Tokyo: Oreimo

It's available now!

After procrastinating for so long, it's finally up and running! ?????.?)?

First of all, thank you Chacha for signing for me again.

This time the results were a bit unexpected. I was originally hoping to get perfect attendance, but I didn't expect so many like-minded people. It's much better than the last book.

Thank you so much for reading this far! If you could, please consider subscribing to my first post! (?o?o?)

Five updates today, four updates tomorrow, and then I'll maintain a pace of three updates a day, all posted directly at 10 AM.

I'll also add an extra chapter for every 1000 monthly votes~ Only round numbers from the current month will be counted. I still have a few chapters saved up, and judging by the voting speed, I should be able to hold on a bit longer.

If the updates have already been released by the gentlemen, I'll owe them and make up for it with a big update this weekend.

Because it's a part-time job, my energy is limited. Even if I manage to write three chapters after get off work, it will be 11 PM by then. I will try my best not to take time off work to finish this book.

Finally, thank you again to everyone for your support! And thank you Chacha for taking care of me while I was putting the book up for sale!

Wishing everyone a prosperous and healthy New Year! May good fortune always be with you!

Main text

Chapter 86 The Disappointed Editor

"Oh! Oh! Oh!"

The four girls on stage began to dance, and the music seemed to possess some kind of mysterious power, causing waves of people to surge with each change in rhythm.

Hayakawa Shizuka stood on the stage, her gaze sweeping across the crowd, trying to find that figure.

But there were just too many people in the audience, and they were extremely dense. The intro was already halfway through, and she was getting a little anxious.

Until she saw a shimmering gold.

One girl, as if wound up to a full spring, was so excited that she danced around and joined the cheering crowd.

"Is that...my sister?"

She had met Takashiro Ryouno before, at the exam hall of Chiba First High School.

It's great that the features are so distinctive!

Hayakawa Shizuka saw Takashiro Ryosuke standing next to her, who was also looking at her and waving as if to say hello.

He's here! Long time no see. He seems to have grown a little taller.

The idol girl couldn't help but smile, her dance moves paused for a moment, and she stood still on the stage.

As the intro ended, she opened her mouth and sang the first line of lyrics, her eyes fixed on Ryosuke's direction.

I'm so sorry, I'm being so hypocritical.

"I can only express my feelings in my dreams."

My brain was about to short-circuit.

I want to see you right now!

Hayakawa Shizuka felt a little shy.

The lyrics of this song sound almost like a confession.

This feeling was especially pronounced when she noticed that the people in the audience were looking at her, and the girl couldn't help but feel her face getting hot.

"Oh! Oh! Oh!"

The cheers from the audience snapped her out of her reverie, and she began to dance with all her might.

.......

The music slowed down, and the piece ended.

Even after stepping off the stage, Shizuka Hayakawa's heart was still pounding wildly, whether from the intense dance or something else, she didn't know.

Asakura Mirai, who had been following behind her as she left, immediately approached her and took her arm after entering the backstage area.

"Wow, Shizuka, the audience is so enthusiastic today. It's the first time I've ever seen a human wave."

The feedback from previous performances on stage, where the group faced the audience directly, was far less intense than what they experienced today.

Otaku, who are usually under a lot of pressure, often unleash their extraordinary passion for food at CM exhibitions, where they can break free from their constraints.

"Yes, it startled me."

"I'm really afraid that the audience members in the front will climb onto the stage."

"Some viewers were giving me the creepy looks, but thankfully Shizuka reminded me, so this time I took the precautions very seriously!"

The girls chatted as they returned to the lounge.

The performance was very successful. Shinpei Ito gave them some time to rest alone while he left to handle some business matters.

After resting for a while, Shizuka Hayakawa got up and took out her personal belongings from the cabinet.

She noticed an unread message on her phone.

After confirming the recipient, a look of joy appeared on her face.

It's a message from Ryosuke Takagi.

"Your performance was outstanding. I look forward to seeing you perform again next time."

It was just a simple compliment.

She told herself that, but her heart still beat faster than usual.

Hayakawa Shizuka bit her lower lip, trying to suppress the smile on her lips, but she failed.

.....

After the Dream Chaser idol group's performance ended, the music in the venue became more subdued.

The host came on stage, followed by some interactive segments, and a few voice actors and other cosplayers dressed as cosplayers walked the runway.

Ryoko Takashiro seemed somewhat uninterested in the remaining guests for the day. After taking Ryosuke around the convention center for a while, she headed home.

When the two of them got home, it was almost 6 p.m., just in time for family dinner.

Back in his room, Ryosuke unexpectedly received a phone call from Kadokawa editor Ritsu Saito.

"Excuse me, CLAMP-sensei."

A tired voice came from the other end of the phone.

"Editor Saito, are you still at get off work so late?"

Ryosuke glanced at the clock; it was already past nine.

"Well, I've been busy with a lot of administrative work. I called to invite you and Ms. Rumiko Takagi to come to the company next week."

Is there anything special?

"Regarding the animation adaptation, the production team wants to contact the original author. In addition, I have submitted my resignation and will leave the company in two months. Before that, I need to assist the new editor with the handover work."

"Wait, resign?"

Ryosuke Takashiro was clearly taken aback.

He never expected to hear such words from Ritsu Saito, who, as far as he knew, was responsible for many best-selling works.

"Well, it's for some personal reasons, but don't worry, that's after the Cardcaptor Sakura anime is released. I'll take care of the rest."

On the other end of the phone, Ritsu Saito seemed quite downcast.

Ryosuke remained silent for a while.

"Having resigned from his position as editor, what are Saito's other plans going forward?"

"I'll probably still work in the industry. Because of the non-compete clause, I won't be an editor anymore. I'll probably try to interview for some supervisory jobs."

.....

In the Kadokawa editorial department, Ritsu Saito, with heavy dark circles under his eyes, was talking to Ryosuke while constantly typing on his keyboard.

The development of "Cardcaptor Sakura" is progressing very smoothly recently, and the animation production department has stepped up the schedule.

If all goes well, we'll start full-scale production next week and should be able to release the first episode by the end of summer vacation.

But in stark contrast to how smoothly the job was going, his promotion spot seemed to have been taken away again.

There are limited promotion opportunities each year, and six months ago, Iori Setsuna was deprived of her chance due to personal ethical issues.

The position of deputy editor-in-chief was still vacant.

Ritsu Saito originally thought that once the Cardcaptor Sakura anime adaptation was completed, as long as the results were not bad, Chief Editor Yamazaki would be unable to continue to suppress him based on this achievement.

Not only will his rank be promoted, but he will also be guaranteed a position as the vacant deputy editor-in-chief.

"It's a truly dark and hopeless place. In order to prevent me from getting promoted, they persuaded the higher-ups to poach a deputy editor-in-chief from Shueisha at a high price to fill the vacancy."

Saito Ritsu wore a mocking smile tinged with self-deprecation.

You can't fight city hall. Even if a junior editor produces a lot of bestsellers, the credit will be given to the editor-in-chief.

In this department, no matter how capable you are, it's all for naught if you can't become the editor-in-chief.

"Heh, but that also shows that the old man is afraid of me."

If such an unruly subordinate were to reach that position, one day I might have to drag him off his seat.

"Don't worry."

He said to Ryosuke Takagi on the other end of the phone.

"I will entrust your work to a trustworthy editor, definitely not someone like Iori Setsuna."

Nomura, while not exceptionally talented, is still capable of maintaining his current record.

He thought so.

"It's alright, Editor Saito."

The boy's voice came through the phone.