"Then, see you at the school after "Golden Week."
"Um." Yuu nodded reluctantly, then said in concern, "Be careful. Watch your health, and don't forget to rest."
After their trip to the "Lake Biwa Museum," which they enjoyed very much, they went to eat the famous "Omi Beef," which was so delicious. It was rich and buttery. The moment they ate it, the meat melted into their mouths.
Still, compared to that beef, Yuu loved the elephant doll that Mizuto bought at the museum more. This elephant, especially the trunk part, reminded her of him, she thought, which caused her to blush, realizing how perverted she had become.
'It's because of him,' she thought.
Nevertheless, Mizuto had to say the price of the doll in such a place was high, yet this was natural since if he was the owner of the museum, he would also make the price of the souvenir expensive. It was like how one made the price of a beverage at a restaurant or the food at the theme park high. After all, without competition, one could raise the price as much as they wanted to.
In other words, a monopoly business was something that he needed to look for.
During his trip to Lake Biwa, Mizuto also had been thinking about what kind of business he should acquire next time. Frankly, he was thinking of taking a break after his trip to Osaka, but as expected, his mind often wandered to his business.
So, what kind of business should he take?
When he thought all of that, somehow, his thoughts stopped at the convenience store.
Yes, a convenience store.
It is a small retail store that stocks a range of everyday items.
This store was everywhere, whether it was in Kyoto, Osaka, or even in Lake Biwa, he saw them everywhere.
While retail shops might fall due to the popularity of online shops, Mizuto felt like convenience stores would continue to exist in the future. Moreover, when he acquired the warehouses, thinking that he could get data about what kind of items were popular on the market, his thoughts when he acquired the convenience store were similar.
With the data he gained from the convenience store, Mizuto knew that he could expand his business into various items that were sold at his convenience store, like a condom, a snack, a magazine, a beverage, and many others.
Frankly, Mizuto was thinking of entering beverages, snacks, frozen foods, and all related food industries as his "Restaurateur" job could affect the taste of those products and make them even more delicious.
Still, before that, he needed to do some research on which convenience store brand he should acquire.
However, he could do that later since he knew that he would only meet Yuu after the "Golden Week," and if they only said goodbye like this, wouldn't it be a shame?
"Is that all?"
"...what do you want?" Yuu was speechless by his words.
"How about a kiss?" Mizuto asked with a smile. "I feel like I will be more energetic if you kiss me before I leave."
"You...!" Yuu blushed as she looked at him helplessly. Still, there was no rejection of her expressions or mouth. Instead, she stared at his lips, feeling hesitant as she knew that she would be the one who took the initiative on this kiss.
Usually, it had always been him who took the initiative, but this time, as he had asked this request, she needed to take the initiative.
Somehow, she felt like it was wrong, considering their relationship and all, but as Mizuto was the one who requested this kiss first, it shouldn't be a problem, right?
"No-Not here... let's change the place..."
They were on the side of her house entrance, and Yuu felt like she might die of embarrassment if someone saw her kissing him on the street.
Hearing her agreement, Mizuto also didn't hesitate, parking his motorcycle near Yuu's house and then following her to the alley, which was connected to the back area of her house.
Pulling him into the alley, Yuu stopped before she faced him, but staring at his face, she hesitated before she was pulled by him closer, closer as she looked at him shyly before she decided to give up, then kissed his lips.
This wasn't their first kiss, so it was so natural.
She was no longer clumsy, and she responded to him actively, putting her two hands on his chest as she sought his tongue, sucking each other's lips. Still, as she thought that they wouldn't meet each other until the "Golden Week," she sought him further, and her kiss was even stronger than before.
If she didn't need to breathe, she wouldn't be willing to stop, but they stopped several times, then kissing each other again until he stopped since he was afraid that her lips would be swollen.
"Then, I will leave first."
"Um, be careful."
Kissing her forehead, Mizuto left Yuu, which caused her to look at him shyly. Still, he didn't continue to kiss her as he was afraid that he might not be able to go home. He didn't want to break his promise to Yume, especially when he saw the sky almost turn dark.
Yuu didn't enter her house and just stared until she couldn't see him anymore before she touched her lips as she could feel his trace from her thin, small lips.
---
As Mizuto was on his way home, he felt his smartphone vibrate. As he was in his neighborhood, he stopped his motorcycle and just turned it off as he accepted the call since it was from Sonoko.
"Sonoko?"
"Hey, sorry for bothering you. Are you busy?"
Hearing her concerning words, thinking that she had been bothering him, Mizuto smiled and said, "No. I was just thinking of calling you, too, since I miss you."
"Is this how you always deceive your woman~?"
Even if she said that her tone was more lively, and even if they were far apart, Mizuto could see that Sonoko was smiling and laughing. "So, how are you?" He asked how she was, wondering whether she was okay.
Sonoko also asked him about his job and many other things.
As they talked to each other, there was this feeling that he wished to meet her, and Sonoko also thought the same. Nevertheless, he could control this feeling, and he thought this was probably the beauty of the long-distance relationship. As they were unable to meet each other every day, there was no doubt their meetings would be much more satisfying.
If Mizuto made an example, it was like how the food tasted better when one was hungry.
The meeting of two people who were in a long-distance relationship was like that, and they would treat each of their meetings more preciously.
"So, what's wrong?"
"No, it's just that the writer that I have been charged with wishes to discuss her novel with you."
While Mizuto heard the word "her" from her words, he didn't take much interest in this female author, but as Sonoko asked for help, he decided to listen. "Is there something with her novel?"
"Well...."
As Sonoko explained the problem, Mizuto understood that this female author wished to discuss the novel development as her novel might be canceled on the next volume. Still, he didn't agree immediately but asked, "So, do you want me to help her?"
"I do." Sonoko knew that she was being selfish, but she also felt sorry for Utaha. "She is a good girl, and I can see the potential in her writing, but..." Even though she was Utaha's editor, there wasn't much she could do to help with the creation, as everything depended on Utaha's creativity.
As an editor, while she knew her ability well and didn't think that she could help Utaha much, Mizuto was different since she knew how talented he was. Still, she didn't force him since she knew how busy he was.
Mizuto thought for a moment and said, "Can you send me her manuscript to my email? I will give her some advice after the "Golden Week." If she is alright with that, then just tell me."
"Okay."
The two talked for a while before they hung up their call, but before they finished their conversation, Sonoko asked, "By the way, can you take a trip to Tokyo in the middle of May?"
"What's wrong? Do you miss me?"
"I miss you, but you will receive an invitation to the award ceremony. You won first place in the newcomer competition, after all. If you can come, then I will pick you up, then..."
What a tempting invitation... Mizuto struggled for a while, then asked, "Is it on the weekend?"
"Yes."
"Then, let's go."
"Haha..." Sonoko laughed and anticipated his visit to Tokyo.
With that, Mizuto closed his smartphone and entered his house, but Sonoko needed to face Utaha first.
"What's wrong? Why did you look at me that way?" Sonoko looked at Utaha in confusion as Utaha's gaze was quite disturbing. Still, she quickly realized something, so before Utaha said anything, she said, "He told me that he could only discuss your novel development after the "Golden Week." If you are okay with it, I will help you to send your manuscript to his email later."
Utaha looked at Sonoko for a while and asked, "Can I send it myself? You just need to give me his contact information."
Sonoko looked at Utaha for a while, hesitating, then said, "He might not answer you, you know?"
"It's okay. It doesn't matter."
Struggling for a while, Sonoko thought and said, "Let me ask his opinion first."
"Okay."
While Utaha was a bit disappointed as she couldn't get the new author's contact information immediately from Sonoko, she discovered something extraordinary between her editor and the new author.
Nevertheless, Mizuto didn't know those things and just went home. As expected, he was welcomed by Yume, Akatsuki, and Reina, who were waiting for him. Still, why were their expressions a bit weird?
---
I have been thinking about writing a new fanfiction, but then again, I just want to ask: If I write something, what do you want me to write?