Back home, Akira once again received a message from his editor, Haruno.
"Haruno Kyoko: How is the second volume coming along?"
Why is she already rushing me? I just signed the contract for the first volume.
Akira couldn't help but complain, putting down his phone and looking at the document on his computer, which already had a considerable amount written.
It feels a bit harder to write than before.
If only he had the original file to copy from, Akira couldn't help but think.
Then, this thought slowly faded; although he did have a golden finger, he still liked the feeling of improving himself step by step, solidly.
Even now, he hadn't experienced any awkwardness from suddenly acquiring a skill; this was experience forged through countless practices.
It feels much more reassuring than having knowledge directly instilled and then becoming proficient.
Akira replied calmly.
"Akira: I'm already writing it."
Then, ignoring Haruno Kyoko on his phone, he began to concentrate on writing the content of the second volume.
"I hope the first volume's sales can exceed twenty thousand," Akira thought to himself, "that way, my funds will suddenly become abundant."
Otherwise, even though he had his own little stash, he still felt a bit insecure.
After all, the situation had changed from one person slacking off to the happy life of two people.
The adult Akira already had thoughts of marrying Sajuna.
After writing until past ten in the evening, Akira tidied himself up, took a shower, and went to bed.
The next day, as usual, he got up early and went to Sajuna's house to make breakfast.
"Sajuna-chan, good morning."
"Eh." Sajuna was stunned for a moment, feeling that adding the suffix made it sound more intimate.
The two lovingly prepared breakfast and lunch bentos, and the three of them sat around the dining table in the living room, eating their meal.
"Aki-Kun."
"Hmm?"
"My mom and dad are coming back soon." Sajuna replied as if nothing was wrong, but her lowered head revealed her inner nervousness.
She and Aki-Kun had already confessed their feelings to each other, and Aki-Kun definitely wouldn't refuse, but she was still so shy.
Sajuna wanted to gently cover her face, but because she was holding chopsticks in one hand, it was inconvenient to put them down, so she just continued to keep her head down.
"Eh, are Uncle and Auntie coming back?"
Akira was surprised, as he had only known that Sajuna's father was away on a business trip.
He didn't know exactly what kind of work he did, and he didn't feel right prying.
It would be like inquiring about Sajuna's family situation.
"Hmm, Dad's business trip is over." Sajuna took a bite of the stewed potato and said, "Dad works at a publishing house, and he took Mom with him when he went on his business trip out of town."
She even sounded a bit resentful: "The two of them went traveling and left us two at home."
They're so carefree.
Akira sighed inwardly, but if his father-in-law and mother-in-law had been watching closely, he really wouldn't have had a chance.
Just for that, he had to thank them profusely.
"So, was that camera for Uncle's business trip?"
"Hmm, Dad often takes landscape photos, and occasionally takes pictures of Mom." Sajuna replied, then hesitated for a moment, but still blurted it out.
"I, I told Mom and Dad about us."
"Dad, he said he wants to meet you."
Sajuna lowered her head, secretly glancing at Akira across from her; she still wanted to know Aki-Kun's first reaction.
Akira's face showed no surprise, and he readily agreed: "Alright."
"I'm not afraid."
Akira suddenly remembered that Sajuna had only mentioned her father; what was her mother-in-law's attitude?
"How does Auntie view our relationship?"
"Mom, Mom said as long as I'm happy."
Sajuna's cheeks suddenly turned crimson; Mom had also said to be careful with protection.
How could things progress that quickly!
Mom, really, don't always apply your and Dad's experiences to your daughter!
Besides, getting married right after becoming an adult would make her seem too impatient!
Seeing Sajuna's shy reaction, Akira felt that Sajuna was probably in some kind of self-hypnosis mode, so he didn't interrupt her.
After eating, the two accompanied each other to their respective universities.
------------------------------------
There was no trace of rain left in the sky.
The clouds in the sky were layered, forming various strange and colorful shapes, like fragmented fish scales, or like mythical beasts with bared fangs and claws.
Akira walked past the vending machine, bought a bottle of Pocari Sweat, twisted open the cap, and took a big gulp.
He leaned down, panting heavily; Akira, who had just finished physical education class, leaned against the back wall of the classroom, feeling a little lightheaded, wanting to just fall asleep there.
The sound of birds flapping their wings came from the sky, and then several birds flew into the distance; as their black silhouettes disappeared, a larger figure enveloped Akira, who was leaning against the wall.
"Murakami."
Akira called out to the classmate who appeared before him, who was Murakami Kouki, a friend from his club.
For some reason, the originally excited him also came to this hard-to-find corner and stayed with him.
"Akira , why are you here?"
"Just looking for a place to rest for a bit."
Akira gently wiped the sweat from his forehead; he had used all his strength during the run just now, and now he was utterly exhausted.
"After all, not many people come here, so there's no need to worry about others finding us."
The path from the stadium to here was blocked by a wire fence almost completely covered in green ivy.
Through the wire fence, one could still see their classmates freely moving around on the sports field.
Shiki clearly started looking around, perhaps searching for the disappeared Murakami Kouki, or perhaps also searching for himself.
Murakami Kouki didn't explain to Akira; instead, he sat down next to Akira and also took out a bottle of drink and took a sip.
"Akira , what do you think of me?"
A gentle smile hung on his face.
Akira thought for a moment, "He's a handsome guy."
Akira said with a smile, "Although Murakami doesn't have any particular specialty, that also means Murakami is more versatile than most people."
"Besides, Murakami is a very good-tempered person and very caring; I imagine he could be an excellent boyfriend."
Murakami Kouki was a little shy from Akira's praise; he had never been praised like this before.
Some friends had only said that he paid too much attention to his younger sister.
He felt his confidence growing back in his heart.
"Thank you, Akira ."
Murakami Kouki's face showed a shy smile, and he hesitantly spoke his request.
"Akira , the main purpose of our club is to help others fulfill their wishes, right?"
"Hmm."
"Then can we help club members fulfill their wishes?"
"What is Murakami's request?"
Akira looked at Murakami Kouki, his gaze fixed on Murakami Kouki.
Murakami Kouki, being stared at, averted his gaze for a moment, then turned back and met Akira's eyes directly.
It was as if he was answering the question in his heart.
"I want to pursue Sugaya-san."
Akira's gaze shifted to the sports field, to the cheerful girl surrounding Marin.
Left: Murakami, Right: Sugaya