Tokyo: Oreimo

Ruri Aragaki also tried her best to stand on tiptoe, looking past the crowd and into the bookstore.

However, because there were many young people ahead of her who were taller than her, she was unable to see Keiichi Shigsawa's figure completely.

Inside Kadokawa Shoten, people kept coming out carrying copies of "Kino's Journey," most of them with smiles on their faces.

"I even shook hands with the teacher; his fingers are so slender."

"Up close, the teacher is really young, like a high school student!"

"Of course! Kadokawa already revealed at the signing event that Keiichi Sigsawa is only sixteen years old."

"Huh? Did I miss something?"

"Damn it, of all people, you, a fan, got the round-robin ticket."

Ruri Aragaki gave up on continuing to stand on tiptoe to watch and quietly waited for her number to be called. The surrounding discussions made her think.

Maybe he really is good friends with his older brother, and their ages match up.

"I need to find some time to properly thank him after the book signing!"

Today was such a big help. When I didn't get a turn to organize the tickets, I felt like the sky was falling. I had been looking forward to the autograph session for so long, and I almost couldn't get in.

.....

"So tired!"

Ryosuke Takagi felt a pang of regret.

He regretted adding so many numbers; after signing just over four hundred names, his right hand was already feeling quite uncomfortable.

"Thank you so much, Shigaze-sensei! I really love your work. Is volume five the final chapter?"

Will any new works be published in the future?

During the autograph session, fans would often ask questions, which Ryosuke answered one by one, and he would also shake hands with them.

"Let's consider it after the fifth volume is finished. I don't have any plans for a new work yet."

"If I could, I would still support you! Keep it up, teacher!"

The woman in front of him, whose number was 486, looked to be over thirty years old, but she acted like a young girl in front of Ryosuke.

After shaking hands, he skipped away.

Hayakawa Rumi watched this scene from the side, her eyes crinkling into crescent moons as she smiled.

"Shi Yuze is really popular with women. I feel that if he continues to use this pen name, his new works might become even more popular and have a better promotional effect."

"Please don't make fun of me."

Ryosuke gave a wry smile.

Fate/Zero and Kino's Journey are completely different types of works. It may be able to inherit some fans of the previous work, but a considerable number of fans will be disappointed.

My favorite author actually went back to adapt 18+ games and stuff.

If a scenario unfolds where love turns to hate, given the personality of some fanatical fans, they might do something extreme.

Among the first 400 fans, a few were eager to rush up and kiss and hug Ryosuke.

If it weren't for the quick reflexes of the security personnel, the boy might have lost his first kiss at this autograph session.

It's precisely because he considered the possibility of this happening that he was unwilling to hold a book signing event.

.....

The autograph session continued, and Ruri Aragaki had already lined up according to her number. She also successfully caught a glimpse of Keiichi Shigsawa's face.

"It feels somewhat familiar."

Although the other person's face was completely covered by a mask and sunglasses, judging from their build, they seemed somewhat similar to the older brother I remembered.

"Is it true that birds of a feather flock together? They are both writers and the same age, which is why they became good friends. They are both more mature than their peers."

Ruri Aragaki recalls her conversation with her older brother.

That person seems to be able to handle anything calmly and maintain an objective view of everything.

Ultimately, in this society, it's incredibly difficult for someone like her, with those kinds of thoughts, to find someone she can truly confide in and share her troubles with.

Thinking of this, the girl's tense heart relaxed slightly.

Being able to become friends with her older brother, and having written the author of "Kino's Journey," might actually help her resolve her current troubles.

"Thank you, Professor Shi Yuze!"

The girl in the front row shouted with delight, clutching the autographed booklet set to her chest, and left reluctantly.

The person blocking her way disappeared, and Ruri Aragaki moved to the front of the line.

Behind the long table stood the author, Keiichi Sigsawa, who looked slightly tired. He was extending his hand to the girl.

"now you."

......

Ryosuke Takagi's throat felt a little itchy, and because he had been holding it in for a while, he couldn't help but cough twice.

Seeing that Ruri Aragaki didn't seem to be acting strangely, he breathed a sigh of relief.

It's best not to let Aragaki Ruri know Shi Yuze's true identity for the time being.

If the other party feels that she is being played, it would be bad. Maintaining the status quo is the best course of action.

She did this for Takashiro Ryouno's sake, and if her identity is exposed, she might think of something with her intelligence.

"Is there anything you want to ask?"

Ryosuke found it amusing to see the girl in front of him so nervous that she couldn't speak.

I didn't expect the other person to have this side to them. It's just a simple exchange, right?

Even if it's a writer I admire, he's just a stranger, not some monster or demon.

Just like with the fans he had faced before, Ryosuke guessed that Ruri Aragaki simply wanted to talk to the author and ask questions about the plot of the work.

At most, it's just anticipation for future new works.

If he answers as soon as possible, then his task for the day will be complete.

"Have!"

As Aragaki Ruri watched Shigaze sign his name on the novel, she knew she couldn't hesitate any longer, as the time for signing and exchanging ideas was already short.

"May I ask Mr. Shi Yuze a question?"

"of course."

Ruri Aragaki lowered her voice as much as possible and said softly:

"I wonder what the teacher's opinion is on forbidden love. I'm referring to relationships between girls. Is this the right thing to do?"

"..."

"?"

Ryosuke felt as if he had been punched on the top of the head, and couldn't help but shudder.

and many more!

Ms. Aragaki, you really want to come to the book signing and meet the author of "Kino's Journey".

Was this the question you were asking?

Chapter 82 Favoritism

"Teacher Shi Yuze?"

Because Ruri Aragaki's voice was relatively soft, Rumi Hayakawa didn't hear it clearly, but she noticed Ryosuke's frozen posture.

"Hurry up, the bookstore is closing soon."

Seeing that Ryosuke hadn't handed the comic book to Aragaki Ruri yet, Hayakawa Rumi reminded him.

"Oh, I'm sorry."

Ryosuke Takagi snapped out of his daze, and because he hadn't been paying attention, he forgot to suppress his voice and used his natural voice.

He met Ruri Aragaki's gaze directly into his eyes.

This voice... it feels like I've heard it somewhere before? It's completely different from when it spoke before.

The girl looked puzzled, as if she was thinking about something.

Oh no! If they hear that on the spot, it'll be a real problem.

Ryosuke immediately realized his mistake and quickly spoke up.

"Actually, this kind of thing has nothing to do with gender."

He tried to speak in a high-pitched voice again, but it sounded even more unnatural than before.

Ruri Aragaki frowned slightly, her gaze lingering on Ryosuke's face for a few seconds.

The sunglasses and mask obscured her view of the other person's expression, but a strange sense of familiarity lingered.

"Teacher Shi Yuze, is your throat uncomfortable?"

"There's one thing, I've been signing for too long and talking a lot, so my voice is a little hoarse."

Ryosuke coughed twice to cover it up, "About your question..."

He paused, thinking for a moment.

There's a line in Kino's film, "The world is not beautiful, but that's what makes it beautiful." The same goes for the emotions between people; whether something is right or wrong is often just a definition given by society.

If you like someone, that's fine. As long as you feel those feelings are real, then there's no problem.

So this line can indeed be interpreted this way.

Ruri Aragaki breathed a sigh of relief. Before asking the question, she was really worried that her favorite author would think she was a pervert.

It seems my intuition was right; Shi Yuze is indeed a very tolerant author, much like my older brother.

He didn't detect any bias in the writer's tone at all, and the writer even offered advice directly.