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.