Crossover Anime: The Heroine is in Trouble? I Take Advantage of the Situation

The two came for the third volume of "A Certain Magical Index".

Today is the agreed-upon day for the negotiations.

Seiji Fujiwara suppressed his reverie and stood up to welcome the two: "It's been a long time, Aida-san, Machida-san."

"Haha, good afternoon, Fujiwara-sensei!" Aida Ryuji walked in with a warm smile, carrying a beautifully packaged gift box.

As an editor-in-chief, he certainly doesn't need to personally handle business.

But Seiji Fujiwara is different.

This is Fujiwara-sensei, whom Shinazugawa highly values ​​and treats as a golden brand!

Even the editor-in-chief is not high enough in front of Professor Fujiwara.

The only solution was for him, the editor-in-chief, to personally visit them.

The two walked into the entryway and changed into the guest slippers (043).

“Professor Fujiwara, it seems you had a very enjoyable trip to Hokkaido!” Ryuji Aida placed the gift box on the low table. “This is a new daifuku from one of our group’s confectionery shops. Please be sure to try it.”

"Thank you for your kindness, Editor-in-Chief Aida." Seiji Fujiwara smiled and gestured for him to sit down. "I just made some tea."

"excuse me."

Machida Sonoko politely thanked him and sat down with Aida Ryuji.

"Try the cold tea I bought in Hokkaido." Seiji Fujiwara picked up the teapot and poured tea for the two of them.

Her movements were fluid and graceful, exuding a composure and relaxation beyond her years.

This made Machida Sonoko feel a little emotional, and she couldn't help but recall the scene when she first met this boy.

In just a few months, he has gone from a complete newcomer to someone that the entire Shinazugawa Bunko and even the entire light novel industry must look up to.

"Please enjoy your tea." Seiji Fujiwara placed the teacups in front of the two men.

"Thank you."*2

"It truly lives up to its reputation as a premium tea variety; the aftertaste is endlessly delightful."

"Haha, if Editor-in-Chief Aida likes them, why don't you take a few boxes back with you when you leave?"

"Then I would be disrespectful."

After exchanging pleasantries, Ryuji Aida cleared his throat, took out a beautifully bound plan from his briefcase, and got down to business.

"Mr. Fujiwara, the release of Volume 2 of A Certain Magical Index has sparked an unprecedented social phenomenon! With 39 copies sold in the first month, you've firmly secured your position as the industry's number one. After an emergency meeting, our senior management unanimously agreed to strike while the iron is hot and push your personal brand and popularity to new heights!"

He pushed the proposal in front of Seiji Fujiwara and excitedly introduced it: "This is the 'Seiji Fujiwara Nationwide Appreciation and Book Signing Tour' that our marketing department and public relations department have tailored just for you!"

"We will select ten core cities across the country, collaborate with the largest bookstores in each city, and coordinate with all media platforms for a comprehensive publicity campaign! This will be an unprecedented event that will make your name the undisputed focus for the entire year to come!"

Ryuji Aida spoke with great enthusiasm, his eyes sparkling with boundless anticipation for the future.

This was indeed the best publicity plan they could think of.

Upright and honorable! The way of the king prevails!

However, Seiji Fujiwara merely glanced at the cover of the proposal and shook his head.

"Book signing events are too tiring, and the results are just so-so."

The sound wasn't loud, but it was like a bucket of cold water, instantly extinguishing all of Aida Ryuji's enthusiasm.

"Huh?" Aida and Machida were both stunned.

Ryuji Aida hurriedly explained, "Teacher, this isn't just any ordinary autograph session, it's the highest level..."

“I know.” Seiji Fujiwara interrupted him, looking calmly at the two of them. “Traveling to ten cities, meeting thousands of readers, and getting featured in local news several times is too much trouble.”

His tone was calm, without any questioning, yet it made Aida Ryuji feel a strange pressure, and even a bead of sweat appeared on his forehead.

He's here to enjoy life, not to be treated like a beast of burden.

"Then... what do you mean, teacher?" Machida Sonoko asked cautiously.

Seiji Fujiwara thought for a moment and said casually, "How about we change the advertisement? How about the Naoki Prize?"

"..."

"..."

The expressions on Aida Ryuji and Machida Sonoko's faces froze instantly.

A full five seconds passed before Aida Ryuji came to his senses and asked uncertainly, "Fujiwara-sensei, what prize did you just say...?"

"Naoki Prize," Seiji Fujiwara repeated.

This time, the two heard it clearly, but their expressions showed even greater surprise.

Shi Yu, who was listening quietly beside her, also looked astonished.

"...What Naoki Prize?" Machida Sonoko asked instinctively, even wondering if she was hallucinating because she had been working too much overtime lately.

Seiji Fujiwara smiled and said casually, "What I mean is, just win the Naoki Prize and use that as a marketing tool, right?"

boom--!

A thunderclap exploded in the minds of Ryuji Aida and Sonoko Machida!

Using the Naoki Prize for marketing?!

That's incredibly arrogant!

Are they planning to replicate the previous Ranpo Prize event?

No way!

That kind of thing isn't like eating or drinking; how could it be easily replicated?

Literary awards are not like cabbages lying on the roadside!

Ryuji Aida took a deep breath and forced himself to calm down.

“Teacher Fujiwara,” he said slowly, his expression calm, “I understand your feelings, but… this is too…”

He wanted to say "out of the ordinary," but he swallowed the words back and used a more euphemistic expression instead.

"You just won the Edogawa Rampo Prize, and you're so young. Given the literary world's custom of 'dividing the spoils,' those old fogies, in order to maintain balance and suppress the newcomer's limelight, probably won't give you such a prestigious award anytime soon."

Machida Sonoko, recovering from her shock, added with concern, "Yes, Fujiwara-sensei. Competing for the Naoki Prize requires a work of extremely high quality, which takes a tremendous amount of effort. You also have to prepare for the third volume of 'A Certain Magical Index,' so working on both at the same time will take a toll on your health."

In their view, Seiji Fujiwara's plan not only has a very low success rate, but will also seriously affect his current thriving main business, making it entirely detrimental.

Faced with the two men's earnest attempts to persuade him to quit, Seiji Fujiwara neither argued nor showed any displeasure at being questioned.

He simply smiled calmly: "Editor-in-Chief Aida, Ms. Machida, your concerns are perfectly normal."

He picked up the teapot and refilled their cups with the slightly cooled tea, his movements unhurried and deliberate.

"How about this, let me finish drafting it, and then you can take a look. We can then evaluate whether this plan is feasible, okay?"

The voice was gentle, yet carried an undeniable air of authority.

Ryuji Aida and Sonoko Machida exchanged a glance, both seeing helplessness and shock in each other's eyes.

I wanted to refute it.

But today, Seiji Fujiwara is no longer an ordinary author.

Even if senior executives from the group come, they still have to be very polite.

How can they refute Seiji Fujiwara's decision?

“…Yes, we understand.” Ryuji Aida could only lower his head and reply respectfully.

He swallowed his doubts.

……

……

After half an hour.

Ryuji Aida and Sonoko Machida left Seiji Fujiwara's apartment, filled with shock and doubt (bgcg).

Return to the River of Immortality.

He immediately reported the outcome of the meeting to his superiors.

The news quickly reached the group's top decision-making level.

The atmosphere in the top-floor conference room of the Shinazugawa Group headquarters was somewhat somber. Several directors, who oversaw different departments of this publishing empire, sat around a long conference table.

"Using the Naoki Prize to market a light novel? Editor-in-Chief Aida, are you sure Fujiwara-sensei is serious?" A director in charge of finance frowned, his eyes behind his glasses filled with doubt.

“I’m sure.” Aida Ryuji’s tone was unusually firm. “Moreover, judging from his attitude, he has extraordinary confidence in this matter.”

"This is..." The marketing director frowned and said cautiously, "Isn't the risk a bit too high? If this fails, it will not only become a laughing stock in the industry, but it will also seriously affect the reputation of Mr. Fujiwara himself."

His words resonated with many people present.

The doubts and criticisms are rising one after another, just like the reactions of Aida and Machida back then.

"While Fujiwara-sensei is a genius, he did take things too seriously this time."

“We’re well aware of the xenophobic tendencies of those old guys in the literary world. He’s too young and his foundation is too shallow.”

"The Ranpo Award is something you can only hope to get once in a while."

Amidst a chorus of discussion.

The group president, an elderly man with gray hair but sharp eyes, who was sitting in the main seat, gently tapped the table.

dong dong.

The meeting room immediately fell silent.

The president spoke slowly, his voice steady: "Everyone, don't forget that Fujiwara-sensei is the one who made history for our group. How much profit and prestige did his 'A Certain Magical Index' and 'After School' bring us? We can't use conventional thinking to judge such a genius."

He scanned the crowd and made his decision decisively: "My decision is that we will not interfere or object until Mr. Fujiwara presents his work. Aida..."

The president looked at Ryuji Aida.

"President?" Ryuji Aida asked, bowing.

"Tell Mr. Fujiwara that as long as he has the ability, the Shinazugawa Group will always be his strongest backing," the president said firmly.

"Yes!" Ryuji Aida accepted the mission.

End of the meeting.

That evening, Seiji Fujiwara received a text message on his phone from Ryuji Aida.

[Fujiwara-sensei, the group's senior management has expressed their understanding regarding your new plans. Please don't feel any pressure and just focus on creating. Shinazugawa Bunko will always support you.]

After reading the text message, Seiji Fujiwara chuckled to himself and casually locked his phone, placing it aside.

It's all just empty talk.

Verbal support is meaningless.

That's not enough; that's human nature.

There's no need to be too demanding.

……

……

The next day, Toyosaki Academy.

During lunch break, Seiji Fujiwara and Utaha Kasumigaoka distributed souvenirs they brought back from Hokkaido to their respective classrooms.

"Wow, Fujiwara-san and Kasumigaoka-san, this gift is amazing!"

"thank you all!"

"Hokkaido, ah, that's wonderful, it must be very interesting."

The students expressed their gratitude warmly, creating a joyful and harmonious atmosphere in the classroom.

Just then, a golden figure burst in.

"Seiji! Utaha! Where are your gifts? Where is mine?" Sawamura Spencer Eriri stood with her hands on her hips, her golden twin tails swaying unhappily with her movements.

"Here, I prepared it for you a long time ago." Seiji Fujiwara took out a separately packaged portion from under the table and handed it over.