Rewrite Our Love? Too Late-Chapter 106: The Summer Wind That Changed Everything

"What did you just say?"

The editor-in-chief of Fujikawa Publishing sprang from his seat, his finger jabbing toward Yukima Azuma, eyes wide with disbelief.

At that exact moment, Yukima had already reached the door of the conference room. He paused, his hand on the doorknob. With a polite, almost sarcastic smile, he turned his head slightly.

"I said," Yukima replied, voice calm and composed, "under your wise and brilliant leadership, Fujikawa Publishing will certainly grow stronger and stronger."

A beat passed before he added casually, "At the very least, it'll remain a second-rate publisher—until the day it dies."

With that, he turned the handle, opened the door, and walked out without looking back.

Inside, the air seemed to thicken. The editor-in-chief and the company owner exchanged glances, their expressions dark, like they'd just swallowed something rotten. They'd dealt with arrogant authors before—but one who left so cleanly and confidently, without screaming or throwing things? That was a first.

Being berated was one thing.

But watching a potential bestseller slip through their fingers just because they tried to cut the royalty percentage by a few points—that was infuriating.

Why couldn't the kid sit down and negotiate?

Why act like some street vendor refusing to haggle?

"Let me go talk to him again," Machida Sonoko said quickly, sensing the situation was on the verge of collapse. She didn't wait for permission. She bolted after him.

Outside, Downstairs

Machida Sonoko caught up with Yukima just as he was exiting the building.

"Yukima-sensei," she called out, breath slightly short. "If you really want to debut, you've got to be more composed when facing standard business procedures. You can't let your emotions rule—"

"I'm not angry," he interrupted gently.

Machida blinked. "You're... not?"

"No." He turned to her, tone relaxed. "We just didn't click. There's no point in discussing things with people who have no intention of listening."

He gestured toward a café across the street. "Let's sit down. I'll treat."

Machida sighed in resignation. "I'm such a fool, getting worried about you."

The Café

They found a cozy spot by the window. Yukima ordered two donuts, Machida a mocha.

Yukima sat back, meeting her eyes. "Machida-san, thank you for everything you've done for Utaha-senpai."

"Why say that now?" she asked, eyebrow raised.

"Because if it weren't for you, she would've left that publishing house long ago. With her personality, she couldn't have survived dealing with those editors. I'm sure you've been the one bearing the pressure from above."

Machida gave a dry, bitter smile. He was right.

Ever since The Metronome in Love was released, she had been shielding Utaha Kasumigaoka from the brunt of editorial and corporate expectations. Especially during the slump of Volume 2, when Fujikawa was seriously considering axing the series.

It was Machida who argued, mediated, and fought to keep it going.

But she had never once told Utaha about any of it.

"It's my job," she said lightly. "That's what editors do."

"True," Yukima agreed, taking a bite of his donut. "But I wonder if the upper management sees it that way. Most of them don't view authors as creators—just products. Things to be marketed, molded, and sold."

"Without authors, a publishing house is just an empty shell. When it forgets that, it loses its soul."

She didn't reply. She didn't need to. She'd been at Fujikawa for years—she knew the truth better than anyone.

Once, Fujikawa had been a sanctuary for youth romance. It had begun with the explosive success of Oreimo. Young editors and dreamers gathered there to publish works they truly loved. Machida had been one of them.

But things changed.

The isekai boom swallowed the market. Titles with magical kingdoms and cheat powers replaced quiet tales of high school romance. Fujikawa pivoted. Romcom authors were sidelined, told to change genres—or leave.

Most did.

Machida stayed. She was the last one still fighting for the genre.

But her team never exceeded three people. That said everything.

"Resign?" she'd sometimes thought. "And go where?"

She wasn't young anymore. Freedom was a luxury for the young.

Yukima, sensing her mood, pulled a manuscript from his bag and handed it to her.

"Finish reading it," he said. "Then we'll talk."

Machida blinked, then opened the manuscript. Her eyes skimmed the lines.

And then... she stopped skimming.

Something shifted.

As she read, the noise and chaos in her head faded away. A summer breeze passed through her imagination. The sound of cicadas chirping. The girl named Megumi came to life in vivid color.

She smiled. She laughed. She lingered in the mind.

The story pulled her in—page after page.

Six hundred pages later, she looked up, as if returning from another world.

She understood now. freewebnøvel.com

This novel didn't need to chase the market. The market would chase it.

"Machida-san," Yukima said, breaking her trance, "do you see now? The saddest thing Fujikawa did was turn this down."

She nodded.

From a commercial standpoint, Fujikawa hadn't made a "wrong" decision. They'd simply bet on market trends over quality.

But the real failure lay in their inability to see what was in front of them.

Their editor-in-chief had no editorial vision.

No commercial intuition.

No literary soul.

That was what made him second-rate.

She handed the manuscript back, conflicted. "So... what now? You looking for another publisher?"

"I suppose that sly boss of mine will start reaching out," Yukima said casually. "Though I doubt small publishers would have the guts to take it."

"Then what?"

"I'll just buy a publishing company and release it myself."

Machida gawked. "...Is that Japanese? I understand the words, but when you string them together—what?!"

Yukima pulled out a business card and handed it to her. It gleamed gold, with stylized kanji on the back.

She flipped it.

Laplace Corporation.

Her jaw dropped.

"The company that bought the Shibuya office tower recently... that's yours?!"

He nodded, sipping his drink with a smile.

Machida groaned. "Young Master, you should've flipped the table in there and stomped on those greedy bastards. Leave your shoeprints on their faces!"

Yukima laughed. "Too polite?"

"You have no idea! That editor-in-chief acts like he's royalty. Keeps the phone lines open like the Emperor might call."

"No one's ever talked back to him?"

"Actually... there was someone. A girl named Yukinoshita. She told him off and got fired."

"Damn, I should've spit in his face."

"Hahahahaha! You would! You really are a Young Master!"

"Careful, or I'll report you to Shi-chan."

"Ack—no need!"

Machida couldn't help but laugh again.

Despite being richer than her boss, Yukima was friendlier, humbler, and far more charismatic.

Honestly, she'd rather work for him than her current employer.

As that thought crossed her mind, Yukima leaned forward and said:

"Machida-san, when I buy the publishing company, I want you to be editor-in-chief."

She choked on her mocha. "Huh?! Don't joke like that!"

"I'm serious. And I'll try to transfer Utaha-senpai's contract over too."

Machida narrowed her eyes. "You scheming bastard... You planned this from the start."

"Just a smart recruitment. You still have contacts with the other romcom authors, right?"

"Tch. No wonder you built a company this fast. Your brain works faster than a beehive."

She thought for a moment.

If Yukima's light novel exploded in popularity, the market would shift.

Romcoms would return.

The authors Fujikawa tossed aside would come back with a vengeance.

And then...

Fujikawa Publishing would be left behind.

It wouldn't just be a failed bet.

It would be a self-inflicted wound.

"So?" Yukima stood, hand extended toward her. "Want to join me?"

Machida looked at the hand.

She rolled her eyes, then stood and shook it.

"Like I even have another choice."