After finishing up the matters with the company, Sato finally became a hands-off manager.
With Kosaka Akane joining along with a group of professionals, the speed of the website's overhaul immediately increased significantly.
At the same time, Sato informed the original editorial team of the site about these changes.
After careful consideration, four or five of the original editors decided to officially join Eastern Gensokyo Co., Ltd.
Sato assigned these people to handle the contract group and the recommendation group of the website.
Although he held fifty-one percent of the company's shares, it was still wise to stay cautious. He had to guard against the possibility of Kosaka Akane developing other intentions in the future.
As for the others, Sato did not dismiss them. Instead, he reassigned them to the online editorial group and the review group.
After all, these people could be considered his own core team.
…
After handing over the house keys to Yukinoshita Yukino, the cat lover. Sato set off back to the countryside to begin his summer vacation.
"Clack… clack…"
The train moved through the rural fields, and the mountain breeze blowing toward him seemed to carry away the oppressive summer heat.
"Hm? Konomi, you're coming to pick me up?"
While looking out the window at the scenery and talking on the phone with his childhood friend, Sato's expression suddenly turned slightly surprised.
"Why are you coming to pick me up?"
"I recently learned how to ride an electric scooter from Kaede-nee. I'll just ride that to pick you up."
"You mean that little electric bike of Kaede-nee?"
"Mm… that's actually a pretty fitting way to describe it. Yes, that one."
"Are you sure you can handle it? You're not going to drive me into a ditch, are you?"
"Sato, that's too much!"
Hearing the somewhat aggrieved tone from Fujimiya Konomi on the other end, Sato smiled and glanced at Kanna, who was sitting beside him and looking up at him.
"Sorry, one scooter probably isn't enough. I brought someone back with me."
"Someone?!"
Fujimiya Konomi suddenly exclaimed, her voice turning slightly low.
"It's not a girlfriend, is it?"
"Of course… not!"
After saying "of course," Sato deliberately paused, and he could hear the breathing on the other end become heavier.
A mischievous smile appeared on his face as he said, "So? Did you get nervous just now?"
"Who got nervous?!"
Fujimiya Konomi replied with a mix of embarrassment and annoyance.
Then, as if thinking of something, she asked curiously, "If it's not a girlfriend, then who did you bring back?"
"Could it be… a boyfriend?!"
Sato couldn't help but laugh. Although he was used to Fujimiya Konomi's occasional sharp teasing, this was clearly just a flustered counterattack.
"It's my neighbor's little sister. Since she usually has to work and there's no one at home, I'm helping take care of her for a while."
"Huh? Since when did you become so warm-hearted, Sato? Is she a very pretty girl?"
"Pretty?"
Sato lowered his head and looked at the blue-eyed young dragon who was listening intently to his call. He reached out and pinched her soft, chubby cheek.
"She'll probably be very pretty when she grows up, but right now she's more on the cute side."
But speaking of growing up… for Kanna to reach Tohru's age, it would probably take tens of thousands of years.
"A little girl?!"
"I feel like you're thinking something outrageous."
Sato was speechless.
"Ahem, Uncle Ginnosuke went to attend an agricultural exchange meeting. Kazuho-nee is still at home. I'll have Kazuho-nee come pick you up!"
"That's it, I'm hanging up!"
"Beep…"
That girl…
Putting down his phone, Sato looked at the well-behaved Kanna beside him and gently patted her head.
"Kanna, do you remember what I told you before?"
Kanna nodded seriously and said, "I'm the child of your neighbor. My parents died in a car accident, so now I live with my older sister. I've been resting before, so I haven't attended kindergarten. I'll go to elementary school next year."
"Kanna is amazing!"
"Um, Sato…"
Kanna suddenly looked at him as if she wanted to say something but hesitated. A faint glimmer flickered in her bright sapphire-like eyes.
"What is it?"
Sato looked at her curiously.
Kanna hesitated for a few seconds, then seemed to make up her mind and looked up.
"Can I go to school?"
School?
Sato paused for a few seconds, then suddenly recalled the many mornings he had seen Kanna leaning on the railing, gazing outside.
Damn it!
Sato suddenly realized something and couldn't help frowning.
How had he overlooked this?
Although he had given Kanna a device to enter the SAO world, allowing her to freely use her abilities there and interact with others…
Kanna was, in reality, just a young dragon with a child's heart.
What she needed was interaction with children her age, not a virtual game world and people who weren't truly real.
"I'm sorry, Kanna."
"This… is something I overlooked."
Sato let out a heavy breath, then met Kanna's slightly puzzled gaze and said, "Next semester. How about I arrange for you to go to school next semester?"
Kanna looked at him with surprise.
"Really?"
"Yeah."
Sato nodded with a smile.
Kanna suddenly hugged him and said happily, "Thank you, Sato!"
Looking at the obedient young dragon in front of him, Sato couldn't help but think again about the issue of Kanna's exile.
Why had Kanna played pranks?
Perhaps it was a lonely young dragon deliberately trying to attract attention.
Dragons were synonymous with power, but they were also rare. No one could grow up through loneliness without being affected.
"Creak…"
As the train came to a stop, Sato looked outside and saw the familiar rural station.
"Kanna, it's time for us to get off."
"Mm!"
Sato carried the luggage and got off the train with Kanna.
After waiting at the station for a short while, he saw the Miyauchi family's car heading toward the station.
When the car stopped, a whole group of people poured out, Fujimiya Konomi, the Koshigaya sisters, the three Miyauchi sisters…
"Wait… do we really need this many people to pick me up?"
Sato stared at the group in astonishment.
"Hehe, we were just curious!"
Koshigaya Natsumi scratched her head and grinned, then looked at Kanna beside Sato with surprise.
"So this is the neighbor's child you mentioned?"
At that moment, Miyauchi Renge was staring blankly at Kanna.
Kanna hid behind Sato, secretly looking at Miyauchi Renge as well.
"Nyanpasu!"
Suddenly, Miyauchi Renge waved at Kanna.
"Ny… Nyanpasu!"
Kanna blinked and timidly responded.