All Beautiful Girls Want to Stick with Me

"Izumi-sensei, good afternoon. Have you eaten yet?"

"Not yet. What about you, Yukinoshita-editor?"

"There's a super popular Chinese restaurant in Tokyo. I tried it once—the food was amazing! They just launched a delivery service, so I ordered some braised pork and rice."

Chinese cuisine?!

Kotomi Izumi was immediately tempted. Having lived in China for seventeen years in her second life, she not only loved Chinese food but could cook it too. Hearing there was a Chinese restaurant in Tokyo piqued her interest, and she was eager to ask about the location.

But before that, there was one important thing she needed to confirm with Haruno.

"Editor Yukinoshita, have you tried the tomato and scrambled eggs from that restaurant?" Kotomi asked seriously, enunciating every word.

"I have. It was pretty good."

"Was it sweet or savory?"

"Kind of on the sweet side."

"Oh, never mind then."

Kotomi instantly lost interest. She loved pouring tomato and scrambled eggs over rice, and while she usually liked sweet flavors, when it came to that dish—she would only accept it savory!

"Ahem, anyway, let's get back on track. Izumi-sensei, I just called Hanayui-sensei a moment ago."

"First, I told her that Volume 3 of Sword Art Online will have a special edition and asked her to illustrate the exclusive slipcase, bonus cover, and acrylic keychain."

"Second, I passed along your request—how you'd like her to handle the illustrations for your new work."

"What did Hanayui-sensei say?"

Kotomi immediately perked up. Hanayui's art style was her favorite, and she sincerely hoped she would take on the illustrations for her new novel, Redo of Healer.

If possible, Kotomi wanted Hanayui to illustrate all her future novels. Even if she eventually started her own game company, Type-Moon Realm, Hanayui would be her first-choice artist.

"Of course—she said yes!" Haruno Yukinoshita replied, deliberately dragging out her words, clearly aware of how much Kotomi wanted this.

"Dragging your words like that… Yukinoshita-editor, you're so childish," Kotomi snorted, but her voice was laced with unmistakable joy.

Even though she was thrilled, she still tried to act nonchalant. That little brat… Haruno thought to herself, feeling that Kotomi was becoming more and more adorable.

"Hanayui-sensei also mentioned that since you both live in Chiba, it's a bit inefficient to travel all the way to the Tokyo editorial office for discussions. So she asked if you'd be willing to meet with her directly in private to talk about the illustrations."

"Of course I would!!!" Kotomi shouted.

"Ah! I'm wearing earphones, you know—you did that on purpose!"

"Nooo~ I had no idea you were wearing earphones! My bad~"

"Forget it, forget it. Back to the illustration talk. This is the first time Hanayui-sensei has invited someone to discuss illustration work in private. Is it really just because you live nearby?"

"Until now, I'd only ever communicated with her via email. After finishing an illustration, she'd send it over electronically."

"Even after we exchanged contact info, we mainly kept in touch through Line."

"But ever since she started working on your Sword Art Online project, she met you in person at the editorial office for the first time to discuss illustrations. And now, she's even invited you for a private meeting. It feels like something has changed in her since meeting you. I'm starting to wonder—has something special developed between you two~?"

Haruno teased playfully.

Faced with Haruno Yukinoshita's teasing, Kotomi chose to play dumb. She'd been caught off guard by Haruno's antics a few times before and didn't want to fall into another trap. After a few more casual exchanges, they said goodbye and hung up. Kotomi returned to the classroom.

"I'm starving—let's eat first."

Kotomi sat down and pulled out six bento boxes, each with a different flavor. This was her lunch for the day.

"Alright."

Yukino Yukinoshita nodded and took out the lunch she had packed from her schoolbag. She preferred bringing her own meals and had only gone to the school store earlier to accompany Kotomi.

Afternoon.

The sports festival had ended.

When Kotomi went on stage to accept her award, she looked up at the sky with an expression that screamed smug disinterest.

So smug. But cute. Still smug, though.

The first-place prize was self-selectable. Most of the options were pricier stationery items and notebooks. One prize box, sponsored by the school store, was filled with a variety of snacks.

Kotomi immediately chose the snack gift box.

When she returned to the classroom holding the snack box, she gave Yukino a meaningful glance. Yukino nodded in understanding.

Kotomi told Megumi Kato she had something to take care of after school and would be staying behind. Though Megumi was a bit suspicious, Kotomi quickly added:

"Megumi, I'll send you a few of those photos you've been wanting to see tonight."

Megumi had no choice but to obediently listen and head home first—not that it was because she wanted those photos or anything!

Kotomi and Yukino made their way to the second music room. Using a key, they unlocked the door and entered.

The first thing they saw upon entering was the grand piano.

"No one's here," Kotomi remarked, glancing around the empty second music room.

Allowed to be used at most twice a week, the second music room had a low presence even among music students—primarily because so few students played the piano. Compared to the other two music rooms, it felt almost forgotten.

A large black grand piano stood in the most prominent spot. While playing it, one could look out the window and enjoy the view.

Ami Koishi had probably agreed so readily to lend them the key because she figured few people ever came here. If the piano sat unused for too long, the spirit sleeping within it might start to cry.

"Oh right, did you bring your guitar?" Yukino Yukinoshita asked.

"Eh?"

Kotomi blinked for a second before realizing—oh, right, she was the guitarist. Even if it was their first time performing together, it would be best if she played guitar while Yukino played piano.

The only issue was… Kotomi didn't have a guitar.

She had originally planned to buy one after school today, but for now—she had nothing.

"I forgot it~ Hehehe," Kotomi laughed sheepishly.

She didn't want to admit she didn't own a guitar at all. It would've been hard to explain how she could play guitar without actually owning one. So she just went with "I forgot it."

I need to buy a guitar after school today! Kotomi vowed internally.

"I think there's a guitar in the second music room…"

Yukino looked around. Though the second music room lacked presence, it was spacious. On the left side, there was a door—unlocked. When she pushed it open, it revealed a practice room specifically for guitars.

Inside were all the necessary equipment and tools. Several guitars hung from the walls.

"I kind of want to spend every day here—aside from classes," Kotomi said earnestly. After unlocking her music proficiency level, how could she resist such a large and wonderful music room?

Kotomi walked into the guitar practice room and randomly picked one off the wall. Thanks to her music level, she could play well—but she wasn't very knowledgeable about selecting instruments. She just chose the one that looked nicest.

She selected a dark navy-black guitar and held it in both hands, feeling its weight. "Mm, I like the weight of this one."

Yukino looked at her with some doubt. Who picked guitars based on weight?! Was this a fantasy game and Kotomi a hero choosing her starter weapon?

Yukino started to question whether Kotomi could actually play guitar. But the moment Kotomi lifted the instrument, her entire aura seemed to change—subtle to the eye, but palpable to the heart.

Yukino reined in her thoughts and asked, "Have you decided on a song to play? We haven't found a lead vocalist yet, but we should at least pick the song for our performance."

"I plan to write an original song for our performance. But I haven't composed it yet, so for our first duet, let's start with something familiar," Kotomi replied.

The songs Kotomi wanted to write came from gal games she'd played in her second life. Although gal games existed in this world, none of the titles that left a deep impression on her had appeared here.

So Kotomi had decided that once she established her own company—Type-Moon Realm—she would recreate those gal games.

Right now, it was impossible. Money was one issue, and she also had light novels and manga projects that kept her too busy. But she could at least compose the songs she loved from those games.

"You can write songs too?" Yukino Yukinoshita said in surprise. She felt like Kotomi was a walking surprise machine—always full of the unexpected.

First it was playing the guitar, and now it was composing music.

Yukino was already wondering—what kind of surprise would Kotomi bring her next?

"I learned a little in the past, just out of interest. I'm not an expert, but I'm confident I can write a few songs for our cultural festival performance. Just give me a few days."

"Alright."

Yukino nodded without hesitation. While choosing an existing song might've been the safer option for a live performance, she believed in Kotomi—whatever Kotomi composed wouldn't let her down!

Kotomi, holding the dark navy-black guitar, followed Yukino to the piano. They had already chosen a song for their first practice together.

"I didn't expect you to know this song too," Yukino said as she sat on the piano bench.

"The first time I heard it was when I was a kid, watching a televised music performance."

Kotomi sat at a nearby table, pulling out a chair and taking her seat. With the aid of her music level, she assumed the most fitting posture for guitar performance.

This was Kotomi's first time actually playing guitar. Despite her unlocked music level, a trace of nervousness lingered in her heart. But as soon as she held the guitar, her fingers began to move naturally, her hand accurately plucking the strings.

Just as she had said earlier, this was a song she heard on a music show as a child. She didn't understand the lyrics back then, but for some reason—she had loved it instantly.

Only later did she learn that it was the opening theme to an anime called Serial Experiments Lain.

—Duvet

Kotomi loved Duvet. So when Yukino had asked earlier what song to try for their first performance, she instinctively said it.

She hadn't expected Yukino to have heard it too.

On the other side of the piano lid, Yukino's long black hair swayed with each delicate note.

Seated at the piano, her long lashes gently lowered, Yukino focused completely on the keys. Her graceful, transparent piano tones were like the final raindrops of winter—dripping softly from the instrument, awakening the sleeping spirit within the piano, who seemed to open her beautiful eyes and spread luminous wings.

The guitar began first. Then the piano joined in, following the same melody, gradually moving ahead of the guitar.

The piano carved a path forward for the guitar, embellishing the air with the ethereal color unique to Duvet.

The guitar felt like someone chasing a rainbow, following after the piano.

Duet...

For the first time, Kotomi understood the emotional experience of a duet. Regardless of differences in skill, the joy of mutual encouragement and companionship—was all contained within this brief session.

No one was singing. Only guitar and piano together wove an empty yet full and beautiful melody.

An indescribable emotion settled in Yukino's chest. She looked at Kotomi, who was earnestly playing guitar, and found herself wishing Kotomi would never find a vocalist.

That way, the band would just be the two of them. Even without a singer—she didn't want a third person to join.

So I'm a selfish, greedy person... Yukino thought with a hint of self-mockery.

Immersed in her performance, Kotomi let her fingers carry the melody—

"Hm?"

Kotomi's fingers on the guitar gradually slowed, then came to a complete stop.

In the second music room, only Yukino's piano remained.

Both Kotomi and Yukino noticed—something else had joined the soundscape.

Band... three-piece band... piano... guitar... what was missing—

That's right! A voice!

Someone was singing!

A girl was singing Duvet!

"Sorry, Yukino, pause the piano for a second."

Kotomi put down the guitar and immediately ran out of the music room.

"Kotomi, wait!"

For the first time, Yukino raised her voice from the piano bench. But Kotomi didn't stop. All Yukino could do was watch as she dashed out, chasing the mysterious girl who was now singing Duvet.

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