Uchiha Byakuya wasn't going to check on the publication progress of his own work, but rather to check the sales performance of Yoshimura Eto.
As expected, Eto's work, 'Dear Kafka' had started selling like crazy.
Although the initial sales weren't very good, they soon began multiplying, and now sales were skyrocketing daily.
The pen name "Takatsuki Sen" would probably become famous with just this one book alone.
Byakuya immediately went back and told Eto this good news.
"I have some good news. Want to guess what it is?"
As soon as he got home, Byakuya spoke to Eto.
"Oh? Keeping me in suspense now? At least give me a hint, otherwise how am I supposed to guess?"
Eto said.
"Alright, I'll give you a hint. It's about your book, 'Dear Kafka'."
Byakuya said.
With that hint, there wasn't really any need to guess around anymore.
"You mean the sales are doing well?"
Eto asked, rather conservatively.
With the time she and Byakuya have spent together, she hadn't really paid any attention to how her book was selling.
"More than just doing well, the sales are already exploding. Give it a bit more time and you'll be a well-known author."
Byakuya said.
"Really? That's actually not bad at all!"
Hearing that her book was blowing up, Eto was naturally very happy.
"Of course it's true. I told you before, didn't I? That your book would definitely be a bestseller."
Byakuya said.
"You really do have a good eye... I guess I'll admit that."
Eto suddenly thought back to the past, back when she and Byakuya had first met, how the latter stopped her when she stole some driver's wallet, "So, can I assume that you already knew about my identity as a Ghoul even back then?"
Byakuya wasn't surprised at the question, in truth, he had been expecting it for some time.
"Yeah, I've had a feeling.."
He said.
Upon hearing this, Eto fell silent.
After a while, she deliberately put on a sickly smile and said, "That's right, so even knowing how twisted and vicious of a person I could be, you still got close to me?"
Byakuya looked straight at her as he answered.
"Of course I did. Besides, didn't I tell you? I already liked you back then."
Byakuya said.
"Forget it. I can see now that you're way past saving. There's no point teasing you anymore."
Eto said, wearing a faint smile.
"Yeah. Even now, what I want is for all of you, especially you to live well."
Byakuya said at once.
"That's a little sappy… but I don't dislike it."
At that moment, the hand Eto had wrapped around Byakuya's arm tightened a bit more.
"Since that's the case, from today on you'll have to always be in my eyesight, with me till the end.."
In Eto's heart, before she had met Byakuya, the only person she truly acknowledged as close was her adoptive father, Noroi, who had raised her.
That was also why, even after Noroi was killed, she still used her own kagune to create the current version of Noroi, that is; Noro.
If she, who was always alone since, had never met Byakuya, then she truly felt from the bottom of her heart that she likely would've remained utterly alone until the very end.
"Today, I finally managed to dig out some secrets from you again.."
Eto looked away again, "Really though, I didn't have many expectations for my book, so thanks.. "
Eto muttered.
She really didn't expect anything from her work, she just wanted to make a bit of money, but after hearing Byakuya say it day after day, that it would be a success; she had no choice but to believe it.
"Of course. As long as Takatsuki-sensei performs as usual, every book will be a hit."
Byakuya said with absolute confidence.
"I already told you, stop calling me Takatsuki-sensei. Call me Eto."
Eto emphasized once again, a little more forceful.
"Alright, alright, Eto-sensei."
Byakuya said with a smile.
"If you forget again, I'll bite you!"
Eto bared her little teeth in a threat.
"I won't forget again…"
Byakuya replied, a little awkwardly.
"By the way," Eto's tone suddenly became a lot more focused.
"If you're from the Sunlit Garden of the Washuu, what about your parents?"
Byakuya looked a little conflicted, he did have parents back in his original life but in this one, he couldn't really say it like that.
"They're.. gone."
"Well, that really is a bit of a shame."
Eto said with a hint of regret.
She thought about how Byakuya had already met her father but she could never meet his parents like that.
Byakuya let out a quiet sigh.
It was rare for Eto to see Byakuya show this kind of expression, it seemed he really did miss his family a little.
"But I'm your family now too. Even if they're gone, you can just treat this place as your home."
Eto said, comforting Byakuya.
"Yeah.."
Byakuya nodded.
Even if there never truly was a chance to go back, he definitely would want to return to his original world, even if just once.
He could also let his family meet Eto, but of course, that was an impossible wish.
After that, Byakuya and Eto went about their day as usual. When there was nothing else to do, they would sit in the café.
Both of them sat there with their laptops, writing.
There was no need to mention Eto, she was always writing.
As for Byakuya, he was also working on his new project.