Hey guys, inspiration struck early so here's the next chapter :-D
I did say last chapter but I'll put it (my favor) here too. Takano's global book tour is coming up. As I'm sure many of you are a aware, I am an American. I have never left the North American continent, i did go to Mexico and Canada when I was three, but I don't remember a thing. I do try to keep my stories accurate, but my knowledge comes via lord google. So I have a favor to ask you guys. If there is a particular country/city you like to be mentioned or written about, please PM me or send me a review. Give me the name of the city and country and if there is something significant in said city that you want mentioned, let me know that too. If there is a lot of interest in for certain cities I will write a scene for it. If there is only a little interest for certain cities, I'll try to mention them in passing. Also for those who are well acquainted with Europe, please give me an estimate of how long it take to move across one country to another. So please, please help me out guys. You can PM me or send me a review, I will go over them and try my best to make them happen so, that's my favor.
I do not own Sekaiichi Hatsukoi.
"How the hell did this happen," yelled one of the editors as he answered his phone to reply to one fans calling non-stop.
As soon as some of the other editors had showed up to help with onslaught of phone calls, Aikawa had immediately jumped out of her chair, before Onodera could even register, and ran to tell Isaka san and some other higher ups what was happening. Onodera still hadn't had the chance to tell anyone what Hasegawa had done other than Aikawa.
There was yet another phone call at Onodera's phone, to wit he answered quickly. All the conversations he had been having were pretty much the same as the one he had when this first started. "Hello, this Onodera Ritsu of Marukawa Publishing. How may I help you?"
"Is this Takano sensei's editor," came the female voice.
"He is one of Marukawa's authors, yes."
"But is this his editor?"
"Ma'am I'm not allowed to divulge that information."
"I just want sensei's address."
"Ma'am, if I cannot divulge my co-workers information, I most assuredly cannot divulge an author's personal information," Onodera answered, a bad feeling forming in the pit of his stomach.
"You don't understand," the female voice started, getting a little choked up, "I'm Suka, I'm Takano sensei's first love…"
"Okay ma'am, you have a good rest of the day," Onodera replied as he hung up his phone.
"What? Are the crazies calling now," asked Kisa as he to hung up his phone.
"Uh huh," answered Onodera.
"How did this happen," Kisa asked.
"Hasegawa, that's how!"
"Really? Hasegawa that doesn't seem like him. He loves his job and tries to avoid doing anything that would affect his standing in the company," Kisa replied, shocked.
"He quit this morning. Hello," Onodera growled Onodera into the phone.
"Onodera, its Aikawa, you need to get to the conference room ASAP."
"I'm on my way."
"Bring ALL your work materials with you," Aikawa called out. Onodera nodded, before realizing that Aikawa couldn't see him. He quickly picked up everything in sight, grabbed his bag, and ran out of the office. It took him all of three minutes to reach the conference room. Once he entered, he noticed that Aikawa san, Takano sensei, and Isaka san were all there as well as a tall, dark haired man with gray-blue eyes and a scowl on his face.
"Good, now we can begin," Isaka san sighed as he flopped down in his chair. Takano, meanwhile, rolled his eyes as he sat down next to the scowling man. Onodera took his seat next to Aikawa. "So… what happen," Isaka san asked. Everyone in the room turned to face Onodera.
"As you are aware Isaka san, you and I had a meeting this morning. I unpacked my work and laptop to start work until you and I had to meet. When it came time, I left my materials on my desk. I believe that when you and I were discussing work, Hasegawa came back to the office, went through my work materials, found Takano sensei's novel, and hack my account in order to upload the chapters online."
"Do you have any proof," asked Isaka san.
"No, not exactly. I put my work materials into a pile before I left for the meeting but when I returned, my materials were all spread out. During our meeting there was no one in the office, except Hasegawa, who was returning from his own meeting. Aikawa san was the first one back at the office, and she saw Hasegawa leaving as she returned."
"So if we were to file a lawsuit, it would just turn into a he said, she said," Isaka san sighed.
"If I may interrupt," the scowling man cut in, "Why did you leave all your work materials at your desk, instead of bringing them with you?"
"Yokozawa san, pretty much every editor does that. If an editor isn't leaving the building, then they just leave it at their desk. This isn't anyone's fault except the person who did it," Aikawa cut in.
"And then there's the problem with the disclaimer at the beginning," Yokozawa continued.
"Disclaimer," Isaka san, Aikawa, and Onodera all asked at the same time.
"The disclaimer that says the novel is based on Takano sensei's life!" Yokozawa glared pointedly at Onodera while Takano crossed his arms over his chest. "It wouldn't be so bad if it wasn't true, we could just say the person who uploaded the novel was mistaken, but upon talking with Takano sensei here, he confirmed that it was true. So now we're going to have all the crazies and stalkers coming out of the woodwork for him," Yokozawa seethed.
"Suppose we could always lie," Isaka san thought aloud. The looks that everyone in the room gave him, answered this query. "Well, then we would just be honest and say this was all part of a publicity ploy for the novel."
"Excuse me, but I've never said, I want this novel to be released. Quite frankly, after this… event, I don't want that novel to see the light of day," Takano interjected.
"Takano san…" Onodera began.
"Shut up," Takano cut him off. Onodera bit his bottom lip as everyone in the room went into a stony silence.
It was Yokozawa who broke the silence. "Takano, you and I are going to talk outside." Takano just rolled his eyes. "NOW, Masamune!"
Onodera jumped, Yokozawa had just called Takano by his first name. Onodera's eyes shifted between the two men, waiting to see whose will won out in the end. Takano finally stood up and walked out of the conference room followed by Yokozawa.
"Well," Isaka san sighed after a few minutes. "It's all down to him, it looks like." Both Aikawa and Onodera looked up at Isaka san with questions in their eyes. It was ten minutes before both men walked back into the conference room. "Well," asked Isaka san.
"Takano sensei has agreed to release Gone and use this release as an advertising scheme. The book tour will also now be handing out this preview, where ever Takano sensei stops, in order to get people excited for the novel. So the editing process will have to take place from now on, and the novel be kept under lock and key. Onodera, I suggest you don't screw this up! And since you've… helped create this problem you will be helping the Sales department, as we have no forewarning for this, to prepare any and all necessary materials for this… new novel. Isaka san, I trust this sounds reasonable to you," Yokozawa turned to Isaka san.
"It sounds like a sound plan," Isaka san smiled. "I will tell the board that Takano sensei will be producing a new book much quicker than we had initially thought he would." With that, Isaka san stood up, signaling the meeting's adjournment.
"Aikawa san, Onodera, I ask that you and the other editors direct the rest of the incoming phone calls to the Sales department so we can handle the publicity," Yokozawa stated as he too, stood up. Aikawa nodded as she followed Yokozawa out, leaving only Onodera and Takano in the room.
"Takano san, I am… I am so sorry," Onodera quietly stated.
Takano just sighed, "Could you just not talk to me for now." With that Takano stood up and walked out of the room rubbing his eyes, as if to rub away tiredness.
Onodera swallowed. It was technically all his fault, if he had just brought his work materials with him, none of this would have happened. What was worse was he had betrayed Takano san's trust with his negligence. Takano had trusted him to take care of this novel, a novel that Takano sensei, arguably, treasured more than anything else. And now, the main reason why it was treasured, was out in the world for everyone to see, and it was now to be used as a publicity stunt, his treasured past with that person. Onodera just felt like banging his head on the wall. The icing on the cake though, Onodera hadn't been able to convince Takano to release it. Yokozawa had, and it was probably only because it was out in the world and Takano was backed into a corner. This was a shitty day.
As Onodera walked out of the conference room, he was surprised to see Yokozawa waiting for him. "Yokozawa san," Onodera cautiously greeted.
"You're a half-ass editor," Yokozawa went right for the jugular. "This is the second screw up you've done, and it hasn't even been 24 hours since you were last reprimanded for, surprise, surprise, being a half-ass in editing Takano's works! Do you have any idea how much Gone meant to Masamune? It meant everything to him! And now… it's basically been shit upon by Hasegawa and you. Takano deserves better! Get your fucking ass in gear, because I swear, if you do something else…" Yokozawa trailed off as he stood right in Onodera's face. Onodera could only nod, because everything Yokozawa had said was true. It was his fault. Yokozawa studied Onodera for a moment before nodding, seemingly accepting Onodera's remorsefulness.
The rest of the day was a giant blur of trying to fix the problem. Onodera didn't even have the chance to look at any of his other author's chapters and works. To be honest, when Onodera got on the train, all he wanted to do, was go to bed and not get up for a week. But, he really needed to apologize to Takano. "Alcohol, definitely won't help make up for this… yeah it's a fuck up," Onodera thought. "But I have no idea what Takano san likes or dislikes, to give him as an apology."
By the time Onodera reached the apartment building, he three bottles of the most expensive sake he could find and two cases of Usagi beer. When Onodera reached Takano's apartment, he took a deep breath and closed his eyes, preparing himself for the inevitable anger from Takano that he deserved. Onodera knocked timidly on the door. He was surprised when it opened up so quickly.
Takano stood there, looking incredibly tired. He phone later that evening to notify the editors and sale reps, that the fans had somehow found his number and were now calling him. "What do you want," Takano sighed questionably.
"Takano sensei," Onodera began, bowing deeply, "I am so sorry for my negligence." He handed over the alcohol. "I have no excuse for everything, and I am so sorry for everything I've put you through. But I promise you, I will do everything in my power to make this right and easier on you. However, I understand if you do not want to have anything to do with me, but…" Onodera stopped when he felt a hand on his shoulder. He cautiously looked up at Takano.
"Onodera," Takano began before sighing, "It wasn't your fault. These things, unfortunately happen. Please, take it to heart the lesson here, but don't over stress about it. We have a plan now so…"
"I am truly sorry though."
"I know you are." Takano nodded as he opened the bags with the alcohol. "Usagi beer? It's not really my favorite but oh well. Apology accepted."
"I thought you would be more furious with me," Onodera questioned.
"If you're talking about earlier… I was just upset and taking it out on you. I'm sorry."
"Oh no, no, no, no. You have every right to be upset."
"Still… That Hasegawa is a bastard."
"I couldn't agree more," Onodera lightly chuckled. Takano smiled. "I am sorry, I'll do anything to make it up to you." Takano pursed his lips as he reached up and ruffled Onodera's hair.
"This too, shall pass. After all, you did tell me that releasing the novel might be the best way to let go. This is just a means to an end."
Onodera looked up curiously. "I know… it doesn't matter, but… what did Yokozawa say to convince you to release Gone?"
Takano's lips quirked in a small smile "…Yokozawa, is an old friend from college. He's always had a bad habit of making me see sense."
"I see," Onodera quietly replied. "But… he calls you Masamune. And he knew that Gone had significant meaning to you. Is he really just an old friend," Onodera thought.
Seeing the distressed look on Onodera's face, Takano thought of something that gave him a wry, playful grin. "You really want to make it up to me?" Onodera vigorously nodded his head. Takano's grin grew. "Give me a kiss."
Onodera's eyes widened at the request, memories of that night from about a week ago flooded his head, along with the confusion.
Seeing Onodera's distress, Takano quickly lost his smile, "It's okay… It was… was a joke, you know to… lessen your discomfort. Plus I'm really tired, and when I'm tired, I get really horny, and…" Takano trailed off as the hope left his eyes, Onodera realized. The silence was awkward. "Well, I'm really tired, so I'm going to go…" Takano was cut off then.
Onodera reached both hands up to entangle them into Takano's hair as he deepened the kiss. His tongue playfully licking for entry to Takano's mouth while he gently started to bite down on Takano's lip. It didn't take long for the both of them to give entry and start thrusting their tongues into each other's oral cavities. Takano realized he was running out of air, while Onodera started to feel his legs go weak. When they finally broke apart, both were panting, their eyes both mirroring the unanswered questions.
Onodera was the first to recover, "I um, I ahh, I have work to do! I'll be by tomorrow to discuss some edits for Gone. So… bye." With that Onodera broke away and disappeared into his apartment. Takano looked on, his hand reaching up to cover his lips, and the small smile residing there.
:-D Night...