"Hmm…"
Jun quickly recalled what her Old Man had said this morning while organizing her next words:
"Shouko Sensei, you can get 12% of the physical book's price, pre-tax.
After sales reach a certain threshold, it will gradually increase, with a cap of 20%. Then the Editor gets 2%, and the rest belongs to Futaba Publishing."
According to Futaba Publishing's usual initial royalty rate for new authors, which is 6%–8%, this one is different. As soon as she signed, she got the contract for a bestselling author.
However, to be fair, she is confident in Shouko Sensei's light novel. Even though he's a newcomer, it won't take long before he becomes a bestseller.
"Hmm." Tsuna nodded thoughtfully.
Shouko's gaze had already shifted to someone's face. Listening to all this made her head spin; she couldn't understand anything.
It was better to just look at Tsuna…
Following that, Jun went into detail about merchandise and derivative works, such as animation, manga, games, etc., and the specific revenue sharing for merchandise…
"Futaba Publishing will also bear the costs of printing, promotion, channel distribution, etc., and I don't need to pay the initial costs, right?"
Tsuna listened to her general explanation, then asked about the doubts in his heart, receiving a confirming nod from her.
He also asked a few potential issues, and the answers he received were that Daisuke had already roughly resolved them for him.
Afterwards, the two exchanged a few pleasantries. Shouko also joined the conversation, and when they had sat for long enough, Jun got up and left.
As she left, she didn't forget to urge Tsuna to send her the second volume as soon as possible.
Shouko waited for her to leave, glanced at the time, downed the remaining half-cup of drink, and stood up.
"Tsuna, let's go too."
"Since we're here, don't you want to order some of those small desserts?" Tsuna held her hand.
"Is that okay…?" Shouko's gaze swept over the menu at the counter.
She had been eating these high-calorie foods for the past two days. She secretly weighed herself this morning and had gained three or four pounds. If she continued to eat like this…
What if Tsuna disliked her for being fat in the future…?
Moreover, in her current condition, she couldn't lose weight excessively or engage in strenuous exercise, etc…
Tsuna instantly realized what she was hesitating about and blurted out impulsively,
"Don't worry, I won't dislike you for being fat."
As soon as he finished speaking, by the time he realized what he had said, it was too late. He should have said it more tactfully.
Shouko used her headbutt skill on him without hesitation, turned around, and quickly walked to the counter to order, wanting to order a few more small cakes to eat him out of house and home.
She wanted to eat up all his allowance for this month and then use her allowance to thoroughly humiliate him!
However, when the waiter finally served the order, he only brought one slice of cake and one drink.
Tsuna looked at her pushing the glass of juice toward him, a little confused. "Just one glass?"
"Tsuna, do I look like a pig?"
"…" He wanted to nod, but he desperately controlled that strong urge to court death.
Seeing him shake his head without hesitation, Shouko was very satisfied and dug the first bite of cake to feed him.
Afterwards, the two sat in the coffee shop for about thirty minutes before leaving. The conversation mostly consisted of Tsuna simply explaining the meaning of Fūno Jun's words to her.
Shouko also occasionally asked about things she didn't understand, while also admiring how much her Tsuna knew.
As for that glass of juice, someone only took a few sips at first, and then it no longer belonged to him.
---
The twilight spread like pale ink through the streets and alleys of Kyoto, and the stone lanterns of the Shrine lit up one after another with warm light.
There were still scattered remnants of snow on the branches of the weeping cherry trees by the Kamo River, but the river's reflection was already rippling with indigo waves.
"Tsuna, are you saying you want me to draw the childhood appearances of the main characters from Anohana within the next half month?"
Shouko suddenly sat up from someone's bed, a little surprised. He had just signed the contract, and she didn't expect to be put to use so quickly.
"Hmm…"
He looked back at the slightly bewildered Shouko. He knew this news was a bit sudden, but he didn't expect it to be this sudden…
After returning home in the afternoon, he rushed to edit the first volume and sent it to Jun, and also learned some news.
She had forgotten to mention it in the afternoon, but there was also the matter of the light novel illustrator. She said it was okay whether there was one or not, but it was best to have one.
At the same time, Jun also recommended an illustrator they often collaborated with at Futaba Publishing, but he refused without hesitation.
He stated that he knew an illustrator, and Jun also said it was fine.
As for the price, since it was someone Tsuna knew, Jun left it to him to negotiate. The illustrations could be added during printing, and the illustrator's name could also be included.
Tsuna organized his words. "Okay, they need to be finished within half a month, and then sent to Sister Jun for review.
If approved, they can be added when printing the books."
Shouko hugged a pillow nearby that was filled with Tsuna's scent and asked doubtfully, "Then do you want them in black and white or color?"
"Hmm…" Tsuna hesitated. Since he was doing it, he wanted to do his best, but he also considered that Shouko might be too busy:
"Both, I guess. Two in color, one of them as a child, and one as an adult.
The childhood one will be placed at the front of the book, and the adult one at the end. As for the black and white ones, draw five or six, place them at key plot points, closely integrated with the text content."
"Tsuna…" Shouko couldn't listen anymore and quickly interrupted him.
She still had classes within the next half month. Could she finish drawing so many?
And what about just drawing five or six? Just those two color illustrations, with her coloring and only being able to draw when she got back, that would take at least a week to start.
He walked to her side, sat down, and said reassuringly, "Don't worry, I know what you're going to say. I'll trouble you with the two color ones; I can draw the black and white ones."
"Then there's no problem. I guarantee I'll complete the task." A smile reappeared on Shouko's face.
In the past two years, she had also watched Tsuna's drawing skills grow. Although they studied different directions, she still trusted Tsuna with small illustrations.
"Sister Jun said that after you send them to her for review within half a month, they will rush-print five thousand copies within a month and put them into the bookstores that Futaba Publishing cooperates with."
"Mhm." She nodded, not very concerned about these things. All she wanted now was to go home, get her tablet, and start drawing.
"But these aren't the main points. The main point is the cost of hiring you as the illustrator for my novel."
He had previously looked into the issue of illustrator fees. New illustrators usually work on a per-piece buyout basis.
A single black-and-white illustration for a newcomer is around 20,000 yen, while color illustrations are 30% to 50% higher than black and white.
(20,000 yen ≈ 190 dollars in 2018)
There are also additional issues like character design, electronic versions, etc…
"Whatever, any amount is fine. Even if it's free, I can draw it." Shouko replied without hesitation.
"Aren't you afraid I'm a black-hearted boss? Making you draw over a hundred pictures for me for free? The kind who won't even give you food if you don't draw well later?"
"Not afraid…"
Shouko looked directly at the teasing gaze of someone beside her. As for the problem of not being given food, she would just steal his when the time came. Anyway, she didn't dislike him…
If he went too far, she would complain to Miyamura Auntie and let Auntie help her teach him a lesson.
And she could see him begging for mercy.
Tsuna seemed to see through the evil thoughts in her mind, raised his hand, and poked Shouko's fair forehead:
"However, telling you is useless. I'll leave it as a little surprise for you. Tomorrow I'll have Dad talk to Aunt."
It was a pity he wasn't a black-hearted boss, otherwise, he would have Shouko draw for him for free until she was old.
In a short while, that patch of skin began to turn slightly red. Shouko decisively slapped away his 'perverted hand', leaving behind one sentence:
"If you won't say it, then don't. Good night," she said, then got up and quickly left.
There was still half a month left. To draw perfectly, she had to race against time. At the same time, she was also looking forward to Tsuna's first light novel.
"Click…"
Tsuna stared at the closed door, thought for a moment, then also got up, opened the door, and went downstairs to the study to find Daisuke.
He wanted to talk to him about Shouko's illustrator fee issue. If possible, he would also have him sign the contract with Auntie tomorrow.
After all, Shouko was also a minor and needed a guardian to sign a contract.
Meanwhile, in the apartment Jun rented, she refused her colleague's dinner invitation and excitedly burrowed into bed, 'inspecting' the Second volume sent by Tsuna.
At the same time, she didn't forget to order dessert delivery from the shop she often bought from, scheduled for later. She wanted to celebrate her successful signing of Shouko Sensei with a dessert as a reward for herself.
As for managing weight and dieting, she would leave that for her future self to worry about tomorrow. For now, she just needed to enjoy herself.
Besides, how could she read a novel without eating something?
---
At 7:04 AM, the Tokyo sky turned a pale fish-belly white. The moment the all-way pedestrian signal at Shibuya Crossing switched to pedestrian crossing, crowds of students in dark blue uniforms flowed across the crosswalks like a thawing stream.
The automatic ticket gates at Shinjuku Station swallowed and spit out a tide of people in black suits, and half-awake office workers were compressed into the cross-section of a sardine can in the gaps of the train doors.
Yaeko arrived at the office as usual. Her subordinates greeted her warmly, and she nodded in response to each of them, while also not forgetting to urge them to speed up the proposal.
"Leader Nishimiya, President Miyamura wants you to go to his office."
"Okay."
Yaeko nodded in response and walked toward the office according to the memory in her mind.
At the same time, she was very confused, wondering if there was a problem with any aspect of the work.
Over the past ten-plus years, not only had her position been upgraded, but Daisuke's office had also been completely upgraded, with a wider range of businesses.
Moreover, according to the past in the office, her chances of seeing Daisuke were probably only when eating bento or holding some important meeting.
Sometimes she might not even see him for two or three days.
"Knock… knock… knock…"
"Come in."
Yaeko politely greeted Daisuke and went straight to the point: "President Miyamura, are you looking for me because there's a problem with work?"
Work is work, and life is life. When at work, she still had to address him as President Miyamura, unlike at home where she could call him by his name directly.
Moreover, the reason she could call him by his name privately was that they had known each other for over ten years, knew each other well (one-sidedly), and because she was best friends with Shizuka, plus the relationship between their children.
Otherwise, they could only address each other by their last name.
"Work is going very well, no problems. I'm even planning to promote you to Managing Director after a while."
Daisuke saw that she was a little nervous even after closing the door and sitting on the sofa opposite him, so he tried to lighten the mood.
Immediately after, Daisuke got straight to the point, took out a few contracts that had been printed early in the morning from the side, and handed them to her.
"These are…?" Yaeko took them doubtfully.
"Tsuna has a light novel that's going to be published as a physical book, so he has officially hired Shouko as the illustrator. These are for you as her guardian to review."
Daisuke briefly explained the reason, then stopped speaking, letting Yaeko take her time to read first.
"This…"
Yaeko quickly skimmed through them. In her heart, she had actually always thought Tsuna saying he wanted to be a light novel author was just talk.
She just didn't expect that even a physical book would be published so quickly. He really hadn't revealed even a hint of it…
At the same time, she also saw the fee Daisuke had offered for the collaboration, and she was very shocked.
To actually give Shouko 1% of the royalties from that light novel. Although she didn't understand much about this area, it didn't stop her from being shocked.
Looking at this formal contract, she also knew that Daisuke wasn't joking, and this fee was likely filled in by Tsuna and he had asked him for help.
Otherwise, how could he, being so busy, have time to deal with these children's antics? It wasn't even known if Tsuna's book could earn a fraction of that amount.
Yaeko finally asked a few simple questions, then wrote her name on the collaboration agreement, exchanged a few simple pleasantries with him, and left the office.
As soon as she walked out of the office, she put this matter out of her mind. It wasn't even known if Tsuna's light novel would be a big success, so work was still more important now.
She still had a pile of things she hadn't finished dealing with.
---
"Dong… dong… dong…!"
"Class dismissed."
Teacher Fujiro on the podium left this sentence, closed the textbook in her hand, turned around, and quickly left the classroom.
The quiet classroom instantly became noisy because of her departure. Those going to heat their bentos went to heat their bentos, while those going to the canteen had already rushed out of the classroom.
Nishikata was specifically mentioned among them.
"Shouko, what time did you go to bed last night?" Ajitani turned around and looked at the faint dark circles under her eyes, feeling both confused and curious.
"Huh…?" Shouko looked at her concerned gaze, feeling even more confused, while also forcing her shut-down brain to start working: "What's wrong?"
"Give me your bento to heat up. You can take a nap for a while?" Tsuna looked at her like this, unsure what to say for a moment.
He had already talked to Shouko about this early this morning. There was still one or two weeks left, so why rush so much?
"Okay, arigato." Shouko took the bento out of the desk compartment and handed it to Tsuna.
She turned around and explained a few words to Ajitani and Takagi, then lay down on the desk and started to fall asleep.
But both of them were completely confused. Later, Tsuna explained it clearly to them on the way to heat the bentos.
This naturally shocked the two of them again. If Nishikata had also been there, there would have been three people.
And Takagi didn't manage to control her expression this time. She couldn't have imagined it. Yesterday they were talking about signing a contract, and now they were saying a physical book would be released in a month, and Shouko was the illustrator? How could she not be shocked?
Later, when the three returned to the classroom, Tsuna didn't even need to wake Shouko; Ajitani couldn't wait to shake her awake.