Early in the morning, at Osaka train station, Sun-san stood at the ticket counter with a sign.
"Editor-in-chief, is this really necessary?" Sun-san asked, uncomfortable with the stares from passersby.
Kurosawa, sitting to one side, flipping through the newspaper, laughed when he heard him: "Haven't you read that manga?"
Sun-san nodded: "I've read it, it's very good, but he's not a famous mangaka, so there's no need for you to come in person to greet him!"
"You have too limited a vision, do you know what that manga represents?" Kurosawa put down the newspaper and snorted: "The manga industry is based on talent and perseverance. He, a newcomer, can draw manuscripts that surpass the level of professional mangaka. His future is limitless!"
He also knew that the manga market lacked talented original mangaka. A mangaka capable of creating stories and drawing them is hard to find. Takumi is only fifteen years old. To put it bluntly, 'what professional mangaka could survive?'
The experienced Kurosawa did not believe he was wrong, as Takumi submitted a detective manga. Ordinary people simply cannot draw this type of theme, as it requires not only precise and cautious thinking, but also extensive knowledge in various disciplines.
However, Takumi, at fifteen, created an impeccable manuscript, with almost flawless content, an orderly rhythm, an interesting plot, and a solid pictorial style. He is undoubtedly a genius!
"Well, time's almost up, don't miss it."
Kurosawa looked at his watch; the train was about to arrive.
Soon, the dense crowd, carrying large and small bags, began to check tickets and exit the station. Sun-san stood on tiptoes to observe the crowd, fearing he would miss his target.
"Excuse me, are you from Hinotori Publishing?" Just as he was looking around, a teenager with a bag saw the sign and approached: "I'm Takumi."
Kurosawa stood up and looked up and down at the thin and delicate young artist. Both mother and son wore white clothes, and it was evident that their living conditions were not very good. However, what surprised him was that Takumi had bright, clear, and confident eyes. Looking into his eyes, Kurosawa believed that the person in front of him was an adult with a successful career.
'How was that possible?' He smiled bitterly, shook his head, and approached.
"Hello, I'm Kurosawa, who called you." In any case, Takumi made a very good first impression on him. They shook hands, and Kurosawa looked at Aika: "What's wrong, madam?"
Aika was pale, and Takumi explained: "My mother is a little dizzy from the car."
Kurosawa nodded, understanding: "Our company is not far from here, madam, you can go to the editorial office to rest."
They took Takumi and Aika to a black car. Sun-san was driving, and Kurosawa was in front.
"Five sheep, five sheep, run fast, run fast!"
Before setting off, Sun-san's phone suddenly rang.
"Wait, I'll take a call." He pulled the handbrake he had just released and took out his phone: "Hello, Tomato-san, what's wrong?"
"Ah, collecting manuscripts? Today... I'm so sorry, I forgot."
Sun-san covered the phone, turned to Kurosawa, and asked, "Editor-in-chief, Tomato-san's new work is available. Can I go pick up the manuscript first?"
Tomato is a professional mangaka who has been publishing serialized works in Weekly Shōnen for a long time. The reason he is called "mangaka" is that it is a respectful title for professional mangaka in the manga industry.
Kurosawa frowned. 'This Sun-san is incompetent. He even forgot the time to collect manuscripts.'
"Tell him to pick them up tomorrow."
He looked at Takumi and felt that Detective Conan was more important. He had to sign the contract today to avoid further problems.
"But, Editor-in-chief, Tomato-san has a bad temper and recently broke up. Isn't it a bit troublesome if we offend him now?" Sun-san swallowed. This Tomato-san is an artist under his command and he doesn't want to ruin him.
"That's your problem!" Kurosawa exclaimed furiously. 'How could this subordinate be so stupid as to tell other mangaka in front of Takumi: "Don't talk nonsense, get back to the company quickly"?'
He was very disappointed. At first, after signing the contract, he wanted Sun-san to be Takumi's editor-in-chief, but now it seems he must choose another. Sun-san didn't realize Takumi's potential. Such an editor-in-chief wouldn't be able to harness his talent.
Back at the editorial office, Kurosawa immediately took Sun-san away and asked another editor to take Aika, who was not feeling well, to the rest area.
The editorial office prepared breakfast for her, and after eating, she recovered quite a bit.
She looked around and found herself sitting in a private room separated by transparent glass, through which she could see a busy editorial office. There were five rows with more than twenty editors working, and many manga posters were plastered on the opposite wall.
"Madam, are you feeling better?" he asked.
A kind-looking young man with glasses entered the booth with a bundle of manuscripts in his hand. We will call him Kenji.
"Much better, thank you for breakfast." Aika expressed her gratitude with a smile. Kenji, sitting opposite, said with the same smile: "My name is Kenji. The editor-in-chief is discussing the details of the manga and the contract with Takumi. I will be in charge of relaying your message."
He placed the manuscript on the table: "Please take a look, it's Takumi's work."
Aika took it. She had never read manga. She flipped through a few pages uncomfortably, but it didn't make much of an impression on her: "Is this drawing any good?"
"Of course it's good!" Kenji nodded and praised: "Few original manga reach this level, whether it's their drawing or content... Madam, please take a closer look."
Aika flipped through a few pages: "Well, it seems so."
Kenji was not very satisfied with her attitude. He took the manuscript, turned to the last page, and placed it on the table: "Madam, what do you think of this drawing?"
Aika looked down and was stunned. Although she had never read manga, this image was truly beautiful. The boy in the image caught her attention. His expression was full of doubt, making people wonder what had happened to him.
"I'll take a look."
Aika, interested, picked up the manga to read it again.
"Your son is a manga genius. Madam should be more aware of it." Kenji adjusted his glasses. 'Takumi could attract others' curiosity with just one image. This talent was unheard of.'
Of course, talent can only attract attention when it hasn't developed. The charm of manga still lies in the story itself.
The story of Detective Conan is very good, and Aika quickly showed surprise.
"Did he really draw this story?"
It seemed to her that Takumi liked drawing since he was a child, but the drawings he drew were messy. Now it didn't seem messy at all. These images were not only beautiful, but also full of wisdom she couldn't even imagine: detective manga give people the illusion of great intelligence.
Aika found her son very strange for the first time, but it was normal for her to be busy with work and not know Takumi's skills. Just thinking about it, Aika felt guilty for having cared so little, as a mother.
Kenji, who was present, breathed a sigh of relief when he saw her expression. He didn't know that Takumi was only fifteen years old, but the editor-in-chief entrusted him with persuading Aika.
"Let's talk about royalties." Kenji took another document and opened it on the table.
Aika brightened up. She didn't understand manga, but she did understand royalties.
"How much are the royalties?"
"If this manga is serialized, it will have about 20 pages per week at 4,000 yen per page. If it is published as a single volume in the future, royalties will be 5% to 10% of the price. Of course, this is subject to negotiation between the editor-in-chief and Takumi."
"A lot!!!"
Aika exclaimed, dizzy. '20 pages a week at 4,000 yen per page, doesn't that mean he can get at least 320,000 yen in royalties per month? This is six times her monthly salary for working over ten hours a day!'
Aika didn't know what royalties for a single volume meant, but she knew her son was promising, so promising! She was still worried about tuition, but it was all for nothing!