Hikigaya Hachiman didn't know how he got through the two days of the academic ability test. There were only two things on his mind: the night before the test, when his neighbor Yukinoshita Yukino had gently hugged him from behind; and the fact that one day after the test, The Clockwork Museum Incident was going to be released.
Fortunately, the test results would be officially released on July 6th, the second Monday after the novel's release, which gave him enough time to focus all his energy on the launch.
Sakuraba Publishing House had distributed all 800,000 copies of the first printing to every part of the country. Among them, several famous large bookstores in Tokyo would temporarily clear their first-floor bookshelves on July 3rd to display only The Clockwork Museum Incident, with special editions featuring Hachiman's printed signature mixed in.
"Everything is ready, Mr. Hachiman," Naho Imamura said during a phone call. "We've even received news that many readers have decided to sleep outside several large bookstores in Tokyo tonight in order to buy the book as soon as possible before heading to work. After all, tomorrow is Friday."
"Oh, that's a bit too enthusiastic," Hachiman said, both moved and worried about his readers' fervor. "They could just buy a book on their way home from work; it wouldn't be that much of a delay..." Fortunately, it was already July, so it wouldn't be too cold to spend the night on the street, but they would still be bitten by mosquitoes.
"You can't imagine it, Mr. Hachiman," Imamura explained. "In fact, according to the questionnaires issued by several major bookstores in Tokyo, there will definitely be a shortage of stock on the first day. Because of the special signed edition event, many readers will gather at those major bookstores, hoping to get lucky."
"You guys in Tokyo are just having too much fun... We don't have this kind of thing in Chiba," Hachiman complained. However, he was underestimating the enthusiasm of his hometown fans.
"Ah! Hello, Hikigaya-san!" Kamiki said excitedly, seeing Hachiman later that day. "Our mystery novel club has unanimously decided to gather at five o'clock tomorrow morning to line up in front of Tsutaya Bookstore."
"Five in the morning? Isn't that too early? You should still have time if you buy it on the way to school."
"We did our research," Kamiki explained. "We found that not many bookstores in Chiba City received copies in the first wave of sales. Most of them were sent to bookstores in Tokyo, so we have to get there early."
"And you know what, Hikigaya-san?" he added with competitive pride. "The seniors from Chiba University's Mystery Literature Research Club are doing the same thing, but we got news that they're gathering at 5:30, so we decided to arrive half an hour earlier than them."
"Okay, as long as you're happy," Hachiman warned. "But no matter what, make sure you all get some rest. You have to go to bed early tonight."
"No problem, Hikigaya-san!" Kamiki accepted the order from his superior like a soldier. "I will convey your words to the club members."
This was just a microcosm of the fan madness sweeping across Japan on the eve of the release.
On Friday, July 3rd, The Clockwork Museum Incident was released.
"This is really... Although I could have guessed this would happen, it's still shocking to see it with my own eyes."
During their morning run, Hachiman and Yukino saw an incredibly long line in front of a bookstore on the street that had not yet opened.
"Hikigaya-kun, it's time for you to have a new understanding of your own influence," Yukino said after she recovered from her shock. She had, of course, read the novel a long time ago. Even though she wasn't a fan of orthodox reasoning, she could still feel the incomparable beauty of the story.
"Wow, how is 'queue' even trending on Twitter?" Hachiman complained while scrolling through his phone. "When I click on it, all I see are people proudly posting about how long their lines are."
In fact, this was also part of Sakuraba's calculations. If the book had been scheduled for a Saturday or Sunday release, many office workers and students wouldn't have lined up so early, and this grand spectacle would not have occurred.
"You know what I'm thinking, Hikigaya-kun?" Yukino said playfully. "I want to clear all my memories of The Clockwork Museum Incident, then line up to buy a copy and secretly finish reading it during class. That would be more exciting, don't you think?"
"That isn't something a good student like you would say, Yukinoshita. Secretly reading novels in class."
"That's because you don't know me well enough, Hikigaya-kun. I'm not quite the good student that everyone imagines me to be," she said with some pride.
"For example?"
"For example... I am in Sobu High, a school with strict discipline, yet I always enter the school gate with a member of the opposite sex every morning. Isn't that a violation of the rules?" Yukino said thoughtfully.
"How is that a violation? The discipline committee has never given us any trouble, have they?"
"Actually, Hikigaya-kun, the student council just doesn't bother us. That's not to say they won't bother other people," she said with a cheeky smile. "Come to think of it, I have my sister to thank for that." With Haruno's lingering influence, the current student union would never dare to cause trouble for her little sister.
After sitting down at his seat in class, Hachiman decided to check Twitter again. At this time, most of the people who had lined up early had already bought the novel they had been dreaming of. Of course, a few unlucky ones who had been at the end of the line were notified that it was out of stock and had to go to work while crying.
This fanatical atmosphere was just caused by everyone rushing to be a part of the hype. What really mattered to a novel was the first wave of comments from readers after finishing it. Considering that The Clockwork Museum Incident was somewhat difficult to read, the reputation of the book might take several days, or even weeks, to fully ferment.
At that moment, Hachiman had completely lost the impetuousness he had before the release. Now, he only hoped that his Clockwork Museum Incident could turn the world of mystery literature upside down.
________________________________________________________________