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[TL/ED : We decided to change the ‘name’ that the manga artist was trying to figure out to ‘storyboard’. The katakana is ネーム which actually means storyboard/manuscript for when one makes his/her story or manga.]
The new storyboard finally sets sail.
I’ve come up with a few gags and the pages are gradually filling up.
However, I’m still only at the beginning of the second part of the story.
Dinner time.
Konata enters the room.
There is no longer any knocking.
I don’t feel the need to, either.
“Wa! It’s an omelette. You really made it.”
I look at the hemispherical yellow object occupying the platter and cheer.
Today’s menu is what I requested from her.
Recently, she has been asking me what I want to eat from time to time, perhaps because she has become more confident in her cooking.
By the way, I’m not bragging but I have a child’s tongue.
I love food that is easy to understand and has a strong flavour.
“Today’s is a bit special.”
She says proudly.
I ordered it without thinking, but when I thought about it, omelette rice seems too difficult to be a beginner’s menu.
At least I’m not confident I can successfully wrap the rice in an egg well.
Konata must have put a lot of effort into making this.
As proof, the omelette on the other side has a tear at the edge of the egg.
This means that the better one is given to me.
“Oh yeah. I’m looking forward to it. Plus, it comes with a message!”
On top of the omelette for me, the word 『Ganbare』 is written in ketchup.
[TL: Goodluck/All the best]
I told her yesterday that I was having difficulty with the storyboard, so she must have been concerned about me.
“I’ve also injected this…… with a motivational spell.”
Konata adds discreetly.
“Oh, like a maid cafe? You know, like a 『moe moe kyun kind of thing.』”
If it is what she means, I want her to do it right in front of me.
“No. It’s a Solomon’s magic spell. I used it since it’s the right time for this month.”
She replies in an easy-going tone, as if to say, 『Because the meat was cheap in the sale.』
‘I don’t quite understand but I feel a tremendous motivation.’
Come to think of it, her pyjamas are skulls and zombies too, maybe she  likes occult stuff.
“Anyway, I’ll have some before it gets cold!”
I insert a spoon into my omelette.
It’s appetising, the red of the ketchup rice and the yellow of the eggs.
I blow a little on the hot surface to cool it down and bring it to my mouth.
“—Yeah, it’s delicious! Possibly the best I’ve ever had.”
I swallow the first mouthful and say.
Then I immediately take a second and third bite.
“Good.”
She smiles and takes a bite of her own omelette.
I rake in half a bowl of omelette in one go.
Afterwards, we finish our meal and chat amicably.
“……. Thanks for the food. I’m motivated now. Thanks to this omelette, I think I’ll be able to draw a bit more today.”
Maybe the spell really works.
I can’t wait to get to work now.
“Good luck.”
Konata says this and opens her hands towards me and makes a pose as if she is sending power through her hands.
“Ah!　I’ll work harder, and when I’ve finished the storyboard──”
『Why don’t you face what you’re running away from?』
I almost say something like that, but I stop myself mid-sentence.
Do I have the right to say such a thing?
I have only recently learned her name and I don’t think I should be so brazen as to intrude into her private life.
Well, I am still in the process of having my private space invaded by this person in the form of confinement. But that doesn’t mean I can step into her mind in return, that’s another story.
“……”
Konata is still listening..
“No, nothing. Anyway, I’ll work on the storyboard.”
I swallow those words and say the latter  with a wry smile.
“Is that so…..”
Konata gives a small nod and walks out of the room with the empty plate.
‘First concentrate on the storyboard in front of me. If I want to propose something to her, at least finish the storyboard first.’
Right now I’m still a nobody.
At the very least, if I can’t decide on a storyboard that I can proudly present as a manga artist, I can’t have confidence in my own works.