Tokyo Literary Godfather

When he woke up in the morning, Kei Fujiwara felt that his breath was terrible.

I watched a health program last night. The program suggested people drink a cup of hot milk before going to bed every day. Kei Fujiwara did so, but when he woke up, his mouth smelled bad.

Damn it, today is a book signing event...

Looking at the mark on the calendar hanging on the wall, Fujiwara Kei thought to himself.

Health programs are all lies. People drink milk and so on... people who don’t know better think I drank urine. Smelly!

Kei Fujiwara ran to the bathroom to freshen up, put on a windbreaker, and walked out of the house.

The wind was a bit strong today. Kei Fujiwara took a car to Ikebukuro, found Junkudo Bookstore, and walked in.

There were a lot of people in the bookstore, coming and going, but I didn’t see a place for autograph signings at the door, so I grabbed a clerk and asked, “Miss, which floor will the autograph signing be on?”

"Second floor..." the clerk said.

Kei Fujiwara went up to the second floor and saw a row of vertical banners in the southeast corner of the second floor of the bookstore. There were three writers sitting at the table. The surrounding area was deserted and almost no readers came forward to buy books.

There is an empty seat next to the three writers, and a vertical banner of "White Night Journey" is placed next to it, which must be for themselves.

Kei Fujiwara sighed inwardly, thinking that the book was selling well and that many readers would come to sign for it. It seemed that he had thought of things too well.

Kei Fujiwara sat directly over and heard the author next to him mutter: "This is no different from my previous job as a salesperson."

"My first printing was 10,000 copies. It seems like it's been a month and I haven't sold a few copies. If the path of being a writer really doesn't work, I will still work in my own company."

"Me too... own company? Does your family run a company?"

"Yeah, I'm in the hotel chain business."

Kei Fujiwara sat there without speaking, listening to a few people chatting. After a long time, no reader came forward, and he felt a little frustrated for a while.

I originally thought that the sales of the novel were good, but I didn't expect that readers would not pay for it at all. This gap is still a bit big.

At this time, the writer sitting next to him saw Kei Fujiwara and turned around and asked: "What is this teacher's name?"

Fujiwara Kei turned to look at him and smiled: "Fujiwara."

Fujiwara? The author thought about it in his mind and realized that none of the writers who came here for a book signing today seemed to have this last name.

But I didn’t ask any more questions, and seeing that no readers came up to ask for his autograph, I felt a bit close to him.

"Fujiwara, are you working full-time?" asked a writer next to me.

Kei Fujiwara shook his head, "Part-time job."

“Can I write a good book part-time?”

"So sales are average."

"How many books have you written?"

"Just one copy, come and sign it today."

"Have you ever won an award?"

Kei Fujiwara shook his head, "No."

The new writer who has never won an award seems to be a good hand at creating slow-selling books. The writer thought, although he would not show it on the surface, but he secretly felt contempt in his heart.

"By the way, Fujiwara-kun, have you ever attended a writing training class?" the man asked again.

Kei Fujiwara shook his head.

The man smiled and took out a business card and handed it to Kei Fujiwara, "I have written three books, and the sales of the last one reached 450,000 copies, so I still have some experience in how to write. If I don't want to be unsalable for a long time, If so, you can come and sit in my training class, maybe you will gain some experience."

"Okay, I'll visit you another day." Kei Fujiwara accepted the business card with a smile.

There seemed to be a crowd of people in the distance, but they were all running upstairs. At this time, a writer asked: "Are we the only ones signing here today?"

Another writer shook his head and said: "No, there seems to be one upstairs, but his works are very popular. It seems that all these readers are here for him."

"What is your name?"

"It seems to be a social film, what is it called..."

"Socialist? Is it possible to sell well?" The writer who just invited Fujiwara Kei to his training class said dismissively.

"I heard that 200,000 copies have been sold in a month."

"So many?!" the man exclaimed, "Has the market direction changed? Now readers like to read Socialism?"

While they were discussing, a man came over with a bag on his back, walked around Fujiwara Kei twice, and said cautiously: "I'm sorry, you seem to be sitting in my seat."

"Ah?" Kei Fujiwara stood up in confusion.

"Yes, I am the author of "Shinjuku Shark". Are you here to sign books today?"

"Yes……"

Before he finished speaking, a man ran over not far away.

"Teacher! Teacher Sima!" The man ran over panting heavily. Fujiwara Kei took a closer look. He was an employee of the Spring and Autumn Society and had met him twice.

"Why are you here? The book signing for "White Night Walk" is upstairs!"

Kei Fujiwara stood up and quickly gave way to the author just now. "Sorry, I found the wrong place." After that, he quickly followed that person and left.

"he is the one……"

"The author of "White Night Journey", Shima Keita, heard that the sales of his work are very good, and he was also shortlisted for the Naoki Prize. There is no problem in making it to the finals."

The writer who held the training class subconsciously opened his mouth wide, looking at the back of Kei Fujiwara running away, but he couldn't close his mouth.

Compared to the cold second floor, the scene on the third floor can be described as lively.

Many readers had been waiting here early, holding a copy of "White Night Journey" in their hands. When Kei Fujiwara appeared and confirmed that he was the author Keita Sima, they burst into cheers.

"Teacher Sima Keita!"

""White Night Journey" will definitely win the Naoki Award!"

The readers shouted excitedly, each holding a copy of "White Night Journey" in their hands. Kei Fujiwara walked to the stage, bowed to everyone, and then sat down.

Under the arrangement of the bookstore staff, readers lined up in a long queue and approached in an orderly manner to ask for autographs.

"Thank you for your support." Kei Fujiwara said to the visitor with a smile every time he signed a name.

"Mr. Sima, I like your work very much. You will definitely win the Naoki Prize."

"I would like to borrow your good words."

This signing lasted two hours. Kei Fujiwara could handle it at first, but gradually his wrist began to hurt and even trembled slightly. Later, even the signature became crooked.

Fujiwara Kei looked up at the endless signing team, and secretly complained.

Nanako Togata and Mayo Ogata also came to the autograph session. The queue was really long. When folded, it almost filled half of the venue. The two stood at the end of the queue and walked forward little by little, hoping to get Sima. Keita's signature.

Ogata Shinyo also finished reading the book "White Night Journey" and soon became a fan of Keita Shiba.

The two heard that there was a book signing of "White Night Walk" here today, so they came early.

At this time, Ogata Shinyo stared at Fujiwara Kei's face from a distance, and suddenly pulled Ligata's arm.

"Nanako, I always feel that Teacher Sima looks a bit familiar."

In fact, Togata felt the same way, but couldn't remember who it was.

Ogata Shinyo tilted his head and thought for a moment, and suddenly thought: "Ah, isn't he the one who was in the ramen shop that day, filming the program, 'Police and wanted criminals are friends', do you remember?"

Only then did Togada Nanako think about it.