Cartoonists and their assistants

Chie Takasago rested her chin on her hand, staring listlessly at the doorway.

"Didn't you come today either?"

At this time, she also had to close the shop.

Unfortunately, the figure she was hoping for did not appear.

Just as the girl was sighing with her head down, two shadows suddenly appeared on the ground.

With a soft beeping sound, the sensor door opened.

The boy and girl slowly walked into the bookstore.

"Mitsuki, Sawamura, you've finally arrived!"

Chie Takasago seemed to wake up suddenly from a nap as she stepped out from behind the counter.

Why are you so agitated?

Eriri looked at her with a suspicious expression.

"Because it's been so long! It's been almost a month since we were reassigned to different classes, including the two weeks of vacation!"

"That's perfectly natural," said Chie Takasago.

"Now that you mention it, it really has been a long time, Takasago-san."

Mizuki Machi thought for a moment, then spoke with a wistful tone.

"Alright, alright, we didn't come here to put on a touching reunion show with you."

Eriri immediately waved her hand, interrupting the two from catching up.

"I know you want to know about the sales of 'Anohana', right?"

Chie Takasago smiled slightly, as if she had expected this all along.

The official statistics will take at least three days, and given Sawamura's personality, he definitely won't wait that long.

Therefore, the only way to get firsthand information is through her, an acquaintance.

"Hmph, you guessed right."

Eriri gave a soft hum.

"So, Takasago, can you tell us what's going on?"

Kanzuki Masashi continued.

"However, my situation can only be used as a reference, after all, we are just a very ordinary bookstore."

Chie Takasago nodded, and then began to analyze seriously.

"We stocked a total of 150 copies, and about 40% of them were sold on the first day. Although the first day is always the best time to sell, based on my experience, this rate of sales is quite outstanding... If our bookstore is considered a typical example, then based on this data, we should announce a reprint of the first volume of 'Anohana' within a week."

In Japan, there is generally a difference between the number of books published and the actual sales. About 40% of the works are returned or damaged, resulting in less than 60% of the books actually being sold.

Therefore, once the digestion rate exceeds 60%, it means that there is still room for further improvement in the sales volume of the work.

Machi Mizuki and Eriri had already learned about this concept from the editor beforehand, so they were able to understand it quickly.

"Wow! I knew it! Fifty thousand copies definitely wasn't our limit!"

The girl was overjoyed and turned to raise her hand.

Although he felt embarrassed, he still reluctantly cooperated.

"Snapped."

The two gave each other a high five in celebration.

"Don't get too excited yet, it would be embarrassing if something went wrong."

He added one more thing.

"No way."

Eriri gritted her teeth.

"Takasago, what do you think!"

"I also believe that 'Anohana' can achieve even better results."

"See, even Takasago says so."

The girl said smugly.

Guan Yuezhenzhi scoffed at this.

They were clearly hostile towards them before.

Now that it's useful, we've brought it up.

However, the sales were indeed higher than he had expected, probably because they had the added halo of being the 'youngest comic artist in history'!

GANGAN's idol-making marketing has indeed elevated Yuriko Tokisaka to a level she shouldn't have reached.

The two stayed a while longer, symbolically bought a new book, and then left.

"They've left again."

Chie Takasago saw the two off at the door, her eyes filled with a hint of loneliness as she watched them leave.

On the way home.

"beep....."

Eriri's phone rang.

After the call connected, she received another piece of good news.

"Episode 6 is ranked fourth in popularity! We've finally taken another step forward!"

The girl turned her head excitedly.

"Looks like today is a day of double happiness."

The boy's smile shone brightly in the setting sun outside the window.

"However, this should be our recent peak. To surpass this result, we'll have to wait until the final result."

"...Maybe that's true, but we can't give up."

The girl paused for a moment before speaking.

Eriri knew what the plot was going to be like, but she didn't want her passion to fade away.

"If you can do it better, then go for it."

Even Kanzuki Masashi doesn't deny it.

He himself didn't feel much pressure, but the girl needed to put enough pressure on herself to make progress.

Therefore, sometimes letting things run wild is a good choice.

......

4 month 28 day.

After spending half a month together, Sakura Chiyo had also built a good relationship with her classmate sitting next to her.

Although I don't know him very well, I can occasionally exchange a few words with him about topics related to Sawamura.

"Mitsuki-kun, may I ask you a question?"

During the break after class, she asked cautiously.

"Sure, feel free to ask."

Kanzuki Shinji raised his hand in a gesture of greeting, quite nonchalantly.

"Um, what kind of manga and novels does Mizuki-san usually like to read?"

"I watch a wide variety of things, including isekai, school romance, science fiction, and horror, for example..."

"Eh... I did expect it, but it's still surprising to learn that Mizuki-san is such a hardcore otaku."

"And what about you? What do you like to watch?"

I prefer watching...

Sakura Chiyo subconsciously chimed in, but halfway through her sentence she suddenly realized something was wrong and quickly covered her mouth.

Oh no, I almost said it!

If others hear this, wouldn't we be repeating the same mistake?

But it seems there's no way to salvage the situation now!

"Mitsuki-kun, can you just pretend you didn't hear what you just said?"

The girl looked at him with teary eyes, her gaze full of pleading.

Is there anything strange about the art club's fondness for comics?

Kanzuki Masashi countered with a question.

"That's not how it works. Not everyone is as fearless as Mizuki-san. I've learned my lesson the hard way..."

Sakura Chiyo muttered softly.

"How boring, always having to read other people's faces."

His expression turned cold, and he turned his head away.

The girl didn't know what to say for a moment, but she began to reflect in her heart.

I don't seem to reveal my hobbies, and I don't think I've made any friends?

But right now, there just happens to be someone who shares the same interest right in front of me...

Outside the window, the blue sky and white clouds stretch as far as the eye can see.

Looking into the distance, a barely perceptible smile appeared on the corner of Mizuki Machi's lips.

Eriri, let me show you how it's done!

62 She said Eriri's paintings have a lot of oil painting feel to them.

After this day ends, another short holiday begins – the May Day Golden Week.

In Japan, Golden Week has nothing to do with Labor Day; it's just a combination of several holidays.

However, for Eriri, who has already become a manga artist, such holidays are simply a way to make her work a little easier.

"Eri has completely become a corporate slave now, and she's actually doing it voluntarily."

Therefore, during lunch, Mizuki Machi made a harsh complaint.

"I... I had no choice!"

Eriri quickly swallowed a mouthful of rice, and then couldn't help but complain.

"Who made drawing comics so troublesome?"

"Before... well, didn't you draw it so easily?"

"How can they be the same? The time management for professional and leisure activities is vastly different, and the requirements are not at the same level."

The girls now hold themselves to high standards, unlike before when if they performed poorly, they would just fool the fans and no one would say anything. After all, they just went for it and didn't care about anything else.

"Before?"

Ashisaki murmured softly and asked curiously.

"Did Sawamura-sensei draw manga before?"

Eriri stopped chewing, a sudden panic gripping her.

shit!

They were so engrossed in their conversation that they completely ignored their assistant!

Damn it, it's all the fault of the truth!

She cast a sorrowful and indignant glance at him, as if to say—you did this on purpose?