It was late at night, and the lights were still on in Takumi's new house.
Shiori came out of the bathroom after showering, dried her hair with a towel, sat on the living room sofa, and took out her cell phone to browse the internet.
She opened her chat, and several windows appeared.
"Sister Shiori, have you watched today's Pokémon? It's great! But that group of women with too many hormones went to the plaza for a demonstration. Those of us who secretly followed them were sweating, but luckily nothing serious happened."
"Big sister, I heard that Mirai-sensei has a new animation. I didn't see it today because I was working overtime. Everyone said it was very good. Can you help me find a recorded video? The other sisters must have it hidden. Go and help me talk about it. I know this behavior is wrong, but that stupid television station didn't even play it!"
"Shiori, Mikoto, and the others took full advantage of the plaza occupation movement. There's sure to be a report in tomorrow's newspaper! When should we organize an event? If this continues, they'll grow stronger and we'll lose!"
After seeing several messages, Shiori wiped her hair with one hand and quickly typed a reply with the other. She didn't care how others behaved. As long as no one bothered Takumi, Shiori didn't want to worry.
However, she continued to encourage her sisters in various ways. After comforting them, she closed the chat and opened her personal space to look.
Shiori's personal space was very clean, with no messages or photos. The account name was "A Passerby in a Small Place." She didn't use the space much. She signed up for an account to conveniently view others' spaces.
This time, she entered Mirai-sensei's space. Takumi didn't post photos, but this space is still popular online. Thousands of people leave messages daily.
Due to the broadcast of Pokémon, thousands of people left messages tonight.
"Mirai-sensei. This is the 999th flower I dedicate to you."
"Damn it, how did Ash offend you? Mirai-sensei, why do you always steal his headlines?!"
"Mirai-sensei, I drew a portrait of you. Do you think I have talent as a mangaka?"
"Nude chat video in person, please add Penguin 8*675...".
Aside from most of the nonsensical comments, there were some very serious ones.
"Mirai-sensei, I like Pokémon. The images and songs give a fresh feeling, and the story is very interesting and will not be boring at all. I hope you can continue drawing it well."
This message received thousands of replies, and most people praised the animation, which made Shiori very happy.
She went to Mirai-sensei's space just to see how others praised Takumi.
Takumi didn't sleep at that moment. Alice decided to spend the night with Takumi, who discussed new themes and manga with her in the study, which was twice as large as before.
"I think the idea of Oriental Fantasy Township is very good... but the possibilities are very low." Alice said: "This theme requires thousands of people to create collaboratively to activate it. We have a limited number of mangaka, and even if everyone draws it, they wouldn't be able to draw the characteristics."
There are too many characters in Oriental Fantasy Township. This world lacks massive games that generate popularity, and fan creation is not developed. Alice is not optimistic about its viability at all.
"In relative terms, I think it's a great idea to release the copyright of Pokémon manga!" She was satisfied with another of Takumi's ideas: "Now that the animation is on air, releasing similar manga will certainly be very popular!"
"But are you really willing to give up the copyright?"
Alice asked cautiously. 'This is a very important question. If Takumi gives up the copyright, other authors will be able to freely use Pokémon for secondary creations, and Hinotori Publishing's mangaka will be delighted.'
"Yes. No problem"
Takumi nodded. He didn't care about the manga's copyright. The most profitable aspects of Pokémon are games and peripheral products. Manga don't even compare to animation revenue. He doesn't care at all.
But releasing the copyright only means releasing it to Hinotori Publishing. The company's mangaka can use them at will, but mangaka from other places cannot.
"Well, I've already sorted out the details of these two themes." After the conversation, Alice took out a folder and put away the settings and information prepared by Takumi, and said with a smile: "I'll take it to Genji first to show him. What I just said is just my idea. If he has any opinions, he'll have to ask you to come."
"No problem."
Takumi originally planned to talk to Genji about it, and it would be fine for Alice to inform him. He took out another manuscript and handed it to Alice.
"This is my new manga."
"I'll keep it for now." Alice simply flipped through it a couple of times and then put it away: "It's too late tonight; I'll take it home tomorrow to read carefully and give you my opinion when I have time."
She was becoming more and more proficient in manga editing and could already give Takumi some original suggestions.
"And for the new manga... are you going to hire an assistant?"
Alice asked. She hesitated to speak, which piqued Takumi's curiosity. He said: "Other editors talked to me about assistants. I should hire one. Is there any problem?"
"Well...", Alice thought for a moment and said: "Before the New Year, I investigated Kanto's manga and found that they don't need to hire an assistant for now."
"What does this mean?"
Takumi asked. Alice had been encouraging him to hire an assistant last year, but 'why did she change this year? What could have caused such a big change in her attitude?'
"Have you heard of a digital tablet?"
Alice asked.
Takumi was a little stunned. 'Of course he knew what a digital tablet was. In his previous life, some mangaka used them to draw. It's a tool for drawing on a computer. Is Alice suggesting he use a computer to make manga?'
But Takumi investigated. Although the world is technologically advanced, the manga industry has only been developing for a short time. He didn't find tools specifically designed for mangaka.
"All of Kanto Manga Company's mangaka use digital tablets and computers. Their computers have special software for processing manga that can quickly manage post-production."
Alice explained to Takumi that the hardware for computer drawing had been completed a long time ago, but these devices were initially used for advertising design, game design, and other work, and the software was not compatible with manga.
After the founding of Kanto Manga Company, designers gradually improved the compatibility of manga software with computers and digital tablets, and now more professional computer drawing tools have appeared.
The so-called computer drawing does not mean that manga can be drawn with a mouse. In reality, it means that mangaka can draw directly on digital tablets and other input devices without relying on paper, and the drawn images are input into the computer and then modified on it.
This also means that the drawing by computer still relies on the artist's skills.
But the advantage of computer drawing over hand drawing is its ease of modification. When artists draw manga on paper, an error in a drop of ink or a hand movement ruins the entire drawing, whereas if the drawing is wrong on the computer, it can be modified repeatedly.
Most importantly, post-processing of computer drawings is very practical, just like the two assistants Takumi invited: Sakura and Tomato, whose main task is to post-process the first draft, and the processing is very simple on the computer.
"Then I won't hire an assistant; help me buy the equipment!"
Traditional mangaka find it difficult to accept new things, but Takumi doesn't have that pressure; he seeks high efficiency. Moreover, he doesn't use computer drawing; his speed is very high; he only uses paper to draw the first draft.
The first draft is input into the computer with a scanner, and then the assistants use the computer to paste the dots and post-process it. Work efficiency will greatly increase, and the current assistants are sufficient.
As for the assistant position that other original mangaka long for, Takumi believes that the mangaka problem should not be solved by being his assistant, but by seeking other avenues, such as giving new themes to Alice.
Determined to buy computer drawing equipment, Alice took a pen and left. She went to shower. Takumi stretched and saw that the living room light was still on, so he approached.
In the living room, Shiori was lying on the sofa and had fallen asleep.
"Why are you sleeping here?" Takumi asked, shaking her shoulders: "Shiori, wake up; you'll catch a cold if you sleep here!"
Shiori's sleep was not very deep, and she woke up immediately. She struggled to get up, her gaze wandered for a moment, and then fixed on Takumi.
"Takumi..."
"Huh?"
"You woke me from my dream!"
"Huh?" Takumi asked, a little surprised, then smiled bitterly and asked: "What dream?"
Shiori patted her face and became much more serious.
"A dream about the end of the world." She pouted and said: "I dreamed that a huge meteorite hit the Earth and nothing could stop it. People all over the world were panicking and running around."
"I think I saw this in a movie." Takumi thought about it. It was something from his previous life: "And then what... did you escape?"
"I was at school and ran out when I heard the news. All of Osaka was crowded with people, the streets were chaotic, and there were all sorts of crimes. I looked for you
everywhere..." Shiori was silent for a moment. She didn't want to say it too abruptly, and continued: "You're my fellow villager in Osaka, so I kept shouting and running, but I couldn't find you. Then the sky turned dark and a meteorite fell..."
"And the world was destroyed? What a tragedy!" Takumi laughed: "You have to thank me; I saved you from the nightmare."
"Nightmare..."
Shiori looked at Takumi and smiled faintly: "Yes, I have to thank you."
She wanted to thank Takumi for not waking her up earlier. At the end of the dream, Shiori found Takumi. He was sitting on the beach drawing manga.
Shiori ran towards him, touched him, and the meteorite fell...
Although both died, Shiori's heart was filled with tenderness. She found Takumi, she found him among thousands of people; that was enough!
Shiori felt that being with him didn't matter, even if she died.
If two people could die together, how lucky.
If they could marry, grow old together, leave this world hand in hand, and sleep in the same grave, it would be the greatest happiness for Shiori.
- - - -
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