Bonus Chapter at 900 PS
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"Don't tell me you forgot?"
"You sold the film rights for To the Moon to my father's company, Sugar Man Pictures. The movie has already cleared 200 million yen at the box office, and current projections suggest it's on track to pass 400 million by the end of its run. When you add in the home video sales and the massive merchandise revenue, the net profit for my father is going to be at least 100 million yen, maybe more. He's been in a fantastic mood all week. He keeps telling me that I was right to talk him into buying your IP, and now he wants to thank you in person over dinner."
"Please, stop the math. You're making my heart ache with every word," Haruto groaned, clutching his chest.
"Pfft!" Yukino burst into laughter. Back when To the Moon took first place in the Ascent of New Gods, seven different film studios were fighting for the rights. Yukino, acting as Haruto's editor and fueled by her absolute faith in his talent, had pressured her father to jump into the fray. Her original intention was simply to support Haruto; if her father won the bid, it was a win for everyone. If he didn't, Sugar Man Pictures could at least act as a "shill" to drive up the bidding price from other companies.
"Oh, come on, stop being dramatic. If you hadn't sold the rights to my dad, you would have just sold them to some other corporation. I'm an only child, so all of his assets will eventually be mine anyway. Once I inherit everything, I'll take you out for an even bigger feast to pay you back," Yukino teased.
"An even bigger feast? You really are generous with your father's money," Haruto joked. He knew she was right. Back when he was strapped for cash and trying to grow his influence, he would have sold those rights to whoever met the price.
Without that capital, he never would have been able to fund the production of Puella Magi Madoka Magica. Some sacrifices were simply necessary for the long game, and Haruto was pragmatic enough to accept that.
"Alright, since your father wants to meet, I can hardly say no." Haruto checked his watch; it was already 6:40 PM.
"Good." Yukino felt a weight lift from her shoulders.
She had been worried that Haruto might harbor some resentment now that he saw exactly how much money Sugar Man Pictures was making off his work.
But the man she had scouted back at Crimson Maple Literature remained as broad-minded as ever. The two of them took the elevator down to the basement parking lot. Haruto climbed into the passenger seat of Yukino's vibrant red two-seater sports car.
"By the way, Haruto," Yukino asked as she pulled out into the traffic. "I've been reading Initial D. That 'inertial drift' you keep drawing... can you actually do that? You should teach me sometime."
The question caught Haruto completely off guard. "I have no idea how to do that."
Yukino stayed silent for a moment before glancing at him. "You're drawing things you can't even do in real life?"
"Of course! By that logic, to write Parasyte, I would've needed to be infected by an alien and have a talking, sentient 'Right Hand' that moves on its own," Haruto retorted.
"Hahaha! Fair point." Yukino stepped on the gas, a smirk playing on her pale face.
They spent the next twenty minutes trading witty barbs until the car pulled up to a prestigious, starred restaurant.
The moment they stepped out, a valet arrived to take the keys.
Haruto straightened his collar and smoothed his hair; he was meeting Yukino's father, after all, and he didn't want to be disrespectful.
After checking in at the reception, a host led them through a series of winding corridors to a private VIP booth. When the door opened, Haruto saw a refined middle-aged man sitting at the head of the table.
He looked to be in his late forties or early fifties, still quite handsome with sharp, distinguished features. He rose with a warm smile to greet them.
"Hello, Haruto. I am Gin, Yukino's father and the Chairman of Sugar Man Pictures."
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Gin," Haruto said, offering a polite handshake.
Yukino, however, showed no such restraint. She tossed her bag onto a side chair and sat down, crossing her long legs. "Dad, tell them to bring the food. I'm starving."
"All you ever think about is your stomach. It's that lack of manners and your obsession with leisure that's kept you single at twenty-seven. Aren't you embarrassed? By the time I was your age, you were already walking."
"I'm single because I'm exceptional, Dad. My future husband is still out there leveling up so he can be worthy of standing in front of me. You wouldn't understand," Yukino fired back, completely unbothered.
Haruto could practically see the physical aura of exasperation radiating from her father. Despite the bickering, it was clear that the two shared a very close, loving bond. It touched a chord in Haruto's heart, making him think of his own father. If he were alive today, Haruto could have cleared his father's debts with a single check.
Sigh.
The faint sound of his sigh didn't escape Gin's notice. Realizing he was being a bit too informal, the older man quickly gestured for Haruto to take a seat and poured him a glass of sake.
Gin didn't waste time with riddles. He began a casual conversation that meandered through topics like family, life experiences, personal ambitions, and philosophy. Within thirty minutes, he had cycled through four or five different subjects.
By the time Haruto had finally lowered his guard, to the point where the atmosphere was so friendly they were almost talking like brothers, Gin made his move. The surface-level purpose of this dinner was gratitude, but the underlying intent finally came to light.
"I remember something you said back when To the Moon finished its run," Gin said, casually refilling Haruto's glass. "You mentioned that the story... had a second part, didn't you?"
Beside them, Yukino stopped mid-bite and looked up, her eyes darting toward Haruto. Haruto met her gaze.
They both understood immediately where this was going.
To the Moon had only been in theaters for a week and was already a massive success. In the film industry, you don't ignore a hit like that.
With the brand power of the first film, a sequel was essentially a guaranteed paycheck.
"That's... true," Haruto admitted softly.
The main issue was that the sequel, Finding Paradise, was also a relatively short narrative.
It didn't fit the high-speed serialization model of a major magazine like Kiyozawa Library.
Consequently, Haruto had never seriously considered adapting it into a novel after joining the publisher. It just didn't feel like the right fit for the medium.
"Then have you considered this? While To the Moon is ravaging the box office, we should strike while the iron is hot," Gin said, a predatory but friendly smile on his face. "Let's partner up again for a major project. We can put the production for the sequel on the schedule immediately."
Haruto found himself at a loss for words. If a sequel were to be made, there was no way he would hand it over to an outside studio now. He had his own animation company. Why would he let someone else take the lion's share of the profit for a property he owned?
However, a flat rejection felt like it might make things awkward for Yukino.
As he hesitated, Yukino herself intervened.
Cough, cough, cough!
She cleared her throat loudly to get their attention. "Dad, don't waste your time."
"What do you mean 'waste my time'? I'm talking business with Haruto-kun," Gin said, giving his daughter a look that told her to stay out of it.
"I told you before that Haruto and I are partners in a new venture, but I never told you the name of our company, did I?" Yukino asked.
"No, you didn't. Why would the name of a little startup run by two kids matter? It's good that you're exploring entrepreneurship, and as long as you don't lose too much money, the experience is valuable. I didn't think I needed to scrutinize a hobby project," her father replied.
"Our company is called 'Haru-Yuki'," Yukino said.
"Haru-Yuki? Haruto and Yukino... simple and direct. Wait. Haru... Yuki?" Gin repeated the name slowly as the gears in his head began to turn at high speed. "Haru-Yuki Animation Studio?" he blurted out.
Although Gin's company dealt mainly with live-action and theatrical animation, he had certainly heard of the legendary TV anime Madoka Magica. He knew all about the "Warrior of Love" and the cultural storm that series had created. Suddenly, the puzzle pieces clicked into place.
"Haruto-kun... you are the author of Madoka Magica? You are 'The Warrior of Love'?" Gin looked at the young man with an entirely different expression.
"Well... yes, Mr. Gin. That's correct," Haruto said after a brief pause.
A total miscalculation.
A flicker of genuine disappointment crossed Gin's face.
If Haruto was the Warrior of Love, he already possessed a world-class animation studio. If there was a sequel to To the Moon, there was zero logical reason for Haruto to partner with Sugar Man Pictures again.
But then, Gin looked at his daughter.
How on earth did she manage to find a talent like this and convince him to partner with her? Haruto's identity as Shiori Takahashi was impressive enough, but the Warrior of Love? Is she actually some kind of genius scout?
He let out a quiet sigh, immediately recognizing the reality of the situation. He buried the carefully prepared pitch for the sequel rights deep in his mind and turned back to Haruto with a genuine smile.
"If that's the case, let's forget about business tonight. Let's just enjoy the food and the drinks."
Haruto felt a massive wave of relief. His opinion of Yukino's father shot up. The man was a true professional; the moment he realized a deal was impossible, he dropped it without a single trace of awkwardness.
Under Gin's enthusiastic hospitality, the sake flowed freely. Haruto, who wasn't much of a drinker, soon found himself drifting into a hazy, half-conscious sleep.
"I have to say, you've certainly accomplished a lot this past year," Gin muttered, casting an annoyed glance at his daughter once Haruto had drifted off.
All three of them had been drinking, but genetics were a powerful thing. Yukino's grandfather had once taken second place in a legendary drinking competition. The family's tolerance for alcohol was beyond the realm of normal human biology. While Haruto, who had a decent tolerance for an average person, was out for the count, the father and daughter were barely even warmed up.
"And here I thought you actually invited him here to thank him. Turns out you're just as shallow as I thought. Haven't you made enough money off the first movie? You really wanted the sequel rights too?" Yukino shot back at her father.
"Hah! Money is like oxygen, dear. You can never have enough," Gin smirked, though he didn't press the issue. He wasn't a fool; unless Haruto had a temporary lapse in sanity, he would never give the sequel script to Sugar Man Pictures now.
"I haven't seen you in months, and you've certainly changed. But since business is off the table with your friend, let's talk about family. You need to pull yourself together and find a partner. You're twenty-seven; the clock is ticking." He poured himself another drink.
"I've told you a thousand times. I haven't met a man who matches my level of excellence," Yukino said, falling back on her standard excuse.
"Besides, all my friends are women. I don't have the opportunity to meet guys."
"An excellent man?" Gin's voice rose in frustration.
Now that Haruto was asleep, he didn't feel the need to maintain his dignified persona; he was just an old father worried about his daughter's future.
"What qualifies as 'excellent' in your eyes? Haruto is lying right there, is he not excellent enough? Is he not a man? How can you work with someone like that for years and still just be 'friends'?"
"He's just a kid, Dad! What are you even saying?" Yukino's eyes widened in shock.
"A kid?" Gin laughed. "I've never met a 'kid' that powerful in my life."
"And look at you," he added. "The entire night, you were terrified I was going to trick him. You were constantly on guard for his sake. If you care about him that much, why are you still making excuses?"
"You are such a stubborn old man. You're getting more annoying by the day! When I was in school, you were terrified of me dating; the moment I graduate, you're breathing down my neck to get married. Do you think I'm a goddess? I hid in the regional offices for two years just to get away from this, and the moment I move back to Tokyo, you start right up again." Yukino was speechless.
"I'm twenty-seven and he's nineteen. Please, stop talking. The age gap is massive. You're making it sound like I'm desperate."
"Hmph. I don't care about the numbers. I just want you to find someone. Twenty-seven and you've never even been on a date... it's embarrassing," Gin muttered.
Yukino decided she was done with the conversation. She stood up, walked over to the sleeping Haruto, and draped his arm over her shoulder.
She lifted him up, preparing to leave. Although the high heels made it difficult, she was a regular at the gym and a dedicated yoga practitioner; her weight was standard, but her functional strength was more than enough to support him.
Gin sat frozen in his seat, his expression shifting from shock to something more complex. He watched his daughter, who usually avoided physical contact with men at all costs, willingly support the young man's weight and guide him toward the door.
He had been joking earlier, but now, the more he looked at them, the more something felt "off."
Subconscious actions were often the most honest reflections of the human heart.
'What on earth is going on here?' he wondered.