Chapter 75

Having entrusted all the matters of the stray cat group to Yoshimura Daoyou,

that afternoon, Nagayama Naoki was at the Chiyoda Shogakukan, looking at the proof copy of his novel.

The cover was covered in emerald green grass, with three cartoon figures and a white-haired old man standing together.

The author's name was Teiju, a character from a novel he had read in his previous life, and the atmosphere matched the book well. Nagayama Naoki decided to use this pen name from now on.

Morikawa Koji was also there: "Naoki-san, is there any problem with the proof copy of the novel?"

"No, the design style is very appropriate, and I have full confidence in the abilities of the editors and proofreaders." Nagayama Naoki flipped through it roughly. After all, Shogakukan was a well-known publisher, and the production quality of the entire novel was definitely top-notch.

"Then, Koji-san, when will the novel be released?"

"If there are no issues with the design, it's just the machine's work left. It should be available in bookstores next week."

Morikawa Koji roughly estimated the progress and then remembered something.

He took out a large brown envelope, stood up, and handed it over with both hands,

"Naoki-san, this is the first batch of royalties. In the future, it will be distributed based on sales, but it will generally be settled quarterly."

Nagayama Naoki also stood up and took it with both hands, bowing in gratitude: "Thank you, Koji-san. Please take care of me in the future."

...

The scorching heat of summer made the distant cicadas sound weak and listless.

After a brief chat, Nagayama Naoki left the publishing house with the proof copy of the book,

walking along the tree-lined streets of Chiyoda towards the parking spot.

Nagayama Naoki was in a good mood after receiving a payment. The thickness of this envelope was about the same as when he sold his first song~

To be honest, getting paid directly was indeed more tangible than the numbers deposited into his salary account monthly.

After getting into his car, Nagayama Naoki didn't go to the house in Chiyoda.

It seemed that because the owner was abroad, the procedures were more complicated, and the house had not yet been handed over.

The other shop in Akihabara had already been transferred and was now entrusted to Fujita Keiko's real estate agency for rental, along with the shop in Shibuya.

Sitting in his beloved car, enjoying the air conditioning, he thought about his destination.

He had been going to the studio quite frequently recently, working diligently throughout the summer. It seemed that the mindset of a salaried worker was not easy to change.

Now that Ito Shuichi had gone to a certain film set, there would probably be no familiar faces there for a while, so he decided not to go~

It was only around 3 PM, and going home so early seemed like a waste of the time he had taken to come out.

Speaking of which, he hadn't really enjoyed the sights of Tokyo all summer, except for the previous road trip.

"Can't let this summer pass like this. That won't do~"

With this thought, Nagayama Naoki drove aimlessly,

wondering whether to visit a scenic spot or indulge in a luxurious meal at a high-end restaurant.

Just as he was driving along the river, a traditional Japanese houseboat (yakatabune) was slowly moving on the water, with a few tourists standing on the deck, looking very interested.

A yakatabune, with food, drinks, and beautiful scenery, seemed like a good idea.

Nagayama Naoki suddenly got excited and decided to try it out today.

To take a yakatabune, he had to go to the dock on the Sumida River. Several famous hotels nearby offered yakatabune services, and there were also specialized companies operating them.

Nagayama Naoki drove all the way to the vicinity of Sumida Park,

parked his car, and found a hotel that looked quite upscale, then went directly to the front desk to inquire.

"Good afternoon, sir. How may I assist you?"

The front desk attendant was very enthusiastic, though it was unclear if she was equally so with other customers.

"Hello, I would like to inquire about the yakatabune schedules and when the next one will depart?"

"Ah, for the yakatabune, the next one will be in about an hour."

"I see. What are the special features of today's yakatabune?"

"Our yakatabune offers fresh tuna sashimi today, along with tempura dishes."

The attendant first introduced the special dinner on the yakatabune and then mentioned other activities,

"Tonight, there will be a fireworks display along the river."

"Fireworks festival? How come there's a fireworks festival now? Isn't it already September?"

Fireworks festivals in Tokyo usually start in April and continue until August, with a concentration in July and August.

The famous Sumida River Fireworks Festival, for example, had ended about half a month ago.

This August, Nagayama Naoki had been busy with work and hadn't gone to see it, which was a real pity.

"This is a farewell to summer fireworks, sponsored by the merchants along the Sumida River.

It's basically the last fireworks display of the year, and you've come just in time, sir~"

"Is that so? Then please reserve a seat for me. Do you have a smaller yakatabune?"

"Yes, we do. It can accommodate four people, and the price is a bit higher. How many seats would you like to reserve?"

"Just one."

"Excuse me? Just one?"

"Is that a problem?"

"Not exactly..."

The price of a yakatabune is generally high, and a smaller one is much more expensive than a larger one, similar to the difference between a VIP lounge and a regular hall.

It's usually reserved for business entertainment, romantic dates, or family gatherings, so it's quite rare for a single person to make a reservation.

The front desk attendant looked at the handsome young man in front of her, going to a fireworks festival alone?

Is he still single?

Hmm? Then maybe I have a chance?

She quickly processed the reservation and handed him the ticket with a smile,

"Here you go, sir. This is your ticket. Don't forget to arrive on time~"

Nagayama Naoki paid the bill and felt that the front desk attendant seemed even more enthusiastic.

Was it just his imagination?

...

With over an hour to spare, waiting for the boat to depart seemed a bit silly~

Fortunately, Sumida Park was nearby, so Nagayama Naoki decided to go for a walk.

The cherry blossoms along the Sumida River had long since faded, and the dense green leaves provided some shade from the stubborn sun, giving pedestrians a bit of respite.

After an afternoon shower, the air in Sumida Park was very fresh, and the summer heat seemed to have been dispersed by the river, making the temperature in the park noticeably cooler.

Looking out over the river, the famous Tokyo Skytree, which would be a landmark in the future, was still in the mind of some designer. At present, only the five-story pagoda of Asakusa Temple could be faintly seen from Sumida Park.

Finding a clean bench, he sat down and let his thoughts drift,

as the sun set and the sky turned red,

the sunset slowly dyed the rippling water a rosy pink, and the cherry trees along the river were bathed in a golden glow,

like a painting,

Nagayama Naoki silently enjoyed this moment of tranquility.