Chapter 53: The story is progressing without my knowledge

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Translator: Soafp

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The news of the anime adaptation was delivered by Hizaki-san, who, seeing me still frozen in disbelief, took out some documents from her bag and gently handed them to me.

“This is the project material. It would be helpful if you could go through it when you have some time.”

She spoke in a calm voice while pressing a thick file into my hand.

I awkwardly accepted it, still unable to fully believe what she had just said, and gave a vague nod.

“Y-yes.”

My voice was a little higher than usual. Seeing my reaction, Hizaki-san faintly smiled, but then her expression turned slightly troubled as she continued.

“Now, here’s where it gets a bit tricky.”

She furrowed her brow, and a bad feeling washed over me.

“…What do you mean?”

I asked hesitantly, and Hizaki-san sighed softly.

“Actually, regarding the anime adaptation, the director has made a request… You know, ‘Two and One’ is based on the author’s true story, so it’s gaining attention, right? Well, the director asked if they could meet the childhood friends who served as the model for the characters. They want to make it as faithful as possible…”

“Eh?”

I was at a loss for words, completely confused.

“Of course, I know it’s impossible. If we did that, your personal story would get out, and besides, I don’t know if those childhood friends would even agree…,” Hizaki-san said cautiously, carefully choosing her words. But just as she was about to finish, Miyabi suddenly spoke up.

“I don’t mind at all!”

“I don’t either.”

Aoi also easily agreed.

For a moment, Hizaki-san froze. She looked back and forth between Miyabi and Aoi, utterly bewildered.

“What are you two saying…?”

She looked completely shocked, and I couldn’t help but smile wryly at her reaction.

“Uh, I mean… the childhood friends you’re talking about.”

“Y-yeah, that’s what we’re saying!”

Hizaki-san exclaimed loudly, turning quickly toward Miyabi and Aoi. She rushed to ask them.

“Wait a minute. You two… are you saying you’re going to be the models for the characters?!”

“That’s right.”

Miyabi answered in a calm voice.

Hizaki-san stood there stunned for a while, but then her eyes lit up, and she excitedly extended her hand.

“That’s amazing! As a fan, I’m so happy I get to meet the real-life models! Can I shake your hands?”

Miyabi and Aoi, looking a little overwhelmed, hesitantly extended their hands, and Hizaki-san firmly shook them. Despite the intensity of her enthusiasm, Miyabi and Aoi laughed awkwardly and reciprocated.

Then, Miyabi suddenly turned to me.

“Hajime, would you be happy if we met the director?”

“Eh?”

I asked reflexively. Happy…? I couldn’t quite understand what she meant and tilted my head.

Then Aoi, with sparkling eyes, leaned in closer to me.

“We were thinking that if we meet the director, we could be of help to you, Hajime.”

“Ah, I see.”

Hearing Aoi’s words, Miyabi sighed softly. She puffed up her cheeks a little and spoke meekly.

“Aoi, you’re a little too close…”

Saying that, Miyabi grabbed Aoi’s shoulders and gently pulled her back. Aoi pouted but obediently complied with Miyabi.

I kind of understood what they were trying to say. I smiled as I answered.

“Well, I guess… I’d be happy. Haha.”

Even though my response was awkward, Miyabi and Aoi’s eyes sparkled as they grabbed each other’s hands and cheered. Then, they immediately turned back to Hizaki-san.

“Definitely!”

“We’ll do it!”

A little taken aback by their enthusiasm, Hizaki-san nodded.

“Well, that would be helpful. But make sure you get your parents’ permission, and we’ll handle Hajime’s part discreetly…”

“Okay!”

The two of them answered in unison.

Hizaki-san sighed with relief but then continued, her voice a little hesitant.

“Actually, there’s one more issue that I can only ask Hajime about…”

“Eh? There’s more?”

When I asked in surprise, Hizaki-san looked apologetically at me.

“Actually, the illustrator in charge of the key visuals, a person named Reiran, wants to meet you…”

As soon as I heard those words, Kagura immediately raised her hand.

“Yes!”

“What is it, Kagura?”

I asked, confused, and Kagura glared at Hizaki-san with a sharp look. After a brief pause, she asked:

“Is that illustrator a woman…?”

Kagura asked the question in a way that made it clear she was probing. Next to her, Marin also crossed her arms and directed a similar gaze at Hizaki-san.

Seeing the intense way Kagura and Marin were staring, Hizaki-san seemed to look away, deep in thought for a moment. After a while, she turned her gaze back to me and spoke in a low, almost secretive tone.

“Sensei, how should I answer…?”

Hizaki-san’s attitude, as if seeking help, made me hesitate, unsure how to respond, but—

“Oh, it’s fine now. I understand.”

Kagura cut her off sharply, her expression suddenly becoming more serious. Marin, Miyabi, and Aoi, sensing the change, also looked at her with wariness.

Kagura turned to Miyabi and spoke firmly.

“When you meet the director, if that person is there, make sure to investigate her thoroughly.”

“I'll handle it.”

Miyabi responded with a serious face.

It was clear that Kagura and Miyabi were working together in a terrifyingly efficient way.

Hizaki-san then interrupted, speaking somewhat nervously.

“Well, I'm sorry to interrupt, but there's something unusual about meeting her…”

Hizaki-san averted her gaze, clearly uncomfortable.

“Unusual?”

When I asked again, Hizaki-san hesitated before continuing.

“Well… Reiran-san is a livestreamer. And, well, she wants you to appear in her stream…”

Hizaki-san said apologetically.

I was at a loss for words, still trying to process it. I slowly pointed at myself and asked again.

“Me…?”

Hizaki-san nodded again, looking even more apologetic.

“Yeah… I guess it's like that…”

Her vague response made me look up at the ceiling in exasperation.

“No, no, there's no way I can appear on a stream. What would I even talk about? My obsession with my study room?”

“Hmm, I think Reiran-san would guide the conversation smoothly…”

“No, no, you can’t leave it up to someone else! I have zero talk skills! I’d end up stuttering and causing a broadcast disaster!”

“Well, well, don’t worry so much.”

While Hizaki-san was giving a wry smile, Marin and Kagura whispered to each other.

“I kind of want to see Hajime-kun talk on the stream.”

“Definitely. He'll probably get flustered and start saying something completely random.”

“Heh, that would be really funny.”

“I can hear you, you know?”

I retorted, but by now, even Miyabi and Aoi were looking at me with curious expressions.

…What is this flow? Wait, are they all actually excited about this?

“Wait, I'm not saying I'm definitely going to do it! I'll think about it properly, okay?!”

As I shouted in protest, Hizaki-san, with a somewhat expectant look in her eyes.

“Well, I'll leave it up to your decision, Sensei.”

I slumped my shoulders and sighed deeply.