While Arisu Sakayanagi was preparing to return to Chiba City, Kotomi Izumi was also getting ready to leave for Kyoto.
Kotomi sat at her desk, working on her tablet, drawing the latest Chapter of Chainsaw Man.
After a two-week delay of Chainsaw Man’s first volu release, Shueisha had finally confird the new release date—early November.
Although many readers expressed their frustration with Shueisha’s delay on social dia, when pre-orders opened online, the first wave sold out almost instantly.
For this delay, Asuka Chizuru personally called Kotomi to apologize and explain the situation.
It turned out that when Chainsaw Man Volu 1 was sent to the printing factory, all of the machines broke down. The partnered printing company had to spend an entire week on repairs before operations could resu.
As a result, not only Chainsaw Man but all other works in the sa printing batch were delayed.
The difference was that those other series weren’t nearly as popular as Chainsaw Man, so Shueisha didn’t offer much compensation—just a slightly higher manuscript fee for the delayed volu.
But for Chainsaw Man, Shueisha’s compensation was generous. The company was straightforward like that—everything depended on performance. If your work was popular, you received privileges that ordinary authors could never dream of. But if sales later failed to et expectations, no matter how much support or fa you had at the start, they would cut you off without hesitation.
Shueisha had already instructed all partnered bookstores to put up promotional posters outside and display Chainsaw Man Volu 1 in the very first shelf visible upon entering the store.
Since this wasn’t Kotomi’s first ti publishing a volu, she felt calm about it. Her prior experience with Sword Art Online had already prepared her for the process, and besides—she was confident in Chainsaw Man’s quality.
Right now, Kotomi’s goal before departure was to finish drawing the new Chapter.
She didn’t have to worry about Sword Art Online drafts. She had nearly finished the story—its ending already set. Kirito would form his harem, marry all the heroines, and take them all to ho base.
They said Sword Art Online was a pure love story between Kirito and Asuna, but Kotomi thought differently. She had written it to be an exhilarating, over-the-top story with no dull monts—pure, unfiltered satisfaction from start to finish.
She wrote Sword Art Online to push the "thrill" factor to the extre. And with that goal in mind, how could she not give the protagonist a harem?
A bunch of heroines all loving the sa main character, only for him to pick just one in the end? Kotomi found that kind of story painfully boring. If you’re going to make it thrilling, then go all the way! Why stop halfway? A house full of wives and lovers—now that’s satisfying!
Anyway, Sword Art Online had plenty of manuscripts in reserve, so she didn’t need to rush any new Chapters. But for Chainsaw Man, her backlog was running low, and Kotomi definitely didn’t want to miss Shueisha’s submission deadline.
Even though her popularity had been rising steadily as a new mangaka, skipping a single update could still harm her reputation and montum.
With her small hand gripping the stylus, Kotomi drew swiftly across her tablet. Ever since her art skill had improved, her drawing speed had increased significantly.
Being able to maintain high quality while working faster—what more could a creator dream of?
"Today, I’ll definitely finish this Chapter before leaving," Kotomi said confidently.
"Kotomi, co downstairs for lunch!" Akina Izumi’s voice called from below.
"Guess I’ll continue after I get back," Kotomi murmured.
She set down her stylus.
Moved her mouse.
Save.
Save successful.
Computer shutdown.
Outside, pigeons cooed softly.
Coos... coos...
...
After lunch, Kotomi returned to her room. There were still six hours left before departure, so she decided to take a nap.
It wasn’t her first ti going to Kyoto. Although this trip’s destination differed slightly from her previous one, having been there once already, Kotomi was familiar with the routes and schedule.
Thinking back to her previous trip to Kyoto, Kotomi Izumi couldn’t help but recall the top courtesan of Gion’s Hanamachi—Ayani Kika.
And along with that mory ca the recollection of their seemingly casual conversation at the igetsu Café.
Kotomi had always felt that Ayani Kika had many things she wanted to say back then, yet for so reason, even when they parted, those words remained unspoken.
Their first eting had felt abrupt, as if it had happened in haste and ended just as quickly. Yet Ayani Kika had left Kotomi with the strange impression that they had t sowhere before—perhaps several tis in a distant past.
What Kotomi rembered most vividly, however, were Kika’s eyes.
Her gaze seed veiled beneath a weight of sorrow so deep it could never fully fade. Though, over the years, she had learned to soften that sorrow, to hide most of it beneath layers of calm composure. It wasn’t that she had forgotten or co to terms with the pain—it was simply that she had learned how to bury it deep within.
Especially when she wore that white dress—she looked like a paper flower pressed beneath the weight of winter snow.
When Kotomi recalled their conversation in the café, it seed like they had talked about many things, yet none of her doubts were truly answered. If anything, that conversation had only deepened her curiosity and confusion.
Unconsciously, Kotomi opened their old text ssages. Though they had exchanged contact information back then, neither had reached out since her return from Kyoto. Neither side had made the first move.
Ayani Kika’s presence, like everything else about her, was quiet. When they exchanged contacts, she had only given her original phone number—usable for calls and texts.
She did have a LINE account, which Kotomi added, but before doing so, Kika had said sothing that stayed in Kotomi’s mind:
"Even if you add my LINE, it won’t be of much use. If you really want to reach , calling is the quickest way."
Once Kotomi added her LINE, she imdiately understood why Kika had said that.
Her profile picture and status were all default blanks, like an account that had just been registered—or one long since abandoned. It was obvious she rarely logged in or used LINE.
Still, Kotomi couldn’t bring herself to delete the contact after adding it. After all, she had added it for a reason.
As ntioned, everything about Ayani Kika was quiet.
So quiet that Kotomi sotis wondered—was Ayani Kika even real? Was she perhaps a ghost only she could see?
Their first encounter in the Hanamachi, their talk at the igetsu Café, and even that final image of Ayani Kika in a white dress, standing at a distance and watching her leave Kyoto... these few mories—so few they could be counted on one hand—felt almost too ethereal, as if they belonged to a dream.
Scrolling through their old texts, Kotomi saw the last exchange still frozen in ti from her last trip to Kyoto.
Kotomi Izumi: [Next ti I co to Kyoto, will you spend the whole day with ? When that ti cos, I really want to ask you what you truly think of .]
[Please don’t refuse.]
Ayani Kika: [Of course. When you co to Kyoto again, call in advance. I’ll be ready and waiting. From morning to noon, noon to afternoon, and afternoon to night—I’ll be with you the whole ti.]
[Take care on your way ho. Goodbye. Keep in touch with often.]
Looking at the ssages, Kotomi sighed softly. Though Kika had said "keep in touch," this was actually the first ti Kotomi had opened their chat since returning from Kyoto.
She hesitated for a mont, unsure whether to send a ssage.
Even though she had once said that the next ti she ca to Kyoto, she wanted Kika to accompany her for a full day, back then she had imagined that "next ti" to be far in the future—a solo trip.
She hadn’t expected to return to Kyoto again so soon. And this ti, she wouldn’t be alone—she’d be with Yukino Yukinoshita and Yui Yuigahama. Yui, after all, was one of her girlfriends.
If she went to Hanamachi alone to et Ayani Kika and spent the entire day with her... Kotomi Izumi could already imagine the fallout. Forget Yukino Yukinoshita—even the usually easygoing Yui Yuigahama would probably get upset.
"Maybe... I just won’t tell her about it this ti," Kotomi muttered under her breath.
Just as she was about to close the ssage window, her phone chid softly—a new ssage.
It was from Ayani Kika.
Ayani Kika: [It’s been so long since you returned to Chiba. Why haven’t you sent a single ssage? Even a casual chat would be fine, you know. Pay so attention, won’t you?]
[Look at the ti of the last ssage I sent you. I even told you to stay in touch after you went ho.]
[Are there that many pretty girls in Chiba City?]
For so reason, though her words didn’t carry anger or reproach, Kotomi could sense a faint trace of wistful lancholy within them.
"Could she really be... a ghost?" Kotomi wondered. "Maybe she only appears to be in Kyoto’s Gion, but in truth, she’s right here beside !"
Feeling half amused by her own thought, Kotomi carefully typed a short reply.
Kotomi Izumi: [Are you a ghost?]
ssage sent.
Read.
Ayani Kika: [Oh? Are we talking about ghost stories now? Unfortunately, I don’t know much about that. Even though courtesans have quite a bit of downti, I prefer watching lighthearted, everyday movies to relax. But if you like ghost stories, the next ti you co to Kyoto, I can watch them with you all day.]
[Anyway, to answer your question—no, I’m not a ghost.]
Reading that, Kotomi couldn’t help but smile helplessly.
There was always sothing strange about the way Ayani Kika spoke—but that very strangeness carried a peculiar warmth of familiarity.
It felt like they were two people who had once known each other long ago—familiar strangers eting again after many years.
After thinking for a while, Kotomi tapped her phone again and replied.
Kotomi Izumi: [Haha, just forget what I said—it was a random thought.]
[Actually, I’m heading out for a trip today. My luggage is already packed. I’ll be leaving at 6 p.m. tonight. It’s a seven-hour ride on the shinkansen, so I’ll arrive early tomorrow morning.]
Ayani Kika: [Have a safe trip. I hope you enjoy your journey.]
[May I ask where you’re going? If you’d rather not say, just ignore this ssage.]
Kotomi Izumi: [Now you’re making it sound like I’m hiding sothing. I’m going to Kyoto again.]
Seconds later, a reply popped up.
Ayani Kika: [Kyoto? Welco back to Kyoto, then.]
[You must really like this city. I’m not sure if I count as a native Kyotoite—I don’t know where my parents were from—but I grew up here. I suppose you could say I’m quite fond of this city I’ve lived in for over twenty years.]
[Even if I spent my whole life here, never leaving, I don’t think I’d have any regrets when I grow old.]
[Anyway, enough about . When will you arrive tomorrow? Which station? I’d like to co pick you up—if that’s alright.]
Ayani Kika wanted to et her at the station.
Kotomi wanted that too... but she hesitated. If she were going alone, she would’ve imdiately said yes.
But with Yukino and Yui by her side, things were different. If Ayani ca to greet her at the station, how was she supposed to explain who Ayani Kika was? Or how they knew each other?
After all, she couldn’t very well say she t her during a visit to Gion’s Hanamachi, could she?
And even then, she hadn’t actually gone in—she’d just wandered outside the area and fled out of embarrassnt when the courtesan herself invited her in.
After thinking it through, Kotomi decided to just tell the truth.
Kotomi Izumi: [Just imagining seeing you waiting for at the station when I arrive makes feel so happy. But... even though I’m heading to Kyoto again, I’ll be going sowhere different this ti—to the Seiyarou Inn for a hot spring.]
Ayani Kika: [That’s fine. Just tell which Shinkansen line you’ll be taking.]
Kotomi Izumi: [JR Tokaido–Sanyo Shinkansen.]
Ayani Kika: [Perfect. That’s not too far. The hot springs at Seiyarou Inn are wonderful—great for relaxing and unwinding. I’ll drive over to pick you up.]
[Don’t let my being a courtesan fool you. As the number of visitors to the Hanamachi has declined, the old rules have gradually loosened. I can drive, you know.]
[If you’re not in a rush after I pick you up, I’d love to treat you to a al first. What kind of food do you like? There’s a restaurant in Kyoto that specializes in yudofu—tofu hotpot. It’s delicious.]
Reading the long reply, Kotomi suddenly rembered sothing.
Ayani Kika had once told her she wasn’t good with phone keyboards—so she always wrote ssages by hand.
As Kotomi read through Kika’s lengthy text, she couldn’t help but imagine her handwriting those words on her phone screen, her slender fingers moving gracefully as she composed her ssage.
Just that thought... painted such a vivid image in her mind.
Kotomi really wanted to see Ayani Kika wearing a white dress again—waiting for her at the station. She wanted to ride in Kika’s car, to dine together at that tofu restaurant she ntioned, to spend an entire day with her.
Kotomi Izumi: [As much as I’d love to, I should probably decline. You don’t have to go through all that trouble for —but thank you.]
Ayani Kika: [You once said that when you ca to Kyoto again, you wanted to spend the whole day with . Are you lying to again?]
[Sorry, I wrote too quickly and added an extra ’again.’]
Kotomi Izumi: [Of course not. It’s just... I’m not going alone this ti. I’m going with two of my friends.]
She sent the ssage, planning to explain further, but Kika’s reply ca almost imdiately.
Ayani Kika: [I see. Then I understand. I won’t bother you, of course. But if you have ti, you can always reach out. I hope this ti, we can do what you said before—spend the whole day together.]
[There are many things you want to ask —and many things I want to tell you.]
Kotomi stared at the screen for a long ti, unsure how to respond. Finally, she sent a single word.
Kotomi Izumi: [Okay.]
Ayani Kika: [Have a safe trip, and enjoy yourself.]
Kotomi didn’t reply. She set her phone down and let out a long sigh.
Even just through text, Ayani Kika’s words carried an indescribable feeling—a quiet weight that lingered, the sa sensation Kotomi had felt at the igetsu Café. That sa urge to exhale deeply after their conversations, as if to release sothing heavy within.
She had planned to play so gas afterward, but after that exchange, Kotomi only wanted to set her phone on the nightstand, pull up her blanket, and take a nap.
And nap she did—until five in the evening.
If Aimi hadn’t co to wake her, Kotomi might have slept straight until morning.
"If you’re still sleepy, maybe you should just skip the trip," Aimi said softly, her voice filled with concern as she looked at Kotomi’s sleepy, half-awake face.
Aimi wasn’t eager to see her sister leave for several days. Even though she knew Yukino Yukinoshita and Yui Yuigahama were good girls who wouldn’t try to steal her sister away, she still couldn’t help but worry. What if so Kyoto girl fell for her sister too?
If not for school, Aimi would’ve followed her to Kyoto herself—just to make sure no "bad won" tried anything.
"It’s fine. That nap actually refreshed quite a bit. The tickets are already bought—no way I’m skipping. Alright, I’m heading out now. I’ll bring you back a gift. What do you want?"
"I don’t need anything. It’s not like I’m so glutton who gets hungry every three minutes," Aimi muttered under her breath.
"Then how about a toy? Or maybe a limited-edition galga set from Kyoto?"
"I’m not a little kid who plays with toys. And you can just order galga limited editions from the official site yourself."
"Then what kind of gift do you want?" Kotomi asked with a gentle smile.
"What I want..." Aimi’s cheeks turned slightly red, her voice growing quieter with each word. "When you get back, will you go out with ? We haven’t gone out for food or seen a movie together in ages."
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