All Beautiful Girls Want to Stick with Me

When Yuigahama’s mother heard that she would be responsible for the illustrations for Sword Art Online, her face lit up with joy. She had initially applied with a ”just give it a try” mentality, never expecting that her application would actually be approved!

If she could work on Sword Art Online, she would benefit from the novel’s popularity, which would help boost her own reputation. Yuigahama’s mother didn’t aspire to become a super popular illustrator; she simply hoped that if Hanayui’s fame grew a bit more, her fees for each illustration might increase as well.

Her current fees were determined by the type and number of illustrations.

Black-and-white illustrations were relatively inexpensive, with fees ranging from 2,000 to 3,000 yen per piece.

For color illustrations, the income was higher. She could earn about 50,000 yen for each color illustration featuring two characters. If the illustration featured three or more characters, the fee would be even higher.

However, although color illustrations were more lucrative compared to black-and-white ones, they were also much more difficult and time-consuming to complete.

Moreover, since she wasn’t a full-time illustrator, the only time she had to draw was after the cake shop closed each day.

Her time for drawing each month was very limited; at most, she could manage three color illustrations and ten black-and-white ones, and that was only if she stayed up late every night to barely meet the deadline.

”Am I really going to be the illustrator for Sword Art Online?” Yuigahama’s mother asked, her voice filled with happiness.

When she had applied, she hadn’t expected to be chosen as the illustrator for Sword Art Online, but sometimes miracles happen unexpectedly, and she had passed the selection process!

”Yes, congratulations, Hanayui-sensei. Because Sword Art Online is a highly anticipated publication, the fees for your illustrations will also increase significantly,” Yukinoshita Haruno said with a smile, knowing that what Hanayui cared about most was her payment.

”Thank you, Editor Yukinoshita!” Yuigahama’s mother said excitedly.

Her wish was simple: she just wanted to increase her earnings.

After all, with her older daughter Yui now in high school, there would undoubtedly be many more expenses.

Although her younger daughter, Yuka, was still in kindergarten, those three years would pass quickly, and once she started elementary school, there would be even more costs. If her illustration fees could be raised, it would be a tremendous help to Yuigahama’s mother.

”You shouldn’t thank me. Even if I recommended you, that wouldn’t have guaranteed you the job as the illustrator for Sword Art Online. After all, Izumi-sensei is an A-ranked author, and A-ranked authors have the privilege to choose their illustrators freely. If she hadn’t agreed, not even Chief Editor Hiratsuka’s recommendation would have worked.”

Yukinoshita Haruno continued, ”Perhaps it was just a perfect match. Before I even had the chance to recommend you, Izumi-sensei immediately chose you, saying she really liked your art style and believed you were the perfect fit to illustrate her novel.”

”Izumi-sensei chose me from the start?” Yuigahama’s mother asked in disbelief.

While her illustrations were somewhat popular online, Izumi-sensei was an incredibly famous light novel author whose work had garnered millions of fans even before publication. In terms of fame, they were on entirely different levels. Usually, authors as prominent as Izumi-sensei would choose illustrators with much stronger credentials.

Sometimes, the sales of light novels were partly driven by the quality of the illustrations.

”Yes, she said she really liked your art style and felt that your illustrations matched her preferences perfectly, so she chose you. So, Hanayui-sensei, this is an opportunity you earned through your own skill! Make sure to make the most of it!” Yukinoshita Haruno encouraged her.

”Don’t worry, I’ll do my best to create great illustrations! Will the initial meeting to discuss the illustrations be held at Dengeki Bunko?” Yuigahama’s mother asked.

”Yes, since Izumi-sensei is still in school, she only has time to come to Tokyo on weekends, so the meeting has been scheduled for this Sunday.”

Hearing this, Yuigahama’s mother was surprised. ”In school? Is Izumi-sensei still a student? Is she in college? That’s incredible, to be able to write such an amazing light novel while still in university.”

”Oh no, Izumi-sensei just started high school this year.”

After a brief moment of silence, Yuigahama’s mother asked again in disbelief, ”Just started high school this year? You mean she’s a first-year high school student?”

”Yes, a first-year high school student. The first time I met her was during her summer vacation, when she was enjoying her break after finishing middle school.”

”Eh—?!” Yuigahama’s mother exclaimed in shock, momentarily at a loss for words.

Yukinoshita Haruno understood her shock. She had felt the same when she first learned that Izumi Kotomi was just about to enter high school after the summer vacation.

The act of creating has never been limited by age, and Izumi Kotomi was a living example of that.

”That’s incredible. So she’s the same age as my daughter?”

”Yes, that’s right. And Izumi-sensei is a very cute girl too.”

”A very cute girl?”

”You’ll get to meet her on Sunday. You two can have a good chat then.”

”I see. Thank you, Editor Yukinoshita.”

”Haha, no need to thank me. You can thank Izumi-sensei when you meet her.”

”Mm-hmm!”

After exchanging a few more words, the two ended the call. Sitting in her chair, Yuigahama’s mother couldn’t help but feel a bit dazed as she recalled Yukinoshita Haruno’s description of Izumi-sensei.

A cute girl who just started high school this year…

”Izumi… That surname is the same as Izumi-san’s. But surely, no one would use their real surname as a pen name, right?”

After sitting for a while longer, Yuigahama’s mother slowly stood up and returned to her cake-making work.

Friday morning.

After finishing breakfast and stepping out of the house, Izumi Kotomi once again saw Megumi Kato waiting for her not far away.

”Kato-san is still earlier than me today…” Izumi Kotomi remarked as she stood at her doorstep, then walked over to greet Megumi Kato.

After exchanging morning greetings, the two walked to Sobu High School together, chatting and laughing along the way.

”How was the orange chiffon cake you bought yesterday?” Megumi Kato suddenly asked as they approached the school gate.

”It was delicious. Aimi liked it a lot too. My mom, who never used to eat chiffon cake, even had two slices last night and said it was very good. My mom usually only likes Black Forest cake, but she doesn’t like the cherries on top.”

”Oh? Is that so?” Megumi Kato responded nonchalantly.

However, she quietly made a mental note that Kotomi’s mother liked Black Forest cake but didn’t like the cherries.

”Kato-san, is there any food you particularly like?”

”Well… I’m not very picky, so as long as something is delicious, I tend to like it,” Megumi Kato replied after thinking for a moment.

That’s a pretty broad answer… Izumi Kotomi thought to herself.

”But there is one delicious dish I’ve always wanted to try, though I’ve never had the chance to eat it,” Megumi Kato said, giving Kotomi a meaningful look.

The emotion hidden deep in her eyes grew more intense.

”What is it? If it’s something simple, I could learn to make it and cook it for you,” Kotomi asked curiously.

Hearing this, Megumi Kato’s smile deepened, and she said softly, ”You’ll cook it for me? Well, I’ll remember that. I’m looking forward to the day you make it for me.”

”Huh? So, what dish is it? Don’t underestimate me—I’m actually quite good at cooking.”

”I’ll keep it a secret for now~ But this ’dish’ is very simple, and only you, Izumi-san, can make it,” Megumi Kato said with a meaningful tone before walking into the school.

Izumi Kotomi was left completely puzzled.

A dish only she could make?

What kind of dish could that be?