Tokyo: The Manga Begins with the Funeral of Frilian

"So, your manga is going to be serialized in Jump?"

Baihe Shizhi asked.

"It's not confirmed yet. We need to see the storyboard and the final draft of the first episode first."

Kamiya Yuma picked up the last piece of tofu from the bowl and ate it.

"But Onodera-senpai's opinion is that there shouldn't be any problems."

"I'll answer the phone for you if the editorial department calls from now on."

"Thanks."

"You're welcome. Anyway, you said you'd treat me to dinner if you got the bonus."

Shiori Shirakawa turned around.

Don't forget.

"I won't forget."

Yuma Kamiya watched her retreating figure.

"You can have the cake. I bought the strawberry one; the shop assistant said it's the best kind."

Shiori Shirakawa walked to the table, untied the ribbon, and opened the box.

The strawberry shortcake gleamed softly under the warm yellow light. "So pretty!"

Seeing Shiori Shirakawa's happy expression, a part of his heart softened.

Shiori Shirakawa went to the kitchen and got a knife and two plates.

She cut the cake in half.

You eat half.

"I've had the soup first, and I feel much better now. You can eat."

"You bought this, so you should eat at least half of it."

Shiori Shirakawa placed one of the cakes on a plate and pushed it in front of him.

Then he took out a bag of noodles from the kitchen.

"I'll make you a bowl of udon later."

Yuma Kamiya stared at the half-eaten cake in front of him.

  

The strawberries on the cake were slightly crooked, and some cream smeared onto the edge of the plate.

He cut off a small piece with his fork and put it in his mouth.

The sweetness melts on the tip of the tongue.

Shiori Shirakawa was also eating, savoring it very slowly.

"You need to eat properly from now on."

She suddenly spoke.

"It's not like I forget to eat every time; today is a special case." Just then, the sound of water boiling came from the kitchen.

Shiori Shirakawa stood up, walked to the stove, and put the noodles into the pot.

"The udon will be ready soon, please wait a moment."

She gently stirred the noodles with her chopsticks, the steam blurring her outline.

Kamiya Yuma sat beside the low table, watching her back.

There was a small piece of cake left, which he picked up with a fork and ate.

"Oh, right."

Kamiya Yuma suddenly remembered.

"After I receive the prize money, I want to rent a slightly larger house nearby. The place I live now is too small. I can't even fit a decent table for drawing comics."

Shiori Shirakawa paused for a moment while stirring the noodles.

Are you moving?

"Yeah, but we won't move too far, we'll stay in this area."

Why?

"Because your phone is nearby."

Kamiya Yuri said confidently.

"If the editorial department calls, I need to come and answer it immediately."

Shiori Shirakawa did not turn back.

"Whatever you want."

She scooped out the cooked udon noodles, put them in a bowl, and added broth.

When it was served to Yuma Kamiya, there was a soft-boiled egg lying in the bowl.

"Eat up, eat slowly."

"Thanks."

Kamiya Yuma picked up his chopsticks and took a bite of udon noodles.

The noodles were still steaming.

Shiori Shirakawa sat down opposite him and watched him eat.

"Slow down, don't burn yourself."

"understood."

He didn't slow down his eating at all.

Shiori Shirakawa sighed.

He pushed the empty bowl aside.

"I'm full."

Shiori Shirakawa glanced at the bowl, which was completely empty, with not even a drop of soup left.

"You're really starving."

That's why I'll stay here a little longer.

Kamiya Yuma leaned back and braced his hands on the tatami mat.

"What if I get hungry again when I get back?"

"Don't you have any food at home?"

"no."

Shiori Shirakawa stared at him.

"You don't even have a pack of instant noodles?"

"They spent all the money on cakes."

Shiori Shirakawa has closed her eyes again.

She found that whenever this person spoke with such conviction, she couldn't refute him.

"That's why I'll be drawing storyboards for you."

Yuma Kamiya took out manuscript paper and a dip pen from his backpack.

He spread it out on the low table.

"The table at home is broken."

"broken?"

"Yeah, now I have to lie on the tatami mat to draw, and my back hurts."

Shiori Shirakawa remained silent for two seconds.

"Go ahead and make it up."

"It's really broken."

As he spoke, Yuma Kamiya picked up the G pen and began writing directly on the manuscript paper.

The pen tip rubs against the paper, making a soft, scratching sound.

Shiori Shirakawa watched him draw for about ten seconds.

"Don't you ever use drafts?"

"Need not."

Kamiya Yuma didn't even look up.

"I already have the storyboard outline in my head, I can just start drawing."

"I'm a genius."

Shiori Shirakawa choked.

The person in front of me did indeed receive the highest reward.

"never mind."

She stood up, walked to the television, and pressed the power button.

The old CRT television lit up, and the picture flickered twice before stabilizing.

NHK's evening news.

The anchor on the screen is reporting today's stock market trends in an enthusiastic tone.

"The Nikkei average stock price hit a new all-time high today, breaking through the 38,900 mark. The Securities Association of China said that 40,000 points is just around the corner."

The camera cuts to the Tokyo Stock Exchange.

People in suits patted each other on the shoulder.

An excited smile graced his face.

"The following is international news. Sony Corporation officially announced today its acquisition of Columbia Pictures for $3.4 billion. This is the largest overseas acquisition by a Japanese company in history."

The scene shifts to New York.

Sony executives raised champagne glasses under the spotlight.

"The American media was shocked by this, with Newsweek writing on its latest cover: Japan is buying up America."

The anchor's voice was filled with barely suppressed pride.

"The news of Mitsubishi Estate's acquisition of Rockefeller Center last year continues to generate discussion. More and more economists believe that the Great Japanese Empire will become the world's leading economic power in the 21st century."

Shiori Shirakawa turned to look at Yuuma Kamiya.

"Kamiya-kun, what do you think?"

Yuma Kamiya looked up and glanced at the TV screen.

"That's all bullshit."

After he finished speaking, he lowered his head again and continued drawing storyboards.

Shiori Shirakawa paused for a moment.

"What nonsense?"

"What they said in the news."

Yuma Kamiya talked as he drew.

"But that's what the newspapers say too."

Shiori Shirakawa walked over to the low table and sat down.

"Everyone is saying that this is the best time for Japan. Banks say so, and companies say so too."

"Shiori".

Kamiya Yuma stopped writing and looked up at her.

Do you have any relatives who work at a bank?

Shiori Shirakawa thought for a moment.

"I have an uncle who works at Sumitomo Bank."

"Is he very busy every day now, unable to answer all the loan-related calls?"

"It seems so. He said he's been so busy with real estate loan approvals this year that he's been working until 11 p.m. every night."

"Did his salary increase?"

Shiori Shirakawa was taken aback.

"It seems not."

"That's right."

Yuma Kamiya lowered his head again and drew a panel on the paper.

"Banks have issued more loans, but employees' salaries haven't increased. Companies have acquired buildings in the US, but with borrowed money. Everyone's saying they've bought up America, but in reality, they've bought back nothing but debt."