---
Kaoru's apartment was unusually tidy today not because he cleaned it himself, but because Aya had threatened to deduct her editing fee if he didn't at least try to look civilized for their celebration.
Kaoru stood at the center of the room, decked out in a blazer and tie, which he wore over his usual outlandish chuunibyo outfit. His arms were crossed, and his expression was one of exaggerated grandeur. "Ladies and gentleman by which I mean you two I, the Abyssal Lord of Passion, am proud to announce a monumental victory! The Age of Kaoru begins now!"
Aya, seated at the dining table with a small glass of sparkling cider, gave him a tired glare. "Kaoru, sit down. You're going to trip on that ridiculous cape."
Kaoru looked down at the cape he had attached to his blazer complete with embroidered stars and sighed. "You really don't get into the spirit of things, do you, Aya?"
Kaede rolled her eyes as she lounged on the couch, a lollipop in her hand as always. "She's right, Kaoru. You're one clumsy pose away from face-planting into the cake."
Aya glanced at the cake on the table: a perfectly frosted three-tiered masterpiece decorated with figurines of Kaoru's three serialized manga titles Azure Nightfall Chronicles, Shadow Empress Ragnarok, and Blades of Eternity. Each figurine was styled after his protagonists, posed as if ready to leap into action.
Kaoru finally sat down, his chuunibyo energy momentarily subdued. He looked at the cake and grinned. "I still can't believe it. All three of my manga… getting anime adaptations. It feels surreal.."
---
Scene 1 Action!: Reflections and Toasts.
Aya sipped her drink, her usual cold demeanor softening just a bit. "You've worked hard, Kaoru. This didn't just fall into your lap. Remember all those nights you stayed up until dawn revising your drafts? Or when you threw a tantrum over negative reviews?"
Kaoru pouted. "I didn't throw a tantrum. I was simply expressing my artistic anguish!"
Kaede snorted. "Yeah, sure. Artistic anguish. I'm pretty sure you screamed into a pillow for three hours and refused to eat dinner."
Kaoru waved his hand dismissively. "That's irrelevant. What matters is that I persevered. And now, the Abyssal Lord of Passion has conquered the world of manga!"
Aya rolled her eyes but couldn't hide the small smile on her lips. "Fine. I'll give you that. Congratulations, Kaoru."
Kaede leaned forward, her grin mischievous. "And don't forget, Big Bro, I was your first fan. I told you your stories were amazing before anyone else did."
Kaoru chuckled. "True. You were the first to believe in me, Kaede. Even when I was writing those terrible one-shots back in middle school."
Aya raised her glass. "To Kaoru, the chuunibyo mangaka who somehow turned his ridiculous ideas into something people love."
Kaede raised her lollipop like a sword. "To Big bro Kaoru, the Abyssal Lord of Passion!"
Kaoru puffed out his chest and raised his glass. "To me!"
---
Scene 2 Action!: The Romance Manga's Title!
After the toasts, Aya glanced at the stack of papers on Kaoru's desk. "By the way, Kaoru, have you finally decided on a title for your romance manga?"
Kaoru grinned sheepishly. "Actually… yes. I wanted it to be something that reflects the essence of the story. Something timeless and evocative."
Kaede raised an eyebrow. "Okay, Big brother. Let's hear it."
Kaoru took a deep breath and announced, "The title is… Petals Beneath the Moonlight."
Aya blinked in surprise. "That's… actually a really good title."
Kaede nodded reluctantly. "Yeah, for once, you didn't overdo it. No Abyssal Lords or Celestial Bonds. Just a nice, normal title."
Kaoru leaned back in his chair, looking smug. "I told you I could do subtlety."
Aya smirked. "Sure. Subtlety is definitely your strong suit."
---
Special Scene Action!: Last Look.
As the celebration wound down, Kaoru, Aya, and Kaede gathered in the living room for one last toast. Aya, who was usually reserved, looked at Kaoru with a rare, genuine smile.
"You've come a long way, Kaoru. I'm proud of you."
Kaede, pretending to wipe away a tear, teased, "Wow, Aya, you're getting all mushy. Is this what they call character development?"
Aya glared at her. "Don't push your luck."
Kaoru laughed, feeling a warmth in his chest. For all their bickering and chaos, he couldn't imagine celebrating this milestone with anyone else.
He turned to the viewers yes. the viewers and said, "Thank you, everyone, for sticking with us through Volume One. It's been a wild ride, hasn't it? But this is just the beginning!"
Kaede grinned and waved at the invisible audience. "Thanks for putting up with my dumb brother! See you in Volume Two!!"
Aya adjusted her glasses and gave a small, almost shy wave. "Thank you for reading."
The Narrator chimed in: "And so, our story comes to a close… for now. But don't worry Kaoru, Aya, Kaede, and the rest of the gang will return in Volume Two. Until then, thank you for your support, and we'll see you next time!"
The screen faded to black as Kaoru, Aya, and Kaede shared a laugh, their silhouettes illuminated by the warm glow of the apartment.
As the Narrator closes the book, waiting for The next volume, as he sheds a tear in amusement
"Jolly Good Show.."
---
End Of Chapter Thirteen.
(Thanks for 2k views. Some authors may consider it small but for me it's really big,
Thank you all for reading my novel, I'll be getting a break for now. we'll see you next time!)
Final Notes:
This chapter ties together the themes of comedy, slice of life, and heartfelt moments that have defined the volume. The anime references, such as Kaoru's dramatic poses reminiscent of classic shounen protagonists! and the celebratory cake styled like iconic anime merch, The introduction of Petals Beneath the Moonlight signals a new creative chapter for Kaoru, setting the stage for future developments.
Final Reminder:
(All Credits of References I've made/did are to the authors who made these amazing mangas, light novels, shows, heck everything.)