How to raise a random guy's wife

"Hmm... Ah? No way!" Eriri retorted loudly, shaking her head vigorously, her dazzling blonde hair swaying in the breeze. "Who would worry about that gloomy woman!"

Kobayashi Megumi: "......" I haven't even said who yet.

"Well... I'm actually quite worried." Kobayashi Megumi smiled as she twirled her pen. "The production of 'Your Name' is going smoothly, and the promotion is gradually unfolding. This is Kasumigaoka Utaha's first time discussing a commercial collaboration. What will the outcome be?"

"It should be fine... right?" Eriri frowned slightly. "If the quality of the work is good enough, there shouldn't be any problems with promotion, right? Wasn't the Kaguya-sama: Love Is War movie a good example?"

“It’s different. The previous publicity was handled by Sora and her team,” Kobayashi Megumi reminded her. “This time, it’s Utaha who’s in charge.”

Kobayashi Sora's promotional tactics mainly rely on the subtle influence of online trolls, such as insider leaks, sharing interesting anecdotes from the production process, and unknown behind-the-scenes production details... to present herself as a completely neutral bystander.

Iori Hashima is more adept at official promotion and has a very accurate grasp of the tastes of her target audience. Her various commercial activities and offline promotions are very effective, aiming to give the feeling that the official channels are killing off fan fiction.

The combination of the two naturally produces excellent results.

As for Kasumigaoka Utaha's promotional methods, they haven't been fully revealed yet, and no one can say for sure what the specific effects will be.

and......

“Unlike Kaguya-sama: Love Is War, Your Name is an original animated film,” Megumi Kobayashi pointed out. “For this production, Toho invested in it, and that’s where the production committee’s budget of several hundred million yen came from. Well… of course, there’s also the Crimson Project, and some disc manufacturers and distributors… it involves a lot of people.”

"Is there any difference?" Eriri's face showed obvious worry. Although she was a veteran otaku and a well-known illustrator in the industry, Eriri didn't know much about these kinds of promotional materials.

“Take ‘Kaguya-sama: Love Is War’ for example. The anime had already been broadcast on TV before the theatrical version was released, which was equivalent to completing the promotion of the film.” Megumi Kobayashi explained in detail, “In contrast, a brand-new original anime film like ‘Your Name’ has no fan base. The target audience cannot know that the work is about to be released, and new audiences are not familiar with the work. If we do not promote and create hype for half a year in advance, very few people will go to the cinema.”

It's not just animated films; most films are in a similar situation, sometimes the production cost is less than the advertising cost.

"Publicity is so important... I hope Shiho will be fine," Eriri muttered. "She studied so hard before..."

“There’s a big difference between learning knowledge and doing it in practice,” Kobayashi Megumi said with amusement as she looked at Eriri. “You may understand the math lessons, but you might not be able to do the homework.”

Eriri felt that Kobayashi Megumi was wrong, "I don't understand anything in class either!"

Kobayashi Megumi: "......"

Eriri guessed, "Even if it has nothing to do with studying, her ability to observe people's hearts must be helpful, right?"

“Indeed, as an author skilled in describing emotions, Shiyu is able to obtain the information she wants by observing the subtle movements of others.” Kobayashi Megumi changed the subject, “That’s what I’m worried about too.”

"what?"

"What will Shiwa do after observing?"

Eriri recalled the past, "Sharp-tongued..."

After seeing through the other person, Shiyu will use a cold expression and sharp words to ruthlessly expose their disguise, dragging out their dirty heart to be exposed to the sun.

Both abilities are the ability to see through people's hearts, but for Kobayashi Megumi, it is a kind and gentle understanding, while for Utaha, it becomes a sharp and ruthless attack.

Thinking of this, Eriri immediately pictured Kasumigaoka Utaha coldly watching the TV station staff's insincere pleasantries, and then, unable to bear it any longer, mercilessly launching into a tirade.

Think back to those boys who confessed to Kasumigaoka Utaha in high school.

If Kasumigaoka Utaha really does this, forget about business cooperation; it would be good enough if the TV station didn't ban RER.

“It’s okay…it won’t happen…” Eriri muttered, “After all, Kasumi Shiko is a famous author, she has some influence.”

Kobayashi Megumi said casually, "The TV station doesn't care about these things~"

"And me! I'm a renowned painter!"

"The artists are about the same level~"

“And my dad!” Eriri thought of a new direction. “If we don’t want it to develop into a diplomatic incident, the TV station has to have a good talk with Shiho.”

Kobayashi Megumi almost burst out laughing. "It probably won't get to that point."

"Then... huh?" Eriri's eyes lit up. "There's also Sora. That guy never does anything he's not sure of. He must have made thorough preparations by letting Utaha take charge this time!"

With that thought in mind, Eriri felt completely relieved.

Kobayashi Sora is quite reliable.

“Oh right, and there’s also Sora Ao.” Kobayashi Megumi chuckled. “Thank you, Eriri. I’m finally completely relieved now.”

"Huh?" Eriri blinked her big blue eyes. "Well... um... that's it. You're just worried. I've never worried about anything... What's there to worry about? I'm not worried at all."

"Mmm." Kobayashi Megumi nodded repeatedly in agreement, "I still need to learn more from you and trust Sora and Shiyu even more."

“That’s right, we’re comrades, we’ve always been like this.” Eriri subconsciously avoided Kobayashi Megumi’s gaze. “Don’t… don’t worry.”

"I'm very relieved now."

“I’m very relieved now… I’ve never worried about it!” Eriri corrected her halfway through, her face serious.

"Mmm-hmm." Kobayashi Megumi looked convinced.

Eriri took a big gulp of bottled lemon tea and picked up her sketchbook again to start drawing.

The pencil sketched messy lines on the paper, then stopped abruptly.

Eriri looked up at Kobayashi Megumi and said, "I'm really not worried."

"I know." Kobayashi Megumi's eyes were gentle as water.

She seems to have grasped the joy that Kasumigaoka Utaha experiences.

Chapter 651 Taking an Inch and a Mile

Eriri felt that what Kobayashi Megumi knew and what she wanted to express were not the same thing.

Eriri wrinkled her cute little nose and wanted to repeat herself, but felt it wouldn't make much of a difference.

But if you say nothing, it seems like you're admitting it.

Eriri was caught in a dilemma. She took a big gulp of lemon black tea, got up and left Kobayashi Megumi's office.

Kobayashi Megumi rested her chin on her hand, gazing at the office door.

Not long after, Eriri returned, and the moment she opened the door, she was met by Kobayashi Megumi's gaze.

"I..." Eriri subconsciously looked away. "I...I went to the restroom..."

It's not that I couldn't rest easy after leaving, so I just made up an excuse to come back.

“It’s good that you’re here,” Kobayashi Megumi chuckled. “I usually have Sora with me, and sometimes when I’m alone in the office, I always feel a bit empty.”

"I...I really can't do anything with you." Eriri looked up, her face showing just the right amount of trouble. "Then I'll stay here with you a little longer and wait with you for Shi...Kuōshō to come back."

"You're so kind~" Kobayashi Megumi's voice was full of tolerance.

Looking at Eriri, Megumi Kobayashi inexplicably missed her daughter Ran Kobayashi, wondering if she was behaving well at kindergarten.

Before Eriri could finish drawing a single sketch, Kobayashi Sora and Kasumigaoka Utaha had already returned to the company.

"It's all done." Kobayashi Sora handed the documents to Kobayashi Megumi. "President, once you sign it, this collaboration will be officially complete."

"Thank you for your hard work." Kobayashi Megumi reached out to take the documents.

Using her body to block the view of Kasumigaoka Utaha and Eriri, Kobayashi Sora stole a kiss on Kobayashi Megumi's cheek.

"Um..." Kobayashi Megumi, who had been quite serious, suddenly blushed and her eyes became watery.

Neither Utaha Kasumigaoka nor Eriri noticed the two's subtle actions.

Kasumigaoka Utaha, who had just entered the office, immediately spotted Eriri.

Eriri has her own studio, so there's no need for her to come here.

As I approached the office, I didn't hear any conversations inside.

It probably wasn't about work.

So... why is Eriri here?

Kasumigaoka Utaha raised an eyebrow, the corners of her mouth slightly upturned.

A sketchbook with messy lines, a hesitant expression.

Eriri seems to be...

Eriri observes Kasumigaoka Utaha's expression, trying to guess Kasumigaoka Utaha's feelings as she goes out to work for the first time.

Then I saw her increasingly wicked smile.

This guy... he's definitely not thinking anything good.

But I'm really curious.

Whether things went smoothly or not, whether there were any arguments or anything.

It's not that I care about her... it's just... well... it's just...

"It actually worked!" Eriri changed her tone. "I thought someone would have a big argument with the TV station people and mess things up."

"Such childish thinking," Kasumigaoka Utaha's smile widened. "Are you waiting here to see me make a fool of myself?"

“Yes!” Eriri nodded vigorously, “That’s it! I…I’ll be waiting here to see your distraught expression!”

"So you've been sitting here waiting all morning?"

"No...no way!" Eriri held up her sketchbook. "I was just waiting while I was drawing!"

"Oh?" Kasumigaoka Utaha looked at the messy lines. "Is this a drawing?"

"This is... abstract art, do you even understand abstract art?" Eriri blushed. "It's obvious you don't understand."

Kasumigaoka Utaha may not understand abstract art, but she does understand tsundere (a Japanese term for someone who is arrogant or tsundere).

"How was your first field mission?" Kobayashi Megumi casually pinched Kobayashi Sora's cheek, smoothed her hair, gave him a "you wait" look, and asked Eriri's question with concern, "Communicating with those people must have been quite difficult, right?"

"Surprisingly, it was easy to handle. I thought I would run into the kind of guy who would act arrogantly because of his status, but it was basically all business." Kasumigaoka Utaha picked up Eriri's lemon black tea. "The introduction and negotiation took some effort, it felt about the same as bargaining on a second-hand website."

"Hey! That's mine!"

“It’s really just that kind of thing,” Kobayashi Megumi glanced at the contract briefly. “That puts my mind at ease. I’ll have to work hard for you from now on.”

"This is basically how communication with TV stations works," Kobayashi Sora reminded. "But other partners are not so easy. They talk about dreams, but their hearts are full of interests. Some praise them to death, and some belittle them. As long as they can make more money, they will say anything."

“Knowing their true nature is enough.” Kasumigaoka Utaha’s gaze swept across the room. “I have a lot of experience dealing with two-faced people.”

Eriri bristled, "Why are you looking at me like that!"

"Because you're good-looking."

"Who's good-looking!"