Monday morning arrived with the usual sounds of everyday life.
Arima Masaki sat at the dining table, calmly eating breakfast while his mother prepared to leave for work.
His crimson-red hair was slightly messy, and his deep-red eyes remained focused on the food in front of him.
Everything seemed ordinary.
Until the telephone rang.
"Masaki, could you get that for me, sweetheart? My hands are full!"
"Of course, Mother."
Masaki placed his chopsticks down and walked to the telephone.
"Hello, Arima residence."
"Good morning. Am I speaking with the Arima family?"
"Yes. May I ask who's calling?"
"My name is Sato, and I'm an editor at Silver Leaf Publishing. I'm calling regarding a manuscript titled Sword Art Online, submitted under the name Arima Masaki."
Masaki's expression changed slightly.
They're calling already?
He had expected to wait considerably longer.
"This is Arima Masaki speaking."
There was a brief silence on the other end.
"Oh! You're the author?"
"Yes."
"Wonderful. First, I'd like to thank you for submitting your manuscript. Our editorial team has reviewed it, and we'd like to arrange a meeting with you and your mother to discuss the possibility of publication."
Masaki's eyes brightened.
Behind him, Shiori had stopped what she was doing.
She had heard the words Silver Leaf Publishing.
Her hands immediately flew to her mouth.
"Really?" Masaki asked.
"Yes. Our editor-in-chief has also reviewed your work and is very interested in discussing it further. Would you and your mother be available to visit our office this coming weekend?"
Masaki glanced toward Shiori.
She nodded so enthusiastically that he almost smiled.
"Saturday would work for us," he answered. "We'll be happy to meet with you."
"Excellent. I'll arrange the details and call back with the exact time. Please bring a copy of your manuscript and any questions you may have about the publishing process."
"Understood. Thank you for contacting us."
"Thank you, Masaki. We look forward to meeting you both."
The call ended.
Masaki slowly returned the receiver to its cradle.
For several seconds, neither mother nor son spoke.
Then Shiori let out a tiny scream.
"MASAKI!"
She rushed toward him and grabbed his shoulders.
"They want to meet us! Silver Leaf Publishing actually wants to meet us!"
"Yes, Mother. I heard."
"They read your novel! They liked it enough to call us!"
"Apparently."
Shiori stared at him.
"How can you be so calm?!"
Masaki considered the question.
"Because we haven't signed anything yet."
Shiori froze.
Then she nodded seriously.
"…You're right."
A second later, she hugged him anyway.
"But this is still wonderful!"
Masaki returned her embrace, allowing himself a small smile.
For the first time since completing his manuscript, the future of Sword Art Online no longer felt like an abstract possibility.
Someone in the publishing industry had noticed it.
And now, they wanted to meet its author.
Saturday — Silver Leaf Publishing
Silver Leaf Publishing occupied several floors of a modern office building in the heart of the city.
Its lobby was clean and professional, with shelves displaying the company's published books and promotional posters featuring some of its more successful titles.
Shiori stood near the entrance, holding her handbag with both hands.
Beside her stood Masaki.
He wore a neat outfit chosen by his mother, his crimson-red hair carefully arranged and his handsome face as composed as ever.
His deep-red eyes drew curious glances from several people passing through the lobby.
Shiori noticed every single one.
My son is so handsome. How can anyone not notice him?
She straightened his collar.
"Masaki, are you nervous?"
"Not particularly."
"Not even a little?"
"We're here to discuss a business opportunity. There's no reason to be nervous."
Shiori stared at him.
Then she sighed.
"Sometimes I wonder which one of us is the parent."
Masaki smiled faintly.
Before she could say anything else, a familiar voice called from the reception desk.
"Arima-san?"
A young man approached them.
It was Sato.
He had been looking forward to this meeting all week, and he had even arrived early to make sure everything was prepared.
"Thank you for coming! I'm Sato, the editor who contacted you."
Shiori bowed politely.
"Thank you for inviting us. I'm Arima Shiori, Masaki's mother."
Sato returned the greeting.
Then he turned toward the boy standing beside her.
"And you must be…"
"Arima Masaki. It's a pleasure to meet you."
Sato stopped.
He looked at Masaki.
Then he looked at Shiori.
Then back at Masaki.
For a moment, his mind struggled to reconcile what he was seeing.
This handsome little boy, with striking crimson hair and deep-red eyes, was the author whose manuscript had kept him awake reading late into the night?
He had expected a young teenager, perhaps an unusually talented student.
He hadn't expected someone who looked so young.
"Wait…"
Sato blinked.
"Masaki, how old are you?"
"I'm still a child."
"That much is obvious, but—"
Sato stopped himself.
Shiori smiled apologetically.
"Masaki is quite young. I hope that won't be a problem."
"A problem?"
Sato shook his head quickly.
"No! Not at all!"
He looked at Masaki again, still astonished.
"I'm just surprised. Your novel reads as though it came from someone with considerable storytelling experience."
Masaki gave a polite nod.
"Thank you. I've spent a great deal of time thinking about the story."
Sato felt another wave of amazement.
The boy wasn't boastful. He wasn't desperately seeking praise. He answered with the composure of someone discussing an ordinary school assignment.
What kind of mind does this child have?
Sato recovered and gestured toward the elevators.
"Please, follow me. Editor-in-Chief Takahashi is waiting for you."
As they walked, Shiori leaned toward her son and whispered, "See? They're already impressed with you."
"Mother, we haven't even started the meeting."
"Let me enjoy this!"
Masaki could only sigh.
The Editor-in-Chief's Office
Editor-in-Chief Takahashi stood beside his desk when the visitors entered.
He had prepared a list of questions and several notes about the manuscript. After reading Sword Art Online, he had spent considerable time thinking about its potential.
Now he was finally meeting the person responsible for it.
"Welcome. I'm Takahashi, the editor-in-chief of Silver Leaf Publishing."
He shook Shiori's hand before turning toward Masaki.
"And you must be Arima Masaki."
"Yes, sir."
Takahashi extended his hand.
Masaki shook it politely.
Then Takahashi looked more closely at the boy.
His expression changed.
"…You're the author?"
"Yes."
"You wrote Sword Art Online?"
"Yes, sir."
Takahashi slowly sat down.
Sato, standing nearby, couldn't help smiling at his superior's reaction.
It was almost exactly the same response he had experienced earlier.
Takahashi adjusted his glasses.
"How old are you, Masaki?"
Masaki answered honestly.
The editor-in-chief stared at him.
Then he glanced at Shiori, as though expecting her to clarify that this was some kind of misunderstanding.
She smiled proudly.
"He really did write it himself."
Takahashi was silent for several seconds.
Finally, he let out a breath.
"Remarkable."
He gestured toward the chairs.
"Please, sit down. I must admit, I wasn't expecting the author of such an ambitious manuscript to be so young."
Shiori sat beside Masaki.
Takahashi opened the folder containing his notes.
"First, I'd like to tell you both that our editorial team was extremely impressed by your submission."
Shiori's eyes widened.
"Really?"
"Very much so."
He turned toward Masaki.
"The central concept is exceptional. A virtual reality game that traps its players, with death inside the game resulting in death in the real world, creates immediate tension. The objective of clearing one hundred floors gives the story a clear direction while leaving enormous room for future development."
He paused.
"More importantly, the premise isn't the only strength. The story makes readers want to continue. I intended to review a few chapters, but I found myself reading far more than I had planned."
Sato nodded vigorously.
"That's exactly what happened to me!"
Takahashi gave him a brief look before continuing.
"The world has potential. The characters have room to develop, and the situation creates opportunities for suspense, emotional conflict, and meaningful relationships. With careful editing and a sound publication plan, I believe this could become a successful series."
Shiori clasped her hands together.
She had believed in her son's novel from the moment she finished reading it, but hearing a professional editor describe its strengths made her heart race.
"Thank you so much. Masaki worked very hard on it."
"I can tell."
Takahashi looked directly at the boy.
"Masaki, I want you to understand something. Many aspiring writers come to us with interesting ideas. Far fewer can turn those ideas into a story that keeps readers engaged."
He tapped the manuscript.
"You've created a premise that is easy to grasp but broad enough to support a much larger narrative. That's a significant achievement, especially for someone your age."
Masaki listened carefully.
"Thank you for your assessment. I know there are areas I can improve, and I'm willing to work with your editors."
Takahashi's eyebrows rose slightly.
Even now, the boy wasn't asking whether his novel would make him famous. He wasn't demanding immediate publication or boasting about his talent.
He was talking about improving his work.
Takahashi exchanged a glance with Sato.
An unusual talent, and a sensible attitude to match.
"That's precisely the kind of response I hoped to hear."
He closed his folder.
"Which brings us to the reason we invited you here."
Shiori straightened.
Takahashi smiled.
"Silver Leaf Publishing would like to offer you a publishing contract for Sword Art Online."
For one heartbeat, the room went silent.
Shiori's eyes widened.
Masaki remained still, though his attention sharpened.
Then Shiori covered her mouth.
"Y-You want to publish his novel?"
"Yes, provided we can agree on the contract terms."
She turned toward her son.
"Masaki…"
Her voice trembled.
Masaki gently touched her hand.
"Let's hear their offer first, Mother."
Takahashi smiled at the exchange.
"An excellent point. We want this to be a positive arrangement for everyone involved."
Takahashi placed a document on the table.
"We've reviewed our options, and we'd like to offer terms that we believe are unusually favorable for a first-time author."
He explained that Silver Leaf wanted to develop Sword Art Online as a serialized fantasy novel, with the potential to release collected volumes if the series performed well.
The initial plan was to prepare the first installment for publication after the editorial process was completed.
"If we finalize the agreement soon, our target would be to release the first volume in approximately four months," Takahashi explained. "That timeline would allow our team to edit the manuscript, prepare the layout, commission an appropriate cover, and organize printing and distribution."
"Four months?" Shiori repeated.
"It's a target, not an absolute promise. We would rather delay the release slightly than rush the book and compromise its quality."
Masaki nodded.
"That makes sense."
Takahashi continued.
"We'd also like to discuss a serialization schedule. If the first volume performs well and we have sufficient material ready, we could plan subsequent releases according to reader demand and production capacity."
He then outlined the financial proposal.
Silver Leaf would pay an advance against future royalties, meaning Masaki would receive money before the book went on sale. The advance would be recouped from his share of future royalties, rather than requiring him to repay it personally if the book underperformed.
The proposed contract also included a royalty rate above the company's usual starting offer for an unproven writer, with the exact percentage and calculation method to be written clearly into the agreement.
On top of that, Silver Leaf was willing to provide professional editing, cover design, printing, distribution, and promotional support.
Shiori listened closely, occasionally glancing at the figures on the proposal.
Then she reached the advance payment section.
Her eyes widened.
She read the amount again.
And again.
"Excuse me…"
She looked up at Takahashi.
"Is this amount correct?"
Takahashi nodded.
"Yes. We believe the manuscript has considerable potential, and we'd like to show that we're serious about acquiring it."
Shiori looked down at the document once more.
It was far more money than she had imagined they might receive at this stage.
Her hands trembled slightly.
Masaki, however, remained composed.
"Could you clarify how the royalties would be calculated? Would they be based on the cover price or the publisher's net receipts?"
Takahashi paused.
Then a smile spread across his face.
"An excellent question. We'll specify the calculation basis, the payment schedule, and the reporting process in the contract. We want you to understand exactly how your earnings would be determined."
Masaki continued.
"And what about the rights? Would Silver Leaf own the entire story, or would I retain ownership while granting the company publication rights?"
"We're proposing a publishing license rather than a complete transfer of ownership. The precise scope, duration, territories, and any rights for adaptations or other formats would be stated in the agreement. We would negotiate those separately rather than automatically taking every possible right."
Masaki nodded thoughtfully.
That was much better than a vague promise.
Takahashi folded his hands.
"I'll be honest with you. Silver Leaf is eager to publish this novel. We believe it could become an important title for our fantasy division, and we want to make the arrangement attractive enough that you feel comfortable working with us."
Sato added, "We also want to support you as you develop as a writer. You'll have an editor assigned to work with you, but our goal is to improve the manuscript without losing what makes your story special."
Shiori looked at her son.
He was listening to every detail, asking sensible questions, and carefully considering the offer.
She had expected to help him through the meeting.
Instead, she felt as though she were watching a young professional negotiate his first major opportunity.
My son really is amazing.
Takahashi seemed to share her thoughts.
"Masaki, I hope you won't take this the wrong way, but your mind is extraordinary. Your age makes your achievement even more surprising, but we're interested in your work because we believe in the story itself."
Masaki gave a small bow.
"Thank you. I appreciate your confidence in my novel."
"Then I hope we can build something wonderful together."
The meeting continued for another hour.
They discussed editing schedules, the first volume's length, cover artwork, promotional materials, and the process for approving revisions.
Masaki insisted on having the right to review substantial changes to the story, while accepting that professional editing would be necessary.
Takahashi agreed that significant alterations should be discussed with the author.
They also discussed payment timing, royalty statements, and the importance of keeping records of every agreement.
Because Masaki was a minor, Shiori would need to be involved in reviewing and signing the contract, subject to the applicable legal requirements.
Takahashi encouraged them to take the proposed agreement home and review it carefully. He made it clear that the offer would remain open for them to consider, rather than demanding an immediate signature.
"We want you to feel confident about this decision," he said. "Please take the time to read everything. If you have questions, we'll answer them."
Shiori bowed deeply.
"Thank you. We truly appreciate this opportunity."
When the meeting finally ended, Sato escorted them back toward the lobby.
He was still visibly excited.
"I'm looking forward to seeing this story reach readers," he told Masaki. "I have a feeling people are going to be talking about it."
Masaki smiled politely.
"I hope so. I'll do my best to make the story worthy of their attention."
Once they stepped outside, Shiori stopped walking.
She looked down at the folder in her hands.
Inside were the proposed contract, the financial offer, and the preliminary publication schedule.
It all felt unreal.
"Masaki…"
He turned toward her.
Shiori's eyes were already filling with tears.
"We actually did it."
"Not quite yet. We still need to review the contract."
"I know!"
She laughed through her tears.
"But they want to publish your novel! They believe in your story!"
She pulled him into a tight embrace.
"My son wrote a novel, and a real publishing company wants to publish it!"
Masaki returned her hug.
For a moment, he simply held her while she cried against his shoulder.
He had started writing for one reason: he wanted to help his mother.
He had hoped the novel might earn them some extra money, perhaps enough to ease the pressure of everyday expenses.
He hadn't expected an offer this promising so quickly.
But the most important thing wasn't the advance payment or the possibility of future royalties.
It was the smile on his mother's face.
"Mother," he said softly, "we'll take this one step at a time."
Shiori wiped her eyes and nodded.
"Yes. We'll read every page of that contract."
"And make sure we understand the terms."
"And make sure they don't take advantage of my genius son!"
Masaki sighed.
"That's a little dramatic."
"I'm your mother. Being dramatic is my right."
He laughed.
And Shiori laughed with him.
That evening, they sat together at their dining table.
The proposed contract lay between them.
Shiori carefully read each section while Masaki made notes about questions they wanted to ask Silver Leaf.
They would review the advance, royalty calculations, publication rights, deadlines, and cancellation provisions before making a final decision. If anything remained unclear, they would seek qualified advice before signing.
They weren't going to let excitement replace good judgment.
Still, their optimism was difficult to contain.
If they accepted the offer after reviewing the terms, Sword Art Online could be published within months.
Readers might discover Aincrad.
They might become invested in Kirito's journey.
They might eagerly await each new installment.
And if the series succeeded, the royalties could provide Masaki with a way to help his mother for years to come.
Shiori looked at her son.
"I'm proud of you, Masaki. Not just because they want to publish your novel, but because you worked so hard to make it happen."
Masaki smiled.
"Thank you, Mother."
She reached across the table and took his hand.
"No matter how successful you become, promise me you'll keep enjoying what you do."
"I will."
"And don't forget that you can always rely on me, too."
Masaki squeezed her hand.
"I know."
Outside, evening settled over their modest home.
Inside, a mother and son sat together, carefully examining the first major opportunity their shared effort had brought them.
Across the city, Takahashi was already preparing a plan to develop Sword Art Online into one of Silver Leaf Publishing's flagship fantasy titles.
He knew there were no guarantees in publishing.
The market was unpredictable, and even promising novels could struggle to find readers.
But he believed the manuscript had something special.
And he intended to give it a genuine chance.
For Arima Masaki, the contract represented far more than a business agreement.
It was the beginning of a new path.
A path toward financial independence, recognition, and the possibility of turning a story from his previous life into a phenomenon in this one.
He closed the folder and looked toward his mother.
"Let's make this work."
Shiori smiled brightly.
"Together."
End of Chapter 9