Chapter 41: As a Partner

Faced with Takei Kohei's proposal, Akiwara Yuto was not without being moved.

If he becomes a contracted writer for *Tokyo Literature*, he can undoubtedly obtain higher manuscript fees and royalties for standalone volumes, not to mention the potential benefits brought by the increase in influence.

But it also means that he will leave *New Novel* and betray the promise he made to Asano Aiko.

When he was down and out, it was Asano Aiko who called to help him out of the predicament. Moreover, in specific work, the other party has been constantly striving for benefits for him.

Undoubtedly, Asano Aiko is a partner at work and a like-minded friend. If he leaves her for his own future, he wouldn't be able to forgive himself.

Akiwara Yuto wants to succeed very much, but he hopes that this success is obtained on the basis of being able to repay Asano Aiko.

Akiwara Yuto determined his thoughts, straightened his waist, and looked at Takei Kohei with firm eyes.

"Takei-editor, thank you very much for your kindness."

Takei Kohei's face showed joy. He felt that it was stable, and was about to speak, but didn't expect Akiwara Yuto to continue.

"But I'm sorry, I refuse."

Takei Kohei was stunned. He didn't expect the other party to refuse impolitely.

He thought about it and said in a tone with a hint of advice: "Akiwara-sensei, if you are not satisfied with the conditions, we can discuss it again..."

Before he finished speaking, Akiwara Yuto interrupted him: "Takei-editor, I am not dissatisfied with the conditions you proposed, I understand what I am saying."

His voice became serious: "I have already decided, I, Akiwara Yuto, hope to stay in *New Novel* and work with Editor Asano. She is a partner I want to work with, and I am very sure about this."

Takei Kohei was silent. He thought this matter was already a sure thing.

In terms of reason, he let Misaki Sawako dogeza, giving the other party enough face. In terms of interests, he made a very large concession, confident that it was far beyond the *New Novel* editorial department.

Misaki Sawako, who was still kneeling on the side, raised her head in disbelief—is this Akiwara-san crazy? The conditions have been raised to this extent, why refuse? If it were another writer, he would have agreed happily.

As for partners, what is more important than one's own future? And that Asano, besides being beautiful, her business ability is just so-so. No, wait, could it be?

She thought of a possibility, but was not sure, so she asked with a suspicious tone: "Akiwara-sensei, are you and Asano dating?"

Takei Kohei was stunned and realized this possibility.

Yes, if the two are dating, then everything can be explained.

Akiwara Yuto is young and energetic, and Asano Aiko is also very standard-looking. It is not impossible for the two to be together.

Akiwara Yuto didn't expect this Miss Misaki to guess like this, and was speechless for a while. However, he only had gratitude for Asano Aiko, so he had a clear conscience and answered very frankly: "Not at all, we are just ordinary writer and editor relationships."

He thought about it and continued to explain.

"Miss Misaki, do you know? At that time, I really needed money to pay the rent. If it weren't for Miss Asano, I would be wandering in Tokyo now. I am grateful for this kindness."

Misaki Sawako was stunned after hearing the reply, not knowing how to respond.

Takei Kohei was also silent. He didn't know that there was such a period of things in it, but he was a complete egoist and didn't believe that there would be such a person who was grateful.

He pondered for a while and said in a gentle tone again: "Akiwara-sensei, this is just her job responsibility, you don't have to be like this, you should consider more for yourself..."

He raised his head and looked at Akiwara Yuto carefully, found that the other party's eyes were firm, and there was no intention to change at all, so he sighed.

"Anyway, let's leave first. No matter what, as long as you want to come to *Tokyo Literature*, the conditions I mentioned before will not change."

After saying these words, he greeted Misaki Sawako to stand up, the two bowed, and prepared to leave. Akiwara Yuto also stood up and sent the two away from the door.

He looked at the other party's background, breathed a sigh of relief in his heart, and felt that he had not been tempted by interests after all. For this reason, it shouldn't be too much to go to Asano's house to eat a few meals, right?

On the other side, Takei Kohei was sitting in the taxi on the way back, but he was still constantly pondering in his heart.

Akiwara Yuto refused to leave *New Novel*, nothing more than because of Asano Aiko, so should he transfer Asano Aiko to *Tokyo Literature*?

He thought about it and felt it was not feasible. After all, personnel transfer needs to be approved by the above, and at the same time, Kikuchi Tai needs to agree to release people. However, although Kikuchi Tai is relatively mediocre, he is not stupid enough to release people to this extent.

And even if Kikuchi Tai agrees to release people, Akiwara Yuto will require Asano Aiko instead of himself to serve as the responsible editor, which does not meet his principle of maximizing interests.

Takei Kohei looked at the changing scenery outside the window, frowned, and made a plan in his heart.

While Takei Kohei was thinking about how to make Akiwara Yuto change his mind, Ikawa Akemi was busy promoting the various tasks of the stage play.

She looked at everyone busy on the stage, but felt a happy and helpless feeling in her heart.

What is happy is that everyone in the drama club is very motivated. What is helpless is her own role positioning.

Because the script work was taken over by Akiwara Yuto, she was arranged as the stage manager by the instructor.

Usually, the stage manager is a pivotal role with absolute authority and can command all personnel. But after all, they are just an ordinary university club, and they still have to follow the instructor's command.

So she sounds like a stage manager, but actually she is just a stage worker, where there is a shortage of people, she goes there.

Originally, she could perform on stage, such as playing a female supporting role—but the instructor disliked that she was too good-looking, which would steal the limelight of the protagonist and destroy the overall effect of the stage play.

Out of helplessness, she could only settle for the next best thing and accept the instructor's arrangement.

Ikawa Akemi was moving props with 2 other female club members, and heard a "everyone come over" from afar.

She looked up and found that it was the instructor greeting everyone, so she put down the props with others and walked over.

The instructor stood on the stage, she put her hands on her hips, but held the script in her left hand and a small microphone in her right hand. She looked around and found that everyone was there, so she began to lecture: "I won't talk about the script situation, I hope everyone will memorize and recite it well, so as not to make any typos."

Seeing that everyone answered "Yes," the instructor continued seriously: "This stage play is very important, not only the honor of the school but also the honor of our drama club, I hope everyone remembers this firmly."

"This is a mystery play, but compared to the human performance inside, the mystery element is not very prominent. Everyone should pay more attention to the human performance of their roles, the brother's panic, the sister's death-defying, and the inner struggle of other supporting roles facing death, all need you to grasp well. You need to substitute yourself into this role more deeply."

She made a gesture to everyone and emphasized with a raised voice: "We want to make the audience feel depressed through performance, and then use the deaths of many characters to push this depression to the extreme. When this emotion reaches the extreme, we will use the scene of the sister sacrificing herself to bring this stage play to a climax!"

The audience listened very carefully, and Risa Atsumi, who played the sister, and another thin girl who played the brother, nodded frequently.

Seeing that everyone understood her meaning, the instructor continued to talk, and deployed the lighting, props, and other backstage work separately, so that everyone was clear in their hearts.

Ikawa Akemi felt a bit speechless. Aren't those lighting and props the work of the stage manager? Now they are all arranged by the teacher. It seems that she only has to do miscellaneous work.

She was complaining in her heart, and suddenly heard a voice: "Ikawa, here is a task for you."

Ikawa Akemi was startled, but she was happy again in less than two seconds.

Is it to arrange a role for me? It seems that my beauty is still useful.

She raised her head and looked at the instructor with expectant eyes.

The instructor looked at her suspiciously, not knowing why her eyes became so happy, but still said her request.

"Ikawa, you are relatively tall, so how about you play the murderer with the chainsaw? Anyway, wearing a cloak, no one can see that you are a girl."

Ikawa Akemi's eyes widened directly, and she couldn't speak for a while.

Is there such a beautiful murderer as me!!

Because of Ikawa Akemi's protest, the instructor finally gave up letting her play the murderer, just regrettably muttering that her height was wasted.

Ikawa Akemi wanted to throw down the props and quit on the spot.

But for the honor of the club, she still honestly did the work.

However, she was also assigned an extra task, which was to invite Akiwara-sensei to watch the scene on the day of the stage play.

Under the encouragement of the instructor, everyone ignited their fighting spirit and rehearsed one after another.

In their busy days, *New Novel* arrived at the day of the new issue again... ===== CHAPTER 42 =====