Takasago Bookstore.
This was a small bookstore near Aoyama Apartments. Although it was not very large, it carried a wide variety of study materials and books.
Light novels were also part of its business.
Since it was a weekday, there were hardly any customers. Or rather, aside from students coming to buy newly released study materials, bookstores like this were usually empty.
After returning from the company, Sato came here.
At the moment, the bookstore was completely empty.
As he wandered alone through the quiet Takasago Bookstore, the only clerk in the shop approached him.
"Hello, do you need any help?"
She was a girl with glossy, smooth black hair. She looked somewhat delicate, but she had a distinctly feminine charm.
It was the kind of presence that made people think, so this is what a girl feels like, with just a glance.
Sato looked up at her in slight surprise, then noticed the name tag on her chest.
Takasago Tomoe?
With the surname Takasago, she was probably the owner's daughter.
"No, thank you."
Sato replied politely, then picked up the light novel placed in a prominent spot.
He had already found what he was looking for.
He looked at the still-sealed book in his hand. The cover showed a familiar background and title.
On the title page, it read "About My Reincarnation as a Demon King," and the author was Gokou Ruri.
Sato glanced at where the book was placed, then at the books beside it, feeling a bit puzzled.
Had Fujikawa Shoten given Gokou Ruri such strong promotion?
The layout of Takasago Bookstore was roughly as follows. Bookshelves lined both walls on the left and right, while in the center there were two rows of shelves arranged vertically.
At the very front near the entrance, in front of those two central rows, were two small outward-facing shelves displaying the store's bestsellers and recommended titles.
Gokou Ruri's new book had only been released in the past two days, yet it was already displayed here, which surprised him.
When publishing books, publishers usually inform bookstores which titles they favor, and stores generally arrange their displays accordingly.
After all, both publishers and bookstores want to sell more books, and the judgment of editors is beyond doubt, not to mention that almost every publisher relies on data analysis.
Of course, there are also cases where books favored by publishers flop and end up relegated to some obscure corner shelf.
But overall, that possibility is not very high.
"Hm? Do you like this book too?"
When she saw Sato pick up "About My Reincarnation as a Demon King," Takasago Tomoe's eyes lit up. Then, under his slightly surprised gaze, she began enthusiastically recommending it.
"I've been following this author since her days on the Gensokyo website, so I made sure to check it out when her new book came out."
"I didn't expect the content to be surprisingly interesting. I figured a lot of people would like it, so I put it right at the front."
Sato looked at the book in his hand in realization. So it was not Fujikawa Shoten's strong push after all, but this girl's doing.
Although Gokou Ruri's work was decent in quality, it was still far from the level where Fujikawa Shoten would promote it enough for bookstores to place it in the most eye-catching position.
"Is that okay?"
Sato could not help asking.
Takasago Tomoe froze for a moment, then broke into a bright smile.
"Of course it's okay. My judgment is very good, after all."
There was a hint of pride in her voice as she slightly raised her fair chin.
"I read every light novel that gets stocked in the store. I go through dozens every month, so the books I recommend usually get very good reviews and sales. Light novel fans around here even call me the authority of light novels in Usagiyama Town, Takasago Tomoe."
The authority of light novels in Usagiyama Town?
Sato could not help laughing. Come to think of it, people in Japan really do like giving others strange nicknames.
He wondered how this so-called authority compared to him.
After all, he now lived in Usagiyama Town too.
Suddenly, his gaze fell on the comment written below the row of "About My Reincarnation as a Demon King" on the shelf.
[An interesting concept, an interesting setting. The shift between the Demon King and Hero roles breaks the usual conventions. This is a refreshing work!]
"You wrote this?"
Sato looked at Takasago Tomoe.
"Well?"
"Hmm, I suddenly feel like I can trust you as an authority. How much is it?"
"That will be…"
…
"Click!"
After entering, Sato placed the light novel in his hand on the shoe cabinet and bent down to change his shoes.
Hm?
By chance, he noticed an extra pair of women's shoes on the cabinet.
Takanashi Rikka came?
No, that was not possible. That girl never took the usual route. She would not be this proper.
Then… Yukinoshita came?
Wearing slippers, Sato walked into the living room and indeed saw a small bag on the low table.
He did not know much about such things, but the bag gave off a low-key yet luxurious feeling at a glance. For ordinary people, it was definitely a luxury item.
But… where was she?
He saw the cat, but not Yukinoshita. The entire room was completely quiet.
"Yukinoshita?"
He called out into the room, but after waiting for a moment, there was no response.
"Strange."
He muttered, but suddenly felt the urge to use the bathroom.
As he reached the door and was about to open it, a flustered voice came from inside.
"Wait!"
Hm?
Sato's hand froze on the doorknob. Somewhat uncertain, he asked, "Yukinoshita?"
There was a brief silence, then a barely audible soft response.
Sato instinctively complained, "Then why didn't you say anything earlier?"
Inside.
Yukinoshita Yukino's face was flushed red, filled with embarrassment and indignation. In that situation just now, how was a girl supposed to respond?