Chapter 2

At a certain bookstore, there was a long line of people extending even onto the street. Mostly teenagers and young adults were in the lineup. The reason? They were trying to buy the first-ever published novel by the author 'Rose.' Her works on social media had always been famous, so, of course, everyone wanted to get their hands on a physical copy right off the bat. Every fan wanted to be the first to read the inaugural book released under her name since they knew just how talented she was at writing.

Oblivious to the fact that her first book was selling at a fast pace, Hanako was at home lazing around. It had been two weeks since she signed a contract with Michiko, and though unsure, she decided to take the risk for her book to be published and sold in every bookstore affiliated with Michiko. Hanako was starting to get anxious and felt tempted to check how her books were faring at a nearby bookstore, but she was too scared of the possibility that not a single copy had sold. As if to interrupt her spiraling thoughts, her phone rang. She looked at the caller ID and, seeing that it was her editor, she answered.

"Hanako! You won't believe this!" her editor practically shouted over the phone, making Hanako hold the phone at a distance from her ears.

"What happened?" Hanako asked nervously as she brought the phone closer. She was trembling with anxiety.

"The first batch of your book sent to every bookstore is sold out! Let's hope we get good reviews and keep the sales going up," the editor exclaimed excitedly. Even she hadn't expected their new author to have so many fans. After all, Hanako only posted short stories online. That, in itself, was proof of her talent; even with only short stories, she had already gained a large following.

"R-really? Every copy of the first batch sold out? And it's only 4 in the afternoon? Y-you're not kidding me, right? Ms. Chieko, please tell me you're not joking," Hanako stammered. She couldn't believe what she had just heard. She never imagined she had so much support out there.

The editor, Ms. Chieko Miyamura, was a 22-year-old woman and the daughter of Mr. Miyamura, the publisher. She had volunteered to be the editor for Ms. Rose, her favorite author on the internet. She was a fan, and yet even she was surprised that the books sold out on the first day of release.

"Why would I lie to you? If you really can't believe me, why don't you go and see for yourself? Let's meet at Izumiya Bookstore. I'll wait for you outside, okay? Then let's grab coffee afterwards." Without waiting for a response, Chieko hung up the phone, leaving Hanako dumbfounded.

Left with no choice, Hanako began to get ready to meet Chieko. She didn't want to leave Chieko waiting or outright reject her invitation. Wearing a plain white shirt, black jeans, and black-and-white rubber shoes, she tied her hair into a ponytail, grabbed her shoulder bag with her house key and phone, put on a coat, and stepped outside.

Since Izumiya was just walking distance from her house, she decided to go on foot. With each step, she tried to process the information she had just received, which had shaken her to the core. The whole scenery was serene. Autumn leaves were falling from the trees, and even though the wind was chilly, it felt relaxing. When she arrived at the bookstore, she saw a tall woman wearing a black sweater topped with a beige cardigan, skinny jeans, black stilettos, and a beige fedora. The woman had a stunning figure and a beautiful face, almost identical to that of Mr. Miyamura.

When the woman saw Hanako, she waved and gave her a tight hug. "So, you decided to come see for yourself, huh?" she said with a wide smile, wiggling her eyebrows to tease Hanako.

"I can't just reject you, Chieko-nee," Hanako said helplessly. Chieko only laughed and dragged Hanako inside the bookstore. They looked for the newly released book Hanako had written but couldn't find it on any shelves. They asked one of the staff about the book, and there, they received confirmation—it was indeed sold out.

"See? I told you, didn't I?" Chieko said, puffing her chest and putting her hands on her waist. "Now that we've confirmed it, let's grab some coffee, shall we?"

With a sigh, Hanako gave in and followed Chieko to the café across from the bookstore. Over time, the two had developed a strong bond, collaborating closely as author and editor to perfect the book for its release.

After entering the café, Chieko insisted on handling their order, leaving Hanako to find them a seat. When Chieko returned, she carefully placed their drinks and desserts on the table before sitting across from Hanako.

"So, does your family know that you signed a contract with us as a writer?" Chieko asked, taking a sip of her coffee.

"I haven't told them yet," Hanako admitted, her gaze distant as she absentmindedly stirred her drink with the straw. "I was planning to tell my mom once I'm certain I'll succeed as an author."

"And if you fail?" Chieko asked, her voice soft but probing.

"I'll tell her I tried but didn't make it," Hanako replied, a flicker of uncertainty crossing her face. "My mom supports everything I do. That's why I'm here in Tokyo on my own. My mom lives in Miyagi."

"Well, at least we can say you've succeeded, right? You can tell her you're officially a writer now. I'm sure your mom will be proud of you."

"Ha, you think so?" Hanako smiled faintly, leaning back in her chair. "She always says that. She's proud of everything I do. She's pretty lenient and only scolds me if I do something really reckless."

"Your mom sounds amazing. I wish my dad were the same," Chieko mused before shrugging with a grin. "But hey, everyone's different, and they all have their good sides. Anyway, I can't wait for your next project! Let's keep working hard together!" She threw her arms in the air for emphasis, her wide smile eliciting a laugh from Hanako at her editor's playful enthusiasm.

The two chatted comfortably until they finished their drinks and desserts. After saying their goodbyes, Hanako made her way home. On her walk, she passed a man selling oil paintings. One particular piece caught her attention—a painting of a woman standing in a field of vibrant purple irises, her hair and dress billowing in the wind. Captivated, Hanako decided to buy it as a Christmas gift for her mother, who had always loved flowers.

Back at home, Hanako carefully placed the painting in a safe spot before collapsing onto her sofa. She glanced at the painting again, her thoughts turning to her mom. Impulsively, she picked up her phone and dialed.

"Hello? Hanako? What's wrong? It's rare for you to call me. Did something happen?" Her mother's soft, gentle voice carried through the receiver, making Hanako smile.

"I just missed you, Mom. I can't wait to see you during Christmas break."

"Oh, you… I missed you too. Is that the only reason you called me?" her mother teased lightly.

"Actually, Mom, I've taken my first big step toward my dream of becoming a writer! My first book has been published and is now on sale in bookstores!" Hanako's excitement spilled over, and she eagerly began sharing every detail. Her mother listened attentively, her warmth and pride evident in her voice.

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In a quiet neighborhood in Matsushima, Miyagi, a middle-aged woman stood inside her coffee shop, beaming as she spoke on the phone. Her joy was palpable, lighting up the room. Two other workers were there with her—a middle school boy and a man about her age—tidying the shop as it neared closing time.

"Looks like Ma'am Iris is talking to her daughter again. Just look at how happy she is," the older man remarked, glancing toward her.

"She sure is. Hanako-neesan is everything to her," the boy replied matter-of-factly, carefully putting things away.

When Iris finally hung up the phone, she let out a contented sigh. Her daughter rarely called, but the conversation had been worth it. She was thrilled not only to hear from Hanako but also to learn that her daughter's dream of becoming a writer had come true. Iris glanced around and noticed the shop was already clean.

"Oh, you two finished everything, huh? I'm sorry I couldn't help. I was talking to Hanako just now. She told me she finally achieved her dream of becoming a writer. Her book is published and already on sale in several bookstores!" she announced, pride glowing in her expression.

"That's amazing! We should celebrate!" the older man said, his excitement infectious.

"Ma'am Iris, did she tell you her pen name?" the boy asked eagerly. "I'm into books, and I've been following an author online whose work is top-notch. If I knew her pen name, I'd love to check out her book too."

"Oh, her pen name? I think she said it's 'Rose.'"

The boy froze for a moment before hurriedly pulling a book out of his bag. He had just bought it that morning, which had made him late for class. His hands trembled slightly as he checked the cover, and there it was—the author's name: Rose.

"So… the author 'Rose,' whom I've been following for a year now, is actually Hanako-neesan?" he murmured in disbelief. A bright smile spread across his face as he looked up at the others. "Ma'am Iris, the author I've been talking about—Rose—it's Hanako-neesan!"

"EHHH?!" Iris and the older man exclaimed in unison, their astonishment filling the shop.

*Notes:

*Oneesan or neesan - is another suffix added to a person's name meaning older sister.