Chapter 290: To Go to School or Not
In July, the temperature in Tokyo is much lower than in Osaka.
However, even so, the high summer temperatures still make many people uncomfortable. Only in an air-conditioned place can this discomfort turn into coolness.
The press conference room at Tsuki Animation Company was filled with hundreds of employees, and some even stood in the hallway. In front of them, where everyone was staring intently, Akina was singing her song.
She no longer had stage fright, and her singing was as perfect as a studio recording. When the song ended, a warm ovation echoed through the room.
"You sang beautifully, Miss Akina, I've become your fan!"
"One more song, Miss Akina!"
"Yes, one more song!"
The audience in the room shouted loudly, and Akina shyly thanked them. Shortly after, a new soundtrack played over the speakers.
Takumi stood by the door, watching Akina open her mouth and sing with satisfaction. After two months, she finally lived up to his expectations. Her efforts at Tsuki Animation Company were seen by everyone, and she also attracted many employees to become her fans.
For a girl who isn't even fifteen, this is simply a miracle.
"Mrs. Masako has practiced well, and Hinotori Publishing doesn't seem to have any major problems..."
Takumi thought. The date of the celebration is getting closer and closer. The voice actors from both cities are rehearsing on time. No one wants to lose to others in this celebration.
For the voice actors, this celebration is more like a battlefield.
"Keep watching, I'm going to take a call."
The phone in his pocket was vibrating. Takumi asked Eiji Takashima beside him, then walked to the end of the hall and answered his phone, "Yoko, is something wrong?"
"The date for the celebration has been set. Mirai-sensei." Yoko's voice came through the microphone, excited, "The date is August 6th to 7th, and the venue is the Osaka Cultural Plaza."
"August 6th?" Takumi frowned slightly, "Why so late? Isn't it July?"
"Impossible. We need time to build the stage and there are some fan activities that aren't ready yet, so we can only delay it a bit." Yoko explained, "The president said you've been busy lately. It's a good time to postpone it."
Takumi has been busy lately. He has recruited many people, and this is the busiest time. Postponing the celebration until August can also relieve some pressure.
"Alright." He nodded. "Guess why you called me. Is it to sell tickets?"
"Yes, that's right! We have plenty of time. So we plan to sell tickets in magazines and forums. This celebration is very expensive, so we'll sell as many as we can."
Yoko explained to Takumi that Hinotori Publishing's ticket sales plan is divided into three types: direct sales, sales on the Mirai-sensei's Corner website, and sending news through two magazines. Later, readers will be able to reserve their tickets remotely by phone and internet.
The Osaka Cultural Plaza is very large and can accommodate more than 100,000 readers. Hinotori Publishing has reserved it. Therefore, it can sell tickets boldly, as Mirai-sensei is not a movie star, and this type of celebration requires the presence of readers. Even at Hinotori Publishing, everyone believes it's unlikely that attendance will exceed 50,000 people.
"Alright, I have no objection."
Takumi agreed with Yoko's proposal, as she is responsible for Mirai-sensei's Corner. If Takumi agrees, the tickets will be sold immediately.
After talking about some specific matters, Takumi ended the call. At that moment, Akina's actual presentation also ended, and the employees left the hall and ran to the restaurant.
It was lunchtime, and Takumi delayed them only to check on the improvement of Akina's introversion.
He approached, and Eiji Takashima and the others came out at the end.
"President, the restaurant is full. I asked someone to prepare lunch in the first conference room. Let's go eat!"
Akiko suggested, and then Takumi accompanied them to the first conference room.
The department expanded, the number of employees increased considerably, and so did the restaurant. It wasn't the first time that Takumi, Eiji Takashima, and others had dinner in the conference room. In fact, they kept talking about company matters while eating.
However, Akina's mother and daughter were present, and Takumi felt they couldn't ignore or embarrass them, so he didn't say much to Eiji Takashima. He saw Akina carefully push aside the wasabi and eat sushi, and felt a bit curious.
"Akina, you don't like wasabi?"
Takumi has been living in Japan for over half a year and still can't stand the taste. However, around him, people usually like wasabi, and in Japan, wasabi seems to be a common condiment, so Akina's actions surprised him a little.
"This girl really likes mustard," Ryoko replied from the side. She looked at her daughter sweetly, "Akina needs to take care of her throat. She can't eat irritating things like mustard."
Takumi suddenly understood. He wasn't surprised to see a certain reluctance on Akina's face.
"I haven't eaten it in a year..."
Akina said dejectedly.
"Then eat it once, it's fine for a while." Takumi smiled. It's too demanding not to eat something you like for a year.
"No, if you eat it once, you'll have it a second time." However, to his surprise, Akina shook her head and resisted the temptation.
"By the way, brother president, will that sister be coming to the celebration?"
she asked curiously. The sister she was talking about was Shiori. Akina didn't know her. They had never met, but she was very reluctant for her to sing.
"She probably won't go on stage,"
Takumi replied. He asked Shiori about the matter. As before, Shiori was unwilling to go on stage, but unexpectedly, she agreed to debut after graduation.
"You're too well-known in Osaka. If I go on stage, I won't have peace in the future. Please let me finish high school first!"
Shiori wanted to finish high school quietly. It was a promise to her family and herself. Takumi respected her decision, and Shiori was willing to debut after graduation, which was already a pleasant surprise.
"By the way, Akina, don't you have to go to class?"
Takumi remembered Shiori's emphasis on studying, looked at Akina's somewhat lost face, and asked, "Or are you not planning to study anymore?"
His tone seemed like a joke, but Akina's face suddenly darkened.
"I quit school..."
she said.
"Huh?"
Takumi was stunned and then looked at Ryoko, "She quit school?"
Can junior high students quit school? Isn't there nine years of compulsory education in Japan?
"She did quit school." Ryoko didn't understand Takumi's doubts, but said in a casual tone, "Our family has all our expectations on her... Akina doesn't have much learning ability. It's too stressful for her to work and study at the same time."
The old man in Akina's family is seriously ill and has a hard time recovering, and the one with the highest hopes of earning a lot of money is Akina. Only if she gets money can she cure her grandfather.
It could be said that the pressure from Akina's family is focused on her.
Takumi was a little surprised. He knew about this, but had never fully understood it. Now he realized that Akina was carrying a heavy burden.
She is not a reincarnated person, and Takumi could not measure her by his own standards.
Akina spent her youth on campus with other young people, but a sudden change forced her at the age of fourteen to leave campus and integrate into a cruelly competitive society.
After getting along for so long, Takumi had never heard this girl complain.
"Akina..."
Takumi looked at Akina, frowned, and asked, "Do you want to go back to school?"
"..." Akina shook her head, "No one knows me if I go back, I'd better keep singing."
She had left school for a year and would have to repeat if she went back, and her old friends were going to high school, so it didn't make much sense to go back now.
"I think it's better to go back..."
However, Eiji Takashima intervened, "If you don't go back at your age, you won't have any opportunities in the future and it will be difficult to find friends your age. Miss Akina, if you want to go back to school, we can help you..."
He thought that if Akina didn't go back to school, she would lose her friends and her youth, which are very precious assets in life.
"No."
But Akina kept shaking her head, "I need to earn money, and my grandfather hasn't left the hospital yet!"
"As for the money... I'll help you."
Takumi took a sip of tea and said in a light tone, "Didn't I tell you I would create a fund? Although I haven't started yet, I can help you solve your grandfather's problems."
Akina and her daughter were stunned.
"Boss, boss... really?" Ryoko stood up excitedly, her face flushed, and said nervously, "This is not a small amount, it's several million..."
"It doesn't matter." Takumi didn't take it seriously, "You don't have to pay back the money, I'll arrange for someone to go to the school."
He thought it was better for Akina to be younger at that age, and she couldn't give up her life and friends for work.
But that night, Takumi received a rejection call from Akina.
"Boss, I still don't want to go to school." She said, "The school doesn't have what I need, I can make friends without going... And I'll work hard to pay you back."
Her response made Takumi frown slightly.
"I said you'll be happier when you go back to school..."
"I'm very happy too!" Akina said, "I'm happier than when I was in school, boss, aren't you the same as me? Mom said you started working at fifteen." "
I want to become someone as good as you..."
"..."
Although Takumi debuted at fifteen, he now feels very inferior to Akina.
"I see."
However, he understood Akina's true intentions and smiled, "Then, Akina, you have to work hard! All the dubbing performances at the celebration are contests. If you win, I'll give you a gift..."
"Well, how about a new song?"
- - - - - -
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