Crossover Anime: I'm Kasumigaoka Utaha's Brother

Page 4

But what can be done? Baili Xiao has already said so; continuing to invite him will only increase his resentment, and good intentions will eventually turn into malice.

"Well then, we won't bother you any longer. We hope that this project by Shinazugawa will be a resounding success for Ms. Kasumi Shiko!"

After seeing off the editor-in-chief and Machida Sonoko, Baili Xiao returned to the living room and found Kasumigaoka Utaha still with her head down, constantly playing with her long hair. He couldn't help but find it a little funny.

"Hey, this isn't the mature and sophisticated Kasumigaoka Utaha I remember. Also... quickly check if the computer is damaged. I don't want all my hard work from yesterday to go to waste!"

Kasumigaoka Utaha shuddered, nearly dropping her eating utensils in her panic. Hyakuri Xiao looked at her speechlessly, her lips twitching slightly. "Tomorrow's your opening ceremony. I know you've always been the top student in your grade, but openly typing on a computer in class isn't allowed, is it? So..."

"Let's use this last day to roughly complete the plot of the first volume of '5 Centimeters Per Second'!"

...

Private Toyonosaki Academy.

It has been established for less than ten years, but it is quite popular and is a large school.

What this college is most praised by its own students and envied by students from other schools is its extremely free and unrestrained school spirit!

However... at the new school year opening ceremony, a girl named "Kasumigaoka Utaha," one of the two beauties of Toyonosaki and who has held the top spot in the school year for many years without ever giving it up, completely redefined the level of "free and unrestrained"!

"Next, we will recognize those who achieved excellent results in last month's national mock exam! Class 3-C, Kasumigaoka Utaha!"

A wave of applause erupted in the auditorium.

"It's Kasumigaoka Utaha again. Is she a monster? She sleeps in class every day and doesn't do her homework, yet she still manages to be the top student in her grade!"

"Of course! She must have cheated to get that score, right?"

"If cheating can make you the top student in the grade, then she probably didn't copy the standard answers, right? Your brain is just unbelievable."

"Okay, okay, we have to admit, the purpose of learning is to help us see the gap between ourselves and others..."

Amidst the waves of applause, there were also many voices of envy and jealousy from the students. There were boys, but even more girls, because... Kasumigaoka Utaha was not only unmatched in academic performance, but also a great beauty.

"Kasumigaoka Utaha?" The teacher's voice rang out again on the awards stage, and all eyes fell on one person.

That was a beautiful girl wearing the Toyonosaki school uniform, with long, straight black hair, tilting her head and dozing off... Kasumigaoka Utaha!

"Kasumigaoka-san? Kasumigaoka-san?" The girl sitting next to Kasumigaoka Utaha had cold sweat on her forehead and a stiff smile on her face as she nudged the former's shoulder.

"Hmm?" Kasumigaoka Utaha slowly opened her eyes. Her beautiful red pupils, initially unfocused, gradually lost their haziness, finally revealing a glimmer of light: "Hmm?"

The girl didn't speak, but simply pointed to the awards stage in the hall.

Kasumigaoka Utaha seemed to understand something. She forced herself to stand up despite her exhaustion and walked towards the podium while rubbing her eyes.

"Congratulations!" The principal, with an awkward smile, handed the certificate to Kasumigaoka Utaha.

The latter accepted the gift with both hands, uttered a barely audible "thank you," and was about to leave when a remark from the principal made her frown.

"As the top student of the academic year for two consecutive years, Kasumigaoka, please say a few words to encourage your juniors."

"Clap clap clap!" Another wave of applause erupted.

Before the applause had even subsided, Kasumigaoka Utaha's words, clearly tinged with impatience, echoed throughout the auditorium.

"Um, I stayed up too late with my brother last night, and I'm really tired, so please don't make me talk about it..."

P.S.: There will be another update tonight, but I don't know if it will be approved. If it is, please check back tomorrow.

Thank you everyone for your support with the flowers! My goal for tomorrow is 4,000. Can I achieve it?

Chapter 0010 Illustrator Selection: Eri Kashiwagi! (Fifth update, please add to your favorites and give flowers)

There was a brief silence in the auditorium, followed by a burst of noise.

"What did Kasumigaoka Utaha just say? Am I hallucinating?"

"Oh my god! My goddess, my goddess just said 'staying up very late with my brother'? No! I must have misheard! Yes, definitely!"

"Kasumigaoka Utaha has an older brother? I've never heard of that."

"Just because it's late doesn't necessarily mean it's that kind of thing! I don't believe it! Absolutely not! No matter what, Kasumigaoka-senpai is still my goddess!"

Even the principal on the podium was stunned by Kasumigaoka Utaha's words, his lips twitching as he didn't know what to say.

"It seems I said something that could be misunderstood?" Kasumigaoka Utaha tilted her head and looked at the many students sitting below the stage, then sighed slightly. "Well, it's nothing important, no need to explain."

After saying that, amidst the surprised, puzzled, jealous, and sad looks from everyone, Kasumigaoka Utaha seemed oblivious as she yawned and walked to her seat. Holding her award certificate, she sat down with a blank stare, completely ignoring everyone's gaze.

In fact, the only thought in her mind right now was...

"I just want a quiet place to sleep! Ha~ yawn~"

...

Bai Lixiao was unaware of what had happened at the opening ceremony; at that moment, he was busy doing something else.

Using Kasumigaoka Utaha's computer, he refined the plot of "5 Centimeters Per Second" again and again, and through his ability as the "God of Screenwriting," he discovered even more touching scenes and dialogues, striving to make Kasumigaoka Utaha's novel even more moving than his previous work, "5 Centimeters Per Second"!

Since he was determined to make Kasumigaoka Utaha the "number one in the novel world", Baili Xiao would naturally not slack off.

Moreover, the emotions I felt watching "5 Centimeters Per Second" in my past life must not be forgotten in this life!

"Buzz~ Buzz~" The phone screen next to me suddenly lit up; it was an unfamiliar number.

"Hello, who are you looking for?" Baili Xiao answered the phone, and Machida Sonoko's voice came from the other end.

"Baili-kun, I've finally found your phone number! How's the preparation for the novel going? Is Shi-chan putting in the effort?"

Baili Xiao thought for a moment, and couldn't help but recall the scene in her mind where the two of them had been discussing the plot until four o'clock in the morning last night: "They worked so hard, so hard that I could hardly stand it."

"Huh? This kind of 'effort' might make people think of something bad!" Machida Sonoko joked, then became serious: "Hyakuri-kun, you should know that every light novel needs illustrations, right?"

“Yes, it’s hard for readers to visualize the male and female protagonists just from the novel’s narration.” Baili Xiao nodded. “Light novels must be accompanied by illustrations,” which is an unwritten rule in the light novel world.

"Having a good illustrator is very important for a light novel. We at Shinazugawa Bunko are going all out to promote and package Shizuka's new light novel, '5 Centimeters Per Second.' So, what are your requirements for the illustrator?"

Requirements? Illustrator?

Baili Xiao was slightly taken aback, and then a figure came to mind.

Those golden twin tails, that textbook example of tsundere (arrogance/tsundere), those cheeks that scream "loser"...

"Please make sure to call Eriri over to be the illustrator for this '5 Centimeters Per Second'! Oh, right, that's Eri Kashiwagi!"

“Eri Kashiwagi-sensei? She’s the lead illustrator for a doujin game circle. I don’t know if she’s available right now. If her circle is working on a game at the moment, it might be difficult…” Machida Sonoko said with some difficulty.

Bai Lixiao smiled and said, "It's alright. Just let her take a look at the [5 Centimeters Per Second] project, and she'll definitely be willing to be the illustrator!"

Bai Li Xiao had 100% confidence in the plot of "5 Centimeters Per Second" that had been crafted by the "God of Screenwriting". With such a wonderful and touching story in front of Eriri, he believed that Eriri would not refuse without doing anything!

It's important to understand that light novels and illustrators are like talent scouts and promising individuals; finding a good partner is a very difficult thing.

Once you encounter it, you won't let go so easily!

P.S.: It's a bit late, but I've definitely managed to post five updates! If you have any flowers to give me, please do so; it will motivate me even more! Five updates tomorrow!

Chapter 0011 Eriri, the "Loser," is Furious! (First Update, Please Add to Favorites and Receive Flowers)

Lunch break at noon.

On the school rooftop, the place where "Brother Cheng once fought".

Eriri looked around to make sure no one was around before taking her phone out of her bag.

"Excuse me, are you Ms. Kashiwagi Eri?" the other person asked directly.

Eriri's breath hitched. Since the other party could say that name, it meant that she was from the world of anime and manga, and also... it meant that she knew that she was Kashiwagi Eri, an erotic doujinshi illustrator.

"What is it?" Eriri's tone was somewhat cold; she really didn't want to have any contact with the other person.

After all... a high school student becoming a somewhat famous erotic illustrator, no matter how you look at it, there must be something wrong with this high school student, right?

"Please don't be hostile, Ms. Kashiwagi Eri." The person on the other end of the phone chuckled, "I'm the editor-in-chief of Shinazugawa Bunko. I'm contacting you because the author of a light novel that we're preparing to release has specifically requested that you be the illustrator for the novel."

"Oh?" Eriri raised an eyebrow. This kind of naming was rare and piqued her curiosity. "What novel? Who is the author?"

"Kasumi Shiko, the author of 'Love Metronome,' is preparing to release an even better romance novel, '5 Seconds,' in this project, and we hope you can become the illustrator for the novel."

Kasumi Shiko?! Eriri's pupils contracted, and her two golden ponytails swayed slightly.

Others might not know, but Eriri, who is also in the world of anime and manga, knows very well that "Kasumigaoka Utaha" is the same person who went to the same school as her and was known as one of the two beauties!

Both of them have always known each other's true nature hidden beneath their beautiful exteriors, but for a long time they have kept to themselves and never interfered with each other. Kasumigaoka Utaha would never specifically ask her to be the illustrator for her novel!

“I hate being kept in the dark or even deceived. As far as I know, even if Kasumi Shiko needed an illustrator, she wouldn’t think of me!” Eriri narrowed her eyes and was about to hang up when another voice suddenly came from the other end of the line: “Yo, loser Eriri!”

A loser?!

This kind of title shouldn't be used casually, especially not to complete strangers.

Making such a move is tantamount to declaring war!

"What did you say?!" Eriri suppressed her anger. She swore that if the person who called her a "loser" were in front of her, she would definitely fight him. Even if she couldn't win... she would whip him with her own two "whips"!

"Oh, sorry, sorry, I just said it offhand..." It was Bai Lixiao's voice coming from the phone. At this moment, the editor-in-chief and Machida Sonoko were discussing the official project of "5 Centimeters Per Second" with her: "Eri, I will send the general plot of "5 Centimeters Per Second" to your email later. You can decide whether to draw it or not after you have read it. I believe you will not give up easily."

"You're that confident in Kasumi Shiko's novel?" Eriri scoffed, secretly resolving not to open her email, but then realized something was amiss: "You! How do you know my name?!"

"You're only realizing it now? Your thought process is a bit long, isn't it?" Baili Xiao chuckled, then mysteriously added, "We'll meet again," before hanging up the phone.

"Dududu..."

As Eriri listened to the busy tone coming from her phone, her face grew increasingly dark.

"What's up with this guy?! He called me a loser right off the bat! And he knows my real identity! It couldn't have been leaked by my club, could it?"

She tried to calm herself down, but her increasingly violently shaking shoulders betrayed her; finally...

"Ugh! That jerk! How do I look like a loser?! Blonde twin tails! Knee-length black stockings! Small fangs, a haughty way of speaking... Pshaw! I'm not haughty at all!"

"No matter how you look at it, this is the classic 'beautiful girl' trope, right? Where's the 'loser' aspect?! Huh? Whoever he is, I'm going to confront him to his face!"

"Tap tap tap!" Eriri tapped her phone screen with tremendous force, angrily opening her email: "Didn't you really recommend Kasumigaoka Utaha's new light novel? I'll see what it's like! Then I'll cruelly reject you! I'll make you lose face! Hmph~"

Eriri hummed smugly, completely forgetting her earlier determination to "never open the email."

"This, this is...?"

With just one glance, when she saw the opening line, "Hey, did you know? Cherry blossoms fall at a speed of five centimeters per second," she was completely captivated.

Time passed quickly, and just a few minutes went by.

Eriri swiped her finger upwards, but the screen remained blank.

Gone?