Nanako explained while handing the tea to the two guests, subtly giving her dad a light kick under the table, trying to get him to rein it in a little.
She knew all too well about her father's bad habit—not that it was particularly bad, just that his protective instincts toward her were a little too strong.
"Ahem... It's like this. Please don't take it the wrong way, Aomatsu-sensei..."
Chided by his beloved daughter, Oohara Shijirou had no choice but to withdraw his intense gaze, giving a couple of awkward coughs as he looked away.
But in his mind, he couldn't help recalling that night when Nanako came home wrapped in a man's coat. His wariness toward Lin Yu deepened on the spot.
He absolutely did not want some random punk laying his hands on his precious daughter.
This was, after all, the first time in over twenty years that Nanako had ever brought a boy home—even if she claimed it was for "work reasons."
With that awkward moment brushed aside, the three of them chatted casually over tea as they waited for the results from Yuurou Publishing.
Meanwhile, Oohara sat nearby like a silent statue, clearly not blending in with the lively atmosphere. But he didn't seem eager to leave either. Even with Kanda Torinobu present, he couldn't relax.
As he listened to their conversation, though, Shijirou gradually became intrigued by Inuyasha. As Nanako's father, he knew her better than anyone, and it was obvious she genuinely loved this manga.
This piqued his curiosity. After all, Nanako had never shown the slightest interest in his own novels.
From his initial wariness, Shijirou now began to feel a tinge of envy. He wanted Nanako to admire his stories and look at him with reverence too.
With that thought, he deliberately cleared his throat again to draw everyone's attention.
"Nanako…"
"Dad, are you not feeling well? Maybe you should go lie down. You've been pulling all-nighters to meet deadlines lately…"
Nanako spoke with genuine concern.
Oohara's expression darkened. He hadn't even gotten to say what he wanted, and his beloved daughter was already trying to kick him out.
He shook his head firmly to show he was fine.
"I was just listening to your conversation, and I have to say—Aomatsu-sensei's manga sounds really interesting. Would it be alright if I took a look too?"
Shijirou was still civil, even though he was somewhat guarded around Lin Yu—at least he wasn't blowing his top like the overprotective anime-dad archetype.
Nanako blinked, a little surprised.
As a best-selling author, her father was quite famous in the literary world. But due to his age—or perhaps pride—he had never shown any real interest in manga. This was the first time he'd asked to read one.
They didn't have any Shonen Weekly issues at home, so the only option was to show him the original manuscript.
Nanako glanced at Lin Yu, asking for his opinion.
Original manuscripts were a big deal for manga artists. They were practically trade secrets, especially when the chapters hadn't even been published yet. If leaked, they could seriously affect a manga's performance.
Lin Yu, seeing her hesitation, smiled and nodded.
"It's fine. If it's Oohara-sensei who wants to read them, I don't mind at all."
With his permission, Nanako got up and headed to her room.
She'd carefully stored all of Lin Yu's scrapped drafts. After organizing them, they practically read like a full volume of manga—perfect for this situation.
A short while later, she returned carrying a thick folder.
Inside was a neatly arranged stack of manuscript pages, perfectly preserved without a single wrinkle or folded corner—clearly well-loved and meticulously kept.
"Dad, I've already put everything in order for you. Just follow along from the beginning. But seriously, don't crease them…"
The last part was whispered in his ear—Nanako was embarrassed to let Lin Yu know just how much she cared about the manga.
Faced with his daughter's request, Shijirou's stern face softened instantly as he nodded obediently.
If not for the fact they were father and daughter, it almost looked like the dynamic between a goddess and her devoted simp—at least from Lin Yu's past-life perspective.
Looking at the manuscript, Shijirou didn't say anything, but his expression suggested a certain degree of disdain.
Not toward Lin Yu personally, but toward manga in general. From an artistic standpoint, he believed novels were far more refined than this newer medium.
Especially as an acclaimed author, it was hard not to feel a little superior.
After all, people talked about the Nobel Prize for Literature—who had ever heard of a Nobel Prize for Manga?
With that slightly judgmental mindset, Oohara Shijirou began to read Lin Yu's manuscript in earnest. He wanted to see what kind of story could possibly enchant his daughter so thoroughly.
Seeing her father finally focused on something other than glaring at their guest, Nanako's eyes gleamed with a mischievous smile.
Having him engrossed in a manuscript was far better than having him play watchdog over Lin Yu.
Without Shijirou's watchful presence in the conversation, the atmosphere relaxed considerably.
Not long after, Nanako's phone suddenly rang.
"Riiiiing...!"
The sound made both Lin Yu and Nanako jolt—it was time. The results they'd been waiting all night for were finally here!
Nanako picked up the call, exchanged a few polite greetings, and then her face bloomed with excitement.
As soon as she hung up, her phone pinged again—this time with a text.
Smiling playfully, she showed it to Lin Yu, unlocking the screen and pointing to the message.
The text was short, just a summary of the results, but Lin Yu could clearly see Nanako's expression change—nervous at first, then surprised, and finally overwhelmed with joy and awe.
Clearly, the results had far exceeded her expectations.
"Lin-kun! The results are in—look!"
Nanako was practically bouncing as she tugged at Lin Yu's sleeve, holding the phone up to show him.
Lin Yu looked down, and right at the top were two very familiar names:
1st Place: Action Mask — 36,521 votes
2nd Place: Magical Girl Lovely P — 29,432 votes
These were characters he remembered vividly from the Crayon Shin-chan anime in his past life.