Hachiman's expression held a touch of helplessness. He thought, "Since I wrote it well, there's no need to put on such a serious expression. It's a bit scary, isn't it?"
"Then, Editor Machida, can my work be signed?" After hesitating for a moment, Hachiman tentatively asked.
"Of course, Kadokawa won't let go of such an excellent piece of work. Mr. Hikigaya, Ms. Kasumigaoka, please wait a moment. I'll prepare the contract right away," Sonoko Machida replied with a smile. She then got up to prepare the contract.
Kasumigaoka Utaha and Hachiman were once again the only two people left in the living room. The silence persisted, but now there was a trace of curiosity in Utaha's gaze as she looked at Hachiman. She hadn't anticipated that this guy, with his seemingly indifferent eyes, could write so well and receive such high praise.
From Editor Machida's words, she could gather that his work surpassed hers by more than just a little. To realize that someone younger than her could outshine her to this extent was quite unexpected.
This realization stirred a sense of unease in Utaha, who had always been regarded as a talented individual since her childhood.
Not long after, Machida Sonoko returned to the living room with two contracts.
"Okay, here are the contracts for the two of you. Take your time to go through them." Machida Sonoko distributed the contracts in her hand to both of them.
Hachiman took a look at the contract in his hand and nodded in approval. Seeing that they would receive a 12% share of the manuscript fee, he considered it to be quite good. The percentage might seem small, but it's essential to recognize that physical novels and online novels are entirely distinct in terms of printing and publicity. Bookstores undertake significant risks, and for a new author, a 12% share is indeed favorable.
Moreover, both of them would retain the copyright. Therefore, regardless of whether the work is adapted into a manga or anime in the future, they would receive a share of the proceeds once again.
After reviewing the contract, both of them found no issues, so they took pens, signed their names, and then handed the contracts back to Sonoko Machida.
"Congratulations to both of you on signing the contract. Now, you need to decide on a pseudonym. Of course, you can also use your real names," Machida Sonoko mentioned.
"A pseudonym? Then I'll go with 'Wakamono'!" After a brief contemplation, Hachiman settled on this pen name.
"Then I'll use the pen name Utako Kasumi." Utaha decided on her pen name at that moment.
"Wakamono? Utako Kasumi? Sounds good."
Machida Sonoko nodded, considering that pen names weren't a big deal as long as they weren't overly complicated.
"By the way, we'll also set up Kadokawa blog accounts for both of you. Make sure to manage your accounts when the time comes," Sonoko Machida reminded.
"Got it!" Hachiman and Utaha both nodded.
After finalizing the contract, Machida Sonoko checked the time and saw that it was already past twelve.
"It's lunchtime. You must be hungry. I'll treat you to lunch!"
"This... would it cost you, Editor Machida?" Hachiman hesitated.
"It's okay, it's okay, the company will cover it. Consider it a celebration for signing the contract," Sonoko Machida assured him with a smile, patting Hachiman's shoulder. Then, she turned to invite Kasumigaoka Utaha, saying, "Ms. Kasumigaoka, please come along."
"Editor Machida, you can just call me Utaha. Thank you," Kasumigaoka Utaha replied with a nod.
"Great! Let's go then! I'll treat you both to some delicious food," Machida Sonoko said enthusiastically, leading the way.
When the three of them walked out of the Kadokawa building, Komachi, who had been waiting in the shade, immediately ran towards Hachiman.
"Onii-chan!" Komachi called out excitedly to Hachiman.
"Komachi? What are you doing here?" Seeing his sister, Hachiman was taken aback. He couldn't understand why Komachi had come all the way to Kadokawa.
"Um... Hehe, I followed you, Onii-chan," Komachi admitted with a slightly embarrassed smile.
"What?" Hachiman exclaimed, a mixture of surprise and annoyance. "You came to Tokyo alone? What if you encountered any danger on the way?"
He was genuinely concerned about Komachi's safety. The thought of something happening to her made him anxious and worried.
"Komachi, know she was wrong." Seeing that Hachiman was really angry, Komachi shrank her neck, "It's because Onii-chan has been secretive all day long and hasn't told me, I was genuinely worried about you!"
In the end, Komachi's actions were driven by her concern for her older brother.
"Hey..." Hearing Komachi's explanation, Hachiman's frustration softened. He sighed, reached out to rub Komachi's head, and said, "I'm at fault this time. Just don't do something like this again, okay?"
Komachi's face lit up with a smile. "Sure thing, Onii-chan."
The siblings shared a moment of understanding and reconciliation.
"I apologize, Editor Machida. This is my younger sister, Komachi. She followed me to Tokyo today," Hachiman explained to Machida Sonoko with a hint of embarrassment as he pulled Komachi along.
"Don't worry about it. Your sibling relationship seems really wonderful," Machida Sonoko remarked with a smile, likely piecing together the situation. "Since she's your sister, Hachiman, why not join us for lunch?"
Utaha, observing the scene, couldn't help but feel a twinge of envy. As an only child, she couldn't fully comprehend the dynamics of a sibling relationship.
"Thank you for understanding, Editor Machida," Hachiman said sheepishly. Despite the added her sister, he knew he couldn't leave Komachi alone, especially if she hadn't eaten yet.
"No trouble at all," Machida Sonoko replied with a smile.
All four of them climbed into Machida Sonoko's car and before long, arrived at a seemingly modest-sized restaurant.
"Don't be fooled by its size; the taste here is exceptional," Machida Sonoko remarked mysteriously, introducing the place to the trio.
Gazing at the small restaurant, Hachiman's expression turned peculiar. He recognized the name of this restaurant as the "Yukihira Family Restaurant."
"That's correct, it's the restaurant run by the male lead, Yukihira Soma, and his father, Yukihira Joichiro, in 'Food Wars,'" Hachiman realized with a hint of surprise.
"Onii-chan, are you okay?" Komachi questioned, noticing Hachiman's unusual expression.
"It's nothing, just lost in thought," Hachiman reassured her, shaking his head.
As Hachiman mulled over his circumstances, he realized that his journey might not be confined to a single world. Meeting characters like Utaha Kasumigaoka and Machida Sonoko indicated a potential blending of worlds.
With this revelation came a mix of anxiety and hope. Hachiman pondered the possibilities, hoping that no overpowering characters from other worlds would disrupt the balance and happiness he sought.
However, who could predict the future? Hachiman realized he might be overthinking things, and his priority at the moment was to satisfy his hunger. Besides, he was genuinely intrigued by the cuisine attributed to Yukihira Joichiro. After all, in "Food Wars," Joichiro was renowned as one of the best chefs.
With his stomach growling, Hachiman eagerly followed Machida Sonoko into the restaurant, his face lit up with anticipation.