After returning to the classroom,
Tanaka Masao looked at Kawasaki Saki's back and couldn't help but sigh inwardly.
[Kawasaki is such a good person. Although she looks cold on the surface, she's actually generous and gentle.
I feel a little guilty. She treats me so kindly, and yet…
Shouldn't I do more in return next time?]
But since Tanaka Masao hadn't been disciplined at all, he only grew more careless with each passing day.
······
In the days that followed, Tanaka Masao's life remained much the same.
After school, he went to the Service Club for training, though today Shizuka Hiratsuka wasn't there.
Dragging his tired body, he walked home with Yukinoshita Yukino before heading to bed early.
The next morning, he got up for his daily run, then spent the first half of the school day in a daze.
Finally, during the last class of the morning, it was time for physical education.
To his surprise, today's PE lesson was once again held together with Yukinoshita Yukino's first-year Class J.
The activity was tennis—just like last time.
In fact, all of this month's free-period PE activities were set as tennis.
And next month—June—would bring the swimming classes that everyone was looking forward to.
Holding a tennis racket, Tanaka Masao once again turned his attention to Kawasaki Saki and Yukinoshita Yukino.
[Last time, it must have been because I invited Kawasaki Saki first that Yukinoshita Yukino refused me.
But now that my relationship with Yukinoshita has improved, she should agree if I ask her again.]
With that in mind, he planned to invite Yukinoshita to play with him.
But before he could say a word, Yukinoshita Yukino and Kawasaki Saki exchanged a glance.
Without needing to speak, they walked together toward an empty tennis court in perfect understanding.
Seeing this, Tanaka Masao blinked in surprise and muttered to himself.
"Are they pairing up? Then what about me…?"
Indeed, having three people was awkward.
But what he hadn't expected was that he would be the one left out.
He looked at the empty court corner, hesitating.
In the end, Tanaka Masao still went over to them, taking on the role of referee and ball picker.
In his mind, being their helper was still better than hitting balls against the wall alone.
Perhaps because he was there to collect the balls, Yukinoshita Yukino didn't use as much stamina.
Or maybe her physical strength had improved slightly—either way, her performance today was noticeably better than before.
Kawasaki Saki, too, seemed to have sharpened her tennis skills since their last match.
In the end, the game once again ended in a draw.
...
After training, Tanaka Masao went home.
Following dinner and a shower, he lay on his bed scrolling on his phone when it suddenly rang.
The screen displayed:
[Sayuri Sawamura]
"Moshi moshi, is this Tanaka-kun?"
"Sister Sayuri, it's me. What's the matter?"
"What, can't I call Tanaka-kun unless I have something important?"
Her playful, teasing tone made Tanaka Masao swallow nervously as he thought to himself:
[Madam, she's dangerously good at this.]
"Of course… Sister Sayuri can call me anytime. No matter when, I'll answer."
"Haha~"
Sayuri Sawamura laughed softly on the other end of the line.
"Tanaka-kun, you're such a smooth talker. I really do like you.
Alright, let's get to business.
The book you brought me last time has already been printed and will be on sale this Saturday."
Hearing that, Tanaka Masao was stunned.
"Oh? It's been printed that fast? Ready to hit the shelves already? It's only been four days."
"Yes. I contacted a partner I've worked with before. She was very satisfied with your work and felt it would sell well.
So it was rushed into print. The initial run is 10,000 copies. If it sells out, you'll probably make about two million yen.
Of course, if sales are strong, more copies will be printed later.
Eriri and I will also promote it on our own online accounts.
You should create one too, so fans can follow your new works in the future."
"Thank you so much, Sister Sayuri—and Eriri as well. I'm really fortunate to have entrusted this to you."
Tanaka Masao sincerely thanked Sayuri Sawamura. Without her help, things would have been much harder.
"If you really want to thank me, then just keep drawing more books.
By the way, are you coming to Tokyo this weekend to check on the sales?
Also… Eriri has been busy lately, but she often thinks of you."
At the end, Sayuri's voice carried a teasing lilt, as though hinting at something more.
Hearing that, Tanaka Masao's mind wandered.
These past few mornings, whenever he woke up, the depravity value in his system had increased.
But it always happened late at night—so who was it?
Could it be… Eriri? Or… Sayuri herself?
After pondering for a while, Tanaka Masao replied.
"Alright, Sister Sayuri. I'll come to Tokyo on Saturday."
"Good, it's settled then. Come directly to my house, and you can stay overnight—there are plenty of guest rooms."
After chatting a bit longer, Tanaka Masao hung up.
He turned on his computer and created a new account on a social media site.
The username he chose was [Takeda].
It was also the pen name under which his book was published.
After registering, Tanaka Masao uploaded a few illustrations from the book and posted:
[Please support.]
He also shared the account details with Sayuri and Eriri Sawamura.
Having finished all this, he went to bed early.
…
Since Tanaka Masao's account was brand new, naturally, it didn't attract much attention at first.
But Eriri Sawamura's account, [Eri Kashiwagi], already had a huge following.
She made a special post recommending Tanaka Masao's book, attaching several illustrations and tagging his new account.
Before long, her fans noticed and started commenting:
[Eri Kashiwagi is releasing a new work?]
[Look carefully, she's recommending another author's book.]
[This is the first time I've seen Kashiwagi Eri recommend someone else's work. Just from the art alone, this looks like a masterpiece.]
[Yeah, the style, the details, the heroine's design—it all really matches my taste. I can't wait.]
[I've never heard of this Takeda person. Is he new?]
[Me neither. But can a newcomer really draw this well?]
[Who cares if he's new? As long as the quality's high, that's all that matters. In fact, newcomers bring more fresh ideas. Hehe~]
[True. It's coming out this Saturday—I'll make sure to grab the first copy.]
[No way, the first copy is mine!]
…
With more and more comments flooding in under Eriri's post, Tanaka Masao's account also started gaining fans.