"Ah, here, right here."
"Finally found it. It was sold out everywhere—convenience stores, manga shops, even Toranoana."
Two men wearing shirts and cargo pants, with hachimaki headbands tied around their foreheads, hurriedly walked into the store. Their backpacks were stuffed with merchandise, looking as if they had just rushed over from some doujin convention venue.
One of them, a tall man wearing round-rimmed glasses, picked up an already unsealed copy of the latest June issue of Comic Kairakuten and spoke to the slightly chubby man beside him.
"Great, there's actually a copy that's already been opened."
"Ichimoto-kun, how about we take a look first before buying it?"
The chubby man referred to as Ichimoto leaned in closer at this moment. "Kukukuku, I can't wait anymore."
"They finally selected a winner for the Newcomer King Award, which has been vacant for years. Let us witness the power of this new King today!"
The two solemnly opened the magazine. As the pages turned, the rhythm of their breathing began to change—sometimes holding their breath, sometimes gasping sharply, with the occasional low cry of astonishment.
"This composition... the visual expression is too strong!"
"Wait, there's actually a grand double-page spread!"
Not far away, Tsushima Kagami was holding a fashion magazine, secretly observing the reaction of those two. He slowly edged closer to them to eavesdrop on their conversation.
"This art style and skill... it shouldn't be appearing in an adult commercial magazine at all," the glasses-wearing man muttered.
"But precisely because it is an adult commercial magazine, only here can it be expressed so freely," Ichimoto said with a sigh of admiration as he flipped to the next page. "Look at the detailing of these back muscles—it's drawn completely to anatomical standards, yet it's full of manga-style tension. 'Xuanyayi'... a teacher I've never heard of before."
After the two men took the last two brand-new copies of Kairakuten and left to pay, Tsushima Kagami walked over. He picked up the copy of Kairakuten he had deliberately unsealed and placed there earlier, then squatted on the ground and began flipping through it again.
"What are they doing?"
"Doing it."
Tsushima Kagami blurted it out subconsciously before realizing he had misspoken.
He looked up to see Ijichi Nijika standing there with her hands behind her back, bending at the waist. Her small head was leaned in toward the pages of the book, blinking those large, fiery red eyes.
She then looked up at Tsushima Kagami and broke into a happy smile. "Big Brother, we meet again."
Tsushima Kagami immediately snapped the book shut.
"Eh? You're not reading anymore?"
"Good children can't watch this."
Then, Tsushima Kagami smiled and patted Ijichi Nijika's head. "Little Nijika, you didn't secretly run out and get separated again today, did you?"
"No, I came out with Mama today."
After speaking, she motioned toward a woman nearby who was bending over to select items—a married woman who was obviously bigger in every aspect.
It really was a case of Small Cup, Medium Cup, and Large Cup.
"It's good that Little Nijika didn't get lost."
Having said that, Tsushima Kagami also stood up, preparing to take the magazine he had unsealed to the counter to pay.
"So, what were they doing?"
Ijichi Nijika was still hung up on the earlier question, looking at Tsushima Kagami with a face full of innocence.
"Uh... They were fighting."
"Why were they fighting?"
"Because their positions are different."
"Oh, oh."
After finally satisfying Little Nijika's curiosity, the Madam nearby walked over as well.
"Mama, this is the Big Brother who took me to find Big Sister that day."
"You must be Yukinoshita-kun."
Nijika's mother approached and bowed deeply with a look of gratitude. "Thank you so much for the help you and your sister gave us that day. I heard you are also a classmate of Seika's. If you have time, please do come to our home as a guest; we will certainly treat you to a good meal."
"Auntie Ijichi, there is no need to be so polite. I'm just glad Little Nijika is okay."
"If Nijika had gotten lost, I wouldn't know what to do. Seika, that child, would probably blame herself enough to do something foolish too."
Tsushima Kagami watched Mother Ijichi stroking Ijichi Nijika's head with lingering fear.
"Although I don't really understand your family situation as an outsider, surely those two sisters need to communicate properly, don't they?"
Hearing Tsushima Kagami say this, Mother Ijichi rested her chin on her hand and complained with a troubled expression, "Sigh. Ever since Seika started playing in that band, she hasn't been going to school lately, and her relationship with Nijika has indeed gotten worse and worse."
"But as a mother, I don't have the ability to make Seika listen. It's truly troubling."
"Oh my, I apologize. It's rude of me to make Yukinoshita-kun listen to an old auntie's complaints."
"Well then, I'll take Nijika back now. I hope that one day when you are free, you will definitely come to our house."
After speaking, Mother Ijichi took Nijika to the checkout counter. She thanked Yukinoshita Shizuku as well, paid for her items, and prepared to leave.
Nijika, holding her mother's hand, waved at Tsushima Kagami.
"Bye-bye, Big Brother who reads adult magazines~"
Mrs. Ijichi covered her mouth to hide a chuckle while scolding Nijika for being impolite.
After the two finally left.
Tsushima Kagami walked to the cashier counter and handed over the unsealed Kairakuten, looking at Yukinoshita Shizuku, whose lips were constantly twitching upwards.
"She looks so innocent, so why does she say such mean things?"
...
Shueisha, Weekly Shonen Jump Editorial Department.
"Editor Onishi, the deadline for Oda-sensei has passed today. Have we not received his manuscript yet?"
Editor Onishi sighed, took the last drag of the cigarette in his hand, and snubbed it out. Only then did he stand up and pick up his briefcase and coat.
"I'm heading to Oda-sensei's place right now to demand the manuscript."
After leaving Shueisha, Onishi got the urge to smoke again halfway there. He reached into his coat pocket only to grasp empty air, remembering he had just finished them.
Seeing a convenience store right nearby, he walked in.
After entering, Editor Onishi habitually walked to the magazine section first to understand the sales situation of the weekly magazines this week.
Just then, he noticed a copy of Kairakuten placed nearby. Picking it up, he saw the words 'Newcomer King Award Winners Announced' printed largely on the cover.
Hmph, so they finally stopped using gimmicks?
It's clearly just an adult magazine, yet they make the First Prize harder to get than our Shueisha's 'Tezuka Award'. What is the meaning of this?
I'd like to see just what level this Newcomer King Award is at. In previous years, artists who clearly could have won the King Award were only given the Prince Award. If this King Award winner isn't as good as those previous artists, they're going to be the laughingstock of the industry.
Editor Onishi then took the Kairakuten, paid for it along with his cigarettes, placed the magazine into his briefcase, and continued on his way to Oda-sensei's residence.
...
Inside a single-room apartment, a young man in his early twenties was scratching his head and ears in front of his draft paper.
"I really can't figure out how to draw the upcoming plot."
The young man complained for a while, then put down his pen and looked at the clock.
Yabai, the deadline has already passed. Onishi-san should be coming to drag me into the 'Dark Room' any moment now, right?
I have to leave here quickly and hide for a while.
Dong dong dong.
Just as Oda was packing his clothes, there was a knock at the door. Oda hurriedly stopped his movements and stared motionless at the entrance.
"Oda-sensei, I know you are home."
"If there are any difficulties, I believe the two of us can definitely overcome them together."
"So please open the door and let me lend you a hand."
Like hell I believe that!
Oda roared internally. Last time he said 'overcome it together,' the result was being locked in the editorial department's 'Dark Room' for three whole days, sleeping only three hours a day and surviving on energy drinks.
After waiting for a while and hearing no response from inside, Editor Onishi took a key out of his pocket, inserted it into the lockhole, and turned the handle.
"O~da~san~"
As the door slowly opened, Oda watched as Editor Onishi—like an invisible great terror from a pitch-black abyss—revealed his indescribable true form inch by inch through the crack in the door.
For some reason, a strange sound effect rang out in Oda's mind—Gogogogogogogogo!
"Ahaha, sorry about that, Onishi-san. I was just folding clothes and didn't hear you knocking."
After speaking, Oda very naturally began folding the clothes he had been preparing to stuff into his suitcase.
Editor Onishi walked into the room and closed the door behind him. His gaze swept over the manuscript on the floor, the half-open suitcase, and the cold sweat on Oda's forehead.
Then he twitched his nose and narrowed his eyes slightly.
"This is the taste of a liar."
Oda felt cold sweat sliding down his spine.
It's over. This time, it's really over.
____
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