The four of them were led to the VIP room in the restaurant.
Shishio and Shiina didn't order the food.
Instead, Ayano and Sumi were the ones who ordered the food.
However, Shishio and Shiina didn't say much since the restaurant had only three menus. They were all unagi. The only difference was the eel's quality and the menu's course.
Ayano and Sumi ordered the most expensive one without hesitation, which needed three days for reservation. Yet, they could get it easily since the restaurant had some connection with the publishing house.
Shishio didn't say much, but he knew this was the power of connection.
Capitalists or rich people might have money, but if they lacked a connection, they would be nothing and might be swept away or disappear in the future.
However, the people with the connection were different. They might not be the richest, but they could maintain their family's business for hundreds of years.
Like this restaurant.
While they didn't say anything, Ayano explained the history of the restaurant.
Shishio only listened quietly since he must admit that many businesses in this country were long-lasting. He also heard that the oldest company also came from this country, which made him wonder what they did to be able to do this.
'Is this the power of tradition?'
Shishio wasn't sure, but he must admit the price of the dish was expensive since it cost them 12,000 yen. Still, he knew it was expensive, but it was quite understandable since the eel was a wild eel caught on the lake instead of the eel from the farm.
However, he was being treated, so he didn't say anything. As for Sumi and Ayano, they didn't use their money. Instead, they used the money of the company.
This was a common thing in society since many employees would use their company's money to entertain their clients.
Shishio and Shiina were the most famous authors in the manga department. His novel was about to take off.
Ayano and Sumi also regarded them with great respect.
"Thank you for the song, Shishio-kun. Because of that, the sales have increased even more! It wouldn't be a dream to have 10 million in sales!" Ayano said excitedly that since this would be part of her achievement in the company. She knew she would get a promotion sooner or later.
Shishio had sent the song for "5 cm per second," and the publishing house directly published the song along with the manga, making the popularity of his manga with Shiina became even higher. If he didn't do this, it would be impossible for their manga to be sold in seven million sales after all.
Still, his story was one thing, but Shiina's art made people want to make the book into a collection.
The only regret that Ayano had was that Shishio didn't want to become a singer and only asked them to upload his song on their website, but they did more than that since they also asked the radio and television to promote the song.
Fortunately, Shishio made an MV (Music Video) for his song, which made everything easier for the publishing house.
As for the MV, Shishio didn't take much of his time and finished it in a few hours since the video was just how he sang in the black and white background. The camera only moved in circles, focusing on his appearance and his skill on the guitar. If there was something noticeable, then it was the pink sakura leaves that fell from every direction when he sang in the video.
The video was easy to make, and it was cheap.
However, Shishio got a lot of money from the publishing house since the budget for the music video was quite high.
In other words, Shishio could write, sing, and direct a movie, making him the daring child of the publishing house now.
As for the reason why he had never told this to his girlfriends, it was because he didn't think it was something fun. Instead, it was troublesome, and he just wanted to get over it. His girlfriends also didn't have a hobby of watching television or listening to the radio, so they might not know anything. He also didn't say anything about this matter, considering the promotion of his song happened during their trip to Izu.
"Your single has been sold for one million copies now..." Ayano sighed and felt that the young man in front of him was amazing.
"Thank you." Shishio nodded.
Still, he only realized it, but had he become famous?
Shishio felt slightly complicated, but what could he say?
Everything just happened so naturally. His intention was to become a low-key famous, but it seemed the effect was greater than he had thought.
"...Can you give me a reaction?" Ayano was speechless. Frankly, she was even tired when she thought about their reason for becoming mangaka, considering they only wanted to try to become one just for an experience.
However, when they did, Ayano was left speechless by many things that happened around them.
Manga, music, and lastly, a novel?
When Ayano heard the news about his novel from Sumi, she knew that it was only a time before his novel would become the biggest sales of the year. The only unfortunate thing was that the topic of his novel made it hard for him to get the literature award.
Still, this wasn't the reason why she came to him.
"Are you sure that you want to end this manga?" Ayano asked.
This was the problem that she wanted to ask them.
Their manga could become the greatest hit and sold so much, yet they wanted to end them?
How could the publishing house accept it?
After all, it was rare for the publishing house to get such a manga. When they get one, they will take care of it, so it can be published for as long as it can.
It was a similar case to Detective Conan since it had been published for more than 20 years, yet it continues till now.
Even if the mangaka had decided to end the manga, the publishing house wouldn't let it end since it was a shame to end it since it could give them more money, and the value of the work was there.
In the case of "5 cm per second," the publishing house also didn't want to end it so soon, but Shishio's identity was there, and it was hard for them to say anything.
In the end, they asked Ayano to handle this situation, but she knew Shishio and Shiina well, so she knew it was hard for her to talk to them.
As for Sumi, she didn't say much in this situation and only quietly listened. She knew that after the end of the manga, they would also start publishing the novel version of the "5 cm per second," which was written by Shishio. She had read it before and knew that even if Shishio didn't work after he graduated, he would be okay with all the income he gained from this work.
However, before Shishio answered, the waitress came with their order.
"Excuse me."
The waitress bowed her head and put the dishes in front of them. Yet when she was in front of him, her hand touched against his.
Shishio and the waitress stared at each other for a few seconds before he gave a light smile, causing her to lower her head shyly and glance in his direction before she left.
".........." Ayano and Sumi.
"Shishio, what is this?" Shiina looked at the black lacquer box in front of her curiously.
"It's Tamatebakko," Shishio said with a serious expression.
"...Tamatebakko?" Shiina was stunned and asked, "Is it that scary box from the Urashimataro's story?"
Urashimataro was a story about a fisherman who was rewarded after he saved a turtle. He came to visit Dragon Palace beneath the sea and was rewarded with a Tamabakko. He thought it was gold or something precious, but who would this Tamabakko be something that made him elderly?
Knowing all of that, Shiina was in fear since she didn't want to get old like that.
"That's right." Shishio nodded with solemnity.
"...What?" 2x
Ayano and Sumi were stunned and felt speechless.
"When we open the box, will the smoke appear and make us old?" Shiina asked with some fear.
"That's right, but if it's with you, I don't mind us getting old together, Mashiro," Shishio said with a smile while holding her hand.
"Shishio..." Shiina stared at Shishio in a daze and wanted to kiss him somehow.
"...Can you stop flirting in front of us? It hurts, you know? It hurts..." Ayano took the beer and gulped it in one go, showing her frustration.
Sumi was also the same.
"Ayano-san, we have talked about this conversation before, right? I... no, we want to make this work a masterpiece. We don't want to make it into something like a money cow." Shishio rubbed Shiina's head gently and said, "Why don't you open the box?"
Shiina nodded. Whether it was for the manga or to open the box, only she knew it. After making up her determination, she opened the lacquer box gently and saw glistening-like jewelry of broiled eel dipped in the shop's special sauce.
"Wow..." Shiina was dumbfounded and surprised. Her face flushed with excitement before she looked at Shishio and asked, "Can I eat it?"
"Sure." Shishio nodded and said, "Eat it while it is hot. I also want to eat it too." Frankly, he was also quite famished and took the piece of yakitori on the table.
The 12,000 yen for lunch wasn't just rice and eel, but there were also several side dishes such as yakitori, pickled vegetables, and chawanmushi.
Shishio knew that this type of dish usually tried to use a limited amount of spice and tried to retain the original taste of the ingredient. However, the main thing was the eel, so he took his chopstick and ate it.
"....."
He must admit it was delicious.
The eel was plump and juicy with a salty-sweet sauce on the top. The aroma from the charcoal fire and the eel mixed, giving an unexpected harmony. The rice was also special since they were carefully taken care of.
Shishio looked at Shiina and took the grain of rice stuck in the corner of her mouth before eating it. "Is it delicious?"
"Um!" Shiina nodded with a smile.
"...." Sumi and Ayano.
If Ayano didn't know that this guy was a scumbag, she would praise their relationship. Still, it might be because he was like this. He could become a scumbag. Anyway, she could only give up, but she still asked, "Still, your manga is going to end soon. Do you have any plans to make a new manga?"
This time Shiina, who was focused on her food, looked up at Shishio curiously, waiting for his answer.
"....."
Shishio was speechless and asked, "Can we talk after we eat?"
"....."
"Okay." 3x
The three of them agreed since they were just hungry now.