novelhk Page 13
Page 13
In the early morning, Kato Megumi straightened her school uniform in front of the mirror and fiddled with her bangs a few times.
"Tap tap tap." She walked briskly downstairs, her eyes immediately falling on the lunchbox that had been prepared in advance: "Mom, you don't need to prepare lunch for me anymore."
"Hmm? What's wrong?" Mom was taken aback at first, then reached out and touched Kato Megumi's forehead with concern: "You don't have a fever, why do you seem like a different person?"
"It's just a part-time job. It doesn't interfere with my study time, the pay is good, and it even includes lunch and dinner."
"Oh, I see. Then take good care of yourself and don't overwork yourself. Your health should be the most important thing." Mom gave a couple of words of advice, but didn't really take it seriously.
In fact, many high school students take advantage of their spare time to work part-time, mostly in convenience stores or restaurants, which is a very normal phenomenon in ordinary families.
"Okay, I'll be careful." Kato Megumi walked to the entrance and put on her shoes. "Well then, I'm off."
"Be careful on the road."
...a week later...
Kato Megumi walked into the house carrying two shopping bags. The sound of the door opening attracted the attention of everyone in the living room, but they only looked up once before going back to doing their own things.
Only Baili Xiao, who had nothing to do, smiled, stood up and took the bag from Kato Megumi, looked at the ingredients inside, raised an eyebrow and asked, "Curry?"
"Hmm." Kato Megumi nodded, took out bottles of drinks and snacks from another shopping bag, and casually opened the refrigerator to put them in. She said in a joking tone, "Hyakuri-kun, this is different from the work we agreed on at the beginning. Are you going to give me a raise?"
A raise?
Baili Xiao was taken aback at first, but then he understood what Kato Megumi meant.
As Kato Megumi said, Baili Xiao initially only told her to be in charge of "lunch and dinner," but in fact, during the week that Kato Megumi worked there, she was responsible for everything herself, from cleaning to laundry and cooking.
Because Bai Lixiao demanded that "volumes two and three be completed within a month," everyone was working overtime.
Whether it was Eriri and Izumi Hashima handling the illustrations, or Utaha Kasumigaoka handling the novel, each of them wanted to complete their tasks ahead of the others while ensuring quality.
As a result, many things that girls should pay attention to are selectively forgotten by them.
For example, there were manuscript papers and outlines scattered all over the place, snack bags that had been eaten, trash cans full of garbage, clothes and underwear that had been taken off, etc... If it weren't for Kato Megumi constantly cleaning up, Baili Xiao couldn't imagine what the house would look like after a week.
"Of course! Don't worry about the salary, you won't be shortchanged." Baili Xiao grinned, giving Kato Megumi a thumbs up: "Looking back now, forcing you to stay was definitely the right choice. Otherwise, having a grown man like me do these things would be really...emmm..."
Just imagining the scene of Kasumigaoka, Eriri, and Hashima Izumi's underwear mixed together in front of him, Baili Xiao couldn't help but blush.
“I think…” Kato Megumi closed the refrigerator door, took the bag full of ingredients from Baili Xiao’s hand, and muttered to herself as she walked toward the kitchen, “Perhaps they would prefer you to clean up.”
"What did you say?" Baili Xiao frowned; he hadn't heard him clearly.
"It's nothing." From an angle where Baili Xiao couldn't see, Kato Megumi's lips curled up slightly, but she quickly returned to normal: "Baili-kun, if it's alright, could you come and help me prepare the ingredients?"
...
As the last ray of sunlight finally dipped below the horizon, Eriri put down her pressure-sensitive pen, rubbed her sore eyes, and collapsed onto the sofa as if she were completely exhausted.
Beside her, Hashima Izumi, having forced herself to complete the final step, carefully examined the flaws in the image. Once she confirmed it was flawless, she too, like Eriri, collapsed backward, utterly exhausted.
"Phew." Kasumigaoka Utaha clicked "Save" with the mouse and let out a heavy sigh: "Volume Two... is it really over like this?"
The sound was very soft, almost a groan.
The three exchanged a glance and smiled simultaneously.
"This time, let's call it a tie. Actually, to be honest, I should have finished first." Eriri raised her chin with a hint of pride.
"Heh." Kasumigaoka Utaha sneered, "I'm your junior, and I've already completed my mission at the same time as you. How dare you, as my senior, show off like this?"
"Huh? No, no, no, I just... I was only able to complete the tasks with Eriri-senpai because Teacher Baili assigned me fewer tasks." Izumi Hashima paused for a moment, then hurriedly waved her hands and shook her head.
However, her explanation was obviously useless, because the two people were staring at each other without flinching, and it seemed as if flashes of electricity collided in the air.
"What? Are you done?" With that, Baili Xiao came out of the kitchen carrying tableware. "Since you're done, let's quickly tidy up the table and have a celebration feast!"
"Celebration! Volume 2 of '5 Centimeters Per Second' is complete! Cheers!"
"cheers!".
Chapter 0038 Quarterly Election Results are in! (First update, please add to your favorites and give flowers)
"Ms. Sonoko, the text and illustrations for Volume 2 of '5 Centimeters Per Second' have been sent to your email. Please check it when you have time." Bai Lixiao picked up the phone. "I'll put in a word with Akane Kousaka. I hope you two can collaborate and hold a launch event for Volume 2 in three to five days. What do you think?"
"R-really finished?" Machida Sonoko, who was watching a movie and eating popcorn, stared wide-eyed and stood up in disbelief, drawing angry glares from everyone in the theater. "Sorry, sorry."
After hastily bowing and apologizing, Machida Sonoko disregarded everything else and rushed out of the screening room, finding a slightly quieter spot: "Hyakuri-kun, did you really mean... Volume 2 is finished?"
"Yes, you heard me right."
"Oh my god, this is the first time I've encountered this situation in all my years as an editor." Machida Sonoko made no attempt to hide her surprise. In her opinion, it was already an amazing speed for a light novel writer to finish a volume within a three-month deadline. Moreover, [5 Centimeters Per Second] required the creation of a large number of exquisite illustrations, which made her even think that "a volume could be seen in half a year."
But... Baili Xiao and his team actually completed the second volume of "5 Centimeters Per Second" in just half a month?
"Hyakuri-kun, based on what I know about you, you wouldn't let the second volume of the novel be less exciting than the first, would you? The illustrations should be even more perfect, right?" Still harboring doubts, Machida Sonoko tentatively asked in a low voice.
Baili Xiao was slightly taken aback, but quickly understood the former's concerns: "Don't worry, Miss Yuanzi, the second volume surpasses the first volume in every aspect. As for the quality, I think you won't have any worries after you've read it."
After a pause, Baili Xiao continued, "Relatively speaking, what I'm more concerned about is whether your Shinazugawa team, in cooperation with Akane Kousaka's club, can prepare for the release of the second volume within three to five days?"
"Of course! Even if we have to use all the human resources of Izakawa Bunko, we will complete your request within the time limit!"
...
In just three days, a series of messages exploded across the internet among young people.
[Shinazugawa Bunko collaborates with the strongest doujin circle "rouge-en-rouge" to create [5 Centimeters Per Second]!]
[Bestselling author Shizuko Kasumi has decided to release her second volume just two weeks after the release of her first!]
[In addition to the original illustrator, Eri Kashiwagi, a new artist, "rouge-en-rouge," has joined the illustrators for Volume 2: Izumi Hashima!]
[Rumors are circulating that the second volume of the novel is far superior to the first. Is this an exaggeration or the truth? Let's wait and see!]
In just three days, the news that "[5 Centimeters Per Second] Volume 2 is about to be released" jointly released by Shinazugawa Bunko and the "rouge-en-rouge" circle caused a huge uproar on the Internet and even topped the trending search list!
This is the result of both companies not spending money to hire people to deliberately hype things up!
It's worth noting that both Shinazugawa Bunko and the "rouge-en-rouge" circle conduct extensive promotions half a month to a week in advance before releasing a novel or game.
It's not that they don't want to promote the second volume of "5 Centimeters Per Second," it's just that... they simply don't have the time to do so!
"Three to five days," was the release date set by Baili Xiao. Before that, both companies needed to send the novel texts to the printing plant for printing, binding, checking, and packaging!
Furthermore, judging from the sales performance of the first volume, the second volume will only be even more popular, meaning that... the initial print run of 100,000 copies might sell out in half a day!
We're already busy getting the printing factory to work overtime, where would we find the time to ask them to promote Volume 2 of "5 Centimeters Per Second"?
Fortunately, the first volume of "5 Centimeters Per Second" earned it a considerable amount of reputation and praise, which is the best form of publicity!
Just as Machida Sonoko and Akasaka Akane were racking their brains over the "normal release of Volume 2," the results of the quarterly poll for the most authoritative light novel guidebook, "This Light Novel is Amazing!", were finally released!
【5 Centimeters Per Second】 has won the No.1 light novel title this quarter with an overwhelming lead in the sum of votes received by all other nominated light novels!
P.S.: The older generation has passed away, and I've been busy with many things lately. I apologize.
Updates have resumed. I hope everyone will continue to support me (it's impossible for this to be abandoned, I will never abandon it in my life. The comments from the kind brothers and sisters are so lovely, I love this place so much...).
Chapter 0039 The Yamada Fairy Admits Defeat! (Two chapters, please add to your favorites and give flowers)
001671０5
"Crunch... crunch..." The sound of clenched teeth.
In a seaside villa, there is a huge room with luxurious decorations, revealing a girlish heart everywhere.
Yamada Elf stared intently at the voting results for "This Light Novel is Amazing!", her two rows of silver teeth clenched tightly together, and even through her lips, one could hear a "crunching" sound that sent shivers down one's spine.
[5 Seconds] received 210,000 votes!
【The Fiery Dark Fairy】received 98,000 votes!
The remaining light novels combined received a total of several hundred thousand votes!
In other words, the total number of votes from second to twentieth place is less than one vote for the first place winner, "5 Seconds"!
"Damn it! Are these readers sick? How could a romance light novel get so many votes!?" Yamada Fairy threw the tablet aside forcefully, puffed out her cheeks, strode to the bedside, and jumped onto it.
The extremely expensive mattress bounced up and down, and Yamada Fairy buried herself in the pillow for a long time, unable to lift her head. Her fair little fists clenched, and she would occasionally slam them on the blanket.
"Aren't slice-of-life romance novels a niche genre? Isn't this the era of 'feel-good' novels? Didn't you say that as long as it's enjoyable to read, readers will buy it no matter how bad the plot is?" Yamada Fairy raised her small face, her eyes visibly reddening. "How can a romance novel that's only been on the market for half a month actually take the number one spot? It even beat my novel! I don't believe it! There must be some kind of dirty backroom deal involved!"
Despite muttering complaints and grumbling, Yamada Elf's gaze involuntarily drifted to the bookshelf beside her, where an unopened hardcover copy of the first volume of "5 Centimeters Per Second" sat.
She secretly ordered it online, and both the signature and address were from someone else.
The novel had been sitting there for several days, and Yamada Elf had never touched it—she firmly believed that her light novel would beat "5 Centimeters Per Second" in the poll, and at that time, "5 Centimeters Per Second," being her defeated opponent, would naturally have no need to look at it!
However, things often don't go as planned...
"Hmph! Kasumi Shiko, I'd like to see what's so great about your novel!" Yamada Elf stood up, picked up the novel, roughly tore open the cover, and turned to the first page.
When her pink eyes saw the illustration on the first page and the sentence, "Did you know? Cherry blossoms fall at a speed of five centimeters per second!", she was completely stunned.
The huge cherry blossom tree in the picture, the falling cherry blossom petals, the blurry figures standing on both sides under the tree, every stroke is as if it is happening in real life, reflected in the reader's eyes, even the still picture is like watching a movie.
"This...is this Kashiwagi Eri's painting?" Yamada Elf swallowed hard, her eyes constantly shifting, but she just couldn't take her gaze off the illustration.
Of all the illustrators she knew, only Eromanga was the most talented. For some time now, she had been begging Eromanga to be her personal illustrator, but she had been ruthlessly rejected each time.
But today, upon seeing Eri Kashiwagi's illustrations, she realized that... even Eromanga, whom she had been desperately pleading with, was powerless against Eri Kashiwagi!
"So it's because of Kashiwagi Eri-sensei's illustrations that I have so many supporters? If she were willing to draw illustrations for me, my popularity would definitely be higher than [5 Centimeters Per Second]!" Yamada Elf seemed to have discovered the reason why [5 Centimeters Per Second] crushed her. One second she was angry, and the next second she showed a smug smile.
After all... attributing the success of "5 Centimeters Per Second" to "the illustrator's contribution" is more acceptable to Yamada Elf than "the novel written by Kasumi Utako is better"...
Of course, this small bit of self-comfort vanished completely as she turned to the second page.
Half an hour, an hour...
Time flies, and before she knew it, when Yamada Elf was straining her eyes to see the words on the book, she realized that it was already late... The clock on the table pointed to 7:30.
"Hmm..." Yamada Fairy pursed her lips, glanced at the "5 Centimeters Per Second" in her hand with a complicated look, sighed deeply, and closed the book.
After witnessing Xia Shizi's literary talent, she realized how vast the gap was between them... so vast that she didn't even want to eat dinner.
"With writing skills like that, even a light novel author who specializes in romance novels should be famous by now... I really don't understand why Kasumi Utako's previous novel, 'Love Metronome,' only sold 500,000 copies..."
Kuyama Fairy stood up, gently placed "5 Centimeters Per Second" aside, turned on the computer and the fax machine next to her, scanned the illustration on the first page of "5 Centimeters Per Second", sent it to someone, and left a message.
"Professor Eromanga, if you're interested in this artist, please contact me! Their new book launch is in two days!"
Chapter 10040 The Collapse of Po Island and its Departure! (Third Update, Please Add to Favorites and Share!)
"Yuanzi, I'm all ready here, what about you?"