Track 6

If we’re talking about Master Artist Kiroku’s goated artwork, then we gotta go with something ultra flashy, bling bling, majestically blinding for the cover!

How does the Totally-Not-Sus Sparkling Gold Foil Stamp Set sound? If we go with that, I might be able to design something completely cracked for the cover!!

And how much do you think that costs exactly? Care to look at the price, hm?

Like, I said I wanted something more tender, not flashy for the cover, so it’s definitely not getting approved if you don’t give me what I want. Then again, I don’t really know if you really have it in you to pull something like that off.

I guess I’ll start by watching this tutorial. “Start Writing!! Online Writing Course: How to destroy the literary scene”…

Uu-chan, you should fix your posture. It is better to sit with your back straight when watching videos…

Ushio! I heard you’re taking shifts even on days when I’m not on set. The cameraman was really happy about it!

…Something came up recently.

Hmmm? There’s two copies of this volume.

Did you, buy it… by mistake?

Physical books aren’t cheap, though. I can understand if it’s about collecting analog media, but still…

(I can’t tell them I bought 3 copies of everything ‘cause I was trying to get the bonus.)¹

I thought I’d gotten a lot of writing done yesterday, but I ended up only typing out 400 words…

That is around a page, I believe. Rome was not built in a day, as they say.

How about this? Does it look better if I hold the plate like this?

Yeah… Just hold that… for a bit.

(I never thought that the practice I did for the Night Cruise would come in handy here.)

…Hehe, looks like the kids are working really hard.

It brings me much joy to see that they are savoring their youth to the fullest. Perhaps we will cross paths someday on the sacred grounds of the convention.

? S-Sacred grounds…?

The late-night onigiri Muu-chan made for us is literally a godsend. He always uses too much power and crams too much rice in, but that makes it all the more filling.

Nanamegi’s coffee… is also, delicious…

…I guess. Alright then, time to lock in again.

Al, right…

(I’ve gotten the hang of drawing the PatiBattle characters and managed to come up with some concepts for the cover illustration…)

(But I’m not sure which one looks the best…)

You’re the one who drew it, yet you don’t know which one’s the BEST?

(It’s because I haven’t read the novel that Kurama’s writing, so I don’t know what kind of story it is…)

Then, you gotta hear Mister Ushio’s opinions, yo!

(Um, even if you say that…)

How does Shouta refer to people in second person again…? Lemme check the manga…

Kurama appears tasked with many duties. Yet he remains fully devoted to accomplishing them.

Well if you’re dooone, can we go to sleeeeep?

But if you leave… the sketches heres… then someone will… probably take a peeks… Zzz…

…

(I wonder if I'll be able to meet Kurama’s expectations with this drawing…)

(It’s hard not to doubt myself when I don’t know whether I’ve drawn exactly what they want or not…)

(...I’ll just take a quick break and read this week’s PatiBattle chapter…)

…I really don’t get why people keep saying he’s fallen to the dark side in this scene.

Uwah?!

(That scared me… Was he reading from behind?)

What do you, mean… by that?

Like, I’m thinking about it right now…

…

…And, he’s just not that type of person. He’s not someone who would suddenly abandon his friends and switch sides.

(Because he’s the one that taught me that “it’s okay to give it your all”—)

Up until his reappearance, Reito… went on a journey by himself, leaving behind both the school and his chocolates… I’m sure he came back because he found what he was looking for.

There must be a reason behind his actions up until now… Like there has to be a reason why he’s betraying everyone, why he disappeared, he just hasn’t said it yet—

…

But… if he has a reason, then…

…

(Talking to Kurama about his novel might help me figure out what to draw for the cover…)

(If I don’t speak up about it, then I won’t be able to understand…)

(What kind of novel it is, or what sort of cover it should have… If he could just tell me—if only I could just ask, then everything would be sorted out right away.)

…Sorry.

For what exactly?

Nothing… I was blurting things, out…

…I mean, you’re free to say what you want.

……If he has a reason. Even if he has his reasons…

Oh… I get it. Maybe…

(Looks like Kurama figured something out…)

(He didn’t tell me what it is… but he’s writing with everything he’s got.)

I’ve had a lot of thoughts going through my head about the recent PatiBattle development, and jotting them down and turning them into a doujinshi seemed like a good idea, so…

Ah…

(I see… So Kurama’s also writing to express his thoughts.)

Then… maybe Reito, might…

What?

The reason… Reito isn’t saying anything, is probably because… he doesn’t have, the confidence to… explain himself, properly…

…

(I also… find it hard to explain myself with words.)

(But I can express myself through my drawings…)

Yeah. A world filled with diverse sounds, constantly overflowing with vividness.

At least, that’s how I hear it.

(So it might also be the case with Reito…)

… Reito might… also be able to explain, his reasons better… through his chocolates…

……

So you do get it.

…

…Kurama.

(Right… Our feelings don't always need words to reach others.)

(The desserts that Kurama makes are always delicious. It’s the same thing for my drawings, Kurama’s desserts, Reito’s battles, and even this novel—this doujinshi.)

Here’s a… rough sketch, of the cover. It’s just, a draft, but…

(We pull all-nighters and wrack our brains, immersing ourselves to the point of death into our craft…)

(Because these are the words we use to express our feelings.)

Please take a look.