Cartoonists and their assistants

Takasago Chie looked puzzled, then smiled and said, "Come to think of it, I should be considered Machi's childhood friend now."

"No, what makes you think you're Zhenzhi's childhood sweetheart?!"

The girl immediately panicked, slamming her right hand on the table with a 'smack' sound.

This is territory that no one else is allowed to infringe upon!

"Why not? I've known Makoto for a long time."

Chie Takasago lightly touched her lips with her fair fingers and said in a seemingly innocent and naive manner.

"It's been less than three years, what's so long! Besides, we should start counting from when we were kids!"

"We're very small now too."

"In short, you don't count, so stop making trouble!"

"It's not up to you to decide; it depends on how others perceive it."

"This is an objective fact, and it has nothing to do with other people."

Mizuki Machi rubbed his forehead.

Unexpectedly, the two girls actually started arguing about something like this.

"Since we don't have the final say, let's leave it to the parties involved."

Just then, Chie Takasago said something else.

"What do you think, Zhenzhi?"

The two girls turned their heads at the same time, their eyes blazing.

"There's nothing to argue about, isn't there?"

His answer remained casual, which angered the girl.

“This is important!”

They shouted at the same time.

"Uh."

His expression at that moment looked like a sweaty soybean.jpg.

In the end, the two girls didn't manage to get anything out of their argument.

After all, persuading someone with words is actually a very difficult thing.

As I walked out of the bookstore, the automatic doors slowly opened.

"I will never acknowledge you as an imposter, give up!"

Eriri turned around and made a face to express her anger.

"Goodbye~"

Chie Takasago simply tilted her head and responded with a smile.

Outside the bookstore, the two headed to the train station.

"Hey, Makoto, why didn't you help me just now?!"

"help you with what?"

"Of course we deny it."

"What's the point?"

Upon hearing this, Eriri clenched her fist, as if an angry symbol appeared on her forehead, and punched him.

"Makoto, that's exactly what I hate about you!"

148皆野缠: Received a very impressive painting.

"Moshi Moshi, this is the editorial department of Monthly Youth GANGAN. May I ask what brings you here?"

"I want to know how to submit comics... but not for myself, I'm submitting one for my friend."

"Then tell me your name and phone number, and come here when you have time..."

"I'm sorry, editor, I'm British and can't come over. Can I submit my work online?"

"Okay, then let's communicate using the computer. Send me the original manuscript later."

"Thank you very much, editor."

After hanging up the phone, Minamoto stared at his phone, his eyes seemingly glazed over.

"This is the first time we've received a submission from a foreigner."

"What kind of style will it be?"

"Also, her Japanese is really good."

A few days passed after I gave them my contact information.

She finally received news again.

After exchanging a few words with the other party, she realized, due to the different way they spoke, that the person on the other end was not the girl who had called earlier, but the person who had submitted the article.

After learning a little about the other party's situation, she asked them to send her a copy of the original manuscript.

The other party was a bit slow, and it took quite a while before they sent the file.

The moment she received the file and clicked to open the image, her golden pupils contracted sharply, as if she had seen something incredible—

“Wow… so impressive.”

Even the editor's unchanging expression changed drastically; she was so shocked that she broke out in a sweat.

Then, after looking more closely, she was shocked and couldn't help but feel sorry for herself.

"What on earth is this drawing?!"

"The meaning is unclear!"

On the weekend.

Minamoto went to the secret base to verify the NAME.

This day was the happiest day of her month.

Because editing work is not easy, playing games with Mizuki allows her to relive the carefree days of her childhood.

"yahoo~"

"Ah hello~"

She made a peace sign, and the boy responded in a similarly playful manner.

"Click, click..."

Minamoto Matsumura, replenishing his energy, sat next to him eating potato chips and occasionally chatting with him.

"By the way, I received a really amazing painting last week."

"painting?"

When Mizuki Machi heard this word, he pondered its meaning for a moment.

"Yes, it's just a painting, but it's probably the most amazing painting I've ever seen."

"Wow, is it really that amazing?"

This surprised him.

Although Ms. Minano has only been working for a few years, she is quite experienced, and the fact that she can make such a comment shows that the person's painting is indeed excellent.

But he didn't pay too much attention.

Comics are comics, and it's not that important that they're drawn well. There are many skilled artists in the industry, but their works are little known.

Because the most important thing about comics is that they are 'fun'.

As long as it's interesting, even drawing it as a stick figure can be appealing.

Of course, such examples are too extreme. Normally, drawing something that looks like a person doesn't require much effort.

"Ah."

Minamoto nodded, but did not discuss the matter further.

After all, this is a work-related matter.

but......

The thought of that stunning painting made a certain idea uncontrollably pop into her head.

Go home.

The editor turned on her computer and found a new message from the contributor, asking for her guidance on how to draw more interesting comics.

This wasn't the first time, but each time after her explanation, the 'comic' the other party handed over didn't change much except for looking more like the original.

Out of a desire to cherish talent, she added a sentence at the end this time—

"A manga artist needs the right environment to grow. If you really want to become a manga artist, then come to Tokyo! I'll assign you an editor there, so communication won't be as difficult as it is now; you can talk anytime."

A long time passed.

The other party replied with a curt "I understand," and it was unclear what their attitude was before they went offline again.

......

January.

The eighth chapter of "Four Lies" has been published.

The core of this episode lies in a scene involving water on a bridge, echoing each other from childhood memories to the present moment when Kaori Miyazono invites Kousei Arima to participate in a piano competition. Ultimately, the girl's selfless jump inspires the boy to realize that he cannot give up playing music and decides to move forward.

Several details in this chapter have caught the readers' attention.

One example is Xiaochun's inner monologue when faced with her senior's confession. She clearly began to awaken because of someone's arrival, but it was obviously too late. Therefore, everyone's comments were all about persecution and ridicule.

Another point is what Kaoru said to Kousei Arima. They extracted the keyword "lie" from the words, which made them associate it with the title of the work and the awkward relationship between the characters. Therefore, many people guessed that Kaoru did this on purpose, but the reason is still unclear.

At this point, the main storyline of "A Lie in April" is already visible, and the story has officially begun.

And at this time.

In order to fulfill her promise and also to strengthen the team's foundation, Yuriko Tsukishita decides to visit Kazuka Konno's studio.

Unlike their extravagant use of villas as studios, Konno's studio is located in a high-end apartment in the heart of Tokyo, near the GANGAN editorial office, which is quite impressive.

"Mitsuki, Sawamura, I'm here~"

Kazuka Konno was very sincere; he came to the bottom of the apartment building to greet him and waved energetically.

Good morning, Konno-sensei.

They walked over together and greeted each other.

"Alright, everyone, follow me."

"They're so incredibly enthusiastic..."

Kazuka Konno eagerly grabbed Eriri's arm and led her into the apartment.

"Tsukishita-sensei, Yuriko-sensei, I welcome you here."

The familiar, aloof beauty opened the door.

In preparation for the upcoming exchange, [the speaker]...

"Hello, I'm Sakura Chiyo..."

"I am... Black Cat......."

Faced with a group of experienced seniors, Sakura Chiyo and Gokou Ruri, being inexperienced junior high school girls, immediately became nervous and stammered.

"Don't be so nervous. Here, apart from the teachers, everyone is the same."

"Hello, I'm Takahashi..."

"I am Guan Yizhen."