With his initial interaction with Yuigahama going well, Hachiman realized the importance of seizing the opportunity. While he might not be able to immediately become her best friend or boyfriend, he was determined to build a strong foundation for a good relationship with her.
"Now, I just need to figure out how to get Yui's contact information," Hachiman thought to himself with a newfound determination.
Satisfied with the success of his plan, Hachiman walked back home with a positive mood.
As Hachiman continued on his way, a strange expression crossed his face when he noticed two new modules—[Conversational Skills] and [Acting Skills]—appearing on the screen in his mind. This unexpected discovery left him with an uneasy feeling, especially considering the combination of these two modules.
The thought of having superb conversational and acting skills gave him a concern that he might come across as insincere, even though he genuinely cared about the girls he interacted with. He reassured himself that he wasn't going to play with their feelings irresponsibly, but rather approach them with sincerity and a fraternal attitude.
"Yes, that's right, fraternity," Hachiman affirmed to himself, determined to navigate his newfound skills with integrity.
However, it's important to note that the preparations Hachiman had made not only attracted Sable but also other dogs on his way home. In fact, many dogs, including some larger ones, were drawn to him, which startled him quite a bit. To avoid the sudden influx of dogs, he increased his pace and hurried home.
On the other side, Yuigahama was walking home while holding Sable in her arms. Her thoughts kept drifting back to Hachiman, whom she had met earlier that day.
"I never expected that Hikigaya-kun and I would be going to the same high school. Despite his odd demeanor, he seems like a decent person overall. And you like him, don't you, Sable?" Yuigahama smiled at the dog in her arms, her assumption stemming from Sable's enthusiastic reaction of licking Hachiman's hand earlier.
Overall, the unexpected encounter had left a positive impression on both Hachiman and Yuigahama.
"Woof! Woof!"
Sable stared at Yuigahama with a puzzled expression, not comprehending her words. However, Sable had genuinely enjoyed the taste of the high-grade dog food that was on Hachiman's body. If there was a chance to experience that flavor again, Sable would certainly welcome it.
Over the next few days, Hachiman continued his morning runs with Yuigahama, and diligently worked on his writing upon returning home. Finally, after three days of effort, Hachiman successfully completed the first volume of "Sword Art Online." The task had taken him half a day to finish.
With the completion of his novel's first volume, and his newfound friendship with Yuigahama, Hachiman's days seemed to be taking a positive turn.
"Komachi, I'm heading out for a bit. I'll be back soon," Hachiman informed his sister in the afternoon as he held a USB flash drive containing the revised first volume of "Sword Art Online."
"Sure, Onii-chan. Have a safe trip," Komachi replied without looking away from the anime she was engrossed in, waving him off absentmindedly.
Hachiman simply shrugged, unperturbed by her response. He left the house and made his way to the nearby printing shop to proceed with his plans.
Inside the printing shop, as A4 paper sheets emerged one by one and he watched his nearly empty wallet, Hachiman couldn't help but feel a twinge of heartache. Printing the first volume in physical manuscript form was necessary for submission, which meant spending his hard-earned money.
"Thankfully, once it's approved, I can send the subsequent chapters digitally" Hachiman thought, relieved by the prospect.
With volume one now neatly organized in a folder, Hachiman prepared to head home. It was already past five o'clock, and he needed to return to cook for Komachi.
On Sunday and Monday, Hachiman followed his usual routine of jogging with Yuigahama and having breakfast with Komachi. But on this particular day, he had different plans.
"Komachi, I'll be out for the day, so you don't need to wait for me for lunch," Hachiman informed his sister.
"Sure, Onii-chan. Take care," Komachi responded.
With those words, Hachiman left the house, ready to embark on the first step of his day's mission. A sense of excitement welled up within him as he set out on his path to success.
"Crack!"
Within a minute of Hachiman leaving the house, the door swung open again, and Komachi hurriedly exited.
Over the past few days, her Onii-chan had been acting quite mysteriously. He would lock himself in his room as soon as he returned home, rarely emerging except to eat. Yesterday, he even brought home a folder of sorts. It all felt very odd, and Komachi couldn't help but grow concerned.
Today, her Onii-chan had left early in the morning and hadn't returned by noon. Something was definitely amiss. As his caring sister, how could Komachi not be worried?
Today, she decided to disguise herself and trail Hachiman to find out what he was up to.
As Hachiman left the house, he focused on his destination. Chiba wasn't too far from Tokyo, with a train ride of around two hours. The earlier he left, the earlier he could return.
"I hope everything goes smoothly," Hachiman thought as he stepped onto the tram.
However, unbeknownst to him, Komachi was not far behind. She had decided to follow Hachiman onto the tram to Tokyo, still keeping a discreet distance.
As the tram moved along, Hachiman was completely unaware that his sister was secretly tailing him.
Hachiman remained quite nervous. Despite "Sword Art Online" being an excellent light novel in his previous life, he couldn't be certain if it would be equally successful in this world. After all, the version he was submitting was based on his own memory and had been revised.
While lost in his thoughts, the tram's journey had already brought Hachiman to Tokyo.
Once off the tram, Hachiman straightened up and put on a more cheerful demeanor. Though he still seemed a bit awkward, overall, he projected an amiable persona.
With his phone's directions in hand, Hachiman boarded a bus en route to Kadokawa Bunko in Chiyoda Ward.
Despite his desire to take a taxi directly to Kadokawa, his financial situation made that impossible. Japanese taxis are notoriously expensive, and Hachiman's remaining funds couldn't cover such a ride. So, he reluctantly opted for the bus.
"Driver, please follow the bus in front," Komachi, in contrast to Hachiman's financial constraints, appeared more at ease as she hailed a taxi and trailed behind the bus.
As previously mentioned, the Hikigaya siblings have distinct financial standings within the family. Komachi, for instance, enjoys a pocket money allowance five times that of Hachiman's.
Upon reaching the bus stop near the Kadokawa Library Building, Hachiman disembarked, double-checked his appearance on his phone, and confidently strode into the Kadokawa Building.
Shortly after Hachiman's entrance, Komachi also alighted from the taxi.
"Is this... Kadokawa Bunko?" Komachi's eyes widened as she gazed at the Kadokawa Bunko sign. Doubt was evident in her eyes, as she hadn't anticipated her older brother visiting Kadokawa.
Reception!
Two lovely ladies manned the reception table, and they didn't show an ounce of disdain when they saw a young man like Hachiman entering. In the world of light novels, young authors achieving fame early on were not uncommon.
"Hello, are you here to publish or to meet someone?" The front desk beauty inquired with a friendly smile.
"I'm here to publish my light novel," Hachiman replied. As expected, the second dimension had no shortage of attractive women. The front desk beauty easily scored an eight out of ten in his eyes.
"Alright, please wait in Lounge No. 3. Just head straight down this corridor and take a right. I'll notify the editorial office immediately. If an editor is available, they'll meet you there shortly. Kindly wait a moment," the receptionist said with a smile and guided Hachiman.
"Thank you, I appreciate it," Hachiman nodded in gratitude and then proceeded towards Lounge No. 3!