chsdbacks Page 10
Page 10
"Can you do it?" Baili Xiao looked directly at Kasumigaoka Utaha, who lowered her head and pondered for a moment before nodding: "Yes, I have no intention of entering a 'break' right now. With such a wonderful story as '5 Centimeters Per Second' in front of me, I can't find any reason to stop writing."
"Okay!" Baili Xiao responded, then turned his gaze to Eriri and Hashima Izumi: "Eri, while Utaha is working on the last two volumes, you also need to catch up with her schedule and prepare the illustrations needed for the light novel. Is that alright?"
"Of course! Who do you think I am!" Eriri scoffed.
"Now that I've promised Akane Kousaka that I would teach you, there's no way I can hold back anything. While you're studying with Eriri, you'll also be creating illustrations for '5 Centimeters Per Second'!"
"Okay, I will try my best!" Poshima Izumi nodded vigorously, her little face flushed with excitement.
After the convention ended today, she received a copy of "5 Centimeters Per Second" from Akane Akasaka. After reading it for only two minutes, she was deeply attracted by the wonderful plot and the exquisite illustrations.
How could I not be excited to be able to join the production of the last two volumes of "5 Centimeters Per Second"?!
"Um..." Hashima Izumi looked at everyone, then timidly raised his right hand: "I have a question I've been wanting to ask..."
"Go on," Baili Xiao said, his gaze not turning to Bo Island as he set sail. He kept his eyes fixed on the outline of "5 Centimeters Per Second" on the computer screen, pondering what aspects he might have overlooked.
“Ms. Hyakuri, Ms. Kashiwagi, isn’t the illustration for ‘5 Centimeters Per Second’ a little too detailed? This level of detail is definitely good enough for an animated film, right? It shouldn’t need to be this high-quality for a light novel illustration…” Izumi Hashima’s voice trailed off. When she noticed that Utaha Kasumigaoka and Eriri were both staring at her, she hurriedly waved her hands and said, “I, I didn’t mean it was bad, it’s just… a little puzzled.”
"Oh, I see." Baili Xiao smiled slightly and closed the computer screen. "The reason why light novel illustrations are drawn to the level of film concept art is because..."
"Our initial goal was not light novels!"
PS: I'll finish five chapters today, and then I'll make up for the chapters I owed yesterday!
I hope everyone continues to support me! I really had some family matters to attend to yesterday and couldn't update, I'm so sorry.
Chapter 0028 The Overnight Sensation of "5 Centimeters Per Second"! (Third Update, Please Add to Favorites and Receive Flowers)
While Bai Lixiao, Kasumigaoka Utaha, and others were planning volumes two and three of "5 Centimeters Per Second," a short video shot on a mobile phone went viral online, showing the scene at the daytime convention.
The rouge-en-rouge circle is very famous, and they are one of the most watched circles at the summer and winter anime conventions every year.
However, this event was decided on short notice, and no mainstream media in the fanfiction community were invited to provide live coverage. Therefore, most of the event videos circulating online were filmed by the participants themselves using their mobile phones.
One of them was a rich girl who attended the rouge-en-rouge doujinshi and game launch event. She used her high-resolution phone to film everything that happened at the event and uploaded it to her social media group (ACGN interest group)!
"Uploading any R18 content is prohibited. You all know the rules. Remove what needs to be removed, or we'll wait for the cyber police to shut down the group!"
Just as someone posted a short video in the group, before I could even click to watch it, the group admin issued a stern warning in the group and quickly clicked to open it, just in case the poster really retracted it... Well, even if I didn't have time to save it, it's good to feast my eyes, right?
【I'm Not a Crossdresser】: Tsk! Look at your wicked thoughts. Click to see this video, which I filmed today at the rouge-en-rouge doujinshi release event. There's a surprise in it!
[Administrator]: Wow! Crossdressers are really rich. I heard that the doujinshi and games this time are not cheap. Only crossdressers (who are not to be trifled with) can afford to go, right?
【I'm not a cross-dresser】: You sneaky admin! I've said it so many times, I'm a woman, not a cross-dresser!
Immediately afterwards, a meme battle began in the group, with all sorts of memes like "My wife is upstairs," "Where's my 40-meter sword?" "I can't mess with you, I can't mess with you," and "Why are you guys so good at this?" In no time, the number of memes had reached 99+!
[Group Owner]: Holy crap! No meme battles allowed! You've already given me 99+ comments! I'm going to fight you guys!
[Group Owner]: Everyone go watch the video posted by the cross-dressing master. There really is a hidden surprise in it. I'm not saying anything more. I'm going to go buy a copy of "5 Centimeters Per Second". I have a feeling that if I don't know what "5 Centimeters Per Second" is when I chat with girls in the future, I will definitely be blocked on the spot!
[Group members]: Five seconds? What's a five-second shot? Five shots per second? (laughs)
...a few minutes later...
[Gou Manager]: Holy crap! Xia Shizi-sensei has released a new book?! [Love Metronome]: I have the whole collection!
[Group Member]: Crossdressing master! Did you buy [5 Centimeters Per Second]? Did you read it? What did you think?
【I'm Not a Crossdresser】: I just started reading it, and honestly, can I say that after finishing it, I believe in love again? Without further ado, here are some pictures!
After saying that, he quickly sent a few pictures to the group chat, each one a beautiful poster of "5 Centimeters Per Second" and a colorful illustration from the novel.
[Group members]: This is incredible! These illustrations alone are worth checking out!
Crossdressing master! These exquisite posters are only available at autograph sessions, right? Can I have them? I'll pay 500! The whole set!
Pshaw, 500 for the whole set is way too cheap! I know you spent over a thousand on the figurines you bought last time.
Give it to me! I'll pay five hundred for each one!
[I'm Not a Crossdresser]: Forget about it, I'm not short of money. I'm not giving up the poster. Just a heads up, I heard that only a limited number of copies of Volume 1 of [5 Centimeters Per Second] were printed. If you want to buy it, hurry up!
As soon as these words were spoken, the number of people speaking in the group immediately decreased significantly. Many people, while ordering for themselves, also took the opportunity to spread the news to their fellow enthusiasts.
"Hey, hey? Kasumi Shiko-sensei has a new light novel called '5 Centimeters Per Second'! It's a romance novel, do you want me to buy you a copy?"
"Kasumi Shiko? Never heard of her. [5 Centimeters Per Second]? Romance? No interest!"
"Then you'd better not regret it! I heard that girls are all reading this now and consider it the 'love bible.' You'll definitely need this when you're trying to pick up girls!"
"Uh... okay, buy me one, oh no, buy me three..."
And so, through group chats and person-to-person sharing, in just a few hours via the internet, "5 Centimeters Per Second" transformed from an "unheard-of light novel" into a "love bible," a "dating weapon," and "if you love her, watch 5 Centimeters Per Second"...
However, most people don't realize that the complete "5 Centimeters Per Second" is not a romance novel; to be precise, it's not a "romance novel with a happy ending"!
Well, let's not talk about how many people read "5 Centimeters Per Second" with tears in their eyes later, but at least for now... "Kasumi Shiko's '5 Centimeters Per Second'" is spreading at an unimaginable speed!
I took leave the day before yesterday because a relative from my grandfather's generation suddenly suffered a heart attack and was hospitalized. Yesterday, a critical condition notice was issued. Today and tomorrow, I will be in my hometown to handle some matters, so I am really sorry that I will not be able to update for the next two days. I will resume updates after I return from my hometown. I apologize to everyone here.
Chapter 0029 Eriri, who feels utterly hopeless! (First update, please add to your favorites and give flowers)
The next day, Kasumigaoka Utaha and Eriri walked side by side into Toyonosaki Academy.
"Sawamura-kun, have you noticed that the way our classmates are looking at us today is a little different?" As a light novelist, Kasumigaoka Utaha keenly sensed that the gazes around her were somewhat piercing compared to usual. They weren't the kind of gazes that were "admiring" or "jealous," but rather "curious because they had seen something surprising."
"Really?" Eriri propped her eyelids open, yawning as she looked around. "Is it the same as before? Aren't they all staring at us?"
For more than a week, Eriri was learning techniques from Hyakuri Akira while also constantly drawing original drawings. She finally got a good night's sleep last night. If she didn't have to go to school today, she really wanted to sleep until the afternoon.
Kasumigaoka Utaha glanced at Eriri with a hint of helplessness, inwardly marveling at the latter's emotional intelligence, before reverting to her usual cold demeanor and no longer caring about the thoughts of those around her.
"Sawamura-kun, Sawamura-kun?" On the left side of the aisle, two girls called out to Eriri in a low voice, both nervous and excited. Eriri was startled at first, and then, in her half-asleep state, she recalled the identities of the two girls.
Hmm, it seems like they were classmates?
At Toyosaki Academy, Kasumigaoka Utaha can be described as an ice queen. Because she consistently "sleeps during class and always gets first place in the grade in every test," few people are willing to talk to or interact with her.
Eriri, however, takes a different approach. She maintains good relationships with her classmates and consciously tries to preserve those relationships.
For this reason, Eriri quickly suppressed the thought of "ignore them" in her mind, smiled, and walked over slowly, asking softly, "Ah, good day, Ishimaki-san, and Satomi-san."
"Sawamura-san, there's something I want to ask you." Ishimaki hesitated for a moment, but Satomi, standing next to her, bluntly asked, "Sawamura-san, are you the Kashiwagi Eri-sensei from the internet?"
"Huh?!" Eriri's eyes widened as she looked at them in disbelief. "Ha, haha, Kashiwagi Eri? No, I don't know her. How could I be that Kashiwagi Eri? You must have mistaken me for someone else!"
Why deny it outright? Among today's students, anime and manga fan culture has become one of the mainstream cultures that are widely accepted. Even if you admit to being a fan artist, you won't be looked down upon by your classmates. On the contrary, you will be admired and aspired to by many people.
So why is Eriri so insistent on denying it?
Of course, it's because... "Eri Kashiwagi" is an R18-type doujinshi artist!
What about slightly exposed panties, black stockings, and "strange outfits with over 80% skin exposure"... Kashiwagi Eri, the former artist, was once a household name and very popular among otaku, precisely because of her superb, captivating, and extraordinary R18 doujinshi drawing skills!
Eriri couldn't imagine what it would be like if her identity as "Eri Kashiwagi" were exposed at school!
"One of the two beauties of Toyonosaki"? Ha, she's just an R18 erotic artist.
"Blonde twin tails, long legs and over-the-knee socks, beautiful girl"? Ha, just another R18 erotic artist.
Eriri absolutely cannot allow the identity of "Eri Kashiwagi" to be exposed!
"No, no, don't talk nonsense. I don't know any Kashiwagi Eri..." Eriri chuckled, scratching her head as she walked towards a less crowded aisle. "I suddenly remembered I have something to do. Um, I'll go now..."
"Wait!" Seeing Eriri trying to slip away, the cheerful and lively Satomi quickly took out her phone and pointed the screen at Eriri: "Sawamura-kun! Now the whole school knows who you and Kasumigaoka-senpai are! Stop pretending, Kashiwagi Eri-sensei?"
On the screen, a scene from the signing event for the first volume of "5 Centimeters Per Second" was playing—Kasumigaoka Utaha sat in a chair, talking to fans and signing and giving away books, while Eriri followed beside Hyakuri Akira, helping him sell copies of "5 Centimeters Per Second".
In the video, people would occasionally say things like, "Eri Kashiwagi-sensei! Your illustrations are absolutely perfect!" or "Eri Kashiwagi-sensei, please sign this for me!" Eriri would always respond with an excited smile. Needless to say, anyone could tell that Eriri was "Eri Kashiwagi"!
"Sawamura-kun! Last night, every social media group was buzzing with discussion about '5 Centimeters Per Second,' and your and Kasumigaoka-senpai's identities have been uncovered by some people. You have no idea, the whole school is going crazy right now. We never expected that the novelist and illustrator who created '5 Centimeters Per Second' would actually be one of our classmates!"
Satomi was talking excitedly when she suddenly remembered something. "Oh!" she exclaimed and took out a brand new copy of Volume 1 of "5 Centimeters Per Second" from her bag, handing it to Eriri along with a ballpoint pen.
"Luckily, I received the news early yesterday. When I rushed to the nearest bookstore, there was only one copy of [5 Centimeters Per Second] left. I stayed up all night reading [5 Centimeters Per Second] three times! It's so amazing!"
Satomi chuckled, then suddenly lowered his voice: "Hey, Sawamura-kun, could you sign this for me? And also, you and Kasumigaoka-senpai seem to be close, right? Could you please get her autograph for me?"
"Snap!" With her hands clasped together, Satomi bowed deeply to Eriri: "Please!"
Eriri's gaze was vacant, the light in her eyes gradually fading, and only one thought appeared in her mind.
...That's it, my daily life is completely ruined this time...
P.S.: Things back home are mostly settled. Updates will resume!
Chapter 0030 Let's Take a Break from School Together! (Two chapters, please add to your favorites and give flowers)
"Um, Ms. Kasumi Shiko, Ms. Kashiwagi Eri, please, please have some tea."
Hashima carefully brewed the tea and placed the teacups in front of Kasumigaoka Utaha and Eriri. Baili Xiao, who was standing nearby, saw this and patted her on the shoulder: "Chushima, there's no need to use honorifics with them. It makes it seem a bit formal."
After speaking, Baili Xiao turned to Eriri, who had been slumped on the table since entering the house, exuding an aura of utter despair, which surprised him greatly: "Eri, what's wrong?"
"It's over, everything's over." Eriri's voice was hoarse and low, with a faint sob escaping her lips: "My high school life, my image, all gone..."
"Uh." Baili Xiao was stunned for a moment, then re-examined Eriri's condition and realized that she was no longer able to take care of herself. He then turned his gaze to Kasumigaoka Utaha, hoping that the latter could give an answer that "a normal person could understand".
"It's nothing really." Kasumigaoka Utaha took a sip of tea, put on her anti-radiation glasses, and typed on her computer as she spoke. "It's just that someone took a picture of yesterday's autograph session, and it went viral online overnight. As a result, the teachers and students of Toyonosaki Academy all know who we are. That's all."
Bai Lixiao nodded thoughtfully, a slight smile playing on her lips as she looked at Eriri: "Hey, can such a small matter really stump our Kashiwagi Eri-sensei?"
"A small matter?" Eriri pouted, her eyes slightly red. "You all make it sound so easy, but do you know what I went through? I endured strange looks from others all day, and then the head teacher called me to her office for counseling. She even took out my old work and sighed without saying anything to me!"
"No, I can't go to school for a while. Even if I did, with all those stares from my classmates, I wouldn't be able to study or do anything else!" Eriri seemed to have made up her mind and dialed a number on her phone: "Hello, Mom, I need to take a break from school for a while. Could you ask the school for permission?"
"Honey, what's wrong all of a sudden? Don't you like school?" Eriri's mother's name is Sawamura Sayuri. She is a beautiful woman with long black hair, exuding intellectual beauty and mature charm. Baili Xiao had the privilege of meeting her once—when Eriri hadn't been home for a long time.
“I can’t go. The school knows my identity as Kashiwagi Eri. Besides, the tasks for volumes 2 and 3 of [5 Centimeters Per Second] are quite heavy. I need to work hard on drawing the original illustrations during this time.”
"What? Volumes two and three are already in production? That's great! I thought it would be at least six months before they were released!" Sayuri Sawamura's voice was filled with excitement. "Don't worry! I'll handle things with the school. You can take a leave of absence for as long as you want. Oh, by the way, are you next to Hyakusuke right now? Can you let him answer the phone? I want to discuss things between you two with him. After all, the kids aren't young anymore. When can you come over to our house to finalize things..."
"Beep!" Before Sayuri could finish speaking, her fair finger pressed heavily on the "hang up" button, and Eriri's cheeks flushed slightly.
Ever since her mother watched "5 Centimeters Per Second," her impression of Baili Xiao has gradually changed from "admiration" to "madness." Now, she even wants to give her only daughter to Baili Xiao, which Eriri can't accept!
Well, Eriri was being a tsundere again in this matter... Actually, she was quite willing.
"Alright, things at school are settled. Now, let's focus all our efforts on producing the last two volumes of '5 Centimeters Per Second'!" Eriri glanced at Hyakuri Akira, her right index finger unconsciously fiddling with the end of her golden ponytail. "Hyakuri-kun, I hope you can teach me more about drawing. During this time..."
"Hmm?" Kasumigaoka Utaha's voice suddenly rose in a nasal tone. She lifted her hands from the keyboard, crossed them in front of her chest, and crossed her right leg, clad in black stockings, over her left. Her gaze was icy as she stared into Eriri's eyes, her red eyes flashing with light: "You mean... you're going to drop out of school and stay at my house?"
Hashima Izumi sensed something was off and sat quietly next to Hyakuri Xiao without saying a word, only observing Kasumigaoka Utaha and Eriri with her bright eyes.
“Yes, as you know, there are many more illustrations in volumes two and three of ‘5 Centimeters Per Second’ than in volume one. There are even plans to publish an illustration collection. Even with the help of the trip to the sea from Hashima, it will probably be difficult to finish it within the stipulated time.” Eriri forced herself to continue, “Since I’ve taken a break from school, I will naturally stay here every day so that I can finish all the illustrations for volumes two and three as soon as possible.”