"By the way… what exactly are you talking about? Isn't Nohara-san called Sato?"
Kosaka Honoka looked confused as she listened from the side.
Kosaka Akane glanced at her, then at Mio, who also looked puzzled. A glint flashed through her eyes.
She smiled. "Really? Maybe you just misheard."
Kosaka Honoka: "…"
Mio: "…"
If it were just one person mishearing, that would be one thing, but how could both of them be mistaken?
The two girls were not convinced.
Kosaka Akane smiled, then turned to Sato. "Sensei, shall we step outside to talk?"
Sato looked at her, then suddenly stood up. "Let's talk outside."
"Mio, I'll head out for a bit."
"Mm."
Mio nodded blankly.
After Sato and Kosaka Akane left, Kosaka Honoka curiously looked at Mio and asked, "Akiyama-san, do you know what's going on?"
Mio gave a wry smile. "Did I look like I knew what was going on just now?"
"That's strange. Why would my cousin call Nohara-san 'Sensei'?"
Kosaka Honoka rubbed her chin and muttered while looking toward the outside.
...
Outside, Sato also asked about the relationship between Kosaka Akane and Kosaka Honoka.
"That… we're cousins. My father and her father are brothers. It's just that my father went out to build his career early on, while Honoka's father inherited the family's traditional Japanese sweets shop."
"I see."
"What about you, Miyabi-sensei? How do you know Honoka?"
"We just ran into each other a few times."
The two briefly exchanged their situations, then began thinking to themselves.
This encounter was unexpected for both of them. Although they were both major figures in their respective fields within the ACGN circle, they had little interaction due to being in different areas.
This chance meeting was also an opportunity to expand their respective circles.
"By the way, how did you recognize me, Crimson-sensei?"
Sato suddenly remembered this key question.
"That… I saw your photo with dear Sonoko"
"Dear Sonoko…"
"You mean Editor Machida?"
"Mm. Actually, Sonoko and I were university classmates. I was curious about you, so when we had afternoon tea together, I asked her to show me your photo. You don't mind, do you?"
Kosaka Akane looked at Sato with her red eyes, a gentle smile on her face.
Sato did not dare to underestimate her. This woman was said to be quite formidable.
The doujin world was a mix of all kinds of people. To build a circle into the acknowledged number one in the industry required real ability.
"As long as it's not spread around, it's fine."
"Oh? Miyabi-sensei doesn't seem to want to reveal himself?"
"No one likes trouble. I'm not the type who enjoys being in the spotlight either, so I prefer to stop trouble before it starts."
"Among people your age, you really are quite unique. If I remember correctly, you're still in high school, yet talking to you feels like speaking with a peer. People your age usually enjoy being the center of attention."
"I've met someone like that. He's also a high schooler, but he likes being on stage."
"You're talking about Hashima Iori, the second representative of rouge en rouge?"
"Seems like you know quite a lot."
Kosaka Akane narrowed her eyes and smiled at Sato.
Sato smiled. "After all, the rouge en rouge circle is the king of the doujin world. It's only natural to pay some attention to it."
"So you think rougeenrouge is quite strong?"
"You flatter me, Crimson-sensei. Rouge en rouge is the king of the doujin world. If that only counts as 'quite strong,' then other circles wouldn't even have the right to speak, would they?"
"In that case… do you think our two sides could cooperate in some way?"
Kosaka Akane abruptly shifted the topic. The smile on her face faded slightly, replaced with a hint of seriousness.
Sato narrowed his eyes and looked at her. "Could you be more specific, Crimson-sensei?"
"You've nurtured many excellent newcomers, such as Kasumigaoka Utaha and Kusanagi Ryouki… but they're all supplying for publishing houses. In truth, our doujin circles also need talent."
"Haven't you already stepped down as rougeenrouge's representative?"
"You're joking, Sensei. Stepping down doesn't mean rouge en rouge isn't mine."
Kosaka Akane covered her mouth and laughed softly.
Sato stood across from her in silence for a moment, a sharp light flickering in his eyes.
He suddenly looked up and smiled. "Crimson-sensei, how about we discuss a different kind of cooperation?"
"Oh? What kind?"
Kosaka Akane's expression turned serious as she sensed the shift in his tone.
The person in front of her was still just a high school student, yet already a figure she could not ignore. She herself was an extremely popular bestselling author, but compared to Sato, this genius who reached the peak the moment he debuted, the gap was enormous.
It could even be called a chasm.
Her debut had not been long, yet within five or six years she had achieved nearly five million copies in sales, but she still did not have the confidence to compare herself with Sato.
This person before her had reached fifteen million copies in under two years, the strongest middle school author in history. The only one who could be compared to him was Ryukishi07, the author of Higurashi.
Although Ryukishi07 was an enigma, in comparison, she valued the boy before her more.
Because what he represented was not just himself, but also the website he founded and the new generation of authors he had cultivated.
For geniuses, experience often meant nothing. They could create astonishing achievements regardless.
"I'm planning to reform my website, but I currently lack someone capable of leading it. Since you've stepped down as rouge en rouge's representative, would you be interested in trying a collaboration with me?"
Kosaka Akane's pupils suddenly contracted, and she froze for a long moment.
Vaguely, she felt as if she had sensed something, like the outline of a much grander world, though she could not yet fully see it.
A faint smile spread across her lips. "We can discuss it in detail."