Sunday was a pleasant winter day, warmed by the sun.
At seven in the morning, the Shibuya PARCO mall had yet to open, but its atrium was already bustling like a small festival.
The massive glass dome filtered the morning light into a gentle gold that spilled onto the newly assembled signing stage, where a huge Love Letter poster hung suspended in mid-air.
The words "Over 120,000 Copies Sold" on the simple white cover were edged in gold by the sunlight, and the area below was surrounded by flowers and support banners that had been delivered earlier.
As Michiya Gōshin's dedicated agent, Nakahara Kazuya was directing staff to adjust display stands, a thin layer of sweat beading on his forehead.
"Brighten the light on the left! Arrange the bouquets from the readers in an arc—yes, like that, it looks more welcoming!"
He clutched the event schedule, repeatedly checking the timeline and occasionally glancing toward the entrance, terrified that some detail might go wrong.
The bookstore employees bustled in front of the display, neatly stacking piles of Love Letter by hardcover and paperback editions. Beside them were illustrated postcards submitted by readers.
"Kobayashi, arrange the chairs for the queue more neatly, and prepare a few extra cases of mineral water."
The store manager shouted through a megaphone, his voice filled with unconcealable excitement. "Michiya-sensei's book is selling like crazy! There will definitely be a lot of readers today, so everyone needs to be on their A-game!"
"Yes, sir!"
While the bookstore employees and the agency staff were in a flurry of activity, Michiya Gōshin stood backstage in front of a mirror, adjusting the collar of his shirt.
In the mirror, the young man's eyes held a hint of fatigue, but it couldn't hide the gleam of anticipation.
Today was a big day. Through his channels at Kodansha, he already knew that Johnny & Associates would be sending people over. It was bound to get interesting.
Around ten o'clock, a large crowd had gathered outside. Men and women, all of them staring intently at the signing event area inside.
"Michiya, are you ready?"
Nakahara Kazuya handed him a bottle of lukewarm water, his voice filled with nervous excitement.
"The line has already formed outside. The media interviews arranged by the publisher are in three hours. Editor Machida and President Kato are on their way."
Michiya Gōshin took the water and a deep breath. "Let's go."
As he pushed open the backstage door and walked to the front, sharp-eyed fans immediately spotted his tall figure, and cheers began to surge forward like a tidal wave.
"Michiya-sensei is here!"
"It's Michiya-sensei! Wow! He's even more handsome in person than in videos!!!"
"Is the signing finally starting? I took an overnight bus all the way from Kagoshima for this."
The long line snaked from the signing table all the way to the mall entrance. The readers' faces were filled with expectant smiles, and some girls held up homemade support signs—they were Michiya Gōshin's acting fans, or perhaps his "girlfriend fans."
"Hello everyone, I'm Michiya Gōshin."
He walked to the front of the stage and bowed. The young man's gentle voice spread through the atrium via the microphone. "Thank you all for coming to the Love Letter book signing. I'm very happy to be able to meet the readers who love this book."
"We are too!"
"Michiya-sensei, we'll always support you!"
The signing officially began at ten o'clock. Michiya Gōshin sat at the table, having rolled the sleeves of his white shirt up to his forearms, revealing his clean wrists.
"Let's begin."
After his agent, Nakahara Kazuya, announced the start, the winding line finally began to move. The first person to step up was a girl with short hair, her eyes sparkling above her mask.
After buying a hardcover copy, she passed it to the young man.
"Michiya-sensei, could you write a message of blessing for me that says, 'I hope Rika can get into Waseda University'?"
"Of course, no problem!"
Michiya Gōshin nodded with a smile as his pen glided smoothly across the title page. Looking up, he said softly, "Thank you for your support. I hope your wish comes true."
The girl was so excited when she took the book back that she was on the verge of tears. She ran off, bouncing with joy, toward her group of friends, drawing a wave of good-natured laughter.
The book signing continued.
Since the media hadn't been let in yet, the atmosphere was like a warm gathering of old friends.
The readers came with all sorts of stories. Some shared their own experiences with unrequited love, while others thanked him for how sentences in the book had healed them during a low point in their lives. Michiya Gōshin listened patiently, writing a unique blessing in each book and occasionally chatting with readers about details from the story. The atmosphere was lively and heartwarming.
After a while, a girl wearing a black bucket hat and a mask walked up to the table. A baggy gray sweatshirt and the hat obscured most of her face, leaving only a pair of beautiful blue eyes visible.
As she handed over the book, the girl's voice was deliberately low.
"Um, hello, Michiya-sensei."
"Hello. What message would you like me to write?"
Looking up at her, Michiya Gōshin suddenly found the shape of her eyes familiar. The moment their gazes met, he realized who it was.
It was Kurokawa Akane.
The next moment, a gentler smile touched the young man's lips. "Have you not decided on a message yet?"
"Um..."
Kurokawa Akane stared intently at Michiya Gōshin's face, her voice neither loud nor soft. "I'm a fan of your on-screen work, Sensei. A signature is fine. I hope I can see you return to the screen soon."
"...Alright. Thank you for the well wishes."
Watching the earnest expression on his face as he lowered his head to sign, the words Kurokawa Akane had carefully prepared suddenly stalled.
She took a deep breath, clenching her small hand into a fist. Just as she was about to speak, Michiya Gōshin spoke unhurriedly.
"I will be returning to the entertainment industry soon, so please don't worry."
Studying Kurokawa Akane's fully disguised appearance, Michiya Gōshin could easily guess that her agent probably hadn't allowed her to come.
For her to show up here today, the girl must have summoned a great deal of courage.
Therefore, she deserved a serious response.
So, Michiya Gōshin extended his hand to the girl before him.
"Thank you for your support. I won't keep you waiting for too long."
"Okay!"
Kurokawa Akane nodded emphatically, reaching out her small hand to grasp Michiya Gōshin's large one. The warm contact made her cheeks flush instantly.
More than any spoken words of support, by taking this step, the girl believed her feelings had been successfully conveyed.
"Then it's a promise."
"Mm."
After she left, the line for the signing continued to move slowly forward.
After a while, a tall girl suddenly appeared in the line.
She wore a white headband, and her smooth, black hair fell over her shoulders, the ends brushing against the lapels of her off-white cashmere coat. Black over-the-knee socks encased her slender calves, and the gap where they met her knee-high boots revealed a sliver of skin. She looked like a snow lotus in full bloom.
The moment she took her place, sharp intakes of breath could be heard from those around her in the line. A few people who looked like students immediately began to whisper.
"Wow, that girl is so beautiful. Her aura is incredible!"
"Is she a model or something? She's way too good-looking!"
The book fans couldn't help but keep looking back at her, but Kasumigaoka Utaha seemed completely oblivious to the surrounding stares.
After another ten minutes or so in line, it was finally her turn. When Michiya Gōshin looked up, he was visibly taken aback for a moment.
The girl before him had a unique presence, and her face showed none of the excitement he saw in the other readers.
"Michiya-sensei, hello."
She handed him the book, her voice carrying a distinctive cadence. "I really like the depiction of unrequited love in Love Letter, especially the library card metaphor."
Michiya Gōshin paused the hand holding the pen and responded with a smile, "Heh, I'm honored that you like it. Are you a writer as well?"
The girl before him clearly had a different air about her. Combined with her stunning figure and looks, the probability of her being an ordinary person was very small.
"Just an ordinary reader."
Kasumigaoka Utaha tilted her head slightly, a glint of cunning in her eyes. "But I do write little stories that I like. What I want to ask is... Michiya-sensei, have you ever been in love with someone from afar?"
"No."
It was the truth. Michiya Gōshin had never experienced unrequited love.
"Really?"
"Really."
Michiya Gōshin held the copy of Love Letter she had given him. "So, what message would you like me to write for you?"
"Hmm..." Kasumigaoka Utaha thought for a moment. "Then please write a message wishing that the little story I'm writing can be completed smoothly."
"Alright. May I ask your name?"
"Kasumi Utako."
"Understood."
Michiya Gōshin picked up his pen and wrote: [May Kasumi Utako's creative journey be a smooth one].
"Thank you, Michiya-sensei. I look forward to your next work."
"Alright, next."
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