Then, a long silence followed.
The editor-in-chief's pace of flipping through the pages gradually slowed.
Theoretically, for a 600-page light novel, a professional editor could finish reading and evaluating it in about fifteen minutes.
Unlike regular readers, editors look for potential highlights behind the story.
While reading the manuscript, the editor-in-chief of Fujikawa Publishing took a full forty minutes.
During that time, his expression continuously shifted.
When he reached the last page, he let out a long sigh of relief.
Seeing this reaction, Machida Sonoko and the publisher's owner sitting beside her understood what was happening.
The editor-in-chief slowly raised his head. But instead of giving immediate feedback, he turned to glance at his superior.
They exchanged looks for a moment.
After that, the editor-in-chief placed the manuscript on the table.
"Yukima-sensei," he changed his tone of address, "your work is truly outstanding! This is indeed a rare masterpiece."
Upon hearing that evaluation, Yukima Azuma remained impassive.
If they really thought it was exceptional, they wouldn't just say that.
They'd start discussing the contract right away.
Yukima lightly tapped his fingers on the table.
The attitude of Fujikawa Publishing felt a bit strange to him.
Could it be that senpai is working with a publisher like this?
Sure enough, when evaluating a situation through a lens of familiarity, it's easy to make mistakes.
Seeing that Yukima Azuma seemed unconcerned, the editor-in-chief of Fujikawa Publishing got straight to the point:
"Yukima-sensei, although this work is impressive, it's still a youth love story."
"Currently, the most popular themes in the market are isekai and fantasy battles."
"The conditions you've set are too demanding, not only asking for the largest promotional campaign in the industry."
"Plus, you want to release it this month, which would push back the schedules of other releases."
"While Fujikawa Publishing is willing to invest, this is truly a risky bet."
"Yukima-sensei, would you consider reducing the promotional costs or lowering the profit-sharing percentage?"
After speaking, he waited for Yukima Azuma's response.
Yukima Azuma stood up and took back his manuscript.
This action caused both the editor-in-chief and the owner of Fujikawa Publishing to frown.
After retrieving the manuscript, Yukima Azuma didn't sit back down.
Instead, he casually asked:
"I remember that Fujikawa Publishing started with youth love stories, right?"
Upon hearing this, the editor-in-chief appeared to recall something.
"Yes, our first bestselling light novel was Oreimo."
That was the famous work in the industry, My Little Sister Can't Be This Cute.
After receiving confirmation, Yukima Azuma became even more confused.
"Clearly, you started with youth love stories, but now in your publishing house, there are almost no authors writing youth love stories anymore?"
This question caused the editor-in-chief's face to turn pale.
At that moment, the owner of Fujikawa Publishing, who had been silent up until now, finally spoke.
"We are different from your authors. We have to keep the publishing house running; we're in business, we must follow the market."
These words made Yukima Azuma laugh.
The values you hold?, and yet you dare talk about business and the market in front of me.
If you love the market so much, why not just open an investment bank?
Retrieving the manuscript, Yukima Azuma clenched his right fist and punched his left palm, with an enlightened expression.
"No wonder Fujikawa Publishing has always been a second-rate publisher all these years."
After saying that, Yukima Azuma turned and walked out.
Chapter 106: I just start my own publishing house and publish my own books, right?
"What did you say?"
The editor-in-chief of Fujikawa Publishing jumped up from his seat, pointing at Yukima Azuma, his eyes wide in shock.
At that moment, Yukima Azuma had already reached the door of the meeting room.
He opened the door.
Yukima Azuma smiled.
"I said, Fujikawa Publishing, under your wise and brilliant leadership, will definitely prosper more and more."
"At least, it will be a second-rate publishing house until the day it dies."
After saying that, Yukima Azuma opened the door and left.
Inside the meeting room, the editor-in-chief and the owner of Fujikawa Publishing looked at each other, their faces as if they had just eaten shit.
They had encountered authors with bad attitudes before.
But never had they met an author who would say a few words and immediately leave like this.
It was fine to be scolded.
But losing out on a light novel that could have been a bestseller made them extremely angry.
They just wanted to reduce a little bit of the royalty percentage.
Couldn't they sit down and negotiate?
Why was there someone selling goods without discussing the price?
Machida Sonoko sensed the situation wasn't good and said, "I'll go negotiate again," then hurriedly ran after him.
.....
Downstairs at Fujikawa Publishing.
Machida Sonoko quickly caught up with Yukima Azuma.
"Yukima-sensei, if you want to debut as an author, you need to calmly deal with normal business practices. Don't get too angry."
While advising, Machida Sonoko approached Yukima Azuma.
Upon a closer look, the young man did not appear angry.
"I'm not angry."
"Then why earlier..."
"We just didn't hit it off, there's nothing to talk about with those two. Machida-san, let's go to the caf over there and sit."
"I'm such a fool, worrying about you."
The two went to a caf opposite Fujikawa Publishing and sat near the window.
Yukima Azuma ordered two donuts.
Machida Sonoko ordered a mocha coffee.
"Machida-san, thank you so much for taking care of Utaha-senpai."
Yukima Azuma said sincerely.
"Why are you suddenly saying this?"
Machida Sonoko asked calmly.
"With Utaha-senpai's personality, she definitely couldn't talk to those editors. If she could, she would have left Fujikawa Publishing by now."
"The pressure from the higher-ups must have been what you've been enduring, right?"
Yukima Azuma's words made Machida Sonoko smile bitterly.
It was true.
From the time The Metronome in Love was published until it started airing volume 4, Machida Sonoko had endured a lot of pressure.
Especially during the slump of volume 2.
Fujikawa Publishing had been thinking about cutting the romance-themed book.
It was Machida Sonoko who mediated between both sides, and The Metronome in Love continued.
It's just that Machida Sonoko had never told Kasumigaoka Utaha about these things.
"It's nothing, after all, I'm an editor, isn't this part of my job?"
Machida Sonoko shrugged.
"Machida-san is an editor, so that's true, but whether those higher-ups think that way is hard to say."
"One or two of them sit there, looking at others not as authors but as sellable goods."
"A publishing house can only stand strong thanks to its authors and literature, but when it acts without any humanity, it's meaningless."
Yukima Azuma spoke while munching on a donut.
Fujikawa Publishing, an editor-in-chief and an owner.
Since Yukima Azuma entered the meeting room, their attitudes had been aloof.
Those who knew, thought Yukima Azuma was an author cooperating with the publishing house.
Those who didn't, would even think Yukima Azuma was a debtor coming to repay a debt.
Moreover, aside from the author collaboration,
Yukima Azuma didn't believe those two didn't recognize him.
How could they not know, considering the trouble at the signing event they were in charge of, which had become famous?
Fujikawa Publishing still owed Yukima Azuma a favor.
Not even offering a glass of water, let alone saying anything.
After reviewing the manuscript, the intent to squeeze out more money was almost written all over their faces.
Hearing Yukima Azuma's words, Machida Sonoko remained silent.
She, having been an editor at Fujikawa Publishing for many years, surely understood all of this.
In the early years of Fujikawa, it specialized in youth romance genres.
It all started with Oreimo.
A number of authors in the romcom genre and young editors who loved it gathered together.
Machida Sonoko had joined Fujikawa during this period.
But a few years ago, with the unexpected rise of the isekai genre,
and over the past two years, the manga "Jujutsu Kaisen" became extremely popular,
Fujikawa Publishing, in order to grasp market trends,
started squeezing out the space for romcom authors they were working with.
Without mercy, they suppressed it.
Either change the genre,
or stop writing books for Fujikawa Publishing.
After all, there weren't many "good" places left for publishing.
Many authors who had worked with Fujikawa for a long time had to either change genres or leave.
Now,
Machida Sonoko was the only editor left in charge of the youth romance genre.
And for this reason, although Machida Sonoko had worked at Fujikawa for many years and was considered a senior,
the number of editors under her never exceeded three.
Machida Sonoko saw all of this,
but there was really nothing she could say.
Resign?
And go where?
She was no longer young, and the privilege of quitting at will belonged to the young.
Seeing Machida Sonoko silent,
Yukima Azuma casually handed her the manuscript for the light novel.
"How should I put this? Machida-san hasn't finished reading my novel. Finish it, and I'll continue talking with you."
Hearing this, Machida Sonoko sighed helplessly and opened the manuscript.
As the words jumped off the page,
her initial chaotic thoughts were quickly soothed.
Machida Sonoko was drawn into a summer, a summer with the sound of cicadas and a cool breeze.
The girl named Megumi seemed to appear right before her eyes.
Every smile, every expression had a charm that transcended space.
As an editor, she felt like a reader, completely engrossed in the work.
She flipped through each page, the 600-page book, until the last page.
Machida Sonoko once again felt as though it wasn't enough.
She set the manuscript down.
Machida Sonoko raised her head, feeling as though she had passed through another world.
The experience just now quickly flashed through her mind.
As an editor, she realized one thing.
This light novel might not be a genre that needs to follow the market.
On the contrary, the market direction would change with the appearance of this light novel.
While Machida Sonoko was still in a daze, Yukima Azuma clapped his hands.
"Machida-san, now you understand, right! The saddest thing about Fujikawa Publishing is rejecting this book."
Machida Sonoko smiled bitterly and nodded.
She understood.
Although Yukima Azuma had criticized Fujikawa for lacking humanity,
from a commercial perspective, Fujikawa's choice couldn't be called wrong.
It was just that between the market direction and social relationships, they chose the former.
But the saddest thing was that.
The editor-in-chief of Fujikawa Publishing, as an editor,
didn't recognize the true potential of this light novel.
As an editor-in-chief, lacking expertise.
As a speculator, failing to sense the business opportunity.
A second-rate publishing house, a second-rate editor-in-chief, a second-rate speculator.
Being second-rate, that was the saddest part.
Machida Sonoko handed the manuscript back to Yukima Azuma with a complex expression and asked:
"So, what's next? Are you going to find another publisher to submit your work to?"
"I guess that sly boss will contact other publishers," Yukima Azuma replied casually.
"Umu, Small publishers probably don't have the courage to take your novel."
Hearing this, Yukima Azuma shrugged.
"This is simple, I'll just buy my own publishing company and release the book myself."
Machida Sonoko: ?
Is this really Japanese?
I understand every word, but when they're put together, I just can't grasp it.
Seeing the bewildered look on Machida Sonoko's face,
Yukima Azuma took a business card from his coat pocket and handed it to her.
The last time he saw Yukino holding a business card, he had asked her to help make a set for him.
Machida Sonoko picked up the card from the table and took a look.
The back had a gold logo.
It seemed to be an abstract design with some characters.
Flipping it over, she immediately understood the meaning of the characters.
Laplace Corporation
Machida Sonoko gasped.
"So, the company that bought the office building in Shibuya recently, is it yours?"
Yukima Azuma smiled and nodded.
Machida Sonoko rubbed her forehead.
"Young master, why do you have to be so merciful? You should have stood up the table at the meeting and spoken with those greedy people, leaving your shoeprints on their faces too."
"Tch, you're right."
"I'll tell you, that jerk struts around the office every day, talks to people like he's sniffing them with his nose, and demands that we keep the phone lines open at all times."
"Really? Didn't any of you scold him?"
"Who would dare... Wait, I think there was. There was a girl named Yukinoshita who scolded him, and she got fired."
"Tch, I'm starting to regret it. I should've spat in that guy's face earlier."
"Hahahahahahaha, you actually dared to say that!"
"Of course, I'm a Young Master."
"Stop acting so cool, be careful or I'll report you to Shi-chan."
"Ahem, I think that won't be necessary."
Machida Sonoko laughed uncontrollably.
Someone with more money than her boss, yet still being controlled by her Shi-chan like that.
This guy was really too friendly.
Compared to her nasty boss, he was clearly a completely different type.
Changing companies would be good, and working for this guy would definitely be better than working for her jerk of a boss.
Before she could finish her thoughts, Machida Sonoko heard Yukima Azuma say:
"Machida-san, when I buy the publishing company, you should become the editor-in-chief."
Machida Sonoko, who had been enjoying herself, suddenly froze.
"Eh, are you serious? This kind of joke isn't funny."
"Of course, I'm serious. By the way, I'll also try to bring Utaha-senpai's contract here."
"Tch, so you were planning this all along."
