All the Heroines are my Ex-girlfriends

Chapter 122: Help Me, Dora-Hayasaka!

Breakfast.

As usual, after being fed half of his meal by Kurokawa Akane, Yukima Azuma announced that he was full.

Kurokawa Akane showed no visible reaction, but she seemed a little confused.

In the end, she ate the remaining food herself.

Yukima Azuma opened her laptop and continued working on his light novel.

This time, he didn't ask Akane to provide him with a massage.

Instead, he pulled her to sit in the chair next to him.

Then he called for someone to bring over a copy of The Youth of a Lonely Boy Will Not Dream of a Passerby Heroine and placed it in her hands.

Kurokawa Akane held the book, looking at Yukima Azuma.

"Guardian, this is the book I wrote. Could I ask you to read it?"

Yukima Azuma said so.

However, Kurokawa Akane made no move.

She had no reason to read a light novel.

Even if someone told her how interesting the light novel was.

At the moment, Kurokawa Akane didn't feel like reading at all.

But that didn't matter.

"Guardian, you don't want to read it? Haah, yeah, the book I wrote isn't worth reading."

"Surely, all the effort I poured into writing this is meaningless, just like me... Honestly, I'm just that kind of person---"

Kurokawa Akane moved closer, placing her index finger on Yukima Azuma's lips.

With her other hand, she opened the light novel.

"I'll read it. Please don't think that way anymore."

The girl's fingers were soft and smooth.

It felt a little strange.

Yukima Azuma paused for a moment, then nodded.

Afterward, Kurokawa Akane withdrew her finger and began reading Saekano seriously.

To stop Yukima Azuma from overthinking again.

She didn't just pretend to read.

She genuinely focused, immersing herself in the story.

Seeing this, Yukima Azuma's lips curved slightly.

He turned back to the document on his laptop screen.

Yukima Azuma suddenly remembered something and pulled out his phone.

Scrolling through his contacts, he found a name near the end and dialed.

....

At the Shinomiya residence.

Since waking up early that morning, Hayasaka Ai had felt her right eyelid twitching nonstop.

She looked it up online.

Apparently, it wasn't a good omen.

Just as she took her Shinomiya family maid uniform out of the closet and put it on, her phone rang.

She picked up her phone and glanced at the caller ID.

Yukima Azuma.

Hayasaka Ai's face immediately darkened.

What does he want now?

The last time he lured her out, she was forced to help him.

Even now, thinking back on it, Hayasaka Ai still felt annoyed.

Such a troublesome person.

He always started with: "Hayasaka, you don't want your mother to suffer losses, do you?"

Infuriating!

Just thinking about it made her angry.

But after fuming uselessly for a while,

Hayasaka Ai finally picked up the phone.

No matter how angry she was,

Knowing Yukima Azuma's recent actions, Hayasaka Ai had to admit that his methods far exceeded her imagination.

Her mother, Hayasaka Nao, indeed had sharp foresight.

From the beginning, she had placed a big bet on this young man.

And once Hayasaka Nao made a bet,

As her daughter,

No matter how many personal feelings she had, Hayasaka Ai couldn't ruin her mother's plans over petty emotions.

There was no other way, as Hayasaka Ai had always deeply admired her mother.

"Moshi moshi, Yukima onii-chan, so early in the morning... yawn... what's up～?"

Hayasaka Ai pretended she was still half-asleep.

Trying to convey that bothering her at this hour was very rude.

"Hayasaka, introduce me to the anime production team collaborating with the Shinomiya family."

From the other end of the line came Yukima Azuma's voice.

His words didn't sound like a request.

They sounded more like an order.

On Hayasaka Ai's forehead, a vein became visible, clearly showing her anger.

Was the person on the other end of the line even human!?

How could he make such an unreasonable, shameless request right off the bat?

Do I look like a spy planted in the Shinomiya household by Laplace Corporation?

Kono hito de nashi!!!

Suppressing the urge to hang up immediately,

Hayasaka Ai took a deep breath and asked:

"Why do you suddenly need an anime production team? Besides, wouldn't it be easier if you handled this yourself?"

Given Yukima Azuma's current status,

The so-called unprecedented king of the light novel world,

Surely, countless anime production companies would be clamoring to work with Laplace Corporation.

Has he gone mad? Forsaking the close ones to seek the far?

Or does he simply want to make things difficult for her?

Hayasaka Ai didn't hesitate to think the worst of Yukima Azuma, feeling no psychological burden about it whatsoever.

"Because I need to ensure quality while standing out from the rest. Negotiating with each studio is too bothersome."

Yukima Azuma explained.

Hearing this, a big question mark popped up in Hayasaka Ai's mind.

"Ensuring quality, I get. But what do you mean by 'standing out'?"

"I'm planning to write a new volume of the light novel and simultaneously produce an anime movie adaptation."

"And you want the Shinomiya family to handle this for you?"

"It's all up to you, Dora-Hayasaka."

Hayasaka Ai muted the phone.

Then—

"This lunatic, is his brain even functioning properly!? How can he even say something like this out loud!? Just how shameless, brazen, and thick-skinned can he be!? --- BEEP--- BEEP--- BEEP!" (6.9k vulgar words have been omitted.)

What Yukima Azuma meant was,

He planned to turn his new work into an anime movie.

However, since the new work hadn't been released yet, the anime production had to happen simultaneously.

This meant the anime production team couldn't rely on the original work's popularity.

There was a chance that the anime would be completed, but the original work might not be well-received by the market.

On this basis—

Yukima Azuma also demanded that the production team consist of the best staff,

And that they rearrange their schedules to start production immediately.

With such demands, renowned and capable anime studios would certainly have to think carefully.

Because producing a movie based on an unproven script risked damaging the production team's reputation if the audience didn't accept it.

And Yukima Azuma didn't want to negotiate this himself.

So he wanted the Shinomiya family to step in on his behalf.

Using the Shinomiya family's credibility, the famous studios would tactfully agree to the job.

Just like the last time he relied on Hayasaka Ai.

These were all things Yukima Azuma could have done himself, given more effort and time.

But for the sake of convenience and speed, he asked someone else to do it for him.

Hayasaka Ai was truly exasperated.

This was the second time she had been turned into a "convenient tool."

Does he think she looks like a blue tanuki?

She unmuted her phone.

"I understand."

Hayasaka Ai could imagine that if she refused,

The same line would echo on the other end of the phone: "Hayasaka, you don't want your mother to suffer losses, do you?"

Just thinking about it made Hayasaka Ai want to punch him in the face.

"Thank you, Hayasaka. You're truly a good person."

Yukima Azuma awarded Hayasaka Ai a "good person card."

"If there's nothing else, I'll hang up now."

Hayasaka Ai's voice was cold and firm.

"Just kidding. I'll remember these two favors you've done for me, and I'll prepare a thank-you gift for you later."

Yukima Azuma's tone lost its teasing edge and became more serious.

But Hayasaka Ai didn't care and simply replied, "Mm."

Then the call ended.

Hayasaka Ai put her phone back into her pocket, then walked to the mirror to adjust her skirt.

After tidying up, she opened her room door and walked down the long hallway.

Each step Hayasaka Ai took was light and precise, as if every movement had been measured with a ruler.

She was a model maid.

Every action and gesture adhered to the strict etiquette of a maid.

Furthermore, her loyalty to the mistress she served, Shinomiya Kaguya, was genuine and unwavering.

However, this perfect maid carried a heavy secret in her heart.

One that added pressure to her life every single day.

Stopping before the large, dark-red door,

Hayasaka Ai knocked.

"Kaguya-sama, it's time for breakfast."

From inside, a voice responded.

"Hayasaka, come in."

Hayasaka Ai pushed open the door and stepped inside.

She saw her mistress, Shinomiya Kaguya, already awake and sitting at the edge of her bed.

Moving to the wardrobe, Hayasaka retrieved Kaguya's daily outfit.

"Hayasaka, review my schedule for today," Kaguya said, raising her arms so Hayasaka could help her change.

"After breakfast, you have a two-hour flower arrangement lesson," Hayasaka began.

"Then a twenty-minute break, followed by archery practice until right before lunch."

"After a forty-minute lunch break, a private tutor will come in the afternoon for additional lessons. That's your schedule for today."

Hayasaka Ai summarized efficiently.

Shinomiya Kaguya's daily schedule was nearly airtight, leaving no room for idle time.

The so-called "private tutor" sessions in the afternoon weren't for regular subjects required by Shuchiin Academy.

Most high school subjects had long been mastered by Kaguya, who was already at a graduate-level proficiency.

Her current schooling at Shuchiin was purely for maintaining class rank.

The private tutor instead taught subjects like economics and political science, typically introduced only briefly in university.

And such a life...

Shinomiya Kaguya had been following a relentless schedule like this since she was six years old.

Occasionally, she would attend evening banquets and participate in social activities.

This rigorous routine would continue until she turned twenty.

Afterward, her schedule would grow even more suffocating.

Lessons would be replaced by real-world responsibilities like business management, corporate operations, and personnel recruitment.

By then, Kaguya would often travel extensively, even taking flights during particularly busy periods.

As the official heir to the Shinomiya conglomerate, Kaguya was born with a gold spoon in her mouth, but that gold spoon demanded endless dedication.

"I understand." Kaguya nodded calmly.

Then, as if recalling something, she asked:

"What about the upcoming Shuchiin Academy election?"

Hayasaka Ai's mouth twitched slightly, almost imperceptibly.

Recently, this was the third time her mistress had brought up the subject.

It was obvious that the position of Student Council President at Shuchiin was virtually guaranteed for Kaguya.

With her personality, Kaguya would never mention it repeatedly unless something else was on her mind.

This could only mean that what Kaguya truly cared about wasn't the election itself.

And as for what might be related to it, Hayasaka could think of only one thing:

The authority to decide the student exchange program allocation, a privilege granted to the Student Council President.

Could it be that her mistress was overly preoccupied with that man?

As an all-capable maid with a keen understanding of human nature, Hayasaka couldn't help but think:

Fixating too much curiosity and competitiveness on a member of the opposite sex was surely unwise.

However… maybe it wasn't a big deal.

Hayasaka glanced at her mistress.

It was hard to imagine someone like the "Ice Princess" Shinomiya Kaguya—who had always evaluated people solely based on their value—faltering in dealing with the opposite sex.

"Rest assured, Kaguya-sama. The votes from all divisions have been arranged, and this election will undoubtedly be successful," Hayasaka replied.

Kaguya nodded, her gaze drifting toward the window, the corner of her lips curling slightly.

Hayasaka Ai thought: Perhaps... it'll be fine... perhaps...