At Fujikawa Fantastic Bunko of Fujikawa Shoten.
Machida Sonoko, who had just co to work, made herself a cup of coffee as usual. Then she opened her email and started reviewing the novel submissions in her inbox.
'Are people these days this confident? Do they really think any piece of crap can be published?'
Sonoko complained in her heart. Then, after reading two thousand words of one novel submission, she directly rejected it.
One after another. In just half an hour, Sonoko had already rejected nearly a hundred light novels.
"Hmm?"
Suddenly, Machida Sonoko noticed a novel called "5 Centiters per Second".
This na was rather interesting.
—I heard... it's 5 cm/s, she said.
—She suddenly rembered sothing and said this to abruptly.
—Hmm?
—The speed at which cherry blossom petals fall is 5 cm/s.
Just the opening sentence imdiately caught Machida's attention. Machida quickly beca serious, reading word by word.
After reading the one hundred thousand words of the submission, Machida's expression imdiately changed.
The expression she had just shown, as if soone owed her five million, disappeared.
"Machida-san, from the look on your face, did you actually strike gold among that pile of crap?"
The other editors saw Machida's expression and imdiately understood that she had found gold among that pile of crap.
For editors like them, dealing with so many awful light novel submissions every day was practically torture.
And striking gold among that crap was not easy.
"Before, Machida-san also got lucky and found Kasumi Utako-sensei. Kasumi Utako-sensei's sales should now be close to five hundred thousand copies. Who knows, maybe with the next volu, Kasumi Utako-sensei might directly break a million in sales."
A smile appeared on Machida's face. Then she said to the others, "Haha, I hope your kind words co true. If that happens, I'll treat you all to a big al."
Machida made a casual reply. Then, she started adding Hakuto as a contact using the email address provided in the submission.
It was not until near the end of the day, around evening, that Machida's friend request was accepted by Hakuto. She imdiately sent him a ssage.
"Byakuya-sensei, your light novel '5 Centiters per Second' is very excellent. So, would you be interested in further cooperation?"
After sending the ssage, Machida quickly received a reply.
The reply contained an address and a sentence: let's et and talk.
Machida imdiately stood up.
"Tell the editor-in-chief that I'm going out to discuss a contract with a sensei."
After saying this, Machida quickly left the company.
On the other side, shortly after Sayuri left, Hakuto accepted Machida's friend request.
Looking at the woman in the profile picture, Hakuto smiled. Then, he returned to the cafe.
After waiting about forty-five minutes, Hakuto saw a woman enter the cafe. She looked exactly like the woman in the profile picture.
"Over here!"
Hakuto waved.
Soon, Machida arrived in front of Hakuto. Looking at the Seigaku Academy uniform Hakuto was wearing, Machida complinted him, "So you're Byakuya-sensei. You're young and promising. I am Machida Sonoko, an editor of Fujikawa Fantastic Bunko at Fujikawa Shoten. Would you like your light novel to be published by our imprint?"
Normally, the person submitting a novel would answer affirmatively at this point.
But this ti, Hakuto said to Machida, "That's possible. However, as long as your imprint agrees to one condition, not only will the submitted '5 Centiters per Second' be published, but also another full-length light novel will be published by your imprint. I will send you the opening. You can read it. After you finish reading, we can continue discussing the rest."
Hakuto sent the file to Machida's email using his phone. Machida looked at Hakuto, quietly considering, 'Could this young man's behavior be because he wanted a higher share of the novel's profits?'
Generally, a new light novel author's share of the profits with the imprint is 7%.
After achieving good results, the share can increase. Top light novel authors can get up to 13%. However, most have to rely on putting in ti or writing more volus to increase their share. But the maximum share is 10%.
Thinking this, Machida opened the email Hakuto had sent.
After reading it, Machida had only one thought.
'It will be popular. It will be very popular!'
Machida had at least that much insight.
"Byakuya-sensei, I can make the decision to increase your share to 10%. That is the greatest sincerity I can offer. You know, the share for a brand-new light novel author is only 7%."
Hakuto shook his head.
"I don't really care about the share. These two light novels can be published by your imprint. However, I have one condition!"
Machida imdiately said, "Tell ."
"Suppress Kasumi Utako!"
Machida's pupils contracted.
She certainly knew who Kasumi Utako was.
"Byakuya-sensei, are you referring to Kasumi Utako-sensei?"
"That's right, Kasumi Utako, or rather Kasumigaoka Utaha. As long as your imprint agrees to suppress Kasumi Utako, cut the publication of her future light novels and all her promotional channels, and suppress Kasumi Utako without any lower or upper limit, I will give these two light novels to your imprint for publication, with a share of only 7%."
Machida looked at Hakuto. There's a smile was on Hakuto's face, but Machida felt a chill down her spine. Hakuto, while smiling, gave Machida a feeling of fear.
"May I ask what conflict you have with Kasumi Utako-sensei?"
"I know you have a good relationship with Kasumigaoka Utaha. But, Editor Machida, profit is everything. This '5 Centiters per Second' will sell at least a million copies without a problem. And this 'That Ti I Got Reincarnated as a Sli', I guarantee it will sell at least ten million copies. These two novels might just help you move up a position."
Machida's breathing quickened for a mont. But then she gritted her teeth and refused.
"Byakuya-sensei, could you consider a different condition?"
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