Crossover Anime: I'm Kasumigaoka Utaha's Brother

Page 28

"Tsk, isn't it illegal to dream?"

Baili Xiao's appearance caused whispers among the queuing readers, all of whom were observing this rather mysterious teacher, some subtly, some provocatively.

Compared to the fame of Kasumigaoka Utaha and the others, Hyakuri Akira's appearance has only lasted a few days, and no photos of her have ever been released, which naturally makes people feel that she is extremely mysterious.

The phrase "Teacher Baili who provides technical guidance" alone wouldn't attract much attention, but what about the post that Akane Akasaka made a while ago?

A picture of "The Monkey King: The Earth Walker" that caught thousands off guard and made them throw away their phones has made "Teacher Baili" a household name. Whether it's a good or bad review, 310 will leave that aside for now.

"Um, what happened?" Baili Xiao walked over, his gaze fixed on Shiina Mashiro without ever looking away.

“This girl wants to see you.” Kasumigaoka Utaha made a “it’s up to you” gesture and patted Eriri and Hashima Izumi on the shoulder: “Alright, let’s do what we should do. Today might be tiring, but we must persevere!”

...

In a lounge at the novel display area behind the exhibition hall.

Bai Lixiao poured a glass of water and placed it next to Shiina Mashiro, gesturing to the chair in front of him: "Sit down, Shiina Mashiro."

Mashiro sat down as if it were the most natural thing in the world, showing no surprise at all that Hyakuri Akira knew her name.

Any normal person would be surprised and say something like, "How do you know my name?" But the naturally naive Mashiro wouldn't care about such details.

She only cares about what she cares about.

"I hope you can teach me to draw."

"Sure!" Without asking why or discussing anything else, Baili Xiao agreed immediately: "But I want to test how high your current drawing skills are."

As Baili Xiao spoke, she took out some paper and a black pen from the drawer: "I don't have any paintbrushes that you're familiar with, so just make do with this and draw something for me."

"Hmm." Shiina Mashiro nodded, took the paper and pen, and thought for a moment: "Could you draw something too?"

"Me?" Baili Xiao was slightly taken aback, not quite understanding what Shiina Mashiro meant, but that didn't stop him from answering: "Okay, how about we use each other as templates to draw?"

"it is good!"

Ten minutes later.

Having drawn the final lines, Baili Xiao let out a soft sigh of relief and turned her gaze to Shiina Mashiro.

This painting style actually tests a person's brushwork and observation skills even more.

Ordinary painting mostly depicts still scenes, but what is required now is to "observe the characteristics of the subject at a glance." No matter how the subject moves or changes their posture, the painting you create should reflect the appearance you made when you first decided to paint it.

Bai Lixiao was curious about what she would look like in Shiina Mashiro's drawing, so she got up and walked behind her, quietly watching her draw.

Shiina Mashiro did not pause at all because of Baili Xiao's actions. Her pen continued to draw on the paper. Based on this alone, Baili Xiao was certain that Mashiro's drawing skills were higher than Eriri, Hashima Izumi, and Izumi Sagiri!

Several more minutes passed before Shiina Mashiro put down her pen. Only then did she notice that Hyakuri Akira was standing beside her: "I want to see your drawing."

“Of course.” Baili Xiao shrugged, took his manuscript and placed it in front of Shiina Mashiro, and the atmosphere in the lounge began to change.

Bai Lixiao couldn't quite put her finger on what was different, but perhaps Shiina Mashiro knew... because her breathing had quickened slightly.

In the picture, a girl stands in front of a crowd. Whether it is the wrinkles in her clothes or the slightest movement of her body, everything seems so "normal" - this is the first time Baili Xiao saw Shiina Mashiro in the exhibition hall!

"Normal" is easy to say, but it's not a level that ordinary people can achieve—meaning that Bai Lixiao's painting has an extremely high degree of accuracy in reproduction. At least, with Shiina Mashiro's discerning eye, she can't find anything out of place.

Of course, if it were just "normal," Shiina Mashiro believed that if she continued to draw, she would one day reach that level—but within "normal," she discovered a kind of "amazing."

The stunning beauty of the girl in the painting!

Shiina Mashiro isn't a narcissistic person (how could a natural airhead be narcissistic), but when she saw herself as depicted by Hyakuri Akira, she was still amazed!

In other words, through this painting, Baili Xiao conveyed his feelings when he first saw Shiina Mashiro to Shiina Mashiro in the present!

Shiina Mashiro felt that no one could do this, but the person who "had already done it" was right in front of her.

"Teacher Baili! Please teach me how to draw!" Shiina Mashiro looked at Baili Xiao and stated her purpose for coming here again, but her tone was much more serious than before.

"I remember I already promised you, right? No need to confirm again!" Baili Xiao smiled slightly and picked up Shiina Mashiro's drawing to look at it.

Shiina Mashiro suddenly felt an unknown emotion, "I want to take it away and not let him see it," which was extremely unfamiliar to her and had never occurred to her before.

Because she had always been the best painter, whether at school or in her grandfather's studio, and had never experienced the feeling of "not wanting others to see her paintings".

"Very good, you've actually grown stronger than Eriri and the others with your talent!" Bai Lixiao's smile grew wider and wider: "It just so happens that '5 Centimeters Per Second' is being adapted into a movie, and your involvement can take it to the next level!"

“Since you’re going to learn from me, I hope you can come to the studio often—otherwise, there’s no point in talking about teaching you to draw.” Baili Xiao frowned and thought for a moment, then continued, “Where is your guardian? I think I should discuss your situation with him.”

Bai Lixiao naturally knew that Shiina Mashiro was a natural airhead, and there was absolutely no need to discuss practical issues with her.

But to his surprise, Shiina Mashiro tugged at his sleeve and said something in a very serious tone.

"From now on, Teacher Baili will be my guardian. I'll live with you, and you'll teach me to draw..."

Chapter 0079 I'm very curious! (2/5 Please subscribe)

The launch event was unprecedented in scale, so much so that the designated exhibition hall could not handle it and appropriate "eviction" measures had to be taken.

"Readers who have purchased the third volume of the light novel '5 Centimeters Per Second' and the accompanying beautifully illustrated poster, please leave the venue in an orderly manner under the guidance of our staff. Please do not linger here. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. Thank you for your cooperation!"

Even so, the convention hall was still incredibly crowded; to exaggerate a bit, there wasn't even a place for people to stand!

"I knew it! My biggest worry was... how big this sales event would be!" Akane Akasaka sighed, covering her face. Machida Sonoko and Tsubaki Yoko, standing next to her, both gave wry smiles and shook their heads.

"Honestly, this is the first time I've ever seen a light novel launch event, and the scale is almost on par with CM Comic Con!" Duanmu Yizi's face was full of admiration, and she didn't hold back her praise: "Baili-kun and all the teachers' [5 Centimeters Per Second] is truly unbelievable."

"What's even more unbelievable might be yet to come!" Machida Sonoko grumbled irritably—she was the one who negotiated the venue, so she naturally felt embarrassed by this situation.

"Indeed, it seems I really underestimated the power of all the teachers and [5 Centimeters Per Second]. I actually thought of helping Baili-kun get sponsorship as an investor at the beginning..." Duanmu Yizi sighed, recalling the suggestion she made when she first heard Baili Xiao decide to make an animated film at the Kasumigaoka family.

At that time, Baili Xiao told her with a smile, "I believe the money earned from the three volumes of light novels is enough to make an animated film." Although Duanmu Yizi didn't say it out loud, she didn't think so in her heart.

The cost of producing an animated film can be astronomical—for an individual—and the more elaborate the film, the higher the cost.

Thinking you could make an animated film with the money you earned from three volumes of light novels? That's just wishful thinking—at least... that's what Duanmu Yizi thought at the time.

“My vision was too short-sighted.” Duanmu Yizi turned to Machida Sonoko: “How are the sales of [5 Centimeters Per Second] going?”

"Seven million copies of the first volume, and about the same for the second. As for the third volume... see for yourself." Machida Sonoko raised her chin slightly and shrugged at the exhibition hall. "This is only two months in, and sales will increase even more later. More importantly... [5 Centimeters Per Second] appeared too quickly, so its fame has only spread among a few nearby cities and hasn't had time to reach the rest of the world. Even with online promotion, many people have only heard of it."

"In other words, as its fame spreads, the sales of '5 Centimeters Per Second' might experience another explosive growth, right?" Akane Akasaka chuckled, and Sonoko Machida nodded with a "taken-for-granted" look on her face, then frowned in distress: "Sometimes I really want to suggest that Hyakusato and the others slow down the release speed so that the profits can be greater... well, I didn't dare to say it out loud."

Just like a company employee, even if you feel that something shouldn't be done this way, you can't express your opinion to your boss—Machida Sonoko has already placed Hyakuri Akira in a position far above her!

"Alright, stop lamenting here. If you keep slacking off and Baili-kun finds out, you two will be in big trouble." Akane Akasaka chuckled, waved her hand, and walked towards the autograph booth of Kasumigaoka Utaha and the others.

Today, only Akane Akasaka from the rouge-en-rouge circle came; the rest of them were all working on "processing original drawings" under the supervision of Iori Hashima.

All the work for the book launch was handed over to Shinazugawa Bunko and Chishima Publishing. Both companies mobilized all available personnel, plus a dozen or so security guards lent by the event organizers and men in black obtained from Yamada Chris, which barely managed to maintain order at the scene...

"Let's get to work, let's get to work. Sigh, I'm destined to be a laborer." Machida Sonoko complained, but the smile on her face wouldn't go away.

...

"Teachers, shall we take a break?" Akane Kousaka walked over to Utaha Kasumigaoka and the others with a cold drink in hand. "Here, have something to drink."

"Thank you." Kasumigaoka Utaha took the cold drink and placed it on the table, stretching slightly—she could be unrestrained at home, but with so many readers watching, she had to maintain a ladylike demeanor.

"Ugh, my face is so stiff." Eriri gently patted her cheeks with both hands. She had been smiling for hours, and her facial muscles were starting to ache.

Hashima Izumi gently walked up behind Eriri and reached out to rub her neck: "Does this feel better?"

"It's comfortable, but you shouldn't do this at sea. You must be tired too, right?" Eriri shook off Hashima's hands as he went out to sea, her eyes fixed on an employee exit. She couldn't help but pout. "Hyakuri-kun and that girl went in and haven't come out yet. Do they really have that much to talk about?"

0 ····Requesting flowers···· ·········

She seemed to have said something that everyone cared about but no one wanted to talk about, and the atmosphere became awkward for a moment, with no one willing to be the first to break the silence.

Shiina Mashiro's unusual behavior was concerning, but what everyone was more concerned about was what she wanted to see Baili Xiao.

Akane Akasaka blinked, a smile of interest spreading across her face. After considering the possibility of "Hyori Akira doing something inappropriate to a strange girl," and arriving at a conclusion that it was almost zero, she took the initiative to suggest, "If you're curious, why don't we go take a look?"

The three from Kasumigaoka exchanged glances, simultaneously noticing the intense curiosity in each other's eyes, and nodded as if they had reached some kind of consensus: "Okay!"

Moving silently from the meeting room to the staff corridor, Akane Kousaka, wearing high heels, moved her steps lightly and slowly: "See that room? That lounge is where Hyakusato-kun and the mysterious girl were."

... 0th

Pointing to the closed door not far away, Akane Akasaka lowered her voice: "I have a key here, I can open the door directly, but... are you sure you want to do this? I think it would be better to knock gently, wouldn't it?"

Kasumigaoka Utaha's expression was somewhat complicated. Whether it was out of "a woman's intuition" or "a younger sister's trust in her older brother," she didn't think that Hyakuri Akira would do something like the scenes often seen in erotic manga. Besides... there were so many things at home, and the variety was quite complete. There was no need to come out looking for him, right? ...Ahem! I'm overthinking it.

Just as she was lost in thought, Eriri, with a slight blush on her face, hesitated for only a second before clenching her little fist and replying to Akane Kousaka: "Of course we'll just open the door! I want to see what those two are up to!"

As she went out to sea, she covered her face with her hands, feeling the burning heat emanating from her palms. She nodded slightly without saying a word.

"Alright, since that's the case... let's go!"

For some reason, or perhaps because of the atmosphere, Akane Akasaka's heart started pounding. She carefully took out her key from her pocket and opened the door to the lounge.

Kasumigaoka Utaha held her breath, her red eyes fixed on the room.

Eriri stood on tiptoe and strained to peer inside.

Bo Island crouched down at sea, covering his eyes tightly with his hands, but upon closer inspection, one could still see small gaps between his fingers.

What came into view was... a room completely empty.

Chapter 0080 Chihiro Sengoku's Compromise! (3/5, Please Subscribe)

"What should I do? What should I do now? Should I rush in to check on Mashiro?" On a set of steps outside the exhibition hall, Aoyama Nanami sat with her legs drawn up, looking utterly hopeless as the sun slowly moved overhead. "Should we wait? Maybe she can handle it herself? No, no, how could that be! Mashiro can't even take care of herself, how could she possibly handle something like this!"

Seemingly having made up her mind, Aoyama Nanami patted her cheeks, opened her phone, and found "Sengoku-sensei" in her contacts.

"Beep beep~" The phone rang for a long time, and just when Nanami was almost in despair, someone finally answered the phone.

"Sengoku-sensei? Is it Sengoku-sensei?" Nanami was very anxious, extremely anxious, to the point that her voice was almost choked with tears.

"Hmm, who is this?... Oh, it's Nanami. What's up?" Chihiro Sengoku on the other end of the phone was clearly just woken up, still drowsy: "I hate it when people disturb my sleep. If you don't have anything important to say, then you'd better wait for me to deal with you!"

"Sengoku-sensei, sob, Mashiro, Mashiro, she..." Nanami felt a pang of sadness at the mention of Mashiro. Everything that had happened today was beyond her expectations and completely beyond what a high school student like her could handle.

"Mashiro?!" This name dispelled much of the sleepiness, and of course, the tone became much more urgent: "What happened to Mashiro?"

As Nanami sorted through her jumbled thoughts and was about to tell Sengoku-sensei what had happened that day, a voice behind her asked, "Are you Aoyama Nanami?"

"Huh?" Nanami was startled and turned around. Her gaze only swept over Hyakuri Xiao once before landing on Shiina Mashiro without lingering for a moment. Mashiro was standing next to Hyakuri Xiao, her right hand tightly gripping the latter's sleeve, looking like a "little girl afraid of getting lost".

"Whoa! Mashiro, I'm so glad you're alright!" Nanami took a step forward and wrapped her arms around Mashiro's neck. "Do you know how worried I was about you! You actually ran in all by yourself, what if..."

"I found Professor Hyakusei." Shiina Mashiro didn't understand why Nanami was so excited. She had only gone in to look for Professor Hyakusei—she had no idea what kind of commotion she had caused in the exhibition hall.

“Hyakuri…Teacher?” Nanami followed Mashiro’s small hand to Hyakuri Akira, who shrugged and said, “Hyakuri Akira, you can also call me Teacher Hyakuri.”

"Ah? Oh! Oh oh! My apologies! Teacher Baili!" Qi Hai was taken aback at first, then released his hands, straightened his slightly disheveled clothes, and bowed slightly to Baili Xiao.