Tokyo: Oreimo

“You said it.” Saori turned her chair around to face him and pushed up glasses that weren’t actually on her nose. “I remember it.”

Ryosuke glanced at the contents of the three monitors. "How's the company doing lately?"

Saori picked up the paper document from the table, opened the first page, and her tone changed from joking to serious reporting mode.

"SAO sales exceeded expectations, with first-week shipments significantly higher than White Album 2 during the same period. As for merchandise, the Steins;Gate-themed metal Upa keychains sold out, and the factory is working on a second batch."

"The Blu-ray of Haruhi Suzumiya is priced high because it is an eight-disc set, but the core fans have strong purchasing power. Pre-orders have already exceeded 10,000 sets. The pre-orders for the discs in the endless August are actually the highest. Your seemingly reckless idea is turning into real money."

"As for SAO, Ritsu Saito should have already told you, right? He proposed an anime adaptation."

Ryosuke nodded. He had heard about most of these things. After the conclusion of Haruhi Suzumiya, it was indeed time to start a new project. Ritsu Saito had already informed him in advance.

The progress is roughly in line with his expectations.

Saori turned to the last page of the document and tapped her fingertip on one of the numbers.

"Aniplex's current market value, including its IP assets and ongoing projects, is close to 5 billion yen."

Ryosuke looked away from Saori's face and took the report she handed him.

The evaluation data for each asset is clearly listed above, from the copyright revenue of released works to the expected revenue of projects in production, from the sales of physical merchandise to the valuation of future traffic monetization for the Dimensional Forum.

He returned the report to Shazhi.

"What did your father say?"

After spending so much time together, Ryosuke finally found an opportunity to ask about Saori's family.

He was quite startled when he first learned that the other party was the eldest daughter of the Shibaura family.

Although I was mentally prepared that a woman as outstanding as Saori would likely come from a good family, it wasn't this good...

It's probably as shocking as winning the jackpot on a scratch-off lottery ticket.

Saori's lips curved into a smile. She put the report on the table and leaned back in her chair. "He didn't say anything, but Uncle Yamazaki told me last week that when the old man was having dinner with someone in private, he said, 'My daughter has good taste.'"

"Is that all you mean by acceptance?"

"In the mouth of the current president of Shibaura Electric, this statement is already considered a big deal."

Saori spoke casually, but there was a rare hint of smugness in her eyes. "However, the bet is still in effect. It's a three-year term, and there are less than two years left. There's still a considerable gap between 5 billion yen and 100 million US dollars. We still have to keep chasing it."

Ryosuke knew what she meant by the "bet".

The eldest daughter of Shibaura Electric made a three-year agreement with her father, using her shares in Aniplex. If she couldn't bring Aniplex to a market value of $100 million within the deadline, she would have to obey the family's arranged marriage and go back to take over the company.

This is why Saori has been getting busier lately, still dealing with contracts backstage at Winter COMI, even bringing her work phone to their Christmas Eve date, and why she always urges him to plan new projects every time they meet.

In Ryosuke's opinion, there is no need to rush. With a valuation of $1 million, even if development were to completely stagnate now, it would be only a matter of time before things improve by simply managing the existing IP.

"So, what about a new work?" Saori indeed steered the conversation in this direction. "After finishing SAO, I can't go too long without a project."

Ryosuke looked at her and said, "You should make your vacation plans first, and then I'll tell you about the new project."

Saori chuckled at his remark and shook her head. "When did you learn to bargain with your girlfriend, President?"

“I learned it from you,” Ryosuke said.

Saori burst out laughing; this time, she was genuinely amused.

After she finished laughing, she crossed her hands on the table, put her frameless glasses back on, and looked at Ryosuke with the seriousness one would expect at a negotiating table.

"Okay, deal. You submit the new project proposal, and I'll take three days off next month."

Ryosuke leaned back on the sofa and said, "I already have an idea for the new work."

Saori picked up a pen, opened a blank notebook, and waited for him to continue.

"The protagonist is an ordinary high school otaku who, after buying something at a convenience store one day, is inexplicably summoned to another world."

Saori paused for a moment, then looked up at him. "That's it?"

"That's it." Ryosuke's tone was calm.

"Fate is a seven-on-seven Holy Grail War, Puella Magi Madoka Magica is the cruel truth of magical girls, Steins;Gate is a science fiction mystery with time travel, and SAO is a death game."

Saori counted on her fingers one by one, "And your new work is 'An ordinary otaku is summoned to another world'?"

"Correct."

Saori stared at him for three seconds, then suddenly smiled.

"What trick are you trying to pull now?"

Ryosuke did not answer directly, but only said: "This time the world setting will be more detailed. The rules of the other world, the magic system, and the distribution of power all need to be set up in advance."

“I’ll take care of the programming.” Saori twirled the ballpoint pen in her hand. “You just need to focus on writing the script.”

"So what's the name of the new work? I need to get a project proposal approved."

Ryosuke was silent for a moment, then smiled softly and relaxed his body, leaning back on the sofa.

"Re:Zero -Starting Life in Another World-".

.....

Chapter 267 Manga Research Institute Recruitment

In April, most of the cherry blossoms in Waseda have already fallen.

The petals of the Somei Yoshino cherry blossoms on both sides of the sidewalk were stuck to the damp paving stones by the night rain, and the air still carried the scent of the new school term.

When Ryosuke crossed the central avenue, most of the club recruitment booths on both sides had already been set up.

The girls in kimonos from the Literature Club served tea to the new students, the muscular guys from the Tennis Club handed out flyers and shouted slogans, and the Light Music Club had a second-hand drum set in front of their booth with a handwritten note on the drumhead that read "New members being recruited."

The manga studio's booth was under the third ginkgo tree; the location wasn't the best, but it wasn't too far out either.

As Ryosuke approached, Tanaka was standing on a folding chair, tying a banner to a tree trunk, while Ayumi was below, holding onto the chair legs.

The banner is a modified version of the Ryougi Shiki club flag from the Winter COMI exhibition, with the silhouette of Ryougi Shiki replaced by several large characters: "Waseda University Manga Research Club".

"President, it's crooked, move it a little to the left."

"Left? Are you referring to the left on my side or the left on your side?"

"You take the flag over there."

"Which side is it?!"

Ryosuke walked up to the stall and placed the canvas bag on the table.

Ayumi was the first to notice him, and gestured towards the banner with her chin: "Takashiro, you've come at the right time. Could you help the chairman take a look? He's been adjusting it for five minutes already."

"Gao Cheng!" Tian Zhongxue turned around, his face showing the expression of someone who had seen a savior. "Forget about the flag, I have something important to tell you."

Ryosuke helped him lift the right side of the banner up two centimeters, and Tanaka jumped off the chair. Before he could even stand up properly, he started talking about serious business.

"We're recruiting today," he said, his tone tinged with a strange excitement. "I just found out that six people have already filled out membership applications at the SF Research Association's booth next door, while we only have three here."

“Three people is already pretty good,” Ayumi said from the side, placing a stack of flyers on the table. “At this time last year, our stall didn’t have a single person.”

"That's because we were just founded last year!" Tian Zhongxue pushed up his glasses. "This year is different. We have 'Kara no Kyoukai,' we sold 2,500 copies in three days at the Winter COMI, and we have the support of an official recommendation from Aniplex..."

“President,” Ayumi interrupted him, “the freshmen who come to the recruitment booths have no idea about what you’re talking about.”

"That's why we need to promote it! Promote it!"

Tian Zhongxue grabbed the stack of flyers on the table, pulled out the top one and stuffed it into Ryosuke's hand. "Perfect timing. Ayumi agreed to help with the reception, and Okubo and Kobayashi said they'd be coming this afternoon. As for you... come with me to hand out flyers."

Before Ryosuke could even speak, Tanaka had already grabbed his arm and started walking towards the central avenue.

“I haven’t agreed yet,” Ryosuke said.

"You're the club's ace, if you don't go up and hand out flyers, am I supposed to go?" Tian Zhongxue kept walking. "Don't you know whether I'm handsome enough or not?"

Ryosuke reluctantly followed him forward.

The intersection of Central Avenue is the most densely populated area, and the "hunting ranges" of several popular gangs overlap here.

The muscular guy from the tennis club held up a sign that read "Get a free protein powder sample upon joining the club," while the kimono-clad girl from the tea ceremony club offered a sample cup and gave a friendly smile to the passing boys.

The drummer from the light music club sat behind the drum kit, twirling his drumsticks, ready to deliver an impromptu solo at any moment.

"I'll count to three, and we'll all start together."

Tian Zhongxue stood in the middle of the intersection, a thick stack of flyers pressed against his chest, his eyes behind his glasses burning with fighting spirit. "One, two, three..."

"Manga Research Club! 2,500 copies of Winter COMI sold out in three days! Officially endorsed by Aniplex! The next story written by the original author of Kara no Kyoukai awaits your participation!"

Tian Zhongxue's voice was the loudest on the entire central avenue, attracting the attention of passing students. But he was not ashamed at all, shouting and stuffing flyers into the hands of everyone who stopped.

"Hey there, are you interested in fan fiction? Let's check it out! No experience required! All you need is passion!"

Tian Zhongxue waved the flyer in his hand vigorously, "Hey you over there looking at your phone! Yes, it's you! You like ACGN, right? Come to our booth and fill out a form, it'll only take thirty seconds!"

Ryosuke stood to the side, completely unable to attract customers in the same way as Wada Middle School, and just felt that Wada Middle School's fearless personality was too terrifying.

Someone as lively as me is probably bound to succeed at whatever I do, right?

Ryosuke quietly handed out flyers to the students passing by.

During the process, I noticed a tall, thin boy wearing black-rimmed glasses standing on the outer edge of the intersection, holding a brown paper bag and looking in this direction.

Ryosuke's gaze lingered on him for a second.

Because the brown paper bag had a familiar logo printed on it; it was a limited-edition shopping bag from the Aniplex corporate booth at last winter's COMI, which was only available to customers who purchased the limited edition of SAO.

"Hey there!" Tian Zhongxue had clearly noticed the student who was standing there looking around. He rushed over and shoved a flyer into the student's hand. "Are you a freshman? Are you interested in comics or fan art?"

The boy with black-rimmed glasses was forced back half a step by Tian Zhongxue's imposing manner and subconsciously hugged the paper bag in his arms tighter.

"I...I'm a freshman in the School of Information Science and Engineering." His voice wasn't loud, but he didn't try to evade the question. He simply took a step back as if adjusting for a safe distance. "Um, I heard this is the Waseda Manga Club's booth?"

"That's right! We are the Waseda University Manga Research Club!" Tanaka patted his chest. "This student has great taste! How about it, want to consider joining us? The authors of fan fiction are also here."

He pointed to the side, and Tian Zhongxue's gesture was so natural that Ryosuke didn't even have time to dodge.

The boy with black-rimmed glasses looked over in the direction Tanaka was pointing and met Ryosuke's gaze.

"Are you the author of 'Kara no Kyoukai'?"

"it's me."

The boy with black-rimmed glasses' eyes lit up.