Although Inuyasha hadn't officially entered serialization yet or been featured in any magazine, Lin Yu's job at the sushi restaurant wasn't something he could just drop.
He still needed to buy some clothes. The weather was turning cold, and it wasn't like he could survive the winter in this one formal outfit. He'd freeze to death before the manga even hit print.
A new phone was also on the list. If there were any issues with the manuscript, Nana would need to contact him. Not having a phone would be a nightmare.
Then there was his tiny room. It definitely needed some fixing up. Without a proper work environment, his productivity would tank. And that wouldn't do.
Just thinking about all this dulled the initial excitement of getting signed.
Lin Yu had thought having tens of thousands of yen in his pocket made him rich enough to finally stand tall.
But he forgot—yen wasn't exactly the strongest currency, and the cost of living here was outrageously high. What he had wasn't wealth—it was just enough to stop living on the brink of starvation and maybe upgrade from plain instant noodles to ones with egg.
In reality, until Inuyasha was scheduled and published, his situation wouldn't really change.
Lin Yu shook his head, tossing those thoughts aside.
Still a long road ahead.
After a long evening of running around, the last customer finally left. With that, another day of part-time work came to an end.
"Thanks for your hard work," the shop owner said warmly.
After exchanging a few polite words, Lin Yu changed out of his work clothes and smiled at Nana and Kanda Torinobu.
"Let's grab something to eat—Kanda, you're coming too."
"Huh? Really? That's so embarrassing…" Kanda covered her face with both hands, pretending to act shy like a schoolgirl. The sight made Lin Yu's heart skip a beat—not from affection, but pure discomfort.
It wasn't judgment—just… a visceral reaction.
Nana picked the restaurant herself, a humble little diner that only cost just over 10,000 yen for the three of them. It was obvious the kind-hearted girl had chosen something budget-friendly after sensing Lin Yu's financial struggles.
He appreciated her thoughtfulness. It made his impression of her quietly grow warmer.
The meal wasn't anything fancy, but both Kanda and Nana had great personalities. Conversation flowed easily, and they all shared a few laughs. When Nana mentioned how the editors at Youei-sha had praised Lin Yu's manga and approved it on the spot, Kanda's gaze practically lit up.
She already liked handsome guys—but talented, handsome guys? That was next level.
Even though Lin Yu had lived two lives, under Kanda's smoldering gaze, he found it hard to keep a straight face.
"Oh, right—Lin-kun, I don't have your phone number yet," Nana said, lightly slapping her forehead. "It'd be hard to get in touch otherwise…"
Kanda immediately pulled out her phone too, eyes full of anticipation.
Lin Yu shook his head. "Sorry, my phone broke a while ago. I haven't had a chance to replace it yet…"
Nana gave a gentle smile. "Then just let me know when you've got a new one."
Kanda, on the other hand, looked visibly disappointed at not getting his number.
The three of them chatted a bit more before finally calling it a night.
The autumn air was chilly as they stepped out. Nana instinctively pulled her coat tighter and smiled as she asked, "Lin-kun, where are you staying now? If it's nearby, we can walk together. Shinobu and I live in the same place."
"Futaba Town, Apartment 903. Not far from here."
"903 in Futaba Town?" Nana blinked, then suddenly smiled. "What a coincidence. I have a friend who lives near you! I'll be sure to drop by sometime—hope you won't mind?"
"Of course not. As long as you're not coming by to chase deadlines, you're always welcome."
They exchanged a few more parting words before going their separate ways.
As Lin Yu walked home, hands stuffed into his coat pockets and arms tucked close to his body, he muttered, "Guess I need to go shopping for some winter clothes soon…"
He'd always believed that health came first. No point in breaking through in his career if his body broke down first.
Along the way, he kept an eye on the nameplates by people's doors. Nana said she had a friend nearby, and given everything he'd pieced together, Lin Yu was almost certain this world he'd landed in was the one from Crayon Shin-chan.
If that was true, her "friend" might be someone very familiar…
He checked every plate along the way, but nothing rang a bell. That was, until he got to his own apartment and went to unlock the door—only to catch a glance at the neighboring unit.
He froze.
Then took a couple steps toward it, peering at the plate under the streetlamp.
A small smile crept onto his face.
野原 — Nohara.
If it had been anywhere else, he wouldn't have cared. But here, in Kasukabe, where Nana and Kanda lived, that name could only mean one thing.
He didn't think too much of it. But being next-door neighbors with the Nohara family? That sounded like it could be fun.
After a quick wash-up at home, Lin Yu sat back down at his tiny desk and flipped on the light.
He'd only drawn the first chapter of Inuyasha. There was still time before publication, so he needed to buckle down and start cranking out the next few chapters.
It wouldn't be easy—far from it.
Each chapter would take a ton of practice until it became second nature.