Tokyo, everyone is drawing comics, who still wants to fall in love?

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Saturday and Tuesday morning.

"Why is the delivery late today? This is the first time I've seen comics delivered later than newspapers." A middle-aged comic bookstore owner said to the delivery driver of Qunyingsha.

Qunyingsha's direct-controlled bookstores are assets under the headquarters of the consortium, mainly distributed in first-tier cities such as Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka, with a total of nearly 1,000 stores.

This is the scale of physical books after shrinking in recent years. At its peak in 1999, the total number of direct-controlled bookstores reached more than 2,000.

"The delivery to me is relatively late today." The delivery driver took out the signed order and gave it to the bookstore owner.

The owner reached out to take the order, and before he even read it, he suddenly laughed strangely: "Hey, according to the release plan today, there should be a three-volume book of "One Punch Man", right?"

"Yes, but..." The driver paused.

"Your next sentence is to say..." The bookstore owner chuckled: "I don't know what went wrong. The single volume that was supposed to be delivered in the early morning has not been delivered yet. We have to wait for the afternoon delivery, right?"

"...Ah?" The driver was stunned for a moment.

The bookstore owner raised his eyebrows and spoke even more strangely: "Your next sentence is to say, how do you know, right?"

"Huh??" The driver was completely confused.

"The third edition of the "Daily News" newspaper has been issued a special edition. Let's see what you have fun with!" The bookstore owner snorted and then looked at the delivery note.

Sure enough, the item of "One Punch Man" on it said that it was delayed.

The driver was in a hurry to deliver the goods, but he couldn't help his curiosity and took a look at the newspapers on the hot-selling shelf.

"In order to suppress new comic writers, the main publication department of Qun Ying Sha did this kind of thing", subtitle: female cartoonists cried after reading it, and male cartoonists were silent after reading it.

After a few quick glances, the driver understood. It said that the director of the main publication department of Qunyingsha, Hayato Hyakki, arranged for Takeshi Gouda to play a counter-operation in order to crack down on the new comic writer who had lost face in the web department. After failing, he secretly tampered with the distribution channel of the "One Punch Man" single volume, deliberately blocking the shelf time, so that the new comics could not appear on the hot-selling shelves in the store in time.

"So there is such a shady deal?!" the driver exclaimed.

The store owner also echoed: "These guys have long been as dark as the night!"

"Tsk tsk tsk, this is so interesting." The driver ignored such trivial matters, looked at the time and continued to deliver the goods.

However, on the way, he said to every store he passed by, regardless of whether the store owner knew it or not: "Hey, the new comic single volume "One Punch Man" will be delivered late today. Why? You don't know why? Humph, look at the third page of the "Daily News"..."

Not only one driver did this, many places, and even many bookstores received such reminder calls.

There was even a reader who called a bookstore in Shinjuku in the middle of the night: "Moshimoshi, bookstore, right? Is the One Punch Man that was supposed to go on sale today delayed? Ah! It's true! It's so abominable! How do you know? The online forums have been going crazy!"

Many inquiring calls were made to the bookstore, and these people were usually old book friends.

"Is it really delayed?"

"The main publication department of Qun Ying Sha is really playing tricks!"

"Damn! I didn't expect Hayato Hyakki to be so black-hearted!"

"It's so hard for new cartoonists!"

Many comic fans and even non-comic fans expressed such feelings.

However, although there are many people in Japan who have a nightlife, there are not too many people who would ask about such things in the middle of the night.

So it still takes time for this gossip-level shady news to ferment.

Saturday, 10 am.

In front of the largest bookstore under Qun Ying Sha, a tent for the on-site book signing event had already been set up in a small square.

Saburo Mikami and assistant Okita had already driven three people from Oda Shingo's studio to the event site.

On this Saturday morning, there were not many people at the door of the bookstore except for the men and women who were dating, which was just the right time for preparation.

There were two stands for single-volume books on the scene.

On the left was "Goddess Sword" and on the right was "One Punch Man".

The poster of Goddess Sword showed the male protagonist holding a sword in blood and ready to fight for the last time.

One Punch Man was the protagonist Saitama, the supporting role Genos, and the female characters Fubuki and Tornado.

"Wow! Although the place is not big, it feels so good!" Fujido Kaoki was in a very good mood.

Oda Shingo was looking at the autograph stand on the left.

There was the enemy this time - the well-known and hot new manga artist Kousuke Watsuki.

Kousuke Watsuki arrived early and had already sat down. Two comic fans were talking to him next to him.

"Mr. Kousuke Watsuki? Hello." Oda Shingo put on his work badge and met Kousuke Watsuki for the first time.

He was a young man a few years older than himself, slightly fatter, a little unkempt, and very much like the standard appearance of a cartoonist.

However, looking at Oda Shingo who crossed the work line, his glasses showed disdain, and his tone was full of indifference when he spoke: "Oh, Oda Shingo?"

Oda Shingo saw his attitude and did not respond, and sat directly in his autographing seat.

"Hello, Director Mikami." Kousuke Watsuki quickly noticed Saburo Mikami and took the initiative to shake hands with him.

Since Director Hyakki was not present, he naturally respected the senior executives of Qun Ying She.

Saburo Mikami nodded slightly, without saying anything, and sat in the work seat in the corner.

Oda Shingo turned around and nodded to him again. Being here was a great support for him.

The event staff began to unpack some comic books.

"Fortunately, One Punch Man was sent here first, otherwise it would be too late." One staff member who didn't know the inside story muttered thankfully.

"Stop talking too much." An older staff member poked him.

Oda Shingo just smiled and didn't react. He just silently unwrapped some of the books so that he could write on the title page when he needed to sign.

Namikaze Yukaku and Fujido Kaoru chose the most rustic clothes to appear according to Oda Shingo's request. But they didn't sit next to Oda Shingo, but at the work seat in the back corner.

Fujido Kaoru whispered: "Huh, he knows we are beautiful and is afraid that the cherry blossoms on Mount Fuji will be too beautiful."

She was talking about a local saying in Tokyo.

In the eyes of Tokyo people, although Mount Fuji is beautiful, there are no cherry blossoms on the mountain, only around the foot of the mountain. It is said that it means that Mount Fuji is too beautiful and the mountain can no longer accommodate more beautiful scenery.

"It seems a bit deserted over there, Oda-kun." Namikaze Yuzuru kept his eyes on Oda Shingo.

Fujido Kaoshi was heartless: "It's just the beginning, it's just a coincidence, a coincidence."

However, the situation of more on the left and less on the right is very obvious.

There are often comic fans coming over, going straight to "Sword of the Goddess" on the left, and then talking to Kousuke Watsuki for a few words, and even some girls took the initiative to ask for a photo.

On the side of Oda Shingo, only a middle-aged uncle comic fan came, and he just said "I have seen your web version" and left.

Of course, the event has not yet officially started - the official promotion of 1 pm.

But this is not a good sign...