— — — — — —
The last few days of vacation.
Oikawa had been busy discussing the illustrations.
When it came to Your Lie in April having a BE ending, the illustrator dropped his usual serious demeanor. During video calls, he repeatedly said he simply couldn't accept that conclusion.
It was obvious he was genuinely resentful about it.
The second volume of Your Lie in April wasn't something many people in Dengeki Bunko were even allowed to read. Miki was afraid that news about Your Lie in April being a depressing story would leak.
So Oikawa vividly described to the illustrator the sorrowful expression on Kousei's face at the end, and Kaori lying helplessly in her hospital bed.
Those two scenes were chosen for the illustrations.
The illustrator looked downright miserable.
But finally, after three or four days of discussion, illustrator-san produced the versions of Kousei and Kaori that Oikawa had envisioned.
With that, the illustration work was finished.
The day before school resumed, Ayame Kagurazaka called Oikawa again.
The release date for the second volume of Your Lie in April, along with the first print run and price, had all been finalized.
Release date: October 6.
First print run: 70,000 copies.
Price: 850 yen per copy.
At that price and print volume, Oikawa would receive roughly 3.5 million yen before tax.
But in his eyes, that was small money.
If the second volume sold over a million copies, the bet contract would kick in with a 25% royalty rate. That would be real money.
Honestly, reaching one million sales for the second volume would be very difficult.
But not impossible. As long as Your Lie in April got an anime adaptation, it would definitely boost the light novel's sales. That had been Oikawa's real plan when he proposed the betting contract.
Still, that couldn't be rushed.
He needed to become more famous first, so he'd have the qualifications to negotiate with top-tier animation studios.
As for promotion…
Dengeki Bunko canceled all publicity for the second volume of Your Lie in April. They were basically letting it live or die on its own.
This unusual move immediately sparked speculation.
Especially in the Dengeki Bunko writers' group chat, where quite a few clowns jumped out.
"Did you hear? Your Lie in April volume two is set to release on October 6."
"Huh? That's only a month away. Why haven't I seen any discussion online? Did the marketing department quit?"
"Don't blame them. I asked around. Apparently there's no promotion plan at all."
"No way. Volume one is almost at 100k sales. And they're not promoting volume two?"
"You don't know? I heard the chief editor didn't even agree to release it this soon. Someone insisted on pushing it out."
"Even so, they wouldn't skip promotion entirely, right?"
"It must stink. What else? If it were really good, the chief editor would be promoting it heavily. Who turns down money?"
"I say someone won't be arrogant much longer."
"Genius? 'Grand Prize' debut? What a joke."
Oikawa looked at the clowns in the chat with disdain. Even typing a reply felt like a waste of screen durability.
No rush. Once the second volume released, he'd slap their faces properly.
He was looking forward to that day.
October 6.
...
..
At the café
Even on the last day before school started, Kawasaki had no intention of wasting time; she was working through practice worksheets.
From Oikawa's perspective, Kawasaki had already reached a stable level of scoring 60 in math.
Out of 80, 60 was quite good. But it still wasn't enough to consistently rank in the top 30.
Sobu High's academic standards weren't low. Eighty percent of the grade had attended cram schools during summer vacation. Everyone was working toward university admission.
That was why Kawasaki looked so exhausted.
Oikawa glanced at the dark circles under her eyes and couldn't help feeling a little pained.
"Kawasaki… are you tired?"
Kawasaki raised her head, confused, and looked at him.
"I mean, you're working part-time every day and studying too. Don't you get tired at all?" Oikawa rested his chin in one hand, tilting his head as he watched her.
"I'm fine."
Under his gaze, Kawasaki suddenly felt flustered. She instinctively wanted to avoid eye contact.
Her heart thumped loudly, and the solution she had just started to grasp vanished from her mind.
"That's such a perfunctory answer. I'm getting tired just watching you."
Oikawa suddenly stood up, took matters into his own hands, and closed Kawasaki's workbook.
"Decision made. That's it for today."
"I've been craving your curry. Today's tutoring fee will be paid in curry instead."
He didn't give Kawasaki any chance to refuse. Grabbing her bag, he headed straight out.
She froze for a moment, then hurried after him.
They walked side by side toward the supermarket near Oikawa's house.
As they walked, he asked, "Kawasaki, we've known each other this long, but I don't think I've ever asked. What do you like to eat?"
"Me? I don't really have anything I especially like."
She wasn't brushing him off. She actually thought about it before answering.
"Then what don't you like?"
"Cilantro."
That answer came instantly.
"I hate the smell. But Taishi really likes it, so cooking can be a bit troublesome sometimes."
When she mentioned cilantro, Oikawa clearly caught the flash of disgust on her face.
"Oikawa, did you buy dish soap?"
Kawasaki suddenly glanced at him. "When I left your place last time, I told you to buy some. Did you?"
"Forgot."
He had never planned to buy any. He didn't cook, which meant he didn't wash dishes either. No reason to buy dish soap.
"Then, did you buy fruit? I told you to eat some every day. You didn't do that either, did you?"
"Your house is full of junk food. It's fine once in a while, but if you eat it every day, you'll get sick."
'Oh my god, she is so naggy.'
In Oikawa's mind, she was no longer the cold, distant Kawasaki.
"Kawasaki, I'll go buy fruit. You get the ingredients. Meet back here."
The moment they entered the supermarket, Oikawa slipped away from her, pushing a cart straight into the snack aisle.
After filling about half a cart with snacks, he finally headed to the fruit section.
Then he noticed—
Kawasaki was already waiting there.
She frowned slightly when she saw the mountain of snacks in his cart.
"…They're for Keika-chan."
She shot him a look, then paused before saying, "Then I'll thank you on Keika-chan's behalf."
.
.
.