{Wozwald Yuu - Miyashita & Nilfruits}

{10 years after joining the workforce}

I sit alone in the resting room of the station while smoking a cigarette. I'm done. I'm tired, poor, and demoralized. Nothing's moving the way I want it to go. My family says my feelings are unreasonable and that I should be expected to be a slave to them, but I've grown indifferent to it.

What's the purpose of my being here? Do I provide any valuable service? Would I be missed? Not really; nobody cares about you, about me, about anyone else but themselves. I've grown older and am still single. I want to escape and run away from all, and I want to do more!

Why am I wasting my twilight years working for a corporation that couldn't care less about me? I can barely pay for my rent, food, and other living expenses. It's all too hard for one loner girl in a grim economy and a work environment that doesn't value me.

But what can I do about it? I ended up flatbroken. Every paycheck leaves me no spare cash for anything other than some cheap cup of coffee a day, and that's it. I'm throwing my life away to work, overworking myself to death instead of doing something with my life.

I don't want to leave this world behind without anything in my name, so I must escape. One of the friends I've made said they found a forum for their novels where they shared their ideas, and it was a mild success. I wonder if I could have a chance. Who knows.

Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.

Between Misa and myself, I'm the dumber stupid one; Misa's got her college degree. After all, I barely graduated high school. What chance does anyone like me have? {Iphone ding} A message from an unknown sender?

{"Hi, I'm Emma, the current sponsor of your friend Misa. She told me you've got the same idea for a possible light novel. Please let me know more about it. I can also help you a little bit! UwU}

An opportunity, a light far into the tunnel, an idea that could be a chance to get away from it all. I could always get my guitar and run away to play music but let's be honest, I suck at public events and overall socialize, so writing behind a screen is most appropriate for someone like me.

I grabbed my phone and was about to write a reply, but I waited a minute. Who is this Emma guy, and why is he keen to help us? It's a little suspicious. I wonder if he has some sort of romantic attachment to Misa or something; otherwise, why would he be willing to spend money on me?

Not only does he barely know me, if at all, but I could be a complete idiot who writes nonsense around the clock, a complete mess of ideas, and barely has any time to do anything else in life aside from slave away. How would I publish on that American platform? The last time I checked, I didn't find a site called "Royal Road."

{Ding}

{"Get back to work. Your ten minutes are up, Rumiko."}

{Sigh} I guess it can't be helped. It's time to go back into the factory to be a factory worker for life. I put my hat back on and fixed my hair before returning from the resting room to work with a fake smile that I didn't believe.