A slightly old Toyota sedan braked suddenly and stopped at the entrance.
The car door opened, and a middle-aged man rushed out; it was Toyota Kameichi.
He had completely lost the composure he displayed in the editorial department; his eyes were bloodshot, and he was clutching a briefcase tightly in his hand.
" Nozomi Takamiya! Is Nozomi Takamiya- sensei here? Is Kawamoto Kazuki here?"
"This is the address they left, it's correct!"
Toyota Kameichi's voice was slightly distorted with urgency.
Kawamoto emerged from the warehouse, looked at the now completely disheveled renowned editor-in-chief, and bowed slightly. " Editor-in-Chief Toyota? What brings you here—"
"The manuscript! The follow-up manuscript!"
Toyota Kameichi rushed up to Kawamoto, waving his arms excitedly. "The editorial department still has some stock, but it's really not enough. What about the upcoming Chunin Exams?"
"The readers are going crazy! The editorial office phones have been ringing off the hook! I've already set aside 30 pages for the next issue! How's Takamiya- sensei's writing going?"
Before Kawamoto could answer, a slightly timid voice came from the warehouse. "Editor-Chief? What brings you here?"
Nozomi Takamiya, holding a bowl of instant noodles and with half a sausage dangling from her mouth, stared dumbfounded at Toyota Kameichi.
He was working on a manuscript in a small room partitioned off from the warehouse because he needed to communicate with Kawamoto at any time, when he was disturbed by the commotion outside.
" Takamiya -sensei!"
Toyota Kameichi rushed over, almost bowing ninety degrees to Takamiya: "You've worked hard! Is the writing going well? Please let me know if you need anything!"
"Want a quiet environment? I can book the best hot spring hotel for you in Atami!"
Need the materials? I'll send someone to the library to get them for you!
Need inspiration? Let me chat with you!
Takamiya was terrified by this scene and looked to Kawamoto for help.
Kawamoto stepped forward, separating the overly agitated Toyota Kameichi: "Editor-in-chief, calm down. The manuscript is in progress; we have the outline, but it needs time to be polished."
"Time! Time is what we lack most!"
Toyota Kameichi lamented, "Readers can't wait! The market can't wait! Mr. Takamiya, you are a genius! A true genius! Naruto will surely go down in history! But right now, every minute and every second is crucial!"
"And so, I'll stay at the Heike until you finish writing the next chapter. No, I mean, until you finish the entire Chunin Exams arc!"
He said he would do what he said.
That same day, Toyota Kameichi carried his luggage and checked into a fairly clean business hotel in Heike City.
But instead of staying at the hotel, he went straight to the Takamiya residence.
A typical two-story detached house.
Takamiya's parents were an ordinary working-class couple.
The man was dumbfounded as he watched the middle-aged man, who claimed to be the chief editor of Shueisha, pontificating about his son in his own simple living room.
"You two have truly raised an extraordinary son! A literary prodigy!" Toyota Kameichi grasped Dad Takamiya's hand and shook it vigorously.
"NARUTO is a hit! A massive hit! Young people all over Japan are reading it and talking about it! Our editorial office phones have been ringing off the hook! Reader letters are pouring in! Pre-orders for the next issue are expected to increase by 30%! No, 50%!"
Dad Takamiya responded blankly, "Ah, ah."
Do you know how much Professor Takamiya charges per page for his manuscripts?
Toyota Kameichi held up three fingers, lowering his voice as if he were revealing a shocking secret. "This number! Thirty thousand per page! The salary of a top novelist! And it will increase as popularity rises! Skyrocket!"
"You do the math, how much would it cost to draw—no, write—twenty or thirty pages a week? How much would it cost a month?"
A single page of the original manuscript typically contains 400 words, so even thirty pages would only amount to 12,000 words, which is actually not much content.
How much are the royalties after a book is published?
How much revenue would be generated after the content was adapted into comics, anime, or games?
"You two, just wait and enjoy your retirement!"
The teacup in Mom Takamiya's hand clattered to the ground. She didn't care about that and stammered, "..."
Comics, animation, art games, or games?
"Certainly!"
Toyota Kameichi declared unequivocally, "With Naruto's potential, it will definitely be adapted into a manga, anime, and a game! Then your son will be a famous author! No, a billionaire!"
Takamiya's parents were stunned by this barrage of information.
They always thought their son was wasting his time staying at home drawing and writing, and they kept advising him to lose weight and find a job during the summer vacation to get some experience before he suddenly entered society and became a loser.
result----
Is he really going to become a billionaire?
Seeing her parents' shocked, ecstatic, and incredulous expressions, Nozomi Takamiya felt both embarrassed and overwhelmed by an indescribable surge of warmth.
He knew his own limitations; everything he had was thanks to his older brother Kawamoto.
After all, the writing style of Kawamoto's drafts and outlines far surpassed that of his predecessors.
But being looked at by her parents with such pride, even a hint of awe—
This feeling is really nice.
"Dad, Mom, Editor-in-Chief Toyota is exaggerating a bit—"
"Takamiya said in a low voice."
"Not an exaggeration! Not an exaggeration at all!" Editor-in-Chief Toyota suddenly stood up, his face flushed.
Dad Takamiya, tears streaming down his face, exclaimed, "My son is a genius! I've known that since he was little. Mom, what are you waiting for? Go! Go buy the best Wagyu beef! Buy the most expensive fish! Give our son some brain-boosting nutrition! Writing books takes a lot of brainpower!"
Yes, yes, yes!
Mom Takamiya also came to her senses, so excited she didn't know what to do. " Nozomi-chan, are you hungry? Mom will buy you your favorite fried chicken! Do you have enough cola? Mom will go buy a case! No, ten cases!"
His parents, who used to advise him to lose weight and eat less junk food, now wished they could pile all the world's delicacies in front of him.
" Kawamoto- kun!"
Dad Takamiya then looked at Kawamoto and patted him hard on the shoulder. "Thanks to you, you've guided our Nozomi-chan onto the right path. You are a great benefactor to the Takamiya family. Please come often and make this your home!"
Takamiya's mother also said, "I had tea with your family and Kazuko- neechan the other day, and I told her how amazing you are."
Because Takamiya had eaten at the Kawamoto last time, Mom Takamiya went to deliver a thank-you gift the next day, and they had become good friends with Mom Kazuko, often visiting each other.
Kawamoto nodded politely, indicating that he had other matters to attend to and would not disturb him further.
On the way back, he was extremely excited.
Literary translation has stirred up a whole Japan.
The Motorcycle Express, stirring up the entire Shonan.
Just as an atmosphere of hope was spreading, he received a phone call from Takenori Akagi that evening.
Jousei High School?
Kawamoto's eyes narrowed.
The dominant force in Shizuoka Prefecture, a top-eight team in last year's national tournament, is known for its tight defense and teamwork. Their coach is a disciple of Anzai.
Akagi's tone was grave on the phone. " Anzai said this is a crucial match to test the results of our summer training and prepare for the national tournament. We'll have to play three games against them."
"When?"
"I'm leaving tomorrow morning on the Shinkansen!"
"Okay, I'll be there later. Thanks, Captain."