*CLUBROOM HALLS - NIJIGASAKI HIGH SCHOOL - ODAIBA - TOKYO*

AKI: "What's going on?"

SETSUNA: "That was the office for the manga awards on the phone just now. Apparently, there's a ceremony and they want me to attend..."

AKI: "Really? That's fantastic news!"

SETSUNA: "None of this feels real! Please come with me!"

AKI: "Like you even have to ask."

SETSUNA: "Wait, what should I even wear to something like that?
...Gah! I can't do it! And besides..."

AKI: "Hm?"

SETSUNA: "It wasn't Setsuna Yuki nor Nana Nakagawa who created that manga!"

Wait, now that I think about it... When Setsuna was submitting her manga to the magazine...

...

*LAST WEEK*

*SETSUNA'S ROOM - NAKAGAWA RESIDENCE - CITY BAY TOKYO TOWERS - ODAIBA - TOKYO*

AKI: "Setsuna, I've got your work all packed up. Did you fill out your entry form for the Newcomer Award yet?"

SETSUNA: "I have most of it filled out, but I'm not sure what to put down as my pen name..."

AKI: "Why can't you use 'Setsuna Yuki'?"

SETSUNA: "That wouldn't feel right... Besides, I didn't do this all on my own.
None of this would have happened if I hadn't talked to you in the first place.
You were right there beside me throughout the whole process, encouraging me and helping me get it done, so I see it as something you and I both created together."

AKI: "Setsuna... I didn't know you felt that way."

SETSUNA: "How about this?"

AKI: "...Setsuzuki?"

SETSUNA: "We could create a pen name by combining both of our names together."

AKI: "Sure!"

SETSUNA: *Giggle* "Thank you. Now I've got myself another new name that's neither Nana Nakagawa nor Setsuna Yuki!
The name will be our own little secret, born from the two of us!"

...

AKI: "Oh... Maybe we do have a problem."

SETSUNA: "This manga was created by both you and me. So, I came up with a unique pen name for it.
With that in mind, it's not right for Setsuna Yuki or Nana Nakagawa to take part in the award ceremony.
So perhaps I should tell them I won't be attending..."

AKI: "I mean does it really matter? You're both the same person to me.
Besides, I want you to go! I know just how much of yourself you put into that manga!
You're the one who decided to put your cherished manga artist set to work and gave it everything! And how could I forget how it felt when we finished after all that trouble?!
I want to see you there at the awards ceremony!"

SETSUNA: "But..."

AKI: "Fine, if you're so committed to this whole concept of 'different versions' of yourself, then I'll play ball.
I'll help you find a version of yourself that fits the pen name 'Setsuzuki'."

SETSUNA: "Sorry?"

AKI: "Just as you have the role of Nana and Setsuna, I'm sure there's a way for you to express yourself that matches that pen name. We just have to find it!"

SETSUNA: "Whaaaat?!"

...

*LATER*

*SETSUNA'S ROOM - NAKAGAWA RESIDENCE - CITY BAY TOKYO TOWERS - ODAIBA - TOKYO*

AKI: "What I'm saying is, our hunt for the manga artist in you is underway."

SETSUNA: "O-Okay..."

AKI: "Think about some big-shot author. Now try acting like them!"

SETSUNA: "All right, here I go..."

Let's see how this plays out.

SETSUNA: "Um... It is a wonderful honor to receive such an incredible prize. The motivation to pen this work came to me from...
Um... Does that sound like me?"

AKI: "Not really."

SETSUNA: "If we want it to sound like me, then I'll have to go with an anime character. I'll try doing it as the ultimate anime heroine!"

AKI: "Um..."

SETSUNA: "I'M JUST SO HYPED TO GET MY HANDS ON THIS AWESOME PRIZE! THE PEOPLE WHO SUPPORTED ME ARE ALL THE REAL HEROES! MEGA THANKS, GUYS!"

AKI: "......"

SETSUNA: "Th-That's not it either, huh...?"

AKI: "We'll keep working on it."

SETSUNA: "But which part of me is supposed to be the one who created that manga?!"

AKI: "That's for you to find out. We still have plenty of time before the day of the ceremony. We'll discover it together soon enough."

SETSUNA: "I-I'll give it my best shot!"