Chapter 196

For Furuya Masaaki's request to stop the serialization of *Detective Kamimura*, the editorial department of *Tokyo Youth* naturally could not agree.

For no other reason, it was just because this work had been serialized for more than 60 issues and already had a large number of fixed readers, which was already difficult to give up. And the TV station had also expressed interest in this serialized work recently, intending to make it into a TV series.

For the editorial department, if it could be made into a TV series. Whether it was the magazine *Tokyo Youth* or the single volume of *Detective Kamimura*, they could get further bestsellers or even hot sales!

For the editorial department's request, Furuya Masaaki fell into hesitation.

If he stopped the serialization while the editorial department was negotiating copyright, it would undoubtedly cause great trouble for the editorial department's work—because the value of a finished work is definitely not as great as a work being serialized.

But if he continued to write like this, how could the quality of the work be guaranteed?

Damn, he couldn't think of more exciting tricks and solving cases, and he couldn't plagiarize!

Tokyo, *Tokyo Youth* editorial department, conference room.

"Mr. Furuya, if you don't mind, we can let others take over this work here and continue to create it. Of course, we will still claim it is your work to the outside world; you can rest assured about this."

Facing the troubled Furuya Masaaki, a young man wearing glasses gave his suggestion.

After listening to this, Furuya Masaaki immediately subconsciously contracted his pupils, and he soon understood the other party's meaning, which was to find a shadow author or a ghostwriter to take over his work.

But literary creation is different from manga or film and television forms, and its status in the hearts of the public is also different.

For the latter two, they can still use the form of a studio or assistant to let assistants or others create, and the public will not have too much opinion.

But if literature does this, once exposed, it may make him fall into deep public opinion trouble, and even be criticized and attacked by the public.

Looking at it this way, is it really appropriate?

While Furuya Masaaki was frowning, the young man added, "Mr. Furuya, I hope you can consider it carefully. If possible, the editorial department intends to make this work a serialization of more than 100 issues, and the corresponding royalties and manuscript fees will also be paid to you according to the normal process."

"All you have to do is announce your decision to continue serialization to the outside world!"

The young man took out a notebook, tore off a piece of paper, wrote a number on it, and placed it in front of Furuya Masaaki.

"If you agree, the royalty ratio behind the single volume will probably be this number."

Furuya Masaaki picked up the paper, frowned and looked at it for a few times, and found that this amount was something he couldn't resist.

He hesitated and took the note, sighed, "I agree, but I still want to ask, aren't you afraid that the follow-up of *Detective Kamimura* will not be as good as *Furuhata Ninzaburo*?"

The young man shook his head and said with a smile, "Mr. Furuya, don't underestimate the strength of our publishing house. Besides, there are quite a few works that are well-received but don't sell well; who knows if it is the next one."

Although he said so, he didn't notice that when he talked about *Furuhata Ninzaburo*, his tone became much more serious.

For *Tokyo Youth*'s attention to him, Yuto Akiwara was completely unaware. In fact, even if he knew, he wouldn't think too much.

At this moment, he ended his signing event work and was taking the *Shinkansen* back to Tokyo with Asano Aiko.

The reason he did this was just because the Japanese New Year had arrived.

Due to Western influence, the Japanese New Year uses the Gregorian calendar, which is January 1st to January 3rd as the New Year. But in fact, due to folk customs, it can be counted until January 15th.

During this period, Japanese citizens basically entered a state of "hibernation," stopped working, and rested at home.

So even if a signing event was held, probably no one would come...

But for the New Year, what could he do?

When Akiwara fell into deep thought, Asano Aiko moved her gaze from the train window next to her seat, looked at Yuto Akiwara, and asked, "Akiwara... how are you arranging for the New Year."

Yuto Akiwara shook his head and said helplessly, "Sleeping... eating... sleeping... eating..."

He really didn't know what he could do; even if he went to find a friend, it was just Imamura Yuto, and the other party said he was going back to his hometown for the New Year.

Asano Aiko smiled; she didn't expect Akiwara's New Year to be so boring, it was just like that...

She thought about it and found it not surprising; Yuto Akiwara was still single and grew up in an orphanage, without parents and relatives.

She hesitated and considered whether to invite the other party to her home for the New Year.

The other party was a man after all; if she brought him home for the New Year, it might not be very appropriate—her mother already liked Yuto Akiwara and even wanted to set her and him up as a pair, although she wouldn't object, but wouldn't this be too urgent...

And as a woman, making this suggestion was too explicit.

She thought for a long time, the more she thought, the more shy she became, and finally could only pretend, "Uh, that's it, then you rest well first, I will visit your house after the New Year."

Yuto Akiwara nodded and didn't say anything. In his view, he would just honestly eat and sleep for this New Year... just take it as a holiday for himself.

While the two were silent, the train continued to move.

When driving to a viaduct, Asano Aiko suddenly seemed to see something, "Akiwara, look!"

Yuto Akiwara looked in the direction she pointed, which was the train window, in confusion, and saw a huge mountain standing directly above a city area.

The top of this mountain was covered with white snow, and the whole thing revealed a sense of distance and heaviness, making people feel solemn.

Yuto Akiwara soon realized that this mountain was the sacred mountain in the hearts of the Japanese people—Mount Fuji.

Asano Aiko said with a smile, "Akiwara, we are so lucky!"

"Why do you say that?" Yuto Akiwara was a bit puzzled; in his view, wasn't it just looking at a mountain.

Asano Aiko shook her head, "If you want to see Mount Fuji on the *Shinkansen*, you can only see it when the weather is very good. When I came to Osaka before, I didn't see it because the weather was relatively cloudy."

She paused and emphasized, "It seems that our work after the New Year can make great progress!"

"Hmm?"

"Akiwara, isn't this a good omen! Seeing Mount Fuji under extremely special circumstances indicates that your work will continue to sell well!"

Yuto Akiwara laughed dumbly and also replied with a smile, "Yes, you are right."

He didn't know if Asano was really superstitious or wanted to encourage him, but he didn't have the idea of breaking the scenery to refute it.

Instead, it was just looking at a mountain; regardless of whether it was a sacred mountain or not, even if it was, it had nothing to do with him, a young man educated under Marxism-Leninism.

But since it could be regarded as a good omen, let's regard it as a good omen! I hope the work can still sell well after the New Year!

Before that, let's have a good New Year first!