Lunchtime arrived on the rooftop.
Hachiman and Utaha occupied a bench, savoring their respective bento boxes.
Ever since their excursion to the amusement park, where they gathered material for Utaha's novel, she had taken up the practice of preparing her own bento. Surprisingly, her culinary creations were diverse and delicious. Hachiman, who had previously sampled her cooking, found himself genuinely surprised. He had always perceived Utaha as a refined young lady who wouldn't engage in kitchen duties, making her culinary skills a mystery. However, after some inquiries, he learned that her parents owned a restaurant, and the contents of these bento boxes were crafted by them.
In contrast, Hachiman's bento offerings appeared relatively ordinary.
Today's bento was crafted by Yui, who had recently begun honing her culinary skills.
Within each of his bento boxes, there was invariably a standout dish, whether it was slightly overcooked octopus sausages, a hot spring egg that had seen too much heat, or a tamagoyaki that leaned towards excessive thickness.
Despite occasional flavor discrepancies, Hachiman consumed every bite.
After all, it was Yui's way of conveying her affection.
Furthermore, the cuisine was far from the disaster depicted in the original story.
It appeared that Mrs. Yuigahama had dedicated considerable effort to her culinary instruction.
"Hachiman, congratulations on your novel surpassing five million copies in sales," Utaha casually remarked, continuing to eat her meal while glancing at her phone.
"Oh, is that so?"
"Yes, I just received a notification from Kadokawa." Utaha handed her phone to Hachiman.
Displayed on the screen was an announcement from Kadokawa Bunko's official blog.
["According to statistical data, Wakamono Sensei's 'Sword Art Online' has now surpassed five million in sales and is officially on its way to the ten million milestone. Let's anticipate the emergence of a new literary king together."]
Observing this message, Hachiman simply nodded. In his perspective, five million in sales didn't hold extraordinary significance, particularly considering the extensive promotional resources Kadokawa had invested. Furthermore, the "Deity Creation Plan" aimed for sales in the tens of millions to be deemed a success.
Observing Hachiman's composed response, Utaha couldn't help but feel a tinge of exasperation.
"Hachiman, can't you muster a bit more enthusiasm? This isn't five thousand or fifty thousand; it's five million."
"Not many light novel authors attain such numbers."
"Relax, Utaha-senpai. Five million isn't a monumental achievement. Remember, the publisher's target is ten million, so we're merely halfway there," Hachiman replied, nonchalantly waving his hand and offering her a smile.
"By the way, I haven't congratulated you yet. Your sales have also exceeded half a million."
Utaha's "Koisuru Metronome" had already reached its third volume, and with Hachiman's narrative guidance, it had surpassed five hundred thousand in sales, an improvement over the original storyline.
"Fine, forget it. Thanks for the congratulations, but it seems like you're teasing me for having five million in sales," Utaha grumbled, directing a playful glare his way.
Upon hearing her retort, a trace of sincerity crossed Hachiman's countenance.
"You've misconstrued my intentions; I genuinely offered my congratulations."
"Furthermore, my sales primarily stem from the publisher's exceptional promotion. However, you, Utaha-senpai, have genuinely earned these results."
"For an emerging writer, reaching half a million in sales with only three volumes is impressive. Moreover, you possess a legitimate chance of hitting one million."
Indeed, if Utaha's "Koisuru Metronome" continued its ten-volume trajectory, as was the case in the original story, her current performance suggested that achieving one million sales was entirely within reach.
"One million..." Utaha mumbled to herself.
She understood that a significant portion of her five hundred thousand in sales could be attributed to Hachiman's endorsement. So, how much more could she achieve with one million?
Shaking off her contemplation, Utaha shifted her gaze to Hachiman, seated beside her. His sharply defined profile held a certain appeal in her eyes.
Mid-bite, Hachiman noticed her scrutiny and quirked an eyebrow in curiosity.
"What's on your mind, Senpai?"
"Nothing, Hachiman-kun." Utaha shook her head and extended a hand to pluck a grain of rice from the corner of his mouth.
"You should savor your meal a bit more slowly; you've got rice on your face."
Her playful action resonated with Hachiman, evoking a subtle reaction from him. Nonetheless, he promptly redirected the conversation back to their impending beach trip.
"By the way, Senpai, do you have any plans for the summer break?"
"Summer break? I'll probably spend it at home, dedicating my time to writing," Utaha mused for a moment before offering her reply.
In essence, she was the sort of individual who didn't foster many friendships at school, and her typical summer break involved staying at home and immersing herself in her writing endeavors.
"I see. How about we spend some time at the beach together during the summer break?" Hachiman proposed with a smile.
"The beach?" Utaha paused, momentarily caught off guard by his suggestion, but then a teasing grin crept onto her face.
"Why not? It seems like Hachiman-kun is quite eager to see me in a swimsuit."
"I didn't..." Hachiman began to protest, but she cut him off.
"Don't really want to see it? I'll be donning a bikini, you know. If you're not interested, that's perfectly fine."
Her words left Hachiman briefly speechless.
However, it was evident that Utaha wouldn't let him off so easily.
Drawing nearer, she tilted her body slightly and whispered into his ear, her breath as sweet as a lily.
"So, do you really want to see, Hachiman?"
"I... I want to see."
Unable to resist the allure of his senpai's enticing figure, Hachiman ultimately admitted his desire.
He knew he should have declined, but her teasing had proven too effective.
Upon hearing his confession, a satisfied smile graced Utaha Kasumigaoka's lips.
"Since Hachiman wants to see, I'll select a lovely swimsuit for you."
"But when should we plan our beach trip?"
"We should aim for early August. At the end of this month, I have to partake in a tournament with my kendo club comrades, so I won't have time until after the competition."
"I see," Utaha concurred with a nod.
It appeared that she needed to pick her swimsuit with great care. Hachiman probably wouldn't invite her alone; that other girl, Yuigahama, who prepared his bento, would likely be invited as well. Additionally, Hachiman's family might join the excursion, so she needed to make a favorable impression and seize the opportunity.
While Utaha silently devised her strategy, Hachiman began making his own arrangements.
Having extended an invitation to Utaha, Hachiman now only had to inform Yui, Kotonoha, and Saeko about the beach trip.
Hachiman devised his plan to mention the beach trip to Yui when he returned her bento box. As for Kotonoha and Saeko, he concluded that he could inform them during their attendance at the Kendo tournament.
With these arrangements settled, the two companions resumed their lunch.
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