The discussion about Kara no Kyoukai continued to ferment, and at the same time, the first-week sales figures for Snow Flower were finally released—
830,000 copies!
"830,000 copies?!"
Hearing the results reported by Haruka, Akira couldn't help but blink in surprise and say, "For real? Is it really that exaggerated?"
If he remembered correctly, the first-week sales of Marigold were only about 43,000 copies, right?
The single sales this time had increased nearly twentyfold?
And if that was the case, didn't it mean that Snow Flower might even break a million in sales in less than half a month?
"After all, the situation is different now."
Although Haruka was still excited, she was much calmer than last time.
Facing Akira's question, she explained with a smile, "When Marigold was released, the two of you were still unknown rookies."
"But when Snow Flower was released this time, 『Tsukirin』 was already a popular rookie group receiving a lot of attention in today's pop music world."
And it wasn't just the group's fame; the resources for this promotion and the level of importance the company placed on it were also completely different.
More importantly, the quality of Snow Flower was outstanding, capable of withstanding the rush of traffic and public scrutiny, which ultimately led to such excellent results.
Even Rin's two variety show promotions not only made Snow Flower explode in popularity but also caused the declining sales curve of Marigold to rise again!
In short, it was already a certainty that the CD sales of Snow Flower would break a million.
Furthermore, the final variety show appearance coming up might even take sales to a new height.
When the time came, 『Tsukirin』, holding two million-selling singles, could proudly remove the word 'quasi' from 'quasi-A-list artist' and officially step into the ranks of A-list artists!
But having said that, regarding the subsequent promotion of Snow Flower, Akira could only say 'keep it up' to Rin.
In contrast, what he was more concerned about now was the status of the manga.
Because on December 7th, the final issue of Weekly Shonen Jump in 1999 was about to be released.
Issue 53 is the last number for Shonen Jump magazine's issues.
However, because Shonen Jump had a special combined issue this year to hold Jump Festa, the
final issue of 1999 became a combined Issue 52/53.
Although Weekly Shonen Jump would be released as usual on December 14th after that, the issue number would change to
Issue 1 of the year 2000.
On the day Weekly Shonen Jump Issue 52/53 was released, the Shonen Jump short story supplement, Akamaru Jump, would also be released simultaneously.
Akamaru Jump mostly collected short stories from rookie Manga Artists and was one of the few exposure channels for them.
However, this year-end issue of Akamaru Jump was special.
Because, in addition to the regularly collected rookie short stories, this issue also included the winning short stories from the second half of the 1999 Tezuka Award.
This included Akira's Emiya Kiritsugu as well.
Except, in addition to the Akamaru Jump supplement, the main Shonen Jump issue this time also featured
Emiya Kiritsugu.
In any case, time quickly reached December 7th, and Weekly Shonen Jump Issue 52/53 was released.
Chapter 21 of Fate/stay night was finally published along with it.
The story followed directly from the end of the previous chapter. After Shirou arrived at the Matou residence, he discovered that Shiori's Servant was actually Rider, the Servant who had attacked him and Tohsaka Rin yesterday.
Regarding this, Shiori explained that her Servant wasn't that obedient and that yesterday was just an accidental mishap while she was patrolling the school to protect her safety.
Shirou was somewhat skeptical of this explanation, but Shiori didn't want to linger on the topic and immediately got to the point, inviting Shirou to form an alliance with her again.
Shirou didn't respond immediately but instead began to ask if she had become a Master by chance, just like him.
Matou Shiori half-affirmed and half-denied, then she suddenly revealed more information, stating that the Matou Family was a family of magi with a long lineage.
『"What—?! The Matou Family is a family of magi?!』
I've never heard of such a thing—!
『Wait a minute, if that's the case, then Shiori and Sakura—?! "』
"Calm down, Emiya."
Shiori explained with a light, composed smile, "Although the Matou Family is a family of magi, it's a lineage that has already withered."
The Matou Family had come to this land along with the Tohsaka family, but because they were incompatible with this land, by her generation, the bloodline was almost the same as that of ordinary people.
Even so, according to tradition, the family's secret techniques would only be passed down to one person in each generation.
If there were two children in a generation, they would only be passed to the eldest son.
And the children who were not chosen as successors would either grow up without knowing anything about magecraft or be given away to others as adopted children.
In other words, Matou Sakura should naturally be unaware of all this.
『"—Is that so? Then that's good."』
Shirou breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this.
Because he didn't want Sakura to be involved in this inexplicable mutual killing.
Next, Shirou asked about the boundary field set up in the school, and Shiori stated it wasn't her doing.
Because her bloodline was just that of an ordinary person, Tohsaka Rin actually couldn't perceive her; what the other party sensed was actually another Master hidden in the school.
Having finished discussing all this, Shiori once again issued an invitation for an alliance to Shirou.
However, this time, Shirou refused without hesitation.
"—Sorry, I refuse."
"Shiori, you know about that guy who's managing the Holy Grail War, right?"
After learning that the Matou Family was a family of magi and that Matou Shiori already knew about the Holy Grail War, he immediately realized that the "self-protection" claim was not credible.
Because if Shiori really just wanted to protect herself, she should have gone to Kirei Kotomine to request withdrawal from the Holy Grail War instead of seeking cooperation with him.
That was exactly what Tohsaka Rin had planned to take him to do at the very beginning.
After refusing the invitation, Shirou prepared himself for battle.
Unexpectedly, however, Shiori didn't react much to his choice. Instead, she very calmly had Rider escort him out of the residence, which he found somewhat unbelievable.
Not only that, but he also made an agreement with Shiori not to let Matou Sakura get involved in this matter.
Finally, Shirou followed Rider to leave the Matou Family residence.
Before leaving, he thought of something, hesitated for a moment, and then spoke to Rider:
""
"Although we are in an adversarial relationship now, I'm still entrusting Shiori to you.
Her personality might be a bit terrible, and I apologize for her here.
But please, protect her well."
Rider was somewhat surprised, not expecting Shirou to say such things, so in the next moment, she suddenly spoke:
""
"—You are a very good person.
I think I understand why she wanted to recruit you."
Saying this, she revealed a slight smile and then disappeared into the Matou Family residence.
End of chapter.