Fool's Love

I seem to have waited too long for this encounter.

——But now is not the time, it is too hasty.I mean, I haven't figured out what to say yet.

My language is so barren.I tried to speak in my own style, but couldn't utter a single word.

Maybe I thought I was an unpleasant person from the bottom of my heart, so I quickly turned to try to search for the works of writers whose names I can name—Akutagawa Ryunosuke!Osamu Dazai!Ishikawa Woodpecker!I prayed to them for inspiration, and the names rose like bubbles from the bottom of a pot heated to boiling point.

And then—burst, like a bubble.Still at a loss, I just stared at him with wide eyes.

"Yeah, what a coincidence."

His eyes look very lively, reminiscent of a bunny.

I should call back.Even if you can't think of a better line, you should at least reply "What a coincidence".

I should have done it, but I'm still stuck - like a fool!Then he seemed to remember my name.

"I remember your name is—"

——Mountain Shore.I waited for his next words, almost naming myself.

But before he had time to hear him read it out, Minister Jiao Wu yelled loudly to ask the staff present to clean up the venue.

Masumi's gaze also moved away from my face, and a feeling of disappointment suddenly flooded my heart.

In the small activity room, people were bustling with each other.The members of the department joined the tables together to form a large square table, and I pretended to be casual and sat down next to Masumi.

"Yamagishi!" This time he pronounced my name in a light and high-pitched voice, making up for my regret just now.

Then he went on to say, "It's just right, I am not familiar with anyone in this club."

"Is there no one you know?"

"I seem to be the only one in our class who signed up for the comics research department. It seems that people from different classes who have a good relationship with me have also joined sports clubs, such as the kendo club or the track and field club."

He sat upright on the chair, crossed his fingers on the table, and only turned his head to me as he spoke.His clothes were still ironed, and his shirt was buttoned all the way to the top.

"I didn't expect to see you here."

This is the truth.I admit that I judge people by their appearance, but Masumi doesn't seem like someone who can read manga.

It seems that he is more suitable for discussing the literary giants of the last century with others in the literary club, and occasionally chatting peacefully about the gossip between them.

"What do you mean?"

"I like comics..." I explained in a low voice.The minister seemed to be saying something, but I couldn't catch a word, "How should I put it...you are more like the kind of person who lives a fulfilling life."

"Perhaps as you say. But it's a matter of personal preference, isn't it?"

He answered me with a straight line that made me speechless, "I usually like to read comics. If possible, I would like to try drawing comics in the future, so I joined the comics research department."

"Okay. By the way, do you have any manga recommendations?"

Masumi thought for a while.

"I've been watching "The Kingdom of the Human Shape" by Tsutomu Erbin recently, and I think it's very interesting. But when it comes to the style I like, I probably prefer Oshimi Shuzo!"

His answer stunned me somewhat.

Before asking the question, I actually expected his answer.Probably a popular manga on Shonen Jump!

I thought to myself, and at the same time, my heart was filled with a kind of self-esteem or arrogance as a senior animation fan.

It's like seeing an artist on TV saying that he likes to read comics, and when asked about his favorite comics, he gave all the well-known ones, and I would think that he was just using it as a character design.

But Masumi's answer clearly made me realize that this is a real guy.My head buzzed suddenly, and I don't know if it was because his image was contrary to my impression of him, or it was simply because I was shocked by his answer beyond my imagination.

"why?"

I couldn't help but ask.This is a stupid question.I know that liking this kind of thing is sometimes very subjective and unreasonable, maybe I just want to have a word with Masumi.

"How should I put it, maybe I like unconstrained fantasies... and the feeling of freedom?"

"Your "freedom" refers to Shuzo Oshimi's style? "

"Of course!" He replied with a hearty voice, "I have read his "The Flower of Evil" several times, and it is quite suitable for my taste!"

I actually don't like Oshimi Shuzo very much.His personal style is strong. I admit that it is a good work, but it is not a work that can be read easily.

I only read the beginning of "The Blossom of Evil", but I couldn't finish it.The male protagonist is a person who steals things from the girl he has a crush on, while the female protagonist is a complete lunatic. It can be said that "I am a work of evil ways" was slapped in the face as soon as it came up.

It stands to reason that this is the tone I like. The problem is that the male protagonist always looks cowardly, and it doesn't improve after reading a few words, which makes people uncomfortable.

As for Erping Mian, I have only watched his "Knights of Sidonia", which is still an animation.

"How about "The Kingdom of Human Shapes"?"

"It's not bad." Masumi replied, "Compared to the author's previous works, it can be seen that he has made a certain degree of compromise for the sake of commerce, but the things in his bones are still very clear. Even if you only look at the artist, it is worth the ticket price , I have hardly ever seen an author with such a solid foundation in painting and architecture."

Yeah?In fact, I don't have high requirements for the drawing level of comics. I just need to be able to read them and not drive away customers. In comparison, I care more about the plot.

Maybe it's because I'm better at drawing than making up stories, and I have more aspirations for abilities that I don't have-probably.

Of course, after purchasing the booklet of "The Kingdom of Human Shapes", I was really shocked by the level of drawing large scenes for Erping Mian, this is a later story.

I heard the sound of the chair feet rubbing against the ground, and turned my head to look to the right.My attention was always on Masumi, and I didn't realize that Megumi Sasaki was sitting next to me the whole time.

She stood up abruptly.

"My name is Sasaki Megumi, and my favorite author is Yumi Tamura. I'm currently reading her "Mystery Without Words", which is a reasoning manga."

——It seems that while Masumi and I were talking quietly, the first part job has progressed to the stage of self-introduction.

In what order?When I saw the minister looking at me, I thought maybe it was the seating order.

"My name is Ryoji Yamagishi. I like Ishiguro's positive style. I'm the only one here. His "Outer Sky Tower" and "The Town Doesn't Stop" are comics that you won't regret after reading. Recently, the serialized "Heavenly Devil" is also worth watching."

Then came Masumi, and then passed on one by one.Everyone has different preferences, there are hot-blooded comics that are in full swing, and there are unpopular works that I have never heard of.

Afterwards, the minister explained the daily activities of our department: drawing comics, and sometimes the department will invite lecturers from the comics specialized school to give classes.

Finally, at the nearby Comic Con every summer, the department will publish a doujinshi.

"This year's doujinshi is under preparation. It is the result of the members who have already entered the second year of high school. It is currently being printed and typeset. I can show you the original manuscript later..."

The noisy and low-pitched discussion well demonstrated the excitement of the new members at this time, and I couldn't help but think of myself when the first doujinshi I collaborated with Mei Hai was finished.