Before meeting with the mangaka, Miyuki informed Takumi of the news.
"I found the administrator of Mirai-sensei's House, and he's willing to meet with you...".
Takumi received the news on the afternoon of March 2nd. He had just left the Weekly Shōjo Manga editorial office. His requirements for Weekly Shōjo Manga were not as strict as for Weekly Shōnen, but he would also eliminate several people's rankings.
His words caused a stir in both editorial offices. Without even thinking about it, Takumi knew that thousands of people wouldn't sleep well that night.
But the quality of Hinotori Publishing's magazines must improve, and compassion cannot solve the problem. Takumi didn't care what others thought. After work, he and Shiori went to meet the administrator of Mirai-sensei's House.
"It seems classes are about to start?"
On the way, Takumi remembered the start date of high school and calculated that it was already time.
"Well, I'll report in a few days..." Shiori nodded with a smile: "Takumi, your Aika-san told me that you'll also be transferred to the first year after classes start. Can we be classmates?"
Takumi's final exam results from last semester were published, and he was still third. Osaka's N.º 1 High School called him to inform him of his transfer.
This matter was decided half a year ago, and Takumi was not surprised.
"If there are no unforeseen circumstances, I should be transferred to your class." He said: "But I won't go to school, and it's the same as not being in the same class as you."
Takumi has been on Osaka's N.º 1 High School's roster for half a year. He has rarely seen students from his original class. For him, everything is the same. Academic titles don't affect him now, and even Aika believes he doesn't need to study.
But that doesn't affect his work and there's no pressure. He got a diploma for free. Takumi thought it was okay to remain on the roster.
The meeting place agreed upon by Miyuki was a quiet cafe. When Takumi and Shiori entered, a waitress recognized him.
"Are you Mirai-sensei?"
She looked very surprised. Until Takumi asked her to guide him, the waitress kept talking enthusiastically: "Mirai-sensei, I really like your manga. You must come often. I'll ask the manager to give you a free meal."
"Booth number 3 is here... Mirai-sensei, the friend you mentioned should be inside."
The waitress accompanied Takumi to his destination. Takumi thanked her, knocked on the door several times, reached out to open it, and entered.
Shiori followed him, but she barely took two steps and, suddenly, turned around and snatched the waitress's mobile phone.
"No photos!"
she deleted the photos from the mobile phone without hesitation.
The waitress looked depressed. 'This girl was truly incredible. She didn't even make a sound when secretly taking the photos. She hadn't expected to be discovered.'
Shiori deleted the photos in two or three seconds, returned the phone to the waitress, and entered the booth.
Inside the booth, Takumi shook hands with a young man.
"I'm Takeshi Kimura. Mirai-sensei... Nice to meet you." The young man's hands were trembling. Takumi discreetly observed him and noticed that he seemed very nervous.
"He's scared; why did he come to see me?"
Takumi thought. It was normal for Takeshi Kimura to be afraid of him. Miyuki had given Takumi detailed information during the day. Mirai-sensei's House forum was created by this person named Takeshi Kimura. He was a fan of Mirai-sensei and did not have a fixed job before founding Mirai-sensei's House.
Takeshi Kimura founded Mirai-sensei's House to gain some publicity, but he hadn't expected the forum to gradually develop. To maintain the forum, thousands of members took the initiative to donate to improve the server environment. Takeshi Kimura kept a portion of the dividends to live on.
So, if it were really investigated, even though Mirai-sensei's House is not a profit-making organization, its founder profited from it, and Takumi could still claim copyright infringement.
Takeshi Kimura understood this, which is why he seemed scared. Compared to the joy of seeing Takumi, he was more worried that Takumi would ask him for compensation.
"Calm down."
Takumi had to comfort him: "I have no malicious intentions in looking for you."
"Yes, yes..." Takeshi Kimura nodded, but his body remained stiff.
There was another person in the booth, Miyuki, who hadn't been seen in a long time. Takumi suspected that Miyuki had used some kind of threat to get Takeshi Kimura to come, something too easy for a hacker.
"How is your health?"
he approached and asked.
"Good now." Miyuki smiled: "The doctor said that if you take care of your diet, work, and rest habits, the cancer will not reappear."
Her cancer was detected early and received the best treatment. Japan's medical level is very high. It can now be basically determined that Miyuki is cured. Takumi set aside his worries, and the other two people in the booth listened to the conversation and had different opinions.
After Mirai-sensei's identity was revealed at the Osaka Carnival, it was no longer a secret that he had paid for an unknown reader's treatment. Thousands of readers knew about it and had great respect for Mirai-sensei.
"So she's that reader."
Shiori's mind was very complex. She felt very familiar with Miyuki at first sight. Thinking about it, 'wasn't she the woman Takumi was chasing at the reader appreciation meeting?'
'What was her relationship with Takumi?'
As for the other person, Takeshi Kimura felt relieved. He wondered why the Red Alliance would investigate him. It turned out that the supposed reader was a member of their group. And that said, Mirai-sensei is a very good person...
Thinking that Takumi said he had no malicious intentions, Takeshi Kimura's nervousness disappeared.
The four of them sat down and discussed the topic. Takumi got straight to the point: "I want to buy Mirai-sensei's House. Name your price!"
Mirai-sensei's House is still very weak, but Takumi is optimistic about its prospects. This forum now has almost 5,000 members and has many technical enthusiasts. It has the potential to become a professional forum. Takumi plans to buy it and recognize its status as a forum, which will undoubtedly increase the number of members.
Takumi lacks a channel to gather the power of fans. Mirai-sensei's House can become an online space for his fans, which will not only strengthen his influence but also promote the development of his followers.
"Offer?"
Takeshi Kimura asked, who didn't dare to name the price. He felt a little flattered that Mirai-sensei chose his forum: "No, no! If you want it, I'll give you Mirai-sensei's House."
His response exceeded Takumi's expectations, but it was also reasonable. Mirai-sensei's House was a little unjustified at first and couldn't be said to have any value.
Takumi appreciated Takeshi Kimura's attitude.
"So, let's put it this way. I don't want to take advantage of your achievements. Keep working at Mirai-sensei's House." He thought for a moment, then turned to Miyuki and asked: "Miyuki, now that you've rested well, can you help me manage Mirai-sensei's House?"
"Huh? Me!" Miyuki was stunned and shook her head. "But, Mirai-sensei... you said before that you needed talent in animation and video games? After I was discharged, I've been studying video game production at home."
- - - -
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