Time passed quickly, and in the blink of an eye, it was Wednesday, the day he had arranged to meet Kuriyama Akie.
Sitting in the Coffee Shop downstairs from Akiba Publishing House, Watanabe Yu raised his eyebrows and looked out the window thoughtfully.
The spot Kuriyama Akie booked was quite good: a Booth, by the window, quiet, and featuring One-way glass, thus offering great privacy.
The Street Scene outside was reflected in his Eyes.
It was the evening of Dusk, the city had not yet completely fallen into the deep night.
The Street was bustling with a Crowd, traffic flowed ceaselessly on the roads, and the Neon lights in the distance lit up, emitting dazzling rays of colorful light.
This Steel Forest seemed to have no intention of stopping.
The wine-red sunset crossed the city's Skyline, reflecting off the glass exterior of the distant Commercial building, refracting onto the ground, and spilling into the Booth.
Watanabe Yu narrowed his eyes, withdrew his Line of sight, avoiding the still-blinding light.
Buzz, buzz.
The Mobile phone on the table suddenly vibrated.
It was a message from the Saintess Young Miss.
Evidently, Amemiya Ayana had finished reading the complete version of *Norwegian Wood* he sent over the night before yesterday.
【Is this an autobiography?】
Seeing the text that entered his view, Watanabe Yu chuckled lightly, tapped his fingers lightly on the keyboard, typed a line, and clicked send.
【I am not as conflicted as Watanabe Toru】
He couldn't deeply relate to 'Watanabe Toru'; their personalities were completely opposite.
The message showed as read, and a reply followed immediately.
【What do you mean?】
【On some issues, I am much more straightforward; if I want something, I want it, and if I don't want it, I don't want it】
Amemiya Ayana was silent for a moment, then lightly tapped her slender fingers, typing out her question.
【If you faced the same predicament as 'Watanabe Toru,' having to choose one out of two, how would you choose?】
The same predicament?
Watanabe Yu frowned. With his personality, such a predicament wouldn't exist, but if it truly did.
He could only say that a Transmigrator doesn't do single-choice questions.
However, even thinking that way, he still had to reply.
【Does the Saintess Young Miss want to hear the truth or a lie?】
【Tell me the lie first】
【I am the Pure Love God of War】
【And the truth?】
【I am the Pure Love God of War】
Watanabe Yu put down his Mobile phone and chuckled lightly.
If he couldn't let go of either girl, then he would just take them both.
Wouldn't taking them both also be a form of pure love?
Your Yu-ge is going to redefine pure love today.
【??】
Amemiya Ayana didn't understand what Watanabe Yu meant.
【The strong don't do single-choice questions】
Watanabe Yu typed this line half-jokingly and half-seriously.
【……】
So you want them all, huh!?
He dreams beautifully!
Amemiya Ayana scoffed, but after thinking carefully, the corners of her mouth quietly curved upward again.
That answer was indeed one only he could give.
But then again, life isn't a novel; where are there so many 'multiple-choice questions' like that?
Just meeting one suitable person is already an excellent stroke of luck.
"I'm sorry, I'm late!"
As a voice full of apology sounded, a young woman in her mid-to-late twenties, dressed like a standard white-collar worker with shoulder-length Black Hair, came into Watanabe Yu's Line of sight.
"Are you Editor Kuriyama?"
Watanabe Yu stood up and asked politely.
"Yes, I'm sorry. I had an impromptu meeting right after work, which delayed me a bit." Kuriyama Akie nodded, explaining as she stepped back a pace, bowed, and apologized sincerely, "I am truly sorry, Teacher Watanabe, for making you wait."
She hadn't even managed basic punctuality today; it was a huge professional mistake and dereliction of duty.
"It's not that serious." Watanabe Yu quickly interrupted her. He understood this was Japanese social etiquette, but he really couldn't get used to it. "I haven't been waiting long either."
At most, he had only waited seven minutes.
It was fortunate, at least, that it was much faster than when he waited for his Brothers on the field before his Transmigration, and he could tell she hadn't done it on purpose.
"I'm sorry," Kuriyama Akie apologized again, raised her eyebrows, extended her hand, and gestured for Watanabe Yu to sit first. "Teacher Watanabe, please sit down."
Watanabe Yu hesitated for a moment, then gave up the idea of persuading her. Being called 'Teacher Watanabe' repeatedly made him truly uncomfortable, so he sat back down in the Booth.
He could sense that if he didn't sit down, she would maintain that posture indefinitely.
"Since I've delayed things a bit, let's save the small talk for later. Teacher Watanabe, can we discuss work first?"
Seeing Watanabe Yu sit down, Kuriyama Akie sat opposite him, then unzipped the Briefcase she was holding and placed a stack of A4 Paper printouts of the Contract on the table.
"Of course."
Watanabe Yu nodded; he didn't want to waste too much time on pleasantries yet.
Today was Wednesday; the exam was tomorrow.
He still needed time to Precipitate that evening.
Risa-nee had already told him that the commendation letter and Reward money from the Police Station would arrive next week, just as his results came out, allowing him to naturally receive a bit more.
"Teacher Watanabe, let's start with the Royalty matter first."
Kuriyama Akie chose to get straight to the point, proactively discussing the more sensitive topic involving finances. "Theoretically, for a newcomer in the Music Industry, the Royalty Percentage one can get is generally around 7% to 9%; 9% is considered quite high."
Watanabe Yu nodded in agreement.
He understood the situation regarding this aspect.
The Royalty for Physical Books in Japan is generally between 6% and 14%.
For a newcomer, the Royalty usually hovers between 7% and 9%. Occasionally, for exceptionally high-quality work, one might get 10%, but that is the rarest of the rare, reserved for the cream of the crop among newcomers.
"However, our Publishing House has always adhered to one principle: exceptional talent deserves exceptional treatment." Kuriyama Akie paused. "Only by providing sufficiently generous terms to such talent can we ensure they have good creative conditions and environment, allowing them to contribute to the Literary world's Career."
When she first walked into the President's Office and proposed those terms, the President looked at her as if she were insane.
If the President hadn't been so composed, she probably would have been kicked out of the office then.
But the President still agreed to look over *Norwegian Wood* thoroughly.
Then, the next day, the President, sporting Dark circles and an expression of Disillusionment, called her into the office early in the morning and increased the Royalty Percentage she had mentioned by another percentage point.
"Mm."
Watanabe Yu nodded cooperatively; he didn't take any of what she said seriously, mentally preparing for the possibility that they wouldn't agree on the Royalty Percentage today.
He was too familiar with these kinds of words.
Before his Transmigration, he had been subjected to this kind of PUA by Leaders countless times.
"Therefore, after considering all aspects, we have decided to take a brave step and make a bold attempt."
Kuriyama Akie pushed the Contract toward Watanabe Yu; the top document was the one detailing the Royalty Percentage. "Regarding Royalty, we can offer Teacher Watanabe 13.5%."
"But likewise, we hope our investment yields a return."
"In exchange, we want the first right of refusal for your next book."
Watanabe Yu felt he needed to change his tune.
In the end, being PUA'd wasn't such a big deal.
They were genuinely willing to offer good terms.
He should also show some sincerity in return.
"May I look at all the Contracts first?"
Watanabe Yu raised his Line of sight and met Kuriyama Akie's Eyes.
He needed to check if there were any hidden clauses or landmines in the Contract besides the 'first right of refusal' she mentioned.
2/2
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