Under normal circumstances, whether for novels or manga, an author's royalty rate typically falls between 6% and 10%. Those who can command 10% are generally considered veteran authors with solid sales records.
Anything above that usually requires the author to be a bestseller with the clout to negotiate their own profit share. The exact figure depends entirely on one's sales performance.
In a standard scenario, a 15% royalty share is considered the absolute ceiling of what the industry can offer.
And what about non-standard scenarios?
Take Yoshihiro Togashi, for instance. In a congratulatory message for the anniversary of Weekly Shonen Jump, he once complained: "When I think about how I spend at least 16 hours a day drawing, only to get about 30% of the profit while the publisher takes the remaining 70%, I feel like I'd be better off playing Mahjong."
Authors of that caliber can certainly secure a higher split, but obviously, Tsushima Kagami did not hold that kind of status yet.
However, the fact that WANI Magazine offered the maximum 15% split right out of the gate showed immense sincerity. It was clear they intended to bind Tsushima Kagami firmly to their publishing house.
After reviewing the contract and confirming there were no issues, Tsushima Kagami reached into his handbag. He took out a small box, revealing a petite, snow-white cylindrical seal. Carved upon it in seal script was the name: [Yukinoshita Kagami].
In Japan, contracts are typically not validated by signatures but by seals and official certification. Beyond contracts, seals are used in place of signatures for everyday situations like signing for deliveries or paying utility bills.
Furthermore, different seals are used for different occasions, such as informal seals (mitome-in), registered seals (jitsuin), and bank seals (ginko-in).
Originally, as students, neither Tsushima Kagami nor Yukinoshita Shizuku had much use for these. However, after Tsushima Kagami successfully published Cheesecake in Shinchou, Shizuku anticipated that he might frequently need to sign documents in the future, so she had a seal made for him.
Tsushima Kagami pressed the seal into the prepared red ink pad on the table, then stamped it firmly onto the designated spot on the contract. With that, the signing was complete.
Once Editor Watanabe had stored the contract away, he handed another copy to Tsushima Kagami.
After tucking his copy away, Tsushima Kagami asked curiously, "Excuse me, Watanabe-san, what has the price for this tankobon been set at?"
Since the royalty rate directly affected his income, Kagami was naturally curious about how much he would ultimately earn.
"Ah, that. We currently plan to set the price at 1,000 yen."
This was considered the most common price point for a tankobon.
However, Kagami's work was just a single short story. Before his transmigration, digital versions of short stories online usually sold for about 300 to 500 yen.
For comparison, a copy of Comic Kairakuten cost only 550 yen for over 400 pages. It would only rise later—hitting 660, 770, 880, and finally 990 yen by the time of his transmigration.
Now, a 200-page tankobon was being sold at the same price as a thick magazine? Kagami felt a bit guilty. Would people really buy this?
He wouldn't end up getting flamed online, would he?
"Wow! That means at least 100 million yen!"
Sayuri calculated the figure using her clever little brain and let out a startled scream.
"But Kagami-kun's take-home share will be around 15 million yen," Machida Sonoko reminded her from the side.
"That's still amazing!"
"Hey, hey, Kagami-kun, you're going to be a rich man!"
Sayuri shook the seated Tsushima Kagami back and forth, looking as happy as if she were the one receiving the royalties instead of him.
Tsushima Kagami, however, showed no joy. Instead, his face was clouded with worry.
"Eh? Kagami-kun, aren't you happy?" Sayuri leaned in, tilting her head as she asked.
"Ah, happy... I am happy, I guess."
"Kagami-kun is worrying about paying taxes, isn't he?"
At that moment, Kosaka Akane identified the source of Kagami's distress and said it outright.
Tsushima Kagami looked at Kosaka Akane and nodded. "Yes, Akane-senpai."
Before '99, Japan's personal income tax was divided into five brackets:
0 ~ 3.3 million yen — 10%
3.3 million ~ 9 million yen — 20%
9 million ~ 18 million yen — 30%
18 million ~ 30 million yen — 40%
Over 30 million yen — 50%
It wasn't until after '99 that the highest tax rate of 50% was reduced to 37%. Twelve years later, the income brackets and tax rates would undergo several major revisions again.
Adding in other miscellaneous taxes, almost a third of one's income would go to taxes.
And if his income ever exceeded 30 million yen, half of it would be straight-up confiscated by the taxman.
If he were paying these taxes back in the Motherland, he might accept it. But paying them to this country? It really stung.
Tsushima Kagami felt he should probably hire a tax accountant.
Seeing the pained look on Kagami's face, Editor Watanabe stood up and patted him on the shoulder.
"Kagami-kun, it can't be helped. Taxes must be paid, after all."
"It's a pity you're still a minor. Once you turn 20 and can legally register a company, you'll be able to establish one to legally avoid some taxes."
Hearing this, a thought suddenly struck Tsushima Kagami: Perhaps I can have Mother Yukinoshita register a company, sign myself under it, and then spin it off once I come of age.
"I understand, Watanabe-san."
"If there's nothing else, we'll be heading back."
Tsushima Kagami stood up, bid farewell to Editor Watanabe along with Sayuri, Kosaka Akane, and Machida Sonoko, and left the WANI offices.
*
By the time the group stepped outside, the sky had turned completely dark. After dropping Sayuri and the others off at the subway station, Tsushima Kagami returned to the convenience store where Yukinoshita Shizuku worked.
Once Shizuku clocked out, the two went to the same ramen shop where Kagami had previously encountered Shimizu Nayotake.
"Eh? Shimizu-san?"
As soon as they entered, Yukinoshita Shizuku saw her work partner—Shimizu Nayotake. They were often scheduled on the same shift, but Nayotake wasn't on the convenience store roster today, so Shizuku hadn't expected to run into her here.
Shimizu Nayotake, who wasn't much for words, simply nodded upon seeing them, counting it as a greeting.
Tsushima Kagami pulled Shizuku to an empty seat. He smiled at Shimizu Nayotake, who was dressed in her poster girl outfit just like last time. "Shimizu-san, I'll have the thick roast pork ramen again."
Then he looked at Yukinoshita Shizuku. "What will you have?"
"You knew Shimizu-san worked at this ramen shop?" Shizuku asked instead of ordering.
"Yeah. Though it seems Shimizu-san doesn't work here very often."
"Do you eat here often?"
"Yep. Sometimes I have dinner here before coming to pick you up."
"Really! You never told me you ate already!"
"And why didn't you bring me a portion? Do you know how tired and hungry I am when I have to go back and cook after work every day?!"
Yukinoshita Shizuku shot Kagami a reproachful look.
Tsushima Kagami was taken aback. He had always assumed that Shizuku, being a former rich young lady, couldn't stomach this kind of food and insisted on cooking for herself.
"Ara, I thought you didn't like this kind of food. Besides, noodles get soggy and taste bad if you take them to go."
"So hurry up and order. Don't keep Shimizu-san waiting."
At this moment, Shimizu Nayotake was watching the two of them bicker and delay with her usual expressionless face.
"Sorry about that. Um, Shimizu-san, I'll have the same thick roast pork ramen as Kagami."
Shimizu Nayotake gave a faint nod, scribbled quickly on her pad, and handed the order to the kitchen.
Since Shizuku got off work late, there were few customers. With nothing else to do, Shimizu Nayotake stood blankly to the side, occasionally glancing at Tsushima Kagami and Yukinoshita Shizuku.
After quickly placing her order, Shizuku looked back at Kagami. "So, did something good happen today? Otherwise, you wouldn't suddenly bring me here to eat."
Tsushima Kagami pulled out the contract he had signed earlier, a triumphant grin spreading across his face.
"From now on, you'll have to address me as Lord Yukinoshita, no matter what!"
____
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