Chapter 205: A Non-Perverted Book Signing Event

Chapter 205: A Non-Perverted Book Signing Event

“Alright, let’s call it then. We’ll meet at the Book Signing Event later!”

After nagging like a fussy mother for ages, Machida Sonoko finally seemed ready to hang up.

Himekoji Akito dug at his ears and breathed a sigh of relief.

“Oh, and remember to hide that perverted side of yours when the time comes!”

Finally, Editor Machida blurted that out hurriedly as she remembered something.

“……”

Since he couldn’t control it anyway, that was exactly why he didn’t want to join such a troublesome Book Signing Event!

Akito could only nod casually and murmur, “Sure, sure,” to brush her off.

After hanging up the phone, the timing was just about right.

Akito thought to himself—

It was definitely better to leave quickly now, while his Imouto was still asleep and hadn’t woken up yet.

Otherwise, once she latched onto him, it would mean another headache.

After all, something like a Book Signing Event must absolutely not be known to Akiko.

That was because, after this Book Signing Event was over, it was time for Akito’s new book promotion!

“Ore no Imouto ga Konna ni Kawaii Wake ga Nai”…

If his own Imouto found out he’d written a brother-complex themed book, oh boy, the outcome was just too scary to imagine!

Wouldn’t that make that girl’s head swell with pride?

No, even if he ignored the brother-complex theme of the new book, it was still bad!

Just letting his Imouto know he wrote novels was already super embarrassing! Really super embarrassing!

Also, his recently finished book “Shimoneta: A Boring World Where the Concept of Dirty Jokes Doesn’t Exist,” hmm… it wasn’t exactly something Akito could proudly show off to family and friends either.

Given that, there was no time to waste!

Akito packed his stuff and got ready to sneak out.

But as soon as he opened the door—

“Onii-chan, where are you going?”

His Imouto’s sleepy, dazed voice suddenly sounded from behind him.

Akiko rubbed her big, groggy eyes and just happened to walk out of her bedroom, yawning.

Oh crap, this was awkward…

Akito truly regretted spending an extra five minutes admiring himself in the mirror earlier.

Those five minutes had cost him the best chance to escape!

“I’ve got things to do. Didn’t I tell you yesterday?”

Akito had no choice but to turn around and explain with a forced smile.

“Then I’ll go with you, Onii-chan.”

“No need. You just woke up. Go wash up and have breakfast.”

“Onii-chan! Are you going on a date with some other stinky girl?!”

Suddenly, his Imouto straightened up, like a kitten whose fur was all puffed out. Her drowsy eyes instantly went wide and she stared straight at Himekoji Akito, not looking away even for a second.

Why did she have to be so sensitive?!

Was she some parent preventing early love, or a wife catching a cheat?

“No, it’s just other stuff.”

Akito shook his head seriously to deny it.

“What kind of other stuff?”

“Uh…”

How was he supposed to answer that?

“What thing is so secret that not even my beloved younger sister and wife can know about it?”

“Stop mixing in weird titles like that! You’ve done this several times!”

Akito quickly changed the subject with a grumble.

“Anyway! I’m heading off!”

Then, he threw out those words in a hurry, waved his hand, and fled.

“Hmph! Something’s fishy!”

Seeing Akito scurry away like he was afraid she’d follow, looking really flustered.

Akiko stomped her foot and wrinkled her little nose unhappily.

But not long after, Akiko suddenly remembered something and narrowed her eyes with a “Grin!” giggle.

“Hmph, my dumb Onii-chan, you’re still too young! Thinking you could get away from your wife-sister’s grasp like that?”

Her Brother Complex System had installed GPS tracking on Akito ages ago!

Perfect for catching cheaters!

The Book Signing Event was set up at the Fujisawa bookstore, run by the Fujisawa group.

Although the Book Signing Event wasn’t starting until nine o’clock, a long line had already formed outside the store early that morning.

“Hmm, it seems Koji-kun’s popularity is pretty decent.”

Noticing Akito seemed shocked by the readers’ enthusiasm, Editor Machida teased him, covering her mouth.

“Machida-san, how come even you’re using that silly nickname?”

Akito felt annoyed.

“Why, can only Koji-chan use it? Is this some lovey-dovey pet name?”

“……”

That one question left Akito speechless.

“Ahem, maybe let’s get started soon.”

“Yes, starting a bit early would be fine.”

Machida Sonoko nodded in agreement, then called over a nearby staff member and signaled them to let the readers in.

“Wow, is that Teacher Koji? No way! The real person’s this handsome!”

“I might become a fan just for that!”

That was a girl’s voice.

Himekoji was surprised to find that he actually had female fans!

He thought the audience for “Risque Jokes” would be all male readers.

Unexpectedly, this time at the Book Signing Event, many girls came, mostly wearing uniforms and looking like female high school students.

Wow, his heartbeat suddenly sped up!

Not because of excitement.

But nervousness—no, perhaps it was fear!

If it were all males at the Book Signing Event, Himekoji might have prayed for the System to let him off the hook.

But now…

Himekoji had already given up that unrealistic thought.

Although he had turned on “Option Immunity” when he came, since going through the “Kasumigaoka Dehydration Incident” last time, he had stopped expecting anything from it.

This unreliable skill was totally untrustworthy!

…

“Nice to meet you!”

“It’s such an honor to see you, Teacher Lu!”

Himekoji used the pen name Lu Qiu, which he picked for convenience back then.

Since Lu Qiu didn’t sound smooth, readers mostly called him Teacher Lu or Teacher Koji.

“Th…thank you.”

Feeling readers’ enthusiasm face-to-face in real life for the first time was really something new for Himekoji.

“Sign it for him, why are you staring?”

He almost forgot what he was doing, and it wasn’t until Machida Editor reminded him from the side that he snapped back.

“Ah, sorry.”

…

“Wow, Teacher Koji is so cute!”

“Were you daydreaming just now? Hah!”

Oh my god, he was actually called cute!

Himekoji found it hard to believe.

If this were at school, what he got would be totally different!

It went like this:

“Ugh, disgusting! That Pervert was daydreaming while talking—he must be thinking nasty things again!”

“The Pervert’s thoughts are leaking from his rotten eyes! Ew!”

…

So when people didn’t see him as a Pervert, the world was really this good!

Awesome!

He must be a proper, well-behaved “Teacher Lu” today!

Leave a good impression on the readers!

Himekoji made up his mind.

…

Cough.

But dreams are nice, reality is tough, and the System…

is perverse.

…

…