After leaving school, Kamigawa Saku took a short walk and arrived at the agreed-upon café.
Pushing the door open, his eyes immediately landed on sumimi's manager, Shizuko Shiraishi.
Without hesitation, he walked over, sat down across from her, and greeted her with a smile.
"Let me reintroduce myself—I'm Kamigawa Saku, the composer of the song in question."
"So it really was you," Shizuko Shiraishi replied.
She had suspected as much when they first met. Seeing him arrive alone today confirmed her earlier guess.
"It seems you had me figured out from the start," Kamigawa Saku said as he placed his coffee order with a passing server.
"You gave me the clues, Kamigawa-san. Without them, I wouldn't have guessed," she replied modestly.
"With such obvious hints, it's only natural that someone as sharp as you would figure it out," he remarked, engaging in the usual polite exchange of compliments.
The conversation remained light until the server brought over their coffees. Then, the atmosphere shifted, becoming more serious.
"Well, let's get down to business."
Kamigawa Saku casually added a few sugar cubes to his coffee, stirring as he spoke.
Shizuko Shiraishi nodded, her tone professional as she retrieved a contract from her bag and handed it to him.
"This is the purchase proposal our company has drafted for your song. Please take a moment to review it thoroughly," she said.
"If you have any questions or concerns, don't hesitate to ask."
"Understood."
Kamigawa Saku took the contract and began to read.
"Our company believes we're offering the highest market price available, so please consider it carefully," she added before falling silent to give him space.
---
After a brief review, Kamigawa Saku realized her words were true.
The price was indeed generous—far above what one would expect for a newcomer like him.
It was clear they weren't undervaluing him, and the terms of the deal were nothing short of sincere.
Moreover, the clause specifying that the song was exclusively for sumimi was clearly outlined.
The deal was as good as one offered to top-tier composers, with no room for improvement.
Initially, Kamigawa Saku had mentally prepared for a scenario where he'd have to call out an unfair price and impressively negotiate.
But now, it seemed those preparations were unnecessary.
Of course, this made sense.
A competent management team would immediately recognize the economic value behind a song like the learning-card-enhanced Ichishizuku Sora and do everything in their power to secure it.
"I'm very satisfied with the price," Kamigawa Saku said, closing the contract. "I'll have my lawyer review it. If everything checks out, we can finalize the deal."
Despite his familiarity with contracts as an influencer, he still believed in getting a professional opinion.
Better safe than sorry.
"That's perfectly reasonable," Shizuko Shiraishi replied. She reached into her bag again and pulled out another contract.
"In the meantime, please take a look at this one as well."
"Oh?"
Kamigawa Saku accepted the document, a suspicion forming in his mind.
When he glanced at the cover, his hunch was confirmed.
They want to sign me.
Opening the contract, he began reading carefully.
It wasn't surprising that the company wanted to sign him.
From their perspective, someone who could compose such a high-quality song at his age was undoubtedly a prodigy.
Letting him slip away would be a monumental loss.
After a quick read-through, he noticed how flexible the terms were.
There was no clause demanding a specific number of compositions from him. Instead, it simply granted the company a first right of refusal for any song he chose to sell.
In other words, the contract wasn't so much an exclusive agreement as it was a priority deal.
If he decided to sell a song, and multiple companies offered the same price, he'd be obligated to sell to them first.
The trade-off for this flexibility was a lower price per song compared to his initial contract—within the range of what typical composers might receive.
"Just a first right of refusal?" Kamigawa Saku clarified.
"That's correct," Shizuko Shiraishi confirmed.
The company had extensively debated how much Kamigawa Saku was worth.
Some argued that his talent was undeniable, and they should offer whatever it took to secure him.
Others believed it was wiser to remain cautious.
After all, there was no guarantee he could consistently produce work of the same caliber.
Ultimately, they settled on this approach.
If Kamigawa Saku proved to be a one-hit wonder, the company could minimize its losses. But if he continued to deliver top-tier compositions, they'd gladly pay market-leading prices for his work.
"I see."
Kamigawa Saku quickly grasped the rationale behind their offer.
"If you're not satisfied with this contract, we're open to further discussion," Shizuko Shiraishi added.
"However, we'd love to hear more of your work before making any adjustments."
She paused before continuing, "If Ichishizuku Sora is all you have, though, this contract is the best we can offer."
"I only have this one song," Kamigawa Saku admitted, his response swift. "But I'm satisfied with the terms."
Truthfully, he wasn't in this for the money.
He had no passion for composing, no dreams of a music career.
His only goal was to use his composer status to connect with Mitsuka Toka.
This contract, with its flexibility and minimal obligations, was perfect.
And as for the first right of refusal?
If he didn't write any songs, there wouldn't be anything to sell.
Of course, he wasn't planning to stop composing entirely—just not frequently.
Even without the system's learning card, his skills were at a professional level.
And with one learning card still unused, he had plenty of potential masterpieces left in him.
"That's great to hear," Shizuko Shiraishi said, visibly pleased.
"However, I should be upfront—my true level isn't nearly as high as that song suggests," Kamigawa Saku added, setting the stage for the future.
He planned to mix his own compositions with those enhanced by the learning card to avoid raising suspicion.
"That's not a problem," Shizuko Shiraishi assured him.
The contract's flexibility accounted for such possibilities.
"Any other contracts I should review?" Kamigawa Saku asked.
"No, that's all," she replied.
"Alright. I'll call my lawyer to review these, and if everything checks out, we can sign today."
He preferred to handle things quickly rather than drag them out unnecessarily.
"Please do."
---
After calling his lawyer—whom he had booked in advance—Kamigawa Saku settled in to wait.
Drinking his now-cold coffee, he gazed out the window, reflecting on his circumstances.
The temptations really are endless…
He couldn't help but marvel at the opportunities the system had granted him.
Wealth, fame, and now superhuman abilities—it was all within his grasp.
Yet, despite the allure, he remained steadfast in his goal: the single ending.
Money and power couldn't buy what truly mattered—genuine friendships and a happy, fulfilling life.
That's what the single ending promised, and that's what Kamigawa Saku wanted above all else.
---
When the lawyer arrived, he meticulously reviewed both contracts.
Once everything was confirmed, Kamigawa Saku signed the agreements with Shizuko Shiraishi.
"Looking forward to working together," she said, shaking his hand.
"Same here," he replied.
"By the way, do you have time now?"
Shizuko Shiraishi asked after they parted hands.
"I do," Kamigawa Saku said before adding, "Also, no need to use formal language with me—it feels a bit awkward."
"Got it."
"If you're free, would you like to visit our office?" she suggested.
"sumimi is there today. It'd be a great chance for you to meet them formally."
"Absolutely!"
Kamigawa Saku didn't hesitate for a second.
As a longtime fan of sumimi, he wouldn't pass up the chance to meet his idols.
"Then follow me," Shizuko Shiraishi said, standing and collecting her things.
"Of course."
After paying his lawyer, Kamigawa Saku followed her out of the café.
---
T/N: longtime fan my ass, bro is an unreliable narrator fr