Tokyo: Oreimo

"If you can't even do something as simple as picking people up, what kind of responsibility are you talking about?"

"I'd probably get a severe dressing-down like that, and then be kicked out of the editorial department, right?"

Seeing Hayakawa Rumi's ashen appearance, Takashiro Ryosuke smiled and sat in the back row without saying anything more.

This kind of socially awkward moment might become a dark history that the other person will remember for a lifetime; it will take time for her to adjust herself.

Ryosuke didn't pay much attention to it anymore, but instead took out the tracker from his backpack.

The top is marked with a flashing green indicator.

"Signal back?"

The tracker malfunctioned briefly on the tram due to the distance, but it has now returned to normal.

Is this location also in Shinjuku?

Ryosuke stroked his chin, pondering for a moment.

"After I finish my discussion with Editor Hattori, I'll go and see her."

Chapter 3 Negotiations

Shinjuku in the 90s was filled with a glamorous atmosphere.

It has transformed from one of Tokyo's sub-centers into a comprehensive urban center integrating administration, business, commerce, culture, and entertainment.

As the car drove past Higashi-Shinjuku, the vibrant red color flashed by.

It's that famous Kabukicho shopping street.

Just by glancing at him, Ryosuke Takagi felt like a country bumpkin visiting the city.

There's no place this bustling in Chiba Prefecture.

"It looks even better here at night, but I don't recommend that Mr. Shiyuze come here."

Hayakawa Rumi noticed Takashiro Ryosuke's gaze and took the initiative to introduce him.

She put on a smile, still a little embarrassed, but much better than before.

They've been resurrected so quickly?

Ryosuke thought she was going to die a little longer.

"Ms. Hayakawa, do you go there to relax after work?"

"Me? That's not a place I can afford right now."

Hayakawa Rumi quickly waved her hand, subconsciously assuming the other person was referring to the Kabukicho.

The cost of living there is too high, so she doesn't dare to go. She heard that a colleague spent a year's salary in one night there.

too frightening.

"Huh? I thought you would at least buy some cosmetics or something."

"Oh, that's what the teacher was talking about. I'll still be able to do it."

"What do you think I'm talking about, Ms. Hayakawa?"

“…”

"Please pretend you didn't hear what we just had."

Ryosuke Takagi couldn't resist teasing her, and as he expected, she turned pale again.

"What could I possibly say in front of a younger teacher? How could someone his age possibly talk about Kabukicho!"

It wasn't until the car stopped that Hayakawa Rumi recovered from the shock.

Ryosuke Takagi got off the car and looked up at what was in front of him.

The office building is lined with signs, the most prominent and eye-catching of which is a marble monument about five meters tall, with the four characters "Kadokawa Eiga" engraved on it.

Dengeki Bunko is a subsidiary of ASCII Media Works, which was acquired by Kadokawa Corporation in its early years.

Ryosuke wasn't surprised to be brought here.

"Let's go quickly, Shi Yuze-sensei, Hattori-sensei has been waiting for a long time."

Hayakawa Rumi couldn't wait to take the lead and clear the way; she desperately needed a cup of coffee to calm herself down.

Who can understand the hardships and displacement along the way?

She has given up hope of being promoted to editor by the end of the year; she's just happy to keep her job.

After completing the visit registration, Ryosuke Takashiro stood in front of the elevator lobby, scanning the floor signs.

The Dengeki Bunko editorial department is on the 32nd floor, and there is also a manga editorial department on the same floor.

This reminded him that although Shueisha's Shonen Jump dominated the market in this era, Kadokawa also had its own manga publications, and its film division produced many popular anime.

The "Moon Witch Transformation" series that Ling Nai was interested in was a project from this company.

"Unfortunately, I can't draw comics, so adapting light novels into anime might not be popular until the millennium."

At Ryosuke Takagi's school, the discussions among classmates tend to lean towards shonen manga.

The most popular series right now is Dragon Ball, just as I remember, except that the author is not Akira Toriyama, but Akira Torishima.

Ryosuke had read it back in junior high school, and the plot was quite different, but its quality was no less than the original in his memory.

"Ms. Hayakawa, does your company have any plans to adapt light novels into anime in the future?"

Inside the elevator, Ryosuke Takashiro asked a question.

This is something he's particularly interested in; if it can be adapted into an animation, it means the copyright revenue will be realized quickly.

Ryosuke Takashiro had plans for his future, hoping to establish an animation production company and bring the beautiful memories of his past to the world.

It hasn't started yet, firstly because he hasn't graduated from high school, and secondly, which is the main point.

He had no start-up capital, and the royalties from his novels were only a fraction of what he could earn after the IP was incubated, far from enough.

Hayakawa Rumi shook her head.

"I've never heard the editor-in-chief mention this before. Perhaps they'll start with manga creation before animation?"

"Is that so? I understand."

Ryosuke Takagi didn't ask any more questions, and the elevator arrived at the 32nd floor at that moment.

The moment the elevator doors opened.

A golden figure drifted past his eyes. The figure seemed very familiar, but before he could get a good look, the person turned into a conference room.

Is that... Ling Nai?

What's she doing here? Am I seeing things?

Ryosuke Takashiro wanted to go and see what was going on, but Rumi Hayakawa stopped him.

"Teacher Shi Yuze, this way."

She pointed to the west side of the elevator lobby and walked forward first. Ryosuke hesitated for a second before following behind her.

"Let's see Editor Hattori first, maybe I'm mistaken."

.....

Upon arriving at the editorial department, the office was isolated from the outside world and quite quiet.

Everyone was focused on their work.

Ryosuke Takashiro was taken by Rumi Hayakawa to a private room surrounded by three walls.

"Please wait a moment, Mr. Shi Yuze, while I go and inform Editor Hattori."

After Hayakawa Rumi left, Ryosuke took out a tracker from his bag, the green dot on it particularly bright.

The point representing himself and the point representing his sister Ling Nai almost completely overlapped.

"It seems she really is in the Kadokawa building. Could it be that she...?"

Based on what his mother said about finding over a million yen in cash under her bed, Ryosuke couldn't help but start to speculate.

"Could she be one of my colleagues?"

To earn this level of income from writing novels, one would expect to receive such treatment only after the novels have been officially published.

However, given Ryosuke's understanding of the current market, and considering Ayano's life experience, she shouldn't be able to write such a work.

Unless the other person is like him, but he never noticed anything unusual about this during their time together.

Takashiro Ryouno is indeed somewhat precocious, but that is only reflected in her physical development; her mind remains innocent.

"When Editor Hattori arrives in a bit, let's ask him; maybe he'll know."

.....

Hattori, the editor, was a young man with thick lips, spiky hair, and round eyes.

This image was somewhat unexpected for Ryosuke.

Judging from the calm and composed tone of his writing, he initially thought the other person was a bald, middle-aged man.

"Nice to meet you, Professor Shi Yuze."

"Nice to meet you, Editor Hattori."

After exchanging greetings, the other party first handed over an envelope.

"This is the royalties for the paperback newcomer award, a total of 500,000 yen."

Ryosuke had anticipated this, as he mentioned it in his letter.

The Dengeki Bunko Awards have three categories: Grand Prize, Gold Prize, and Silver Prize, with corresponding prize money at different levels.

The grand prize is one million yen.

"The reason I invited you here is not only because of the prize money, but also to discuss specific publishing matters. However, I didn't expect you to be so young. Are you capable of making your own decisions?"

Hattori, the editor, looked very serious.

Winning a newcomer award is difficult for any new writer, let alone winning the gold medal.