Tokyo: The Manga Begins with the Funeral of Frilian

"Director Yoshikawa is right."

Kamiya Yuma turned around and looked at him.

"That's why I came here."

He took a blank sheet of paper from Ryota Onodera and placed it on the table.

"I don't need the resources for regular editorial promotion. I don't need to take up the cover page, the magazine's inner pages, or the store's posters."

Takahashi stood there, stunned. "Then you..."

"The first edition print run is still 30,000 copies. You can take all the promotional resources; you can use them for next month's battle manga or other works."

"So how do you sell them?"

"One thousand signed illustrations."

Everyone stared at Yuma Kamiya.

"The first batch was sent to more than 20 major bookstores in Tokyo, containing more than 1,000 single volumes, each with a special signed illustration drawn by me. The signed illustrations are not ordinary signatures, but illustrations featuring the blue 'Azure Moon' theme by Frilian, and each one is different."

Yuma Kamiya's pen moved back and forth on the paper, leaving some simple lines.

The pen tip moved swiftly across the paper, and within thirty seconds, a blue moon grass appeared in the corner of the paper.

The flower's color was a blue that blended melancholy and warmth, just like the one on his coloring page.

The editors leaning against the wall were all taken aback.

"The simultaneous appearance of a thousand signed and illustrated single-volume books in a bookstore is an event in itself. Readers will take photos after seeing the signed and illustrated books, tell their friends, and then buy another copy. Signing and illustration is a form of promotion."

Takahashi stared wide-eyed at the drawing of the Azure Moon Grass on the paper in front of him.

  

"One thousand sheets, all drawn by you alone."

"Yes."

"How long would it take to create a thousand signed illustrations?"

"You don't need to know."

The pen in Kamiya Yuma's hand was gently put down.

"For me, all I need right now is a clear result."

His gaze shifted to Yoshikawa Taro.

"I have a specific request now."

"Please speak up."

"If the sales volume in the first week doesn't reach 30,000 copies, then I will voluntarily withdraw and no longer enjoy the benefits of the front page color page. All subsequent promotional resources and distribution positions related to the serialization will be allocated by the editor. In fact, if it sells out..."

At this moment, the person Kamiya Yuma saw was Takahashi.

"Associate Editor Takahashi, when you have the opportunity to question 'The Burial of Frilian' during the subsequent serialization meeting, you may choose to remain silent."

Takahashi's gaze was fixed on the signed sketch of Sogetsu Grass on the table, and he remained silent for a full ten seconds.

Then, he raised his head and managed a weak smile.

"Okay, if you can sell out, I will definitely not say another word at future serialization meetings, but if you don't sell out."

"If I can't sell them all, I'll leave on my own."

Before he could finish speaking, Kamiya Yuma turned around and walked towards the conference room door.

When Ryota Onodera chased after him, Yuuma Kamiya had already reached the elevator entrance.

"Are you crazy?"

Ryota Onodera suddenly grabbed his arm.

"A thousand signed illustrations! Do you even understand what a thousand means? You have to submit nineteen pages of original manuscript every week. How much time do you plan to spend on the signed illustrations?"

"Make use of the evening."

"Aren't you planning to go to sleep tonight?"

"I've had enough sleep."

The elevator doors slowly opened, and Yuma Kamiya stepped inside and pressed the button for the first floor.

"And each signed illustration must be different, a thousand completely different signed illustrations."

Ryota Onodera squeezed into the elevator, deliberately lowering his voice, but speaking faster and faster.

"Do you know what this means? It means you can't use stamps or copies. Every single one has to be drawn by hand from beginning to end. A thousand sheets of Crescent Moon Grass means a thousand different flowers. Your hands will be ruined because of this."

"My hands won't be ruined so easily."

"Now is not the time to be stubborn."

The elevator reached the first floor, and Yuma Kamiya walked out of the lobby.

Ryota Onodera followed behind him and, at the entrance of the Shueisha building, finally couldn't help but shout it out loud.

"What on earth are you thinking?"

Kamiya Yuma stopped and turned to look at him.

The night wind blew by, lifting a corner of his shirt.

"senior."

"What is it?"

Have you ever had the experience of betting everything you have on something?

Ryota Onodera was stunned.

Yuma Kamiya continued speaking, his voice sounding very calm.

"When I first submitted my manuscript to the Newcomer Award, I only had 2,500 yen left in my pocket. At that time, I couldn't even afford to pay my phone bill. I walked all night to deliver the manuscript to the editorial department. Back then, all I had were those 20 pages of manuscript. Now, I have 30,000 single-volume editions, 1,000 signed illustrations, and you, Editor-in-Chief Tanaka, and Shiori."

He paused.

"I have so many more chips now than before, so I'm not going to lose this hand."

Ryota Onodera stood still, his gaze fixed on him.

He took a cigarette out of his pocket, put it in his mouth, and lit it with a "click" from his lighter.

"madman."

A faint smile appeared on Kamiya Yuma's face.

"Senior, could you do me a favor?"

"Speak."

"Bring the 1,000 single-volume books you want to sign to my house tomorrow, and the signing board too."

"How many days do you plan to spend completing it?"

"3 days."

Ryota Onodera exhaled the smoke from his mouth.

Are you sure?

"Yes."

"it is good."

Ryota Onodera threw the cigarette butt into the trash can.

"If I really cut your hand off, I'll contact a hospital for you."

"It won't break."

Kamiya Yuma turned around and disappeared into the night.

When I got home, the living room lights were still on.

Shiori Shirakawa sat down at the low table, with a bowl of steaming miso soup in front of her.

"I'm back."

After she stood up, she went to the entrance hall.

"I've reheated this bowl of soup three times already."

"You already told me not to wait for me."

"I've already told you I'll wait for you."

Shiori Shirakawa did not ask what had happened in the editorial department.

"Let's have some soup first."

Kamiya Yuma picked up the bowl.

The tofu in the bowl was still so tender, and the amount of scallions was just right, giving me a very warm feeling.

"Shiori".

"Um?"

"I will be drawing very late for the next three days."

Shiori Shirakawa sat down opposite him.

"When will it be?"

"I probably won't be able to sleep all night."