Chapter 2

Akihiko lit up another cigarette after he snuffed out the shorter one he finished inside of his panda ashtray. He ignored the glare Hiroki directed his way over his tobacco habit. There was no way he was quitting cold turkey any time soon, he had grown used to it after so many years of doing it. It helped with some of the stresses he had in his life as an author, Aikawa had to think those sticks for making him tolerate her when she went into one of her many rants. Besides, most of the people he knew in his life smoked, one of the few exceptions sat in front of him.

He put away his lighter while he hooked a leg over his other leg and relaxed against his sofa. Watching Hiroki taking a gulp of the green tea he prepared, he saw him wincing and glanced down at the cup in his hands. Akihiko knew his tea making skills were lackluster but he didn't see the need for Hiroki to show his displeasure. It was only polite to mask the fact it didn't taste too good. Honestly, he didn't care, at least Hiroki didn't suck up to him like most people in his life.

Maybe this was the time to put in his old suggestion from when they graduated high school. For Hiroki to submit his works to his publishing house and cease the fight for his old job when his talents were wasted on them. He believed Hiroki had amazing writing talent, despite Hiroki's criticisms and lack of confidence, his friend had amazing ideas to share with the world. Having sneaked peeks at Hiroki's creative writing in high school and university, he didn't want him to push away a good opportunity. He wouldn't even need to put his own name on the books, he could always put in a pseudonym in replacement of his name.

Akihiko let out a long puff of smoke when he commented. "I told you continuing that job would bite you in the ass one day." He never understood why Hiroki took on teaching people when the man hated interaction with most of the general population. "Hell, working for your father would have been better for you. Something I would never do in my life. I left that shit to Haruhiko, he isn't completely incompetent."

Hiroki picked up a manila envelope on the coffee table, "Shut up." He reached over the table and hit Akihiko on the shoulder. "I was doing really well at my job Akihiko."

Akihiko smirked. "Oh yes, considering how I got word of your demon status from the rumor mill in between the students."

"There are harder professors at Mitsuhashi, I was helping them prepare for the work load when they took on those classes." Hiroki huffed. "Some students even come back to thank me for my strict regimen so it was worth it." He saw Akihiko's questioning gaze. "Those students exist! Besides, the ones who failed my class wasted their money when they didn't quit before the deadline."

Akihiko shrugged his shoulders. "Either way, you worked yourself ragged for not a lot of pay. Half the time you complained about the stresses of your job, Hiroki."

"I know but everyone complains about their job." Hiroki glanced at him. "You complain about your job as an author."

"Only because I don't like going to the events to promote my work that is the job of the publishing house." Akihiko explained. "Having to explain my book so many times gets tiring after a while. For some reason, people actually like me to buy them apparently."

Hiroki rolled his eyes. "You painted a smooth persona of an author, if they knew who you really were they wouldn't be buying your shit."

"Well, it's shit that is making me money." He winked at Hiroki. "You are the one who first said I had the talent for writing back then."

"And where it has gotten you, an inflated ego the size of Japan."

"Why thank you."

Hiroki scoffed. "You seriously don't take anything seriously don't you?"

"Of course I don't, but I am pissed that someone got you fired over whatever issue they had with you." Akihiko said as he tapped the end of his cigarette in the ash tray. "Besides, whoever tried it will regret it. Your father won't let them get away with this. If there is one thing I can respect about your old man, it's the fact he is ruthless when it comes to someone coming after his family."

Hiroki arched a brow. "You should try saying that to my father, he might actually have some nice things to say about you for once."

"Nope, I know he likes me, he just doesn't know it yet."

"Whatever,"

"Anyway, I warned you that teaching wasn't for you. Just because some of the kids you tutored weren't so bad doesn't mean the rest would be the same." Akihiko took a long drag and blew it out of his thin lips. "Being an editor or a writer suits you way more."

Hiroki tossed the envelope in his hands on the table. "Akihiko...my writing isn't up to par with yours, I can't do it." There was one thing he admitted to himself, it was that he had no confidence in his writing.

Akihiko rolled his eyes. "Hiroki, you have a talent for writing just like I do. I wouldn't be pushing you so hard if I didn't believe in you. Besides, the guy who looked at your writing when we were in university was a jealous twit. He failed in the industry after signing up his little girlfriend who demanded to get in without the writing talent."

"He failed?" Hiroki placed the back of his hand to his lips to hold back his chortle.

"See? That means he was a hack and I was right on the status of your writing ability." Akihiko smiled lightly. "I still have a copy of an old creative writing assignment you did in university. I can send it to Aikawa when she comes around today to check up on my work. Who knows, she might sign you up on the spot after showing it to Isaka."

Hiroki contemplating giving Akihiko permission in sending in a piece of his old work to Aikawa. Although, it was odd that Akihiko was asking him before even submitting anything. Maybe, Akihiko did have confidence in him and wanted him to agree before he took on turning into an author for a full time job. He had to admit, he imagined life as an author but his path as a literature professor put a full stop to it. The workload prevented any free writing time unless he lessened the assignments which he didn't think was possible.

He had a list of ideas in a file in his laptop, a file he stopped opening after his life grew more hectic from his homework load. Oddly enough, he had gotten some fresh ideas throughout the year. It was probably a sign to attempt writing his ideas but something always blocked his path. The moment he left his own thought process, he felt excited at the prospect of actually writing something.

Looking up, Akihiko waited for his answer.

Hiroki gulped, he had nothing to lose. Taking this chance would help generate some income when he moved to the countryside. Besides, he didn't think he would find work in the town his grandfather kept his home, the locals held most of the positions anyway.

"Alright."

Akihiko grinned. "I knew you would agree, I will show her the copies I have in my old papers. You won't regret it."

Fuyumi held Hiroki tight in her arms as she rubbed circles on his back. Even though Hiroki didn't show his emotions very often, she knew her son well enough that he got it all out when he returned home or hid in a private location. After hearing what happened to him, she didn't understand how no one noticed her son didn't give a look toward women. Then again, Hiroki wasn't the social type, no one would have noticed anything different if they didn't spent a lot of time with him. She was sure Hiroki would find something else in his life which wouldn't give him a lot of stress. Living in her father's old home might help him, she took note of Hiroki's relaxed behavior after he returned from the countryside in the summer.

A breath of fresh air in a new location was something Hiroki deserved. This oncoming hidden investigation wouldn't help him relax. Hiroki made sure he was busy through his job or reading new books, a stress releasing place wasn't a bad thing for him. Besides, the truth this so called 'scandal' would come out and Hiroki might remain in the countryside at the end of everything. The distance didn't unsettle her, she traveled back home due to school in the city.

Hiroki closed his eyes as he let his mother coddle him, well holding him in her arms. He was just glad she didn't go overboard in trying to make him feel better. Although, she never made a huge deal out of anything unless it angered her. He assured her when he finished explaining the situation and why he needed the deed to his grandfather's home. His decision to live in the countryside was not a spur of the moment thing. Not when he left everyone he knew and would only get in communication through his cell phone or the house phone he needed to connect.

A slight feeling of anxiousness passed through him, remembering Akihiko's promise at giving his old work to Aikawa made his heart race. The last time someone read his work, he accepted the criticism and applied it to his work. The matter the criticism was given to him made him want to prove the man wrong. According to Akihiko, his career was down the shitter so he might have a chance this time.

Hiroki muttered. "You can let go of me now."

Fuyumi loosened her grip, Hiroki took a step back from her arms. "You should know better than to expect me to let you come back home without a hug."

Hiroki's lips quirked up. "Of course, I don't expect anything less from you."

Fuyumi took a step back as she stared right up at him. "I know it must have been hard asking your father for help." Fuyumi commented. "He will make sure everything is fixed."

Hiroki rubbed the back of his neck, his mother knew him better than anyone. "Yes...although I can't stay in the city, the rent of the apartment will drain my savings quickly. At least the house grandfather left me would help cut down the expenses I have."

"And you said that house wouldn't be useful for you in the future." She chastised him. "You need to ask for your grandfather's forgiveness when you visit his grave. He really took you into consideration when he planned who to leave his possessions to. He never trusted anyone else with his home when he put in so much effort in making sure it was intact after all of these years."

"I know." Hiroki said in shame. "Don't worry, once I settle down at the house I will go visit him. I don't want him coming after me as a ghost because I kept disrespecting his house."

Fuyumi snickered. "It would be exactly like him if he came back." She reached in the pocket of her kimono and took out the deed. "I'm sure he left some furniture for you to use but my brothers probably took everything from the house to sell." She handed Hiroki the deed. "If you need any help and can't reach us here at home, I'm sure the nearest neighbor will agree to help you."

Hiroki held the deed in a light grip. "I rarely talk to new people unless it's absolutely necessary so there is no way I will be talking to the locals there."

"At least let them know someone is living in your grandfather's house. A lot of them already know he has passed and might think the house is abandoned at this point." Hiroki groaned. "They will assume you were a city boy all your life so don't take anything they say to heart."

"Oh yes, they won't after I chew them off for not minding their own business." Hiroki scoffed. "Mom, I will be fine. I didn't spent all of those summers with grandfather just so I could ask the people there for help on everything going on in the house."

"Of course," She told him. "Just call us more often this time, Hiro-chan." Fuyumi teased him as she patted his shoulder. "Are you sure you don't need us to help you clean the house?"

Hiroki shook his head. "I'll be fine, grandfather kept the place spotless when he was still alive if I remember correctly. So it might just be a lot of dust covering the whole place or those dumb talismans he taped on the outside."

"That's true," Fuyumi stood against the front door when she said. "Remember never to peel those off, it was one of the clauses of owning that house."

"Yeah I know," Hiroki frowned. "What were those things for anyway?"

"It was mostly because of an old superstition in keeping demons out of the house. I would have to say it was give us all a peace of mind since the house was located in the middle of a forest area of the town." Fuyumi explained. "Although, father kept a few extra talismans in each of the rooms, they are so small you won't even notice them."

Hiroki sighed. "I never took him as a superstitious man but alright, I won't ever remove any of them from the house."

"Good," She grinned as she gave him one last hug. "When are you leaving the city?"

Hiroki responded. "In a few days, I have to finish packing everything and make sure the movers don't leave anything behind. I'm probably going to use some of my savings to buy a car, there is no way I am using a bicycle."

Fuyumi let go of him and crossed her arms over her chest. "You need to get over this dislike of bicycles, I already know you won't use that car very often."

"I might use it for traveling around, you never know I might actually leave the house."

Fuyumi held back a laugh. "Yeah right," She winked at him before she patted his shoulders. "I'll see you soon,"

"I'll see you soon, mom."

Hiroki sat against the wall of his unfurnished apartment while he held his cell phone to his ear. He nodded his head as he listened to Aikawa while she talked to him about the pieces Akihiko gave her. He didn't expect Akihiko to have handed her a pile of short stories, some of which, he didn't finish or were used for assignments in school. A good portion were fantasy or horror since his professor who taught his creative writing class had a good time scaring herself with the stories her students turned in. Although, the professor was pretty lenient in her grading, she always had a positive remark for him in the last page of his story.

A smile graced his face, excitement and pride filled his body over hearing his work wasn't all for nothing. He might actually make a career out of his passion for books and he didn't see the downsides to continuing on this path. Memories of Akihiko's cranky face when he finished a novel appeared in his mind, for such a creative mind, the man finished his work late. Although, in recent years, Akihiko had improved his track record.

He pulled his legs up to his chest with one arm while he stared at the boxes piling the room across from him. If this all panned out to his favor, he was seriously thanking Akihiko when he saw him again. Well, after he settled everything he had to do at his new home.

"I loved your work Kamijou-san! Why didn't you show me your stuff earlier?" Aikawa raved through the phone. "Sensei gave me a collection of your short stories and I have to say, they are amazing. It's no wonder he has you look at his work before he submits it to us, you have a way with words."

"Uh...thank you." He honestly didn't know what else to tell her.

"Please tell me you have some ideas for a full length novel because after I showed your work to Isaka he was impressed."

"Yes, I do." Hiroki answered. "I have them on my laptop and I can probably give you an idea once I look through them. Do you need a synopsis on one of my new ideas right now?"

"It's quite alright, we already have an idea with what to do with your short stories once you sign up with our publishing company. I can always come over with the paperwork Isaka is in the process of preparing for you. He knows you will sell just as many books as Usami-sensei in no time."

"You already have an idea on what to do with them?" Hiroki inquired with surprise. "I would've thought you wanted something new out of me before signing me up."

"From the work we have read from you, all they need is some polishing and they will be packed together. But I noticed some of them didn't have an ending, they cut off in the middle or left the problem unsolved. Do you think you can complete them?"

"I think I still have the original files in my laptop somewhere and I can find the ones I know for sure are not finished yet. Then, you can read them again and tell me if they will be in this collection you are talking about."

"That would be perfect, thank you!" Aikawa told him, Hiroki heard the enthusiasm in her voice. "Now, will you stay in one genre or will you branch out into different ones? It is always good to know beforehand so we can plan out the promotion for the releases when you complete your work."

Hiroki contemplated it for a moment before he answered. "I might stay in the same genre for a while but I won't know for sure until I get a new idea. In the meantime, I know I will stay clear of writing any romance novels, that might come out later."

"This sounds perfect. Now do you have any questions?"

"I was wondering...can I change my name for these books? I don't want to use my real name." Hiroki asked her, they spent the rest of the phone call trying to settle a location for him to meet her at before he moved out to his new home.

She didn't voice her displeasure that he was moving away from the city. Thankfully, she didn't ask about his old job or why Akihiko now insisted in checking out his writing. Her professionalism showed through the call while they slowly transitioned on some other topics which didn't relate to books.

All in all, Hiroki knew this new chapter in life was going in the right direction.

TBC