One-Shot Romance Short Story Collection [Rerekoi] 7. Progress 817

One-Shot Romance Short Story Collection [Rerekoi]

Prequel⤵️

※Although these are one-shots, I use the same header image for related chapters, so please use them as a reference.

Chapter 7: Progress

RerekoHello, Mr. Iwasaki.
I'm sorry for always keeping you waiting.

IwasakiHello, Rereko-san.
You're wearing a cute dress today.
Oh, would that count as sexual harassment?

RerekoIt's fine if it's you, Mr. Iwasaki.
But this dress isn't suitable for a date.

IwasakiHuh??

RerekoNo, it's nothing.
Please don't worry about it...

IwasakiHere you go, it's a soy latte and a cinnamon roll again.

RerekoThank you.
I'm happy you remembered.

IwasakiIf you'd like something else, please let me know and I'll add it.

RerekoAnything Mr. Iwasaki chooses is fine by me...

IwasakiEh??

RerekoNo, no...
Um, this is the sixth draft.
The previous ones were relatively serious, so I thought I'd make this one a bit lighter, but would it have been better not to change the taste?

IwasakiIt's fine.
It's your space, Rereko-san, so feel free to experiment.
If you'd like, shall we ask someone else for the illustrations?
There are people who specialize in pop styles, you know.

RerekoThen, I think I'll have you read it, Mr. Iwasaki, and ask someone who fits the image to do the illustrations.

IwasakiAre you sure you want me to choose?

RerekoI-I-I said, anything Mr. Iwasaki chooses is fine, hehe.

Iwasaki“Huh?!”

Rereko“It’s nothing.”

Iwasaki“I seem to be hearing things today.”

Rereko“You’re not hearing things.”

Iwasaki“Huh?!”

Rereko“I didn’t say anything, though...”

Iwasaki“That’s strange. I feel a bit off.”

Rereko“It’s lovely...”

Iwasaki“Huh?!”

Rereko“Nothing...”

Iwasaki“That’s strange...”
“(Pulling himself together) Anyway, right now, both the title and the pen name have ‘(provisional)’ attached to them, don’t they? Shouldn’t we decide on the real ones soon? I know we can’t help it for the April, May, and June issues that are already published, though.”

Rereko“I’m actually quite fond of both ‘Rerekoi (provisional)’ and ‘Rereko (provisional)’.”

Iwasaki“We can’t keep them as ‘provisional’ forever, can we?”

Rereko“Then, how about Iwasaki Rereko?”

Iwasaki“No, no, that’s my name, you know.”

Rereko“I don’t mind it, though.”

Iwasaki“I, on the other hand, don’t think that’s very good.”

Rereko“Why is that? Could it be that you, Mr. Iwasaki, are... ha...”

Iwasaki“W-w-wait, Rereko-san. Please don’t start crying here.”

Rereko“Then, do you... like me?”

Iwasaki“Hey, Rereko-cha... wait, Rereko-san.”

Rereko“You just called me Rereko-chan!!”

Iwasaki“I did not. Rereko-san, please listen. I am your editor. I couldn't do my job if I disliked you.”

Rereko“So, you like me?!”

Iwasaki“...”
“(Regaining his composure) If you start using the same surname as your editor halfway through, people in the editorial department will start getting suspicious.”

Rereko“I don't mind, though.”

Iwasaki“It makes it hard for me to work if people start digging into things that aren't there.”

Rereko“So to you, Iwasaki-san, I'm just 'nothing there'...”

Iwasaki“Please, spare me the tears here.”

Rereko“Where would be okay then? At your place, Iwasaki-san?”

Iwasaki“What shall we do about the pen name and the title?”

Rereko“Oh, you're changing the subject.”

Iwasaki“It's work. If we decide now, we'll make it in time for the 4th issue.”

Rereko“You like flowers and nature, right? I thought of Nohara Rereko, but that's the same surname as a famous anime character. Maybe something with flowers, fields, mountains, or blooming, rather than waterside.”

Iwasaki“Noyama Rereko sounds like 'let the future take care of itself' (ato wa no to nare yama to nare).”

Rereko“Oh, Autumn!!”

Iwasaki“Autumn? Why so suddenly?”

Rereko“Well, you know, I have hay fever.”

Iwasaki“No, I didn't know that.”

Rereko“That's why I like autumn better than spring. Iwasaki-san, do you like autumn?”

IwasakiWell, I do like it. There are many delicious things, after all.
There are many delicious things, after all.

RerekoRight? I'm glad you like it, Iwasaki-san!!
My late father's name also had 'Aki' (autumn) in it.
Don't you think that's perfect?

IwasakiI don't really understand what you mean by 'perfect'.

RerekoFlowers, plains, and fields are all in the middle of the alphabet or the Japanese syllabary, aren't they?
But 'Aki' is 'A' in both!
aiko, AI, and Ayaka are all 'A'.
Iwasaki-san, do you like |Alexandros|?

IwasakiWell, I do like them.
You're even more abrupt than usual today, Rereko-san.

RerekoAlexandros, you see, used to be |Champagne|.
But they changed their name, so they became 'A'.

IwasakiI see.
So, what will you do with 'Aki'...?

RerekoAkizaki?

IwasakiIsn't that hard to say?
Whether it's Akisaki or Akizaki.
If you're thinking of the 'saki' from Iwasaki, please stay away.

RerekoHow did you know?
Well, it does look a bit jagged, doesn't it?
And Akita sounds like 'I'm tired of it' (akita), so I don't like that.
Autumn is the season of harvest, isn't it?
Autumn rice, autumn chestnuts, autumn potatoes, autumn pears, autumn apples, autumn grapes...

IwasakiHarvest, huh...
How about |Akizane|?
Akizane Rereko, doesn't that sound good?

RerekoI'm so... touched... that you're my godfather.
I'll follow you for the rest of my life!!

IwasakiHuh??
By the way, don't you need to check the stroke count?
You know, like name divination.

RerekoI love it so much.
Nothing can beat a name given by you, Iwasaki-san!!

IwasakiThen, from issue 4, we'll go with 'Akizane Rereko' instead of 'Rereko (provisional)'.

RerekoIwasaki-san...

IwasakiHmm?

RerekoI'm sorry I'm no longer Iwasaki Rereko...

IwasakiEh??

RerekoSniff, sniff...

Iwasaki "Rere-cha... Rereko-san, please don't cry here."

Rereko "*Sniff*, you just called me Rere-chan!!"

Iwasaki "I told you, I didn't..."

The dress Iwasaki-san complimented⤵️

Afterstory⤵️

*****************

#noteFestival #Purin-sama ⤵️

#Novel #Short #Progress #PenName #Editor #Cafe #aiko #AI #Ayaka #Alexandros #Champagne #Rerekoi #AkizaneRereko #AkizaneRereko #Depression #Unemployed #Unemployment #RomanceNovelCategory Day 597