Half a month passes in a flash. The city lights up the night sky, and cars flow along the roads. In an unknown izakaya, some employees from Undead River Bunko are having a get-together after work. In Japan, where the social system is strict and people are often stressed, "drinking" and "eating" are often separate. A drink after work has become a habit for many corporate slaves to relax. Besides relaxing, izakayas are also a place for socializing. Some middle-aged men who go home on time are even seen by their wives as having failed in their careers.
"Machida-san, since Sword Art Online sold so well, you have to treat us!"
"Yeah, Kyoko-san, you can't get out of this one."
"Haha, of course not. It's all thanks to you guys."
Machida Sonoko jokes with her colleagues and brags about how she had a sharp eye for talent. It seems she's ready to pay for everything tonight. She never expected Sword Art Online to sell more than 200,000 copies in less than a month. This is an incredibly impressive number, as many novels don't sell that many copies in their entire run. It seems it's only a matter of time before the book gets a manga adaptation and an anime. As Ryou's editor, she will naturally receive a bonus. The only downside is that the illustrator is a freelancer, which is not stable. Before, Ryou was a newcomer, and some illustrators might have ignored him or even refused to work with him. But now, Ryou has proven his potential with his work. He's definitely a cash cow for Undead River Bunko in the future, a much bigger star than Yamada Elf. With that in mind, the next strategy should be to pair Ryou with a top-tier illustrator under contract with their company.
Happy times are always short-lived, and the party is over. As Machida walks to the door, she hears a pleasant female voice. "Machida-san~" Machida Sonoko looks back and sees a short-haired girl with a very mature look. She walks over to the table where the girl is sitting. Her tone is a little serious. "Miss Yukinoshita, you're not 20 yet, are you? Why are you here?" In Japan, the legal drinking age is 20. Most izakayas won't serve alcohol to anyone under that age.
"Why am I here? I don't know," Yukinoshita Haruno says with a sly smile. She then changes the subject. "Machida-san, your company is short on top-tier illustrators, aren't they?"
"I'm sorry, Miss Yukinoshita. That's a trade secret." Machida Sonoko refuses to answer. As a professional, she has to have her own principles. Even if the Yukinoshita family owns the building her company is in, she won't reveal any company secrets. Machida Sonoko is about to leave, but the girl's next words hit her sore spot.
Yukinoshita Haruno smiles. "I know a top-tier illustrator. He recently read Sword Art Online and really liked the romance. He wants to work with Ryou." As she says this, she takes an illustration out of her bag.
"This is?!" Machida Sonoko exclaims, her eyes glued to the illustration. As a top editor, she's worked with all kinds of illustrators. She can tell who made this with just one look. Machida Sonoko swallows. It's like she's seeing a new cash cow.
"Miss Yukinoshita, you're so powerful. If this illustrator joins Undead River, the other company would be crippled." The illustrator is not just an illustrator; he's also a popular mangaka. As an experienced professional, Machida Sonoko is tempted, but she can't just accept a gift from Yukinoshita Haruno.
"Miss Yukinoshita, please tell me what you want," Machida Sonoko says with a serious look, as if she's a diplomat at a negotiation table.
Yukinoshita Haruno waves her hand and smiles. "Do I really look like I have bad intentions?" She opens her eyes and holds her glass. A hint of sadness appears in her eyes. "Ryosuke... he's a lot like my sister. But they're also different. I really want to see how far he can go on a completely opposite path."
Machida Sonoko nods. "You just want to help someone who is like your sister?"
Yukinoshita Haruno nods and then shakes her head. She winks and says playfully, "No. Ryosuke is also a candidate for my brother-in-law. We're family." Machida Sonoko never expected to hear something like that and smiles awkwardly. But she's a professional. She gets back to the point. "If it's that illustrator, I'll contact the chief editor tonight. If it works out, I thank you on behalf of my company." Machida Sonoko raises her glass and drinks it all.
Yukinoshita Haruno laughs at her. She looks at her glass with a blank expression. Little Ryosuke, you're so much like Yukino, yet you've chosen a completely opposite path.How far can you go with that stubbornness?I'm really looking forward to it. I'll help you this one time, for free. She remembers Yukino's usual cold face and how sad she looked the day she left the country. Her heart aches. She closes her eyes and tightens her grip on the glass, drinking it all. Little Yukino, I'm doing this for you.
Meanwhile, at the Hiratsuka residence. Ryosuke is writing. He's been taught by Yamada Elf and knows her true skill, so he's never underestimated her. He accepted the challenge, so he'll give it his all.
The original work of Your Lie in April is a manga, not a light novel. While anime, comics, games, and novels are fundamentally the same, it's still hard to turn a manga into a light novel. Different authors would write the same story in a different way. So Ryosuke has been working hard this whole time. Finally, the day before the duel, he finishes writing. Thanks to Eriri's crash course that night, Ryosuke knows what she likes: nuanced, emotional, heartbreaking romance with a little bit of sweetness. He looks at the stack of manuscripts in his hand and nods in satisfaction. All that's left is to fight Elf tomorrow. He stretches. He can't forget his daily sword practice. Just like learning, practicing swordsmanship is like going against the current. He never forgets his original purpose and practices diligently. As he hones his sword skills, he also hones his heart.