Saved by You, by Your Book (
Summary[]
The man who was mistakenly granted 100 soulmates by a divine slip-up: Rentarou Aijou! On a reading date with the soulmate he met through books: Shizuka Yoshimoto!
Rentarou and Shizuka are having a date at a book loan cafe, Rentarou knowing it's a nice place for her to find new things to read; however, Rentarou can't do anything being entranced by watching Shizuka read; seeing her cute but also sees her as a means for this generation to be interested in reading. However, Shizuka soon notices that the cafe is having a signing by Kakuyo Hon'o, the author of "Circlet Love Story", her favorite book series. Shizuka notes this is the first time Kakuyo is seen in public and there was a raffle to meet with them; she had attempted multiple postcards and failed to win, but Rentarou reveals he won two places for the meeting (having sent an unhealthy amount of postcards to win for both of them). Rentarou tells Shizuka to come with to stand in line, but the girl rushes to the bathroom to prepare herself for the meeting.
As Rentarou and Shizuka stands in line, Rentarou asks if she has something she wants to say to the author; Shizuka states that simply "Your books saved me."; which Rentarou states is something that anyone would want to hear. However as the duo finally make their way to Kakuyo reaching their turn, Rentarou and Shizuka are shocked when they see a smoking mohawk-clad male as the mysterious author of "Circlet Love Story"! The strange man states his head hurts and wants to head out before realizing he's there for autographs, choosing to sign a bottle of moonshine with "Hono'o Kakuyo" and giving it to Shizuka! Shizuka tries to tell Kakuyo that his books saved her, but the author shockingly tells her "if she has that much free time, read Harry Potter instead of something written by a drunk, horse-gambling addict", making Shizuka appeared disillusioned as she and Rentarou leave.
As the duo return to the cafe, Rentarou notices Shizuka is no longer showing any excitement, apologizing as he realizes he only made things worse with the signing. But Shizuka suddenly smiles stating she's overjoyed and the autograph she got was unique before returning to the bathroom. Once alone, Shizuka feels guilty about over-idealizing Kakuyo and that she needs to cheer up Rentarou or he'll fret over her. She contemplates cheering up by reading "Circlet Love Story", but can't bring herself to do so after remembering who wrote it. Outside, Rentarou continues despairing at Shizuka's disappointment, stating he couldn't tell the author that Shizuka had admired him and and that they disappointed her; he admits creators are flawed and that even Miyazaki smokes so that it shouldn't be a detraction on their fictional works, but believes some things are better left unknown. However, winning the raffle revealed the truth of Kakuyo to Shizuka and Rentarou despairs that there is nothing he can to do fix this situation for her in particular.
As the author leaves at the end of the session, Rentarou gets on his hands and knees and begs Kakuyo to tell Shizuka that he was pranking and he'll cover the rest if they do in order to give her back her hopes and dreams! But Kakuyo bluntly tells him "No", that this is reality and that their favorite author is a drunk and they have to deal with it. Rentarou lifts his head and states it is a shame in Kakuyo calling himself a "drunk" and thinks that in reality, the author can't write without drowning themselves in alcohol. However seeing that they still write the best of work despite this and their quality, Rentarou still sees Kakuyo as a professional and that he's ultimately proud of them; yet even with that, it's still too much for Shizuka to know this truth about the author. As Rentarou begs one more time, Kakuyo once again tells Rentarou "stop being proud and that they're the person he thinks they are"; as Rentarou is confused stating that they still wrote amazing books with "Circlet Love Story", the drunk states they're "actually" not even Kakuyo; they wrote a book completely outsold by "Circlet Love Story", turned to drinking to cope with stress and despair, and came to the signing pretending to be Kakuyo to ruin their good name. However due to Rentarou, he gives up and admits that he earlier pretended to be a waiter to sit the "real" Hono'o Kakuyo at a table where the sun would knock her out; Shizuka hearing the whole thing. The drunk punk apologizes as Shizuka returns his alcohol bottle and she and Rentarou leave.
Renatarou and Shizuka arrive at the table where Hono'o Kakuyo is sitting as her editor realizes she was out sleeping and everything is explained to her and the editor decides to pursue the dissident author who pulled the stunt. Kakuyo thanks Rentarou and Shizuka but Shizuka thanks Kakuyo for her books saving her. The tearful author states she had writer's block and usually she could clear it away by reading something or walking but couldn't this time so she decided to hold a book signing to help her out, stating she was still happy she wrote "Circlet Love Story" in the end; but eventually calms down where she notices Shizuka's love of books and that she's become motivated to write again for the sake of Shizuka and those like her.
As Rentarou and Shizuka leave the cafe, Rentarou is grateful they got to meet the author and get her autograph as Shizuka thanks him; she states it was originally the books that saved her but now it is he who has given her happiness. The two kiss as they plan to do this again sometime.
Characters[]
- Shizuka Yoshimoto
- Rentarou Aijou
- Fake Kakuyo Hon'o
- Kakuyo Hon'o
- Kakuyo Hon'o's Editor
Quote[]
Beginning: I Want To Protect That Smile...!
End: The one who saves is the one who gets saved.
Next Chapter: The strongest equipment! And a color page!