Chapter 46: Conversation
After chatting with Aoi for a while, Yuta parted ways with her. Their relationship had improved significantly. Yuta considered it unnecessary to tell Aoi about his writing.
After buying a mask, he waited by the roadside for Machida Sonoko. Wearing the mask, Yuta managed to avoid attracting attention from passersby or the staff at a nearby ice cream shop where he met Sonoko.
"Do you have a cold?" Sonoko asked with concern, noticing Yuta wearing a mask as they sat down.
It was summer, and wearing a mask was uncomfortable. Seeing that no one was paying him any attention, Yuta took it off.
"Yeah, but it's nothing serious. Thanks for coming."
Sonoko replied politely, "It's my job, after all. Do you want to wash your face?"
Yuta's face was a bit dirty, as if he had smudged it with something. He did this deliberately to avoid being recognized, so he just waved his hand dismissively, saying nothing more.
Sonoko didn't assume Yuta was careless about personal hygiene; she thought there must be another reason.
"You should stop working at construction sites. I have good news for you today. Considering your situation, I can personally lend you some money."
Yuta was curious. "Personally?"
Sonoko nodded with a smile. "Yes, I have some savings and not many expenses. Besides, you're a gold mine now. I'm confident you won't just disappear on me."
Yuta acknowledged that Sonoko was right. She was his editor, with access to his contact information and personal details. Moreover, the profits from his light novel went through her company, so he couldn't just walk away from the financial obligations.
"How long until the publishing money comes through?" Yuta asked, not rejecting her offer outright but wanting to know how long it would take to get paid. If it was too delayed, he might have to borrow money for the sake of the three children.
Machida Sonoko was well-informed about the situation and quickly said, "In about two or three days. The royalties from the first batch of publications should arrive within a couple of days."
Typically, the transaction takes place before printing begins, and payments start soon after.
The more renowned the author, the faster they receive payment. In contrast, new authors may experience delays due to their lack of fame, as publishers may choose to withhold payments initially. In this case, the person in charge at the library had already been in contact with the publisher, so the funds would soon be transferred to Yuta's account.
"The first batch of publications is probably sold out, right? How many copies were printed initially?"
Sonoko nodded and said, "The first volume sold the most. Now, all three volumes are being reprinted with increased quantities according to market demand. I calculated that you'll earn around 8 million yen this month, which is equivalent to my salary for two years. I'm so envious!"
Yuta wasn't very surprised by this figure. Instead of focusing on the amount of money he would receive, he found himself more interested in Sonoko's annual salary of over 4 million yen.
With an annual income of 4 million yen, her monthly salary would be around 333,333 yen, which was quite decent.
"It's much easier knowing the money will arrive in a couple of days. Thank you very much," Yuta expressed his gratitude to Sonoko.
Sonoko waved her hand dismissively. "I didn't really do much. I was originally thinking of lending you some money and maybe charging interest, but now it's not necessary."
Yuta smiled. "I wish you'd mentioned it earlier; I definitely would have borrowed it back then."
Earlier, Sonoko didn't realize how hard things were for Yuta, and they weren't all that familiar with each other anyway. Even now, they hadn't had many conversations.
After some small talk, Sonoko got to the main reason for her visit.
"I'm here to discuss the possibility of animating your novel. It has great potential. If it gets adapted into an anime, not only can you earn additional income, but it can also boost the original novel's sales through the anime's influence."
Yuta had been learning about the light novel industry, particularly the revenue side of things.
"I'm somewhat familiar with this. Once it's animated, I'll receive extra income from the TV stations that broadcast my work, and the more it's aired, the more I earn, right?"
Sonoko nodded. "That's roughly it. The initial airing will pay more, but reruns will pay significantly less. Each broadcast requires a separate licensing fee, although that amount isn't substantial. You should focus mainly on the novel itself."
They discussed the details regarding the animation, and once they reached an understanding, Sonoko shifted the conversation back to his novel.
"The publishing company is managing this novel for now. Do you have any new works planned?"
Yuta nodded. "I'll start preparing something in the next couple of days, but it might not be my primary focus."
He had many other things on his plate, so the novel wasn't his top priority.
Sonoko felt a bit disappointed, realizing it would take some time before a new piece would be ready. "Alright, once you have something written, let me take a look. I can offer some advice." After all, Sonoko was his editor and a very capable one at that, so it was only natural.
Yuta nodded. "Okay, then. I have other things to attend to, so I should get going."
"Alright, take care of yourself and try not to overwork." Sonoko noted how much thinner Yuta seemed since their last meeting, affirming he was a good man.
"Thanks," Yuta replied.
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