Fool's Love

The sound of wild birds in the distance could be heard vaguely.

With the help of Sasaki, there was only about a quarter of the unfinished manuscript progress, and it began to advance at an extremely fast speed.

Not only that, Sasaki also helped to correct the previous outlets.The originally rough dots were replaced with dots that better fit the atmosphere of the picture.

Sasaki is very good at dealing with outlets.In her words, the series of processes of cutting dots into appropriate sizes and pasting them on the screen are similar to the cutting of clothing.

I don't know if that's a lie or not.However, after she corrected the picture, the expressive power has been raised to another level.I sincerely think that it was a brilliant idea to make up my mind to recruit her.

Masumi came back to school on the Monday following my visit with Sasaki.Within a few days, the drafting work also returned to the state before the school trip.

I was worried that the school trip and Masumi's illness would delay the progress and make it impossible to meet the deadline, but now I feel more and more "it can be done".Finally, the manuscript was finally finished before Christmas.

Masumi informed the visit through Editor Nakajima.At the end of the week, we headed to Tokyo again.

The difference is that other than Masumi and I, the people who are going this time are Sasaki who gave us great help at the last minute of drafting.

"The editorial department of "Barita"... I haven't been there before, it's really heart-pounding."

Sitting on the Shinkansen, the scenery outside the window quickly passed behind him, and Sasaki showed excitement.

One of her feet has been trembling continuously since she got in the car, even though she suppressed her excitement as much as possible, the actions she showed unconsciously betrayed her.

I totally get it because I've felt the same way.However, "The editorial office is like a battlefield, completely untidy, with a strong smell of instant noodles and snacks."——For the time being, it's better not to tell her such disappointing words.

"What kind of person is Mr. Nakajima?" Sasaki asked again.

"He's an ugly young man, but he's very serious about comics." This was my answer.

"At first glance, there will be doubts about "Is this person really reliable?", but it's like a different person when working.

Also, if he strongly recommends which store's food to you, remember to ask more about the special dishes there. "Masumi said.

Masumi and I both laughed.Sasaki didn't know why, and looked at me and Masumi with a bewildered expression.

"I will accept this manuscript first."

"It's fine if it's inconvenient to answer, but I still want to know... what does Mr. Nakajima think?"

Masumi asked.

"Me?" Mr. Nakajima scratched his head, "There is nothing to say about the setting of the plot, and the fineness of the picture has been improved by more than one level. Even the professional manga artists are not inferior... In short, I think there is a very good chance. Winner."

As soon as Mr. Nakajima finished speaking, there was a sound of inhalation from beside him.Put the manuscript in the bag, Mr. Nakajima;

"By the way, one more thing. I need to write down your pseudonyms. Have you considered this before?"

Of course I thought about it.During the summer vacation, Masumi spent the whole afternoon chatting with me about this topic.

My name is "Ryoji", which is the Roman pronunciation of my name, and Masumi's pseudonym is "Masumi Consciousness".

As a special cooperation, Sasaki will also write her pseudonym "Emiko" if she can win the award in the future.

Going out of the editorial office, three high school students from Osaka looked at the blue sky of Tokyo at the same time as they often do in TV dramas.

——as if I heard a voice announcing the end came from nowhere.

The moment I handed over the manuscript, all I could do was done, and the rest was just silently praying "it will happen in heaven".

Although I was chased by the anxiety of "not being able to complete it in time" from time to time during the painting process, when I was done, my chest was full of high-spirited self-confidence.

It's still a while before dinner.From Tokyo to Osaka, it is too early to take the Shinkansen for more than two hours.

"In that case, let's go to Akihabara now!"

Sasaki's impromptu resolution was approved by all.After all, no otaku can resist the temptation of Akihabara.The three immediately set off for Akihabara.

On the wobbly bus, I began to think about what to do after winning the award.Originally, I wanted to confess my love to Masumi after winning an award in a magazine.

When it really came to this crucial moment, he began to shrink back.I don't know what to say, more importantly...

There is a feeling of being blocked by something unexplainable.This is not due to Masumi's sense of alienation these days——

I knew full well that that alienation was proof that he was wrestling with something alone.Not particularly alienated from me. When I saw him at school, Masumi often looked like he didn't know where to look or what he was thinking about.

And the reason I started to recoil had nothing to do with Masumi.There's something obviously emanating from within myself—competing with me, preventing me from speaking the truth.

As soon as you enter Akihabara, you will be shocked by the strong smell of otaku on this street.

As an otaku, my scope of activities was basically in Osaka before, and this is my first time in Akihabara.

Not knowing where to wander, I stood there dumbfounded.After a while, I finally regained my voice and ability to move, and passed one shop after another with the calm-looking two.

After only an hour, there were several bags of good things from different stores in my hand.

I bought a lot of out-of-print comics from the last century at the main store of Suruga House, and the prices and appearance are not bad.

At this moment, Sasaki suddenly saw something good and stood still.

He turned his head and said "Excuse me, please wait for me", and rushed into the store in Toranoana.

The people inside seemed much more amazing.Masumi and I stood outside for 10 minutes, and saw people walking out one after another, but Sasaki was nowhere to be seen.

Suddenly the phone rang, and it turned out to be Sasaki's call.

She used Line to inform me of the current situation: the new issue of a fan author I like is released, it is a very popular author, and the length of the queue inside is amazing.

Considering that it will take a long time to come out, let Masumi and I go shopping elsewhere first, and then contact us at that time.

"Then...let's go." Masumi said.

"Where are you going?"

"anywhere is fine."

Masumi smiled desolately.

Masumi said he wanted to see Kawabin.So we walked the way we came.At the entrance of Akihabara is the Manseibashi Bridge across the Kanda River.

Let's go back there.It is now evening.The bright sunlight in the afternoon is turning into a brilliant red sunset glow.The surface of the broad Kanda River shone like dragon scales.

Masumi and I walked side by side.He kept casting his gaze at the people around him, and the more he looked at him, the more fascinated he was by the beautiful face that matched the glow of the sunset.

Masumi was wearing a light down jacket, although duck down is famous for its lightness, it was especially true for him.

The pattern on the surface is very fancy, but it has a tie-dye feeling, and he is very suitable for wearing it.

It was as if instead of clothes, it was a part growing out of his body.The pattern on it stretches like body paint on the part that was born to keep out the cold.

Walking, he seemed a little tired, leaning on the railing by the Kanda River, overlooking the bustling city on the other side of the bank.

——If you want to confess, now is an excellent opportunity.

No one bothered, just the best weather, the best location, the best timing.

Facing Masumi who was looking into the distance, I opened my mouth to say something, but all the words I was about to say turned into air, condensing into a pale mist in the still cold evening wind.

"Sometimes, I think it's good to be a fan writer."

Suddenly, a lonely voice came from Masumi who was staring into the distance without moving.

"Isn't it common? People of our age always think of unrealistic things. When I was young, I watched an interview program with a cartoonist. He said that he liked riding a bicycle when he was young.

Of course, he's not a well-loved, professional-level cyclist.I worked as an employee of a moving company for several years, and finally became famous because of the sports cartoons I accidentally posted on the Internet, so I resigned and became a cartoonist...

After that, the programs I watched at that time often appeared in my mind.Maybe, I also want to be a ditch rat in my heart. "

——I want to confess to Masumi now.For this reason, what he said at this time went into the left ear and out of the right ear.

He nodded from time to time, but he didn't listen at all.What I think about in my mind is how to organize the words, if the confession fails, how to behave so as not to embarrass Masumi while preserving my face... and so on.

Finally, finally mustered up the courage, and the moment he was about to utter the word "Masumi", Masumi suddenly turned around.Before I could react, my hands were held in his.

Masumi looked down at the clenched hands.

"Mountain shore."

His voice was low and lonely, as if he was reciting some kind of sacred spell silently.

"you are my best friend."

friend……

Masumi said.His gaze was lowered.I don't see his eyeballs, just the fully closed eyelids from this angle.

The words that were about to flow out of my mouth have since been blocked in my throat, swallowed back into my stomach, digested, and can no longer be fished out.

I felt dizzy for a while, and my whole body was as cold as if I had just come out of an ice cellar. Only the hands held tightly by him still had warmth, and they were extremely hot.

At this moment, the sound of wild birds in the distance could be faintly heard.