Miyako Fuji and Yuno Sengoku

Hello, Sengoku-san.

Oh, Fuji-san. Hey...

A most splendid day to you.

Huh... Fuji-san, is something up...?

No, nothing terribly important...

I just submitted my manuscript ahead of schedule.

Ah... So you're on a high from finishing early.

Yes. I have bid farewell to those days of walking a tightrope, and ahead of schedule at that.

Well... you did get it done early.

I turned in the latest chapter of my series and the bonus mini-poster together, all before the deadline.

I'm almost a little frightened by what I'm capable of.

...

At the same time, I feel I ought to give myself some credit. After all, it's proof of how hard I worked!

Well, I get how you feel.

Exactly!

Too close.

The exhilaration of finally being free from a deadline...! The sheer satisfaction of getting it in early...!

Ahh... No matter how many times you experience it, nothing else compares...!

Ah... yeah. I get it, I get it.

By the way, Sengoku-san, how are things coming along on your end?

I imagine you also take on composition work for other clients, in addition to your work for MewType. Is that right?

Ah, yeah. It's not much different from usual.

No need to be modest.

I'm not. Let's see... Right now, I've got...

Two projects due this week... and one due next week.

What?

I've also got one waiting on client feedback... no, two. Well, any revisions should be minor, though.

(Three projects in progress at once. And if I count the ones she's waiting to hear back on...)

Oh, and I've got a meeting about a new project tomorrow.

(A-Another one...!?)

I-I see...

Yeah. That's about normal.

(And there I was saying all that in front of someone who handles this much work without batting an eye...)

Hm? Fuji-san?

N-Nothing. Um...

I'm glad to hear everything is going smoothly. Please keep up the good work.

Yeah. Thanks.

Phew...

(I've still got a long way to go. I need to work harder too.)

Huh... You're here early, Fuji-san.

Good afternoon, Sengoku-san.

The others aren't here yet?

Not yet, but I'm sure they'll be here soon... Hm? That bag...

An energy drink and White Chocole for lunch again?

Yeah. It's quick and easy.

Isn't that a little light for a day of in-person classes?

It's enough. I don't eat much to begin with.

As long as I get the nutrients I need, I don't really care what I eat.

Even if you don't care what you eat, having the same thing every day...

Wait!!

What?

Actually, Sengoku-san...

Do you eat bread?

I do... Why?

Could you eat the same kind of bread every day too? Any kind, as long as it gives you the nutrients you need?

Why are you asking...?

I actually have a rather serious favor to ask.

(That smile is scary.)

Starting next week, convenience stores nationwide are running a Magilulu collaboration.

Buy any two eligible savory bread items, and you get either a clear file or a sticker.

There are four clear file designs. And eight sticker designs.

Sengoku-san, here's a math problem. How many would you need to buy to collect them all?

Twenty-four...

Exactly right.

Last time, I froze them and somehow ate them all, but honestly, living off of frozen bread is pretty harsh...

So, Sengoku-san...! Would you please help me eat all that bread?!

Uhh...

You can just have one every now and then to mix things up! I'll make sure you're properly paid for it!

So pleeeease...!!

O-Okay, I'll do it...!

Really?! You will?!

Yeah... But as I said, I don't eat much.

One per meal is probably my limit. Is that still okay?

Of course! That's more than enough!

Sengoku-san, thank you so much!

You're welcome...

One per meal means three a day...! At that rate, you'd make such a dent in the stockpile... Nghhh...

You don't have to cry over it...

Wait... Were you doing the math for every single meal?

(All right... This should be enough for today's practice...)

H-Heyyy...

Sengoku-san...! You look absolutely exhausted.

I'm completely wiped... This is why I hate going outside...

You went out even though you had no in-person classes today?

Yeah... The gear I wanted wasn't available online.

I had to walk there, haul it back, and get shoved around in the crowd... Going out takes way too much out of me.

Perhaps that's because you normally never leave the house?

Come on, Fuji-san. You're one of us.

Remember when we went to the beach? You were completely wiped out on the way home.

Ah...

You work from home too, and you barely move from your desk. People with jobs like ours tend not to get much exercise.

That's true. I'm not athletic, and I don't particularly see the need to exercise.

Right? Even when people say it's for your health...

That said, I find the sight of other girls working up a healthy sweat playing sports quite beautiful.

Huh...?

Breathing in a steady rhythm, eyes fixed straight ahead, running with single-minded determination...

Is she not more radiant than the sun, more refreshing than a spring breeze?

Sorry... What are you talking about?

Girls exercising.

As it happens, Sengoku-san, I'm drawing a scene where a character about your height is exercising.

Okay...

So, would you be willing to run a marathon?

That's where all this was going...? And why do we have to run a marathon?

No, Sengoku-san. You would be the only one running.

As I said, I'm drawing a girl exercising. I need reference material.

So you want me to run for you...!?

You get some much-needed exercise, Sengoku-san. And I get my reference material. Two birds with one stone.

You're the only one getting anything out of this, Fuji-san...

I'll send you the marathon route in advance.

Let me know if you need anything, such as setting up water stations or sharing the planned shooting locations.

If you need running clothes, the outfit I bought for reference happens to be in your size, Sengoku-san, so...

Wait. Are you seriously trying to make this happen?

Yes. It is mutually beneficial.

No, you're still the only one benefiting.

Watching you work up a healthy sweat would make excellent reference material, Sengoku-san.

...

(I really picked the wrong topic...)