At the time, Takumi was hanging out laundry at home when the phone rang.
He ran into the room to answer.
"Hello, is it Mr. Takumi Sato?"
The voice on the other end of the phone sounded formal. Of course, Takumi, who had lived over thirty years in his previous life, was not surprised to be called "sir."
"Yes, it's me. Can I know who's calling?"
"I'm Kurosawa, Editor-in-Chief of Hinotori Publishing's Weekly Youth Department. Mr. Takumi, may I ask you if you have already sold the copyright to Detective Conan, the comic book you submitted?"
The voice on the other end sounded anxious.
Although Takumi was already expecting it, his heart took a small leap. Her lips curled slightly.
"No. What I sent them was the only original manuscript."
The answer made Kurosawa let out the air in relief.
"If so, would you like to publish it in our Weekly Shonen magazine? We will do our best to promote and present it. Royalties and participation will be paid according to the standards of professional cartoonists."
Professional standards?
Takumi stood motionless for a moment. That far exceeded their expectations.
"Of course I do! My pleasure. When do we sign the contract?"
"ASAP!"
Kurosawa wanted to close the deal before any mishap occurred.
"When would it be available? I'm booking a train ticket for him so he can come right away."
For safety, it was best to sign the contract in person.
Takumi hesitated. She suddenly remembered that at fifteen she could not sign without her legal guardian, her mother, Aiko.
"I'm free these days, but... could you provide me with two train tickets?" Takumi smiled, somewhat uncomfortable. "I am fifteen years old. I need my mom to be present to sign."
"…"
The microphone went silent. Then Kurosawa spoke again.
"Sorry... I think I didn't hear well. Could you repeat your age?"
"Fifteen years."
"You said it very quickly. You said twenty-five, right?"
"No. I'm turning fifteen this year. I just finished the high school entrance exam."
"Is this a joke?!"
Kurosawa slammed up and, realizing it, hurriedly apologized.
"No, no... I am not doubting you. It's just that I didn't imagine that I was so young!"
He was perplexed. His seventeen-year-old daughter could barely draw a chicken, and on the other end of the line was a fifteen-year-old boy with an original comic book of the highest quality. How could there be such a difference between two people?
Even so, such a young mangaka was...
"No problem." Kurosawa gritted his teeth. I couldn't let that opportunity pass me by.
"I will prepare two round-trip tickets for him. The deadline is one week, so please be ready in advance."
After hanging up, Kurosawa slumped into the chair without strength.
"Editor-in-chief, what happened?" asked Haruki Suno cautiously beside him.
"The author... this same year he—"
Kurosawa was about to say it, but stopped. That information still had to be kept secret. He didn't know what the boy's mother thought. Better to wait until you have everything signed.
—
Yoshino Town, Saitama Prefecture.
That night, Aiko returned home and was surprised to see her son sitting in the living room with a serious expression.
He poured him a glass of water, sat down beside him, and asked:
"Did something happen?"
"Yes." Takumi nodded and replied:
"Mom, I have a friend you should meet... Shinji Arai. A big company accepted a comic book he drew, and they invited him and his dad to Osaka to sign a contract."
Aiko looked at him puzzled.
"Isn't that a good thing?"
I didn't know much about manga, but I assumed it was similar to movies or novels.
"Of course it's a good thing. But Shinji can't bring himself to tell his father. If he finds out that he was drawing cartoons instead of studying, he will kill him."
Takumi looked at her seriously.
"Mom... how do you think I should convince him?"
Aiko thought for a moment. "How did the boy do on the high school entrance exam?"
"He said he did very well and that he can get into the best high school in the district."
"Then there's nothing to worry about." Aiko took a sip of water and smiled. "If the grades are right, it doesn't matter if you tell your father directly."
"Mom, you think that..." Takumi nodded, and suddenly lowered his gaze. "The truth is that I believe it too, mom. I lied to you just now. How is Shinji going to have that ability? If I'm honest... Only I, your son, can draw mangas."
"Don't talk nonsense, how are you going to have that ability...?" Aiko stopped smiling. The cup in his hand trembled. Suddenly she turned to him. "Did you draw the comic?"
"Yes." Takumi lowered his head. He feared nothing but his mother's fury. The admiration he felt for her, even in his past life, was just as intact. "Mom, don't be angry. I sure did well on the high school entrance exam!"
Aiko looked at him silently. There was water spilled on the table, but he didn't even notice. She did not imagine that her son had lied to her. That "review session" he was talking about was, in reality, hours of drawing in his room. And yet... Takumi had been much more obedient than before.
"Are you sure you did well on the exam?" "Yes. —And that comic you sent was accepted by a good publisher? "Yes. They say they want us to go to Osaka to sign a contract. They take care of round-trip tickets.
Takumi replied sincerely, barely bowing his head. Seeing his honest gaze, Aiko didn't get angry for a second. "Give me the phone tomorrow. I want to ask a few questions."
He had given in.
—
The next day, Aiko called to confirm that her son was not lying to her. She felt confused, surprised, excited, and a little overwhelmed. I didn't know if it was really good or bad. After all, Takumi was only fifteen years old.
I didn't know what it meant to be a mangaka at fifteen, but I knew that young writers, singers, and celebrities always caught the eye. Would it be possible for your child to have such a future... so early?
She wasn't sure of anything—until June 25.
—
"Hey, Takumi! Don't let it be a trap!" As they lined up at the station for the ticket check, Aiko looked at him anxiously. "What if they are scammers?"
Takumi, carrying two large bags, smiled and reassured her. "How are they going to be scammers? Mom, you yourself confirmed everything several times. Fool the two of us? Impossible!"
They were poor, simple, and off the radar. Not even thieves would consider them an interesting target.
Aiko relaxed a little. His son was right. She was not an attractive young woman nor did they carry flashy luggage. In addition, the company had paid them for expensive sleeper tickets. Who deceives with such generosity?
He checked the bill carefully. It was a little cold on the platform. It was very early. The drive from Yoshino Village to Osaka City would take all night.
Once on the train, Aiko awkwardly changed her ticket to the conductor. He had never left Yoshino. I didn't expect her first long trip to be... thanks to his son.
But at the time, he couldn't imagine that what awaited him was an even bigger surprise.