Tokyo: Oreimo

Each book is published as a standalone volume, and the royalties for each volume are around 60 yen. The Kino's Journey is a three-volume set, and the royalties for the entire set are 180 yen.

In terms of royalties alone, 2000 sets would bring in 360,000 yen.

If nothing unexpected happens, it shouldn't be difficult for Kino's Journey to sell tens of thousands of copies within a year of its release.

The total royalties should be around 200 million yen.

Less than expected.

"The decision to collaborate with Ling Nai was the right one. Compared to light novels, comics are definitely a faster way to make money in this era."

However, Cardcaptor Sakura cannot be monetized yet, and it is estimated that we will have to wait about a month for feedback.

Ryosuke tallied up the funds he had available.

The winner of the 500,000 Newcomer Award for "Kino's Journey", the 500,000 in royalties and serialization fees, plus the 500,000 bonus for the top prize share of the monthly award for "Cardcaptor Sakura".

After deducting expenses such as buying a new mobile phone, he now has 1.3 million yen in savings.

There will be a continuous influx of income later; as long as Cardcaptor Sakura begins serialization, his funds will temporarily become abundant.

"It seems like we can start that project now; the timing is about right."

Ryosuke sent a message to Phoenix Institute's number.

He plans to collaborate with the other party to develop a visual novel, and the funds he currently has should be enough to get it started.

In Ryosuke Takashiro's plan, he will enter the workforce directly after graduating from high school and establish an animation company to bring the beauty of another world from his memories to this world.

This means that he needs to accumulate a large amount of initial capital over three years.

The income from creating comics and light novels might be enough for an individual to live comfortably, but in the field of animation, it's far from sufficient.

He had already done his research; the production cost for a single episode of a typical anime is at least in the tens of millions of yen.

No amount of money can sustain a person's creative endeavors.

"Even relying on the magazine, we couldn't achieve this."

Kadokawa Pictures has the capability, but whether or not the film will be adapted into an anime, and its quality, is difficult to guarantee.

Ryosuke doesn't think he has much say.

Since that's the case, then we can only rely on ourselves.

As for accumulating initial capital, the best option he could think of besides creating art was the currently popular visual novel genre.

In my memory, this kind of text adventure game was extremely popular in the 90s and remained popular into the 21st century, giving rise to a large number of highly sought-after IPs.

Compared to the cost of animation production, producing a high-quality visual novel, excluding the script, is probably equivalent to the quality of a single episode of animation.

Ryosuke quickly received a reply from the netizen Phoenix Institute.

"No problem. CM will be exhibiting from this Friday for three days. If you want to come, just let me know in advance and I'll take you in through the staff entrance."

"Then let's do it on Sunday."

Ryosuke replied with a time.

On the last day, there should be fewer people. He thought he could take advantage of the other party's graduation to ask them about developing games.

He had already shared this idea with the other party via the internet.

Phoenix Academy doesn't seem to be opposed to it, but they said they want to see the script in person and also discuss the cooperation method.

Ryosuke sat at his desk and opened a brand new notebook.

"There are still five days until Sunday, so writing a first draft shouldn't be too difficult."

He picked up a pen and wrote a string of English words on the title page of his notebook.

——"Fate/stay night".

Chapter 31 Phoenix Courtyard (Thanks to "Eromanga's Brother" for the monthly vote)

Mid-January, Sunday.

When Ryosuke woke up and went downstairs, it was already 9 o'clock.

I've been staying up late these past few days because I'm rushing to finish the script, and I've managed to complete the setting part and roughly rush out the main storyline.

He looked around as he approached the dining table.

"Oh, are you looking for Ling Nai? She left very early today, around 7 o'clock."

Mieko placed a plate of breakfast in front of him; it was a combination of fried eggs and bread, a staple of the Takashiro family.

"You two are getting along better and better. I even heard Ling Nai mention you this morning."

The mother was very happy about this, as it is not easy for a blended family to get along harmoniously.

"is it?"

Ryosuke didn't think so.

Can a relationship be considered good if you're always at odds with each other?

However, Ling Nai has changed a lot recently; at least she no longer mocks him in front of her parents, which is a good sign.

Is it really the teacher authority cultivated during preschool tutoring that's starting to take effect?

"Speaking of which, Ling Nai has been leaving early and returning late these past two days, and her outfit when she goes out is also a bit strange, which makes me a little worried."

Mieko sat down at the dining table, resting her chin on her hand, her words tinged with curiosity.

"Hmm? What's wrong?"

Ryosuke asked casually.

"This is the first time I've seen her dressed so warmly, wearing a mask and sunglasses when she went out, even though it was a cloudy day."

Ryosuke was both amused and exasperated.

Mother, why don't you just be direct and say that Ling Nai is dressed like a thief?

Is this guy afraid of being seen by his classmates on his way to the studio?

Even if they see it, it's not a big deal, as long as they don't enter the studio, they won't be exposed.

"Don't worry, Ling Nai will protect herself outside."

Ryosuke Takagi comforted his mother with a word, then focused on his rice and quickly finished his breakfast.

"Mother, I'm going out today and will probably be back quite late, so don't prepare any food for me."

Mieko: "Okay, be careful on the road."

......

When Ryosuke left home, it was already close to 10 o'clock.

"For a distance like this, the only option is to take the JR train, right?"

I arranged to meet Phoenix Institute at the CM convention today, at Tokyo Big Sight. This kind of ACG doujinshi event is held twice a year, and most of the time this venue is chosen.

Located in Koto Ward, Tokyo, it's not very close to Chiba; the fastest one-way trip takes about 50 minutes.

Take the JR Keiyo Line, get off at Shin-Kiba Station, transfer to the Rinkai Line after exiting the station, and arrive at the East Exhibition Hall at 11 o'clock.

When Ryosuke walked out of the subway station, he was quite sweaty.

There are just too many people.

Everywhere you look, there are crowds of people.

Most of them are men aged 15-30, and a few are women with unfashionable appearances.

Ryosuke Takagi blended into the crowd and quickly headed towards the staff-only entrance, only to be stopped at the door as expected.

He was quite astonished as he gazed at the endless queue at the tourist entrance.

The enthusiasm of otaku for fan fiction in this era is simply terrifying. It is said that people started queuing up at dawn, and there are still so many people who have not been able to get in.

Ryosuke took out his phone and sent a text message to Phoenix Institute, and quickly received a reply.

"Wait a moment, it'll be right there."

About ten minutes later, a very tall woman walked in from the other end of the employee passage.

She wore a plaid shirt, thick glasses that obscured her eyes, and long, light blue curly hair tied high behind her head.

The other person jogged to the door.

"Is it Shi Yuze?"

She looked Ryosuke up and down a few times before asking a question.

After receiving an affirmative reply.

The woman showed the security guard her work badge and then easily led him inside.

"What about Phoenix Courtyard?"

Ryosuke Takagi followed the other person into the venue, asking questions as he went.

He had assumed the other party would come to pick him up in person.

The tall woman smiled and turned to look at him. "What are you talking about, Shi Yuze?"

"Won't you recognize me when we meet in person?"

"Huh?" Ryosuke Takagi was a little confused.

"I am Phoenix Courtyard."

Ryosuke never asked Hououin's gender in person, subconsciously assuming she was a man because of her identity as a programmer.

"You scared me, didn't you?"

Phoenix Courtyard laughed so hard he covered his stomach.

"Yeah, who would have thought that a programmer who talks about galgames and flags all the time would be a girl."

"I like you, but my orientation is normal. I'm still very interested in men like you."

Phoenix Academy made no attempt to conceal his wild and inappropriate remarks.