I, Aki Tomoya, will not be a simp.

Page 174

Mrs. Kobayashi looked at her husband's quiet, lifeless face and spoke to her daughter beside her.

"When I heard he died, I was actually relieved. I even thought, 'Great, he's finally dead...' It's so unfair, isn't it? So I thought I couldn't forgive myself for this, so I might as well go and be with him."

She was so tired, so very tired. Mr. Kobayashi's death actually brought her a sense of relief.

But at the same time, a sense of guilt followed.

"You're so despicable, Kenji. Is that why you told me to live on? If you're going to die, then die. Don't try to look cool at the end. I wish I had been by your side then..."

She had already read the suicide note, and her guilt lessened considerably. Her thoughts aligned with what her husband had written in the letter: many people were able to relax after his death. He didn't want to be a burden to others while he was alive, and he didn't want to continue to be a burden to the living after he died.

Thinking this way made me feel much better.

The fact that the deceased gave Mrs. Kobayashi a reason to live evoked complex emotions in viewers as she choked up.

"Mom, stop talking!"

"Let's go back together, darling..."

The body was taken away by funeral home staff for cremation.

Mrs. Kobayashi and her daughter, who had returned from Osaka, thanked the people at UDI for restoring the body so that they could see its complete form one last time.

"I think Mr. Kobayashi has tried his best to live on. Even in his final words, he was worried about Mrs. Kobayashi."

But it was precisely because he didn't want to continue being a burden to others that Kobayashi Kenji gave up his life. The reason why the pharmaceutical representative was able to successfully instigate him was also because Mr. Kobayashi was tired and felt that he was a burden to others, so he let others kill him.

Even though the pharmaceutical representative claimed that it was Mr. Kobayashi himself who had decided to die, she could not hide her ugly and twisted heart. She was subsequently prosecuted by the prosecution, which had evidence against her, and the pharmaceutical company behind the medical representative was also sued by Mr. Kobayashi's two surviving relatives.

……

On Sunday, a day off, Aki Tomoya slowly and simply shared what he had seen and heard at UDI. It just so happened that someone asked him to come out, which allowed him to share his feelings with others.

"Senior, it's already surprising enough that you asked me to come out, but I didn't expect you to be interested in what happened to me at the forensic research institute."

“I was looking for material, and I happen to be interested in all sorts of things. It’s surprising that you came out.”

The two were surprised to see each other.

On one side, the person who was invited out was surprised, and on the other side, the person who agreed was frightened.

Kasumigaoka Utaha only tried to contact him, but she didn't expect that she could actually get Aki Tomoya to come out. She heard some things about forensic medicine from him.

"After listening to what you said, I've already thought of a title for my next book: 'Forensic TAKI,' the Testimony of the Silent, Their Listener..."

"Wait a minute, this kind of light novel won't sell!"

Aki Tomoya quickly interrupted.

Putting aside the title, would Japanese otaku like this kind of book?

Can a corpse be their wife?

Are we going to have to rely on Eriri to turn the corpse into something cute...?

"Who said it should be sent to the Shinazugawa? It can be sent to a popular fiction publisher."

Kasumigaoka Utaha was well aware that if she actually wrote it, she would probably be mortally killed, and Machida Sonoko would most likely not agree.

So it's possible to create an alternate account and browse through popular fiction publishers.

"I'm saying you're not really thinking about changing careers, are you?"

"I've made enough money. In my opinion, I'll just create a pseudonym and have some fun. Even if it doesn't work out, as long as Xia Shizi's pen name still has influence, that's enough."

Want to go have some fun?

Aki Tomoya twitched the corners of her mouth, thinking to herself that she had better not be discouraged.

"So, what exactly made you think of asking me out and telling me all this?"

"...After thinking it over, the only people I can talk to besides Ms. Machida and Eriri are Aki-kun. If I tell Eriri about this, she'll definitely yell that I'm crazy. It's even less likely to work with Ms. Machida. As for Kudo, he doesn't really understand these things."

"...I think if you write an introduction and send it over, it will most likely be rejected."

"I haven't even written it yet, and you haven't even looked at it, how do you know?"

=

Chapter 206 is not easy (3/?)

Kasumigaoka Utaha was a little unconvinced, believing that she could still make a name for herself in popular novels.

But in Aki Tomoya's words: "Senpai is still a bit too inexperienced..."

He had said this before, when he was on UDI, that's how Makoto Sakamoto described him.

Of course, that was referring to forensic work. The reason he described Kasumigaoka Utaha in this way was because he knew that this strong-willed senior might actually be capable of doing it.

"Don't people always want to achieve better things?"

For example, if one were to make further achievements in traditional novels, that would sound like a rather ambitious goal.

He was surprised to be asked to come out today.

We made that clear once during the social gathering, and we also played together at the last party.

But now, although she seems indifferent on the surface, she still seems a little resentful.

"It seems like my senior is still a bit resentful, determined to prove me wrong and get back at me. My opinion isn't really the most important thing to you, is it?"

Some words spoken two years ago must have planted a seed in this senior's heart.

This senior student still wanted to prove that she had that ability.

Even now, with Eriri's addition, things are going very smoothly in the light novel industry, with anime and game adaptations of their works underway.

However, she still set her goals a bit high.

You've already won "This Light Novel Is Amazing!", so don't stop, keep going!

She could create a pseudonym and enter the traditional novel industry. If she succeeded, fame and money would come easily; if not, she could simply continue writing her light novels.

"I admit that what I said back then was a bit too much, but my senior is still a little resentful."

"Who would argue with a man like you?"

"Alright... If you want to learn something special from me in order to advance your career, I'd be happy to. But if you're just writing a work out of spite to prove yourself to me, it's not very meaningful. I don't read novels much these days, so it's pointless."

The more unwilling a person is to accept things, the more obsessive they become, wanting to prove something.

Aki Tomo doesn't know Kasumigaoka Utaha's current romantic feelings, but this senior clearly wants to prove herself.

However, applying such ideas to him would be problematic.

Because among the people he knew, there was also someone who wanted to prove something to those around him.

That person's name is Eriri. She secretly draws doujinshi and thinks about taking revenge on those who don't understand her, trying to prove them wrong, but it doesn't really matter.

After she stopped caring, she settled down and did what she liked. It wasn't that she was letting herself go; in anime terms, as a childhood friend with a tsundere personality, she finally became a little spoiled.

"I'm not reconciled... I was criticized by you before, and now I'm being lectured by you. It makes me think that if I don't give it a try, I really won't make it."

Kasumigaoka Utaha looked at Aki Tomoya helplessly.

The lingering resentment in my heart couldn't escape the other party's notice at all.

But after being exposed, I felt more helpless than upset.

There are very few people who understand themselves so well.

Just like when I was in my second year of high school, after meeting him at a book signing event, I was initially flustered when he uncovered all the foreshadowing, but then I was very happy.

But those days are gone forever.

Everyone has their own ambitions, and Aki Tomo also needs to consider her future; she can't keep playing the author-reader game with her forever.

"From what you're saying, it seems that you actually intend to change your career path?"

"Not really... I just wanted to see where my limits were without Eriri's help. It's not a bad thing to recognize my limits as soon as possible."

Kasumigaoka Utaha could see things clearly. The second work became a huge hit, riding the wave of Eriri's popularity, and it was a very strong one at that.

She also wants to try making plans for her own life.

"After what you said, I did throw myself into writing, but now I don't know what to do. I've gotten tired of writing youth romance stories. I think venturing into the traditional novel industry and seeing what I'm really capable of might give me a new thrill."

"...I'm a little scared that you can tell me so much."

This must be Kasumigaoka Utaha's true feelings at this moment.

For the first time in two years, he was amazed that this senior could still say these things to him. He felt that she seemed much better than before.

"What would you think if I said now that I haven't given up?"

"I'll be scared to death!"

Honestly, it can be quite frightening.

He's even starting to panic and feel a bit lost.

"Oh, so you can make that kind of expression too. I thought you had completely changed."