After my divorce, I became a Tokyo literary giant

Chapter 65: Aoba's Sales Rebound
The day soon turned to afternoon.

The setting sun shone into the office and onto Maki Saionji's desk.

Ink bottles, scissors, knives, dictionaries and other things that belonged to Tsukuru Tazaki sparkled in the setting sun.

He leaned back in his chair and stared at the sunset outside for a long time.

Maki Saionji was watching him from the side.

There was something strange. The more she spent time with him as he was now, the stronger the presence of his youth became in her mind.

The young boy Taki's health, bright smile, beautiful white teeth, innocence and simplicity, and the dazzling light reflected by his youth; his reservedness and restraint when facing her would grow from his brows, and the inferiority and distress of the country boy would be engraved on his cheeks.

Occasionally, he would show his youthful vigor.

At this moment, looking at his mature and capable profile, and his eyes that were increasingly like a lizard with a cold light, Saionji Maki actually missed the boy she looked down upon even more, even though the young man in front of her was what she had imagined a man should be like.

Just like a traveler looking back at old photos and finding the original beauty...

People really do have some issues... Saionji Maki cursed herself inwardly.

The sun continued to set, and the color inside the house was gradually dyed red by the sunset.

There were only the two of them in the president's office. Maki Saionji took a deep breath from time to time, inhaling the air in the room into her body.

She had never thought her office looked so good before.

The windows were open, letting in the setting sun; on the table stood an inkwell and an upright dictionary; on the wall was a Titian etching; behind this delicate scene, a desolate evening streetscape of Shinjuku unfolded: the glass curtain walls of tall buildings, the cars on the street, the tram carriages and rails, and the broken glass on the garbage dump all emitted a strong light.

"correct……"

Tazaki Saku suddenly turned around.

In an instant, the intoxicated look on Saionji Maki's face disappeared.

She was wearing a black suit that wrapped around her beautiful and plump body. She looked nonchalant, with deep and sharp eyes, asking him what was wrong.

"It's almost time to get off work, let's go to the bookstore." Tazaki Saku stood up and said.

"it is good."

Without thinking, Saionji Maki got up and followed him out.

The closest large bookstore to Aobasha is Kinokuniya Shinjuku, about a 15-minute drive away.

When you arrive at the entrance of the bookstore, you can see a huge poster of Yomiuri Okamoto.

During this period of time, Kodansha's publicity has been crazy, with online and offline linkages, which is simply viral marketing.

#Celebrities highly recommend#
#Don't miss it! This year's bestselling author, Yomiuri Okamoto, has put so much effort into this new masterpiece! #
#Shocking arrival, the Japanese version of "If I Had Seven Days of Light"! #
Such recommendations are found on online platforms, subway and bus advertising spaces, and in the most prominent notice boards of major bookstores.

The literature sections of major newspapers are also filled with praise for "Afterimage" from various writers and professors.

In today's era of declining publishing industry, only three or four leading publishing houses can afford such money-burning marketing.

is that useful?
In the short term, of course it works.

Some writers with less ability can achieve unexpected results in the early stages of sales by manipulating the charts and getting good reviews.

But once the sales line is lengthened, it will be impossible to invest money in marketing for a long time, and the writer's true level will be revealed.

When it comes to novels, if they are good, they are good, and if they are bad, they are bad. There is no such thing as bad money driving out good money. Works that can remain bestsellers for a long time must have their merits.

As he approached the entrance of the bookstore and looked at the portrait of his rival on the poster, the president, Maki Saionji, felt ashamed and a little angry. He secretly vowed that when he had money in the future, he would give the same marketing resources to Saku Tazaki!

"Walk faster, why are you daydreaming?" Tazaki Saku reminded him.

"Oh~"

Saionji Maki finally looked away from the poster and took small steps to catch up with Tazaki Saku, and the two of them walked into the bookstore together.

Kinokuniya Shinjuku is arguably the largest, most luxurious, and most visited bookstore in Tokyo.

It was 5:30 in the afternoon. The students had already finished school and office workers were also starting to get off work. The bookstore was crowded and bustling.

Compared to the morning, the sales scene in the afternoon was obviously more lively.

The copies of "Aoba" on the bookshelf were constantly being taken away, and the overwhelmed clerk was scrambling to restock the stock amid constant urging.

Maki Saionji looked around and found that the customers in the store were mostly students wearing high school uniforms. Most of those who were not wearing school uniforms were relatively young. Those who were wearing casual clothes should be college students.

Customers who got the books gathered in the reading area in groups of three or four to discuss the plot with each other.

"Wow, this author's writing gives me a feeling of never getting tired of reading..."

"Why haven't I heard of this guy before?"

"He's a newcomer who just emerged this year. This is his third book..."

"Do you think it looks good?"

"I don't know how to review it. My classmates are all discussing this. If I don't buy it and try it, I won't know how to interrupt everyone's conversations during class..."

"Me too. To fit in, I just followed the trend and bought it."

"Yeah, normally I only read light novels, but my classmates at school all say light novels are toilet paper and Mishima is the real god... In order not to be looked down upon, I have no choice but to follow the trend and read..."

"I can't be solitary..."

Most of the students were swept up in this way and rushed into the bookstore to buy out the newly released "Aoba".

Listening to their discussion, Saionji Maki's eyes were shining, and looking at Tazaki Saku's eyes were full of emotion and admiration.

Who could have imagined that this brother-in-law whom she looked down upon would shine brightly in the Japanese literary world and single-handedly support the sales of an entire magazine...

What is even more valuable is that he has such a keen judgment of the market...

They said it would be popular among students, and it really became popular.

The scene of being coerced by him at that time still seems like yesterday, and the scenes of "Aoba" selling well in front of me are like a movie, a little unreal.

Maki Saionji's heartbeat suddenly became a little irregular for some reason.

...That's great. Fortunately, I gritted my teeth and agreed to his request, otherwise the company would have gone bankrupt by now.

Judging from the current popularity, "Aoba" will probably be sold out at Kinokuniya Shinjuku store before 8 pm, and the same is true for most bookstores across the country.

Maki Saionji couldn't help but start fantasizing in her mind.

10 copies of "Aoba" were distributed to major bookstores on the first day. If all of them could be sold out, she would really have to reward Tazaki Saku tonight...

"Let's go home." Tazaki Saku turned and left. "I have a salon tonight, so go back and take a shower and change clothes."

After confirming that the sales during the evening peak were in line with his expectations, there was no need to stay any longer.

Saionji Maki followed him out.

As I approached the parking lot, I couldn't help but look back at the entrance of the bookstore.

The continuous influx of readers is like a heavy iron fist, which is bound to smash the unrealistic fantasies of those people in Kodansha!
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I was busy during the day, so I only had time to update 2000 words today.

(End of this chapter)