Kono Monogatari O Kimi Ni Sasagu - Volume 1 Chapter 3.9

Yuto had been mistaken all along.

He thought Natsume Kotoha loved novels and wanted to become an editor because of that.

But that wasn’t the case.

She was saved by Yuto’s novels, and because of that, she wanted to become his editor.

For her, with an uncertain future, dedicating her precious time to anyone else was out of the question—it had to be Fuyutsuki Haruhiko.

As a middle schooler back then, she must have used her innate determination to find Inamura, likely leveraging the fan letters to get Inamura’s cooperation and learn Yuto’s whereabouts.

She moved to an unfamiliar town and found Yuto.

With desperate effort, she pulled Yuto back into the path of creation.

All by using any means necessary.

But that was only natural.

She was offering her life, which could be cut short at any moment.

She must have thought she had to do everything she could.

“Idiot…!”

Why did she invest so much in a writer who had given up?

Why spend her precious life on something uncertain?

Why, why—

“It’s me…!”

Regret swirled within him.

The word “idiot” echoed back at him like a mountain echo.

There had been plenty of clues.

He could have realized her true intentions sooner.

Maybe then, her condition wouldn’t have worsened so much.

If he had been more firm when she got sick during the scriptwriting.

If he had read the fan letters Inamura sent right away.

No, if he hadn’t stopped writing in the first place, Kotoha wouldn’t have had to risk her life.

They wouldn’t have met either.

A vision of Kotoha, smiling contentedly as she read Fuyutsuki Haruhiko’s new work and wrote letters, floated in his mind—Kotoha, ignorant of Yuto, existing only in imagination.

With a loud crash, the rear wheel of the bicycle jumped.

It had hit a sidewalk block hidden under the snow.

Yuto was thrown forward, landing on the snow.

He hit his back hard, knocking the wind out of him.

He coughed, the pain in his back coming seconds later.

The cold snow crept up his body.

“Damn…”

Countless snowflakes fell from the gray sky.

A world of freezing silence.

“Can’t I do anything for her…?”

They had created a script together and turned it into a novel.

But that was the result of Kotoha desperately pulling Yuto back.

Yuto had only taken from Kotoha.

He had returned to the path of creation at the cost of her life.

“I have to… get there quickly…”

At least, while she was suffering, he should be by her side—

Thinking this, Yuto forced his aching body up.

At that moment, it felt as if a hot summer wind blew strongly.

“Please write. Your novels.”

Kotoha, who had suddenly appeared in the senior classroom and said that.

“I know. I wrote with all my might.”

He had poured everything she had given him into creating the best work.

“It’ll be a book soon. Just two more months.”

In the snowstorm, Kotoha, standing in the middle of summer, smiled.

“Then why—”

They had promised not to meet until the book was finished when she transferred hospitals.

He had promised to deliver the best novel.

He had declared he would change her mind with the novel.

But the book would be published in two months, and she had only a few days left.

It wasn’t enough time at all.

If only he had more talent.

If only he had finished the manuscript sooner.

But no matter what he regretted, it was too late. And meaningless.

He needed to be by her side, believe she would regain consciousness, and persuade her to have the surgery.

That was all he could do now.

But would his words of persuasion reach Kotoha?

It would mean breaking the promise to deliver the book. Not just any book—the one she had risked her life to create, the one she had longed for.

But even if he wanted to deliver it, that was impossible, a mere wish—

“…Is it really?”

As his thoughts began to spin, Yuto suddenly questioned himself.

Kotoha had given everything she had for her goal, without holding back.

What about him?

Had he really done everything he could?

Had he used every possible means?

“The best novel, the manuscript is complete…”

He muttered.

“If only it could be made into a book…”

It felt as if the stuck gears had finally clicked into place.

Before he knew it, Kotoha’s vision had disappeared.

He pulled out his smartphone from his pocket and selected the name from his call history without hesitation.

‘Hello, this is Inamura.’

“This is Fuyutsuki.” Yuto used his pen name. “Do you have a moment?”

‘Yes, I’m available. What’s wrong?’

“I read the fan letters earlier.”

A deep silence followed. Occasionally, the speaker crackled with static.

Eventually, Inamura spoke with a sigh.

‘…I’m sorry. As an editor, as a person, I did something I shouldn’t have. But please, let me continue until this book is published. After that, I’ll accept any punishment.’

“…Can you start that atonement now?”

Yuto had no intention of blaming Inamura.

She had only respected Kotoha’s wishes. While sharing an author’s personal information was ethically questionable, Yuto didn’t care about that.

He only cared about whether what he was about to request would be accepted, and he would use Inamura’s guilt if necessary.

‘What?’

Inamura’s confused voice came through.

Yuto continued, addressing Inamura.

“Can you move up the publication date?”

‘…What? …Move up the publication date?’

“Yes. By tomorrow at the latest. Ideally within a few hours.”

‘What…what…what, no, that’s impossible! We’re scheduled to publish at the end of March! Moving it to tomorrow is just not feasible!’

Feeling sorry for the panicking Inamura, Yuto continued.

“I don’t need the official release date moved up. Just the sample production schedule.”

‘Samples…?’

Samples are the pre-publication copies sent to authors and stakeholders.

“If printing multiple copies is difficult, even one will do. I just need one completed book.”

‘…Can I ask why?’

Sensing the gravity of the situation, Inamura asked cautiously.

“I promised Natsume I wouldn’t see her until the book was done. I promised to change her mind with my novel and make her undergo the surgery.”

‘A promise with Natsume-san…So, you need the sample immediately because…’

“Yes. Natsume has collapsed. She might only have a few days left. She needs surgery right away, but she probably won’t undergo it, and she might refuse to see me if the book isn’t complete. But the formal publication won’t make it in time, so I need the sample.”

There was a loud thud, as if a chair had fallen on the other end.

‘Why didn’t you say this sooner!? Fuyutsuki-sensei, where are you now?’

“I’m heading to Tokyo. I should be there in about three hours.”

‘…I understand the situation.’

Inamura’s voice trembled.

‘But realistically, it’s almost impossible to produce a book by tomorrow, even just one. We don’t have the printing schedule organized. I’ll ask, but…’

The printing machines at the printing house are in constant use, and they haven’t even started making the plates.

“Please let me meet the printing staff.”

‘What…?’

“I’ll beg them. I’ll do whatever it takes, even grovel if I have to.”

‘Fuyutsuki-sensei…’

“Please. You’re the only one I can rely on, Inamura-san.”

A long silence followed.

Eventually, Inamura sighed deeply.

‘…Alright. Let’s go together. I can’t guarantee they’ll agree, but let’s plead for at least one book.’

“Inamura-san!”

‘But you’re not groveling. There’s no way I’ll let a high school student, and an author at that, do that. This is non-negotiable. Understood?’

“But…”

‘Fuyutsuki-sensei, you need to explain why it needs to be moved up. Can you do that?’

That meant baring his and Kotoha’s personal situation to complete strangers.

‘They’re human too. If they understand your circumstances and feelings, they’re more likely to cooperate. It’s a desperate plea. If you can’t, I’ll plead hard, but…’

It wouldn’t be as persuasive.

There was no need to hesitate, Yuto thought.

“No problem.”

If it increased the chances, he would do whatever it took.

‘…Thank you. I understand your resolve, Fuyutsuki-sensei. Let’s struggle through this together. I’ll be waiting in Tokyo.’

“Yes, I’ll hurry.”

Ending the call, he righted his fallen bike.

The wheel was slightly bent, but he started pedaling regardless.

Through the snow-covered streets, he headed to the station.

To deliver a novel to just one precious person.