Chapter 107: First Print Decision Meeting
The taxi stopped in front of the Shueisha Building.
Mikazuki Haruna had gotten into the car first, so she was sitting on the side closest to the road.
After the car door automatically opened, Sakamoto Ken got out first, and Mikazuki Haruna shuffled over and followed him.
He continued to walk forward but noticed the girl beside him had stopped.
Mikazuki Haruna stood there, looking hesitant, as if she didn’t know whether to follow him in or not.
Sakamoto Ken turned his head and asked directly, “What are you hesitating for?”
“I…” Mikazuki Haruna opened her mouth, but was momentarily speechless.
Sakamoto Ken calmly exposed her intentions, “You actually came back with me just to get the car.”
Mikazuki Haruna turned her head away, avoiding Sakamoto Ken’s gaze.
Earlier, in that residential area, when Sakamoto Ken had suddenly caught her, she had made up an excuse about “passing by Akihabara and decided to browse,” and now that excuse was completely exposed.
But then, Mikazuki Haruna’s expression regained its composure.
As long as I don’t admit it, then it didn’t happen!
She puffed out her chest righteously and said, “Yes, I parked my car in the company’s parking lot before going to Akihabara, so I don’t have to pay parking fees here.”
Sakamoto Ken just smiled and didn’t press the issue.
Do you really seem like someone who would care about parking fees?
“I’m not talking to you anymore, I’m going to find the editor,” Sakamoto Ken walked inside.
Seeing that Sakamoto Ken wasn’t pressing further, Mikazuki Haruna breathed a sigh of relief.
But she felt like she had been at a disadvantage, and reluctantly asked, “Hey… how long will you be? Do you want me to wait for you and then drive you back?”
“No need, your car is too conspicuous. If acquaintances see it, they’ll mistake me for doing strange work,” Sakamoto Ken shook his head, rejecting her offer.
“Oh…” Mikazuki Haruna responded, then muttered, “What strange work…”
Seeing Sakamoto Ken enter the building, she didn’t linger at the doorway and turned to walk quickly in the direction of the parking lot.
Anyway, today was fruitful; she now knew where his new rented house was.
Moreover, she was the first guest to his new home.
Thinking this, the girl’s steps became lighter.
Sakamoto Ken actually didn’t walk through the lobby. He stood to the side behind a character standee of Onodera Kosaki, watched Mikazuki Haruna walk away from a distance, and only then unhurriedly walked into the lobby.
He approached the front desk again.
It was the same young female staff member. Seeing Sakamoto Ken approach, she instinctively reached for her mobile phone under the desk.
But as her fingers touched the phone, she remembered that Miyuki Haru Sensei had said that last time was the final time, and she wouldn’t need to report Sakamoto Ken Sensei’s movements anymore.
Ten thousand yen each time, which was almost half a month’s salary. She still felt a little bit of disappointment, but she quickly put on a professional smile and handed him the registration form.
“Sakamoto Sensei, please sign here to register.”
Sakamoto Ken took the pen, signed, and went straight upstairs.
In the elevator, Sakamoto Ken messaged Kaji Keiko, telling her that the house had been rented and he wanted to discuss the arrangement of studio equipment with her.
However, after sending the message, he received no reply for a long time.
Sakamoto Ken didn’t mind and went directly to the editorial department.
Kaji Keiko wasn’t at her desk, but Sakamoto Ken saw Editor Uchimura, with whom he had discussed manga with Ryū Kōshin, and he proactively went to greet him.
“Uchimura-san, good afternoon.”
“Oh! It’s Sakamoto Sensei!” Editor Uchimura responded enthusiastically upon seeing him, “Are you looking for Kaji-san?”
“Yes, isn’t Editor Kaji at the company?”
“She should be in the meeting room, it’s over there,” Editor Uchimura said, pointing to the other side and lowering his voice, “Oh, right, it’s probably about your book.”
“About my book?”
“That’s right,” Editor Uchimura’s tone carried a hint of schadenfreude, “It’s the production meeting to decide the initial print run for Chainsaw Man. If you’re curious, you can listen in nearby. These production meetings are super intense.”
Sakamoto Ken thanked him and walked in the direction Editor Uchimura had indicated.
The corridor wasn’t long. After turning the corner ahead, he saw a room with a sign that read “Meeting Room 1.”
Even from a distance from the meeting room door, he could hear the heated arguments coming from inside.
He was very familiar with one of the voices; it was Kaji Keiko.
“…Thirty thousand copies? Minister Sato, are you sure that number isn’t a joke?” Kaji Keiko said loudly, “You’ve seen the popularity data for Chainsaw Man on JUMP+, right? It’s been serialized for a month, and the number of votes is already number one on the platform! A mere thirty thousand copies for the initial print run probably won’t even satisfy the pre-order numbers!”
A slightly hoarse middle-aged male voice replied, “Kaji-san, the Sales Department’s decision is based on market data and risk assessment. For a newcomer’s new work, an initial print run of thirty thousand copies is already quite good treatment.”
“Furthermore, we will closely monitor the sales data after release. If the market response is enthusiastic, we can arrange an emergency reprint within a month. This will not affect the overall sales of the work.”
“How can it not affect it!” Kaji Keiko said, “Minister Sato, you should know better than I do that insufficient initial distribution is fatal for a new work! By the time the reprint comes out, the effect of the early promotion will have long passed.”
“Kaji-san, I am responsible for the performance of the entire department. If there’s a deficit, can you take responsibility?”
“Of course I will take responsibility!” Kaji Keiko said resolutely, “I request an initial print run of eighty thousand copies! This is already a very conservative number; my initial expectation was one hundred thousand copies!”
“If the final sales don’t meet expectations, I will personally bear the responsibility to the President!”
A brief silence fell over the meeting room.
Sakamoto Ken stood outside the door, unable to see the situation inside, but he could imagine the red-faced arguments.
Editor Kaji was willing to bet her entire career for his work…
At this moment, another voice Sakamoto Ken was familiar with spoke up; it was Shueisha’s Chief Editor Ono Tomohiro.
“Alright, alright, let’s all calm down,” Chief Editor Ono’s tone was clearly that of a peacemaker, “It’s normal for Sato to have concerns, but the potential of Chainsaw Man is truly visible to the naked eye. The data from JUMP+ doesn’t lie. Kaji, eight thousand copies you proposed is indeed a bit aggressive. Let’s meet halfway, how about sixty thousand copies?”
“Sixty thousand copies is too few,” Kaji Keiko said.
Minister Sato of the Sales Department said, “Ono, the midpoint between eighty thousand and thirty thousand is not sixty thousand. Considering the risks, I can agree to a maximum of forty thousand copies.”
As the head of the Sales Department, his rank within the company was the same as Ono Tomohiro’s, but Ono Tomohiro had more seniority, so Sato spoke without reservation.
Kaji Keiko said, “In any case, the printing factory has already made the plates, and the publication plan cannot be canceled. Since the initial print run hasn’t been decided, let’s continue the discussion. If the printing factory’s schedule is held up, it will delay the printing of the next book, and that will be the Sales Department’s responsibility.”
“Kaji, you…” Minister Sato was clearly angered.
“Enough!” Chief Editor Ono banged the table and said, “Kaji, you take a step back, and let’s print sixty thousand copies. Sato, I personally have high hopes for Chainsaw Man, and all sorts of promotions are going to go live in the next few days. Sixty thousand copies, I believe, will only lead to a shortage.”
The people from the Sales Department exchanged a few low-voiced words, and finally, Minister Sato said sullenly, “…Hmph, since the Chief Editor has said so, then let’s go with sixty thousand copies. However, if there’s a deficit this time, I won’t compromise in the future.”
“Yes, this matter is settled,” Chief Editor Ono said, “It’s almost time, and I have another meeting with the next team. Everyone, dismissed.”
Sakamoto Ken heard the sound of chairs being moved from inside, so he took a few steps back and looked at the meeting room door.
Soon, the meeting room door was pushed open, and several middle-aged men in suits walked out with displeased expressions. They didn’t even glance at Sakamoto Ken and headed straight for the elevator.
They knew Sakamoto Ken’s name, but they didn’t actually know him.
Kaji Keiko came out last.
Kaji Keiko still had a trace of lingering anger on her face, but upon seeing Sakamoto Ken in the corridor, she immediately put on a smile.
“Sakamoto Sensei!”
Sakamoto Ken walked up to her, “Kaji-san, thank you just now for fighting for the initial print quantity…”
“I am Sakamoto Sensei’s editor-in-charge!” Kaji Keiko patted her chest and said, “My duty is to use all means to make Sakamoto Sensei’s books sell like hotcakes!”
Sakamoto Ken glanced back. The people from the Sales Department had already left, so he lowered his voice and said, “Were Editor Kaji and Chief Editor Ono coordinating just now?”
Kaji Keiko covered her mouth and smiled, saying, “It’s negotiation~”
She didn’t elaborate, but Sakamoto Ken understood.
One person stated a high number, and when the argument was most heated, the Chief Editor came out to mediate, but in fact, he was leaning towards the editorial department.
Kaji Keiko asked, “Speaking of which, Sakamoto Sensei, why are you back at the editorial department?”
“I just went to see a house, and now it’s rented,” Sakamoto Ken said.
“So quickly!” Kaji Keiko was a little surprised.
“Yes, it’s about a ten-minute drive from here,” Sakamoto Ken explained, “But the house is still empty and needs all sorts of equipment and furniture. I was hoping you could help.”
“Of course!” Kaji Keiko immediately agreed, “Let’s confirm the list, and then I’ll prepare a full set for you.”
“Will Editor Kaji personally help with the procurement? You seem quite busy with your work,” Sakamoto Ken asked.
Kaji Keiko waved her hand and said, “Not at all. For errands like this, the editorial department has interns. Once the list is confirmed, I’ll oversee it from behind the scenes and arrange for an intern to handle it. However, you’ll have to pay for the procurement yourself.”
Sakamoto Ken nodded, “Okay, then I’ll entrust it to you, Editor Kaji!”
Today’s three updates total eight thousand characters, equivalent to four chapters~
