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The faint hum of the fluorescent lights in the manga studio echoed through the otherwise silent room. Sitting at his desk, pen poised in hand, was Kaoru Kagami, a self-proclaimed master of the "Abyssal Flame Technique" and mangaka extraordinaire. Or so he liked to think. In reality, Kaoru was furiously sketching the latest chapter of Shadow Empress Ragnarok, his breakout manga that had propelled the pen name Erebus Kyrielight into the limelight.
"By the hand of fate… this panel shall embody the sorrow of ten thousand shattered destinies!" Kaoru muttered under his breath, his dark eyes gleaming with chuunibyo fervor.
Before he could finish his monologue, the sound of the studio door creaking open shattered his concentration. Aya Takahashi entered, her face a mask of cold detachment. She adjusted her glasses with a practiced motion and carried herself with the aura of a battle-hardened editor.
"Let's see the pages.." Aya said, her tone as sharp as the lead Kaoru used to sketch.
Kaoru recoiled slightly, clutching his manuscript as though it were a sacred relic. "You dare gaze upon the forbidden masterpiece without proper reverence?"
Aya's expression didn't change. "You're three days behind schedule. Reverence isn't going to help you meet deadlines."
Kaoru sighed dramatically, flipping the pages toward her. "Very well, mortal. But beware the visions you witness may consume your soul.."
Aya raised an eyebrow, her poker face never faltering. She flipped through the pages with the precision of a surgeon dissecting a patient. Kaoru's heart thudded in his chest as she lingered on one particular panel.
"This angle doesn't work," Aya said flatly, tapping the page. "The anatomy here is awkward, and the emotional impact is missing."
Kaoru gasped, clutching his chest. "You wound me, Takahashi-dono! Can you not feel the anguish of the Shadow Empress as she witnesses her kingdom fall?"
Aya stared at him for a long moment. "No. All I see is bad composition."
Kaoru slumped dramatically in his chair, muttering, "Is this how the heroes of legend felt when betrayed by their allies??"
Aya's lips twitched, but she quickly suppressed the hint of a smile. "You're not a hero, Kagami. You're a mangaka with an editor who's trying to help you." She placed the manuscript down and stood up. "Fix it by tomorrow. And drop the theatrics. We're not in an anime."
As she turned to leave, Kaoru whispered, "
"You say that, but the light in your eyes betrays a secret longing for adventure…"
Aya paused, her back to him. For a brief moment, her cold demeanor cracked, and a tiny blush crept up her cheeks. Without another word, she walked out, leaving Kaoru grinning to himself.
"Another battle survived," he murmured, spinning in his chair. "But Takahashi-dono… you cannot hide your true self from the Abyssal Hand forever." as he raises a hand in "victory"
From the other side of the door, Aya allowed herself a small smile. "Idiot.." she muttered, clutching the manuscript tighter.
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End of Chapter one
As it suddenly stopped
"Kaoru's "Abyssal Flame Technique" references classic over-the-top attack names.." (Narrator)
Sorry for not having a book cover (I can't draw, only writing bad novels) this will be the-
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End of Chapter One.
Bye bye!!