All Beautiful Girls Want to Stick with Me

"Turns out my front-row neighbors are Yukinoshita-san and Yuigahama-san. I'll be counting on you both when the teacher asks questions during class," Megumi Kato said with a smile.

Although she had a subtle presence, she wasn't shy.

"Hehe, actually, I'll be relying on you, Izumi-san and Kato-san, because I tend to doze off during class. But it's only occasionally, occasionally! Most of the time, I'm really serious in class!" Yui Yuigahama emphasized, almost as if trying to convince herself that her dozing off was just an 'occasional' occurrence.

The dango, redefining the word "occasionally."

"Yes, I know, you're the student that Shizuka Hiratsuka-sensei has officially recognized as a sleepyhead," Izumi Kotomi nodded, making a playful comment with a straight face.

"Izumi-san doesn't seem as shy and introverted as you appeared during your self-introduction. When I saw you earlier, I thought you were a really shy and reserved girl. But now that we're talking, you seem like someone who's very easy to get along with and even jokes around," Yui Yuigahama said, looking at Izumi Kotomi with a bit of surprise, as if she'd discovered something new.

"I'm just not very good at introducing myself in front of all the classmates," Izumi Kotomi replied, scratching her head with a sheepish smile.

"I get it, I get it! Back in elementary school, whenever the teacher asked me to read out loud in front of the class, I'd feel super nervous too," Yui Yuigahama nodded, empathizing deeply.

"When it comes to self-introductions, just saying your name is enough," Yukino Yukinoshita, who was sitting there reading a book, suddenly spoke up.

"Oh! This is rare; Yukino actually spoke up on her own," Yui Yuigahama exclaimed with a look of shock.

"I'm not mute," Yukino Yukinoshita replied matter-of-factly. Although she was speaking, there was still a cold aura about her, as if an icy queen was surrounded by an ever-present frigid atmosphere.

Compared to her sister Haruno, their personalities were completely different. Were they really sisters? Izumi Kotomi wondered to herself.

"But when I was sitting next to you earlier, you didn't say anything to me. The only time we interacted was when I learned your name and greeted you first," Yui Yuigahama pointed out.

"Because, Yuigahama-san, you were dozing off earlier. Even if I wanted to speak to you, you were too deeply asleep to respond. Am I right, sleepyhead?" Yukino Yukinoshita replied, turning another page of her classical literature book.

Izumi Kotomi glanced at the content of the book—definitely a classic, but the text wasn't in Japanese; it was in English.

In her past life, Izumi Kotomi had always thought that people who could understand and read classic literature entirely in English were impressive. With her barely passing grade in English back then, reading such complex material would have been quite challenging.

However, in this life, with the help of the God-Level Heroine System, learning English should be much easier.

Yui Yuigahama pouted, resting her face on the back of her chair and complaining cutely, "I don't want to be known as Hiratsuka-sensei's sleepyhead! Last night, I was really determined to go to bed early since today is the first day of school. But then I started reading this novel, and once I started, I completely forgot about going to bed early. By the time I finished, it was already three in the morning."

Upon hearing Yui Yuigahama talk about the book, Yukino Yukinoshita's interest was piqued. She slightly lowered her book and asked, "Was it that good? What novel were you reading, Yuigahama-san?"

"Actually, it's a light novel called Sword Art Online. Oh, and the author's pen name is similar to Izumi-san's name—it's Izumi Ki!" Yui Yuigahama exclaimed.

When Yui Yuigahama mentioned the pen name Izumi Ki, Izumi Kotomi, who was casually playing Azur Lane on her phone, suddenly froze, causing her phone to slip from her hands and land on the desk with a thud, drawing the attention of Yukino Yukinoshita, Yui Yuigahama, and Megumi Kato.

"What's wrong, Izumi-san?" they asked.

"It's nothing, really. I just suddenly remembered that I've also been reading the light novel Yuigahama-san mentioned," Izumi Kotomi said, quickly picking up her phone and pretending nothing had happened.

Sword Art Online had a wide readership, which naturally included high school students. But Kotomi hadn't expected the dango to be one of them. And from the way Yui Yuigahama described reading until three in the morning, it was clear she really liked Sword Art Online.

For an author, there's no greater encouragement than knowing that someone genuinely enjoys and praises their work. It motivates them to keep writing.

The two main sources of motivation for any author are a satisfying income from their work and the support and recognition of their readers. Both are essential.

Knowing that Yui Yuigahama stayed up late into the night to read her book made Izumi Kotomi feel incredibly happy, even if she didn't show it on her face.

"Really?! So Izumi-san likes Sword Art Online too!" Yui Yuigahama asked excitedly.

"Yeah, I stumbled upon it by chance, and since I really enjoy playing games, I naturally liked a game-themed light novel," Izumi Kotomi replied with a smile.

She didn't reveal that she was actually the author, Izumi Ki, who wrote Sword Art Online. After all, she'd only just met Yukino Yukinoshita, Yui Yuigahama, and Megumi Kato; not even a full day had passed.

If she were to suddenly claim that she was Izumi Ki, the author of Sword Art Online, they probably wouldn't believe her anyway.

"I've heard of Sword Art Online before but haven't had a chance to read it. Since both Izumi-san and Yuigahama-san say it's good, I'll check it out after school today," Megumi Kato said with interest.

"What about you, Yukino? Have you read Sword Art Online? You can find it on Dengeki Bunko's official website. I wonder when they'll publish Sword Art Online as a standalone book? Once it's out, I'll definitely buy it," Yui Yuigahama began enthusiastically recommending it to Yukino Yukinoshita.

However, Yukino Yukinoshita only glanced at her briefly before lowering her gaze again and shaking her head disinterestedly. "I'm sorry, but I'm not really interested in light novels."

"Aw... That's too bad. But if you ever get curious, you should give it a try. I wasn't into light novels either until I started reading Sword Art Online last night. Now, I'm thinking of buying a few more light novels from the bookstore on my way home."

Suddenly, Yukino Yukinoshita seemed to recall something and asked, "Did you say that Sword Art Online was posted on the Dengeki Bunko website?"

"Yeah. Dengeki Bunko is holding a writing contest right now, and participating authors are posting their light novels on the website. Sword Art Online is one of them," Yui Yuigahama nodded.

"I see..." Yukino Yukinoshita murmured before returning to her classical literature book.

"What's up, Yukino?" Yui Yuigahama asked.

"Nothing, it's just that my sister works as an editor at Dengeki Bunko. A few days ago, she was really excited because she signed a contract for a super popular light novel and finally became an editor. That light novel might be the Sword Art Online you're talking about," Yukino Yukinoshita explained.

Izumi Kotomi, who was trying to play it cool on her phone, was internally shocked once again.

Did she really guess it right?!

"Wow! Your sister works at Dengeki Bunko? That's amazing! If there's ever a chance, can I visit?" Yui Yuigahama asked, her excitement bubbling over.

"Of course, you can."

"Thank you, Yukino!"

"Can I tag along too?" Megumi Kato asked, looking very interested.

"Sure. I'll just let my sister know, and she can give you a tour," Yukino Yukinoshita nodded.

"Izumi-san, do you plan to join us?" Yui Yuigahama asked.

Izumi Kotomi just laughed awkwardly and replied, "If I have time, I'll go with you."

In truth, she was already planning to say she was busy when the time came to visit Dengeki Bunko.

It wasn't that she didn't want to go, but if she did, there was a chance that Yukino's sister, Haruno, would see her and say, "Oh, Izumi-sensei, you're here too."

How would she explain that?

Would she have to make up some excuse on the spot?

Like telling Yukino, "Hi, I'm your sister's girlfriend. We like to role-play as teacher and student, so she calls me sensei."

Yeah, that explanation would just make things worse.

[Host, aren't you worried that one day you'll run into Yukino and the others at Dengeki Bunko?]

"No way it'll be that much of a coincidence," Izumi Kotomi replied dismissively.

What are the odds of something like that happening?

[You never know~]