Crossover Anime: I'm Kasumigaoka Utaha's Brother

Page 12

"Written by Shizuko Kasumi, illustrated by Eri Kashiwagi? Okay, I'll remember that!"

Chapter 0034 My First Meeting with Kato Megumi! (First Update, Please Add to Favorites and Receive Flowers)

"Bai Li-kun, have you watched this round of the 'This Light Novel is Amazing!' contest?"

The next morning, while still half asleep, Baili Xiao received a phone call from Machida Sonoko, and could clearly hear the excitement in her voice.

"No, I've been busy with the second and third volumes of '5 Centimeters Per Second' lately and haven't had much contact with information online." Baili Xiao yawned, got up, and headed towards the washroom: "What happened?"

"【5 Centimeters Per Second】is currently in first place, with a lead of more than double that of second place!" Machida Sonoko paused, then smiled somewhat sheepishly, "While you involved are completely unconcerned and busy with other things, we bystanders have been excitedly up all night..."

"Didn't sleep all night?" Baili Xiao was somewhat surprised. "It's just a vote, you don't need to treat it like this, do you?"

“Don’t underestimate the 'This Light Novel is Amazing!' rankings every quarter. You know, any light novel that gets recommended by it always experiences an explosive increase in readers after the voting results are released!” Machida Sonoko sighed, and continued with some satisfaction, “Shinazugawa Bunko has published quite a few light novels, and this is only the first time it has appeared in the 'This Light Novel is Amazing!' rankings, and it immediately became number one... Wow, thinking about it now, it feels like a dream.”

Upon hearing Machida Sonoko's words, Baili Xiao didn't know what her expression was, but judging from her expression, it was probably similar to "being infatuated with a girl".

"If we can maintain this momentum and take first place, the sales of '5 Centimeters Per Second' will definitely break Shinazugawa Bunko's record! Then..."

Machida Sonoko on the other end of the phone became more and more excited as she spoke. Baili Xiao rubbed his eyes helplessly. He had been teaching Kasumigaoka Utaha and the other two until the early hours of the morning, and now was the time when he was most sleepy. He didn't have the time to listen to her describe the future.

"Miss Sonoko, if there's nothing else, I think I should go take a nap. After all, my condition directly affects the production of the second volume, is that alright?"

"Huh? Ah, okay, okay, sorry for bothering you." Machida Sonoko naturally heard Hyakuri Akira's continuous yawns on the phone, and hurriedly apologized before hanging up.

"Finally, I can get some sleep..." Baili Xiao's mutterings were cut short when a clear ringtone sounded from the entrance downstairs: "Ding-dong!"

With her eyebrows slightly raised and the corners of her mouth twitching involuntarily, Baili Xiao finally couldn't take it anymore and went downstairs: "It'd better not be something like the morning newspaper, otherwise, I'm really going to lose my temper today!"

"Excuse me, is this Kasumigaoka-senpai's house?"

The door opened, and what came into Baili Xiao's view was a girl wearing the Toyosaki Academy uniform. Her hair was tied into a simple ponytail at the back of her head, and her fair face possessed a beauty that was no less than that of Kasumigaoka and others. Her brown eyes looked at Baili Xiao with a hint of doubt.

Her gaze swept over Baili Xiao's pajamas for a moment, then she took a slight step back with her right foot. "Excuse me, I think I've come to the wrong place. Oh, by the way, do you know where the Kasumigaoka family residence is? I heard it's around here..."

Baili Xiao narrowed his eyes slightly, frowned as he looked at the girl in front of him, and asked with a hint of something in his mind, "Who are you?"

"Ah, I'm Kato Megumi, a classmate of Kasumigaoka-senpai. I've come here on the request of our teacher, hoping to discuss some things with you." Kato Megumi bowed slightly. "I apologize for knocking on your door so abruptly, since it has the words 'Kasumigaoka' written on it."

Sure enough, I was wondering why I felt so familiar. It really is Megumi Kato... Baili Xiao thought to himself, his gaze lingering on Megumi Kato a few more times.

Unlike in the anime, Kato Megumi at this time is still that ordinary girl with a ponytail (when she lets her hair down, it is long and flowing, not short and ear-length), and she presents a sense of "realism" without being influenced by any two-dimensional fan works.

Bai Lixiao withdrew his gaze and shrugged: "This is indeed the Kasumigaoka family home. I am Shi Yu's older brother, Bai Lixiao. If you don't mind, please come in and have a seat."

"Hmm?" Upon hearing the word "brother," Kato Megumi couldn't help but recall Kasumigaoka Utaha's domineering words at the opening ceremony. The corners of her mouth couldn't help but curl up, but she quickly hid it again: "So you're Kasumigaoka-senpai's brother. Well then, excuse me."

"Make yourself at home, don't be shy." Baili Xiao said as she poured juice for Kato Megumi and casually asked, "What brings you here this time?"

"Thank you." Kato Megumi accepted the juice and thanked her, then looked troubled. "Hyakuri-kun, I'm so sorry, I can't tell you about the thing the school asked me to do in private. I hope... I can tell you after I see Kasumigaoka-senpai, okay?"

“Of course.” Baili Xiao pursed his lips: “But you may have to wait a while. Shi Yu went to bed very late last night, so the chances of her waking up before ten o’clock are probably very small.”

"Hmm, it's alright." Kato Megumi picked up the juice, took a sip with her pale red lips, and quickly scanned the living room before finally settling on the sofa not far away.

There, the first volume of 【5 Centimeters Per Second】 was opened, and it happened to be the illustration of "two people standing in the cherry blossom rain under a cherry blossom tree looking at each other" - that was the example I used as a reference when I went out to sea last night to learn Eriri's drawing method.

【5 Seconds】? Kato Megumi tilted her head slightly, a look of doubt appearing in her eyes.

These past few days, I've often heard students at school discussing topics like "5 seconds something". Kato Megumi originally thought it was a game or a sport, but now it seems it's actually a book.

"Um, may I take a look at this book?" Kato Megumi gestured to Baili Xiao, who gave an affirmative answer.

She picked up the first volume of "5 Centimeters Per Second" and was immediately captivated by the words as she turned to the first page.

Chapter 0035 The School's Negotiator: Kato Megumi! (First update, please add to your favorites and give flowers)

Seeing Kato Megumi's eyes grow increasingly focused, and her fingertips tracing the pages of the book slower and slower, Baili Xiao couldn't help but smile.

For a moment, the only sounds in the quiet living room were the two people's faint breathing and the rustling of pages turning; everything seemed so harmonious and peaceful.

Until... the sound of slippers clattering came from upstairs.

"Good morning, Professor Hyakusei..." Before Hashima could finish his "hello" greeting, he noticed Kato Megumi's presence and froze on the spot.

Not only her, but Eriri and Kasumigaoka Utaha behind her were also stunned, and then their faces quickly turned ashen.

"Shouldn't you explain why you were in your pajamas in front of a strange woman?" Kasumigaoka Utaha frowned slightly, her tone low but the coldness in her voice was obvious.

"Shh!" Baili Xiao gestured to Kato Megumi, who was still engrossed in her book, "Let her finish reading first."

"#!" Kasumigaoka Utaha clenched her fists, took a few deep breaths to calm herself down, glared at Hyakuri Xiao, and sat down on the other side of the sofa without saying a word.

Eriri and Hashima exchanged a glance, simultaneously sensing the unusually tense atmosphere in the living room. They couldn't help but swallow hard, then obediently huddled together, maintaining a respectful distance from everyone.

Time passed second by second, and fewer and fewer pages remained unread. Finally, the words "Volume One Complete" came into Kato Megumi's eyes.

"Phew." Kato Megumi let out a deep breath, only then realizing that she had been so engrossed in reading that she was afraid to breathe too deeply: "So this is [5 Centimeters Per Second]? No wonder everyone at school, boys and girls alike, loves discussing it. It really is a very good book... Hey? Kasumigaoka-senpai? And Sawamura-kun? When did you guys get here?"

Kato Megumi glanced at her sides with some surprise. Kasumigaoka Utaha tucked a strand of hair behind her ear with her slender fingers, her red eyes fixed on the former as she asked, "Judging from your school uniform, you should be a student at Toyonosaki Academy, right? What brings you to my house today?"

Before Kato Megumi could even reply, a loud, unexpected sound suddenly rang out: "Coo~ Coo~"

Everyone's gaze turned towards the direction from which the sound came. Hashima Izumi, clutching his stomach tightly, blushed and gave an embarrassed smile: "Um, I didn't eat breakfast, I'm a little hungry..."

"Pfft." Kato Megumi covered her mouth and chuckled, then slowly stood up. "I bet everyone hasn't eaten yet, right? If you'd like, I'll make you breakfast and also explain to Kasumigaoka-senpai why I'm here."

"..." Kasumigaoka Utaha frowned slightly, about to say something, when her fair and soft little hand was directly grasped by Baili Xiao and gently squeezed.

Bai Lixiao didn't speak, he just shook his head. Kasumigaoka Utaha snorted coldly, whispered in the former's ear, "I need an explanation," and then turned her face away without saying anything more.

As a romance light novel author and an intellectual and mature woman, Kasumigaoka Utaha knows that even if she has different opinions in certain situations, she should fully respect and agree with the man's side, rather than openly confronting him!

Kato Megumi tilted her head, watching the subtle actions between Hyakuri Akira and Kasumigaoka Utaha, and a question arose in her mind: Aren't these two siblings? Why do their actions look so much like those of a couple?

However, she quickly dismissed the thought; she wasn't the kind of gossipy woman who liked to pry into other people's secrets.

"Then, please wait a moment." Kato Megumi bowed slightly, turned and walked into the kitchen.

Ten minutes later.

Milk, fried eggs, bacon, toast, and other items appeared before everyone. Kato Megumi, while untying her apron, said apologetically, "The refrigerator is full of drinks and snacks; that's all we have for breakfast."

"This is already very good." Baili Xiao impatiently picked up a fried egg with his chopsticks and placed it in the center of the toast, then added a large number of bacon slices... He was a complete carnivore!

Eriri glanced helplessly at Baili Xiao. The three of them had told her many times that she should say "I'm starting to eat" before eating, but Baili Xiao just couldn't remember.

"I'm starting! *2" Eriri and Hashima Ikio put their hands together and joined Hyakuri Xiao's "foodie" ranks. Kasumigaoka Utaha, on the other hand, didn't make a move. She looked at Kato Megumi with cold eyes: "So, what exactly did you come here for today? Or can you say that something happened at the school?"

"First, let me introduce myself. My name is Kato Megumi, and I'm a student in Class 2-B." Kato Megumi sat on the sofa with her legs together, looking extremely ladylike compared to Kasumigaoka Utaha's posture. "I apologize for bothering you today, Kasumigaoka-senpai, because the school asked me to come and persuade you, oh, and Sawamura-kun as well."

"While you two are busy with your own things, could you please consider the school's difficulties? After all, long-term leave is not allowed in principle, because it would encourage other students to follow suit."

"The school hopes that the two of them can come to school at least once a week, so as to alleviate the dissatisfaction of other students."

Kato Megumi paused, her gaze sweeping over Kasumigaoka Utaha and Eriri twice, before continuing, "Actually, this kind of talk would be more appropriate for a school teacher or even the principal, but... perhaps it's out of pride that 'compromising with students would make a teacher lose face,' so... I came."

Chapter 0036 Head Chef: Kato Megumi! (First update, please add to your favorites and give flowers)

"Hmm, that makes sense." Baili Xiao swallowed the bacon slice in his mouth and clapped his hands: "Shiyu, Eriri, the production of light novels is important, but school life is equally indispensable. How about this, you two come to school once a week on Wednesdays, even if it's just to show up."

Kasumigaoka Utaha and Eriri exchanged a glance, both noticing the hesitation in each other's eyes: "Alright, let's do as my brother (Hyori-kun) says, and go back to school every Wednesday."

Upon hearing their affirmative answers, Kato Megumi smiled slightly, stood up, and bowed to everyone, saying, "In that case, I'll take my leave now."

"Wait!" Baili Xiao called out to Kato Megumi, picked up the first volume of "5 Centimeters Per Second" from the side, and grinned as he asked, "Kato-kun, what do you think of '5 Centimeters Per Second'?"

"The writing is delicate and refined. The descriptions of the characters' actions, psychology, and speech are extremely profound, as if they are telling a story from reality, making you unable to resist reading on." Kato Megumi tilted her head and thought for a moment, then continued with a somewhat serious expression, "It's a very good novel, and the illustrations are also fantastic. They can express the emotions in people's eyes with their brushes, which I think is really amazing!"

"So, would you like to see what happens next?" Baili Xiao waved the first volume. "Don't you want to know what happened to the two people separated by the train tracks?"

"Of course I want to." Kato Megumi nodded. In fact, this was the first time she had been so engrossed in reading a novel that she hadn't even noticed Kasumigaoka Utaha and the others standing next to her.

This also directly proves how exciting the plot of "5 Centimeters Per Second" is, that even the "saint" was engrossed in it: "Could it be that the second volume of '5 Centimeters Per Second' has been published? If so, I'll go to the bookstore to buy a copy after school today."

“No, it hasn’t been published yet.” Baili Xiao smiled and pointed to the computer on the table: “All the manuscripts are on this. The second volume is almost finished, and then we’ll start writing the plot for the third volume.”

At this point, Baili Xiao paused, a glint of light in his eyes, finally revealing his true purpose: "Here, you can be the first to read the second and third volumes of the novel, and you can witness them being produced. Also, please don't think that '5 Centimeters Per Second' is the most exciting and breathtaking novel. In fact, in my mind, there are many things that are far superior to it!"

“Kasumigaoka Utaha and I have to write the story every day, and Eriri and Izumi have to draw the original artwork every day, so the issue of eating has become our biggest obstacle.” Baili Xiao spread his hands: “We can’t order takeout every day, can we? Besides, we often forget to eat when we’re working. It doesn’t matter to me, a grown man, but Utaha and the other two are girls. If this continues, they will ruin their health sooner or later.”

"Kato-kun, I'm extending an invitation to you. Please come to my house and cook!" Baili Xiao clasped his hands together, staring intently at the stunned Kato Megumi: "You just need to come during your lunch break or after school in the afternoon. All the money you spend on groceries will be reimbursed, and you'll receive a monthly salary. Plus, you can read all sorts of exciting light novels that are just as good as '5 Centimeters Per Second' anytime!"

"What do you think? Please be sure to consider it!"

Silence, truly deathly silence.

Everyone looked at Baili Xiao with strange eyes. Kasumigaoka Utaha and the others were filled with shock, astonishment and disbelief. They really couldn't understand why Baili Xiao would extend such a sincere invitation to such an ordinary girl in the real world!

When Kato Megumi referred to "5 Centimeters Per Second" as a "novel" instead of a "light novel," everyone realized that she was just an ordinary student, not a fan of anime and manga, or rather... even if she had been exposed to anime and manga, her exposure to it was not deep!

It seems a bit abrupt to bring in a complete stranger who has little contact with the world of anime and manga these days, doesn't it?

“Brother?” Kasumigaoka Utaha’s red eyes gleamed slightly. “While I’m glad you’re worried about our health, I don’t think that’s a reason to invite Kato-kun.”

She was waiting for Baili Xiao's explanation. For some reason, she always felt that the relationship between the latter and Kato Megumi was not as simple as "the first meeting".

"Uh..." Baili Xiao's breath hitched. He first glanced at Kato Megumi, whose face showed a hint of embarrassment. Then he leaned close to Kasumigaoka Utaha and whispered in her ear, "Utaha, I'll explain things to you in detail later."

Kasumigaoka Utaha stiffened, and her left leg began to tremble uncontrollably—a sign that she was extremely agitated at that moment.

Every single time, it's the same thing. Last time we let Sawamura stay, and now we're inviting Kato to stay!

Thinking this to herself, Kasumigaoka Utaha's already agitated heart grew even more restless. She squinted at Hyakuri Xiao's profile, only then realizing... that she seemed to know absolutely nothing about her brother.

The label of "a good-for-nothing otaku" that Bai Lixiao once held was rejected by Kasumigaoka Utaha after Bai Lixiao revealed the complete plot of "5 Centimeters Per Second".

Since then, in Kasumigaoka Utaha's eyes, Baili Xiao exudes a mysterious aura. Trying to understand him with the mindset that "I will understand him if I get to know him better" only increases her doubts.

They wondered, "What kind of person is my own brother?"

Seemingly sensing Kasumigaoka Utaha's impatience, Baili Xiao's lips curled up, and she placed her right hand on the former's trembling left leg. Through the black stockings, the warmth of her palm traveled to her thigh and all the way to her heart, making her feel much more at ease for no reason: "Utaha, don't overthink it."

There was no explanation, no comforting words, just the three words "Don't overthink it," spoken with a slightly commanding tone.

"Hoo." Kasumigaoka Utaha let out a deep breath and closed her eyes. "Kato-san, what do you think of your brother's suggestion?"

All eyes turned back to Kato Megumi, whose brow furrowed slightly, a hint of unease flickering across her face: "I really want to see the stories in volumes two and three of [5 Centimeters Per Second], but my presence will likely be a disturbance..."

"There won't be any disturbance!" Before Kato Megumi could refuse, Baili Xiao concluded decisively, "Then it's settled, future head chef Kato!"

P.S.: I haven't had time to update these past two days because of things back home. I finally got back today, so I'll post three updates today and resume updates starting tomorrow.

Chapter 0037 [5 Seconds] Volume 2 Completed! (Second Update, Please Add to Favorites and Share!)

"Ah Hui, come down for dinner."

"Okay, here we go."