For the FP link : http://www.fictionpress.com/s/2191842/27/
For the Soompi link: http://www.soompi.com/forums/index.php?s=&showtopic=176416&view=findpost&p=7834498
This chapter is a long one - 11 pages in MS Word. Originally, I was planning to make this chapter a direct narration of the Kosuke-Aya bidding scene; however, in the process I just thought of adding little Yuken-Shizuki and Tomo-Makiko scenes to make things more interesting.
Due to predictability also, I originally thought of NOT making Kosuke go to the ball. I was thinking of a 'gangster' attack prior to the ball so Aya herself couldn't come. However, it may disappoint some readers and I'm afraid that I might have a writer's block after coming up with such a complicated scene too early in the story. Those kind of things would come later.
Another thing about the Tomo-Makiko exit in this chapter. Actually, that interval has some significance in the next chapter. You'd know the reason why Tomo pulled Makiko out of the ball temporarily (although after me saying this, you could have gotten the idea).
I anticipate that probably on Chapters 30+, the plot will eventually turn from romantic to a little action-packed, considering that the main important characters has been built up and presented already. The Spectra gang and Miyazawa gang will now have a more active part and some Yamazaki Daisuke issues and political setups will be detailed. So yeah, the first 20+ chapters were typically a vast bulk of introduction.
F&L may sound a little cliche for the moment, but a lot of things are bound to be revealed in the upcoming chapters. I just hope I grab the time to finish them. Actually, my midway target is by the end of the year. I'm targeting until about chapter 32 to be finished within 2007.
To all the readers, both in Fictionpress and Soompi, I am very much thankful of the support I am getting. Thanks for the emails, PMs, messages that never failed to make me strive harder in making this story better and better. God bless! ~hiro
