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Words- 1700
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The elevator ride felt long despite being only a few floors. When the doors opened, they stepped into a sleek office space filled with shelves of books and posters of popular series. They approached the front desk, where a staff member greeted them.
"Good afternoon. How can I help you?" the staff member asked.
"Good afternoon," Shijo replied. "I have an appointment with the editor regarding my novel submissions."
"Of course," the staff member said, checking the schedule. "Please have a seat. The editor will be with you shortly."
Shijo and Ai sat down in the waiting area, surrounded by the ambiance of creativity and literary success. Shijo glanced at Ai, who gave him an encouraging nod. This was it—the moment that could launch his career as a novelist.
Shijo felt a bit amused by his own acting. He didn't actually need money or anyone's approval to do what he wanted. However, pretending to be an innocent aspiring novelist in front of Ai was entertaining in its own way. He briefly considered the idea of buying the publishing company, but dismissed it as unnecessary. Managing something unrelated to his true ambitions and his dream of living a free life would only be a distraction.
Sitting there, he enjoyed the moment, feeling a sense of freedom in playing this role. It was a rare opportunity to blend in and experience normalcy, even if just for a little while. He glanced at Ai, who was looking around the office with genuine interest, and smiled inwardly. Sometimes, the thrill of the game was in the subtle acts of pretending.
Soon, the editor arrived, a middle-aged man with glasses and a warm smile. "Hello, you must be Shijo-kun. I'm Tanaka, the editor. Nice to meet you."
Shijo stood up and shook his hand. "Nice to meet you too, Tanaka-san. This is Ai Kamiya, my friend."
"Nice to meet you, Ai-san," Tanaka said, nodding at her. "Please, follow me to my office."
They followed Tanaka to a cozy office filled with books and manuscripts. The walls were adorned with posters of successful novels published by Kadokawa. Tanaka gestured for them to sit.
"So, Shijo-kun, I've had a chance to look at your work," Tanaka began, pulling out a manuscript. "I must say, I'm quite impressed. Your storytelling is compelling and your characters are well-developed. How long have you been writing?"
Shijo shrugged modestly. "Not too long, actually. I write mostly out of passion."
"Well, it shows," Tanaka said, smiling. "I'd like to discuss how we can move forward with publishing your novels. We believe they have great potential."
The editor smiled still looking over Shijo's work. "I must say, Shijo-kun, your writing is impressive. We'd like to offer you the opportunity to post your work on our website. Additionally, we'd be interested in securing the publishing rights for your novels."
Shijo nodded thoughtfully. "That sounds like a good opportunity. What exactly does the publishing deal entail?"
Tanaka leaned forward, his expression serious but friendly. "We would handle all aspects of publishing, including editing, marketing, and distribution. You would receive a percentage of the sales as royalties. Posting on our website would help build your audience even before the physical copies are released."
Shijo glanced at Ai, who was listening intently, then back at Tanaka. "I appreciate the offer. However, I have a few conditions. First, I want to maintain some creative control over my work. Second, I'd like to ensure that my work remains accessible to my current online readers."
Tanaka nodded. "We can certainly discuss the details of creative control. As for your online readers, we can work out a way to transition them smoothly to our platform, ensuring they continue to have access to your work."
"That sounds fair," Shijo said, smiling. "I'm looking forward to working with you."
Tanaka extended his hand. "Welcome aboard, Shijo-kun. Let's create something great together."
Shijo shook his hand, feeling a mix of satisfaction and amusement. As they finalized the details, he glanced at Ai, who was beaming with pride. This new adventure was turning out to be quite enjoyable, blending his extraordinary life with the thrill of achieving something through perceived hard work.
Once the meeting concluded, Tanaka handed Shijo a stack of documents. "Please review these and let us know if you have any questions. We'll start preparing for your debut."
Shijo nodded, tucking the papers into his bag. "Thank you, Tanaka-san. I'll go through these and get back to you soon."
As they left the office, Ai turned to Shijo, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "Congratulations, Shijo-kun! I knew your work was good, but seeing it recognized like this is amazing."
Shijo chuckled. "Thanks, Ai-san. I couldn't have done it without your encouragement."
As they walked out of the publishing house, Shijo turned to Ai with a suggestion. "How about we grab a coffee or something to eat? You've had a long day, and you might not have eaten anything yet."
Ai shook her head, a bit hesitant. "I appreciate it, Shijo, but my mom, Hina, might be worried if I'm out too late."
With a mischievous smile, Shijo pulled out his phone and showed Ai a message exchange. "I already thought of that," he said, handing her the phone.
Aki shijo :- Hina nesan, I am taking Ai out. We'll return around 7, please don't worry about her.
Hina's reply came quickly:
Hina:- Oh my, are you two already at that stage
Shijo had responded with a simple question mark:
Shijo :- ??
Hina had quickly backtracked:
Hina:- Ahem, I mean, yes, but try to return earlier. 7 pm is late.
Shijo reassured her:
Shijo:- Ok.
Ai laughed softly, shaking her head. "You really thought of everything, didn't you?
Shijo shrugged, a pleased smile on his face. "I just wanted to make sure you could relax a bit. Come on, let's find a nice café."
They walked together down the street, the city lights beginning to glow as dusk settled in. Shijo led them to a quaint little café with a warm atmosphere, the kind that felt cozy and inviting. They found a corner table and settled in, ordering drinks and a couple of pastries.
Checking the time, Shijo realized it was close to 7 PM. "We should probably start heading back," he said reluctantly. "I promised your mom we'd be back by now."
Ai nodded, a bit reluctant herself. "Yeah, we should."
They paid the bill and left the café, walking back towards Ai's house. The night air was cool and refreshing. As they walked, Shijo found himself glancing at Ai, admiring how the streetlights illuminated her features.
As they were walking amidst the busy streets, Shijo heard a unique and familiar voice singing. He glanced at Ai, noticing that she was also listening to the voice attentively.
Curious, Shijo suggested, "Hey, do you want to see who's singing? It sounds really interesting."
Ai nodded, her curiosity piqued. "Sure, let's check it out."
They followed the sound through the crowded streets until they reached a small open square. There, under a softly glowing streetlight, a young woman was performing with a guitar. Her voice was captivating, drawing a small crowd around her.
Shijo's eyes widened in recognition. "That's Ai Hoshino," he thought, astonished. "But why is she singing on the street?"
Walking closer, Shijo and Ai joined the small crowd gathered around Hoshino Ai, who was singing with captivating energy. Her voice was mesmerizing, filling the night air with a mix of joy and melancholy.
Ai glanced at Shijo, noticing his intense focus on the singer. "Do you know her?" she whispered.
"No, but I want to," Shijo replied, leaving Ai puzzled.
With an excuse, Shijo separated from Ai for a while and called someone. "Yes, young master," the voice on the other end answered promptly.
"Alex, investigates an idol group called B-Komachi. I'll send you a picture of a girl. If she's already part of B- Komachi, an idol group affiliated with Ichigo Production, Inc., buy that company immediately. And if she hasn't joined any group yet, still buy the company and invite her."
"Understood," Alex replied efficiently.
Shijo quickly snapped a discreet photo of Ai Hoshino from a distance and sent it to Alex. With that taken care of, he rejoined Ai, who was still enjoying the performance.
After the performance ended, Shijo and Ai continued their stroll before eventually heading home. The encounter with the idol left a lingering excitement in the air.
As they walked away, Shijo couldn't help but feel a sense of anticipation for the future. Meanwhile, Ai Hoshino, the mesmerizing street performer, was approached by a group of people in suits. They handed her business cards, sparking curiosity and hope in her eyes for what opportunities might come next.
Both returned home as dusk settled in, the sky fading into shades of deep blue and orange. Ai warmly invited Shijo to join them for dinner after he had a chance to change his clothes. Agreeing with a nod, Shijo retreated into his house and resumed writing, focused on completing the remaining pages of his work.
Hours passed in quiet determination until Ai's voice called out for dinner. Setting aside his writing, Shijo made his way to join them at the table. The aroma of a home-cooked meal greeted him, filling the air with warmth and comfort.
As they ate together, conversation flowed easily, touching on various topics from literature to daily life. Shijo found himself enjoying the company, feeling a sense of camaraderie that he hadn't experienced in a long time. Ai and her family welcomed him warmly, making him feel at ease despite the novelty of the situation.
After dinner, Shijo helped with clearing the table, expressing his gratitude for the meal and the evening. As he prepared to leave, Ai thanked him for joining them, expressing her excitement about his upcoming publishing journey. Shijo smiled, appreciating the support and camaraderie he had found in this unexpected friendship.
Returning to his own home, Shijo reflected on the day's events with a sense of contentment. He knew that his decision to pursue publishing was the right one, and he looked forward to what the future held. With renewed determination, he returned to his writing desk, ready to continue crafting stories that would captivate readers and fulfill his dreams.
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Did anyone find mistakes?
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