I Just Want a Single Ending [158]
With the frank conversation they'd just had, Kamigawa Saku could feel the tension between them had lessened, so he decided to use the moment to gather some valuable feedback.
"Someone whose intentions are unclear, seems to be planning something, and has a rather unusual personality, I'd say."
After some thought, Togawa Sakiko gave her answer.
Initially, before she'd noticed the questionable 50% revenue share, she'd seen him as a polite, self-controlled, and financially driven person.
But now, her opinion had shifted to what she'd just said.
Sounds like a mostly positive image, Kamigawa mused thoughtfully, mentally gauging his next move.
"Does that have anything to do with what you're about to tell me?"
Sakiko naturally wondered.
"Sort of. Because what I'm about to say might mess up that image of me." Kamigawa looked mildly troubled. "I'd rather not say it, honestly."
Sakiko didn't reply, just fixed her gaze on him.
She could tell he liked to drag things out by talking.
The best approach was to ignore his distractions.
"Alright, let's get back to the main point. I have another question: since you've already figured out that 50% isn't quite reasonable, what percentage do you think would be fair for you?" Kamigawa asked, not missing a beat.
"Between ten and twenty percent."
Sakiko had already thought it over carefully.
Kamigawa continued, "Then let's assume I offered you ten percent. As your hard work increases the account's revenue, like that assistant in the article, would you eventually ask for a raise?"
"…I wouldn't ask for a raise until the contract was up, but if we were to renegotiate, I'd definitely request a fair increase."
After a pause, Sakiko shared her thoughts.
A raise was something any employee would want, so she didn't see the need to hide her intentions.
Besides, in his example, her hard work had contributed to the account's growth, so asking for a raise would only make sense.
"That sounds good, but do you think it'd actually go that way?" Kamigawa challenged. "Just like that million-follower influencer refused his assistant's raise, what makes you think I'd agree to yours?"
"Because you're already giving me 50% now. Why would you refuse then?"
Wasn't that the obvious logic?
If he was willing to give her 50% now, why would he refuse to go from ten to fifty percent?
That wouldn't make any sense.
"Hold on. In that scenario, I'd be giving you ten percent. Why are you basing your expectations on our current arrangement?" Kamigawa pointed out. "What if I decided that ten percent was more than enough and refused your request? After all, I'm already giving you ten percent."
"That's a possibility. I didn't think of that," Sakiko admitted, realizing her mistake.
She'd subconsciously based her answer on known facts, forgetting they were only hypothetical.
"In the same way, I also can't assume you'd be willing to renew the contract when it's up," Kamigawa reasoned. "Even if I am giving you fifty percent now."
"That's true," Sakiko agreed, offering no argument.
Even if she said now that she'd sign again, there was no reason for him to believe her.
When it came to money, trust was never taken lightly.
The world was full of disputes over finances.
"That's why I considered the possibilities that you might either leave to work for someone else or go independent after the contract ends," Kamigawa continued. "How much do you think you'd make under those circumstances?"
"If I switched to a different job, I definitely wouldn't get fifty percent of the revenue. If I went solo, it could go either way—I might earn far more, or I could end up failing entirely."
This basic reality was something she understood well.
Kamigawa's following was at six hundred thousand, and if she were to join another influencer with a similar following, her earnings would be limited.
At best, she might get a share close to what she had now, but more than that was unrealistic.
As an employee, earning more than her boss would be downright absurd.
And if she went independent, her success would be subject to luck.
"Then, is it safe to say that the fifty percent I'm giving you is the highest pay you could expect?"
"Yes."
At this point, Sakiko had an inkling of his intention.
"In that case, you wouldn't have any reason to jump ship when the contract's up, would you?" Kamigawa said with a smile. "Or are you planning to try going solo?"
"There's no reason to leave, and going solo wouldn't be worth the risk," Sakiko agreed, seeing no reason to argue.
Anyone with common sense could see that continuing her contract with him was the safest and best choice.
There was no need to gamble by going independent.
"That's my real intention here. Are you satisfied now?" Kamigawa finished his explanation. "I just want to keep you from switching jobs or going solo."
"Even so, you still didn't need to give me fifty percent from the start."
Sakiko was still struggling to accept it.
"As I said earlier, there was no need to complicate things if that was your goal."
"You could have structured the fifty percent as a gradual incentive, increasing my share as I worked and achieved more. By the time the contract was up, I'd be at fifty percent, and the new contract could specify it would continue at that rate. That way, I'd still choose to stay."
"And with my method, you'd save quite a bit of money early on."
Her rebuttal echoed her earlier argument, nearly identical.
"For that, you could try linking my other reason to this one," Kamigawa suggested. "You might come to a different conclusion."
"You mean the part about wanting my gratitude?" Sakiko recalled.
"Exactly."
Kamigawa nodded.
Link them together...
Following his suggestion, Sakiko tried connecting the two points and quickly arrived at an unsettling conclusion:
"Wait… are you trying to make me work for you for life?"
---
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