In Hikigaya's room, he sits at his desk and draws something as Shiori steps into his room. She makes her way behind him and lays herself on his back, her head next to his.
Shiori "What doin'?"
Hikigaya "Just whipping up some sketches of your characters. The sound of their designs is always so inspiring. Although I've made a few adjustments."
He says playfully as Shiori rolls her eyes.
Shiori "Ha ha."
She says sarcastically. Hikigaya giggles a bit as Shiori falls backwards to his bed, running her hands across his shoulders. He blushes and turns around to see her plop herself on his bed. She gives him a blushy look as he makes his way to her. He places himself above her as she wraps her arms around his neck and pulls him in for a kiss. They kiss for a moment before he slides down a bit and kisses her neck gently. Shiori shivers a bit as her blushing intensifies.
Shiori "Hiki..gaya…"
She whimpers as he smirks. He then falls back a bit, pulling her with him. He gets on his knees as Shiori slides onto his lap. He holds her tightly with his arms around her waist, still tucked into her neck. She smiles a bit as she runs her hands along his back.
Shiori "You okay?.."
She asks in a whisper. Hikigaya doesn't respond for a moment before nodding softly. Shiori hugs him tightly before they get up and pull apart. Hikigaya gets back on his chair as she sits on his bed.
Hikigaya "What are you doing?"
Shiori "Nothing really. I think I finally finished my final draft of my book."
Hikigaya looks surprised as she says that so casually.
Hikigaya "That's great. Right?"
Shiori nods with a soft smile before chuckling and getting an awkward smile.
Shiori "Yeahhh I guess but I kinda blew my chance with Conarc Editing. So now my book is just.. another in a sea of pages."
She says softly. Hikigaya thinks for a moment before getting an idea.
Hikigaya "Well, if you want, you could always submit it to one of those, like, competition things?"
Shiori looks at him surprised.
Shiori "You mean like the 'Autumn's Coziest' contest things?"
Hikigaya "Yes! Exactly, those. Although, I doubt there'd be any autumn themed ones right now…"
He says seriously as Shiori rolls her eyes again.
Shiori "You're so dumb. That was just an example."
Hikigaya blushes in embarrassment as he rubs the back of his head.
Shiori "Hm… I guess that could be worth a shot. But with how many others there'll be, I'd need a cover to make it stand out."
Hikigaya "Oh, we'll figure that out later. In the meantime, why don't we find a good contest to enter that'll get you that recognition you've worked so hard for. And who knows, maybe I can get mom to pull a few strings..?"
He offers playfully as Shiori gets a frustrated look.
Shiori "No, no, no! How many times am I gonna have to tell you, and your mom? I don't want to cheat my way to the top. I'm taking her writing advice and mentorship and that's it, nothing more."
She says adamantly. Hikigaya crosses his arms with a smug smile.
Hikigaya "Alright, alright, I'm just saying."
He then offers his hand with a soft smile.
Hikigaya "Let's get to work."
Shiori blushes a bit before taking his hand with a warm smile.
Shiori "Right."
She says softly. They spend some time searching online for different contests from different platforms before coming to one that looks appealing.
Hikigaya "'Come and join us at Mattpad's Spring of Ink and Love. Enter the contest for a chance to win and become a Mattpad original!' That sounds pretty good. Your book is primarily romance, isn't it?"
Shiori "Among other things but yeah. Works for me, not that my chances are great anyway but still."
Hikigaya "Don't say that, you're gonna be number one!"
Shiori looks unsure but appreciative of the support.
Shiori "Well, once I get everything in order, I'll be sure to submit it."
Hikigaya nods as Shiori walks away. He watches her walk away before hearing Riku scream as she messes with him. He smiles before bolting upstairs and back to his room. He immediately gets to work with his pencil in hand as he starts drawing. Hours go by as he falls asleep at his desk before waking back up and continuing. Leaving only for snacks and bathroom breaks. A couple days later, Shiori sits at her laptop with a look as if debating in deep thought.
Shiori "I'm no good at this stuff.."
She groans as she slumps backward, hanging her head over the back of the chair in the living room. Her father then steps behind her, looking down at her.
Takanou "What's going on?"
Shiori sits up.
Shiori "I'm trying to come up with a cover for my book to submit it into this contest but I just.. don't know."
Takanou stares at her screen for a moment, rubbing his chin.
Takanou "Hmmm… Nope, I've got nothing. We usually pay people for out covers haha!"
Shiori droops a bit.
Shiori "Have you even read my story..?"
Takanou "Not a bit, but your mom has told me all about it, same with Asami."
Shiori sighs as she stares at her screen.
Takanou "Why don't you go ask Hikigaya to whip you up something? He's quite the talented artist if I do say so myself."
Shiori gets a soft, embarrassed look.
Shiori "No, I can't do that… He's already done so much for me and I've… done nothing for him… I can handle the rest on my own."
Takanou gives her a soft fatherly look.
Takanou "If he loves you, there is no such thing as on your own anymore."
He rubs her head as she smiles a bit before walking away. A few moments after that, Hikigaya comes flying down the stairs with an excited but tired look.
Hikigaya "Hey, hey Shiori! Look!"
He lifts up a sheet of paper to her with a big smile as Shiori looks at it, confused. After a moment, her eyes widen as a slight blush spreads across her face.
Shiori "Hiki.. you didn't.."
Hikigaya "I did. I told you not to worry about it, remember?"
He smiles as the cover of her story sits before her in full rendered detail and color. Tears well up in her eyes as she tries to stop herself from crying. Hikigaya looks confused and puts down the cover.
Hikigaya "H-hey. You okay? What's wrong?"
He gently puts his hands on her shoulders as she whimpers.
Shiori "N-nothing… I just… I just love you so much!"
She says as she cries out. Hikigaya smiles before pulling her in for a hug, placing her crying face against his tummy.
Hikigaya "You're so silly…"
He says softly. After a moment of tears and emotions, she sniffles as she stops herself from crying any more. She looks at the cover with a smile.
Shiori "I love it!"
She says happily as Hikigaya lets out a sigh of relief.
Hikigaya "Phew. I'm glad, cause it would've been pretty embarrassing if you hated it."
Shiori "I'm gonna go screen it right now! Then I can upload my book to the contest!"
She says excitedly. Riku then runs into the house from the backyard.
Riku "Hey, wait! Hikigaya! I need you!"
They look at him confused.
Hikigaya "What's up, little man?"
Riku "I need you to train me!"
Hikigaya sweat drops a bit.
Hikigaya "What?."
Riku "Yeah! You're big and strong, I want to be like you! That way I can handle any sport thrown my way with no problem!"
Shiori "Riku, Hikigaya's really tired right now, I don't think-"
Hikigaya "No, it's okay."
He says, thinking for a moment. Shiori looks at him surprised.
Shiori "You sure?"
Hikigaya "Yeah, it's not a problem. How can I say no to training such a little man."
Riku pouts a bit.
Hikigaya "I could always sleep later."
He says with a smile before stepping past her, kissing her on the cheek. She blushes and smiles at him as Riku and Hikigaya step into the backyard, Riku yelling about being called a little man. Shiori gets a slightly concerned look but doesn't let it eat at her much.
Not long after, Shiori gets her book in order, cover and all, and submits it to Mattpad for the contest.