Tokyo: Oreimo

That's too deliberate, choosing this particular date on purpose. With that girl's intelligence, she might very well guess something.

Moreover, writing it this way will likely result in follow-up questions from the other party, and if I don't explain it clearly, the other party will probably have trouble sleeping these days.

Just as he was pondering what reason to use to send the text message, his phone vibrated, indicating that a message had been received.

Upon opening the message, it turned out that Ruri Aragaki had sent a message first.

"Brother, do you have a moment?"

What a coincidence, are you here again to inquire about Ling Nai's recent situation?

Ever since the other party got his phone number, they've been using it to monitor him, constantly bombarding him with questions about Ling Nai.

Of course, he wouldn't mind chatting with the pretty girl a bit more.

"Is there a problem?"

Ryosuke typed a few words and sent them out, taking the opportunity to see if he could help his sister solve the problem.

Ruri Aragaki: "Your older brother is collaborating with Ayano on a manga, right? I want to ask you, what are your thoughts on cosplay? For example, would you be happy to see someone dressed up as a character from your work?"

Why would you suddenly ask such a question?

Ryosuke was slightly puzzled, but he still answered honestly.

"If so, I would definitely be happy, it means that the characters in the work are liked and recognized."

Would Ling Nai think that way too?

He really can't stop talking about her.

Ryosuke chuckled.

I bet if Ling Nai saw the characters she created come to life, she'd be all over him asking for photos and stickers. Ryosuke clearly remembers that this guy is the type who buys doujinshi of his own works.

"Probably, unless it's malicious slander against the character."

What intrigued Ryosuke was why Aragaki Ruri would suddenly ask such a question.

"By the way, why do you ask that?"

He sent a message directly; since you've come to him for advice, he should be willing to tell you.

Sure enough, he received a reply shortly afterward.

Was this a publicity mission sent by Kadokawa? It's probably to generate buzz before the anime adaptation.

It's not uncommon for professional models to cosplay, but he was quite surprised that Ruri Aragaki would take on this kind of job.

“It’s an exception! Because Daidouji Tomoyo’s clothes are relatively ordinary and conservative, and the company said they could send me the clothes.”

That's touching.

Ryosuke clicked his tongue in amazement.

Is it okay to take on a job you hate just to please someone you like?

It's just an outfit.

"Since my elder brother said that Ling Nai would like it, then I will take this job and give her a surprise."

Tsk.

Ryosuke looked at the reply text message he received on his phone and suddenly felt he couldn't bring himself to do it.

It seems that Ruri Aragaki is quite keen on going shopping with Ayano; she might have been looking forward to it for a long time.

"By the way, there's something else I'd like to ask my elder brother."

"Go ahead."

"Brother, you do write novels, right? I wonder if you know the author, Keiichi Sigsawa?"

"Kino's Journey?"

"Yes, I've always loved this work. Since we're both authors of Kadokawa light novels, could you please ask when the fifth volume will be released and if there are any plans for a book signing?"

“…”

Speaking of this, Ryosuke remembered that Hayakawa Rumi had mentioned it to him before, but he had clearly rejected her.

"Why would you care about this? This work is being serialized normally, so signing events are probably unnecessary."

"Because people will be curious about what kind of person the author is, and signed copies are more valuable to collect."

.....

Ruri Aragaki, still in bed, edited and sent a text message, then looked up at her bookshelf.

The seven individual volumes of Kino's Journey are displayed in the most prominent position.

She was a reader of this novel after the first three volumes were published. As far as she knew, the sales of this work were quite good, but there was no news at all about holding a book signing event.

She really liked one of the lines in the work.

The world is not beautiful, yet it is beautiful because of this.

"Just as every country in the story has its own twists, extremisms, and troubles, Kino, on his journey, doesn't need to judge, feel sentimental about, or try to change it..."

"It's the same for me; if I like something, I like it..."

Ruri Aragaki hugged the pillow in her arms tightly. She was now able to face her feelings for Ryouko Takagi directly, and was absolutely certain that they were real.

However, she still lacks some courage.

"I really want to meet the author in person and ask him what I should do. Surely a senior with such rich life experience can dispel my confusion?"

Ruri Aragaki waited for a while, but Ryosuke's reply never came.

Isn't this a bit presumptuous? It doesn't seem quite appropriate to ask my elder brother to inquire about this matter.

It's unclear whether the other party knows the author or the corresponding editor, and they might end up asking around for favors and owing favors.

Ruri Aragaki felt a pang of regret, realizing she had acted too impulsively.

Just as she was about to revise her text message to tell Ryosuke not to ask about it, her phone suddenly vibrated.

In the dimly lit room, the phone screen glowed.

Note: Elder brother.

It will be held on the 12th of this month.

......

Hayakawa Rumi hung up the phone, looking somewhat dazed.

While taking a shower, her phone rang. After hearing her sister's notification that the caller was 'Shigsawa Keiichi', she hurriedly wrapped herself in a towel and left the bathroom.

Hayakawa Shizuka was also quite surprised.

My sister is way too dedicated. When the author calls, does she have to answer immediately even if she's taking a shower?

Seeing that she kept answering the phone with "uh-huh," Shizuka didn't pay much more attention.

It wasn't until her older sister dried her hair again and sat on the sofa that she asked the question out of curiosity.

"Which author is so important to you, sister? It's a bit much to contact them so late. You should also consider your rest time."

Hayakawa Shizuka complained.

The two sisters have been very tired lately; it's natural to feel tired in the summer.

Shizuka's workload has also increased significantly. After her successful debut, the frequency of her performances has increased significantly, and her popularity has soared. The company has already begun to arrange for a CD to be made specifically for them.

They hired a well-known musician to write songs for them at a high price.

She's a little unsure now. Although she passed the academic ability test for Chiba First High School, she's wondering if she'll be able to find the time to go to school after the semester starts.

Hayakawa Rumi held her phone, composing a text message and sending it to Hattori Takuya, while answering her sister's question.

"This is the first author I've been responsible for."

"So it's your 'benefactor,' no wonder. So, what's so important that you had to contact me so late?"

The last time Hayakawa Rumi valued someone this much was when she went all the way to Chiba Prefecture to treat that person to a meal.

"I heard they suddenly wanted to hold a book signing event and asked me if it was feasible..."

"Is it possible for something like this to happen so suddenly?"

"And they even specified a date, the 12th of this month."

"That's so strange, you didn't actually say yes to him, did you?"

Hayakawa Shizuka couldn't help but complain, and covered her face when she saw her sister fiddling with her phone so intently.

That's true. It would be quite difficult for her own sister to refuse an author who had been kind to her.

But isn't this just adding to her workload? It wouldn't matter if the book signing was postponed a bit; she'd heard from Hayakawa Rumi that the fifth volume would end in a month.

Wouldn't it be most effective to hold a book signing event then?

"There is enough time."

Hayakawa Rumi put down her phone and, after a brief confirmation with Hattori Takuya, announced that she would be giving advance notice in the next two issues of the weekly magazine, and that Dengeki Bunko's official website would also be promoting it simultaneously.

She was just a little worried that with so little time for promotion, would enough readers be able to attend?

If there are too few people, wouldn't it be awkward for the author?

Chapter 73 Dream Chaser

The next morning, at the Takashiro family's dinner table.

The brother and sister sat facing each other, and while Mieko was tidying up the dishes in the kitchen, Takashiro Ryono moved closer to Ryosuke.

"What did you say to Liuli yesterday? She texted me saying she changed the date."

It's said that something quite important had to be done at the last minute, and the date was changed to the end of the month.

She looked at her brother with some suspicion, having thought about it for a long time last night but still not understanding why.

"Isn't that a good thing? By the way, I can't attend the first day of CM either, I have other things to do. If it gets busy on site, could you lend a hand to Phoenix Institute if you have time?"

"What?! On such an important day, you actually ran away?"