Chapter 96: Bookmark Writing

Anjiu Bookstore, second-floor office.

"Akiwara-sensei, could you please sign your name on this batch of bookmarks as well?"

Satake Maki, wearing a white dress, smiled as she handed a large box to Akiwara Yuto; inside the box was a pile of wooden bookmarks.

Akiwara Yuto sighed, but he had no choice but to take the box and begin pulling out the bookmarks one by one to sign his name.

After the last meeting, although he had persuaded Akitsu Goichi not to use promotional giveaways, just a few days later, Akitsu Goichi proposed a new plan: have Akiwara Yuto sign ten thousand bookmarks to be tucked into the books as gifts for readers.

Because the production cost of the bookmarks was low and a partner factory had been arranged, the total cost was less than 200,000 yen. Akiwara Yuto had no grounds to argue and was forced to agree.

To finish this work before the release, he had to come to Anjiu Bookstore every morning this week and work for the better part of the day.

Then again, he didn't really have anything else to do right now.

Satake Maki watched Akiwara Yuto work for a while, then smiled and asked, "Akiwara-sensei, what would you like for lunch?"

"Just help me go to the convenience store and buy a yakisoba bread," Akiwara Yuto replied bluntly.

During this period, because Akitsu Goichi was busy organizing the trial reading event, he had assigned this editor, Satake, to him to be responsible for liaison and other tasks.

"Eh, won't it be unhealthy to eat that every day?" Satake Maki said kindly.

"This is fine," Akiwara Yuto replied with a wave of his hand.

In truth, he was lying. If he had a choice, he wouldn't want to eat convenience store bento or bread either. But thinking about it, aside from over 20 years of experience making instant noodles, his ability to cook other dishes was near zero, let alone making a bento for himself.

"Then..." Satake Maki tapped her chin with her finger, turned around, and said casually, "Akiwara-sensei, starting tomorrow, would you like to try the bento I make?"

Hearing this, Akiwara Yuto's hand, which was in the middle of signing, paused. "That... wouldn't be very appropriate, would it?"

Satake Maki laughed. "It's no problem. President Akitsu said to take good care of Akiwara-sensei's daily needs. For the sake of the follow-up promotional work, please keep up the good work, Akiwara-sensei!"

"Follow-up promotional work?"

"For example, increasing the number of signed bookmarks, touring book signings, and media coordination," Satake Maki paused, then smiled and said, "Akiwara-sensei, you've really worked hard!"

Akiwara Yuto's mouth twitched. This editor Satake was truly a capable lieutenant to President Akitsu; it seemed she only offered to make him bento so he would put in the effort later.

However, the better the sales, the more he would earn, so he might as well accept her good intentions.

"Editor Satake, then I'll trouble you. I will pay for the ingredients separately. And add more meat to the bento." Akiwara Yuto didn't look up, speaking as he signed.

For some reason, he suddenly thought of Asano Aiko; back when he was at Mantan Publishing, he could go over and mooch off her bento every day.

Just then, footsteps sounded on the stairs, followed by the office door being pushed open, and a male voice drifted in: "Satake-chan, I want a bento made by you too. Can you give me one?"

Akiwara Yuto looked up and saw it was Nishijima Sota, who was in charge of sales and publicity. He was wearing work clothes and a baseball cap.

Satake Maki pressed her palms together and replied with a smile, "Sorry, Nishijima. Taking care of Akiwara-sensei is the task President Akitsu gave me. Besides, if I make too many bentos, I won't have time during work hours."

"What's that? How stingy." Nishijima Sota said this, but his expression didn't show the slightest unhappiness. He just walked in, grabbed a document, and left after greeting Akiwara Yuto.

Akiwara Yuto nodded and continued signing. Today's task was 1,200 signed bookmarks, so he needed to hurry.

Satake Maki didn't disturb him, walked out, and gently closed the door, preparing to head to the convenience store to buy bread.

But a faint smile appeared on her face.

Very good, the initial plan was a success.

At 8:00 that evening, Asano Aiko finished her day's work and returned home.

After being transferred to the Proofreading Department, her work content became completely different from before.

For a manuscript, an editor's review work is to judge whether the manuscript has market and literary value, but a proofreader's main task is to find textual errors and factual mistakes in the book.

After being transferred here, her work became much more monotonous, but the pressure was also much lower. After all, the duty of all proofreaders was to carefully read their own manuscripts, and they basically didn't need to interact with colleagues.

Often, she wouldn't say more than a few words in a whole day.

She opened the front door, took off her shoes in the entryway, and said, "I'm home."

Hearing her daughter's voice, Lady Asano walked out with a smile. "Aiko, wash your hands and have dinner."

Asano Aiko nodded, washed her hands, sat at the dining table, and together with her mother, pressed her palms together to say "Itadakimasu" before eating dinner.

Halfway through the meal, Lady Asano coughed and asked, "Aiko, is work going smoothly lately?"

She was a bit worried. As a mother, she had looked after her daughter for so many years and knew her habits like the back of her hand. In her view, even though Asano Aiko didn't say anything after changing departments, she must have found it hard to accept in her heart.

After all, Asano Aiko had said that her dream was to create a book that sold a million copies, allowing every reader who bought it to experience the joy of reading.

Asano Aiko took a bite of rice and shook her head. "Mom, don't worry, work has been quite relaxed lately."

She smiled and said, "Look, haven't I been coming home to eat with you lately? Of course, it would be even better if Dad could come home earlier."

Lady Asano also nodded with a smile, placed a shrimp roll into Asano Aiko's bowl, and asked as if she didn't care, "Are you still in contact with Akiwara-kun lately?"

Asano Aiko shook her head. After receiving that letter last time, she understood Akiwara Yuto's determination to move forward together.

But in her view, she could only be a burden to Akiwara Yuto.

Without her holding him back, Akiwara Yuto could obtain excellent resources whether he went to other publishing houses or stayed at the Mantan Publishing headquarters.

Lady Asano sighed. She couldn't quite guess what her daughter was thinking now, so she could only say, "Aiko-chan, sometimes, don't guess others' thoughts based on your own. Between people, sometimes you need to be a bit more honest."

Hearing this, Asano Aiko set her bowl and chopsticks directly on the table, said "I'm full," and returned to her room under Lady Asano's helpless gaze.

She sat on the bed, hugging her knees, looking at the night outside the window, and silently whispered, "Honest?"

Even if I were honest about my thoughts, what could I possibly do to help him now?