other for a short amount of time, but I still speak
casually to her.

“I received an important mission from my whole class. Compared to being a bunny maid in a 「 cosplay café 」 shop, my current mission is way more important.”

“I totally don’t understand what you mean by that.”

“I think it’s for the best. Understanding would just give you more of a
headache.”

Suzune laughed. Damn… What a girl.

Suddenly, a voice came from behind me and called for Suzune:

“Suzune-chan! Good afternoon!”

It was Megumi. Suzune turned to her and smiled:

“Good afternoon to you too, Megumi-chan. Thank you for your help.”

“Ehehe, that’s my line.”

Seems like Megumi was affected by Suzune-onee-sama’s aura: her tone became different.

Muramasa-senpai asked in our place:

“Megumi and Suzune…. do you two know each other?”

“Yes!”
“We are friends ~”

Seems like it.
What a small world – that was what I thought, but I immediately changed my mind.

– Because one of them is Megumi… so this is totally possible for her…

“But I was surprised that Megumi-chan and Hana-chan are friends – to think that Hana-chan can make friends outside of school.”

“H-How rude!”

Muramasa-senpai’s eyes turned into a >.< shape
Elf grinned and began to tease her too.

“Suzune, ~ you are making the same mistake as we did. Even outside of school, Muramasa is very welcomed!”

“Yes, yes…. even outside of school…”

Totally true. Among us, Muramasa-senpai is the most welcomed person, especially by Eromanga-sensei. But because Elf was teasing Suzune, she was adding a few untrue details.

“Mwu …what a surprise. I would have thought it impossible for Hana-chan to NOT give everyone a bad first impression.”

“Bah, our first impression was beyond horrible.”
“I thought she was my most dangerous enemy.”

Sagiri and I spoke at the same time.
Elf also added “Same here.”

“….You don’t have to say it aloud… I’m trying to change too….”

Muramasa-senpai looked a bit down, but there was no way I could sugarcoat
the truth. During their first meeting, she didn’t even remember Elf’s name.

“Still, a lot of things happened – so after we understood her better, we became friends. Her good sides and her bad sides… both allowed us to become friends.”

“…Ma…Masamune-kun….how embarrassing.”

Muramasa-senpai covered her face in embarrassment. Seeing that, Suzune let out an “Oh?” and a mysterious smile.

“The current stage… is acceptable.”

“What are you talking about?”

“It’s about the mission everyone gave me” Suzune raised a finger, said “First objective is to find out what type of man the 「 man who Hana-chan likes 」is. Based on the outcome, we have plans to interact with your group.”

“What….?” *2

Both senpai and I were startled. But Elf and Megumi weren’t, which means
they both expected it.

“Another objective is a secret – right, Megumi-chan.”
“Um?”

“Can I ask you something? What is Muramasa-senpai’s-onii-sama like?”
“He is a siscon do-gooder with a super lovely fiancée.”

“Haha, as expected of Megumi. You sum up everything nicely.”

Hey!

Suzune nodded and muttered to herself
“I see. I understand”

And then…

“It’s a bit late, but I will continue to tell you about what I saw in the future – about your friendship: I’d say you all are very good friends. And about love… Masamune-onii-sama?”

“Y-Yes?”

“If you married 「 a younger senior 」, you would become a good couple, and you might become one of the great novelists of this century.”

What a suspicious fortune telling. But at the very least, she looked like an honest soothsayer. We continued to go sightseeing on the school grounds, checking out other shops.

At the gardening club, I bought a present for Sagiri. At the accessory store, I also bought a present for Sagiri. Then at the photo booth, we took some pictures to give to Sagiri.

“You are very straightforward, aren’t you?”

Muramasa-senpai complained to me, eyes wide.

“But… I just think that if I bring some stuff back for her, then it would allow Sagiri to feel like she actually went on this trip with us.”

Besides, some stuff in the foreign-looking shops looked like it was only available here, so maybe they have some value as reference points for writing.

“…Nii-san, that shop’s price is very high, make sure to think carefully.”

At the same time, Sagiri warned me.

We left the school grounds and went to find someplace to rest in the home-cooking area. If I remembered correctly, there was a modern-looking café
nearby. There was also a room that guests could use to cook for themselves: thus the battle between Kunimitsu Shidou and Yamada Elf began.

“Shidou Kunimitsu, let’s find out which of us is more skilled at cooking! The
theme is 「 a dessert desert that goes well with red tea 」, how about that?”

“I accept your challenge! I still can’t beat a professional cook, but I will not lose with this theme!”

By the way, they both had a similar contest before.
Yamada Elf and Shidou Kunimitsu, both of them had an interest in cooking– But unlike Elf, who has a lot of interests, Shidou’s only interest is cooking, so his skill in this area should be higher. Elf didn’t like that and was looking to challenge him again.

The judges are the girls in the home-cooking area.
In the end, Elf’s apple scones won.

“Fuhahahahaha!! Taste my cooking, Shidou Kunimitsu! I’m Yamada Elf! Even in my opponent’s specialized area, I will not lose a second time!”

“Kuh…. the sweet and sour taste from the apple scone pushed the red tea’s smell to the maximum… It’s like…. I was caressed by a young girl’s hand!“

I have to say, his imagination is outright horrible. A scene with a young adult breathing heavily nonstop is painful to see.

“Ma-Masamune-kun… I… I made some cookies…”

Next to me, Muramasa-senpai anxiously gave me a dish.

“Would you like to take a bite? While I don’t think I’m as good as they are….”

“Of course, let me take one.”

Muramasa-senpai’s cooking is focused more on Japanese style, not Western style. Her cookies were totally normal looking…

“Um, it’s good.”
“I… I see… It’s great”

But they still tasted good.

“Fu – Hahaha! I’m Miss Hanohana!”

Elf came back to us full of herself. She was wearing a piece of cloth with the words “Miss Hanohana” over her shoulder. Right now, we are in an isolated area of the school.

“I’m the queen! You there, praise me!”

So, I guess I don’t have to explain anything anymore.

As she said before, Elf suddenly decided to participate in the Miss Hanohana contest and brought back her victory. This contest is totally high-class lady style, so the judge was not only looking at appearance, but also traditional skills…
image
…But Elf still won.

The participants had to show their skill in koto (EN: A traditional Japanese instrument), violin, a tea ceremony, and a dancing ceremony. Many beautiful girls took part in this contest, which made it lively.

In the end, however, the winner was our Yamada Elf-sensei. Among the participants, she was the loudest, the most skillful person, the one who wanted to win the most – sometimes, she even won in her opponent’s specialized field.

And of course, she was the cutest participant.

If I had to describe the contest in detail, then I would need to write a hundred pages. I’m sorry that I can’t give you guys a proper recap of it: all I can say is Elf won in a landslide.

Even among high class ladies, Elf is a very eye-catching individual.

However, it should be expected. After all, unlike most people, she had received proper bride training in the past.

“Congrats, Elf!”
“You were very loud… but this is very in character for you.”

Both Megumi and Muramasa-senpai smiled and welcomed her back. During all of this, Sagiri’s tablet was held by senpai. Shidou-kun slightly pushed at my back.

“Izumi, aren’t you going to say anything?”
“Even if you tell me that.”

I don’t know what to say…
I scratched my head and went to Elf.

“Eto…congratulations…”
“Um!”

Her brilliant smile made me a bit embarrassed.
Still grinning, she said:

“Since you said 「 Elf can easily win 」, I showed off a bit of my true power… so, what do you think?”

“Ah…”

While I was laughing nervously, there was a forced cough that came from the tablet.

“!”

By pure instinct, I straightened my back.
Megumi turned to Muramasa-senpai:

“It would have been better if Muramasa-sensei could have joined this contest too.”

“No, no way. I’m not ‘miss’ material.”

“Ah ~ but if you could win against Elf in this contest, maybe Onii-san will look at you with favorable eyes.”

“Kyh! But I don’t need to do that in order to boost myself! Isn’t that right, Masamune-kun?”

“Eh….”

Don’t ask me such an impossible question! Does that mean she would have taken part in this contest if I said so? Damn, what a pity.

“Megumi, Muramasa, wait a second ~ do you think that you could really win against Miss Hanohana – Elf-sama? Even if you took part in this contest, I would still win.”

“Ahaha ~ I’m not so sure ~ because I’m ~ also ~ super cute ♪”

“If Masamune-kun wanted me to, then I would win. I will not lose to some demi-human!”

“Oh ~? Then how about we decide the winner right here, right now? Masamune! You are the judge this time!”

“I’m not! Who would want to be put in such a dangerous position!?”

And so, the Miss Hanohana contest came to an end—

“Ah, my friend from the middle school is here, so I will take my leave.”

“I just received a message and now I need to make a phone call. Please go on ahead; I will catch up with you all later.”

After Megumi and Shidou-kun left, now there was only Sagiri, Elf, Muramasa-senpai, and me left.

“Good, next let’s go visit the literature club! As a novelist, I have some interest in that place ~~”

Still holding her trophy, Elf led the way. We went to the literature club’s building, which was located in the middle of the middle school and high school area. It was not as big as the main school building, but it was still quite sizable. Inside, I could see that compared to the school, this place… was more temple-like. There were many works of art displayed, like a small art museum.

“Muramasa-chan, I’ve seen this place somewhere before.”

“Um? Eh… This place was used as a background for a TV series, right?”

“Um! The same show that’s still airing now! Turns out the background setting is this place!”

“To think that there is a TV series like that… damn, I’ve been so busy recently that I have had no time to check on anything but anime and light novels.”

I have gained many good ideas from leaving my comfort zone. It was true that I was busy, but I need to make sure I still have time for other activities too…

“If I remember correctly, this school is trying to boost its cultural clubs.”

“It’s as you see. But to tell the truth, even I don’t know much about it.”

Senpai was embarrassed because she had no interest interested in her own
school: thus she had nothing to tell me.

Yep, that’s the Senjyu Muramasa that I know.

Elf said, half teasing:

“Ah, what a useless tour guide. Well, it can’t be helped, let me show everyone the most「 interesting thing 」 in this building.”

“You will show us? What exactly are you going to show us?”
“That!”

Elf pointed at a big picture located in the most eye-catching place in the main hall.

It was a drawing of the school from above. Its title was “Looking at the school from above”

– Wait. Could it be; this drawing….

My breath caught in my throat, but Muramasa-senpai’s reaction was slow.

“What’s with that drawing?”

“Oh? You can’t see it? So the famous novelist Senjyu Muramasa doesn’t know much about drawing, huh?”

“Yes, I don’t. As far as I can tell, this is just a very decisive drawing. Can you explain for me?”

“Ara, at least you are honest. You don’t even care… as usual, I can’t really fire you up.”

There would never be a victor between Yamada Elf and Senjyu Muramasa.
Even when talking about their eyes for detail.

“About this drawing – Fufu, tell her, Sagiri.”
“Is that Army-chan’s drawing?”

I knew it. While her style was different, it still felt familiar somehow. You could almost see a glow coming from the drawing.

Army – full name Armeria Amelia. Nicknamed “Almighty Illustrator”. This is her drawing.

“This school is one of Amelia’s 「 big customers 」. It’s a rare chance for me to show off in her place. How about that? Isn’t it cool?”

“As expected of my Onee-chan.”

Both Elf and Sagiri were proud of Army. If she were here, then she would have probably shed tears of happiness. After enjoying her drawing, we continued on our way. After a while, we reached our destination

“This is the literature club’s room!”

Today was a day of festival, but the room in front of me had no decorations. It was still the same as before.

Did they only decorate inside?

“Excuse me —!”

Elf suddenly went ahead and pushed the door open.

As I entered the literature club’s room, it reminded me of the series 「 Book girl 」, which uses a similar place as its setting. It also has a 「 book eating monster 」 who wears a sailor uniform and puts her hair in twin tails, sitting among piles of books. For a book lover, a place where you were surrounded by lots of books and paper boxes is a very promising room.

For now, Nanohana School and this literature club have met my expectations. There weren’t that many books, but all of them were neatly arranged on large, tall shelves. There were also chairs, a long table and a white carpet, along with girls in black sailor uniforms. There were some familiar faces mixed in, but that is a story for another time.

One girl was reading alone. Another was calmly staring out the window.
Another was just focused on writing – etc, etc…

This room gave me a nostalgic feeling.

“Fuoooooooooohhhh! This is a literature club’s room! This is a book girl! A high class lady school’s club’s daily activities!!!”

By the way, I was NOT the one who just yelled that previous line. I really don’t want to say it… but as soon as Eromanga-sensei looked inside the room, she was jumping in joy, full of excitement.

Elf was goggle eyed:

“Sagiri, you… totally ruined the atmosphere.”

“…Sorry… I was so excited that… I couldn’t help myself.”
“Sorry for troubling you.”

We apologized in her place. The other girls in the club also nodded and greeted us.

One of them stood up and asked:

“Are you here for a visit? Welcome to the literature club, Onii-sama.”
“Ah?”

Isn’t that Suzune again?

“From the maid café to the fortune teller shop… you are everywhere.”

“Onii-sama, the way you speak makes me sad. Aren’t you the one who entered my place?”

I don’t know about the maid café, but it’s clear that you ambushed us at the fortune teller shop.

“So, why are you here?”
“I’m the vice president of this club?”

“Wait, what? For real?”
“Yep ~” Suzune shrugged.

“Compared to her… all of the members seem surprised.”
“See Eromanga-sensei? It’s because you suddenly made a strange sound.” What now…?”

When I told her that, Sagiri repeated her usual “I don’t know anyone by that name…”

“Okay, then…let me draw something as an apology.”

What the heck is this 18+ manga artist saying?
As her fiancée, I was sure the she’d draw something perverted.

“If you are a literature club, then you must be dying to see a professional illustrator’s skill. Okay, Muramasa-chan: put me in a low spot: make sure I can see that black stocking onee-san from below.”

“Sealing!”

With a *thud* Muramasa-senpai immediately slammed the tablet shut and sealed the evil away.

“Sorry everyone. Please don’t mind the idiot just now.”

“Muramasa-sensei!”

All the members stood up.

“Welcome to our club!”
“We are sorry for not noticing you sooner –“

“Because someone said something weird, I was momentarily stalled…”
“Goddess…! The goddess is here…!”

“P-Please, this way…!”
Muramasa-senpai was so welcomed.

“Ah…Ano…You…Senpai…you don’t have to…”

It’s like an idol walked into her fan club’s room. And I think I heard something outrageous. Hopefully it’s just my ears playing tricks on me.

Elf paled a bit, and asked:

“…Eto, Muramasa. Did you ask your high school seniors to call you 「 goddess 」?”

“No way! Don’t say that!” Muramasa-senpai raised both of her hands and
denied it.

Elf looked at the beautiful black stocking nee-san:

“She said no?”
“No way! Senjyu Muramasa-sensei is our club’s goddess!”

Her eyes were serious. She even put her hands together and began to pray.

Even Elf was taken back.

“…I think it’s very bad to use the word 「 goddess 」 in a Catholic school”

Yup. I’ve never heard someone call me anything like that before. Facing her devoted followers, Muramasa-senpai also said back:

“Kujou-senpai! Didn’t I tell you to not pray to me?”

“B-B-But, how could I be so sacrilegious in front of my goddess…”

“I told you that I’m not a goddess!! Don’t say that anymore! My friends are here…!”

Aside from some ecchi situations, this is the first time I saw Muramasa-senpai so flushed. Seeing that her sacred goddess didn’t like it, the devoted school girl finally raised her head:

“If you say so… at least allow me to call you Umezono-san.”

“Phew….”

She was still breathing hard, but Muramasa-senpai could finally relax a bit.

Then, she introduced us:

“Everyone… this, this is my senior in high school, Kujou-san.”

“High school, second year, president of the first literature club, Kujou Tomoyo!”

So she is the same age as me.

She had a slender body, and if she hadn’t done anything weird (like just now)would have thought her to be a proper high class lady. No, I’d say she had a “big-sis” aura.

“E..A…pleased to meet you, I’m Muramasa-senpai’s junior, Izumi Masamune.”

“I’m Yamada Elf. Please take care of me.”

We put some distance between us and introduced ourselves.

Tomoyo-san’s eyes widened – probably because she had heard of us before –
especially Elf.

However, she didn’t pray to us like she did with Muramasa-senpai.

“We are very glad to have you all visit your club.” She calmly replied.

I turned to Muramasa-senpai:

“Eto, are you a member of this club?”

“No, I’m not. Kujou-senpai and Suzune asked me many times but I always
refused. I can’t join a club when I have no intention to take part in the club’s activities.”

“You’ve got a point.”

“I’m not a member, but sometimes I gave them a tip or two about writing. In return, when I need to write something at school, they let me use the club room.”

“Mu-Muramasa-senpai —“
“You gave them a tip or two?”

Both I and Elf were surprised

“Are you…that surprised?”
“Because…you aren’t that type of person, you know?”

“Ah, you are correct” Muramasa-senpai smiled wryly.

“I don’t think it’s anything special. All I did was read their stories and give them my honest opinion. I even made a member cry once – but they said it was fine, so I didn’t think much about it. I can’t lie when it’s about one of my favorite topics – such as light novels, but I still listen to my closest friends’ and seniors’ requests.”

“—————“

I —–It was great to come here today. My impression of Muramasa-senpai was changing with each passing hour. That doesn’t mean that my previous impression was wrong, it just means that I saw another side of her.

At school, Muramasa-senpai is not just a strange antisocial weirdo who bad mouths other people’s stories. She is also a gentle Umezono Hana, who listens to her friends’ requests.

But even if I told her that, she would just reject it out of embarrassment.

“I see….” I nodded, a warm feeling filling my heart.

“By the way …” Elf asked Tomoyo-san “What is the difference between the first and second literature club?”

“The high school literature club is the first, and the middle school literature club is the second. We usually use another room upstairs, but today both clubs decided to hold an event together… actually, we just published our magazine.”

I see. There was a stack of magazines on a nearby long table. It looked like it was the 「 result 」 of the effort of both clubs.

“By the way, feel free to take one… it’s just the work of amateurs, so even we realize that it’s not that good… every year we end up with some spares, so….”

“Okay, thanks. We’ll take it.”

We began to read the magazine. Looks like it contains the club members’ work.

“Oh? The high school club writes in a vertical way, but the middle school club writes in a horizontal way?”

“Because middle school club members usually spend their time writing online.”

“Do you mean – web novels?”

Elf didn’t ask Tomoyo-san. She asked Suzune instead.

“Yes. They mostly use the 「 Narou 」 or 「 Kakuyomu 」 sites.”
“Wow? Really?”

“Yes. We send our manuscripts away; then use the comment sections to get in touch with each other. Since everyone was used to writing horizontally… things ended up this way.”

“Oh… I see…. writing horizontally is rare… It’s like you put a cell phone novel on paper.”

I decided to use an ancient example.

To think that the newest literature club was using the Internet to keep in touch with each other. Hearing the name of a familiar website made me pause.

…However, now we are talking about web novels…

About my “that was a story for another time"?, I think that “time” has arrived. Inside the club room, there were many girls in black stockings and sailor uniforms. However, there were some familiar faces mixed in.

Two of them are the people who went off on their own earlier.

“Kusanagi-senpai, Aya-chan.”

Since she had her back to us, Aya-chan was startled.

“Ah, Izumi-sensei.”
“Oh, Izumi huh?” Kusanagi-senpai also noticed us.
“Why are you here? Aren’t you planning to go to the high school area?”

“Ah? Oh, right. Because – master suddenly said 「 I changed my mind, let’s go wherever you want 」….”

Strange? Kusanagi-senpai is taking care of Aya-chan?

“What is going on here?”

“Do you have to ask, Izumi? Well, my… 「 original objective 」 cannot be reached 」, so it’s meaningless even if I do go. So I decided to take care of a kid… it’s like that.”

So that’s why he came here, where Aya-chan wanted to go. At the very least, I could understand why they were here. But what I couldn’t understand… was mostly about the person Aya-chan was talking to.

“Fumu, it has been a long time, Izumi-kun.”
“Umezono-san….”

Yes, it was Muramasa-senpai’s father – Umezono Rintarou-san. He was chatting with other high school girls and Aya-chan. What is he doing here? I was a bit jealous of him. Since he is Muramasa-senpai’s father, it’s understandable for him to come to the school today.

“Why did you come here?”

Rintarou-san said with a serious expression.

“We are enjoying the festival. At the same time, we were able to conveniently organize an offline meeting.”

“A meeting? With those high class ladies?”
And what do you mean, “conveniently organize a meeting”?

“You remember, don’t you? I know how to send my manuscript to some online
novel websites.”

“Yes?”

He is a great novelist, but he doesn’t know much about modern technology, so I remembered that he was seriously trying to learn about current trends.

“And?”

“I used my real name from the start, but my comment sections were full of people who claimed to be 「 Diehard fan of Umezono Rintarou 」. Those people said 「 get lost, you fake 」 or 「You only copy the bare minimum in sensei’s way of writing 」.”

“Oh ~~”

That’s usual. No one actually thought the real Umezono Rintarou would submit his manuscript to a website like that. He was treated like a fake by his own fans… What is this great novelist doing?

“Thus, when I sent my manuscript, I changed the sender’s name to 「 Rin-chan 」”

You called yourself Rin-chan with that appearance???? Rintarou-san continued with a low tone, and explained:

“I used the nickname Rin-chan to send my manuscript away and talked with other writer groups while talking like a girl.”

“What the heck?”

I couldn’t stop myself. Considering his age and his appearance… how horrible. Just imagining it was hard. He has a daughter already.

“In order to catch up with youth’s tastes and interests; in order to make my work welcomed by them, I have also watched every single anime that is being aired.”

Was this attitude the secret to him becoming the one of the top novelists in this industry? I don’t think many people could do that.

“For some reason, people happily give me tips and suggestions about writing, which makes it easier for me to write.”

Of course. If a person uses a girl’s wording to talk about otaku stuff with a girl’s nickname, that person would be very welcomed.

“After I finished my 「 become a novelist 」 schedule, recently sometimes the story I sent took the top spot on the leaderboard.”

“Should I say that’s awesome… or should I say as expected of Rintarou-san…”

I don’t want to praise him…

“But my ranking goes up and down, I can’t keep it stable. Some people keep saying that all I needed to do was stand firm on my path in order to become a novelist, but I honestly don’t understand what they mean anymore. The other top tier novelist is strong too. They told me that copying another novelist’s style is not a long term strategy. I don’t want to admit it, but they have a point.”

“……………”

There are many things that I want to say, but…. I know that he seriously wants to “become a novelist”. He must be falling in love with light novels after reading them.

Maybe… he is just like his daughter…

Rintarou-san continued:

“In order to figure out the core reason, I decided to hold an offline meeting with some writers that I met online. If I asked the people at the top, they must be able to give me some good answers. But after asking, I found out all of them are students at the school Hana-chan is going to! Izumi-kun, you have to remember that almost all of the top tier writers「 who want to become novelists 」 are female high school students!”

“Really? Cool!”

I have to look at them differently from now on!

“When we invited 「 Rin-chan 」-san to our school today, imagine our surprise when he said his daughter goes to this school.”

Next to Rintarou-san, a middle school-aged girl said with a friendly tone. Surprised? Imagine my surprise! A “girl” you met online turned out to be the father of your schoolmate, yet you are okay with it?

“That’s how we met 「Rin-chan] –san at school…and we invited him to our club. Thankfully our club is not very busy, and we can chit-chat here.”

“What a coincidence. To think 「Rin-chan 」 is a male – and he is Senjyu Muramasa-sensei’s father!”

All the other girls (including Aya-chan) nodded in agreement.

…Strange?

From this reaction, they… didn’t know about the great novelist Umezono Rintarou-sensei? They all… just think of him as Muramasa-senpai’s father? Are you kidding me…? He is Umezono Rintarou. They even made a drama series about him…

Didn’t this club notice?

When I was still confused, Suzune quietly came to me and whispered:

“Seems like no one noticed.”
“….Yeah.”

He is already a famous writer, but in this club, he is just 「Rin-chan」, a newbie on a website, Umezono Hana’s father.

“That’s why I’m asking them how to write a novel.”

But somehow, he looks happy with the situation.
Uncle, your daughter has been staring at you for a while, is that okay?

“Ojii-san! About what you asked earlier!”

Aya-chan called out to Rintarou-san, full of excitement. From what I can see, Aya-chan is not a member of this online group: she just came here by chance. From the beginning, she seemed like she had a lot of things to tell 「Rin-chan 」.

“I think authors shouldn’t add any and all popular ideas into their story just so they can make their readers happy! Do you really think you could write a good novel that way!?”

“Hahaha, you are so straightforward. Maybe you’re right.”

“It is! Don’t laugh, please write a novel seriously! Don’t just research novels with a similar setting and write 「“right now”, “in a situation like this", this story would be well-received 」. You should write something that 「anywhere, anytime, could make the reader interested 」. I think this is how the ideal novelist should be.”

“Sorry, young lady. I can’t write something like that, I’m not that talented.”

“You are aiming too low! 「Rin-chan 」-san, you shouldn’t think like that. I just quickly read one of your stories – but honestly, I think that for a newbie, you are a very promising author.”

“Oh? Is that so?”
“Yes! While you still have much to learn, if you keep trying –“

“Keep trying?”

“Someday, maybe you could become a professional author! I will give you some advice: try harder!”

“Hearing that made me feel more confident.”

What a scary conversation. Even an outsider like me felt the pressure. I couldn’t imagine how Suzune could keep laughing, but I felt that it wasn’t good for my heart.

Okay.

Next, let me check on Kusanagi-senpai’s situation again.

His disciple is teaching Umezono Rintarou “how to write a novel”. As her master, he turned blue as a ghost, like he was watching a scene straight out of hell.

“… I… I should not have come here… What a horrible day….”

On the other hand —

“Aha, what a happy time… I’m glad that I came here today.”

Umezono Rintarou – also known as 「Rin-chan 」-sensei is happily enjoying today.

*Thud*. Someone struck his nape.

That was Muramasa-senpai. She looked like she couldn’t take it anymore.

“… Fa-Father! What are you doing! I… I can’t stand it anymore…”

“Hey, hey, Hana-chan, I’m here. Thank you for inviting me.”

“Thank me!? You, you are… I’m so ashamed of you! Hurry up and go home,
really!”

She was blushing madly. Well, that must be “a girl who is embarrassed because her father came to her school”

“Don’t be so angry. Not only did they teach me how to write, I learned a lot of things about you too.”

“Eh?”

“You said that for your true love, you want to use this festival to make some 「memories of youth 」– right?”

“Ah….ah…..”

Wah wah wah… Muramasa-senpai is shaken. That was her aim that she had said aloud. It was almost the same as Rintarou- san said; the only difference is the “true love” part. Both Sagiri and I figured
out that part on our own.

“But what is the truth, Izumi-kun?”
“Eh?”

He threw me a curveball.

“What – do you think?”

I think that I’m being tested.

I was afraid for a moment, but still, I have no intention of changing my words. I said what was on my mind:

“I have only visited her class and this club, and I think that Muramasa-senpai…”

“What do you think, Masamune-kun?”
“I think senpai is experiencing youth.”

Muramasa-senpai didn’t say anything for a while. And then… she turned her head away in embarrassment.

“Is that so…?”

The second day of the school festival came to an end. The school gate is painted by the sunset.

“Everyone, thank you for coming today.”

Muramasa-senpai thanked us all.

“I’m the one who should say thanks, Muramasa-san.” Shidou-kun said.

“Fufufu, I had lots of fun today” Elf said.
“I think I got along better with everyone!” Megumi said

“…While a lot of unpleasant stuff happened to me, I got some valuable experience.” Kusanagi-senpai said.

“Senjyu Muramasa-sensei! I… I’m very glad that I could talk with you!” Aya-chan said.

Everyone replied with a smile on their face.

“Today my impression of Muramasa-chan… changed a lot. Not only did it become better… I also realized that you truly are my opponent.”

On the tablet, Sagiri was also smiling. Same as me.

“Senpai, this festival is great. I’m glad that I came.”

“Really. Then I’m glad.”

Muramasa-senpai slowly looked at everyone.

“Thanks to you all, my wish has become true. Inviting friends from outside of school, going to the festival with each other… I feel very happy. I’m glad that I could introduce you all to my friends at school… Even if it was only for a short amount of time, I became a normal schoolgirl – Masamune-kun said that I have experienced youth, but…. this kind of activity is new even for me.”

“… Um… same for me too.”

Sagiri closed her eyes and showed her agreement.

For a hikikomori girl or a naïve book girl: this was a valuable experience for both of them.

“E… Ah… I mean… If…. if possible….”

Muramasa-senpai muttered in embarrassment. Then, she looked up, and said something that made people change their opinions of her even more:

“Let’s go out and play together again.”

You asked what my reply was?

This is not something I need to write out.
School anniversary date festival, day three

I alone stood at the front gate of Nanohana School.
– On day three of the festival, can you meet me at the school?
– Then, I hope that you can read my story. That’s all I ask.
– I’m not going to ask for your opinion, nor will I ask you to like me.
– I only ask you to read what I have written in front of me.

I need to fulfill my promise with Muramasa-senpai.

Senpai told me, “After sunset, when the dancing begins, come to the school gate.”

I still have some time before our meeting.

“…………”

Just like yesterday, I gave the invitation letter to the guard and entered the school grounds. It is a bit cold today. As I looked at the sky I realized: it’s already that time of year.

The sky is clear.

Muramasa-senpai’s mind must be as clear as the sky. No wonder she can keep walking straight ahead.

“It seems like she has been awakened.”

I took a deep breath and began walking. My target is the literature club’s room. I knocked on the door.

A voice said, “Come in”, from inside the room.

Without a sound, I opened it. A black haired girl in a sailor uniform was waiting for me. That’s right. Yesterday, I did not only agree to a meeting with Muramasa-senpai.

“Thank you for coming, Onii-sama.”

But also, Usami Suzune.
She was sitting with her legs crossed in a respectable pose.

– Onii-sama. One hour before you meet up with Hana-chan…please come to the literature club.

That was what she whispered to me before we left. Her words had an unreal, alluringly sweet tone to them.

“Please come here.”

Suzune beckoned me to come closer with her finger. It’s a very impolite action, but it didn’t damage her aura at all… Or rather, it was as if I was under her spell and had to obey her: like I was her servant…

Wait! No no no no! I have no such interests!

I shook my head and came to the front of Suzune. She slightly narrowed her eyes, showing a ghost of a smile. I took the chair next to Suzune and sat down. The sunlight from outside made the normal looking club room have a sacred atmosphere.

“Why… did you call me here?”

“Before Hana-chan finishes her story… before she tells you her feelings…There is something I have to tell you about.”

“What is it?”
“By the way, this… is not a love confession.”

“I know that.”

“Ah, I had hoped that you would think it was. Think about it, a girl like me is common in light novels, right? A development like that happens?”

“What do you mean?”

I totally don’t get it.

Suzune flashed a devilish smile and put a hand on her chest.

“I mean, you meet a 「 guest heroine 」 in a new setting.”
“I can’t do that.”

“But your tone suggests that you have conquered many 「 guest heroines 」.

“Stop. I am about to reach my limit – did you call me here just to tell me that?”

“How could I – there is something I want you to see.”
“What is it?”

“Haha… that.”

Suzune pointed at a corner of the room with her finger.

Over there was….

“…Ah”

In her sailor uniform, Muramasa-senpai was writing with a pencil and paper. Her back straight, her eyes dim like she was haunted by a spirit. She was so focused that she didn’t notice me at all.

“………”

Her face - set in stone because she was so focused – slowly broke into a smile. It looked as though her pencil was growing lighter and lighter. It felt like she was putting each and every one of her feelings directly into words.

It was totally different from what I have seen. This was a Senjyu Muramasa that I had never met before.

“This is a special seat.”

Suzune said “It is only open for you to use today, Onii-sama.”

“……….”

There was nothing I could say. All I could do was watch senpai write. Her expression changed from smiling, to in pain, and finally it became erotic breathing. When she was putting her feelings into words, her expression also followed suit.

Each and every one of her feelings grabbed hold of my heart. But even then, I couldn’t avert my eyes.

“You have never seen it before, have you?”

“No….” I replied in a hoarse tone before continuing “Why? Was this… another one of your 「 objectives 」?”

“I didn’t do it in order to support her love. Everyone in my class, including me, none of us plan to help with Hana-chan’s first love. This is something Hana-chan should do on her own; it would be very rude to butt in without her approval. But –"

Then, Suzune’s tone took a hint of anger. At least, that was what I thought.

“I don’t want you to say 「 Compared to Hana-chan, I like another girl even more 」 without knowing about this side of her. I know it’s rude, but I can’t let it slide. So I needed to make sure you understood.”

That was her objective. Suzune smiled.
Her eyes were saying that – people like you actually aren’t important.

…In the end… we are talking about love… It can be good or bad.
In this pure school, girls can be angels or devils.

“Was that why you called me here? Before senpai finished writing?”

“Yes.”
“So you asked me to come to let me know more about Muramasa-senpai?”

“Yes. More or less… yesterday, you must have seen some more of Hana-chan’s charm, correct?”

“Yeah…”

Yesterday, I saw a side of Umezono Hana that she didn’t want anyone to see. And then now, in this same room, I saw another side of Senjyu Muramasa.

“I only want you to understand Hana-chan. Both her good sides, her bad sides, her cute sides, her clumsy sides, her serious sides, her idiotic sides…I hope that 「 the one Hana-chan likes 」 can see it all.”

Suzune stood up and smiled gracefully.

“Perhaps that’s why I brought you here early, to see this side of her. Because of that, our Hana-chan won’t lose.”

Suzune finished and quietly left the club room. I stayed behind alone. The only sound remaining was the sound of pencil on paper… When we had just met, she came to my house and for some reason just decided to write a story.

….During our summer training, when she received my story, she obsessively
read it.

….When we went to her home, she had recovered and was about to write
again. Senpai in a kimono. Senpai in a school uniform. Senpai in an athletic outfit, senpai in daily clothes. Senpai in a bikini.

Anger. Embarrassment. Happiness. Pain.

We had known each other for a year, and I had seen many sides of her –
But this is a special seat. I saw something I had never seen before. Until she finished writing, I only watched her in fascination.

“….Good, finished!”

She put the pen down an hour later. Holding it with both of her hands, she slowly raised it up and looked at the final page. Maybe she was still high on her feelings, but she didn’t move. Then, she hugged it.

“… Masamune-kun.”

It’s like her recently finished story is me. She looked so cute that I felt so embarrassed. Oh… My face is getting hotter. I was wondering whether or not I should reply to her, until she suddenly noticed me.

“… Masamune-kun?”
“Hi, senpai.”

I raised a hand and greeted her. Muramasa-senpai stood up nervously.

“Y-You’re real?”
“Um? What else do you think I am?”

“… I thought I was dreaming.”

She muttered quietly. Still hugging herself, she said in an almost inaudible voice:

“Be-Because… I was thinking about you… so I thought… I was sleeping while writing… then in the dream….”

“Oh….”

I felt so ticklish. Why did you say it out loud senpai! I am embarrassed too! She came closer and caressed my face:

“You are real, right?”

I quivered

“Yes… I’m the real Izumi Masamune.”

“I see….Ah, sorry! I touched you without permission… So, then…w-w-why—?”

Why are you here – that was probably what she was trying to ask.

I’m used to speaking with a person who is not good at speaking their mind, so I’m fully aware that if I said “I have been watching you” she would be very embarrassed, and the situation would take a turn for worse.

“I just got here. This is the only place that you could have been.”

“I… I see.”

She breathed a sigh of relief. Yes, that was the right response.

“How is your story going?”

“Um, I just finished. Can you wait a bit for me to do a final check?”
“Of course. Take as long as you need.”

I wouldn’t mind even if I had to wait here for days: if that meant I could read her story.

“Thank you, but… can you go to the café shop.”
“Can’t I wait here?”

“…It’s embarrassing if you are watching…”
“Normally, you aren’t the type who cares about that.”
“But today is not normal! Because… this is… our…story.”

“You – are correct. Sorry!”

How dangerous… I was thinking of teasing her, but she made a perfect
comeback.

“Then…I will go on ahead.”
My heart was racing when I made my escape. I left the club room and went toward our meeting place, the same café shop that we visited yesterday. I ordered a cup of coffee and waited. The sun was going down. The sky was slowly turning orange.

The festival was coming to an end. School students were busy cleaning up and preparing for the bonfire. When people talk about a school festival, they will think of a bonfire. But where does that line of thinking come from?

It doesn’t really happen in reality. A school bonfire only exists in people’s imaginations, and in stories at “the end of a festival.” Everyone dreams about experiencing it at some point growing up, but very few get to experience it in reality.

So –

I must be seeing a scene from another world.

“Sorry for making you wait, Masamune-kun.”

Just after I finished my second cup of coffee, her voice came.

“Senpai, you can take as long as you need.”
“No. It’s finished. I have checked it carefully.”

“I see.”
“… As promised, can you read it?”

She gave me a stack of papers with both of her hands. That was the story of Senjyu Muramasa, as well as the love letter of Umezono Hana.

“Um.”

I nodded, took it, and began to read.

The story that Senjyu Muramasa used everything she could in order to write “the most interesting novel in the world”

A story about Umezono Hana’s first love.

… … … … … … … …
… … … … …
… …

During that time, I kept my mouth shut. My hand kept turning the page.
A story that described a forbidden love in such a beautiful way.

A story that brainwashed the reader.

The more I read, the more I realized how different it was compared to just the first part. The first half showed the reader the writer’s purified skill, but in the second half, the writing slowly became more chaotic. Yet at the same time, the feelings grew stronger.

This story told a tale of a girl’s first love, forged in a burning fire. I lost track of the time while reading. The world seemed to disappear from my mind.

The climax of the story in the past, and the quiet confession in the current time. Only then I realized that the hot feeling I had wasn’t an illusion. In a corner of my eyes, I saw a real fire.

The bonfire.
– The night festival had begun.

Among the noisy sound, there were the voices of many boys and girls. All of them were enjoying their youth.

Just like us…

“Masamune-kun.”

“…………….”

I couldn’t say anything back. I heard her, but my eyes refused to move away from her story. But senpai, with her female protagonist-like voice, told me:

“Just listen to me. No need to move.”

“……”

“Until now… I only thought about the love story that you wrote. I thought that staying focused on research was the correct way to go about things. Now, I don’t think that’s wrong, but…”

Yesterday was so fun –
She said in a repentant tone:

“It was so fun. Going to the festival with everyone…. speaking about many things… we laughed about stupid things… we yelled at each other… Then I realized, isn’t it the same as usual? This「 normal 」 is always with me, I just didn’t notice it. Youth is not about 「 me 」 and 「 you 」. It is everywhere, in this noisy, chaotic world.”

My eyes moved from the story. Her words and the text touched my deepest feelings.

“You are right. It’s not something so big. I enjoy my youth everyday – especially since I got to know everyone. Don’t you remember our first meeting?”

“Um.”

Muramasa-senpai clapped her hands together and looked into the distance.

“That was a wonderful meeting.”
“Liar. That was a horrible first impression.”

“Yes. But for me, that was a wonderful meeting.”

– I will destroy your dream
– Call me Muramasa-senpai.

How nostalgic.

It was only a bit more than a year ago, but it felt like a lot longer. I called that meeting a “horrible first impression”, but yes: it also led to some good memories. I probably couldn’t forget it for the rest of my life.

“So… In our first meeting, do you remember that Elf came and talked to me in front of the publishing company —“

“Yes. Senpai even dropped her manuscript…”
“Then you picked it up.”

“Yes, yes.”
“Actually, when I first saw you… I felt that you were not bad.”

“Oh!? Is that so?”

I, I don’t think I was such a person…

“Does that mean… love at first sight?”
“No! I… I’m not sure! But my feeling was… not bad.”

“Ah – I see”

What is going on?

I thought senpai was going to confess to me – that, I have mentally prepared myself for. But this? I never thought that I would be forced into this kind of sweet but tiring conversation. It was outside of my expectations! I am so confused!

“…Back then, I…. did not know much about…. love between a man and woman…. So I didn’t notice it at first… Now that I have thought about it… maybe that is right. Maybe… It was love at first sight. Maybe before I realized that you were my respected 「 Izumi Masamune-sensei 」… I already had some affection towards you.”

Wwah…..

“…There, there is something I have to tell you”

I don’t think I would be surprised with anything she can say about this.

“It’s about my first love!”

“!”

“Now that I think of it… it was….”</>

Muramasa-senpai looked into the distance and spoke about her love when she was small.

“When I first read Izumi Masamune’s novel: that was long ago, when I was small…. and I found your website by accident. It wasn’t a website where writers publish their manuscripts; it was… a blog? No, it was… a web page… eh… I mean….”

“Yeah, that one… was a website I made in elementary school.”

Since I made it with an elementary schooler’s mindset, I tried not to remember it. Not only did I send my manuscript to a publishing website, where I met Sagiri, I also posted my story on my own website.

My first fan – Sagiri told me “You write so fast, scary”, then “You don’t have a personal website to store your story”. Because of that, I made my own website.

Back then, all I thought was “Is that how it works?” and made a website just to “store my published story.”

I think that only weirdos who read my story would know about it… after all, it’s very basic.

“I had only two or three visits each day back then…. and two of them were me and Sagiri…”

“So I was the last one.”
“In the end, the world is so small.”

I smiled wryly.

Which meant my first fan is Sagiri, and my second fan is Muramasa-senpai.
What a coincidence… no…

“We only met each other recently, Masamune-kun.”
“….Yes we did.”

We met online, and then we met again. That wasn’t a coincidence. I met with Sagiri again because of our promises, and we both shared the samedream. I met with Senpai again because we chose the same job and both tried our best.

“Back then, I was starting to learn about the Internet. I was hoping to find 「 something interesting 」. Manga, anime, games, novels…. I couldn’t enjoy normal stuff like normal people, so I hoped to find something fun. I was already half way to giving up though.”

For Muramasa-senpai, there were no interesting novels in the bookstore. She once said that that was what drove her to write her own stories. She was not talking about that time. Which means: it happened even before Umezono Hana became Senjyu Muramasa.

“Back then, you hadn’t written anything?”

“I did write a bit; my father taught me some basics. But I didn’t think it was interesting. My father laughed at me and said 「then I’m relieved 」.”

Because her father didn’t want her to become a novelist. At the same time, he was worried that his daughter wouldn’t be able to find anything “interesting” in her life. That was the reason for his conflict: he taught his daughter to become a novelist, but he didn’t want her to become one.

“But then I found it – your story.”

Muramasa-senpai said with a smile

“It was very, very interesting.”

Such a pure, honest statement made me so happy. Compared to having a place on a leader board or being nominated by a famous novelist, a reader’s honest opinion was way more precious.

“Thank you.”

I replied as normally as possible. My face must have been deep red by now. Next I should have tried to hide my embarrassment by saying

“How was it?” or “Back then I was just an elementary school kid, an amateur; I was bad at writing. But how could I reach your heart? What made you think it was interesting… and like it?”

"If you ask me those questions about the past, then I would reply with 「 I just liked it, there is no reason 」.”

Senpai said with a smile.
…Maybe that was the case: For both the readers and the story. I’m the same. If you ask me what about Sagiri made me like her… I could speak for days without problem; but there is no way I could express everything clearly enough.

In the end – I just like her.

“I know, right? But our job is to create a story from our feelings – in other words, we are compatible with each other. Umezono Hana and Izumi Masamune are very similar – we have interest in the same things, we will get angry about the same things, we will laugh at the same things and feel pain for the same reasons.”

"We are very similar,” – Senpai said.

“But even so, we are still two different people. Isn’t it great? 「Someone who is just like me 」 is a person who has the same interests as you and writes interesting stories. It’s great, isn’t it?”

“Totally correct. When I read Senjyu Muramasa-sensei’s stories, I don’t feel like I am reading someone else’s stories.”

During our first fight, I said the same thing. Now, I said that again.

“It’s just like I wrote a novel for myself, then I read it from memory.”

“Same here. For novelists, their early stories are a reflection of their wishes – I had a feeling that I would become a hero and go on an adventure.”

“Can you stop mentioning those early stories? It’s embarrassing.”

Anyone’s first novel would end up that way. What was I thinking, Hero Masamune?

“Not only that. Your stories always have a special spot for family members… especially toward the mother. I think that was the reason… that it reached my heart.”

“…………”

I was speechless.

I’d never met Muramasa-senpai’s mother before, so there was nothing I could say. But deep down, I understood the reason why our feelings were so compatible Father and son.

Father and daughter.

…We…

“I felt like you were me: a different me who was doing something so interesting – so I also wanted to give it a try.”

Umezono Hana showed me a smile that I had never seen before.

“Then, once again, I decided to seriously write a novel.”

Terrifying.

Yes, she was personally trained by Umezono Rintarou, she was noticed by Kagurazaka-san… but she made her debut long before me, her story sold much better…

She was waiting for Izumi Masamune on the professional novelist stage. Waiting: as someone writing about the same topic, but much better.

“That is how Senjyu Muramasa started.”

Everyone knows what happened next. Lots of things happened, and then I began to write love comedy stories. And finally, I’m here. Facing her.
How unbelievable.

“That is my first love.”

Senpai looked down, her face red.

“When I was an elementary school girl, I…. liked another me that I had never met… I liked Izumi Masamune-sensei. Then after I became a high school girl….I met you, and liked you again.”

She quickly added:

“But, but please don’t think of me as someone who would like anybody…..That… only you….could make me this way.”

“……………..”

I bet my face is as red as her. The weather was cold, but I felt so hot.

“I have loved twice in my life… and both of those times, I loved you.”

“…………”

We couldn’t bring our eyes to look at each other.

Black uniform.
Black hair.
White skin.

“Please let me say it just once.”

The sun was setting. With the burning flame nearby, the world was colored
orange. With tears in her eyes, she looked directly at me:

“Masamune-kun, I love you.”

A charm.
image
A charm that could make any male into her prisoner. Both her confession and her story made the effect even stronger. I received her feelings, and gave her my direct answer:

“Senpai, I like you too…

But I have someone I like even more.”

I rejected her confession.

“……………”

“I have sworn to bring that person happiness. So I cannot accept your feelings.”

“……………I see.”

Our conversation was exactly the same as her novel. The only difference was the result and her expression.

“I knew you would say that. It wouldn’t end like how I wrote it.”

Under the orange sky, Muramasa-senpai looked to be in pain. Compared to the genius’s swan song, the girl in front of me was way more beautiful.

“…I finally get it.”

Then, she breathed out hard. Her body relaxed.
She said in a firm tone:

“This is youth.”

Now, we are in our youth.

In the future, someday, when I become an old man, when I think about youth, this moment is the one that will be in my mind.