Japanese people have a tendency to admire strength, and Hachiman's current display of strength has earned him the respect of Shuji Fujita.
This is evident from Fujita's address to Hachiman.
Hachiman's kendo skills are formidable enough to outshine everyone in the kendo club, except for Saeko Busujima, even surpassing Fujita, who holds the position of vice president within the club.
"Please, Hikigaya-kun, consider taking over as the vice president of the Kendo Club," Fujita Shuji earnestly requested, bowing to Hachiman with a serious expression.
He had a genuine passion for kendo and naturally aspired to witness the Kendo Club reach greater heights under strong leadership.
Both Hachiman and Kotonoha were taken aback by this sudden turn of events.
However, he couldn't voice his desire to quit the club during his second year of high school in front of others.
With an apologetic expression, Hachiman shook his head at Fujita Shuji and said, "I'm sorry, Fujita-senpai, but please understand that I must decline the position of vice president in the Kendo Club."
"My temperament tends to be more laid-back, and I'm not particularly inclined to conform.
I usually prefer training on my own in a corner, so I don't think I'm well-suited for the role of vice president in the Kendo Club."
"Well... if Hikigaya-kun ever has a change of heart in the future, please don't hesitate to let me know," Fujita Shuji expressed with a hint of regret upon hearing Hachiman's explanation.
"Absolutely, I will," Hachiman replied with a smile, nodding to Fujita.
He then turned to Kotonoha and Saeko, saying, "Katsura-san, Busujima-senpai, since practice is over, I'll be heading home for today."
"Hikigaya-kun, goodbye!" The two young ladies of the club bid farewell to him as well.
Hachiman nodded to the two of them and proceeded towards the locker room.
Along the way, he encountered numerous Kendo Club members who greeted him with respect upon seeing him.
This was the advantage of being strong. Although it wasn't his usual approach, he nodded and replied to each greeting.
After a brief shower and changing into his clothes in the locker room, he exited the Kendo Club.
Hachiman noticed that after sparring with Saeko today, his proficiency had increased significantly, adding 1,000 points.
His kendo proficiency level, which was at level three, now stood at (4840/10000), rapidly approaching the halfway mark.
With a few more similar sessions, he estimated that his kendo skills would advance to level four in less than a month.
Time passed quickly, and before he knew it, it was already Saturday.
I have a meeting with the illustrator in the morning, followed by a date with Yui in the afternoon, and considering the commute to Tokyo, my schedule is quite tight today.
At 7:00 in the morning, Hachiman woke up to prepare breakfast for Komachi.
He left a note along with 10,000 yen for her living expenses and then headed out early.
He reached the tram stop and boarded the tram bound for Tokyo.
After a two-hour journey, he arrived in Tokyo once again.
Meanwhile, in a house in the Ashikaga District of Tokyo, a woman in her thirties was preparing to leave.
"Sagiri, Mom is heading out," a gentle voice reassured, belonging to the illustrator who had been conversing with Hachiman.
"Mom, please be safe on the road."
The door to the second-floor room cracked open, revealing a timid little girl with long silver-white hair and aqua-blue eyes.
She softly bid her mother farewell.
"Mom will be back soon. Sagiri, you'll take care of the house," her mother said with confidence, offering a reassuring smile to her daughter.
She then exited the room and made her way to the coffee shop where she had arranged to meet Hachiman.
As her mother left, the young girl named Sagiri swiftly moved around the house.
She closed all the doors and windows with remarkable speed, even drawing the curtains for good measure.
"Yoshi, Sagiri home security operation has begun."
Sagiri let out a small cheer, her delicate face showing a hint of vigilance as she concealed herself behind the sofa.
Meanwhile, back with Hachiman.
Upon disembarking from the train, he hailed a taxi to reach the coffee shop where they had planned to meet.
Observing that it wasn't yet ten o'clock, Hachiman secured a window seat, ordered a cup of coffee, and settled in to wait patiently.
Approximately twenty minutes later, Hachiman's cellphone rang.
When the call connected, a gentle voice greeted him – it was the illustrator.
"Hello, Wakamono-sensei, I've arrived at the designated spot. I'm not sure how long it will take for you to get here."
Upon hearing her words, Hachiman glanced toward the coffee shop's entrance, where he indeed spotted a woman with long silver hair and a red coat pushing open the door.
"I'm already here. You can take the second seat on the far right by the window."
The woman at the door also spotted Hachiman and made her way directly towards him.
"I'm truly sorry for making you wait, Wakamono-sensei," the woman in the red coat apologized with a slight bow as she approached Hachiman.
Only now did Hachiman get a clear look at her appearance.
Beneath the red coat, she wore a light blue shirt, and her delicate face featured gentle, watery-blue eyes.
Her long silver hair was tied into a braid that hung down to her chest, adorned with a red bow at the end.
"Madam, your hairstyle is somewhat daring," he thought to himself.
"It's no problem at all. I just arrived as well. Miss Izumi, you don't have to be so formal. Please have a seat."
Hachiman had already learned the other party's last name from Machida Sonoko.
After hearing her apology, he simply smiled and nodded.
"Hello, I'm Hikigaya Hachiman, the author of 'Sword Art Online,' using the pen name Wakamono-sensei. It's a pleasure to meet you."
Once both of them were seated, Hachiman introduced himself.
"Hello, I'm Izumi Saori, responsible for your illustrations, and my pen name is Eromanga."Izumi Saori felt a bit self-conscious mentioning her pen name, considering it sounded somewhat... unconventional.
(A/N:Her full name was never revealed, so this isn't Sagiri's mom's first name.)
"Did Ms. Izumi's pen name come from Eromanga Town in the Southwestern Queensland? It's quite intriguing," Hachiman remarked.
"Eh?" Izumi Saori was taken aback by Hachiman's words.
She hadn't expected this young man, who appeared somewhat reserved, to comprehend the true origin of her pen name.
For most people, upon hearing the name Eromanga, their initial association would be with erotic comics, so it was quite a surprise.
It truly underscored his reputation as a best-selling novelist.
"That's correct, it's Eromanga Town. You're certainly well-informed and talented, Sensei," Saori Izumi praised with admiration.
"Haha, not at all, Miss Izumi, you're too kind. What would you like to order? Please feel free to order something" Hachiman smiled.
"In that case... a cup of latte," Izumi Saori accepted his offer of kindness and ordered a latte coffee after a moment of thought.
As the coffee arrived, Hachiman wasted no time getting to the main topic: "Regarding the content of the third volume, have you had a chance to read it?"
"I've nearly finished reading the third volume. As expected of Sensei, the writing is quite marvelous," Izumi Saori remarked.
She then set her coffee aside and took out a stack of drawings from her bag, handing them to him.
"This is the first draft of the characters I've drawn based on the content of the third volume. Sensei, please take a look at it first."
------------------------------------------
(A/N:Eromanga Town is a small town located in southwestern Queensland, Australia. Eromanga is known for its connection to paleontology, as it's home to the Eromanga Natural History Museum, which houses significant fossil discoveries, including dinosaur fossils. This museum contributes to our understanding of prehistoric life in Australia and is a notable attraction for those interested in paleontology and natural history.)
"Miss Izumi, there's no need to be so formal. You can call me Hikigaya or Hachiman."
After receiving the drawings, Hachiman began to flip through them.
Kirito, Asuna, Lisbeth, Silica, Yui.
The characters from the book came to life one after another on the pages.
Although they were slightly different from his initial impressions, they were already quite close to the original versions.
"No wonder it's from Eromanga Sensei, the art style is quite exquisite, but why do I feel like..."
While the characters are indeed finely detailed, and their movements and expressions are quite lively, there's one common characteristic among all the female characters.
That is, the characters seem to exude a touch of sensuality.
That's right, whether it's Asuna, Lisbeth, Silica, or even Yui, they all seem to radiate a hint of sensuality.
Wait a minute, doesn't 'Eromanga' mean erotic manga?
Could it be that this lady is actually a doujinshi artist?
Looking at the refined lady in front of him, Hachiman found it somewhat hard to believe.
Yet, now that he thought about it, the title Eromanga did sound somewhat familiar.
"Miss Izumi, there are some issues with these character illustrations," he said, looking at the characters oozing sensuality.
He felt they lacked the essence of the characters.
"What kind of issues?" she inquired.
"For instance, this image of Asuna. During this period, Asuna is the leader of the Clearers and is known as the 'The Flash,' so her demeanor should be more commanding."
"And this one of Lisbeth. Her personality should be that of an optimistic and lively tomboy, but this image gives off a more delicate vibe."
"And also this one..."
Hachiman conveyed his impressions of the characters in his mind to Izumi gradually.
In their conversation, time unknowingly passed 11 o'clock.
"Oh my, it's already so late!" She glanced at her wristwatch, a hint of panic in her eyes, and quickly excused herself from Hachiman.
"Hikigaya-kun, I'll be heading back today. I'll send the revised illustrations to your email in a few days, so feel free to reach out if you have any questions!"
"Ms. Izumi, how about we grab lunch together before you go? I'd like to treat you as a token of gratitude for today's help." Glancing at the time, Hachiman extended the invitation.
"Oh, no, I can't. My daughter is home alone, so I'm not at ease leaving her."
"Miss Izumi, you already have a daughter? You still look so young," Hachiman expressed his surprise.
He hadn't expected that the other party had a daughter.
"Haha, Hikigaya-kun, you're flattering me. I turned thirty this year, and my daughter is already ten years old."
Women always appreciate compliments about their appearance.
After hearing Hachiman's words, Izumi Saori couldn't help but smile and cover her mouth with a chuckle.
"In that case, I'll be taking my leave for today. See you, Hikigaya-kun."
"Goodbye, Miss Izumi."
As he watched her departing, Hachiman couldn't help but sigh.
At 23 years old in his previous life, he reflected on the contrast between Miss Saori, who already had a ten-year-old daughter, and his own situation in his previous life.
And thinking Shizuka and Sonoko, both still without boyfriends, he couldn't help but wonder about the significant disparities in people's lives.
However, the thought of Sonoko sparked an idea in Hachiman's mind as he gazed through the window at the Kadokawa Building across the street.
Since she was in the vicinity, he decided to invite her to lunch.
With this idea in mind, he retrieved his cell phone and dialed Sonoko's number.
"Um, Hachiman?"
Sonoko, who was at work, glanced at her mobile phone in confusion upon receiving the call.
"Hey, Hachiman, what do you need?"
"Haha, Sister Sonoko, it's been a while."
"The illustrator and I were discussing illustrations today, and we happened to be near Kadokawa.
I thought of you and wondered if you'd like to join me for lunch?" Hachiman extended the invitation with a smile.
"Sure, let's have lunch together. Where are you? I'll come over right away." Upon hearing the lunch invitation, Sonoko readily agreed.
"Don't trouble yourself. I'm downstairs at Kadokawa at the moment. Just come outside."
"Alright, I'll wait for you; I'll head down now." Sonoko promptly ended the call.
After stowing his phone, Hachiman settled the bill and departed from the coffee shop.
Upon reaching the ground floor outside Kadokawa, he spotted his lovely editor emerging.
"Haha, Hachiman, it's been a while."
Seeing him, Sonoko warmly embraced him.
Feeling the two soft lumps pressing against his chest, Hachiman couldn't help but grin playfully. "Wow, Sister Sonoko, are you trying to take advantage of me? I'm still a decent guy."
"Hah, you're the one who took advantage of me, remember? And you know I'm still a young lady," Sonoko playfully chided, laughing.
"Tsk tsk tsk, boasting about being a young lady at the age of thirty, Sister Sonoko."
"Fuck you, I'm only twenty-seven. Let's not dwell on that. Instead, let's head to lunch." Sonoko playfully punched Hachiman and retrieved her car keys.
"How about going to the Yukihira restaurant like last time?"
"I'm fine with either option." Hachiman nodded indifferently.
He was here for a meal, so he didn't have strong preferences.
Moreover, the food there was consistently good.
"Great, let's hop in the car then."
After a short while, the two arrived at the Yukihira Restaurant.
"Welcome, Miss Machida is here," Soma, the person in charge of taking orders, greeted them.
It was evident that Sonoko was a frequent visitor here.
"Hey, I'm here again, Yukihira-kun."
Sonoko Machida placed their orders, and it didn't take long for Soma to bring their food over.
While they enjoyed their meal, their conversation naturally revolved around Hachiman light novel.
"Hachiman, the editor-in-chief has approved your third volume, and it will be officially published in the middle of this month."
"That's fantastic. I'm truly grateful for your assistance, Sister Sonoko," Hachiman said with a smile.
"Anyway, the most crucial thing is that your light novel is exceptionally well-written, Hachiman; otherwise, Kadokawa wouldn't have agreed to publish it so quickly," Sonoko waved her hand.
"I have some good news for you. The sales of your first volume have now surpassed 100,000 copies, which is a clear indicator of your light novel excellence. If this momentum continues, there should be no problem reaching a total sales figure of over 5 million copies for your light novel."
Towards the end, Sonoko appeared a bit excited.
"Five million, it's been a while since I've had an author with sales of five million."
"Five million is good, but my aim is ten million !" Hachiman's ambitions far exceeded the five-million mark.
"Haha, you're quite ambitious. Work hard for it! If you can reach ten million, I might just secure the position of editor-in-chief," Sonoko encouraged upon hearing his goal.
"No worries, Sister Sonoko, I guarantee you'll attain the position of editor-in-chief," Hachiman expressed his confidence in the sales prospects.
"But Hachiman, recently, Misty Hill mentioned to me that she wants to make some revisions to the first volume. Is this your suggestion for her?"
---------------------------------
A/N:
The name "Kasumigaoka" is also of Japanese origin. The meaning of "Kasumigaoka" can be broken down as follows:
- "Kasumi" means "haze" or "mist."
- "Gaoka" means "hill" or "elevated ground."
So, "Kasumigaoka" could be loosely translated as "Hazy Hill" or "Misty Hill" in English. It's a descriptive name that might evoke a place with rolling hills covered in mist or haze. Keep in mind that Japanese names, including place names, often carry poetic or evocative imagery.
-------------------------------------
Chapter 42: "A Date with Yui"
Chapter 43: (Hidden Title)
ความคิดเห็นย่อย
คุณลักษณะความคิดเห็นย่อหน้าอยู่ในขณะนี้บนเว็บ! เลื่อนเมาส์ไปที่ย่อหน้าใดก็ได้แล้วคลิกไอคอนเพื่อเพิ่มความคิดเห็นของคุณ
นอกจากนี้คุณสามารถปิด / เปิดได้ตลอดเวลาในการตั้งค่า
เข้าใจแล้ว