Anime rating game

"I always feel a little guilty about getting superpowers without doing anything," Yui Yuigahama sighed.

"You don't need to worry about that. Hayase's animation company also made a lot of money from 'My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU,' and everyone got a reward, not just you."

"But everyone at the animation company worked hard, except me, who did nothing."

"You really don't need to worry about it. Debts of gratitude are the hardest to repay. Just keep them in mind," Hachiman Hikigaya comforted him with a smile.

Chapter Ninety-Eight: A Visit to Teacher Eromanga

dong dong...

Izumi Masamune, who was frantically typing away at his computer, heard a knock on the door and rushed to open it.

Who are you...?

"Are you a member of Eromanga Sensei's family? I am Hachiman Hikigaya, the author of the light novel 'Love, Chunibyo & Other Delusions'."

"Huh...?! Teacher Hachiman!"

Izumi Masamune's eyes lit up, and his gaze shifted to the two people behind him.

"Could these two be cosplayers of Yukino Yukinoshita and Yui Yuigahama? They're such perfect recreations."

Yui Yuigahama, who was about to greet them, paused, unable to resist interrupting:

"I am Yui Yuigahama herself, the real person, not a cosplayer!"

Meeting Izumi Masamune's questioning gaze, Hikigaya Hachiman chuckled twice and explained:

"Besides Hachiman Hikigaya, Yuihama and Yukinoshita are real people, and Soubu High School and the Service Club are also real."

"So... Oregairu is actually based on a true story?"

"No, that's not it. We are currently in our first year of high school, and our own experiences are consistent with the setting in the anime, but the story in the anime takes place in our second year of high school, which is next year."

"A hypothetical scenario based on reality? I see."

Izumi Masamune nodded slightly, welcomed the three into his home, and after brewing tea, asked again:

"Master Dai just asked me if I was a family member of Professor Eromanga. I don't know why you would have such a misunderstanding."

“I have also worked with Professor Eromanga, but it was always through the editor; we never contacted each other directly.”

"As for Professor Eromanga himself, there's no way he could be living here, is there?"

Is the address wrong too?

No way.

Hachiman Hikigaya thought for a moment and asked:

Are you a light novel author too?

“That’s right, but it’s not in the same library as the Great Master’s work, and it’s completely unknown,” Izumi Masamune said with a smile.

Thinking of the surname Izumi that he had just seen at the door, and his previous investigation into Dengeki Bunko, in which he learned that someone wrote as fast as him, Hachiman Hikigaya tried to say:

"Izumi Masamune."

"How did you know, Master? My pen name and real name are one character different. My full name is Izumi Masamune."

"Masamune, not Masamune?"

"No."

"I've noted it down. Are there any other people in your family, Izumi?"

“My father and mother have passed away. Besides me, there is a younger sister named Izumi Sagiri in my family now.”

As they spoke, noticing Hachiman's gaze, Izumi Masazumi shook his head repeatedly:

“My sister Sagiri could never be Eromanga Sensei.”

"She is very introverted. Since her parents passed away, she has been hiding in her room. I haven't seen her for a long time."

"In short, he's a shut-in. Someone with such an introverted personality and a tendency to be shy could never be an illustrator with such a strange name."

Having a younger sister, a house, and both parents deceased—is this the kind of protagonist setup for a light novel?

At this moment, Hachiman Hikigaya really wanted to complain.

"Can we meet your sister?" Yukino Yukinoshita asked.

"I'm sorry, it's not that I'm unwilling, but Sagiri has been hiding in her room and doesn't even want to see me, let alone outsiders."

"She doesn't want to come out, so you're just going to keep things like this?"

Izumi Masamune remained silent for a long while before finally speaking:

“When my father suddenly said he wanted to remarry, I was not prepared at all, but considering his feelings, I could only smile and agree.”

"After that, less than a week after their wedding, they both passed away while on their honeymoon."

"I've always wanted to have a proper talk with Sagiri, but we're complete strangers who've only met once and barely exchanged a few words. I have no idea what she's thinking or doing..."

"Back then, it took me a long time to get over my despair. After that, in order to support my family, I wrote frantically every week to earn a living."

"Because my light novels are terrible, I can only make money by writing more words. I have to spend a lot of time on them every day, while also doing housework and reading to make sure my studies don't suffer."

"When I came to my senses, she had become a severe shut-in and hadn't been to school for a long time."

"Even if I wanted to change this situation, what could I do?"

Upon seeing this, Yukino Yukinoshita softly apologized and then said:

"The address should be correct. Your sister, Izumi Sagiri, should be the illustrator Eromanga."

"Do you have a way to let us communicate with her? Even through the door."

“There’s nothing I can do.” Izumi Masamune shook his head slightly. “Every time I knock on the door, I never get a response. After a while, I’ve almost forgotten what she looks like.”

"How does she manage to eat and bathe?" Yui Yuigahama asked instinctively.

"When I'm hungry, I'll stomp my feet on the floor. If I hear that sound, I'll prepare the food and bring it to the door. As for taking a shower, I think he sneaks out after I fall asleep. When I wake up in the morning, I can see water stains in the bathroom."

"She's so strange, and you're so strange too."

"I'm sorry, I can't help you." Izumi Masamune bowed his head and apologized.

Seeing that both Hikigaya and Yukinoshita were deep in thought, Yuigahama Yui hesitated and asked:

"Aqi, are you facing an insurmountable difficulty right now?"

“Yes,” Hachiman Hikigaya sighed, “Without communication, it’s natural that work will not make progress.”

"In this case..."

Yui Yuigahama took out her phone, tried dialing a number, and put it on speakerphone.

The next moment, Hayase Masamune's voice rang out in the Izumi family's living room:

"How is it, Yuihama?"

"I'm sorry, President Hayase, we haven't met Eromanga-sensei yet... That's about it."

Yuigahama Yui quickly explained it once, then turned to the others and explained:

"President Hayase said on the phone that if we encounter any intractable difficulties, we should call him and he will communicate with the person involved."

"Do you have any good ideas, President Hayase?" Hachiman Hikigaya asked curiously.

"Is Izumi Masamune here?"

"exist!"

"Hello, Izumi-kun, I am Masamune Hayase, the president of Musashino Animation Production Co., Ltd., and also a partner of Hachiman. I apologize for disturbing you today."

"Please don't be shy. I often hear the name Musashino online. K-On! is very interesting! It's hailed as the most successful anime of the last decade."

"Thank you, but I need to speak directly with Izumi Sagiri, just through the door."

"No problem, but Sagiri might not respond."

"She will respond; I have a sure-fire way to win."

"Ah...? Oh. Okay, come upstairs with me, Sagiri's room is upstairs."

Led by Izumi Masamune, the group arrived at the door of Izumi Sagiri's room on the second floor.

“This is it, President Hayase.” Izumi Masamune stopped in his tracks.

"clear."

The next moment, a voice, several decibels louder, came from the other end of the phone:

"Izumi Sagiri, if you don't want your identity as Eromanga Sensei to be exposed online and become common knowledge, then you should have a good talk with me!"

Hachiman Hikigaya was speechless, too embarrassed to look at Izumi Masamune's expression, feeling extremely ashamed.

Chapter Ninety-Nine: This kind of thing can't even be considered an illustration.

Finding no movement inside, Hachiman Hikigaya smiled and reminded him:

"President Hayase, it's no use."

"Don't rush, this is just an appetizer. I still have my trump card to use. Izumi, are you there?"

"exist!"

Upon hearing him call his name, Izumi Masamune responded immediately.

What are your thoughts on your own light novel?

"It's alright. Although it has many shortcomings, it also has its merits. At the very least, I was very serious when I wrote it."

"Which of your light novels to date do you consider to be good enough to be adapted into an anime?"

Upon hearing that it would be adapted into an anime, and considering that the other party was the president of the animation company, Izumi Masamune's heart skipped a beat.

But thinking about his own light novel, he couldn't help but sigh again.

"Sorry, not a single one."

"How long do you think it will take before you can write an anime that becomes a huge hit after being adapted into a live-action series?"