Volume 13 - CH 4(2/4)
Nia glanced towards the Spirits sitting in a row behind Shidou. Tohka, Origami, Kaguya, and Natsumi put on their guards. Yoshino and Yuzuru bowed a little, while Kotori folded her hands and glanced back to Nia as a finishing blow.
Only Miku placed her hand on her chin and her eyes seemed to sparkle, “I see, I see.....A girl with glasses and is slender but also considerably beautiful.......The type I’ve never seen up until now~.”
For some reason, after she had said that, Natsumi took some distance from Miku.
“.........Then? Why did you come? Well, it’s your liberty to come to Comico, but......General participants will start coming in on 10:00 a.m., you know?”
Nia shrugged her shoulders in response.
Kotori unfolded her hands while replying back to Nia.
“Thank you for the advice. -------However, we’re not general participants.”
Then she slowly lifted up her right hand and pointed to the space next to Nia’s. Nia followed Kotori’s fingertips and created a puzzled face.
“Fuun..........? Aah, I see.”
Nia let out a small sigh, and then she took the hall’s guide map placed on the desk.
“I thought it was odd. According to the map, there’s no booth here, but then I see it’s here when I come. I thought that the management’s side perhaps made a mistake, but........I see this is your doing.”
“Well.......That’s it.”
As Shidou answered her, Nia made unpleasant expression towards Shidou and the others. However, facial expression showed that she thought that this unexpected situation was amusing.
“............Anyhow, you brought a lot of people.”
“Ara, aren’t your people also quite many?”
“Aah, everyone is working part-time. Isn’t an employment relationship good? They’ll be working as much as the money you paid to them, so it’s easy to understand.”
Upon hearing Nia’s words, Shidou and Kotori bite their lips a little. -------Form yesterday’s conversation, Takajou’s words were ringing inside their minds.
“Then? It’s alright if you participate, but what are you selling? You looked like you’re empty-handed though.”
“Yes.”
Then, Kotori snapped her fingers.
As if responding to it, three men came out from worker’s room. They rolled down a car that was fully loaded with cardboard boxes.
Looking at them carefully, they’re <Fraxinus> crew members Nakatsugawa, Kawagoe and Migimoto.
“-----We’re delivering circle <Ratatoskr>’s items!”
“Thank you. Please pile them up in that booth.”
“Yes!”
After the answer, they piled up the cardboard boxes inside the circle’s booth. There’re ten boxes of them. That’s right; it’s the same number of boxes that Nia has piled up behind her booth.
“500 volumes inside each 10 boxes......It’s the same number as yours, right, Nia?”
“............Hee? You’re well prepared, huh? Then, you’ll sell them faster than me........That is what you wanted to say, right? You sure thought well about it. Nevertheless, it can be said that you have a better sales perspective than me.”
“Thanks for the quick understanding.”
At Nia’s words, Kotori lifted up the tips of her lips.
Then, accordingly, all participants who constructed their booth around them began to whisper something.
Nia, Shidou, and the others all felt a dangerous atmosphere, but---------They’re wrong. Somehow their eyes were focused towards Nakatsugawa, who was still working.
“Hey, perhaps he........”
“Aah, that man with glasses and gloves, no doubt. The representative of legendary circle <Mai Mai Kaburi>, MUNECHIKA..........!”
“No way! Five years ago, because of difference of opinion on [Should My Lispy Young Little Sister Call Me Onii-tan or Onii-tama?] the circle being split-up. That man who erased his existence from Comico.........!?”
As gossip can be heard, Shidou and Kotori looked at Nakatsugawa with half-opened eyes.
“................<Mai Mai Kaburi>?”
“MUNECHIKA......................?”
Then, Nakatsugawa let out a sigh while giving a nihilistic smile.
“Please stop it. That’s a story in the past.”
“...................”
Shidou and Kotori exchanged their glances.........They had a feeling that if they asking more than this, it’ll become a troublesome conversation. As they made eye contact, both mutually agreed to change the conversation topic.
“More importantly Shidou.”
“A-Aah.”
Shidou walked to the back side of the circle’s booth. He opened one cardboard box and took out all books inside it. Perhaps, it was because they had just been printed, but the books were still slightly warm.
“Uwah............”
Come to think of it, this was the first time he has ever seen a finished product. The illustration drawn by Natsumi was colored beautifully with a title logo printed on it. No matter how you looked at it, it doesn’t looks like a book that had been created in only two days.
Shidou walked towards Nia’s direction. He gazed at her, while she’s stretching out her body to adjust the position of the book from her seat.
“--------Hello, nice to meet you. I’m Itsuka Shidou from circle <Ratatoskr>.”
“.................!”
Nia shrugged her shoulder at Shidou’s words.
After hesitating for a few seconds, Nia took a copy of one of the books lined up in her own booth and gave it to Shidou.
“Honjou Souji from circle <Honjou-Dou>. Nice to meet you too.”
And then, the two of them bowed lightly as they exchange each other’s book. Right. It was a custom to exchange books with the booth next to your own.
Nia made an unpleasant face.
“.........Since I don’t think I’ll lose in this place, I’ll accept this for now, but whether I’ll read this or not is dependent on today’s result.”
"Sure. I don't mind. — Let's make today a good day for the both of us."
“..............”
Shidou stretched out his hand to Nia. She let out a sigh and as she reached out her own hand. They shook hands for a while before separating.
"Even though your plan looks interesting, I don't think you have any chance to win. At the very least, I'm a pro, and even with these 5000 copies, I'm already being modest about the number since this is my first event in a while. It's not easy for a new circle like you to win with a rushed work made by amateur."
“Well........I wonder about that.”
Kotori smiled fearlessly, then---------She looked towards the Spirits behind her.
“--------Everyone, please prepare yourselves.”
In response to her, Tohka, Yoshino and Miku replied with a simultaneous “Ooh~!”.
On the other hand, the Yamai-sisters, Origami and Natsumi, the 4 people from the drawing group did not understand what Kotori was talking about. They inclined their head in wonder as they sat in their chairs.
“Preparation.......? What is this all about?”
“Question. Yuzuru and the others didn’t hear anything about it.”
“...........Somehow I have a bad feeling about this.”
“It’s alright, it’s alright. More importantly, everyone should come over here. -------Shidou, since we’ll be right back, can you prepare the booth with Kawagoe and the others until then?”
Kotori said that while pushing Natsumi’s back. Shidou nodded at her even though he’s still has that question in mind.
“Alright..........Then, let’s start the construction over here as well.”
Shidou said that while seeing Kotori and the others off. The crew nodded towards him as they brought another big cardboard box from outside.
From the box, they took out some decoration goods for the booth: the poster of the books’ front cover and tablecloth.
“Uwah, it’s amazing. You even created these things too?”
“Fufufu, well obviously. Anyhow, we’re a nameless circle. At the very least, we have to stand out. It’s a good thing that this place is a popular wall booth. In that case, let’s create an effective wall with our hands.”
Nakatsugawa’s glasses shined brightly. Shidou made a dry smile while sweating.
Next, Shidou helped the others to stand up the poster which has the book’s front cover on it........Although it’s feel extremely embarrassing to have a poster that was painted with character whose appearance was similar to him, but now isn’t the time for that. He swung his head and continued the construction.
As such works continued for a little while, Shidou noticed that some people began to gather around the wall booth. Soon those people began to line up in front of the circle booths. Especially Nia’s circle, they had quite a number of people lining up in front of their booth.
“Eh.......? The opening hasn’t started yet? Those people are......”
As Shidou asked, Nakatsugawa, who was still lining up the books, answered to him.
“Aah, they are the same as us, they’re also circle participants. As long as they hold the circle’s ticket, they can get into the hall before the general participants and they can line up in front of their favorite circle earlier than usual.”
“Eh? Is it alright?”
“Uhm.......It’s difficult for me to say.”
Nakatsugawa gave a vague reply while folding his hands. From his expression, its looks like he’s saying “Though it’s not good for me to say this, but I also did the same thing in the past........”
“Eh........But, then that means—“
“Right. Finally you understand.”
Nia, who stood up in the next booth, answered Shidou.
“The success factor of the doujin depends on your reputation beforehand. Of course, I’m also blank too, since right now I’m an urgent participant. I didn’t get printed on the catalogue, but I post a notification on my blog a while ago. There are so many participants who want to be the first one to get my book, you know?”
After saying that, she threw a glance towards Shidou from above her glasses frame.
“I feel sorry about it, but even if you have the same number of copies, the winner of who can sell faster has already been decided since the beginning.”
“Wha!? No way........”
“-----------I’m not sure about that.”
At that moment, interrupting Shidou’s words, Kotori raised up her voice.
“Kotori? E......Eeh!?”
Looking at the direction of the voice, Shidou broaden his eyes in surprised.
However, that was only natural. That’s because over there, the Spirits appeared with a cute bunny-girl costume wrapping their bodies.
“Y-You all, that appearance........”
“Umu! It seems we’ve become the salesgirls!”
“Yesterday........Everyone, made these......! Although this feels a little bit embarrassing.......But I’ll do my best........!”
Both Tohka and Yoshino answered Shidou’s question. Indeed, Tohka and the others who weren’t part of drawing team had another job to do, and this is what they meant.
At the sudden appearance of a group beautiful girls cosplaying, all the participants surrounding them got excited.
“What’s with that circle......? Aren’t those girls extremely cute?”
“Eh? They weren’t in catalogue, right?”
“By the way, between those two, isn’t that Izayoi Miku?”
Moreover, when someone recognized that the idol Izayoi Miku was here, they suddenly got noisy. From here and there, the sound of *Kya~ Kya~!* and the voice of a cellphone’s shutter resounded.
Although naturally that action isn’t a good thing to do, Miku doesn’t mind that, instead she created a pose for a girl who was holding a camera.
Looking at that, Nia placed her hand on her head in wonder.
“............Izayoi Miku?”
“Ufufu~, so you finally realize~”
Miku puffed her chest in a prideful manner. However, Nia raised her eyebrow in a questioning manner.
“...........Sorry, I don’t know you at all. Are you famous?”
“Auuuu!?”
At Nia’s words, Miku staggered out of shock.
“C-Calm down, Miku. Nia has been captured by DEM until recently, so she of course she doesn’t know about you as an artist.”
“Y-You’re right~.........Thank you very much, darling.”
"Straighten up. It will begin soon."
Miku gave a little laugh and fixed her posture, Kotori patted her back very lightly, as if she was boosting her fighting spirit.
Meanwhile, the hands of time indicated that it was 10:00 a.m., the announcement rang throughout the inside of the hall.
“-----------Starting from now, Comico Colosseum has opened.”
At the same time, the sound of applause resounded heavily just like the sound of thunder.
Shidou and the spirits raised their eyes in shock upon seeing the intense applause. They turn their attention towards their neighbor.
However, this was only the beginning. Before the sound of applause was about to stop, from the distance...“Gogogogogogogo..........a rumbling sound shook the ground a little.
“T-This sound is..........”
Shidou let out a trembling voice, ------------But then, he realized it right away.
That sound is coming from the large number of general participants, whose footsteps were running inside.
“O-Ooh..........!?”
“..........Amazing, what’s that?”
From the way they were coming in, the people rushed inside like a tidal wave. That scenery was just like soldiers who charged into the enemy’s camp after the castle’s gates were opened. The Spirits were dumbfounded for a while as they looked to each other in amazement.
However, they cannot just go and be astonished like that. When the general participants came in, all the circle participants lined up behind of Nia’s booth began to sell her books one by one.
“One copy of new book, please.”
“Yes, it’s 500 Yen.”
“Over here, two copies please!”
“It’s 1000 Yen.”
With an experienced manner, Nia and her staffs serviced each guest. Nia looked at Shidou and twisted her lips as if saying, “Just try to see if you can win.”
“Ku---------We too, let’s begin!”
“That’s right. Well then everyone, let’s do as we planned!”
“Ooh!”
Following Kotori’s instructions, the Spirits made a row around the booth. As if attracted to their appearances, all the participants who were going to buy other books stopped their feet in front of Shidou’s booth.
“Ooh, welcome!”
Tohka called out to a boy who was looking at the front cover while passing by. The boy shrugged his shoulders as if surprised by that.
“No, uhm........”
“One copy is 500 Yen! How about it?”
“..................Ah... then one copy please.”
Although the boy seems to be hesitating whether to buy the book or not, but he cannot beat Tohka’s shining smile in front of him. After making an awkward smile, the boy stretched out the 1000 Yen bill.
“Ooh, thank you! The change is 500 Yen!”
After Tohka gives him the book, she waved her hand with smile on her face. The boy seemed to be embarrassed, but he looks somewhat happy as he waved his hand back a little before going.
Shidou made a dry smile upon looking at that scene.
“Haha.......This is good too......I guess?”
After Shidou said that, Nakatsugawa, who was still arranging the booth, smiled.
“Of course. Anyhow, this is sales battle. No matter what kind of good thing you draw, it’s necessary to sell as many as possible. Expansion ability and propaganda ability are important factors. Honjou-sensei must understand that point as well. -------Rather, if we don’t do this, I think it’s impossible for a nameless circle like us to sell 5000 copies of books.”
“I-I see......”
Sweat ran down Shidou’s cheeks as he nodded. That’s right, although this is field for doujin; a marketplace is still a marketplace.
A crowd started forming around circle <Ratatoskr> because of the beautiful salesgirls. The smiling faces of the Spirits have knocked-out the participants. They began to rise in their sales amount smoothly by using this foul play-method.
Though, <Honjou-dou> next to them had already sold several more books than <Ratatoskr> did even without using that technique. As more time has passed, line in front of Nia’s circle grew in size.
“Ukh..........If this continues........!”
The overwhelming pace was way too different. Shidou made a sullen face upon seeing Nia selling her books one by one.
And then, Kotori, who was also wearing a bunny girl cosplay, held the stick of chupa-chups and raised them upward.
“What’s with that face, Shidou? -------The match is just beginning here.”
“Eh..........?”
Shidou inclined his head upon hearing Kotori’s words.
And then--------Shidou raised his eyes in surprise right away. Slowly people begun gathering in front of circle <Ratatoskr>. Furthermore, they aren’t just passing by like earlier. These people were lining up to buy <Ratatoskr> books.
“T-This is..........”
Shidou raised his voice in surprise, while Kotori folded her arms in proud manner.
“Fufufu, I said it, didn’t I? Kaguya, Yuzuru! Go to arrange the line at the edge of the panel!”
“Kaka, acknowledge!”
“Consent. Please leave it to us.”
Following Kotori’s instructions, the Yamai sisters rushed to the front of the circle to arrange the line.
Shidou shrugged his shoulders in response.
Inside that line, there existed so many familiar faces here and there. --------Right. They’re members of the organization <Ratatoskr>.
“.........This is, isn’t this called “shills”?”
Shidou asked Kotori with a voice which seemingly cannot be heard by Nia. After that, Kotori snorted and looked at him with half eyes opened.
“How rude. They’re [friends] who are coming to our circle. Buying a doujin books created by an acquaintance is a general thing to do. I also asked everyone else to contact their friends as well.”
“W-Well, even if that’s true, though........”
Then, Shidou inclined his head. There’s a certain spot which makes him worried regarding Kotori’s words.
“................Everyone else too?”
Shidou mumbled as he got a bad feeling. A few moments later, a familiar voice can be heard.
“Yahoo~! Tohka-chan~, we’ve arrived~”
“What’s with this amazing number of people~”
“Reminding me of Congo’s swampy land’s battle~”
After saying those words, three girls came to the front of the booth after lining up.
Looking at those figures, Shidou chocked. Anyhow, over there are Shidou’s classmates; those girls are Ai, Mai, and Mii.
“Ooh, so you three came!”
Tohka raised up her voice in a cheerful manner. And then the three of them went *Fufu* and loosened their lips.
“Of course. There’s no way we can refuse Tohka-chan’s request.”
“Right, right. Comico also seems to be quiet interesting too.”
“........Well, ah! Captain------The dangerous man has been discovered!”
“What!?”
Upon looking at Shidou’s face, the three of them went into battle mode. Shidou let out a sigh as if giving up, and then answered them.
“...........Well, you three. It’s been a while........”
“Everyone, be careful!”
“He’s going to try to seduce girls!”
“He’ll make you pregnant if you’re careless!”
“................”
Shidou got nervous at the riot.........As expected, he should have explained the event when he lost control of his powers during the beginning of the month. He thought about solving the misunderstanding afterwards, but he never though that they’ll meet in this place.
However, it was currently the time for the sales match. As if thinking in the same way, Kotori approached the three of them in a very business-like manner.
“One copy is 500 Yen. Would you like to buy three copies?”
“Eh? Ah, yes. Please.”
“Uwah, doesn’t the front cover looks amazing? Who draw this?”
“Anyway this character, don’t you think it resembles Itsuka-kun?”
After saying this, the three of them bought the books and then waved their hands good-bye to Tohka. Even though those three like to create a riot, they seemed to still have some common sense at least. They decided not to create trouble by bothering the other people who were lined up behind them.
Shidou sighed in relief and went back to selling.
A few moments later, a new group of three girls, with seemingly different ages, came up to the booth.
The first was a tall woman who seems to be in her twenties, the other one is a short girl and the last one looks like a half-Japanese girl with blonde hair.
The three people walked to the booth and called out for Origami when they saw her.
“Ah, it’s her. What is it? Calling us out all of sudden.”
“---------Captain.”
Origami responded back to the tall woman. Then Shidou went “Ah” and clapped his hands. Come to think of it, that woman is from the Anti-Spirit’s Team that Origami was in---------the captain of AST. Her name is Kusakabe Ryouko. Somehow just like Tohka, Origami also contacted her acquaintances. And the other two girls are seemingly members of AST as well.
“Origami-san! It’s been a while!”
“Ah~, did you cut your hair? You sure are decisive~”
“Mikie, Mildred.”
Origami called out their name lightly. And then the girl who was called Mikie went *Uu* and acted like she was wiping her tears.
“Uu.......Since Origami-san retired so suddenly, my loneliness continues every day. Please come back..........”
“That’s right~. Why did you retire so sudden~?”
“It can’t be helped. I have my reasons; I won’t be coming back to AST.”
“Is that so......How disappointing----Ouch!”
Then, Ryouko hit Mikie’s head lightly.
“............Geez, you all, why did you have to talk about AST in this kind of place?”
“Ah.........! I-I’m sorry, my mistake........”
“It’s alright. In a place like this, such words will be buried away.”
Origami said that with a light tone. In turn, Mikie stared at Origami with a wondering expression.
“.........By the way Origami-san, your atmosphere has changed a little bit.......?”
And then Origami entangled her arm with Shidou’s arm.
“Because of him.”
“Wha...........!?”
“Kyaa~! Eh, so that’s the reason~?”
Upon hearing Origami’s answer, Mikie had a shocked expression while Mildred’s cheeks started blushing. However, Ryouko hit Mikie and Mildred’s heads with both of her hands to stop them.
“Hey, don’t be so noisy. -------Since we’ve already come all the way here, we’ll buy some. Anyway, can I have three copies?”
“Alright.”
Origami took the money lightly and handed over the books. After that, Ryouko began noticing Tohka and the other Spirits with a dubious face.
“..........Hey, Origami. Those girls, I think I’ve seen them before......”
“Your imagination.”
“You think so? But......”
“Your imagination.”
“No, but-“
“Thank you very much.”
“..............”
Origami declined with a clear tone, Ryouko let out a sigh as if to show that she was giving up. Then, she takes Mike and Mildred to leave with her. While leaving, Mike went “I-I won’t lose!” and pointing towards Shidou. Meanwhile, Shidou didn’t know how to respond back to her.
However-------There’s still something that he doesn’t understand. Upon looking at the number of people who lining up in front of circle <Ratatoskr>, it’s obviously not only because they using ‘Shills’.
As if guessing what Shidou is thinking, Nakatsugawa, who was arranging the cardboard box, raised up his voice.
“That’s not a strange thing. It’s true that our booth wasn’t printed on the catalogue. However, in the other side, we are [Mysterious Circle] who suddenly appeared. Upon knowing our existence, wouldn’t lots of people be interested?”
“T-That’s true but isn’t the most important thing here to make our existence known?”
When Shidou said that, Nakatsugawa lifted up his glasses.
“Did you forget, Shidou-kun? Our place is next to the most popular circle <Honjou-dou>.”
“Ah-------“
Shidou raised his eyes. Probably that’s the case. It’s not strange that people who were coming to buy Nia’s books would get interested by the mysterious booth next to Nia’s circle.
And then------
“-------Is it here? The circle that wasn’t printed on the catalogue?”
“But, why did they suddenly become a wall booth?”
“Aah......Anyway isn’t the appraiser, MUNECHIKA with them?”
“Really!? Any circle who he has his eyes on them will have their popularities rise rapidly. Any author who he recommends will also definitely get a huge successful in commerce and will be admired, that one!?”
“What did you said!? The champion of Moe Anime, the champion who won 7 times MUNECHIKA!?”
“The leader of the large group Super Galaxy, MUNECHIKA has come back!?”
“..................”
Those kinds of conversations resounded throughout the hall.
Shidou started at Nakatsugawa silently; his face appears to look a little bit troubled.
“Right now I’m only a humble ordinary staff member.”
“H-Haa.”
He got a feeling that he shouldn’t continue asking any further.
Anyhow, the match seemed to have finally begun. The long line in Shidou’s booth seemingly attracted more people to come. After they had bought the books they were intending to buy, these general participants started to line up in front of both Shidou and Nia’s booths from every direction.
Upon looking at the scene, Kotori, who had just received the supply books from Kawagoe, gave a loud shout.
“Alright..........Let’s keep going. There are three people in Nia’s circle. Her plan is for two people to arrange the line, and the last one to manage the stock. As for us, we have 12 people in our booth including Kawagoe and the others. Based on our staff, we are far ahead in terms of the number of books we can sell at once!”
Upon hearing Kotori’s words, the Spirits began hailing to each other while they continued selling books. The number of cardboard boxes piled up in the back began to decrease one by one.
And then, circle <Ratatoskr> started catching up to the huge difference between them and <Honjou-dou> right away. The number of their leftover stock was almost the same as Nia’s.
Kotori folded her arms and took a glance towards the next circle.
“Fufun, how’s that, Nia? We’re catching you up. Since the number of our cashier is more than yours, we have advantage in terms of speed. Or perhaps you consider this as foul-play?”
After saying that, Kotori distorted her lips in provocative manner. Her companion, the Spirits, also seemed to not really be interested in saying anything.......Anyhow, Nia’s opinion in the beginning of the match about the possibility of their books ending up as wasted paper seemed to have backfire on herself.
However Nia, upon being provoked by Kotori, only replied back with a nonchalant tone.
“Ng-----? No, I didn’t say that. Even something which is well-drawn will also be useless if they don’t get sold very well..........Well, it’s true that I didn’t think that you all would be able to go this far.”
Nia clapped her hands.
“But......Don’t you think it’s still too early to feel so confident like that?”
“..........What did you say?”
Upon hearing Nia’s words, Kotori raised her eyebrow.
After ten minutes later, something began to change.
The line in front of <Ratatoskr>’s circle was gradually shrinking in size. Meanwhile, <Honjou-dou>’s line in the opposite direction was still continuing strong.
“T-This is.........What happened?”
“Even if you asked me, weren’t you just about to turn our current status just now?”
Nia raised up her voice to reply to Kotori’s dismay.
“Cute salesgirls and a large quantity of shilling, and then various kinds of merchandise used to target your gender demographic. That’s true that this method would probably be effective in attracting people, but in the very end it will end up in vain. It seems like selling those 5000 copies was impossible after all. --------Even though I just said that a good book that is well drawn will be useless if it’s not getting sold; in the end, what’s participants want is [An amusing book]. Although I’m a blank right now, up until now I’ve been coming here for several years. Unlike you newcomers who don’t know what to draw, you’re not thinking that those differences will be buried away in only a day?”
“Kuh...........!”
Kotori replied in dismay.
However, what Nia said was true. Up until now, Shidou and the others had only relied on their secret weapon and somehow managed to catch up with <Honjou-dou>.
Meanwhi-->>