"Manga serialization? In Shonen Jump...?"
Upon hearing this news, Kayo's first reaction was to think Akira was joking.
But seeing his serious expression, Kayo's mouth slowly opened slightly, and she stared at him in disbelief, saying:
"Is this true?!"
"Yeah."
Akira scratched his cheek a little embarrassedly and smiled:
"This is what I mentioned before."
"I see."
Kayo realized.
But even after hearing him confirm it personally, she still felt a sense of unreality and couldn't help but repeatedly look the boy in front of her up and down.
After all, that's the famous Weekly Shonen Jump!
Seeing Kayo's reaction, Akira said with amusement:
"What, does the store manager not believe me?"
"...No, I believe Mochizuki-kun wouldn't make such a joke."
Kayo shook her head, but still felt a bit incredulous:
"It's just that I never thought that someone around me would suddenly become a manga artist capable of serializing in Shonen Jump one day."
"That's true."
Akira nodded in agreement, feigning a look of empathy.
Seeing this, Kayo couldn't help but roll her eyes at him and retorted crossly:
"Really, who does Mochizuki-kun think is the one making me sigh like this?"
"Well..."
Akira scratched his head and gave a sheepish laugh, intending to brush it off, which left Kayo feeling both annoyed and amused.
But after this conversation, the complex and strange emotions in her heart finally gradually calmed down.
Following that, she began to have a real sense of the fact that 'Akira is about to debut as a manga artist.'
At this point, she couldn't help but look him over again and suddenly sighed:
"In that case, Mochizuki-kun will probably be the most handsome manga artist in all of Japan, right?"
"Hmm..."
"Hmm?"
Akira was slightly taken aback upon hearing this, feeling somewhat dumbfounded.
What kind of strange focus is this?
Should I say that's typical of the store manager?
Of course, although Kayo's focus was rather strange, he had to agree with her statement.
"By the way,"
Just then, Kayo suddenly thought of something and said:
"In that case, Mochizuki-kun should be leaving too, right?"
After all, having become a full-time manga artist, there was naturally no reason and no time to continue working part-time at the bookstore.
"Yeah."
Akira nodded and smiled again:
"But please rest assured, I will continue to work here for a few days, and won't leave until the manager finds someone to replace me."
"Is that so? That's a huge help."
Kayo felt a bit touched upon hearing this and thanked him with a smile.
The status of a temporary worker meant instability, and there was a possibility of resigning at any time.
Therefore, even if he had proposed to resign immediately, she would have had no way to stop him.
So she understood that, even knowing he was about to become a professional manga artist, Akira's willingness to continue working at the bookstore for a while was entirely a choice made out of consideration for her.
"It's the other way around; I've been well taken care of by you during this time."
Kayo's reaction finally put Akira at ease.
Immediately after, he bowed slightly to her to express his gratitude.
At this point, although he still had to work here for a few more days, the atmosphere of parting had quietly arrived.
"--Come to think of it, if I never find a new employee, then could Mochizuki-kun keep working here?"
"Uh..."
Kayo's sudden, unconventional remark left him completely awkward.
"I'm just joking."
Seeing this, Kayo couldn't help but cover her mouth and chuckle, then stopped teasing him, smiling and waving her hand:
"Don't worry, I'll look for a new employee as soon as possible."
"It's just that an excellent employee like Mochizuki-kun probably won't be that easy to find."
Akira breathed a sigh of relief and then smiled:
"Indeed, after all, wanting to obtain serialization rights for Shonen Jump isn't that easy either."
"...Is this the 'excellent' you meant?"
Kayo was speechless and said:
"If it's this kind of 'excellent employee,' then it's better to have fewer of them."
Although there were some twists and turns, the matter regarding the bookstore and Kayo was finally resolved satisfactorily.
Afterwards, the topic returned to the fact that 'he is about to serialize a manga in Shonen Jump,' and Kayo asked him many questions with great interest.
For example, the name of the manga to be serialized, what his pen name is, when the manga will start serialization, whether he has met other manga artists, and so on...
He answered as many questions as he could, but as for when the serialization would start, he himself didn't know either.
After all, he hadn't officially signed the contract yet.
After satisfying her curiosity, Kayo also expressed her congratulations and support for him.
Then, she smiled and suggested:
"It's rare to have such good news. How about we get together after work? My treat."
"Thanks for the invitation, Manager, but..."
Saying this, he smiled embarrassedly:
"I already have plans."
...
...
Getting off work on time at 18:00, Akira said goodbye to Kayo, left the bookstore, and set off towards the subway station.
But he wasn't going home; he was going to keep an appointment.
Of course, he wasn't going to meet Hisashi; that had been temporarily postponed.
In front of the entrance to Akihabara Station, Rin stood alone, neither carrying a guitar case nor dragging her audio equipment.
Although it wasn't raining today, she had no intention of performing tonight either.
Last night, Akira called her to inform her of the good news that 'he is about to start serializing a manga in Shonen Jump.'
For this reason, they agreed to meet for dinner at a yakiniku restaurant tonight to celebrate.
Rin gazed at the pedestrians on the street in the distance, her striking appearance occasionally attracting the gazes of passersby.
But her expressionless face and the cold aura she unconsciously exuded meant that no one dared to come up and talk to her.
Suddenly, seeing Akira's figure appear in the distance, she immediately revealed a smile like a melting iceberg, while gently waving her arm to signal to him.
Seeing Rin waving at him, Akira hurriedly quickened his pace, trotting up to her and saying:
"Sorry, I'm late."
"I just arrived early, that's all."
Rin shook her head gently, then smiled lightly at Akira:
"By the way, Mochizuki-kun, congratulations on getting the serialization opportunity."
"Thank you."
He also nodded with a smile, but then asked somewhat confusedly:
"But come to think of it, didn't you already say congratulations once over the phone yesterday?"
Rin explained:
"But I think it's better to say it again in person."
"Is that so? Then I'll accept these congratulations again."
Akira nodded and smiled:
"Alright, let's go."
"Okay."
"Speaking of which, have you read the latest issue of Shonen Jump..."