[23] The Green-Haired Young Woman

The following morning, Hachiman rose early, freshened up, tidied his hair, and awaited Machida Sonoko's arrival.

Shortly before eight o'clock, a knock echoed at his door.

"Wakamono-sensei, are you awake? The signing is just an hour away," came Machida Sonoko's voice from the other side.

Opening the door, Hachiman was greeted by a carefully dressed Machida Sonoko, her delicate light makeup enhancing her already attractive face.

"Good morning, Wakamono-sensei," Sonoko Machida greeted as he emerged.

"Good morning, Editor Machida. You look exceptionally beautiful today!" Hachiman couldn't help but compliment her delicate appearance.

"Smooth talker, huh? Well, it's time for us to prepare and head to the bookstore." Machida Sonoko maintained her composure, but the faint lift at the corners of her mouth betrayed her current mood.

She couldn't quite figure out why she was feeling this way. She was fully aware that Hachiman had just teased her yesterday, yet today, almost unconsciously, she had dressed up and even applied light makeup.

Could it be that I actually have a thing for younger guys?

It appears that she's been single for quite a while, and someone like Hachiman, who's much younger, might be making her feel good.

After a quick breakfast, the two of them headed to the Kadokawa-owned bookstore.

Located on the second floor of Ginza in Tokyo, the Kadokawa Bookstore was their destination.

Guided by Machida Sonoko, Hachiman entered the bookstore.

As the signing event hadn't commenced, the area was devoid of attendees, with only a few staff members bustling around, busy with preparations.

Upon reaching the book signing area, Hachiman's gaze fell upon stacks of the initial volumes of "Sword Art Online," with a rough estimate tallying up to several thousand copies.

"I'm unsure how many people will turn up today. If I can't manage to sell them all, I'll be quite embarrassed," Hachiman confessed, his eyes resting on the heaps of books, a tinge of worry crossing his expression.

"Don't worry, Wakamono-sensei," Machida Sonoko reassured, offering a smile as she gave his shoulder a comforting pat. "You're well aware that our library has vigorously promoted this signing, and you need to have confidence in your own abilities."

"With the popularity of your blog, we're concerned we might not have enough books," she added.

"I hope you're right!" Hachiman responded, feeling a sense of anticipation.

The time was 8:50, just ten minutes before the autograph session was scheduled to begin.

"Wakamono-sensei, the signing will be starting soon. Please take your seat," Machida Sonoko, the event organizer, informed Hachiman.

Absorbed in his mobile phone, Hachiman looked up and observed the scene outside the bookstore. A quick assessment revealed a considerable queue already formed. Dozens, if not hundreds, of people were patiently waiting, indicating a promising level of popularity.

"It's time," he said, pocketing his phone and producing a pair of flat glasses he had prepared beforehand. Placing them on his face, he adjusted them.

"Wakamono-sensei, what's with the glasses?" Machida Sonoko appeared puzzled by this sudden addition. As far as she remembered, Hachiman didn't have any issues with his vision.

"It's just a little precaution," Hachiman explained with a smile. "I'm still a student, and it might be awkward if I run into some classmates. So, I'm just playing it safe."

"Ahh, I see," Machida Sonoko nodded in understanding, overlooking the fact that he was a student.

The current Hachiman sported a more mature hairstyle and wore glasses. Unless one knew him well, it would be difficult to recognize him.

Yet, thanks to the glasses, Hachiman's trademark "dead fish eyes" were now hidden. With his natural good looks and pleasant demeanor, Machida Sonoko found herself blushing slightly.

"Why does this kid suddenly seem more handsome?" Sonoko Machida wondered.

"What's wrong, Editor Machida? Are you feeling alright?" Hachiman asked, feigning concern, well aware that his new appearance had an effect.

"No... it's nothing. Just go to your seat and do well. The signing will start soon!" Machida Sonoko urged in a fluster.

"I understand." Hachiman nodded, a playful grin on his face as he headed to his pre-arranged seat and took his place.

At the stroke of nine o'clock, the bookstore's doors swung open, and the queue of people waiting outside began to stream in.

Hachiman settled into his seat behind the table, positioned beside Machida Sonoko. Flanking them on either side were the staff members responsible for maintaining order.

"Alright, the book signing is about to commence. Everyone, please ensure order!" Machida Sonoko instructed, observing the influx of the crowd into the bookstore.

"Got it!" The staff responded in unison.

"Wakamono-sensei, your work 'Sword Art Online' is truly incredible!"

In no time, the first person approached Hachiman, clutching the freshly purchased first volume and extending it with both hands.

"Wakamono-sensei, could you please sign this for me?"

"Absolutely, no problem!" Hachiman accepted the offered volume and added his pseudonym, "Wakamono," with his signature.

"Thank you for your support, and I hope you'll continue to support me in the future!" Hachiman expressed his gratitude as he handed back the signed book.

Despite his desire to engage in conversations with readers, the current circumstances didn't permit it. With a continuous stream of people waiting in line, one after another approached Hachiman. He diligently kept signing and offering his thanks.

Raising his head to observe the long queue ahead, Hachiman realized that he had been signing for a while, yet the line showed no signs of diminishing; in fact, it seemed to be growing.

"I wonder how many signatures I'll need to do today. I just hope my hand holds up," Hachiman mused, a touch of unease creeping in as he surveyed the seemingly endless line.

In the midst of this moment, a young woman with a tall, athletic build entered the scene. Her striking appearance included her hazel eyes that held a certain intensity, and her long dark green hair was typically tied up in a short ponytail. Fringes of hair adorned her forehead, with smaller strands framing her cheeks. She donned a pair of glasses that complemented her black blazer and skirt ensemble, showcasing her smooth and beautiful thighs.

With a calm and composed voice, the young woman expressed, "I'm quite fond of your light novel, Wakamono-sensei, especially the fact that the main character is a swordsman."

Hachiman responded with genuine happiness, "Thank you for liking my light novel. I sincerely hope you'll continue supporting me."

Deep down, however, Hachiman was feeling the pressure, beads of sweat forming on his brow. The young woman he encountered was none other than Maki Zenin from "Jujutsu Kaisen."

Internally, his anxiety mounted. The presence of Maki Zenin hinted at the existence of curse spirits in this world, plunging him into a supernatural reality he hadn't bargained for. While meeting characters like Utaha and the Yukihira family might have been tolerable, their anime worlds remained devoid of the supernatural. The realization of Maki's presence, however, altered his perspective.

Hachiman thought to himself, hoping that such elements wouldn't exist in his current reality, and took a moment to calm his racing thoughts.

Maki replied simply to Hachiman, "Yeah."

As she left Hachiman, Maki thought he looked younger than she initially thought, especially due to his youthful voice. She had visited Hachiman out of curiosity since her friends had suggested the Sword Art Online light novel.

She held the belief that he might possess more in-depth knowledge about swordsmanship—a topic she held a keen interest in.

Maki had a strong preference for light novels where the protagonist was a swordsman, and her enthusiasm had been notably different when reading "Sword Art Online" compared to other more mundane light novels. In fact, if it weren't for the protagonist being a swordsman, she might not have even bothered to read it.

As Maki walked away, a subtle intuition tugged at her, whispering that their paths would inevitably intersect once more.