Bonus Chapter at 900 PS
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On Monday, Haruto was stuck on campus for a full day of lectures, which meant he couldn't make it to the office. However, he was currently finding his academic life to be a source of stress.
As he looked at the swarms of fellow students crowding into his elective classes, desperate for autographs, selfies, and candid photos, he felt like a small, fragile boat tossing in the middle of a violent storm. One wrong move and he would be completely submerged by the tide of enthusiasm.
He had officially become a campus celebrity, a status that came with zero privacy.
Word had spread among his fans in the university about his schedule. Consequently, an elective course that originally had only fifty registered spots now had over a hundred people squeezed into the lecture hall, most of whom were just there to meet with the legendary novelist and mangaka.
The need to "flex" on social media is a universal human constant. Taking a photo with a hit creator like Haruto and posting it to their feed might not have any practical value, but these students were more than happy to wait hours for the chance.
When the exhausting day finally ended, Haruto went home for a night of rest. The following morning, he officially terminated the lease on his old apartment, hopped into his car, and drove to his newly purchased estate.
"Good morning, Mr. Haruto," the security guard at the gate of the villa district said with a polite bow. Although they had only met a few times, Haruto's face was hard to forget.
"Good morning," Haruto replied with a quick nod as he passed through the gates.
He soon arrived at the entrance of his own villa. As he pushed the doors open, his eyes were met by a massive maple tree standing proudly in the courtyard, surrounded by lush greenery that was meticulously maintained by gardeners.
The sunlight poured into the yard, coating the silver-and-white facade of the modern villa in a shimmering golden film.
Inside, the swimming pool was crystal clear, and the house itself was spotless, fully furnished with high-end appliances and designer decor. Haruto sat down on the sofa in the main hall and let out a long breath. It was soft, plush, and incredibly comfortable. Although he wasn't someone who obsessively chased material luxury, he couldn't help but narrow his eyes in satisfaction.
He took a walk through the house to inspect his new workspace.
His collection of anime merchandise had already been delivered and arranged. The room featured a top-of-the-line PC and shelves filled with figures and collectibles, not just from his own works like Anohana and To the Moon, but from other popular creators as well.
As he was taking in the novelty of his new surroundings, he heard the sound of approaching vehicles outside. He opened the front door to find Yukino had arrived.
Haruto had only spent a reasonable amount on his hobby, but Yukino was on another level. Her cosplay outfits and limited-edition merchandise had been transported in a small moving truck, packed into over twenty massive crates.
Yukino, dressed in a sharp black dress, looked up at the villa with a delighted smile.
"Not bad, Haruto. You've got taste. This place looks much better than the villa my dad bought," she remarked, looking around curiously as she stepped inside.
"Which room is mine?" Yukino asked.
"Take whichever one you want. My room is the first door on the left on the second floor. Every other room is fair game. They all have smart fingerprint and voice-activated locks, so once you set yours up, even I won't be able to get in," Haruto said casually.
As they were talking, Shizuru and Reina arrived shortly after. Reina's family home in Minamijo was just as impressive as this villa, though the market value didn't compare since Tokyo real estate was exponentially more expensive than a regional city. Having grown up in wealth, she didn't have a huge reaction to the luxury.
Shizuru, however, came from a standard middle-class family. It was her first time stepping into such an elite residential area, and she spent most of the afternoon wide-eyed, exploring every corner of the house.
The movers bustled in and out, casting curious and confused glances at the four of them.
A handsome young man living in a massive villa with three beautiful girls, the workers were clearly imagining all sorts of scandalous scenarios in their heads.
The youth of today certainly know how to live, they thought.
Reina and Shizuru had known of each other since high school, having competed in national competitions. As the two "reigning beauties" of their respective circles at Minazuki University, they were often compared by their peers. Moving into a villa together as roommates under Haruto's suggestion felt a bit surreal to both of them.
"Alright, let me make the formal introductions," Haruto said once everyone was settled.
He gave a brief overview of who everyone was, letting the three women get acquainted. Then, he added a final point of emphasis.
"The three of you are my closest partners. I made this decision to move us all together to streamline our workflow and, more importantly, to ensure your personal safety. I hope you can adapt quickly. My biggest wish is that you all get along and become genuine friends," Haruto said, offering a warm smile to the group sitting across from him.
"Actually, I have a question," Shizuru piped up, her eyes full of curiosity. "Haruto, I know about our manga, but what kind of partnership do you have with Reina and Yukino?"
"Oh, the three of us are partners in an animation production studio," Haruto mentioned casually, glancing at Shizuru.
If she had pushed further and asked for the name of the studio, Haruto wouldn't have hidden the truth from her. He was prepared to reveal that he was the "Warrior of Love." However, Shizuru simply nodded and chose to let the topic drop. She understood that her relationship with Haruto was centered on manga; she didn't want to overstep or pry into his other business ventures and risk becoming a nuisance.
Yukino and Reina exchanged a look. It was clear that Shizuru was completely in the dark regarding Haruto's legendary status in the anime world. Since Haruto hadn't volunteered the information, the two of them remained silent on the matter.
After chatting in the first-floor living room for the rest of the afternoon, the four of them retired to their chosen bedrooms to rest. Moving into Haruto's estate provided an immediate upgrade to their quality of life. The biggest difference was the lack of domestic chores. The next morning, when the three women emerged from their rooms at 7:00 AM, they found the dining table in the kitchen laden with an enormous spread of breakfast foods.
They stood there, blinking in confusion. "What is this?" Yukino asked.
"It's part of the service for this villa complex," Haruto explained. "If you don't feel like cooking, you can commission the management company to deliver meals at specific times, customized to your taste. It's convenient, and frankly, it's healthier and cleaner than eating out."
With the massive funds he had earned from Madoka Magica, the cost of such a luxury service was negligible to him. Saving time on cooking was a much more valuable investment.
"Don't just stand there! Eat up! Once we're done, the housekeeping staff will come by to clear everything away," Haruto urged them.
On that first morning, the atmosphere at the table was a bit quiet and formal.
However, by the second day, Shizuru had broken the ice with Yukino and Reina. They were already deep in conversation about illustration techniques and music theory. Haruto joined in as well; after all, Shizuru was the one who had taught him how to draw storyboards and the basics of music theory.
By the third day, Haruto was floored when he saw Shizuru coming downstairs arm-in-arm with Yukino.
She was showering Yukino with compliments about how beautiful she was and asking for tips on how to keep her skin so flawless and soft.
'I really underestimated Shizuru,' Haruto thought, slightly dazed. Her social skills are top-tier.
He hadn't spent much time in dormitories during his school years, so he didn't quite grasp where she had learned these skills. For Shizuru, moving into the villa was simply like moving into a high-end dorm. Even if everyone had their own private rooms, contact in the common areas was inevitable.
She had years of experience in navigating roommate dynamics. Even the usually cold and distant Reina found it hard to dislike Shizuru and was soon engaging with her quite naturally.
Seeing that his mental fears of a "roommate war" hadn't materialized, Haruto breathed a massive sigh of relief. With all his key partners under one roof, the efficiency of his work skyrocketed.
He didn't have to travel back and forth to discuss Initial D details with Shizuru. Coordinating with Reina on her administrative tasks for the studio became much simpler. And as for Yukino, who handled the external operations like Madoka licensing and merchandise development, they no longer had to spend hours on the phone every day.
But the most significant benefit was the peace of mind.
Haruto, Reina, and Shizuru all felt a massive weight lift from their shoulders.
They no longer had to worry about obsessive fans camping outside their front doors. The scene of being mobbed by dozens of fans the moment they left the house was an impossibility in this high-security gated community. Haruto had spent a fortune, but what he had truly bought was privacy and safety.
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Two days later, the fourth chapter of Sword Art Online was released. The plot centered on Kirito's encounter with another supporting female character: the beast tamer, Silica. The narrative followed the established world-building, focusing on Kirito's struggle against "Orange" and "Red" players, those sociopathic individuals who prioritized killing other players over clearing the game.
The chapter was essentially another showcase for Kirito's overpowered abilities. While the plot was straightforward, it was exactly what the mainstream audience craved.
It was light, engaging, and delivered a satisfying sense of catharsis as the high-ranker Kirito effortlessly dismantled the villains.
However, after reading the chapter, a collective question began to form in the minds of the readers.
Silica has appeared, but who is the actual heroine of this story?
Asuna, who had been a major presence in Chapter Two, had been completely absent for two consecutive weeks. She had effectively vanished from the narrative.
The fans didn't mind a story with many girls, but the tone of the work didn't feel like a typical harem setup. Kirito's heart still seemed frozen in the wake of Sachi's death, and he fought under a crushing weight of psychological trauma. He seemed to have zero interest in romance.
But the readers were getting restless.
A light novel protagonist can't just stay single forever, right?