How to raise a random guy's wife

"Sonoko?" Kasumigaoka Utaha also walked towards Machida Sonoko. "What are you doing here...?"

"I was thinking that Shinobu hadn't contacted me in a long time, and she must be missing me so much that she couldn't sleep at night. The more she thought that, the less I contacted her, so that she could feel the emptiness, loneliness, and coldness without me by her side..." Machida Sonoko launched into a long, mournful rant. Halfway through her sentence, her expression suddenly changed, and she reached out and pinched Kasumigaoka Utaha's cheek. "But you haven't contacted me even once!"

Chapter 642 Revisiting an Old haunt

“You didn’t contact me at all,” Kasumigaoka Utaha grabbed Machida Sonoko’s hand and retorted expressionlessly, “yet you just made up some excuse and blamed everything on me.”

“It’s not just some random excuse.” Machida Sonoko broke free from Kasumigaoka Utaha’s grasp and casually took her arm. “You’re aiming to become a producer, and the early stages are crucial for building your foundation. You need to understand the job content and familiarize yourself with the workflow. You’re very busy every day, so how could I dare to bother you?”

"You're no different." Kasumigaoka Utaha isn't Eriri; she won't be easily swayed by Machida Sonoko's words. "Kousaka Akane has released several new works recently, hasn't she? Without Sora and the others, most of the work has fallen on you, hasn't it? —Or do you want me to bother you when you're already busy?"

“It’s fine if it’s Shizuka,” Machida Sonoko muttered unhappily. “Besides, I left Shinazugawa to become your manager, but now I’ve become Akane’s personal manager… Did I get tricked by that Sora azumi kid again?”

"You used the word 'again' very skillfully."

"Tsk..." Machida Sonoko shook her head. "Never mind, there's no point in thinking about it—are you free now?"

"Hmm..." Kasumigaoka Utaha thought of the cigarettes and lighter in her pocket.

After Machida Sonoko appeared, the urge to smoke one wasn't as strong as before.

but......

“I need to talk to Sora about copyright and contract issues later,” Kasumigaoka Utaha declined. “This part is quite complicated and very important. The overseas team has just finished two stories, and the remaining two should be done soon. I need to understand the relevant details as soon as possible so that we can start animation production as quickly as possible once all four stories are completed.”

"Oh." Machida Sonoko nodded. "So you're free now?"

Are you sure what I said and what you understand to be the same passage?

"It's just copyright, right? I know about that kind of thing too. Let's go, let's talk somewhere else."

"Hey...!" Kasumigaoka Utaha hadn't thought of a new reason to refuse when Machida Sonoko dragged her into the car.

Machida Sonoko got a new car, and although she complained, her income increased considerably during her time as Akane Akasaka's manager.

For an agent, someone like Akane Kousaka, who creates quickly and well, is practically a cash cow.

"Welcome." A bell jingled softly as the door was pushed open, mingling with the tavern owner's greeting.

Kasumigaoka Utaha looked speechless. "The place you want to change to is the tavern?"

The shop, with only two tables and a few seats by the counter, wasn't spacious, and there were very few customers. However, the soft music and just the right lighting created a pleasant atmosphere.

But it is still a tavern.

"Well, don't worry about it, it's better than the roadside." Machida Sonoko looked at the shopkeeper. "Boss, the usual."

"I don't drink." Since she was already there, Kasumigaoka Utaha sat down and ordered a ginger ale. "I have to go back to work later."

“That sounds familiar.” Machida Sonoko took the glass of wine handed to her by the shopkeeper and took a sip.

"Don't drive later," Kasumigaoka Utaha reminded.

"Xiao Shi, you can drive. You have a driver's license, right?"

"Yes, there is, but this place is too remote, I'm not sure if I can find the way."

“After all, it looks exactly like a secret base, both in terms of location and appearance.” Machida Sonoko raised her chin. “That’s why it’s become a den of weird people in the industry.”

"Oh?" Following the direction Machida Sonoko pointed with her chin, Kasumigaoka Utaha then noticed the layout of the store.

The walls of the tavern were not decorated with the paintings commonly found in taverns, but rather with stationery, posters, or scrolls by illustrators they were all familiar with and well-known in the fan fiction or commercial fields.

She stared at the autographed poster of "Rascal Does Not Dream of Bunny Girl Senpai" for quite a while.

Machida Sonoko added, "There's also a screen installed on the back wall, so we can hold anime screenings here too."

"This is really chaotic. How did you manage to find a place like this..." Kasumigaoka Utaha's red eyes narrowed slightly. "Wait, could it be that Akane Kousaka brought you here?"

"Xiao Shi is still so smart."

“The customer base for this kind of pub is too small. There aren’t many otaku who like to drink…” Kasumigaoka Utaha paused, wisely not continuing on this topic, “Let me briefly talk to you about copyright.”

Machida Sonoko pouted. "Huh? Getting straight to the point? I wanted to talk about something lighter for a bit longer..."

“If we talk any longer, I’m afraid you won’t be able to speak in complete sentences.” Kasumigaoka Utaha flicked Machida Sonoko’s half-empty wine glass.

“Okay, okay…” Machida Sonoko rested her chin on her hand. “Copyright is not a single right, but a collective term for various rights related to a work. These include the right of reproduction, the right of performance, the right of performance, the right of public screening, the right of public recitation, the right of display, the right of distribution, the right of transfer, the right of rental, and the right of adaptation. In law, the definition of a ‘work’ is ‘a creation that expresses thoughts or feelings.’ The core is creativity, not artistry, and it requires expression.”

Machida Sonoko has worked as an editor, an editor-in-chief, and is now an agent for top creators in the industry; this information is all basic common sense to her.

Kasumigaoka Utaha instinctively reached for her notebook, only to realize she'd forgotten to take it when she left.

However, you don't need to memorize these things now; just understand them.

For example, simply listing facts, like in a news headline, is not creative and does not constitute a work of art.

Concepts, ideas, and ideas are not considered works of art until they are drawn into paintings or written into scripts.

“If you want to be an animation producer, you naturally need to understand the differences.” Machida Sonoko poured herself another drink. “Unlike other works, the copyright owner of works such as animation and films is not the director, the creator, but the person or company that pays for the production. Specifically, the one written after the copyright symbol (C) is the copyright owner. In the currently popular production committee model, if there are ten companies involved, then the use of the copyright requires the consent of all ten companies, because the copyright is shared among all the companies.”

Kasumigaoka Utaha was starting to feel a slight headache.

Even a single company can have its share of conflicts and disagreements; imagine ten companies combined – it would be a disaster.

Chapter 643 followed closely behind.

Machida Sonoko gave Kasumigaoka Utaha a simple introduction to copyright matters, interspersed with some interesting industry anecdotes, and they drank several glasses of wine in the process.

When she realized that what she was saying was somewhat incoherent, she used her remaining rationality to end the conversation.

"That's roughly the situation. So, how was it? It wasn't a wasted trip, was it?"

“Yes, yes,” Kasumigaoka Utaha readily agreed, “It’s so great to come out with you, I haven’t missed a single day of work.”

Kasumigaoka Utaha thought it was about time to send Machida Sonoko back.

Machida Sonoko looked up. "So, why force yourself?"

“You’re right,” Kasumigaoka Utaha took her glass. “If you can’t drink it, don’t drink it.”

“It’s not about the wine,” Machida Sonoko snatched the wine glass back into her hand. “I’m talking about you.”

"Me? What's wrong with me? I'm fine." Kasumigaoka Utaha sipped her ginger ale. "At least I'm still conscious."

"I... don't change the subject." Machida Sonoko said sternly, "You're the one forcing yourself, aren't you?"

"Really?" Kasumigaoka Utaha looked away.

"Look, you won't look at me when you lie."

Kasumigaoka Utaha and Machida Sonoko looked at each other. "I didn't."

"The second time someone lies, they will stare at the person."

"So you're convinced I'm lying, right?"

“I’m convinced you’re keeping things to yourself and don’t want to share them with anyone.” Machida Sonoko lowered her eyes slightly. “It’s been like this from the beginning. You always keep everything to yourself. I finally managed to open your heart, but now you’re all dressed up again.”

Kasumigaoka Utaha glared at her, "You don't sound like you're opening your heart."

"Don't you see me as a caring mother you can confide in anytime anymore?"

“Never before.” Kasumigaoka Utaha began to wonder if Machida Sonoko and she were experiencing the same timeline.

“That’s not the point.” Machida Sonoko rested her chin on her hand, tilting her head to look at Kasumigaoka Utaha. “Being a producer isn’t easy, is it?”

“Even if you ask me that, I can’t give you a definite answer. I’m still in the learning stage and haven’t really started working as a producer yet,” Kasumigaoka Utaha answered truthfully. “But it’s still very easy right now. If I want to know anything, I can just ask someone. If I want to practice, Megumi will arrange it for me. There are so many production teams in the company, so observing the work site is no problem.”

Compared to others who were struggling on site, Kasumigaoka Utaha was indeed very relaxed.

"I'm not asking about your profession, I'm asking about you." Machida Sonoko is an industry insider, and she knows how hard the work is.

She doesn't care about the producer's work.

She was concerned about Kasumigaoka Utaha's psychological problems.

"So didn't I say I'm fine now?"

“…” Machida Sonoko sighed and looked around. “Shi, do you know when I first came here?”

"When?"

"After the press conference for the main visual of Chronicles XIII ended."

Kasumigaoka Utaha was momentarily dazed.

That happened when she first entered university; she's graduated a long time ago now.

"Ten years later, I met with Qian in private again right here, and we talked about you."

Kasumigaoka Utaha lowered her eyelids slightly. Although she didn't know the scene at the time, she could roughly guess what happened.

It's likely that Machida Sonoko was worried that Akane Akasaka was being exploited too much, so she specifically sought out Akane Akasaka to find a way to help her.

Machida Sonoko is always like this.

Kasumigaoka Utaha has difficulty communicating normally with others due to her personality.

Machida Sonoko helped with most of the negotiations.

During the time Machida Sonoko served as Kasumigaoka Utaha's editor, in addition to her regular editor duties, Machida Sonoko took on many extra tasks, caring for Utaha like a child.

More like friends than business partners.

“I know Akane Akasaka’s temper very well, that’s why I’m worried. I don’t want you to be ruined by her.” Machida Sonoko looked at Kasumigaoka Utaha. “I consider you my daughter…”

Kasumigaoka Utaha: "......"

I treat you as a friend, but you want to be my mom?

It's possible that Machida Sonoko has picked up the habit of treating others like children after spending so much time with Akane Akasaka.

“I know your personality. Like Eriri, you’re unwilling to reveal your inner thoughts,” Machida Sonoko said frankly. “But unlike Eriri, you really know how to hide your thoughts very well.”

Kasumigaoka Utaha saw Eriri's silly face in her mind's eye.

Should we call them adorably silly, or just plain stupid?

Eriri's attempts to hide her thoughts always end up being very obvious.

She's just being arrogant.

That's it.