How To Make a Good Plot 1

"Why did you say that you wanted me to be here for this meeting?"

Iori's editor asked eying the menu that the waiter had left with them before leaving them alone in the rediculousely luxurious private room. The woman was looking at the menu as if it was going to grow legs and attack her. Which was no wonder, since one meal in this place would make irreparable damages to anyone's wallet. The only reason why Iori was here in the first place was that the president had been paying for all those luxuries.

"Don't worry, we're making Satoru-san pay for all of this because of the inconvenience he had been causing us," Iori said with a smirk and her editor gave her a weak smile putting her menu down.

"Honestly, only you two can get away with treating the president the way you do..." Kimiko Tachibana told her shaking her head hopelessly.

"Judging by the trouble he has been putting us through for the sake of his own whims I bet we deserve the special treatment from him..." Iori retorted. Kimiko had always had a hard time playing referee between her and the resident. Since she'd been assigned as her new editor because her previous editor had been promoted to editor in chief, she had been thrown in the middle of hers and the president's ongoing battle. 

The previous editor had been the carefree type who knew how to handle the president without having to play the fetch game between the two of them. But Kimiko was new to his approach and completely intimidated by him, which leaves Iori to deal with more than her own share sometimes.

Kimiko smiled awkwardly as if it was physically painful for her to say something bad about her boss. Sometimes it was fun to watch her squirm just for the sake of it. But today wasn't one of those days, she had to completely pull Kimiko to her side for their plan to work.

"Actually, I wanted you here because I've been having a bit of a problem progressing with the story plot..."

"Do you mean that you need more material?"

"No, nothing like that. We were actually having a hard time deciding on a common plot to use, And we thought if you two could be here to help us decide this would go faster..."

"Who do you mean by the two of us?" Kimiko asked uncertain

"I mean you and Jun-sensei's editor Kajima-san."

"You invited the two of us here so that we can stay here with you and help out?" Kimiko asked her eyes widening.

"Yeah, don't worry, I asked the editor in chief and he said that you could afford to stay the evening with us today because there was nothing more pressing." 

"Oh, I see. But... isn't time between the two of you more important? You need to learn to get along for you to work together in the future,"

"Oh don't start me about that! We can barely be productive enough staying in the same room. Believe me, we need you guys if we're going to finish this plot before the deadline," Iori said with exasperation that she didn't have to fake, badmouthing Jun was easier than she had expected it to be...

Right then a knock on the door and the waiter opened the door letting Jun and his editor into the room. Jun smirked at her then said,

"Early as always,"

"And barely making it in time as always,"

"I like to make a fashionable entrance,"

"Yes, and you succeed in making a late entrance and making other people wait so congratulations..."

"Come on you two don't start fighting first thing before we even got to sit down," Said Jun's editor complaining as he came up to sit in front of them.

Yusuke Kajima was one of the president's victimized employees, He was probably suffering from the same fate as Kimiko but he didn't seem to be troubled about it, or rather he doesn't seem to notice it. He was the type of easygoing who would be used without being able to realize that he was being used. Which made him the perfect pawn for the president and it was probably convenient more often than not for Jun too.

Both editors were extremely good at their jobs though. When it came to making Iori meet her deadlines and write her content, Kimiko was quite skilled, she was also someone whom Iori could rely on when it comes to discussing her content. But still, she was the perfect pawn for the president.

"So I hear from Jun-sensei that you've been having a problem deciding on a plot," Kajima-san said as the two sat down in front of them.

"Yeah, We would like you two to give us your thoughts on what we did so far. Perhaps find a way to mesh both of our ideas?" Iori responded 

"Well, as much as that would please you, I don't think that the outcome would be as good as we both want to," Jun said 

"come on, don't start with Iori-sensei again. I don't have much time because I still have a meeting in an hour so I will do what I can until then, We can meet again if necessary," Kajima-san said avoiding their gazes and sipping on his glass of water.

The man was definitely lying, and he sucked at it. But, he found a way out and he will be gone within the hour, so if they wanted to keep this as professional-looking as possible. Keeping Kimiko around would have to do it but the best choice would be to end the meeting within an hour.

"How about we keep the meeting short then? We can go over the important things for now and then finish off later," Jun suggested reading her mind

"That won't do, Sensei. The two of you are already behind on your work if the plot isn't even progressing enough. From this material, you gave us you still have yet to decide about the secondary characters. You can't write a story without supporting characters." Kimiko said already into her work mode.

"She's right, if the two of us have to leave, you will have to stay, you need to at least finish the outline of the story today, otherwise you won't make it for the deadline," Kajima-san said skillfully supporting her.

For two people who were always swept with the flow they were being quite bossy, and Iori realized then that it was a mistake to try manipulating them the way they did. Those two were good at their job, and it was a failing gamble to talk when it came to their professional sides. But there was something more, their determination to keep them together had some strong backing. And Iori would bet that that backing was the president. Whether it was a bribe or a threat, he has managed to turn their editors to his side...

"Alright, let's see what we can do in this hour first..." Jun said with a resigned sigh

After that, there was talk about characters, plots, and storylines. The fact that they had the editors with them wasn't relevant, Iori and Jun could work well when they want to. They just had to make a show for those two to believe them, but their plan failed anyway. 

"Surprisingly, you two work well together, even though you write different genres and your styles are not similar the result from putting both of your ideas together is quite interesting," Kimiko commented while reading the synopsis they came up with.

"Yeah, right? It's like the president really knew what he was doing..." Kajima said then realizing that he had just said something taboo he looked up awkwardly, " I mean... Uh. The president must know how the two of you write and that you would make a good pair together..." He said not really making the situation any better.

Both Iori and Jun eyed him silently not really wanting to ease the man's discomfort. If he had said this a week ago when they had first heard this from the president, the two of them would have been annoyed and even outraged. But now they were a team for as long as it took to ruin the president's plans and write this book, so this comment wasn't as annoying as it may have sounded.

"Ah, goodness! look at the time. Time sure flew by, it has already been an hour, I need to move on to my next appointment. I will see you guys later." Kajima-san said stumbling over his chair, he hurriedly gathered his belongings, "Please continue without me, Tachibana-san can update me when we meet later in the company. You will be heading there this evening right?" He asked

"Yes, I will have to check-in before clocking out, I will text you then," Kimiko said watching the young editor stumble out of the room with what Iori would have called envy.

Those two really didn't want to be there with them... After that Kimiko remained with them working on the next step. The fact that they didn't really need her was becoming more and more apparent and soon Iori could only do the right thing and ask her if she would like to leave early...