I frantically sweep around my apartment before I stop let out a deep sigh, resting my chin atop the broom handle.

“I hate cleaning…” I murmur to myself, to which Fuji’s words seem to echo back in response.

Every light novel protagonist requires a tight-knit group of friends. So, I will be sending over two authors from Saigo Press at 12 tomorrow. Don’t worry if you guys aren’t close at the start, your characters will develop together as the story goes on.

I shake my head to expel the thoughts. He’s totally under the impression that I think that they are going to be my ‘friends’, but I am confident that they are actually just Saigo Press employees sent to supervise the progress on the second volume of Dancing in the Void... but regardless of all that, I am a little bit excited. I have never really had people come to visit me before. Of course, when I lived with mom and dad family stopped in to visit every now and then, but that’s about it.

I have been cleaning since I woke up, and the apartment looks the exact same as it did this morning; spotless. I begin to question why I am cleaning in the first place. I look down at my feet. I am still wearing my usual pink polka-dot pajamas and fluffy white slippers.

...Maybe I should get dressed… and wash these pajama pants.

I run the blow-dryer over my dull brown hair, as it is a damp post-shower catastrophe. Just as I finish brushing it out, and once I conclude that I look somewhat presentable, one piece of hair springs up like a catapult.

There has always been this one spot right on the top of my head that just won’t seem to cooperate with all its other friends, no matter how many gallons of hair spray I pump onto him. He is a real jerk. And yes, I do refer to him as male. His name is Vaughn. Doctor Vaughn. And this is not my first bout with him and his evil tendencies. However, today is not the day. I have company coming and have no time to deal with such distractions.

I walk out of the washroom and into the kitchen, where I pull open the drawer with all my utensils and grab a pair of scissors. Today is the day I eliminate Vaughn once and for all.

*Knock-knock-knock*

I drop the pair of scissors immediately.

*Knock-knock-knock*

Somebody is knocking at my door.

*Knock-knock-knock*

SOMEBODY'S KNOCKING AT MY DOOR?! How could they already be here?

I check my watch. It’s only… twelve o’clock?! Last time I checked it was only eleven… Did I seriously spend a whole hour getting ready? Damn you, Vaughn… regardless, there is no turning back now. I have to answer.

“Coming!” I shout, feeling each syllable lump into my throat as I make my way to the door. I place my hand on the knob and begin to turn it. Then I abruptly stop, frozen in place.

“Did I…” I look down at my feet once again, and I am only wearing a loose towel wrapped around my chest.

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

“A-actually, just give me a few seconds please!” I say with embarrassment. Big save.

I make my way back to the door, now with beige shorts and an oversized button-up denim shirt. I did my best to pick a somewhat matching outfit, but I guess anything is better than answering the door naked.

“Here we go…” I whisper to myself as I finally pull open the door. However before I can get a clear look at who is on the other side, a female body launches itself at me, trying to crush me between its two arms. I stand stunned in place, unable to breathe. I close my eyes, accepting my inevitable suffocation. But suddenly, the arms let go. I open my eyes and there are two people standing in front of me.

“Kiyoko! You can’t just go hugging people like that! That’s considered assault. I should have you thrown in jail at this rate.” says a boy with light brown hair and matching eyes as he pulls the projectile girl by the collar of her shirt. The girl has golden blonde hair that is tied into an intentionally messy bun (kinda like mine… except mine is totally unintentional) and cobalt blue eyes. The girl swats the boy's hand off and embraces me once more, albeit much lighter this time. Leave it to me not to recognize the difference between a hug and a death grip.

“Yuriko! I love you so much!” exclaims the girl, squeezing me tighter once again.

“U-uhm… what?” I say with my hands at my sides, now I am totally confused. Who are these people? The girl then breaks away from me and lets out an embarrassed laugh.

“Ah, sorry! I’ve just been dying to meet you for so long. My name is Kiyoko Tayama, and I am a huge fan of your work” my eyes glass over after hearing this. Do my ears deceive me? The Kiyoko Tayama? There is no way… the author of Phantom of the Twilight standing in my apartment? This girl is the best selling author at Saigo Press… and she’s a fan of my work? I think I might have a heart attack.

“Th-thank you so much” I mutter, looking up at her with starry eyes. I continue. “I’m Yuriko… It’s a pleasure to meet you!” I shout, defaulting to an awkwardly respectful bow. The brown haired boy then approaches me, standing next to Kiyoko.

“And I’m Kotaro Miyazawa, pleasure to meet you!” he says, providing a large white smile and a wave.

I’m going to have two heart attacks in one day, look at me go.

“The pleasure is mine!” I say, bowing respectfully once again. Kotaro is the author of the best-selling fantasy and shounen series The Lords and the Ancients as well as Tokyo Ghost. I haven’t read too much of his work, but I am well aware of its overwhelming success. Kiyoko takes another step towards me and places her hands on my shoulders, pulling me back to an upright position.

“So, are you ready to get this club started?!” she says with a perky smile.

“Club?” I tilt my head and look around, I have no idea which club she is referring to. Kotaro rests his shoulder against the wall and chuckles a little bit as he does so, crossing his arms.

“Ha, you mean Fuji didn’t even tell you? Well, I guess I’ll have to do it then. This is the first official meeting of the “Writers Block” authors club!” exclaims Kotaro as he applies a dramatic pose.

I can’t help but giggle a little bit, as the name seems a little silly. Writer's block is typically a slump in an author's creative state and is something they actively work to avoid.

Kiyoko lets out a purposely audible sigh as she shakes her head.

“There is no way we are naming our club ‘Writer's Block’… why would you ever come up with such a name, idiot?” she crosses her arms and faces Kotaro, sticking her tongue out.

“Well, I don’t know! I just thought it would be a little funny if we named our club after the very thing that we are trying to avoid, if it’s that bad, then enlighten me. Since you know so much about club names.” Kotaro counters, striking another dramatic pose, reminding me of what you would see from a show like BoBo’s Bizarre Adventure.

“How about ‘Kotaro is just another typical shounen author that doesn’t know when to end his series’ club. I personally like that one”

“Y-yeah? Well, at least I am not a one-shot wonder like you! One successful novel, that’s all you’ve got compared to my plethora of national best-sellers, you witch!”

Two of the countries most successful authors are standing at my door arguing about the title of our author's club… could this be Fuji’s way of introducing friends to me? Maybe I should make them some tea.