Shichen and Utaha Kasumigaoka stayed at the bookstore until 7 PM before leaving, and she didn't go to his place for dinner.
Utaha Kasumigaoka's novel went on sale starting at 10 AM, and even if there weren't students, other people would buy it.
But Shichen asked the staff about the situation, and it turned out only two copies had been sold from morning to afternoon.
It was clearly a bit dismal.
However, this is normal for a debut novelist; many people aren't very interested in newly released novels, and Utaha Kasumigaoka's novel title was so unique.
Currently, simple, direct, and long book titles are more popular.
But this so-called normal was only for outsiders; Utaha Kasumigaoka, the person involved, couldn't accept it. She had been full of anticipation and hadn't slept well last night.
No matter how nervous she was before, her self-confidence was real, yet the first day turned out like this.
The two of them stayed at the bookstore for three hours, but only saw two people buy it, and they did so hesitantly.
In other words, a total of only four copies were sold that day.
It was extremely dismal, which was quite a blow to Utaha Kasumigaoka.
Anything can happen on the first day; it's normal for no one to buy it. Perhaps people will start buying it gradually in the next few days... Even though Shichen comforted Utaha Kasumigaoka like this, it brought her no solace.
This was only natural, unless Utaha Kasumigaoka didn't care at all whether her novel became popular.
But how could a novel into which she poured her passion and effort not be hoped to become popular?
In the following days, Utaha Kasumigaoka was so disheartened that she didn't come to the cafe until Sunday, when the cafe was about to close, she finally arrived, looking distraught.
Tohru and Chisato Nishikigi consciously went upstairs first; they had already understood the situation a little.
Utaha Kasumigaoka entered the store without saying a word, walked to her exclusive seat, and then slumped weakly onto the table.
Shichen took a glass of juice and walked towards her. After sitting opposite her, he handed the juice to her and softly asked, "Have you had dinner yet?"
Utaha Kasumigaoka stared blankly at the juice, not answering.
Her appearance clearly indicated something was wrong.
Shichen secretly sighed. In fact, he had also gone to the bookstore to check the situation these past two days, and he could only say the situation was not good.
The total sales of Utaha Kasumigaoka's novel these past few days were only over a hundred copies. This could no longer be described as dismal; it was practically facing imminent cancellation.
Because of these sales, the novel could directly face being axed.
In fact, this was precisely the case; today, Utaha Kasumigaoka received a notice from Machida Enko that the novel was expected to end early.
She had been in a daze at home for half a day, but still couldn't help but come to find Shichen.
Utaha Kasumigaoka's disheartened appearance made Shichen's heart ache. He boldly reached out and held her hand.
Her fingers were long, slender, and smooth, but in this late May season, they were cold.
Shichen held her hands with both of his, enveloping them, trying to provide warmth.
Utaha Kasumigaoka slowly raised her gaze, looked at her hands being held, and showed no reaction.
"Tell me what happened," Shichen said softly.
"Mmm..."
Utaha Kasumigaoka raised her head, met Shichen's gaze, and parted her lips slightly: "Editor Machida told me that if the sales continue like this, 'Love Metronome' will end in three volumes."
"It's being axed?" Shichen pursed his lips.
"Yes."
"What do you think?" Shichen asked, looking at Utaha Kasumigaoka's dim eyes.
"I don't want it to end," Utaha Kasumigaoka shook her head.
"Why? Didn't you only plan for one volume before? Wouldn't ending in three volumes be better?"
"Shichen, please don't joke... I had planned a lot of content before; three volumes are definitely not enough to conclude it. I don't want my novel to end hastily; I want to be responsible for the characters I've created." Utaha Kasumigaoka gripped Shichen's hand back, her tone serious.
At this moment, the dullness in Utaha Kasumigaoka's eyes faded, replaced by fighting spirit.
She had truly fallen in love with writing novels, so how could Shichen not support her?
"So, you still want to continue writing?" Shichen asked seriously.
"Yes!"
"I understand." Shichen smiled and nodded, "I will help you."
"Help me?" Utaha Kasumigaoka looked at him in confusion.
"What else?" Shichen squeezed her hand, "Your novel is so good, I don't want it to be axed so early; I also want to see the complete story."
"Just because of that?" Utaha Kasumigaoka frowned.
"Then what do you think it's because of?" Shichen asked back with a smile.
"How would I know!" Utaha Kasumigaoka glared at him exasperatedly.
"Hehe~ In short, for the next few days, feel free to come and write the second volume. We'll see how things go. If people really don't appreciate it, I'll handle it."
Utaha Kasumigaoka's notebook had always been left here, so she couldn't actually write her novel these past few days because she hadn't come.
"What exactly are you going to do?"
"Nothing much, just letting more people know about your novel."
"Huh?"
A few days later, Utaha Kasumigaoka's novel sales remained flat, and the decision to axe it was formally confirmed.
Originally, many copies of the novel were printed, but they simply couldn't be sold, which resulted in a loss for the publishing house.
Given the current situation, even if Utaha Kasumigaoka was willing to cooperate with the cancellation, the publishing house wouldn't have much expectation if she were to write a new book in the future.
Her so-called commercial value was not high.
Publishing houses aim to make money; they are not interested in dreams of writing novels. For them to help a novelist fulfill a dream, it depends on the novelist's hard strength.
Market popularity, big sales!
Opportunities given are limited.
So if Utaha Kasumigaoka failed at the beginning, it would be difficult for her in the future, and perhaps she would lose interest in writing novels then.
Not writing novels wouldn't affect her much; her academic performance was so good, she had many opportunities to succeed.
But Shichen didn't want her to give up her interest or dream.
Since he met her, he certainly had to try his best to help her. He felt that this was the main reason he could transmigrate into the two-dimensional world.
Becoming a god?
That was just a side matter, and a bit illusory. It was better to enjoy the time spent with them.
With the novel confirmed to be axed, Utaha Kasumigaoka wasn't as disheartened anymore. She inexplicably trusted Shichen completely, though she couldn't get herself to write these past few days.
However, she had been coming to the cafe every day these past few days. During the school term, except for sleeping at home, she spent all her other time at the cafe, eating both breakfast and dinner there.
She was just short of moving here, perhaps only needing a catalyst.
But what she was more curious about was that Shichen hadn't done anything these past few days, at least not in front of her.
In the morning, they would eat breakfast together. After school, she would see him leisurely tending the shop; it didn't matter whether he was there or not since Tohru and Chisato Nishikigi were present.
So the only time he could help her was at night after she left.
Shichen indeed started helping Utaha Kasumigaoka after closing the shop.
These past few days, he worked until very late, and Tohru and Chisato Nishikigi even complained a little about him going to bed with them so late.
Shichen wasn't doing anything major, nor was he using any special abilities. He was simply finding the two-dimensional circles online and recommending Utaha Kasumigaoka's novel to various influential figures.
This community is very loving, helping each other out to prevent good works from being buried.
These past few days, under his unremitting recommendations, influential figures finally read Utaha Kasumigaoka's novel and then spontaneously recommended it.
Many people follow these influential figures, and under their strong recommendations, everyone couldn't help but go and read it. So, sales have actually increased these past few days.
It just needs a few more days to ferment.
Shichen himself didn't have influence and couldn't act as a blogger to recommend and drive everyone like a certain person, but he could find more people to help.
More influential.
He had previously inquired about that person's situation from Utaha Kasumigaoka, but surprisingly, she seemed completely unaware of him.
This shouldn't be the case.
That person was so famous; no matter how little Utaha Kasumigaoka communicated with outsiders, she should have heard of him.
Unless that person didn't exist in this world.
Then, was the blonde tsundere still around?
Shichen didn't dare to ask Utaha Kasumigaoka directly. If that person existed, she would definitely ask him why he knew someone like that was at her school.
It would be hard to explain.
The situation was still uncertain. Perhaps because of his appearance, Utaha Kasumigaoka paid less attention to outsiders. He still decided to investigate it himself.
Now that his relationship with Utaha Kasumigaoka was pretty good, finding a reason to pick her up would be reasonable, right?
After her novel problem is resolved, that would be the best time.
After all, a month was almost up.