Yumiko Miura bowed to others and walked out.
"Ms. Miura, today's recording is over. Thank you for your hard work. If there are any more songs, we will notify you in advance," the woman said with a gentle smile.
"Thank you for your recognition," Yumiko Miura replied, her tone full of gratitude.
"You have the talent to become an idol," the woman praised.
"If possible, I will try," Miura Yumiko said softly, glancing at Akira Fujimiya.
She felt genuinely happy that Akira had come to see her today. This joy far exceeded the sense of accomplishment from a successful audition.
.....
After leaving the recording studio,
Hina Ebina returned to the Third Animation Production Studio to continue working on her animation scripts.
Yumiko Miura followed Akira all the way to the downstairs of Flash Animation.
"Have you had lunch?" Akira asked.
"No… not yet," Yumiko Miura admitted honestly.
"Let's go. I'll take you to lunch to celebrate your successful audition," Akira said, looking ahead.
"Yes!" Yumiko Miura's face lit up with excitement.
Naturally, Akira extended his hand to her.
Yumiko paused, glancing at Hikigaya Komachi beside him.
"Don't worry about Komachi. She's smart and can handle herself," Akira said lightly.
"I… I understand," Yumiko said, finally holding his hand.
Hikigaya Komachi blinked, thinking to herself that just before entering Flash Animation, Akira had mentioned this was the company of his girlfriend's family.
Could she… be his girlfriend?
"Yumiko is my friend and may become my girlfriend in the future," Akira clarified to Hikigaya Komachi thoughts.
"Hello, Yumiko nee-san," Hikigaya Komachi greeted politely.
"… hello," Yumiko Miura replied in a low, shy voice, nervous to hold hands before a stranger.
"...Komachi is Hikigaya Hachiman's sister," Akira added to her.
Yumiko Miura's eyes widened in surprise.
So this was Hikigaya Hachiman's sister? She had heard about Hikigaya Hachiman through Akira and Ebina Hina, but seeing Komachi in person gave a very different impression from her brother.
A pair of dead-fisg eyes appeared in her mind.
"...Is there a big gap between Komachi and Onii-chan?" Hikigaya Komachi asked, reading her expression.
"It's like a mermaid and a dead-fish," Akira replied with his usual calm evaluation.
.....
They soon arrived at a Japanese restaurant.
Akira ordered a variety of dishes, though each plate contained only small portions of it.
Yumiko Miura found the food delicious—probably because Akira was there.
While, Hikigaya Komachi tried a few dishes but found she couldn't finish them.
Akira ate a little more than usual.
Perhaps it was related to his super physical improvements; his appetite seemed larger than before.
After finishing their meal, Akira paid and left the restaurant together with them.
Miura Yumiko followed him and was about to ask where they were going next when Akira leaned close and whispered something in her ear.
"Help Komachi pick out a gift. It doesn't have to be expensive, but it should be something I can give her."
"I… I understand," Yumiko Miura said, glancing at Hikigaya Komachi.
She didn't ask why a gift was necessary.
"Fujimiya Nii-san, where are we going next?" Hikigaya Komachi asked proactively.
"Let's go shopping first, then to my company. After that, we'll find your brother and the others," Akira answered, checking the time.
.....
Shopping didn't take long for a single girl, but with two, it took significantly longer time to decide.
Yumiko Miura asked many questions to find the right gift, while Hikigaya Komachi, unaware of Akira's intentions, mentioned her preferences freely.
Unfortunately, nothing she liked suited what Akira intended.
He wanted a gift that reflected the care of a senior to a junior, without any personal connotations.
Which by now, Yumiko Miura understood this perfectly.
As the girls browsed through the clothing, Akira's phone suddenly rang.
It was Kana Sada.
"Young Master Akira, I have news about the voice actor agency you asked me to watch," Kana Sada reported cheerfully.
"So fast?" Akira asked in surprise.
"Actually, voice actor agencies are not very profitable. Large agencies are stable, but mid-sized ones struggle to survive without collaboration with animation studios. Some agencies even take on lower-tier projects…" Kana Sada lowered her voice.
"How much did they quote?" Akira asked.
"Two hundred million yen, including the voice actor school. Further negotiation may lower the price," Kana analyzed.
"Go and talk. After negotiations, report back. If the price is acceptable, I'll buy it today," Akira instructed.
"Yes, I'll go their immediately," Kana confirmed.
Akira hung up and looked back at Hikigaya Komachi in the clothing store. Perhaps this could become a small task for her later.
After about half an hour, Hikigaya Komachi went to the restroom, leaving Akira and Miura Yumiko alone.
"I'm sorry, Akira-kun, I couldn't find a suitable gift for her," Yumiko Miura said apologetically.
"It's okay. I've found it," Akira said softly.
"Really?" Yumiko Miura asked, curious.
"Well, she will definitely like this gift," Akira said, glancing toward the direction where Hikigaya Komachi had left.
Yumiko Miura smiled, stretched out her hand, and gently held his hand.
Akira felt the warmth of her hand and scanned the nearby shops.
"Now that Komachi's gift is chosen, it's time to pick one for you," he whispered softly.
"...will I get a gift too?" Yumiko Miura asked, surprised.
Akira stay silent for a second before getting closed to her and whisper something in a low voice.
Her face flushed immediately at his words, but she didn't refuse.
.....
When leaving the shopping mall, Yumiko Miura held an extra bag—Akira's gift to her— closed to her chest.
Hikigaya Komachi understood what it was but said nothing, having observed the exchange at the swimwear store.
Yumiko Miura was satisfied with the gift and declined Akira's offer to escort her back, heading to the station on her own.
While, Akira and Hikigaya Komachi took a taxi to Future Comics Publishing House.
There, he learned that Hikigaya Komachi enjoyed reading manga. By recommendation from a friend, her favorite work was Non Non Biyori. The friend, a member of the art club, admired the author's strong painting skills.
Even the art club's advisory teacher thought the author must be a professional painter.
Hikigaya Komachi's enthusiasm made Akira pause.
Such a coincidence was unusual.
As the reach the department,
Akira quickly spotted Tamura Nanako who just happened to be there and was going to her office.
As she felt a stare at her back —
She turn around to see the person.
Her face immediately lit up at the sight of Akira.
"Akira-sensei!"
"Akira-sensei?" Hikigaya Komachi echoed in confusion.
"Akira-sensei, this is your second volume," Tamura Nanako said, handing over Non Non Biyori's second volume.
Hikigaya Komachi stared blankly, unable to process the suddenly twist.
"Akira nii-san, you… are you the author of Non Non Biyori?"
"Yes," Akira confirmed, taking the volume from Tamura Nanako.
"No wonder you had such a strange expression when I praised Youzai earlier…" She smirk.
"I'll give you a few copies once it is officially released," Akira added.
...
The release date for Non Non Biyori was undecided.
One hundred thousand copies of the single volume had been printed, with a few held back for gifts and signing events.
In front of Tamura Nanako's desk, Akira signed copies under the pen name One. Thankfully, using a pen name made signing a hundred copies somewhat manageable.
Hikigaya Komachi was watched the process very carefully.
The character "いち" was written beautifully, showing Akira's practiced calligraphy.
In less than an hour, all one hundred copies were signed.
"Thank you for your hard work, Akira-sensei," Tamura Nanako said, bringing a cup of coffee.
...
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Bonus Chapter:-
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