Haruto and Reina had flown to Tokyo on Saturday morning and participated in the Ascent of New Gods awards ceremony on Sunday night. Given the physical toll and the unpredictable nature of such high-profile events, they had decided not to rush back immediately. Their return flight was scheduled for seven o'clock on Monday evening.
The reason they chose to delay their return was simple: since they had already requested leave from school, taking a full day instead of a half-day made little difference. Both of them had their own reasons for wanting to stay in Tokyo.
For Haruto, missing a few extra hours of classes was irrelevant to his academic prospects.
The probability of him getting into an elite Tokyo university was slim to begin with.
He felt that spending a little more time soaking in the vibrant energy of the metropolis was a far more meaningful use of his time. For Reina, an extra day away from school wouldn't hurt her academic performance either. She was practically guaranteed a spot at any elite university in Tokyo or Osaka. If she truly wished, she could have applied to prestigious institutions abroad and likely been accepted with ease. However, staying in Tokyo for another half-day meant delaying the inevitable confrontation with her family by just a few more hours.
Once she returned to her hotel room on Sunday night, she stared at her phone for two full hours before finally working up the courage to turn it on. Within ten minutes, her father's name flashed on the screen.
"I just finished looking up those three novels you wrote under the pen name Airi," her father said. "I skimmed through them, but I did not have enough time to finish the whole story."
The conversation was nothing like the explosive lecture she had anticipated. While her father's voice remained stern and authoritative, there was no trace of anger or disappointment in his tone.
"I am not much of a reader myself, so I do not really understand the appeal of these stories, but..." he paused. "As long as you are happy, that is what matters. Just make sure you do not lose sight of what is truly important in life. If you have another awards ceremony like this, you do not need to hide it from your mother and me. Being on national television and receiving praise for your hard work is something worth sharing with your family. When I was your age, I was still getting into scuffles with the neighborhood delinquents."
Reina froze. She never imagined that her father, who had raised her with such strict discipline, would ever say something so supportive. The reality of the situation was a complete reversal of her expectations.
"Hello, Reina! My LINE is absolutely blowing up right now with friends praising how incredible you are," her mother chimed in, clearly more excited.
"To think my daughter was on Tokyo TV4 receiving an award while all these fans were cheering for her online! You should have told me sooner so I could have made all my friends watch the broadcast."
For Reina's family, writing light novels wasn't considered a prestigious career path. However, achieving national recognition on a major network was a different story entirely. Her mother was beaming with pride. When Reina finally hung up the phone, she was left in a state of utter bewilderment.
The following day, Haruto, Reina, and Yukino spent their time exploring Tokyo. They indulged in a massive shopping spree, eventually hauling a mountain of bags to Haneda Airport for their return flight.
They arrived back at the airport at eleven o'clock that night. As they stepped out of the passenger tunnel, they were startled by a sudden roar of cheers from a crowd of fans who had been waiting for them.
Haruto, Reina, and Yukino walked through a crowded airport terminal while fans held up signs and cheered for Shiori and Airi.
[Shiori Sensei, look over here! I have been a fan for years!]
[He only debuted a year ago, you fake fan!]
[Airi sensei, I love you more than anyone!]
[Shiori-sensei, please write a sequel to To the Moon next!]
[What are your plans for the future, sensei?]
Fans jogged alongside them, shouting questions and trying to get closer. Haruto and Reina were visibly shaken by the attention. Fortunately, Yukino was experienced in handling such crowds. She expertly shielded them from the fans and ushered them into a waiting taxi before speeding away.
At the entrance to the gated community where Reina lived, her parents were waiting in the cool night air. Her father stood tall and dignified, while her mother looked every bit the elegant, slightly sheltered socialite. When they saw Reina step out of the taxi, the tension finally left their faces.
Her father glanced at Haruto in the backseat, a flicker of paternal wariness crossing his eyes, but he still spoke politely. "Thank you for looking after her, young man."
Reina didn't think much of her father's brief greeting, but Haruto understood exactly where it was coming from. Any father would be worried about his daughter spending three days in Tokyo with a boy, even if it was for work. Furthermore, Haruto and Reina were the co-creators of two deeply romantic theme songs.
To a father who knew his daughter had few friends, the existence of a male "best friend" was more terrifying than her becoming a novelist. He was clearly already planning how to keep their relationship from developing any further.
Haruto offered a polite smile and a respectful nod before the taxi drove off. That night, Reina had a long, heart-to-heart conversation with her parents about her dream of becoming a professional author. While the outcome wasn't a total victory, it was far from what she had feared. As for Haruto, he placed his gold trophy on a shelf in his living room and fell into a peaceful sleep.
The next morning, his arrival at school caused a total sensation.
From the first floor to the sixth, students were packed into the hallways and leaning over the balconies just to catch a glimpse of him. When he walked into his own classroom, the room went dead silent. His classmates stared at him with such intense, complex expressions that the room felt more stifled than it did during a principal's inspection.
"Good morning, everyone," Haruto said with a casual nod.
The students remained frozen, unsure of how to even begin a conversation with him. Haruto took his seat and looked out at the sunlit track field, ignoring the curious faces peering through the classroom door. He sighed inwardly, realizing he only had to endure being treated like a zoo exhibit for one more month before graduation. He assumed the novelty would wear off once the teachers arrived, given their usual strictness.
However, he was wrong. When his homeroom teacher entered the room for the first period, he spent the entire lesson stealing glances at Haruto.
Once the second period ended, the teacher approached Haruto's desk and pulled a few slips of paper from his pocket. His expression was just as stern and authoritative as it was when he lectured Haruto for daydreaming in class.
"My two daughters and four of my nephews are massive fans of your work," the teacher said. "Would you mind giving them your autograph?"
The classroom erupted in a roar of laughter as Haruto stared at him in pure shock.
Since the broadcast of the awards ceremony, Haruto's phone had been bombarded with nearly thirty calls a day from various companies in the Japanese media industry.
Most were editors trying to recruit him, while others were representatives from film and animation studios looking to secure the rights to To the Moon. Anyone with a business sense could see that the property was a gold mine.
Haruto spent his days balancing his exam preparations with phone calls and business negotiations. When the next weekend arrived, he received his first official visitor at home. There was a polite knock on his door, followed by a soft voice from the hallway.
"Excuse me, is this the residence of Shiori Takahashi-sensei? I am an editor from Kiyozawa Library.…"
_______________________
NEXT BONUS CHAPTER AT 600 POWER STONES
Support me at patreon.com/CulturedOne and read 50 Advanced Chapters