Kono Monogatari O Kimi Ni Sasagu - Volume 1 Chapter 3.7

Inamura Kaho still wasn’t sure if her decision that day was the right one.

Standing in front of a room door in a university hospital in Tokyo, holding a get-well gift in one hand, she felt uneasy. The lingering doubt from that day still haunted her.

The buildings of Tokyo, visible from the hallway, were bathed in the red glow of the sunset.

Inamura gathered her determination and knocked on the hospital room door. After a brief pause, she heard a girl’s voice say, “Come in.”

When she opened the door, a girl sitting up in bed looked at her.

The moment the girl recognized her, Inamura thought she saw a mix of envy and jealousy in her eyes. Inamura hesitated for a moment but then stepped into the room, hiding her unease.

“It’s been a while, Natsume Kotoha.”

“Yes, it has. Inamura-san.”

“I brought you a get-well gift.”

“Thank you.”

Inamura handed over the sweets she had bought near the company. Seeing Kotoha’s trembling hands and realizing the significance of the wheelchair by the bedside, Inamura took a small breath.

It had been about a year since she last saw Natsume Kotoha.

She would never forget—on a snowy day, wearing her middle school uniform and a coat, she stood resolutely in front of the publishing house.

Since that day, she and Kotoha had become accomplices.

“How’s Senpai doing?”

As soon as Inamura sat down, Kotoha asked.

Inamura replied with a knowing tone, “Oh?”

“…What?”

“Not ‘Fuyutsuki-sensei’ or ‘the manuscript,’ but ‘Senpai.'”

Kotoha frowned.

“They’re all the same.”

“They’re completely different. And you know it.”

“You read too much into things.”

Inamura laughed at that retort. It was quite sharp.

“So, how is he?”

“Progressing well. Very well.”

A few months ago, Kotoha contacted Inamura, saying her health had worsened and she was transferring hospitals, so she couldn’t stay near Fuyutsuki-sensei. She mentioned Yuto would likely send the manuscript to Inamura eventually.

Thanks to that heads-up, Inamura could adjust the schedule in advance and provide the best support when the manuscript arrived. Of course, the manuscript’s exceptional quality made it easier to convince the editorial team.

“I was surprised. I didn’t expect the play’s script to transform this much.”

“Of course. It’s Fuyutsuki-sensei.”

Kotoha smiled contentedly, but Inamura firmly denied.

“No, it’s because of you. You gave him the push and guided him. You expanded his world. You’re undoubtedly suited to be an editor.”

Kotoha looked at Inamura in surprise, silently staring at her face.

Inamura recalled the day she met Kotoha.

‘You’re Inamura-san, right?’

Kotoha had waited for hours in the cold, standing in front of the publishing house. She later learned that Kotoha had found out about Inamura from photos and articles about Fuyutsuki Haruhiko’s award ceremony. Inamura, seeing her for the first time, was confused. But,

‘I’m Natsume Kotoha.’

Hearing that name, Inamura thought, Ah, she’s finally here.

Inamura knew her name.

Her passionate fan letters had left a strong impression.

A girl who skillfully put her thoughts into words and accurately analyzed the story’s appeal. Initially, Inamura thought she was a remarkably mature middle schooler. But after receiving several letters, she understood the reason for her maturity and felt a deep sadness.

‘Tell me. What happened to Fuyutsuki-sensei? Why hasn’t he published any books?’

That couldn’t be disclosed—Inamura replied, and Kotoha glared at her.

‘If you can’t do it, I will. Please let me.’

It took Inamura a moment to grasp the meaning of those words.

If you can’t get Fuyutsuki Haruhiko to write, I will—that’s what she meant, and it made Inamura’s blood boil. She almost walked away, but her feet wouldn’t move.

There was a sense of empathy. Inamura had read Kotoha’s letters and knew how desperately she had come here, how earnest her wish was. As someone equally captivated by Fuyutsuki Haruhiko’s novels, Inamura couldn’t ignore her plea.

There was also calculation. Despite all her persuasion, Fuyutsuki Haruhiko wouldn’t face writing again. Inamura didn’t know how Kotoha intended to achieve it, but she had a feeling it might work with her.

And, of course, there was guilt. Accepting Kotoha’s proposal meant understanding that she was burning her limited time compared to her peers. It also meant breaking the trust by leaking a client’s personal information—something unforgivable for an editor.

(Even so, I chose to cooperate with her.)

Inamura first explained that Fuyutsuki Haruhiko had been emotionally scarred by an incident three years ago and was attending school in Gifu. Hearing just that much, Kotoha stopped Inamura from saying more.

‘As long as I know where he is, I’ll meet him and ask myself.’

She didn’t ask for details about the incident or his real name.

Wouldn’t it be better to know everything to proceed efficiently? When Inamura asked, Kotoha shook her head.

‘It wouldn’t be fair to Fuyutsuki-sensei or you.’

Kotoha, who was living in Nagoya, quickly moved to Gifu and enrolled in the high school Inamura had mentioned. Her parents, wanting to support their ill daughter’s wishes, didn’t object.

Then, Kotoha meticulously built connections with the drama club, found Yuto, got him to write a script, and eventually had him write a novel.

In the end, she accomplished this almost entirely on her own in an unfamiliar town among unfamiliar people while battling her illness.

Someone needed to acknowledge her efforts. Inamura thought that as a fellow trade member and accomplice, it was her duty.

“Hold your head high. As Fuyutsuki Haruhiko’s editor, you did what neither I nor any other editor could.”

Inamura then placed her hands on Kotoha’s shoulders and conveyed clearly,

“It will be published at the end of March.”

Kotoha, who had been in a daze, took a moment to grasp the meaning of those words.

Fuyutsuki Haruhiko’s new work would be published.

It seemed she gradually felt the reality of that envelop her.

She clasped her hands in front of her chest as if praying and closed her eyes.

Tears streamed down her closed eyes, trailing down her cheeks.

“Thank you…”

Kotoha’s voice was muffled with tears, and Inamura gently rubbed her back.

“We still need to finalize the cover design and promotional arrangements before publication. But the main text’s final proof likely won’t need many changes, so we shouldn’t face delays.”

“That’s good… I’ll make sure I stay alive until then.”

Not knowing how to respond to that, Inamura was at a loss, but Kotoha looked up and smiled. Realizing Kotoha’s words were a joke, she was initially taken aback, then slumped her shoulders.

“That’s too dark a joke…”

“Hehe, sorry. I just wanted to put some pressure on you.”

“It’s not funny… But I understand the sentiment.”

Inamura smiled wryly, her cheeks twitching. She intended to see the publication through, even if it meant pushing herself to the limit.

And after that, she thought she might step down—either resign as his editor or quit the profession. Helping a girl burn through her life and betraying the trust of a client was something she felt needed atonement.

“You can’t.”

Kotoha’s words, as if she had seen through everything, struck Inamura’s ears.

“Inamura-san, you need to embrace it all and support Fuyutsuki Haruhiko.”

Kotoha’s smiling face carried an intensity that made Inamura sigh deeply.

“…That’s quite a curse.”

“I meant it as a blessing.”

Realizing it wasn’t a joke, Inamura smiled again, her cheeks twitching.

“Thank you for keeping my secret.”

“…It was a promise. Not to tell him about you. But I did forward your letters, as I said I would.”

That was the condition Inamura had set when she met Kotoha.

Inamura had wanted Yuto to face creation with full knowledge of Kotoha’s situation. She believed it would lead to a better outcome, especially considering Kotoha’s circumstances. But she wasn’t sure if Yuto was mentally recovered enough to handle Kotoha’s situation and still create.

In the end, Inamura decided on the compromise of forwarding Kotoha’s fan letters. If Yuto could read them, it would mean he was somewhat recovered and he would learn about Kotoha’s situation. If he couldn’t read them, they would proceed without revealing Kotoha’s details.

“…Yes. But since he never mentioned it after we met, I’m sure Senpai didn’t read them. He probably stashed them away unopened. If he had read them, I’d be too embarrassed to live.”

Inamura nodded, smiling wryly.

At that time, Yuto likely wasn’t in a state to read fan letters. It might be different now, though.

“Do you want to read the author’s proof?”

When Inamura asked, Kotoha shook her head.

“I promised Senpai I’d wait for the book.”

At that moment, Kotoha’s smartphone, placed by the bedside, buzzed with a message notification.

“Go ahead,” Inamura urged her to check. Kotoha nodded slightly and read the message, her cheeks softening with joy.

“It’s a friend from the drama club in Gifu. They’re visiting me tomorrow.”

“That’s good to hear.”

Seeing Kotoha’s age-appropriate smile, Inamura felt her heart clench.

She prayed from the bottom of her heart that Kotoha would be granted more time.