While, Hanada Yui was talking about the Manga website and how it may even replace all the traditional print, in the future.
Akira Fujimiya had a different view on the matter.
Yes,digital manga were, without a doubt, convenient and efficient.
But, the feeling of holding a printed manga in one's hands — the texture of the pages, the scent of ink, the physical weight — offered a satisfaction that digital screens could never replace.
It was like the difference between e-books and traditional novels.
The emotions they stirred were entirely distinct.
No matter how far the world advanced, traditional books would never truly disappear.
Like Yukino — she preferred the quiet comfort of reading a paperback with a cup of black tea beside her over reading it in digital screen.
Of course, the advantages of digital manga were undeniable. They would certainly dominate the industry's future.
After listening to Akira's calm explanation, Hanada Yui nodded thoughtfully.
His words made sense, and she couldn't help but admire his insight even more.
"When we establish our company," Akira continued, "we'll include online stores, e-comic platforms, and games. But we should also invest in traditional publishing. It's important to diversify. If we try to occupy too much of the market on our own, larger players will eventually push us back."
"Yes," Hanada Yui said softly, feeling a small tremor in her chest.
It was true everywhere — monopolies never lasted long.
"In the future," Akira went on, "Manga publishers will still provide the core content. That's our greatest advantage. And when they begin developing original Manga or light novels, we'll be in a position to cooperate proactively."
"Fujimiya-sama, your really incredible foresight," Hanada Yui said, her eyes shining with admiration.
Akira smiled faintly but said nothing.
These weren't his ideas — they were business models already tested and proven in his past life. He simply added his own small improvements.
Just then, a calm yet curious voice interrupted the discussion.
"Can the Yukinoshita family also participate?"
It was Yukinoshita Yukino, her pale blue eyes focused on him.
"...Of course," Akira replied after a brief pause, glancing at her.
Hanada Yui, sitting beside them, quietly poured tea into their cups, pretending not to notice the subtle shift in atmosphere.
Akira Fujimiya and the Yukinoshita family — they weren't exactly allies.
In fact, Akira had no intention of becoming entangled with the Yukinoshita household as a whole.
His cooperation extended only as far as individual trust, not family power.
Therefore, the future of the publishing venture rested in his hands, not theirs.
When Yukino brought up her family, Hanada Yui merely smiled faintly and looked away.
Even if she had been sent here under Yukinoshita Haruno's arrangement, her loyalty at this moment belonged to Akira.
"As long as sufficient benefits are offered?" Yukino asked, her tone as calm as ever.
"Your sister already holds ten percent of the shares in Future Comics Publishing," Akira replied evenly.
Yukino's lips parted slightly, but no words followed.
Akira understood her hesitation. He reached across the table and gently took her hand.
"Just because your sister owns those shares doesn't mean the Yukinoshita family can interfere with my company's decisions," he said quietly. "I can allow your sister a portion of the cake — but I will never let Madam Yukinoshita be the one cutting it. Do you understand, Yukino?"
"This… is that even possible?" Yukino asked in disbelief.
Akira's words effectively separated Haruno and the Yukinoshita family as two different entities.
But from what Yukino knew of her sister, she always sided with their mother. How could she ever detach herself from the family's influence?
Before Akira could answer, the phone on the table buzzed.
Ring! Ring! Ring!
He glanced at the message, then leaned closer to Yukino, his voice low and certain.
"She won't always be Yukinoshita Heiress," he said.
.....
12 p.m. — Noon,
Akira and Yukino arrived at Flash Animation together.
There, Ebina Hina and Miura Yumiko were both present today — the former working as a script writer, the latter as a voice actress whose singing ability had already earned recognition and payment.
After their meeting, the four of them decided to eat lunch at a nearby Japanese restaurant.
Once the food was ordered, Yumiko sat awkwardly beside Ebina, sneaking glances at Yukino from time to time.
She seemed tense.
Ebina Hina, meanwhile, looked at Akira with a knowing smile — clearly amused by the subtle tension.
"Congratulations, Miura-san," Yukino said kindly.
"Th-thank you, Yukinoshita-san," Yumiko replied quickly, her voice slightly trembling.
"There's no need to be nervous," Yukino said, her tone soft. "I told you before — you're Yui's friend, which makes you my friend too."
"Ah… y-yes. Okay." Yumiko exhaled, visibly relaxing.
"Your singing is impressive," Yukino continued. "I'm sure you'll become a popular idol soon. Even though Akira-kun hasn't acquired an idol agency yet, I'm certain he's already considering it."
"An idol agency is different from a voice actor agency," Akira said mildly. "If we want to acquire one, we'll need the right opportunity."
"I don't mind waiting," Yumiko said, smiling gently. "For now, my time at Flash Animation is a chance to build experience and gain recognition."
Akira smiled. "I won't let you wait too long."
Yumiko's cheeks turned a faint shade of pink as she lowered her head shyly.
Yukino quietly turned away, pretending not to notice.
Ebina Hina observed the entire exchange from across the table, her sharp gaze detecting the delicate shifts between them.
The atmosphere was warm but strange.
When the food arrived, Akira picked up a piece of sushi, tasted it, then held one out toward Yukino.
She gave him a short look before opening her mouth to take it.
Then Akira picked up another piece and turned toward Yumiko.
"Yumiko," he said.
"Akira-kun, I—" Yumiko blushed furiously.
Akira only smiled silently, his calm eyes watching her reaction.
Yukino, on the other hand, lowered her head and focused on her own meal.
Seeing that, Yumiko hesitated before finally eating the sushi, her face and ears were red.
Akira smiled faintly, then looked at the remaining sushi on the plate.
His gaze shifted toward Ebina Hina.
"I don't need you to feed me, Fujimiya-kun," Ebina said dryly, grabbing the sushi herself and popping it into her mouth.
"That's a shame," Akira replied smoothly. "I was curious to see if you'd get shy."
"I'm not Yumiko," she said with a teasing grin, adjusting her glasses.
"You're right," Akira replied with an amused tone. "You're much sharper than her, Ebina-san."
"Thank you for your compliment, Fujimiya-kun," Ebina said sweetly.
"And you're very beautiful too," Akira added casually.
For a moment, Ebina froze.
The table went silent. Yukino paused mid-bite, her eyes shifting toward him, while Yumiko looked utterly shocked.
"...What's wrong?" Akira asked innocently, feigning confusion.
Ebina paused before she quickly composed herself and gave a small laugh.
Yukino rolled her eyes at Akira, while Yumiko continued eating, though her mind was clearly elsewhere.
After lunch, Akira paid the bill without hesitation. The girls didn't even argue — they knew better by now.
As they stepped outside the restaurant, the cheerful atmosphere suddenly changed.
The Reason—
Ebina Hina suddenly stopped in her tracks.
Her expression stiffened as her usual cheerful demeanor was replaced by something colder, sharper.
Akira followed her gaze and saw a middle-aged man in a business suit standing a few meters away.
The man froze as well, his face a mix of guilt and embarrassment.
When—
A woman with heavy makeup stepped out of the car beside him, sneering as her eyes fell on Ebina. Without acknowledging the man, she walked straight past him into the restaurant.
"Hina… are you doing well these days?" the man asked hesitantly, before slowly approaching Hina.
"My life has nothing to do with you," Ebina replied in a low, controlled voice.
Without another glance, she turned and walked toward the direction of Flash Animation.
"Hina—!" Yumiko called and ran after her.
"Yukino, go with them," Akira said calmly.
"Understood," Yukino replied, her gaze briefly lingering on the man before she followed the two girls.
Akira turned back toward the middle-aged man.
"Are you Ebina-san's father?"
The man nodded, his eyes uncertain, perhaps trying to guess Akira's relationship with his daughter.
"I'm a friend of hers," Akira said evenly. "A close one."
"C-close?" the man stammered. "But… isn't that girl earlier your girlfriend?"
Akira didn't answer that. Instead, his tone shifted slightly.
"Ebina-san needs financial support…" he began, but trailed off.
The man's lowered his head.
"I want to understand, Mr. Ebina," Akira said quietly. "Why were you here with that woman? She's not Hina's mother, is she?"
"I… owed a lot of money," the man murmured. "I left home and remarried her."
"Does Hina know?" Akira asked.
"She does," he said bitterly. "I lost everything — I invested all our savings in the stock market. That's why I left."
"I see," Akira replied, understanding dawning in his eyes. "No wonder she's so distant toward you."
"....My name is Sato Arikawa," the man said after a pause. "After I left, Hina changed her surname and refused to see me again." His voice trembled with regret.
Akira finally understood.
The reason Ebina Hina avoided romance so adamantly was rooted deeply in her family's scars.
"I still send her money every month," Sato said softly. "But she won't accept it. If you can… please, help her when she needs it."
Akira nodded, his tone steady. "I will. And you should know — Ebina-san and I are just friends. The work she's doing now is because of her own ability. She'll stand on her own."
Sato blinked, then smiled faintly, relief softening his features.
"Thank you," he said quietly. "I'll leave Hina in your care."
Akira bowed slightly. "I'll make sure she's all right."
As the man walked away, Akira looked toward the direction Ebina had gone — his expression calm, but his thoughts far from still.
.....
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