"It's really good ~ Yuu-chan."

Shiyu said meaningfully: "Even if you just go to get some food, don't forget to save the beauty. It's amazing."

Obviously, someone's behavior just now was clearly seen.

Kato Yusuke didn't make any excuses, but cut off a small piece of cake with a fork and fed it to her mouth, "Would you like to eat cake? Shiba-senpai."

Shiyu glanced at him and said with a cold expression: "Too high calories will make you fat."

"..."

Kato Yusuke stopped for a moment and had to eat the cake himself, then forked another French fries to her.

Shiyu opened his mouth slightly, ate the golden and shiny French fries, and asked casually: "...Do you know that girl?"

"When we first entered school, we worked in the same convenience store."

"The lingering feelings are still there?"

"It's just acquaintance, no contact for a long time."

"Oh~ I won't eat the cake, these are all yours."

Kato Yusuke glanced at the cakes piled up into small hills on the plate, his throat felt a little greasy, and he could only say ok in a low voice.

Shiyu observed his deflated expression with his peripheral vision, feeling relieved and said lazily:

"Speaking of which, someone claiming to be a drama competition judge contacted me two days ago and said that the script I wrote for the drama department won the award."

"Is it the "Rhapsody of Harmony" from the cultural festival?"

Kato Yusuke said with surprise: "Congratulations, senior, this is a good thing."

"It's okay. It's just something I wrote casually for fun. It doesn't matter if I win or not."

"What prize is that?"

"I can't remember clearly, it seems to be some kind of best screenplay award." Shiyu pointed to the table and said lightly: "I want to eat salad."

While feeding her the salad, Kato Yusuke couldn't help but be happy for her, "The Best Screenplay Award... That should be the highest level award, right?"

"Hmm~"

Shiyu ate the salad slowly and nodded slightly.

"Speaking of which, my affairs at the Immortal River are almost over, and I will be able to be free and devoted to you."

Kato Yusuke mechanically stuffed another piece of cake into his mouth and asked: "...Don't you still have to be busy with the animation?"

"That is still in the preparatory stage, and it will take at least a year to complete it. Speaking of which, Yuu-chan, are you willing to be the artist?"

"Painting?"

Shiyu hummed and glanced at him intentionally or unintentionally.

"It's the animation painting of "Metronome of Love". If you are interested, I can personally teach you about the measurements of the character Sayuka in it."

Hearing this, Kato Yusuke's hand holding the plate couldn't help but tremble slightly, pretending not to hear the implication of the words.

"...I don't have any experience in animation painting, so it's not my turn to do this kind of thing. Don't Miss Machida and the others have anyone they like?"

Shiyu asked him for a piece of foie gras and said while eating:

"Yes, yes, but I can use "I don't know exactly, but I just feel something is wrong" to make things difficult and undermine those people's confidence, forcing them to quit their painting jobs on their own."

"Please be sure not to do anything that would cause trouble. This is my senior's work..."

Kato Yusuke said a little speechlessly: "Besides, our studio also has its own game planning, and I can't take care of both. Senior, please stop making trouble."

Shiyu clicked his tongue and accepted this statement unwillingly.

She pondered for a moment and suddenly said: "...So, Yu-chan, did anything happen to you these past two days?"

Crunch…

The metal fork scratched across the porcelain plate, making a sharp, piercing groan.

Kato Yusuke forked some vegetables without leaving a trace and put them into his mouth, "What happened...what does senpai mean?"

Shiyu's eyes swept across his face, then looked at the meeting place where people were intertwined in front of him, and said casually:

"Although you hide it well, I'm not a fool. I can still tell whether you are happy or unhappy, I just don't know the reason."

"..."

Kato Yusuke chewed and swallowed the salad, feeling speechless for the first time at the other's sensitivity.

He thought about it again and again but decided not to just defend himself, but he didn't intend to answer the question either.

Seeing that he didn't respond for a long time, Shiyu seemed to have noticed his thoughts and couldn't help but sigh softly.

"Since you are not going to say it, I have something to say to you."

The girl suddenly became serious, and she continued speaking softly while looking at the crowd of people changing glasses under the light.

"You are too withdrawn in your heart. It's like building a line of defense in your heart, unwilling to let others enter your inner world."

"Or maybe someone came here a long time ago, and her arrival prompted the construction of this line of defense."

"Later, she pushed down this line of defense, leaving deeper scars. Her presence strengthened the line of defense, requiring those who came to cross mountains and ridges."

"But even if we go over mountains and ridges, we can't cross this line of defense. In the end, we still end up with the same outcome."

"The scars are getting deeper every time. Until now, the defense line has been piled up so high that it is really close to being isolated from the world."

There was an indescribable desolation in the leisurely and melodious voice, like the late autumn wind, gently blowing by Kato Yusuke's ears, setting off an upward swirling airflow in his heart.

Unconsciously, he stopped eating and turned to look at the girl beside him.

Under the bright yellow light, that beautiful side face looked a little lonely, but also had an expressive beauty.

Kato Yusuke's throat was slightly blocked, and for a moment it felt like it was stuck in his throat, as if it was filled with cake and cream.

"Senior Shiyu..."

He swallowed dryly and tried to say something, but was suddenly interrupted.

"—What is about to begin is the Undead Grand Prix Award Ceremony. I would like to invite Teacher Fujimoto to the stage!"

After finally making it to the end of the awards ceremony for the light novel club, the stepmother's manga club finally showed its prominence.

Everyone in the editorial department of "Young Undead" perked up when they heard this, immediately put down what they were doing, and started applauding vigorously.

Kato Yusuke had no choice but to swallow back what he was about to say. He felt quite dissatisfied with the host's untimely call, but he couldn't show it in public.

"Go quickly, you are the protagonist today."

Shiyu next to him reached out to take the plate in his hand and pushed him gently, "I was just talking casually, Yu-chan, you don't need to pay attention."

Kato Yusuke hesitated for a moment and nodded, "...Okay, then I'll go first, Shiyu-senpai."

Shiyu smiled and nodded, watching him walk to the stage step by step as the crowd welcomed him.

There was something Shiyu didn't say just now, and didn't want to admit.

That is to say, it is true that the defense line in his heart is very high, but she cannot be the one to let him take off his defense.

She was like a lonely west wind drifting around the earth, but she could never flow into his heart.

When I think of this, my nose can't help but feel a little sore.

The light shone in her eyes, making them sparkle like a lot of broken star sand. She raised her head and blinked, but she still held it back.

In the midst of everyone's attention, the young man stood where she had stood before, becoming the only focus of the audience.

A girl's soft voice could be heard faintly in the field.

The host holding a microphone stood next to Kato Yusuke and introduced loudly:

"Teacher Fujimotosuki here must be familiar to everyone~

Just like Kasumi Shiko-sensei, who is the light novel’s Rookie King, Fujimoto-sensei is also the Rookie King in the manga industry! In addition, he is the only winner of this year’s Undead Newcomer Award!”

"His debut novel "Chainsaw Man" has been widely praised in the market, and the single book has sold a total of 1.2 million copies -!"

“Now I’m going to invite Mr. Fujimotoshu to give a speech!”

There was a "buzz", and there was an extremely surprised discussion in the venue.

"Wow, 1.2 million copies were actually sold? So many??"

"I remember it wasn't long before the official release of "Chainsaw Man" as a standalone book, right??"

"Ah, you are right. To be precise, it has only been more than two months since the first volume of his book was released, and there are currently four volumes in total."

“More than two months?! This sales volume is too exaggerated——!!”

"..."

After hearing these words, the members of the comics editorial department straightened their backs proudly and looked proud.

Machida Enko, who came to sit next to Shiyu, was also a little surprised by the sales volume and couldn't help but say something with emotion.

"Brother Kato, he is really awesome. He is indeed the person you like, Xiaoshi~"
To be continued...