Chapter 138 Manager's Unusual Behavior

Manager’s Unusual Behavior

Manager Tachibana’s PoV

I woke up. No, I don’t even know when I fell asleep. I was awake until sunrise. I probably only slept for an hour or two.

My head is throbbing with pain. I try to walk, but my body is too heavy. I also feel nauseous. I shouldn’t have a fever. …

“why?”

I know why. It’s this hopeless feeling of failure.

No matter how many times I write, my work ends up being a rehash of Eiji-kun’s novel.

“How could this happen? I can’t write anymore. …”

All this time, I enjoyed writing novels. I was proud to be appreciated by everyone, but now I’m helplessly afraid.

Deep down, I’m afraid that I recognized Eiji-kun’s novel. I hate myself for thinking that his work is a masterpiece. I envy his talent.

Other people’s masterpieces are poison to me.

I feel jealousy and frustration. I end up comparing his work with my own and lose confidence.

And on top of that, it’s the work of a guy who is junior to me…

Nooo! That’s too scary. I’m afraid to admit that I have no talent.

“I don’t want to go to school.”

This is the ending I expected for Eiji-kun,

His talent rots away, he is betrayed by the people around him, he is afraid of everything and he wastes his life by shutting himself away in his own world in the corner of his room.

But …

No, if this continues, my malice will return to me.

“I have to get up.”

Somehow I managed to wake up. I get out of bed, walk a little, but then sit down, overcome by the weight of my body.

“Oh No!!!”

As if my body and mind were separated, tears begin to flow.

I realize that my malice towards Eiji-kun was so heavy. How could I have been so cruel to him?

Before I knew it, he had jumped so high and so fast that he had no regard for my own malice towards him. All I can do is watch. Because of his innate goodness, he becomes happier and happier with the help of those around him. On the contrary, I …

No! I’m still safe. I’m sure I was able to cover up Kondo-kun’s case.

I can’t lose everything.

My mother opened the door. She must’ve been worried that I wouldn’t wake up, so she came to check on me. She saw me on the floor and rushed over,

“Are you okay?”

“I’m fine. I’m a little cold today. Can I take the day off from school?”

I told her and she nodded. Soon she said she would make me some porridge.

I huffed and puffed and went back to bed.

A terrible chill ran down my spine as I thought I would never be able to go to school.

Was it my poor health or my despair? I didn’t want to think about it.

“Why am I in this mess? …”

Tears fell on my pillow…