Standing outside the Kiwami Books branch near Aihara Station, Gen Uesaki stood at the head of the short but growing line.
Turning slightly, he looked back—and right behind him was a figure straight out of every nerd stereotype: a bespectacled guy in a striped tee, black sweatpants, and a bulging backpack. Everything about him screamed textbook "otaku."
But Gen wasn't one to judge. He understood the type because he, too, was there for the same reason.
He was lucky. If he hadn't taken a cab before dawn, he wouldn't have been first in line—and for him, being first mattered. He had even trimmed his usual long hair, which he normally tied back into a bun, and swapped his gym wear for a crisp, neutral-toned button-down. Combined with his toned physique, the result was ambiguous: he could pass as a college student or a young professional.
Now, he stood there calmly, idly cleaning his ear with his pinky, as the morning sun climbed higher.
Posters filled the bookstore's glass windows, all colorful and glossy, advertising the latest in light novels. The most prominent was "Love Metronome," already on its second volume. Today's event celebrated its recent reprint—a fan signing with the author.
Of course, these events were half-promotion, half-PR stunts. Readers got to see the author in person; the publisher stirred up online buzz. In this case, the featured author was Kasumi Ayase, a mysterious rising star in the industry.
Gen held two books: the first still in its shrink-wrap, boasting a flashy label about winning some "40th Fantastic Newcomer Award!"—a title impressive in appearance, though in truth, such awards were more marketing than merit.
Still, the second volume's reprint signaled something real. This wasn't just hype. Ayase's work had traction. And the publisher's regret was well-known—despite her debuting in high school, she refused to market herself as a "genius schoolgirl." Had she allowed it, the buzz would've been even greater.
At exactly 8:00 a.m., the doors opened.
"Thanks for waiting. Please come in," a store employee said casually, clearly used to events like this. Gen, as the first in line, was guided inside toward the signing area, cordoned off in one corner of the store. The author wasn't yet visible; clearly, they wanted to preserve some mystery.
A young clerk with twin-tails stood guard at the front of the queue, watching him with professional intensity. Gen couldn't even zone out—her eyes made that impossible.
He looked around instead.
The bookstore was bright and clean. Wooden floors polished to a soft shine. Rows of tidy brown shelves lined with serial novels, color-coded spines indicating multi-volume sets. The light novel section was on his left; a few titles were displayed face-forward for visibility. Thankfully, the current trend of ridiculously long titles hadn't overtaken the industry—at least not yet.
He didn't see Love Metronome on display, oddly enough. But his own book? Front and center.
Time passed. The twin-tailed clerk remained motionless. And Gen began to feel it—that pull in his chest.
Should he play the part? Act like a crazed fan, gush fake praise, wear a smile like a mask?
He imagined what his old friend would say: "You'll never find truth through pretense." He made up his mind.
The barricade came down. The line started moving.
Gen turned the corner—and saw her.
Kasumi Ayase, seated at a white-draped table.
Despite being in high school, she wore a white suit, the cut clean and refined. She was striking—like a white rose basking in morning light. Her features were delicate, hair glossy black beneath a white headband. A white pencil skirt accentuated her figure, while black tights and heels peeked out under the tablecloth.
She looked up, eyes bright like rubies, as Gen approached.
"Hello! It's such an honor to meet you, Miss Ayase." His voice was calm as he handed over the pristine Volume 1.
"Thank you… I heard from the staff you came very early?" she asked, glancing at his neat appearance as she reached for her pen.
"Well, the air's freshest in the morning. And some moments in life are just too important to be late for. As your reader, being first feels like a privilege."
"You really didn't need to go that far…" she said with a reserved smile. "Half the queue tickets weren't even claimed."
"But Love Metronome is the best romance novel I've ever read."
"Thank you," she said softly.
"I've read the first volume five times. Every time, I get swept up in the emotional tension. The way the characters keep missing each other's hearts—it's almost painful."
Like an addict to their own suffering, he thought. And five times wasn't an exaggeration. The book's elegant prose and emotionally charged narrative were genuinely worth studying.
"You've really read it that much…"
"Yes. And as your first fan today, I have a gift for you." He handed her the second book.
"…?" She had noticed it earlier and assumed it was Volume 2 of her own work.
"This one's not released yet, technically. But the editors cleared it. I've already signed it. I hope you don't mind."
"…!!" Her eyes widened at the title: "Skies of Fate."
Her editor, a sharp-eyed woman in a navy blazer, leaned over to inspect the cover.
"You're… Zenshiro? The Zenshiro who wrote Cyan Dreams? Wait, you're the one who—!"
"…Yes."
A muffled squeal erupted from behind.
"Zenshiro-sensei!" the bespectacled fan exclaimed.
Gasps followed. Whispers rippled through the line. "Wait, Zenshiro? That Zenshiro?"
"Is it really him?"
"…It's me," Gen said, smiling.
"Whaaa—today must be my lucky day! I can't believe I just met both of my favorite authors!" the guy blurted out. "Wait—are you and Ayase-sensei working on something together?"
"…Maybe," Gen replied coyly.
"Are you serious? I've read Love Metronome like twenty times! It gets better every single read!"
"I know," Gen replied, turning back to Ayase. "Your writing has real depth. The emotional clarity in your characters' interactions—it inspired me to write something different. A pure romance."
Ayase looked away, clearly flustered by the compliment.
"A new project already? Will it be just as daring as your last? Or maybe… even more?" the fan asked breathlessly.
"Haha. The last one pushed a few boundaries, didn't it? This one's cleaner. Still unsure if I can pull it off. Maybe if I had Ayase-sensei's skill, I'd be more confident."
Ayase's pen paused. She opened her mouth to say something.
"…If only I had your narrative vision," she replied at last. "I've been playing through Cyan Dreams again—it would make such a great game."
"Thinking of adapting yours, too?" Gen asked.
She stared at him.
"Kasumi-sensei?"
"…Huh? Oh, right. Sorry. Thank you for the book."
"Please, don't call me 'sensei.' I'm just a fellow debut author," he said with a chuckle. "Or should I call you senpai?"
"S-senpai!?"
"Freshman from Chiba Prefectural High. Just started this spring."
"No way!!" the glasses guy exploded again.
Ayase was dazed. "Kouhai-kun…?"
He nodded.
Not the same school, but yeah—technically, he was her junior.
"You look way older… I mean, not old, just… mature!" the glasses guy blurted out again.
"Why don't we grab a coffee later?" Gen suggested, turning to him. "Let's leave Ayase-sensei to her fans."
"You mean it?! I'd be honored!" The fan clutched Love Metronome to his chest and stepped forward for his turn at the table. "Please sign it!"
Ayase handed Gen his signed book before accepting the fan's copy and adding her signature.
"Thanks for coming today," she said politely.
The fan bowed, face beaming. "Absolutely!"
He walked away still whispering to Gen: "Haven't found the right artist yet for my game adaptation."
Gen replied quietly, "I know someone. Eriko Kashiwagi."
Ayase looked at the line ahead, then took a deep breath and reset her expression for the next fan.
Later…
"Thanks for today," Ayase said, bowing to the store staff alongside her editor.
Back in her seat, she picked up Skies of Fate. Her fingers traced the title. "Zenshiro…"
She opened her phone and checked his social feed.
"Went to Ayase-sensei's signing today. Amazing experience. I totally get why fans show up hours early. :)"
Top comment:
"When's YOUR first signing event, huh?"
Dozens of replies below:
"Yeah!""Lazy genius!""Can't wait!"
Scrolling down, she found his post from earlier: a picture of both volumes of Love Metronome. Caption: Highly recommended. Beautiful story. Big fan of Ayase-sensei's work.
She flipped open Skies of Fate. A folded sheet of paper slid out.
"What's that?" her editor teased, peeking over her shoulder.
Ayase ignored her and unfolded it: a pencil sketch, finely detailed.
A teenage boy and girl, lying across from each other, holding swapped photos—her, a housewife; him, a model. Their hands nearly touched across the page. In the space between them, a message was written:
"Everyone has a side they don't show the world.Once, we were strangers.Now, we share a time no one else knows."
Ayase stared at the drawing.
"…Does he want my thoughts on this manuscript?" she murmured.
"Hey, Ayase," her editor said. "Zenshiro's a Kiwami author too, right?"
"…Yes," she replied slowly. "Think you could get me his contact info?"