“Of course, no problem.”
Kuriyama Akie nodded, giving an affirmative answer.
The contract was brought out precisely to be shown to someone; refusing to show it and only asking for a signature would be the problem.
“Please wait a moment, Editor Kuriyama.”
Hearing this, Watanabe Yu stopped making polite remarks, picked up the stack of contracts, and began to read them carefully.
Because he was always signing contracts before his transmigration, he was quite sharp regarding certain keywords.
His line of sight slowly moved down, and the contents of the contract appeared line by line before his eyes.
From the responsibilities that Party A and Party B needed to bear, to the specific revenue sharing, and the copyright ownership issues, everything was stated quite clearly in this contract, with no ambiguous wording, and certainly no hidden landmines.
The situations he had worried about previously did not appear in this contract.
Many clauses involving interests were based on the industry standards he was familiar with.
And on some clauses, just as Kuriyama Akie had said, Akiba Publishing House showed considerable sincerity, offering very lenient terms.
Based on the data he had reviewed, those lenient terms were only enjoyed by a small group of well-known authors in the industry.
In other words, Akiba Publishing House was giving him the treatment reserved for near-famous authors.
What surprised him somewhat was the initial print run quantity that Akiba Publishing House had specified in the contract.
According to Akiba Publishing House’s intention, 《Norwegian Wood》 would have an initial print run of thirty-five thousand copies.
The unit price was set at 1,500 Japanese Yen.
After deducting personal income tax, the amount he would receive was around 6.67 million Japanese Yen.
It was a sum of money that could change his current living situation.
“I’ve roughly finished reading the contract; these are indeed very generous terms.” Watanabe Yu put down the contract and raised his eyebrows, looking at Kuriyama Akie, “Regarding the royalty, how long until it’s deposited?”
He admitted that this question sounded a bit embarrassing.
But earning money is never shameful!
“Generally, it’s within three business days after signing the contract.” Kuriyama Akie met Watanabe Yu’s line of sight, “However, the efficiency of Akiba Publishing House’s finance department is very high; it should be deposited within two business days.”
She was quite used to questions like this.
Most authors are like this the first time they sign a contract and receive royalties.
“Where do I need to sign?”
Since his doubts were resolved, Watanabe Yu didn't intend to dawdle any longer. He took out his fountain pen and personal seal from his pocket.
He had casually stuffed them into his pocket while changing into his casual wear at home.
“Teacher Watanabe, you need to sign one contract in triplicate.” Kuriyama Akie stood up, “May I sit next to you? It will be more convenient for communication this way.”
“You may.”
Watanabe Yu gave an affirmative answer.
“Pardon me.”
Kuriyama Akie nodded slightly, sat down next to Watanabe Yu, and then guided him on where to sign and affix his seal.
By the time all the necessary signatures were complete, the lights outside the coffee shop were already coming on, and the boundless night sky had swallowed the entire city.
“Well then, I’ll be leaving now. Contact me on Line if anything comes up.”
“Yes, please take care.”
After saying goodbye to Kuriyama Akie at the coffee shop entrance, Watanabe Yu set off on his way home.
Akiba Publishing House was not far from where he lived, a straight distance of three kilometers.
The subway would certainly be faster, but he decided to walk home.
He needed time to process his current feelings before making his next plan.
With the royalty sum stated in the contract, his life would visibly become more comfortable.
He wouldn't have to live so tightly budgeted anymore, nor would he need to ask his parents in Okinawa for living expenses.
Renting a nicer apartment would also be simple.
However, purchasing real estate was still a long and arduous journey.
So, he had to keep working hard!
Watanabe Yu raised his hand and gently patted his cheek; the pain helped him focus.
At this moment, he, the transmigrator, had finally taken a milestone step in this parallel world.
Next, he needed to focus his mind on another project: copying songs.
Compared to novels, music generated money much faster.
Thanks to the online sales model for digital music, and single prices ranging from 100 to 200 Yen per track, the vast majority of people who enjoy listening to music are willing to pay for songs they like.
If they don't want to buy songs one by one, major music apps also offer other listening methods: monthly subscriptions or free listening by watching ads.
Without exception, just like purchasing singles, the songwriter also earns revenue.
Previously, he lacked channels and his vocal skills were poor, but now, Hayakawa Naoko had arranged everything for him in a turnkey fashion.
Watanabe Yu slowed his pace, raised his line of sight, and looked at the crosswalk not far ahead.
The evening street scene was reflected in his eyes.
Not far away, at the crosswalk, an exhausted office worker had just breathed a sigh of relief a second ago, only for his mobile phone to ring the next second. With a look of helplessness, he could only take a deep breath, take out his phone, force a smile, and answer the call.
This is life.
Watanabe Yu sighed inwardly, then withdrew his gaze, subconsciously quickening his pace.
After passing two or three intersections and turning from the main road into the road leading to the residential area, he suddenly spotted a familiar figure.
That beautiful figure emerged from a corner about three or four meters away from him.
Ryoko Hamabe was dressed the same as that day.
A faded short-sleeved shirt, simple jeans, and a pair of sneakers.
The only difference was probably the two plastic bags she was carrying, which looked unusually large compared to her frame.
From Watanabe Yu’s perspective, he could clearly see the contents inside the semi-transparent plastic bags.
—It was discounted vegetables and meat with discount labels stuck on them.
【And so, you meet again at the corner, is it fate, destiny, or a more romantic predestination?】
【Love option triggered again】
【Should you ask her, ‘Would you like to come and live at my place?’】
System Bro, you’re starting to speak inappropriately for the occasion again!
Ignoring the mechanical prompt sounding in his ears, Watanabe Yu chose plan C between staying put to wait a moment and tailing someone like a stalker.
He quickened his steps, caught up to the beautiful figure, and proactively greeted her, “Senior Ryoko Hamabe!”
Hearing this, the walking figure paused for a moment, then turned her head with some confusion.
Upon seeing that it was Watanabe Yu, her cold expression softened slightly.
“Junior Watanabe.”
Ryoko Hamabe nodded slightly and returned the greeting.
“Did you just finish your procurement?”
Watanabe Yu raised his eyebrows and openly started the topic of conversation.
The two started chatting as they walked.
“Yes.”
Ryoko Hamabe nodded, and as she stepped into the gloom, she subtly moved the hands holding the bags.
The weight exceeded what she usually carried, causing her hands to ache from being squeezed.
“Shall I carry them for you?”
Watanabe Yu noticed her small action and offered.
The Old Granny had always treated him well; it was only right to lend a hand to her granddaughter at a time like this.
“No need, I can manage myself.”
Ryoko Hamabe shook her head, and under the streetlights, a hint of stubbornness appeared on her fair little face.
Since she started depending solely on her grandmother, she had never relied on anyone else.
“You can manage my foot, your hands are already red from being squeezed.”
Watanabe Yu bluntly exposed Ryoko Hamabe’s lie without holding back.
Under the white light of the streetlamp, her small, reddened hands were too conspicuous.
“…I can manage!”
Ryoko Hamabe bit her thin lips, lifted her little face, and subconsciously quickened her pace.
“I know you can manage, but I know even better that if Grandma saw your hands squeezed like that, she would feel heartbroken.”
Watanabe Yu kept pace with Ryoko Hamabe, calmly reminding her.
“…I’m used to it.”
Ryoko Hamabe turned her head away, a hint of obstinacy in her cold voice.
“……”
Watanabe Yu stopped arguing with her, grabbed her wrist, and took one of the bags from her hand, lifting it.
She resisted briefly but couldn't snatch it back from him.
“Senior Ryoko Hamabe, you don’t want Grandma to worry about you either, right?”
Seeing that Ryoko Hamabe still intended to fight for it, Watanabe Yu delivered this classic line.
As soon as he finished speaking, Ryoko Hamabe immediately settled down.
She didn't reply, just remained silent.
She couldn't refute Watanabe Yu on that point.
She knew very well how much her grandmother doted on her.
The two fell silent.
After walking silently for two minutes, she was the one who initiated the topic of conversation.
“Thank you.”
Ryoko Hamabe lowered her eyebrows and thanked him softly.
“You’re welcome.” Watanabe Yu chuckled lightly. That’s better, be more straightforward, “But speaking of which, why the sudden large purchase?”
These discounted items were only enough for one or two days at most.
Buying too much—yes, the refrigerator could store it, but it wouldn't be as fresh. Furthermore, going to buy groceries every two days wasn't a high frequency.
“In a few days, I’ll be going to the hospital to provide care, so I won’t have as much time to buy groceries every day.” Ryoko Hamabe explained, “So, I thought I’d buy more at once.”
“Hospital care?”
Watanabe Yu keenly caught the key point.
The Old Granny’s physical condition seemed to be worse than he had imagined.
Before, he only thought she was frail and needed rest, perhaps taking some medicine at most.
Now it seemed he had been too optimistic.
“Grandma’s health has never been very good.”
Ryoko Hamabe carefully chose her words and gave a tactful answer.
“Then, what did the doctor say?”
Watanabe Yu asked with some concern.
“The doctor…” Ryoko Hamabe paused, forcing a smile, her fair little face sinking into the Darkness not reached by the streetlights, “It’s not too serious.”
There was no need for Watanabe Yu to worry along with her.
“That’s good then.”
This time, Watanabe Yu did not notice the microexpression on her face.
“Speaking of which, the exam is tomorrow, right?”
Ryoko Hamabe coughed lightly and proactively changed the topic.
Unknowingly, the two had already walked into the road of the residential area where they lived.
“Yes.”
Watanabe Yu nodded; he planned to go back and review his books.
Money was secondary; the main thing was wanting to review the old to learn the new.
He desired progress too much.
“Have you reviewed?”
Ryoko Hamabe tilted her head and asked this question.
“Usually, when you ask your classmates if they’ve reviewed for an exam, they generally say…”
Watanabe Yu didn't finish his sentence, just looked silently at Ryoko Hamabe.
“Haven’t reviewed at all.”
Ryoko Hamabe’s lips curved up unconsciously.
Don’t ask; the answer is no review.
“So then.” Watanabe Yu threw the question back to her, “Have you reviewed?”
“No.”
Ryoko Hamabe shook her head without thinking.
“Do you think I believe that?”
Watanabe Yu rolled his eyes.
Even he, the cheater, had to review.
So, Ryoko Hamabe, are you even more of a cheater than me?
“I think you probably would believe me.”
Ryoko Hamabe blinked.
“Then congratulations, you guessed wrong.”
Watanabe Yu gave an insensitive ‘harrumph’.
What a joke; how could he possibly believe such an obvious lie?
“That dish you brought over the other day tasted great!”
Ryoko Hamabe didn't dwell on that topic, instead shifting to something else that interested her, “I checked on my mobile phone; was that Chinese cuisine?”
“Yes, to be precise, it’s one of the most basic dishes in Chinese cuisine.” Watanabe Yu paused, “But achieving the level I cooked it to that day is still quite difficult.”
To cook home-style dishes well still requires talent, effort, and precipitate.
To put it simply, the great way is simple.
“Hmm, Fried Rice Immortal!?”
For some reason, this nickname popped into Ryoko Hamabe’s head.
“Immortal for that? If that counts as an Immortal, then there are too many titles I could claim.”
Without bragging, he actually possessed quite a few talents, such as Tomato and Egg Stir-fry Immortal, Shredded Pork Immortal, Beef Immortal, and so on.
The titles preceding his name could easily fill seventy or eighty characters.
The kind that, if introduced by a host on a TV show, would leave the host looking pale and nearly suffocating from lack of air.
“So immodest?”
Ryoko Hamabe turned her head, looking at Watanabe Yu with an expression that was both laughing and crying.
This guy was completely different from the other boys she had interacted with. His demeanor was much more casual, yet it didn't make him seem frivolous or annoying; instead, chatting with him was interesting.
She herself hadn't even noticed that her tone was much livelier than usual.
“This is just stating facts. More is more, less is less. Besides, if young people aren't a bit bold, are they still young people?”
Watanabe Yu said this half-jokingly, half-seriously.
If you know something but claim you don't, unless you are brewing up a pig-eating-tiger scenario, you are truly foolish.
And there’s no need to hide one’s abilities; this isn't some cruel fantasy novel where the main character frowns slightly and retreats behind everyone.
“I suddenly feel like many girls would enjoy chatting with you.”
Hearing this, Ryoko Hamabe shook her head, a hint of emotion in her eyes.
A handsome appearance is rare, but appropriately humorous wit is even rarer.
“Why are you always so limited?” Watanabe Yu pouted, “Why can’t it be that both boys and girls enjoy chatting with me?”
On this point, he considered himself quite successful.
“That’s true.”
Ryoko Hamabe nodded, but a trace of sadness flashed through her eyes.
She wasn't someone skilled at socializing, and coupled with past experiences, it resulted in her emotions and nerves always being sensitive when interacting with people.
Over time, she became someone who preferred to be alone.
“Of course, if the people chatting with me are all pretty girls who also explode gold coins for me, I might reluctantly limit myself to that.”
Watanabe Yu made a small joke.
“Heh, you dream too big, Junior Watanabe!”
Ryoko Hamabe rolled her charming eyes.
“Thinking realistically takes one day, and dreaming takes one day. So why not choose the option that makes you happy?”
Watanabe Yu slowed his pace and walked into the entrance of Yaragi-kyo.
“…Why not choose the option that makes you happy?”
Ryoko Hamabe was quiet for a moment, repeating softly.
“But while that sounds good, everyone’s experiences are different, their circumstances vary, and the situations they face are different, so you can’t generalize.”
Watanabe Yu paused, letting Ryoko Hamabe go up the stairs first while he followed, “Life isn't a fixed problem. It’s unrealistic to try and solve all of life’s problems by clinging to one or two formulaic ‘life philosophies.’
“Ultimately, the only one who can truly make you happy is yourself.”
Similarly, the only one who can pull you out of the mire is yourself.
As he finished speaking, Ryoko Hamabe quieted down.
She gently pursed her red lips and subconsciously looked toward Watanabe Yu.
The corridor light, old and worn, was somewhat gloomy.
But in her eyes, he seemed to be glowing.
The two reached the second floor, standing before their respective doors.
After handing the plastic bag back to Ryoko Hamabe, Watanabe Yu took out his key, opened his door, and walked in.
“Well then, goodbye.”
“Goodbye.”
Sorry, the update is late today because I was seeing a friend off home.
Four thousand seven, combined update.
Please vote! Please track the read! *Bang bang bang*, I’m bowing to everyone!