Celadon City, the editorial office of Shonen Adventure magazine.
"Mr. Masuda, please have a seat."
Kikkawa Maho pulled out a chair in the conference room, then poured Shiraishi Ritsu a cup of tea, her smile especially bright.
Shiraishi Ritsu did not sit down right away.
He stared at the thick stack of documents on the table and could not help asking, "Miss Maho, you're being so polite today that I'm not quite used to it."
"What? Am I not usually nice to you?"
"You are, but whenever you're this polite, there's always a pile of work waiting for me afterward."
"..."
The smile on Kikkawa Maho's face froze for a moment.
Then she pushed the documents toward him in exasperation.
"Read them yourself!"
Only then did Shiraishi Ritsu sit down with a grin.
Beside him, Smeargle hopped onto a chair and deftly took a Berry cookie out of his backpack.
Kikkawa Maho had specifically asked them to come to the publishing house today. Apparently, the sales figures for the first collected volume had been compiled.
Shiraishi Ritsu had been looking forward to this for days.
After all, no matter how popular a manga was during its magazine serialization, how many collected volumes it ultimately sold was a key measure of its commercial success.
Besides, he was still thinking about his royalties!
"All right, look here first."
Kikkawa Maho opened the documents to the first page.
"Volume one of Pokémon Adventures had an initial print run of eight thousand copies."
"That I know."
"As of yesterday, actual sales reported by bookstores across the region had exceeded seven thousand copies."
Shiraishi Ritsu blinked.
"Over seven thousand?"
"Yes!"
Kikkawa Maho nodded in satisfaction.
"Most of the remaining copies have already been distributed to bookstores, too, and there have been very few returns so far. The distribution department expects the initial eight thousand copies to sell out soon."
Shiraishi Ritsu looked down at the sales chart and could not help grinning.
"So our first volume really is selling well?"
"More than well!"
Kikkawa Maho picked up another document.
"For a manga by a newcomer who's only just released a collected volume, these are already outstanding results."
She pointed to the city names on the page and continued.
"Sales are strongest in Celadon City, with another surge after the signing event."
"Bookstores in Saffron City, Vermilion City, and Fuchsia City have also been placing additional orders."
"Distributors in Viridian City and Pewter City have recently started contacting us on their own, too."
Shiraishi Ritsu's eyes grew brighter as he listened.
Well, damn!
Only the first volume was out, and it was already selling like hotcakes in several of the Kanto Region's major cities?
He looked down at Smeargle.
"Partner, did you hear that?"
"Smear?"
"Our manga really is about to take all of Kanto by storm!"
"Smear!"
Smeargle was so excited that he forgot about his cookie and raised his paws in a cheer.
Watching the man and Pokémon react, Kikkawa Maho could not help laughing.
"The publisher has already decided on a reprint of six thousand copies, and preorders for that batch are looking good, too."
"But we'll have to wait for the actual sales figures afterward to confirm the exact numbers."
"Got it!"
Shiraishi Ritsu nodded repeatedly.
He had not let the results in front of him go to his head.
The first volume selling well meant that Pokémon Adventures had already built up a readership willing to pay for the work.
Whether it could maintain that momentum would still depend on the quality of the manga itself.
But...
"Miss Maho."
"Yes?"
"Well, since sales are so good..."
Shiraishi Ritsu rubbed his hands together, looking full of anticipation.
"Isn't it time we discussed my favorite subject?"
Kikkawa Maho glanced at him.
"Your manuscript fees?"
"To be precise, royalties!"
"I knew that was what you cared about most!"
She took the final settlement statement out of the folder.
"Under the contract we signed, the royalty rate for the collected volumes is eight percent. Royalties for the initial print run are already being processed."
"After deducting the advance already paid, the balance will also be paid according to the arrangements in the contract."
Shiraishi Ritsu hurriedly took the statement.
His gaze swept down the page.
Then his eyes slowly widened.
"Wait..."
He carefully counted the digits.
Then counted them again.
Finally, he looked up at Kikkawa Maho, his face full of delighted surprise.
"Miss Maho, this much?!"
"You signed the contract yourself. Why do you still look like you've never seen money before?"
"I've never seen this much in royalties before!"
Shiraishi Ritsu could not help laughing aloud.
Although his manuscript fees had continued to rise during serialization, after paying rent, everyday expenses, and the cost of Smeargle's art supplies each month, he still had to budget carefully to save any real money.
Now, with the royalties for the first collected volume settled, he finally had a respectable amount of savings when combined with the income he had put aside.
"Smeargle!"
"Smear?"
"We're rich!"
"Smear!!"
Smeargle shot to his feet.
The first thing he thought of was the set of premium paints at the art supply store that he had coveted for so long.
Shiraishi Ritsu had clearly thought of the same thing.
The man and Pokémon exchanged a look for a moment, then suddenly smiled at the same time.
Sitting across from them, Kikkawa Maho could not help pressing a hand to her forehead.
"Mr. Masuda, why do I get the feeling you two are about to go on a shopping spree?"
"Hehe!"
Shiraishi Ritsu carefully put away the settlement statement.
"After working for so long, we have to give ourselves a proper reward!"
Noon.
At a fairly well-known restaurant in Celadon City.
"Boss, another Berry cream cake, please!"
Shiraishi Ritsu raised a hand and called to a server.
"Smear!"
Sitting across from him, Smeargle clapped his paws excitedly.
The table was already covered with all kinds of delicious food.
There was fragrant roast meat, steaming soup, and Berry dishes the restaurant prepared especially for Pokémon.
Shiraishi Ritsu was feeling quite generous today.
Normally, he would at least give the prices some thought when eating at a restaurant.
Today, he had ordered several signature dishes outright.
Of course, he had still remembered to leave himself a little breathing room in the end.
After all, earning money was not easy, and he had no intention of eating through all his royalties in a single day.
"Partner, order whatever you want today!"
"Smear!"
Smeargle immediately pointed to the premium Berry dessert on the menu.
Shiraishi Ritsu looked down at the price.
His smile faltered slightly.
"...You really aren't holding back, are you?"
Smeargle blinked.
Weren't you the one who said I could order whatever I wanted?
"All right, all right!"
Shiraishi Ritsu gritted his teeth.
"Order it!"
Smeargle was so happy that he nearly jumped out of his chair.
Seeing how satisfied he looked lifted Shiraishi Ritsu's spirits, too.
He suddenly remembered when he had first arrived in this world.
Back then, he had been determined to become an outstanding Pokémon Trainer, only for reality to beat him down before long.
Even after he decided to draw manga, life had not improved right away.
His first studio had been tiny, they had to use drawing paper sparingly, and he could not bring himself to buy the premium paints Smeargle liked.
Sometimes, the two of them even had to stay up all night working to meet their deadlines.
And now, look at what was in front of him.
The manga had a steady readership, the collected volume was starting to sell well, and the publisher was willing to put more resources into promotion.
Even Smeargle already had a group of fans who genuinely liked him.
Shiraishi Ritsu picked up his juice and raised his glass toward Smeargle with a smile.
"Partner, here's to our first collected volume!"
"Smear!"
Smeargle raised his own glass of juice and solemnly clinked it against his.
Then the man and Pokémon both took a big gulp.
Shiraishi Ritsu could not help smiling.
Life like this really was pretty good.