"This was Klee's inspiration!"
Yoimiya exclaimed, holding up two fingers in a 'V' sign towards the sky, her smile as bright as the sun.
"Yoimiya—"
"Hm?"
Hearing Feng Yi's call, Yoimiya turned her head and saw Feng Yi extending his right hand towards her.
"You've been busy so late, you must be hungry. Since the festival isn't over yet, let's grab something to eat..."
Feng Yi patted his rumbling stomach and invited Yoimiya.
"Okay, okay, that's exactly what I was thinking! Let's go, the earlier we get there, the more we can eat!"
Yoimiya grabbed Feng Yi's right hand and eagerly pulled him along.
"The snacks sold at festivals are all incredibly delicious. Every time there's a festival, I make it a point to try them all, indulging until I can't eat anymore."
"As a seasoned foodie with over a decade of eating experience, I know a few hidden gems with unassuming storefronts but absolutely amazing food. Come on, I'll take you to them one by one!"
When it came to food, Yoimiya seemed to unlock a new level of chatter, going on and on.
Even though Yoimiya was always so lively, Feng Yi didn't find her noisy at all.
Because Feng Yi knew that if Yoimiya ever fell silent, it would mean she was unhappy.
The two arrived at the festival grounds and sampled treats from every food stall.
An hour later...
Rumble rumble rumble~
"Oh no, I overestimated myself. I shouldn't have touched that bowl of milk dumplings. Now, it feels like there are floating spirits causing chaos inside me..."
Yoimiya clutched her stomach and squatted on the ground, her brows furrowed and her face looking pale.
Yoimiya couldn't consume milk. If she did, her stomach would feel like a fireworks display, crackling and popping.
In the past, Yoimiya could still eat dishes or snacks containing milk, but today, something had gone wrong.
Perhaps it was because Yoimiya had eaten too much before the milk dumplings, which had overstimulated her digestive system.
Or, as Yoimiya put it, "Maybe the little spirits in my belly have become picky eaters again these past few days."
"Feng Yi, wait for me for a moment, I need to take care of something!"
With that, Yoimiya, hunching over and taking small steps, quickly headed towards the public restroom nearby.
More than ten minutes later, Yoimiya emerged looking weak, as if her body had been emptied. The snacks she had devoured earlier had all been... released.
"Feng Yi, help me up, I can still eat..."
Yoimiya, clutching her rumbling stomach, moved with difficulty but with determination towards the distant food stalls.
"I really don't know what to do with you. Even like this, you're still thinking about food... Alright, open your mouth, here's something good for you..."
Feng Yi sighed, a drop of Water of Life materializing at his fingertip, which he then extended towards Yoimiya's small mouth.
"Ah—"
Yoimiya slurped it down and suddenly felt a surge of energy, a warm sensation gathering in her abdomen.
The next second, Yoimiya was astonished to find that her churning stomach had completely calmed down. It was truly magical!
"Hooray! Thank you, Feng Yi! Since I'm all better now, let's continue the ramen challenge! I won't admit defeat until the very end!"
Yoimiya waved her fist, full of confidence. She had just emptied her stomach, and her appetite was excellent now. This was her advantage, and she intended to seize it.
"Then you can't blame me. When it comes to eating, I'm afraid of no one. The agreement from before still stands: whoever loses has to do the other's laundry for a month!"
Feng Yi stated, "You wouldn't understand the appetite of a bear!"
The two continued their challenge until the festival ended. Feng Yi couldn't recall how many bowls of ramen he'd eaten that night, only remembering the incredibly friendly smile of the ramen stall owner as they warmly escorted them to the crossroads.
As for the outcome of the competition, Feng Yi had, of course, won without any pressure.
Although he had wanted to lose and do Yoimiya's laundry, his strength was undeniable, making it difficult to lose even if he tried.
He hadn't even started exerting himself before Yoimiya threw in the towel and surrendered.
The next morning, Feng Yi's stomach still felt a little full, and he wasn't hungry at all, saving him the cost of breakfast.
Today was the day the novel submission event would release its bestseller list. Feng Yi went to Grand Narukami Shrine to find Yae Miko and together they headed to the submission event plaza.
"Chief Priest Yae, Mr. Feng Yi, you're finally here! We have some good news to tell you. The sales outlets have reported that the light novels you published are in high demand, and several outlets are asking when they can expect a reprint?"
At the submission plaza, Nakano Shino, who was in charge of the event, greeted them with a smile upon seeing them and offered her congratulations.
"To have such a strong start right after your debut is truly remarkable. Given the same number of copies printed, many books don't even sell thirty percent..."
"Here are your author's copies, please accept them. Your royalties will be processed in a while, and you'll be notified when they are ready for collection..."
"Everything is proceeding as expected."
Yae Miko crossed her arms and nodded gently. Such results were worthy of their hard work.
From soliciting story ideas from Feng Yi to assembling elite editors and authors for creation, complemented by Albedo's illustrations and Miss Hina's blurb...
The lineup was undeniably impressive.
Being able to overshadow the old fox of Yuyuki Publishing in the light novel genre filled Yae Miko with a sense of exhilaration and contentment; all their efforts were worthwhile.
Meanwhile, the topics discussed by readers at the submission plaza indicated that the focal points of reader interest were subtly shifting:
Passerby Reader A: "Have you heard about the latest ghost stories going around? They say if you chant the incantation from 'The Real Ghost Investigation Notes' at midnight, your wishes will come true..."
Passerby Reader B: "Oh, you mean the ghost story that 'was popular' a while ago? That's outdated. Look around, who's still talking about that?
What's trending now is the 'Miss Fox's Secret Arts.' That's a supreme incantation that even the omnipotent Stone Monkey is fighting to acquire. I've memorized all the incantations from it..."
Passerby Reader A: "'Miss Fox's Secret Arts'? What's that?"
Passerby Reader B: "It's from that recently explosive book, 'The Wonderful Adventures of the Stone Monkey.' You haven't read it? Let me tell you, it's said that on a full moon night, chanting the 'Miss Fox's Secret Arts' can draw upon the power of the moon to empower oneself, allowing you to transform into a Super Saiyan, with power levels soaring, capable of killing a sea monster with a single punch, as easily as crushing a mosquito..."