Tokyo: Oreimo

"That calm demeanor clearly indicates a seasoned veteran who has weathered many storms."

Yosuke Kobayashi adjusted his glasses. "The new editors are responsible for striking up conversations, while the senior editors are responsible for observing. It's a very common mentoring model."

“Right, right!” Shota Okubo perked up. “And have you noticed that she looks especially beautiful when she smiles? Not the kind of idol-like beauty, but more like, how should I put it, very comfortable.”

Ayumi glanced at him. "You're quite observant."

"Of course! She's my ideal type!"

"He looks at least three or four years older than you."

“What’s wrong with older women!” Shota Okubo puffed out his chest, speaking with righteous indignation. “What’s wrong with mature and steady older women? If my future girlfriend looked like that, I’d be laughing in my sleep.”

"Find a girlfriend first," Yosuke Kobayashi said calmly, pouring cold water on his enthusiasm.

Misaki Asakura covered her mouth and laughed out loud.

"But to be honest."

Ayumi leaned against the edge of the table, her tone regaining its usual composure. "This is indeed good news. It means that our doujinshi has caught the attention of commercial publishers. Kadokawa is a leading publisher in the light novel field. The fact that they took the initiative to approach us speaks volumes."

Tian Zhongxue nodded vigorously, "That's what I think too!"

"So what did you think of?"

"In any case, we must tell Gao Cheng as soon as he gets back!"

Seeing the president's expression, Ayumi couldn't help but shake her head slightly, but she didn't say anything to him.

Because her own heartbeat hasn't completely calmed down yet.

Being noticed by Kadokawa's editors and officially recommended by Aniplex were things that no one in the manga club could have imagined two months ago.

And now, they are happening one after another.

.....

The vending machine area at the side entrance of East Fifth Hall.

Ryosuke took two cans of hot coffee from the spit and handed one to Ryou. Ryou took the coffee and held it in her palm without opening it immediately.

"I've been walking for almost an hour, and my feet are a little sore."

“You were the one who said you wanted to go to the illustration booths at East Fifth Hall.” Ryosuke opened his can and took a small sip.

"How was I supposed to know that East Fifth Hall was so far away?" Ling Nai glared at him, but her tone was weak, more like a coquettish pout.

The two leaned against the wall next to the vending machine. Scattered around them were tired participants sitting on the ground resting. Ryosuke took out his phone from his pocket, wanting to see if Ayumi had sent any messages.

He then noticed three missed calls on the screen, all from Ayumi, less than two minutes apart.

“Ayumi made several phone calls.”

"They hit several?" Ling Nai straightened up from leaning against the wall. "What happened?"

"I don't know, maybe the stalls are busy?" Ryosuke put down the coffee can and stood up. "Anyway, let's go back first."

Ling Nai shoved the unopened coffee back into his hand, picked up her small handbag, and stood up. The two walked back along the passage of East Fifth Hall, through the connecting passage, and returned to East Fourth Hall.

There was still a queue in front of the manga research booth, but it was much shorter than in the morning.

Misaki Asakura, with her sharp eyes, spotted them from afar. She stood on tiptoe and waved vigorously in their direction. Ryosuke walked up to the stall, but before he could even ask what had happened, Tanaka rushed over in a flash.

"Gao Cheng! Something terrible has happened!"

Ryosuke paused for a moment. "What is it?"

"Kadokawa! Kadokawa's editor is looking for you!"

Ryosuke was slightly taken aback.

"Kadokawa's editor has arrived, wanting to discuss commercial publishing with the author of 'Kara no Kyoukai'."

Ayumi took over the conversation, her tone much calmer than Tanaka's, but her face still showed undisguised excitement. "There were two people in total, one senior and one junior. The junior editor handed over his business card, while the senior editor observed from the side. He said he was there on behalf of Dengeki Bunko."

Ryosuke took the business card from Ayumi's hand.

The business card was white with gold foil stamping, and the layout was simple and clean. The words "Kadokawa Shoten Dengeki Bunko Editorial Department" were printed in the center, and below it was a name he had never seen before.

"Morikawa Aoi".

Chapter 261 Expanding Club Funding

"Aoi Morikawa, Dengeki Bunko Editorial Department."

He glanced at it, flipped the business card over, and saw the editorial department's address and contact information printed on the back.

"You came while I was away?"

"Yes! I called you twice and you didn't answer!" Ayumi waved her phone.

Ryosuke put his phone back in his pocket. "What did they say?"

"They said they are very interested in your work and want to discuss commercial publishing."

Ayumi briefly recounted the conversation, "Two people came. A new editor handed over his business card, and behind him was someone who seemed to be a senior colleague, but that person didn't introduce himself at all."

"senior?"

"Yes, a beige coat, she's about half a head taller than me, and she looks quite composed. They said I can contact them if I'm interested."

After listening, Ryosuke looked down at the business card in his hand again.

Ling Nai, standing beside him, crossed her arms and glanced curiously at the business card in his hand.

"A name I don't recognize."

"Ah."

Ryosuke looked at the unfamiliar name on the business card and his brow twitched slightly.

Aoi Morikawa.

I've never heard of it.

He submitted several books to Kadokawa's Dengeki Bunko imprint, from Kino's Journey to Fate/Zero to The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya, and the editor he worked with was always Rumi Hayakawa.

He had seen the other editors in the editorial department before; he could recognize Hattori Takuya and a few other editors he occasionally passed by in the corridor.

But I have absolutely no recollection of the name Morikawa Aoi.

They're probably newcomers.

Kadokawa recruits a batch of fresh graduates into the editorial department every year. They start by learning how to serve tea and water, and are gradually assigned to lead some lukewarm serials. Only then will they have the opportunity to come into contact with authors of some caliber.

The fact that a new editor came to Winter COMI to poach fanfiction authors is quite in line with Kadokawa's process of cultivating new talent.

However, the fact that Kadokawa came knocking on their door was still somewhat unexpected.

Although Kara no Kyoukai features entirely original characters and settings, it ostensibly borrows the world-building framework from Type-Moon. From the perspective of an unfamiliar editor, a work that might involve copyright disputes must pass Aniplex's scrutiny before it can be published.

He hadn't expected an editor to come to him.

Moreover, he originally did not intend to publish this as a business journal.

I wrote this after joining the manga club. At first, I just followed the invitation from Tianzhong Middle School, thought it was interesting, and wanted to contribute to the club's winter COMI.

When you get into a flow, you write more words; when the mood strikes, you can't stop; before you know it, you've already written a thick stack of manuscripts.

"Gaocheng?"

Tian Zhongxue's voice brought him back to reality.

"Should we call them now? They shouldn't have gone far."

Ryosuke put the business card in his pocket. "No rush, we'll talk about it when we get back."

"Huh? Aren't you going to contact me right away?"

“If we call now, the other party might still be browsing the exhibition and it might not be convenient for them to answer.” Ryosuke opened a newly bought can of coffee. “Besides, since it’s a formal invitation, we can’t discuss anything over the phone. We should schedule a time to meet in person.”

Tian Zhongxue opened his mouth, thinking, "Shouldn't this kind of thing be done as quickly as possible?" But seeing Ryosuke's calm expression, he didn't say anything more.

"Kadokawa."

Shota Okubo leaned back in his folding chair, his hands behind his head, and said with a touch of emotion, "Although it's a new editor, it's still Kadokawa after all. For an editor from a publishing house to take the initiative to come to us, that must be a huge honor."

“It’s not a matter of saving face.” Yosuke Kobayashi pushed up his glasses and spoke up, which was rare for him. “It’s a matter of the quality of the work. The recommendation posts on the forum yesterday, the official recommendation today, plus the fact that it sold out in two hours, these figures speak for themselves. The publishers aren’t blind.”

Tian Zhongxue stood in front of the stall, looking at the people still queuing outside.

It was already 2 PM, and there were still 20 or 30 people in line. The stock in the cardboard boxes was decreasing at a visible rate, and it would probably be sold out in about an hour.

He listened to the club members behind him discussing Kadokawa's editorship, and for some reason, he suddenly felt a sense of loss.

“I really envy Gao Cheng…” He turned around, pushed up his crooked glasses, as if he wanted to say something, but swallowed the words back. In the end, he just scratched his head and said, “I also really want to be approached by editors.”

The club members quieted down and all looked at Tian Zhongxue.

"I started writing fan fiction in my second year of high school, and this is my fourth year now."

Tian Zhongxue put his hands into the pockets of his winter coat, his tone unusually devoid of his usual excited, loud voice.

"After getting into Waseda University, I thought that I must start a decent club in college, write good things, publish good doujinshi, and then sell them together until even strangers are willing to pay for our work."

Tian Zhongxue's gaze fell on the trial edition of "Kara no Kyoukai" on the table, which had been flipped through until the edges were frayed.

"Now that goal has been achieved, even though it was written by Gao Cheng, not my work."

"President," Ayumi called softly. Tian Zhongxue waved his hand, indicating that he was not feeling down.

"I just feel that when I can write a work that people would make a special trip to see, it's not about attracting customers with Ayumi's illustrations or attracting traffic with forum recommendations. It's just about my writing. If people can read through the sample and say, 'This is well written,' I'll feel that my life has been worthwhile."

After he finished speaking, he laughed first, probably realizing that saying these things in front of a stall was a bit pretentious.

"In the end, we still need to keep going."

Shota Okubo straightened the folding chair in his hand, stood up and patted Tanaka Middle School on the back, "President, you are already much better than us. At least you still have the courage to write. I don't even dare to write."

"You're not afraid, you're just lazy," Yosuke Kobayashi added casually from the side.

"Kobayashi, whose side are you on today?!"

The atmosphere at the stalls became lively again.

"But to be honest, if I could write a commercially viable book, wouldn't the Comic Research Club no longer have to worry about funding?"