"I'm so sorry, Warukawa-sensei!"
"I should have been waiting downstairs for you, not leaving you to wait alone. This is a huge mistake on my part. Please forgive me!"
Her voice was filled with apology and humility.
For a heartbeat, it was as if someone had pressed pause on the entire lobby.
The whole place fell into a silence so sharp that the sound of a pin drop might have echoed. The air itself seemed frozen.
The receptionist who had just been about to register Seiji Fujiwara turned to stone. Her mouth hung open, pupils blown wide in sheer shock.
That was Sonoko Machida, the editor-in-chief herself.
The woman who treated everyone with strict professionalism, never breaking her cool façade. The very same role model countless young editors admired.
And she was bowing—deeply—to a boy who looked barely eighteen?
Even using the most formal honorifics?
Was she dreaming?
Not far away, a few editors from other departments carrying coffee, along with two mid-tier authors of some repute who had come to discuss contract renewals, had also witnessed the scene.
They stood frozen as if turned to stone, eyes practically popping from their sockets.
"Am I still half-asleep? Was that really Chief Editor Machida?" one young editor rubbed his eyes furiously, asking his colleague in disbelief.
"Looks like it..." the other stammered, just as stunned. "What's Machida-san doing? Who's that high school kid? For her to greet him like this… don't tell me he's the president's secret son?"
"Idiot! Even if he was, no way she'd treat him like that!"
The two authors, meanwhile, felt their worldview collapse.
Every time they came to Fushikawa Bunko, they bowed and scraped before Machida, careful with every word, and she usually only gave them a curt nod in return.
But now this teenager—this complete nobody—had her personally welcoming him with such reverence?
What kind of sick joke was this?
The envy in their eyes burned hot enough to turn them red.
And it wasn't over yet.
Faced with Sonoko Machida's ninety-degree bow, Seiji Fujiwara only gave a small smile.
"You're too polite, Machida-san."
No shock, no nervous fluster.
As if her behavior was only natural.
"My apologies again! This way, please, sensei!"
Straightening up, Sonoko plastered on a smile, her usual icy composure nowhere to be seen. She hurried ahead, personally leading the way.
She even reached out and pressed the button for the VIP elevator, standing aside respectfully.
Only when the two disappeared behind the slowly closing doors did the lobby finally break free of its silence. A buzz of frantic whispers erupted all at once.
"God… just who is that kid?!"
"Someone huge. Someone way beyond what we can even imagine!"
"Dammit, when will my editor ever come downstairs to greet me like that?"
Fushikawa Bunko, Editing Department.
Ryuji Aida had already prepared his prized gyokuro tea.
When Seiji Fujiwara stepped into the office, the man who could sway the entire industry rose to his feet, beaming.
"Warukawa-sensei! Welcome to Fushikawa Bunko!"
"To be personally welcomed by the Editor-in-Chief himself… I'm honored," Seiji chuckled lightly, then cut straight to the point. "Shall we take a look at the contract?"
"Hahaha! Sensei, you don't waste time," Ryuji said cheerfully, gesturing toward the table. "Please, have a seat. We've prepared tea and snacks."
Seiji took his place on the sofa.
Ryuji sat opposite, pouring tea with a broad smile.
Sonoko Machida stepped forward, placing the prepared document carefully before him.
"Warukawa-sensei, this is the A-Rank Contract we tailored specifically for you. It represents the full measure of our respect."
"That's right," Ryuji chimed in, still smiling. "An A-Rank Contract is among the very best this industry offers. But because we believe in your talent, we made the decision to take this step."
"I appreciate the confidence."
Seiji replied casually, picking up the contract and scanning through the terms.
[Royalty: 10% (top-tier for a debut author)]
[Initial Print Run: 80,000 copies]
[Other Clauses: All adaptation rights (anime, live-action, games, etc.) give the publisher priority in development. Author receives profit-sharing and retains partial consultation rights…]
One of Seiji's eyebrows rose slightly.
An A-Rank Contract. Ten percent royalties. An eighty-thousand-copy first print.
For a brand-new author, this was already a deal beyond imagination.
Fushikawa Bunko had shown incredible sincerity.
And yet…
Seiji Fujiwara wasn't satisfied.
He placed the contract back on the table, lifted his teacup, and took a slow sip.
Silence.
That one small action froze the smiles on both Ryuji Aida and Sonoko Machida's faces.
Not satisfied?
But this was already the absolute best they could offer after intense discussion!
Could it be… was Warukawa-sensei aiming for an S-Rank Contract with fifteen percent royalties?
That was legendary treatment, reserved only for industry titans with tens of millions of copies sold!
Ryuji hesitated, unease creeping into his expression.
"Warukawa-sensei…" he began cautiously, "for a newcomer, this deal is already—"
Seiji cut him off with a smile. "I understand what you mean, Editor-in-Chief."
"You know the true value of this book better than I do."
"This A-Rank Contract—I'll accept it. However…" He paused, his eyes sharpening with quiet confidence. "Next time we sit across this table, I expect to see a truly top-tier contract."
With that, he picked up the pen and signed his name at the end.
Ryuji Aida and Sonoko Machida could only stare at him in stunned silence.
They were overwhelmed by the sheer force of his self-confidence, bordering on arrogance.
Next time… a top-tier contract?
Was he serious?
Ninety-nine percent of authors in the business would never even glimpse the threshold of such a deal in their entire lives.
But considering how young Seiji was…
"Excellent!" Ryuji suddenly slapped his thigh, grinning from ear to ear. "If Warukawa-sensei has this much confidence, then I, Ryuji Aida, will match it. Next time we sign a contract, I'll fight with everything I have to convince the board!"
He couldn't hide the excitement burning in his eyes at the boy's limitless potential.