I am Masato Keita, 29 years old, currently working as a professional novelist. Favorite things: writing novels, reading books and cats. Things that I hate: human beings. Yes, that’s right, there is a person who really hates other humans, especially having any type of physical contact with them. I prefer the company of books and animals instead.
It might not help you understand this odd personality of mine, but I’ll tell you a little bit about myself.
As I was growing up, I had a pretty normal family. My parents were kind and lively and my little sister always stuck close to me like a sticky rice cake.
Probably because of the warm and healthy environment I grew up in, when I was young, I used to have a very cheerful disposition and I had lots of friends. I enjoyed sports and being active more than studying. So far, it’s a pretty common story, isn’t it?
Then, when I was in my second year of middle school, I got into a car accident and my life changed. After almost a year of being in a coma the doctors had almost given up hope on my recovery. However, I suddenly opened my eyes and discovered that I had gained a very strange ability. Whenever I would touch someone, I could hear that person’s thoughts. It might sound miraculous and amazing to anyone else, but for me this was nothing short of a curse. Because as soon as I knew what people around me were really thinking, I became disillusioned with the world. So many people fake their feelings, posing as something they are not, greedily trying to feign honesty. It disgusted me.
Therefore, I began withdrawing more and more into my own world. Family, friends… I isolated myself from everyone. I surrounded myself with books and, thus, I discovered the pleasure of reading. Soon, I wanted to create something myself and wrote my first short story. I was happy like that. The quietude and peace of mind that being alone gave me was undoubtedly a source of happiness for me.
It had been difficult to make people understand my reticence and antisocial behavior, especially the publishing company I began working with. But, luckily, they agreed to let me do it in my own way and accommodated me as much as possible. I would work at home, sending the drafts online, and whenever something needed reviewing or discussed personally, they would have an editor come to my house for a short meeting. A life with just books and my cat, Fukuharu, that was bliss.
Everything had been going smoothly, until… Until he came along and smashed my perfect life into smithereens.
The he I am talking about is of course my new editor, Kurosawa Rintarou, 28 years old and with a personality as that of a middle schooler. Whenever he comes over, he is always smiling and grinning like an idiot, or talking about something or other like we’re best friends. Honestly, I can’t seem to understand this person at all! How can he be so noisy and hyped all the time?! Doesn’t he ever get tired?
He makes me so vexed that I often find myself imagining things like smashing a flower pot over his head, or tying him up and sending him to the south pole to freeze to death. Indeed, I am thankful for this thing called imagination. This way I can kill or hurt him however much I want in my head and get away with it.
But, to my frustration, my cat seems to tolerate him pretty well. Considering how it seemed to dislike humans (apart from me, of course!) as much as I do, you can imagine how astonished I was when I saw it so accepting of this big buffoon. The reason for this acceptance, though?
The first time Kurosawa-san came to see me he had brought cat snacks. Apparently, the people at the company told him I own a cat and he came prepared. Yes, that’s right! My usually stubborn, aloof and antisocial cat had been won over with such a bribe! Well, I guess the survival instinct is something natural, whether we are humans or animals, but still… Have some pride you shameful cat, will you! It’s not like I’ve been starving you. Well, anyway, there is nothing I can do about it now.
It’s already been a month since we started working together, but I still remember that day when it all began as clearly as if it were yesterday.
I had been writing the entire night and that morning I was tired and in dire need of sleep. Just as I was about to meet the God of Sleep, my stupid phone began to ring like an alarm from hell. I groped around and finally managed to pick up the call, ready to yell my lungs out at the person who dared to disturb me at such an important time. But, before I got a chance to blow my top off, the person on the other side of the phone chirped loudly in my ears.
“Keita-chan! Keita-chan! How are you? I hope I am not disturbing you.”
“Kota-san, if you’re hoping for that, perhaps you shouldn’t have called at 6 in the morning when you knew I had a deadline and had to work through the night.” I grumbled, rubbing my eyes vigorously.
This obnoxious person, who has a bad habit of calling people too early in the morning, is Kota Subaru. He is the Chief Editor at Suzumori Publishing, and also someone who I call a friend… Barely. We were in the same major at college and, though he is two years my senior, he’s the only person who stuck close to me even after we graduated. Mainly, he is the one considering me his friend. I only reluctantly allowed it.
Knowing that there was no way to get rid of this pest so easily, I sat up and got ready to talk business.
“So, why are you calling me so early in the morning?”
“You’re so cold, Keita-chan. Can’t you be nicer to me~~~?”
“Ugh, how many times have I told you not to call me Keita-chan? And stop with that girly tone. It’s creeping me out.” I stopped for a yawn. “Now tell me what business you have with me so I can go back to do my own.”
“Oh? What were you doing? Writing? Reading? Playing with little Fukuharu? Or perhaps being in a daze imagining the entire world burning?”
“The only one I would imagine burning right now would be you, Kota-san. Can’t you just get down to business quickly so I can go back to sleep? I’ve written a hundred good pages last night, making up for more than half a manuscript, and I am really spent.”
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
“Cwjhlcu! Cr fzqfmafv bo ws Bflaj-mtjc.” Bbaj-rjc rbecvfv qglvfoei, atfc rtloafv ab j ubrrlqfg abcf. “Vb, ktja yerlcfrr kfgf sbe jybea ab jaafcv? P’w gfjiis meglber ab xcbk.”
“P kjr pera jybea ab tjnf j wffalcu klat rbwfbcf.” P ugewyifv lcab atf qtbcf.
“Yt? C wffalcu? Qlat ktbw? Vbwfbcf P xcbk?”
“The God of Sleep. I’m sure you know him as well. Now, talk quickly because he is waiting for me.”
“Pffft, hahaha!” Kota-san chuckled. “You’re so cute Keita-chan. No worries, this God of yours has been waiting for thousands of years. I’m sure he can wait for a few minutes longer.”
Hearing his derisive tone almost made me throw my phone in anger. Just as I was about to start expressing my overflowing killing intent, I heard Kota-san use a more serious tone.
“The reason I called for you this early is because I have big news for you.”
“Big news?” I asked, letting go of my previous vexation. He rarely got so serious.
“Yes. My superiors said they liked the style of your latest story and they wished to promote it further. They have also received an offer to make it into a movie next year so they wanted me to ask for your opinion.”
“A movie? But wouldn’t the budget for such a movie be too much? It is a historical fiction after all, with lots of action scenes, fancy costumes and whatnot. What company can finance such a large production?”
“You don’t need to worry about that. As the author of the original story, they want to know if they have your approval to discuss it further. Once the details have been established, you’ll be asked to come for a meeting with that company’s representatives.”
“Alright. I don’t like troublesome things, though, so I’ll leave it in your care. As for a movie being made… You have my approval.”
I tried to sound cool and disinterested but in reality, I was happily squealing inside. Having a movie made after a story I worked hard to bring to life is a wish come true for any novelist; or at least that was the case for me. The setting of the story is ancient China so there are a lot of things to be taken into consideration when choosing the locations, backgrounds, venues used for indoor filming, as well as clothes and accessories. It is not easy bringing to life such a scenery, but I would really love to see my story on the big screen.
“If that’s everything, then I’ll excuse myself. Have a nice…” But before I managed to finish my sentence, Kota-san interrupted me in a flutter.
“Wait! Wait, Keita-chan! I still have more to say. Uhm…you see… Something happened here at the company. Some… Changes…”
“Eh? Changes?”
I had a nagging feeling at the back of my mind that I wouldn’t like Kota-san’s next words. He only fumbled with his words like this when he had to say something unpleasant.
“Well… You know, Haruka-chan she… Well, she… Uhm, she kind of…”
“Kind of what? Spit it out Kota-san or I swear I’ll find a way to strangle you through the phone.” I threw at him through gritted teeth. This fumbling and stuttering were making my nerves tense up like a bowstring. It gave me a very unpleasant feeling.
“She got… Married?” Kota-san spoke in a low voice, almost like a whisper.
“Kota-san, are you asking me or telling me?”
“Telling you. Of course, I’m telling you!”
“Then why say it in a questioning tone?”
“Well, I was afraid of you blowing your top at me.”
“It’s not too late for that to happen, you know. But why would I get mad at you? Send her my congratulations.”
Certainly, I may not like human relations too much and prefer to keep my distance, but I can understand how others might want to be together with someone else. Therefore, for a bright and beautiful woman like Haruka-san to get married must be a joyous occasion.
“Then, you’re not angry?” Kota-san asked with an obvious tone of relief. “Aaaah, I’m so relieved. I was sure you’d chew me out like a dog biting on a bone.”
“Hey! Who are you calling a dog?! Though, you kind of look like a bone, white skinned and scrawny.”
Why am I being so chatty with him this morning? Even spewing up nonsense like this. Something must be wrong with me. I should hang up soon and get back to sleep or else I won’t be able to rest until late into the night. A moment later, I heard Kota-san’s cheery voice sounding from the other side of the phone.
“Then let me tell you about the new editor who’s going to take care of you from now on.”
“Eh?” I blinked quietly before the information got assimilated by my tired brain. “Eeeeeeh?!” I finally screeched like a mad banshee.
What did he just say?! New editor?! What’s going on here?
“Kota-san, perhaps I might have heard you wrong. Did you just say new editor?”
“Well yes, of course. Since Haruka-chan has gotten married she will be quitting her job. Apparently, her husband is a rich businessman and his company is located in a different city. So, she’ll be moving there with him. Quitting the company is only logical in this situation.”
“Logical?! There is nothing logical about it! What about me?!” I yelled, panic starting to swell inside my chest. I had barely gotten used to Haruka-san’s visits. Having to get used to someone else and so suddenly too… Impossible.
“There is nothing to worry about, Keita-chan. We have already chosen a new editor for you. It’s a new person, young and high-spirited. I heard he transferred here recently and everyone has been praising him for his professionalism.”
“I don’t care about his professionalism or that he is young and high-spirited!” I snapped. “In fact, I don’t like high-spirited people! I don’t like people, period!”
“Now now, stop being so childish, Keita-chan. Your stories all have such beautiful people in them. How can you say you hate people but at the same time create such amazing ones on paper?”
“What does that have to do with anything?! I can write whatever I want and still hate real-life ones.” I huffed, more out of spite than anything.
I already knew that throwing a tantrum was futile. If the publishing company had already decided on a replacement for Haruka-san then there was nothing for me to do than to accept. They have already shown me enough goodwill by having the Chief editor personally call me. And besides, whatever I might say, I would still need an editor to work with for my next book.
“Ok, ok.” Kota-san said in a coaxing tone. “You write beautifully so keep up the good work. As for the rest, you can like or hate whomever you wish, but just remember not to scare the newbie too much. We want to have him for a long time in the company. I’ll let you rest now.” Kota-san laughed then hung up.
A few minutes later I received a message from Kota-san, telling me that my new editor’s name is Kurosawa Rintarou and that he’d come for a first meeting that day during lunch time.
And so, Kurosawa-san arrived on time, a wide and sparkling smile plastered on his face.
“Hello! My name is Kurosawa Rintarou and I’ll be your new editor. Please take care of me.”
“That should be my line.” I grumbled, closing my eyes hoping that this person would just vanish in thin air by the time I open them again.
Unfortunately, he didn’t. He just kept staring at me with that idiotic smile on his face, his posture straight, making his dark colored costume appear more formal. Nevertheless, I had to grudgingly admit that he wasn’t that ugly. He had pleasant features, sword-shaped eyebrows, straight nose and full lips. In short, he was a handsome person. Not that I cared much, but at least he wasn’t unpleasant to the eye.
Since he came all the way here, all I could do was to let him inside.
“Ugh, what a headache.” I sighed, rubbing my forehead. It really was an annoying situation.
“Headache?” I heard him asking. “Ah!” He yelled a second later so loudly that made both me and my cat jump up in fright. “If it’s a headache I think I might have something that could help.” He kept muttering to himself while rummaging through his briefcase.
Finally, after a long wrestle with the things inside his briefcase, Kurosawa-san pulled out and handed me a bottle of pills. When I saw it, I felt the sudden urge to take the pills and hurl them back to his face. The reason I was even having a headache in the first place was his presence. No pill could help me with that! What I did in the end, though, was to take the bottle and give a polite ‘thank you’.
“You’re welcome! I’m glad I could help.” He replied simply.
Reaching up to this point, I still haven’t mentioned the thing that makes me dislike this person even more.
When I took the bottle from his hand, our fingers touched for one short moment and something astonishing happened. I couldn’t hear anything! I stared at this person’s face trying to perceive something, anything about his real thoughts. His earnest gaze, that open smile, his entire expression was oozing with vitality and cheeriness, but I could hear nothing from his inner voice. Could it be that there is a person on this earth who doesn’t like to blabber to himself? Or perhaps the reason why I can’t hear his thoughts is that he doesn’t have anything to hide?
No, no, no! That’s impossible! I have yet to meet someone like that and I don’t want to believe that this person is that special. Someone who carries his heart on his sleeve or something like that, it’s too shocking. If that was indeed the case, it would make him a rare kind of endangered species, that should be taken to a special zoo and protected.
Kurosawa-san’s upbeat voice swiftly pulled me out of my reverie.
“I heard from Kota-san that you used to have another editor until quite recently.”
“Uhm, yes, Haruka-san.”
“Ah, the one who just got married, right?” Kurosawa-san nodded. “Yes, I heard my colleagues talking about her. And today I…”
“Alright, I think that’s enough chit-chat.” I interrupted what seemed like a useless conversation. “We should start talking about the new manuscript.”
“Ah, yes, yes of course! I apologize. I got carried away.” Kurosawa-san smiled awkwardly. He scratched the back of his head, maintaining his smile but looking quite deflated.
After that first meeting, Kurosawa-san kept visiting me once or twice a week. I tried explaining to him that as an editor he didn’t have to come by so often, that I would send him a message when I had the next piece completed and that should be enough. But, for some strange reason, Kurosawa-san kept on coming, especially during lunchtime.
Today as well, he arrived at 12 p.m. carrying with him two large bento boxes and a bag of cat treats.
“Masato-sensei, I noticed that you don’t eat properly.” Kurosawa-san said while unpacking the bentos. “The most important meal of the day is lunch, you know.”
“I thought that was breakfast.” I grumbled, leaning against the wall and watching him struggle with the bags. I had no inclination of helping whatsoever. You brought them here, you deal with them.
“I assumed that for people like you who work late into the night the first meal would be sometime around noon, therefore, lunch would become the most important meal of the day.”
“What stupid logic is that?”
“Hey! It’s not stupid. Besides, having instant noodles every day is bad for your body. Now come here and eat!”
When did he get this bossy with me? We’ve known each other for a month at most, so isn’t it too early to talk to me like we’re close? And why is my cat listening to him?! The moment it saw the bag of treats it got conquered by the lust for food. How very shameful!
But I have to admit, the food does smell quite nice and I am feeling a tad bit hungry. Since I undeniably skipped breakfast, my stomach began to grumble and make weird noises. I guess I’m also being won over with food, bit by bit.
Well, first things first! Thank you minna for being here with me! I really hope you will enjoy this sweet short story. I am looking forward to reading your feedback ^^
Secondly, the good news! I will be posting the second chapter as well. As a thank you for all of you who are here 💕
Happy reading!
Why does this MC feel so familiar 🤔
Oh wait, now I remember, he’s like me and most writers I know!
I’m liking this novel already!!! Jiayou!
Mhm, I’m guilty of the same things myself 😄
I am very happy you like it already! I’m looking forward to reading your comments and feedback! Arigatou!!! 😁
bows plz continue enlightening us to your imagination author-sama
Haaai! Gambarimasu! 😆
ooh, this reminds me of Cherry Magic..
thanks for the chapter! <3
Oooh I loved that drama!!! But yes, I have to admit that deep down my inspiration came from the writer friend 🤭 But I wanted my Keita to be a bit… well cooler and aloof, I guess? 😅
Thanks as well for being here! Hope you’ll enjoy the story! <3
The MC has the same personality type with the anime My Roommate is a Cat.
Hahaha very fluffy~
Really? I have that anime on my ‘to watch’ list but didn’t get a chance to watch it yet. But even so, I am happy you think that ^.^
<333
It good and really funny because there is also the cat POV (´ω｀)
Then I really must watch it! Thanks a lot for the information <333
<3
The MC kinda resembles me lmao I also find people noisy and like to read~~
Thank you for the chapter 💜💜💜
Glad to know his personality resonates with you ^.^
Thanks for giving this a try! 💜💜💜
I think Rintarou-chan has a great affinity with stubborn cats and tsunderes, because he managed to tame the small cat and the MC cat so quickly.
Rintarou reminds me of those guys in sports anime who are super expressive and their smile shines brighter than the sun.
Mhm he is the type of dog who actually likes cats XD
Oh my gosh yes! That’s exactly how I imagined him to be! You described him perfectly. If I think about it, I actually thought of him as having been the type of person who liked both books and did well in sports as well.
😄