Work Text:
17:48
“Rohan – sensei! Kissing! How about a kissing scene?”
Izumi Kyoka, a Shumeisha editor who was just dozing off on an armchair not too long ago suddenly stood up and said those words with excitement as if she had discovered something ground-breaking.
Initially she was visiting Rohan on a weekend to deliver some fan letters ―Rohan made her read all of them out loud― and a certain question had made them glued to their chairs deep with thoughts.
‘Rohan – sensei, I really like your Pink Dark Boy series! But I’m wondering when will he make a move to the female lead, she was really cool but it has been a long time since her last appearance’
The maid that carries spear with her all the time was a quite popular character, too bad the chapter where they were attacked by alligators was the chapter she last appeared.
“Pink Dark Boy is an action manga, it should be natural that romantic encounters are a rare occasion, the reader should’ve expected that from the start, I didn’t forget that she existed,”
Was what he said in defense after not bringing back an influential character for forty chapters.
“Say, Rohan – sensei, how romantic would that be?!” she asked again, trying to get a reaction over the idea that she really thought was a brilliant one.
“Just imagine, them laying on a flower field, gazing at each other passionately, closing the gap bet - “
“Stop, stop, stop! You’re watching way too many dramas,” her fantasy was cut short by Rohan who’s sick with her silly idea.
“I was only trying to help…” her pouting editor sulked, crossing her hands and unceremoniously plopped back onto the sofa.
‘Oi, oi, oi, oi, oi, oi, oi, oiii. You’ve been sitting in my office since noon, and I really thought the reason why you didn’t come up with that idea earlier was because you had realized how stupid it sounds, though I shouldn’t have put a high expectation for you on the first place’
Is what he wanted to say out loud, but he thought arguing with her would’ve been a waste of energy and let out a grunt instead, while spinning his chair to look at his editor in the eyes.
“Pink Dark Boy is a shōnen manga, don’t you think that'd be out of place to make them suddenly kiss? In addition, is that even allowed by the higher-ups? The kissing part?” he sharply countered her ridiculous idea, and gave her his usual judging look.
Izumi grinned at Rohan’s sudden interest, she immediately rummaged through her purse to take out her tablet, and scuttered around Rohan’s chair to stand behind him.
She had started to read manga ever since becoming Rohan's editor, and while it was true that Rohan’s editors were known to have a lot of free time on their hands, she refused to just stand still and wait until he handed the finished manuscripts.
She wants to be useful as an editor for Rohan in any way, either it be bringing reference books, or giving him (silly) ideas like today.
"Of course It’s allowed! Have you read Jugo – sensei’s manga? The protagonist and his love interest can't get their hands off each other!” She then began to eagerly scroll through the digital copy of the said manga beside Rohan for himself to see.
“Then, say that I'm actually going to make them kiss,” Rohan started while spinning his pen with his defty fingers.
“I don't have the research material for it, kissing is a sentimental act of affection, it needs to be realistic and their feeling have to resonate with the readers’” He then stood up, walking past through Izumi ―who’s attentively listened to his monologue― towards the window.
“And I don’t want to end up making such an important moment to be lifeless as if they were only crashing their lips together, and to reach that satisfactory result.
“I, Kishibe Rohan must do full-on research no matter if it only lasts for one panel!”
He ended his speech by dramatically pointing at Izumi with the pen in his right hand. The yellow hue of the setting sun illuminated his back and created the illusion as if he himself is glowing.
Once again, Rohan – sensei is expressing his dedication to his works, and it’ll never fail to make Izumi to respect him even more ―despite how ridiculous every aspect of this guy is―he wouldn’t let his readers down, his passion is truly what shapes his attitude to be a headstrong person he is now.
Izumi, who is now standing on the other side of the room applauded, filling the silent room with the sound of her claps.
“Uaaa… Sensei, what a wonderful monologue right there!” she said with a sing-song manner, still going on with that smile that reached her ears.
Rohan who took that response as a jibe only clicked his tongue in response.
“Well, what you said then was certainly true, but…
“Rohan – sensei, you could just use yourself as a reference, no?” she suggested that on a whim, her right hand on her chin.
Hmmmm, Isn’t it weird?? Why would Rohan – sensei need to get an authentic source just for a kissing scene? He said that first-hand experience is the best material, but couldn’t he just use his own experience, don’t tell me…
But there’s no way rii~~ght? Sensei is a famous person after all―
At those words Rohan shifted his face away, refusing to look at his editor in the eyes and possibly exposing something that she should’ve not known.
Huh?
For some good second Rohan finally found some silence ever since Izumi barged in, but he couldn’t find it soothing at all.
“Rohan – sensei… Don’t tell me that…” Izumi bends down, one of her hand hugging the tablet tight to her chest, while the other is covering the side of her mouth, talking as quite as possible as if she’s trying to hide this conversation despite both of them were the only person in the room.
“Izumi – kun, I warn you, don’t you dare say a single word…” His irritation is evident from his voice.
From the start, he had expected that he’ll remain single until the end of his life. Afterall, he’s devoting his life for his works and readers, the source of ultimate satisfaction.
Not that he hates the idea of blooming romance, after all he had written some minor romance in some of his one-shots. For him, romance is also a tool to deliver masterpieces, but he genuinely couldn’t find the appeal of it in real life.
What he hated the most is the possibility that his editor will never stop prying him after this revelation.
“Rohan – sensei had never kissed anyone before???” Izumi then whispered to his ear.
That’s the cue for him.
He held his petite editor by the arm, bringing her to the front door like he did countlessly before.
Izumi could only yelp as she was being dragged away from Rohan’s office.
“Waa!! Rohan – sensei, I promise I won’t tell anyone!! So please let me stay!!” Izumi’s plea went ignored, but she was determined to stay and clung to the door frame like her dear life depended on it.
The commotion in front of his house would’ve drawn any neighbors out of their houses, and Kishibe Rohan is sure glad that he doesn’t have any.
“Then! How about my experience with Taro – kun?? Sensei still needs a reference, right??”
“No, do you think I want to see you crying while talking about your ex? Besides I don’t want to hear how you kissed him either, just thinking about it makes me sick.”
“Then, then! Wouldn’t you go to my place to watch some dramas? I know the source material isn’t realistic enough but, at least it’s something that you could work with, right? Right?!”
She knew so well that rom com dramas that she has inside her shelf wouldn’t be a sufficient reference for sensei, but she was so desperate that she blurted everything that’s inside her mind that she didn’t realize the person who's in front of her stopped grabbing her arm.
“Izumi – kun.” His voice didn’t seem to be heard.
“I have good novels too!”
“Hey, are they in Blu – Rays?”
Izumi lifted her head up, looking at Rohan who was waiting for her reply straight to the eyes.
“Yes! Yes, they are!” she replied, beaming with excitement.
“Good.”
Rohan then slammed his door shut, and Kyoka Izumi was once again got left behind in the entrance of Kishibe Rohan’s residence.
.
.
.
.
They watched ‘The Notebook’ in the following week and Izumi cried six times on that day, while Rohan surprisingly took some notes from it.