All Beautiful Girls Want to Stick with Me

Illustrators, like authors, were only human—which meant delays were inevitable.

Completing the illustrations for a single volume already took a long time. Add in the possibility of delays, and it wouldn’t be surprising if a book scheduled for release next year got pushed back to the year after.

Kotomi Izumi went straight to Mrs. Yuigahama, and the two of them decided to finalize the new project’s illustrations in advance and start drawing the next day.

That way, by the time Kotomi sent the manuscript to Haruno Yukinoshita, Mrs. Yuigahama would have finished all the illustrations for one volume as well.

By completing the most time-consuming part of production early, the editor could later send both the text manuscript and the illustrations together to the printer, keeping the publication schedule within a predictable timeframe.

Kotomi could then estimate when the book would be printed and choose the best month for release.

”I get it now. This really would free up the time usually spent on illustration work. Even if Dengeki Bunko decides your popularity warrants a special edition of Redo of Healer Volume 1, with extra bonuses and a decorative box illustration, I could finish that within a week,” Mrs. Yuigahama said.

”Then it’s decided. I expect I’ll have the final Sword Art Online manuscript finished by next year. As for when Dengeki Bunko chooses to publish it—that I don’t know.”

Kotomi grinned. After all, Dengeki Bunko released several light novels every month, and their production capacity was limited. She continued:

”Once Sword Art Online’s final arc is done, I’ll have a lot more time. First, I’ll devote a month or two fully to Redo of Healer. Once I’m in the right rhythm, I’ll start my new project—Mushoku Tensei.”

”Does Haruno know about this?” Mrs. Yuigahama asked cautiously. She felt like she might be the first to hear Kotomi’s true plans.

Dengeki Bunko had only just published Sword Art Online Volume 1. The series’ popularity was steadily rising. Even with just one volume out, it was already sitting firmly on the bestseller charts. And yet Kotomi was already thinking about the final arc.

If Haruno found out, would she laugh, or cry?

”Editor Yukinoshita doesn’t know. In fact, I haven’t told Dengeki Bunko anything about my future plans. Not even hinted at them,” Kotomi admitted.

Her relationship with Haruno was good, and she was classmates with Haruno’s younger sister Yukino. But that didn’t mean Kotomi could count on Dengeki Bunko always being a friendly partner. At the start of any partnership, both sides shared a honeymoon phase of goodwill and talk of shared dreams.

But once that phase passed, disagreements over interests could easily arise.

From the moment she signed, Kotomi had kept this in mind—she never intended to tie herself down completely to Dengeki Bunko.

Yuko Hiratsuka never said it outright, but when the release schedule for The Girl Who Lives in a Mecha Won’t Smile Volume 10 clashed with Sword Art Online Volume 1, her handling seemed fair to both authors. Still, Kotomi noticed a hint of favoritism.

Later, once she got to know people at Dengeki Bunko, she learned the reason. The author of The Girl Who Lives in a Mecha Won’t Smile, Toki Renmu, had signed a special contract with the publisher back at Volume 5.

Dengeki Bunko had agreed to give him stronger support and a bigger cut of adaptation profits. In exchange, for 30 years, every light novel he wrote could only be published through them.

When Kotomi signed, her contract covered only Sword Art Online.

But Toriki’s contract bound him as an individual—for thirty years.

So when scheduling conflicts arose, it was only natural that Editor-in-Chief Hiratsuka would give the PV promo slot to Toriki. It was normal business practice, understandable enough.

If Kotomi were in charge, she would have made the same decision. When two authors had a scheduling conflict, one signed only for a single series while the other had signed themselves away for thirty years—of course the PV promo slot would go to the latter.

If Kotomi had tied herself to Dengeki Bunko for thirty years, then Editor-in-Chief Hiratsuka Yuko would surely have given her the PV slot without hesitation. After all, the potential of Sword Art Online was obvious to anyone—it far outshone The Girl Who Lives in a Mecha Won’t Smile.

Even Toki Renmu admitted as much: ”One more volume—no, even just one! Teacher Izumi’s popularity and sales will leave me in the dust. The entire bestseller list will be reshuffled.”

Kotomi had no intention of binding herself to Dengeki Bunko for thirty years. Her ambition was to create her own game company. Light novels were her stepping stone, not her shackles.

Toki Renmu, however, felt his thirty-year contract was worth it. With it, he was able to buy a home in Tokyo outright—something he never imagined possible before. Thanks to his series, he had achieved financial freedom. Every month’s royalties arrived before he’d even spent the previous month’s. Not fabulously wealthy, but more than enough to never worry about money again.

Rumor had it that several other bestselling authors had also signed thirty-year contracts.

Everyone had their own path.

”So, I’m the first to know, then?” Mrs. Yuigahama asked softly. When Kotomi nodded, her feelings grew complicated.

Kotomi continued:

”Mushoku Tensei’s worldbuilding, settings, and plot will be vast. Every scene and detail needs careful crafting. It’s an epic tale of growing into a hero. It’ll definitely take millions of words. While working on Mushoku Tensei, I won’t start any other long light novels—it would divide my focus. At most, I might write a few short or medium-length works on the side.”

”I can tell this is a huge undertaking. If an author can create one such work in their lifetime, it would be an unparalleled success—both commercially and creatively. With your ability, Kotomi, Mushoku Tensei might even be adapted into anime,” Mrs. Yuigahama said with admiration. She hadn’t expected, as the mother of two daughters, to feel her heart ignite with such excitement again.

Yes—an anime adaptation.

Kotomi planned to handle Mushoku Tensei’s anime herself, through her company, Type-Moon World. From Volume 1 all the way to the end! From visuals, scripts, music, to voice acting—every part had to reach the highest standard.

For now, with her current savings and connections, it was only a dream. But she had the confidence to make it reality.

At last, Kotomi spoke the most important words she wanted to say tonight.

She gently held Mrs. Yuigahama’s hands. Before she could pull away, her beautiful eyes, flustered by the sudden touch, met Kotomi’s gaze.

Faced with such a burning look, Mrs. Yuigahama turned her head, cheeks growing warm. She didn’t dare keep meeting Kotomi’s eyes—if they kept looking at each other like this, who knew what might happen?

But Kotomi had no intention of letting go. Staring straight at her, she said seriously, word by word:

”Mrs. Yuigahama, let’s be together.”

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