After leaving the WANI Magazine headquarters, it happened to be lunch time. To express his gratitude to Sayuri and the other two, Tsushima Kagami asked for their opinions and then selected a popular family restaurant nearby.
By the time their meeting with Chief Editor Watanabe ended, Tsushima Kagami and his group already knew that he was essentially locked in for the Newcomer King Award. Not only that, but he also received the payment for his manga manuscript on the spot today.
Originally set at 20 pages, the count increased because Tsushima Kagami drew two extra pages for a grand double-page spread. Additionally, due to the clever little touches from Sayuri and the others, who each attempted to draw a page, the total page count reached 25 pages.
The payment rate had also increased from the previous 12,000 yen to 15,000 yen per page. This meant he received a total of 375,000 yen. It was roughly equivalent to two months' salary for most people, amounting to a small fortune.
Regrettably, the prize money for the King Award would have to wait. It would only be credited next month, after the magazine issue for the month after next is released on the 28th of this month, along with the announcement of the winners' list.
At first, Tsushima Kagami intended to split the manuscript fee equally among everyone, but all three girls resolutely declined. Considering that they indeed didn't lack this bit of money, Tsushima Kagami proposed that he pay for today's outing instead, as a reward for his assistants.
After the four of them finished lunch, they strolled through the nearby shopping district together. In the afternoon, they went to a dessert shop for some sweets before finally parting ways at the subway station.
Since Yukinoshita Shizuku's part-time shift ended around this time, Tsushima Kagami didn't enter the subway with them. Instead, he made his way to Yukinoshita Shizuku's convenience store.
"Welcome."
When Tsushima Kagami walked into the store, he saw that Yukinoshita Shizuku was alone today. Shimizu Nayotake, who was there last time, did not seem to be present.
"Wait a moment longer. My colleague went to the restroom. Once she comes back, I can clock out."
Seeing that the person entering was Tsushima Kagami, Yukinoshita Shizuku leaned her body forward, placed a hand near Tsushima Kagami's ear, and whispered in a hushed voice.
Feeling the warm breath against his ear, Tsushima Kagami nodded and asked, "Is it Shimizu-san?"
"No, Shimizu-san isn't scheduled for today."
Just as Yukinoshita Shizuku was about to say something else, the other female employee returned.
"Sorry to trouble you, Yukinoshita-san. You can clock out now."
"Eh? Is this your boyfriend coming to pick you up?"
The girl was stunned for a moment when she saw Tsushima Kagami in front of the cashier counter, and then she began to tease them curiously.
Yukinoshita Shizuku walked out from behind the counter and said, "No, he's my younger brother."
"Ah, you really don't look alike."
Tsushima Kagami also smiled and bowed. "I am Yukinoshita Kagami. Please continue to look after my older sister in the future."
Looking at Tsushima Kagami's handsome face, the female clerk felt a bit flattered and hurriedly returned the bow.
...
After Yukinoshita Shizuku changed her clothes and the two left the convenience store, Tsushima Kagami took a somewhat thick envelope from his pocket and handed it to her.
Yukinoshita Shizuku took it and asked curiously, "You got the manuscript fee today?"
She knew when she left home that Tsushima Kagami was going to WANI Magazine to submit his manuscript today. If she didn't happen to have a shift, she probably would have gone with him.
"Yes. Also, I heard from the editor that the Newcomer Award is locked in, but the prize money won't come until next month."
"Kagami... you really are..."
Yukinoshita Shizuku stopped walking and looked at Tsushima Kagami, momentarily at a loss for words.
"Alright, enough with the 'really are.' Guess how much money it is."
Yukinoshita Shizuku felt the thickness of the envelope, then rolled her eyes. "I'm not guessing."
After saying that, she opened the envelope and counted.
"Why is it so much?!"
Yukinoshita Shizuku found it a bit incredible. Wasn't it just a few pages of drawings? How was it over three hundred thousand yen?
Tsushima Kagami smiled and said, "Forgot to tell you, one page is fifteen thousand yen."
"Are adult commercial magazines this profitable?"
"Not really. Maybe I'm an exception."
Yukinoshita Shizuku thought about her own pitiful part-time wage of 900 yen per hour, and how she had to deal with all sorts of difficult customers. She couldn't help but feel downcast and frustrated.
Then, she handed the envelope back to Tsushima Kagami. "Keep what you earn for yourself from now on. The living expenses Mother gives aren't that tight, and I have my own part-time job which is enough for me."
Tsushima Kagami didn't say much to that. Instead, he smiled. "Today happens to be Saturday, and it's almost dinner time anyway. Since we're already out, how about we go have some fun first and find a nice place to eat something good tonight?"
"Every time you get money, you start spending recklessly. That habit of yours isn't good," Yukinoshita Shizuku said with a frown.
"Oh? Could it be that Onee-sama doesn't want to relax after work and improve her diet?"
"Don't call me Onee-sama. It gives me goosebumps."
"Didn't you call me 'younger brother' first?"
"That was because I had to introduce you to someone. And on the family register, you are indeed the younger brother."
"Then what's wrong with calling you Onee-sama?"
"Just stop calling me that. It's too weird. You never addressed me like that before."
"So, is Onee-sama going or not?"
Seeing Yukinoshita Shizuku ignoring the address issue and falling back into her previous hesitation, the corners of Tsushima Kagami's mouth curved up.
"Then you go back by yourself. I'll go back after I've played enough and eaten my fill."
After speaking, Tsushima Kagami pointed to the station in the opposite direction. "You can take the train there. I'll go wander around somewhere else first. Sayonara~"
Tsushima Kagami had only taken a few steps when he heard footsteps catching up to him.
He glanced sideways at Yukinoshita Shizuku, who was walking silently beside him.
"Why aren't you going back?"
"Since you don't feel bad about your own money, why should I feel bad for you? I'm going too. I won't stop until I eat enough to make you feel the pain of losing your hard-earned money!"
Yukinoshita Shizuku raised her small fist and made a fierce expression at Tsushima Kagami.
...
Nighttime on the streets of Shinjuku.
The red arch of "Kabukichō Ichibangai" and the layers of colorful neon signs on the buildings on both sides formed the most iconic scene of light and shadow. Along with the bustling crowds on the street and the endless stream of vehicle lights weaving through the night, they jointly constructed a dynamic painting of this sleepless city.
At this moment, Yukinoshita Shizuku was happily examining a chibi panda keychain that was already attached to her house keys.
After they had dinner together, the two of them played gachapon at a nearby claw machine arcade.
The thrill of finally getting a prize—something available at Surugaya for just 300 yen—after spending 5,000 yen made Yukinoshita Shizuku forget to feel the pain of every coin she had inserted.
Fine, as long as the kid is happy.
Tsushima Kagami watched Yukinoshita Shizuku, who was fondling the keychain and couldn't put it down, while feeling the night breeze that was starting to turn warm blowing against his face.
It truly was, "The warm breeze intoxicates the tourists, making them mistake Tokyo for Bianjing."
Tsushima Kagami couldn't help but softly hum Tokyo Wandering, a song adapted into a Japanese City Pop style on Bilibili before his transmigration.
Just as Yukinoshita Shizuku heard the song Tsushima Kagami was humming and was about to ask something, she was interrupted by a familiar voice.
"Um... Yukinoshita-san."
The two looked up in unison to see Shimizu Nayotake holding a stack of flyers.
"Is your part-time job handing out flyers today? Shimizu-san."
Shimizu Nayotake nodded, then pulled out two sheets and gave them to the pair. "Um, if you're free, you can go take a look."
"I'll go back to handing out flyers now. Goodbye."
Watching Shimizu Nayotake walk away, Tsushima Kagami and Yukinoshita Shizuku finally looked at the flyer.
It was a promotional flyer for a performance at a Livehouse called Shinjuku LOFT.
It seemed a bit familiar.
"Do you want to go check it out?" Yukinoshita Shizuku asked Tsushima Kagami.
"Let's go have a look then."
Just as the two were about to get up and leave, they saw a little girl with long blonde hair tied in a side ponytail walking up to them, weeping.
"Have... have you seen my big sister?"
"I can't find my big sister."
Yukinoshita Shizuku squatted down and asked the little girl gently, "Little friend, did you get separated? Shall we take you to find Mr. Policeman?"
"Waaah, I don't want Mr. Policeman, I want my big sister."
Yukinoshita Shizuku hurriedly comforted her again. "What is your name, little friend? We will take you to find your sister."
"Ni... Nijika. Ijichi Nijika."
____
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