"Kiririn?"
Hozuki Nozomi stared at the screen name, a peculiar expression settling on his face. If his memory served—and it usually did when it came to these archetypal details—Kosaka Kirino's online handle was indeed "Kiririn."
Could the most vitriolic detractor be Kosaka Kirino herself? Was she also a fan of Magical Girl Misaki?
Amidst the sea of complaints, many other players had also left messages pledging their support for the upcoming light novel, promising to buy it upon release.
Good, he thought. That achieved the primary goal of promotion and driving sales.
Once the light novel had some momentum, he could have Eriri Spencer Sawamura, under her pen name Kashiwagi Eri, announce the serialization of the Magical Girl Misaki manga. That would generate another wave of attention and, more importantly, help launch Eriri into the mainstream industry.
His eyes returned to the screen. "Kiririn" was still in the midst of a fiery tirade. He contemplated for a moment, then typed out another post.
Healing Dawn: "Thank you all again for your passionate support. I have another exciting announcement to share. Magical Girl Misaki will be having a collaboration event with Magical Girl Meruru. The storyline is already complete and will be released alongside the light novel. Please look forward to it!"
Upon reading this, Kosaka Kirino, sitting in her room, instantly jolted upright in her chair.
What?!
Magical Girl Misaki was collaborating with her beloved Magical Girl Meruru?!
She immediately took to her keyboard, her "Kiririn" account firing off a question.
Kiririn: "There won't be another tragedy, will there?! Please, have a heart!"
Below her post, a chorus of agreement swelled.
"That's right! Please be humane, Planner-san!""For the love of all that's holy, no more beheading plots like Misaki-senpai's!"
Hozuki Nozomi scanned the replies. Among the voices vehemently supporting Kiririn, he noticed another distinctive username: "Fallen Saint Black Cat." Could that be that chuunibyou girl who's obsessed with the 'Dark Queen,' Gokou Ruri? he wondered idly.
Shaking off the thought, he continued his reply as Healing Dawn.
Healing Dawn: "Everyone, please rest assured. This collaboration will undoubtedly be a heartwarming story."
Kiririn: "I don't believe you! There's definitely going to be a tragedy!"Saori (just watching the drama): "Exactly, exactly! When Magical Girl Misaki first came out, they said it was a heartwarming story too!"Saori: "Dog Planner, please be humane!"
Hozuki Nozomi looked at the responses, his expression one of profound helplessness. Sure, there might be a tragic element… but without the tragedy preceding it, how can the eventual salvation feel truly cathartic?
He thought of a certain Honkai Impact game, where Himeko-sensei had given her final lesson and then remained lost in the Sea of Quanta with no news ever since. How can you appreciate the rainbow if you've never weathered the storm?
Putting on his best PR face, Hozuki Nozomi used the Healing Dawn account once more to guarantee that this would be a genuinely heartwarming tale.
Regardless of the eventual truth, the first step was to lure the unsuspecting players in and then… ahem… deliver an emotional impact.
Immediately, a new wave of replies appeared, with many saying they believed him and were looking forward to the work. Hozuki Nozomi's mood lifted considerably. Of course, he was fully prepared to be cursed out again later. He understood the psychology: some of the players cursing him the loudest were actually his most loyal fans. The moment a new work dropped, they'd be the first to buy three copies—one to preserve, one to use, and one to give away as "propaganda."
After being active for a while longer, Hozuki Nozomi logged off, letting the players' anticipation and speculation simmer.
Kamiigusa Misaki, who had been watching the entire exchange, poked his arm with a grin. "So, Hozuki-kun, isn't it fascinating? Everyone is so invested in our work."
"It is," he admitted, chuckling. "Though it seems I'm the one bearing the brunt of the 'investment.'"
"Pfft! Well, whose fault is that, with all those heart-wrenching plots you write?" Misaki teased. "But please, do keep 'abusing' the players in the future. It's what made us popular!"
Hozuki Nozomi looked at her bright, happy expression and couldn't help but smile warmly. "This popularity is all thanks to your hard work, Misaki-senpai. I just provided a plot outline, but you brought it to life with the visuals and the game itself. You're the true genius producer."
"Of course I am!" Kamiigusa Misaki declared, puffing out her chest with pride. The impressive swell of her bosom bounced slightly with the motion, a sight that was undeniably alluring.
She looked at him, her eyes softening with affection.
"Kohai-kun, it's because of your brilliant planning that we've reached this point. So…" She leaned in slightly, her voice dropping to a playful murmur. "What kind of reward would you like tonight?"
"Uh… well, Misaki-senpai, you can decide," Hozuki Nozomi replied, feigning nonchalance. He wasn't picky.
Taking him at his word, Kamiigusa Misaki promptly changed into a frilly maid outfit, allowing Hozuki Nozomi to thoroughly experience the particular sensations of being a "master."
…
After successfully lulling Kamiigusa Misaki into a deep and satisfied sleep, Hozuki Nozomi quietly returned to his own room. He was just about to drift off himself when the door creaked open softly.
Shiina Mashiro, dressed in her simple pajamas, slipped inside like a pale ghost.
"Shiina? What are you doing here?" Hozuki Nozomi asked in surprise.
Without a word, Mashiro padded over, a slight pout on her lips, and settled herself directly onto his lap.
"Hozuki Nozomi," she stated, her voice a clear, soft chime in the dark room, "you are a disqualified owner."
"Uh… this is…"
"Didn't Nanami take good care of me?"
"She did, but…"
"Shiina wants Hozuki Nozomi to take care of her." Her words were simple, direct, and carried the weight of a child's unvarnished desire.
"Shiina…" he began, but she cut him off.
Mashiro raised her arms and wrapped them around his waist, leaning her doll-like, exquisitely delicate face against his chest. She even nuzzled against him lightly. "Hozuki Nozomi, does Shiina think she is a burden?"
"Of course not!" he responded immediately, his voice firm. "I'm very happy to take care of you. It's just… Nanami was so insistent on handling things herself, I didn't know how to refuse."
Hearing this, a solution seemed to dawn on Shiina Mashiro. Her large, luminous eyes lit up. "Then, Hozuki Nozomi can take care of Shiina secretly from now on. Without telling anyone."
As she spoke, her soft, slender body pressed even closer into his embrace.
Hozuki Nozomi's breath hitched. A warmth, both tender and more primal, stirred within him. His gaze, now tinged with a distinct heat, settled on her petite, perfect face.
"And how," he asked, his voice dropping to a low, slightly rough murmur, "does Shiina want me to take care of her?"
Shiina Mashiro looked up at him blankly for a second, as if processing the question. Then, with surprising decisiveness, she gave him a little push, toppling them both so he was lying back on the bed with her leaning over him.
"Shiina wants to be like Mahiru. Like Yukino. Like the others."
Hozuki Nozomi looked into her utterly expectant, guileless eyes and could only smile, a mix of fondness and surrender. "Alright. If that's what Shiina wants, then I won't hold back."
"Yes. Don't hold back."
With permission so freely given, how could Hozuki Nozomi possibly restrain himself? He immediately wrapped his arms around her slight frame, drawing her fully into his embrace. He lowered his head, capturing her lips in a kiss that was both gentle and possessive.
Everything else was communicated without words.
…
He didn't know how much time had passed. Shiina Mashiro had finally fallen into a deep, peaceful slumber. A faint, rosy blush still colored her delicate cheeks, and a single trace of moisture glistened at the corner of her eye.
Hozuki Nozomi raised a hand, gently stroking her silky hair as he held her close.
"Sleep well," he whispered.
After his conversation with Aoyama Nanami, he had come to understand that Shiina was profoundly lonely at school. Apart from Nanami, she had no friends whatsoever. And Nanami wasn't even in the same class as her.
Perhaps I should ask Rita when she's planning to return, he mused. With Rita here, Shiina would be in better spirits, less isolated. More importantly, Shiina needed a companion to create art with. Rita was, without a doubt, the perfect candidate.