We took a break for tea time and convened again in front of the laptop.
Since the earlier “Absolute Best Unofficial Offers! kenken’s Journal of “Successful” Job Hunting Experiences at Publishers!!” wasn’t very informative, we decided to look for other similar websites.
On some of the job hunting websites, there were comments from people with actual jobs and company application overviews, so they turned out to be good references.
And on them, we came across some shocking figures.
“The success rates for major publishers are really crazy… Thousands of people apply and only fifteen of them are employed…?”
“There’s no precise number on the total number of applicants since it isn’t formally announced, but it should be about two hundred to three hundred times that amount.”
After hearing the numbers Yukinoshita gave from an approximate calculation, Yuigahama sighed in admiration. “Woow, becoming an editor sounds really tough.”
“This is just the total number of people employed, so if we take other department assignments into consideration, the number of people who can become a publishing editor should be less.”
Yukinoshita’s statement was plausible. There are likely people who belonged to general affairs and sales operations, so the editorial department should vary as well. For the light novel division that
Zaimokuza was aiming for in particular, there’d be at most one or two people. For new employees, if they got unlucky, it’s possible they wouldn’t be delegated to any departments.
“M-Mmph… G-Gununu… If that is how things are, becoming a light novel author seems far simpler…”
“Maybe.”
If we consider the success rates alone, it might just be easier to work as a light novel author for GaGaGa Bunko. They didn’t interview light novel authors there, after all.
While we’re at it, we might as well check on the success rates of making your debut as a light novel author at GaGaGa Bunko. When I reached my hand out to search, my hand was grabbed from behind.
“S-Senpai, pl-please wait a moment.”
Isshiki’s voice was trembling when she stopped my hand.
“Wh-What’s wrong?” I asked.
Going “Mm! Mm!”, Isshiki wagged the tip of her finger and pointed at the screen.
“Look at this! Look!”
What’s the deal…? I thought. When I looked, she was pointing at a comment made by an employee from a certain publisher. He introduced himself and provided information on his job: the university he graduated from, what his job entailed, an approximate time schedule of one working day a week, and so forth. As I followed the lines one by one, my eyes stopped at one.
“A salary of ten million yen at age twenty five…”
You’ve got to be lying, no way. Major publishers really are amazing… Only three years out of university and he was already making that much? On top of that, he gets raises while he gets paid that salary? This guy’s like a total winner…
I sat there trembling in shock and I could hear deep breathing noises from behind. When I turned around, Isshiki placed her left hand to her cheek and showed a sweet and poppy smile. “I’m going to marry a publishing editor.”
“No, wait, calm down. If anything, I’m the one that’s going to marry a publishing editor.”
“You’re the one that needs to calm down…”
When Yukinoshita told me in disbelief, I came back to my senses. Indeed, I might’ve lost my composure there. On second thought, ten million yen wasn’t that amazing. I’m Hachiman, so that means there’s eighty thousand of me. That was exactly enough for one hundred and twenty-five of me. Imagine how annoying it’d be with that many of me. That’s why ten million wasn’t that big of a deal! I was more than enough by myself and it’s exactly because I was alone that there was value!
As I nodded to my own mysterious logic used to convince myself, Yuigahama on the side groaned. “Editor… Editor, huh… Mmm…”
“Well, isn’t having some kind of goal in itself a good thing? I’ve been trying hard everyday towards my goal since a while ago, after all.”
“Hoh, a goal…” I gave Isshiki a scrutinizing glance to see what she truly meant when she had uttered something so unlike her.
But there, she placed her index finger to her chin and tilted her head. “Of course, I plan on retiring after several years by getting married, you know?”
“Just where exactly are you putting in the effort…?” said Yukinoshita, sighing.
Isshiki puffed her cheeks. “I mean, I’m not very good at studying and there isn’t anything I want to do…”
“I totally get you. I’m like that, too…” Yuigahama dropped her shoulders and slumped over. Isshiki confirmed with her from behind. And as if realizing something, she lifted her head and looked at Yukinoshita.
“Oh, but Yukinoshita-senpai, you seem like you’ll jump straight into working.”
Yukinoshita blinked her eyes to her unexpected statement.
“I’m…” Yukinoshita stumbled, thinking the subject wouldn’t be directed to her. Her open lips were on the verge of saying something only to be promptly sealed shut.
When she averted her eyes down, her long eyelashes curved downwards. In doing that, her hair smoothly swayed, giving a glimpse of her slender neck as well as highlighting her white skin, causing me to instinctively catch my breath.
Her hands that were atop her skirt in a well-mannered fashion moved ever so slightly and she delicately squeezed her fingers little by little.
“I wonder. That’s what I thought before… But now, I’m not so sure yet,” Yukinoshita lifted her face and said, wearing a smile as though she was embarrassed.
“Well, I guess sooo. It’s still something much later in the future, after all.” Isshiki said lightheartedly.
Isshiki stated lightheartedly, but no voice followed after hers.
I think Yuigahama and I hadn’t been listening to her.
Because Yukinoshita’s answer had been a little unexpected.
There weren’t very many students who could give a straightforward answer regarding their futures. However, I thought—just somewhat vaguely—that Yukinoshita had already properly thought out her future. Perhaps I might’ve just been selfishly forcing my illusions on her, but even so, an unusual sense of discomfort was lodged in my heart.
I rested my cheeks in my hands on the table and made a sidelong glance at Yukinoshita. When she noticed, she tilted her head curiously at me, waiting for me to say something.
She looked at me inquisitively with an “um…” and I lightly shook my head, telling her that it’s nothing. She then retracted her chin and nodded back.
…Well, even Yukinoshita’s just a second year in high school. There’s nothing wrong with her not having figured out what she wanted to for the future yet. In fact, if she’s choosing not to say anything because it’s still unclear to her, that can be her reason, too.
When I reached that point in my mind, I gulped down the sense of discomfort and moved my gaze forward.
My eyes then met with Zaimokuza who had been groaning with his arms crossed. “Hachiman, what about you?”
“Hm, me?”
“I don’t think there’s any point in asking Hikki…” Yuigahama looked at me with cold eyes and I nodded back.
“Well, I guess. Fundamentally, I want to be a full-time house husband.”
“Yep, I knew it…”
“I suggest looking up what ‘fundamentally’ means…”
Yuigahama hung her head while Yukinoshita pressed her temple with closed eyes. There, Isshiki tapped my shoulder. When I turned around, her eyes sparkled and as if to talk in secret, she placed her hand to her mouth and whispered near my ears. “Senpai, I recommend becoming an editor.”