Chapter 67: Novel Release
After breakfast, Kaede prepared to leave. The meeting time agreed upon with Eriri and Utaha was 9:00 AM, and leaving now would get him there just in time.
Looking at her son who had changed clothes and come downstairs, Asakura Reiko smiled and said, "Are you going out with Eriri?"
"Yes, and Senior Kasumigaoka, whom you met yesterday. Her novel is being released today, and we agreed to go check out the situation at the bookstore."
"?"
Asakura Reiko was stunned for a moment. So it wasn't a date?
Seeing his mother's expression, how could Kaede not understand? He immediately said, "Stop thinking about things like that, okay? Everything needs to happen step by step. Mom, you're still young, what's the rush?"
"That's easy for you to say."
After thinking carefully, Asakura Reiko knew she shouldn't keep hovering, but sometimes she just couldn't help wanting to gossip. Was this truly a woman's nature?
"Fine, then Mom won't pry anymore. Oh, Kaede, when you come back, bring me a copy of the light novel your Senpai wrote. I checked online earlier, and it seems to be a youth romance type? I'm actually interested in reading that genre."
"I got it, I'll bring you back a copy."
While saying this, Kaede finished putting on his shoes. "I'm heading out now."
"Be careful on the way~~~"
After her son left, Asakura Reiko finished tidying the kitchen and went back to her room to change clothes. She had plans to go shopping today with Sawamura Sayuri and the two other wives she met yesterday... Since the meeting point was near a large bookstore, Kaede took the train directly to the destination.
After exiting the station, the destination was about five or six minutes away. Kaede walked and simultaneously called Eriri to ask if she had arrived.
"Ugh... I overslept, but Mom already woke me up! I can make it on time before 9:00!"
Talking to Kaede through her wireless headphones, Eriri hiked her leg up high and struggled to pull on her jeans.
"It's only fifteen minutes until nine. Are you sure you can make it?" Kaede laughed and said, "If you're late, even if I try to speak up for you, I bet Senior Kasumigaoka will still tease you."
"I won't be late! I'm having Mom drive me over!"
"I see. Then I'll wait for you to arrive. I already see Senior Kasumigaoka, so I'm hanging up now."
"Mhm, see you later."
After hanging up the phone, Eriri stood up from her bed and twirled in front of the full-length mirror. Unlike her usual dresses, Eriri chose to try on jeans today.
"Hmph, although I'm a bit shorter than Utaha, my legs are thinner than hers. That girl would never dare to wear something like this."
Smiling triumphantly, Eriri put on her jacket, slung her small bag over her shoulder, and left the room.
"Mom, I'm changed, hurry up!"
"Coming, coming!"
While Eriri was rushing out, Kaede had already met up with Utaha.
"Good morning, Senpai."
"Good morning, Asakura-kun."
Utaha, in her usual black stockings and dress, was an attention-grabber wherever she went. Taking off her sunglasses, she smiled and said, "Didn't you come with Eriri?"
Shrugging, Kaede said, "I just called her. She's leaving now and will be here shortly. Besides, there's no need to come together since this place is closest to Eriri's home."
"That's true." Utaha smiled, looking at the bookstore in the distance where people were already buying books. She asked, "Do you think those people who came so early to buy books are here for mine?"
Kaede thought for a moment and said, "The only new light novel volume released today is your love metronome, Senpai. I think a good portion of them are probably here for your book. But for specifics, won't we know once we go and check?"
Although Kaede said so, Utaha still looked nervously towards the bookstore. Kaede understood this; after all, he felt pretty much the same when the first volume of konosuba was released. He was confident in his light novel but also worried that readers wouldn't buy it.
At 8:58 AM, a red BMW pulled up in front of them. The passenger door opened, and Eriri stepped out. Sawamura Sayuri didn't get out but waved to them through the car window before driving away.
After checking her watch, Eriri looked at Kaede triumphantly and said, "I told you, I wouldn't be late!"
"Alright, I'll grant you weren't late."
"What do you mean? I wasn't late at all!"
After glaring at Kaede on her tiptoes, Eriri suppressed the joy of seeing Kaede after two days and looked at Utaha: "Let's go, let's check it out. I'll also buy a copy of your light novel and contribute to the sales."
Kaede quickly followed up, saying, "I'll buy some too, but two copies. My mom said she wants to read it as well."
"That's very kind of you."
Although Utaha had a sharp tongue, she wasn't impolite or ungrateful. One was her collaborating artist, and the other was an author from the same Bunko, so naturally, she would maintain good relations.
However, after thanking them, she also smiled at Eriri.
Eriri said without hesitation, "Don't look at me like that. My mom is a fujoshi; she never reads this type of light novel. Don't even think about it."
"I didn't expect Sayuri-san to have such a hobby." Utaha was surprised and said unexpectedly, "When I saw her yesterday, I was wondering what kind of parent would allow their daughter to be a doujin artist. Turns out she's also an insider."
"Exactly."
Eriri spread her hands and said, "Not just my mom, my dad is also an otaku, but these past two years, he hasn't been able to go to comic conventions himself because of work."
No, no, no, wouldn't a diplomat going to a comic convention cause problems?
The conversation ended there, and the three walked together to the bookstore ahead.
Upon entering the bookstore, Eriri saw love metronome displayed in the most prominent position and quietly mumbled, "This is quite a display."
Kaede, standing beside her, explained, "This bookstore has a partnership with Fushikawa Bunko. As long as a work is deemed good, it will be promoted upon release."
"Was it the same for you back then?"
Kaede nodded: "But I didn't come to see it myself back then. Editor Nakajima told me about it and showed me photos."
Saying this, he picked up two copies of the first volume of love metronome from the shelf and also observed the customers in the bookstore.
"A large portion are female readers. It seems the series of promotions the Bunko did earlier were effective."
Eriri also said, "Exactly. After all, it's the gold prize winner of the Newcomer Award, so people will definitely pay attention. It's just that the subsequent momentum might not be as strong as other genres."
After getting the light novels, the two prepared to browse the bookstore further, while Utaha chose to stay and observe the customers buying books.