「CHAPTER 1」
“It's boring,” said the man sitting in front of him as he tossed the thick stack of
papers on the desk.
“Wha-!” Hearing that, Yoshino Chiaki was immediately about to complain, but
squeezing his fists on his lap and grinding his teeth, he refrained from shouting at his
companion.
Calm down! Listen to what he has to say first......
He decided to hold back for now. There would be time to argue later. Yoshino
gulped down the water placed before him in one go and waited for Hatori Yoshiyuki's -
the editor in charge of him - explanation. Yoshino Chiaki's pen name was Yoshikawa
Chiharu. He was a top-notch shoujo manga artist. He started drawing manga since he was
a student, and now the 28 year old was popular.
After Hatori glared at Yoshino, he tapped at the storyboard with his finger and
spat out, “Were you writing this thinking it was good? What the hell is this? It's obvious
you thought that anything would pass since 'The storyboard of the great manga artist
Yoshikawa Chiharu sold one million copies.' Don't be arrogant, you idiot.”
“….,” Yoshino was silent. He was furious at these words. He wrote the
storyboard with so much earnest, only to have it heavily criticized. There is no manga
artist who would not have his pride shattered in such situations. Yoshino jumped up from
his chair with a clatter and confronted Hatori, shouting.
“When was I arrogant?! When did I do my work thinking it was good? Besides,
even if you are my childhood friend, you're talking back to an author when you're just an
editor. How can you speak to me that way?!”
But Hatori continued to reply coolly, “Talking back to an author? Speaking to you
that way? Ha! There's your arrogance.”
Yoshino swallowed hard, realizing he had said too much. He became quiet, at a
loss for words, as he sadly sat back down in his seat. This was a dispute which would
have attracted attention, but fortunately, it's not that he always used this cafe for business
meetings at this time, rather he felt that usually few customers were here, just as there
was no one but the part-time clerk and the shop manager at the moment.
Since both the manager and the young part-time clerk have gotten completely
used to the bickering coming from Yoshino and his companion, the quarrel did not
disturb the air in the cafe and the men remained absorbed in their work.
It's boring...?
He couldn't deny that this time even he, himself, had little confidence in the
storyboard. However, while he was pondering on it, it slowly began to make no sense to
him, but the deadline had come and before long the storyboard was due.
Where is it bad? I'll quickly fix it for now, and then make him say it's interesting.
Yoshino was burning partially with a desire for revenge and looked over the
storyboard again.
Then after some time, Hatori spoke,”The theme isn't bad. But, there's too much
detail.”
“Huh?”
“I understand there are many things you want to draw. But are you thinking of the
readers when you're drawing?”
“......Oh......”
Now that he mentioned it, Yoshino thought Hatori was probably right. He wanted
to include this and that in his drawings, so it ended up messy. Yoshino seized this
opportunity to work out the tangled story, and continued to be absorbed in fixing the
storyboard. While he was fixing the storyboard, Yoshino stole a glance at Hatori.
Hatori was sipping coffee while looking over the manuscript with a frown. Even
though he was an editor, Hatori wore a suit and necktie. Yoshino thought it seemed as if
he was displaying a serious character. Hatori did not have a dashing appearance, but he
was good-looking due to his double eyelids and clear-cut features. If he didn't furrow his
brows, he would be quite a handsome man.
While Yoshino was gazing at Hatori's troublesome face, he was complaining to
himself in his head.
I mean, just because we're childhood friends and don't need to be on polite terms,
isn't he speaking a little bit more superior to me?
Despite thinking that, Yoshino couldn't bring himself to say it. He was certain that
if he said anything he would be returned with words several times as harsh. Whenever
Hatori faced Yoshino, he was cruel and gave out strict orders.
Did Hatori also do this to other writers?
Certainly Hatori's pointers were correct and it was true that the storyboard became
interesting when he took Hatori's advice. The strange thing was that Yoshino was grateful
for it, without a doubt.
But... couldn't he at least be a little bit more nicer to me?
Even if he thought that, he expected to be told 'Don't act like a spoiled brat', so in
the end he didn't plan on saying it.
“This scene is important. But what are you doing getting rid of it by inserting a
gag?”
“Ah... I see. That's right... Here?”
Sure enough, as if Hatori's single advice had cleared up the fog, the solution
became clear for him.
His guesses are almost like he reads my mind – as if he knew I was worried just
now. How does he always know?
“What's wrong? You still don't get it?” Hatori called out to Yoshino, because
Yoshino's hand had stopped moving and he was gazing off into space.
“Shut up! I get it!”
After Yoshino raised his voice and glared at Hatori, he remembered the
storyboard - which he had to do somehow - was above everything else and he quickly set
about making corrections on paper.
While he was working on it and wrecking his head in frustration, Hatori said to
him with a manner like he just remembered something - “That reminds me, you have
another offer for an autograph session from a bookstore. As usual, I'm going to refuse it,
but I thought I'd tell you just in case. You don't want to do it, right? The autograph
session.”
“Yeah, thanks. Apologize to the bookstore for me.”
Autograph sessions were also one of the jobs for an author. No, it wasn't really a
job. There was no reward in particular, even if you were stuck there the whole day, so
you could perhaps say it was more like a service rather than work.
However, the autograph sessions were the only chance for an author to be able to
connect with the readers who were on the other side of the page. Let's say that it was the
most irreplaceable experience. Frankly speaking, even Yoshino wanted to do the
autograph session. However, it was a problem that shoujo manga artist 'Yoshikawa
Chiharu' was a man.
Well, I wasn't planning on hiding, but everyone misunderstood and thought I was
a woman. So I let it stay that way......
In addition, since his real name was 'Chiaki', generally a girl's name, it seemed
like even the editorial committee didn't think he was a man. At the very most, probably
only the editor-in-chief –Takano - and Hatori knew this fact. Nowadays, it was not
unusual for a man to draw shoujo manga. Moreover, the first shoujo manga were nearly
all drawn by men artists, so he believed he didn't have to be too worried about that.
Besides, the fact that a popular shoujo manga artist was a young man would
probably become popular with the public, so being a man shoujo manga artist was not
necessarily confined only to have a negative image.
Nevertheless, Yoshino was a man for himself and wanted to avoid being exposed.
The majority of the readers were girls and thought 'Yoshikawa Chiharu' was a woman.
After they were so convinced that Yoshino was a woman, they confided to him in fanletters.
If those readers found out that such sparkly shoujo manga was drawn by a man,
they would probably be very disappointed. It was much better to be thought of as a
delicate woman, who couldn't show herself in front of people due to her being shy, than
let his fans be disappointed. That is what Yoshino thought.
“I think it won't ruin your image even if people found out you were a man.”
“But, don't you think the readers can enjoy the manga more if they don't know the
artist's face?”
“I think they would rather prefer to see the artist's face.”
“The artist's face... The face of an average, ordinary man?”
Yoshino looked closely at his own face in the reflection of the window. He wasn't
sloppy, but he didn't think he was a type that was fun to look at. His eyes were large but
they were droopy looking, and he had a baby face. Moreover, his hair was unkempt since
all he did was just fix his bed hair halfheartedly. Come to think of it, he had gone to the
hair salon and hadn't been there since after the last time the deadline was near.
He was an indoor guy, so he was on the thin side. In addition to that, his body hair
was sparse, so he only grew a little bit of fluffy facial hair. It really bothered him that he
had no manly features. Yoshino was jealous of the man in front of him who didn't look
like he exercised much but had a nice tall physique anyway.
“You wouldn't understand that kind of thing. And, uh … well, it's better that you
don't appear much in front of people. It's safer for me that way.
“Huh? What?”
Yoshino asked him nonchalantly. He didn't hear the words Hatori quietly added at
the end.
“Never mind. It's nothing.” With that, Hatori once again dropped his glance at the
manuscript.
Yoshino already experienced this. He knew he wouldn't get an answer from
Hatori now no matter how much he questioned him, so he didn't say anything further.
If he wants to say something, he should just come out and say it. No, why do I
want him to say it? I probably won't be able to make a quick come back if he says any
more.
He thought back to Hatori's reaction when he showed him the storyboard and
immediately took it back. On another note, his childhood friend Hatori had been friends
with him from about the time they were born, because they grew up together in the same
neighborhood. When they were in university, the departments they majored in were
different, but since they took the same route there, their friendship remained quite long
and inseparable.
“Anyway, you said you wanted to use fireworks or something in your next story,
right? After we get this published, why don't we go to the fireworks display at the
riverbank near our neighborhood? We could collect data while we're there.”
“I'll go! I'll go! I haven't seen fireworks with you since high school! The road that
leads to the display is along a shopping mall, and if I remember correctly there are food
stands there! I want to eat a caramel apple!”
Up until the time they were high school students, Yoshino went to the fireworks
display often with Hatori. He had forgotten when they stopped going there, and instead of
the fireworks rising one by one, the only memories which came floating into his head
were the food stands that he was crazy about back in those days.
“Ok. Except, I'm not buying you a caramel apple. You buy it yourself.”
“I said I'll buy it myself!”
“In the meantime, if I don't get the corrections for the storyboard, you can forget
about going. I think you can concentrate better if you do them at home,” said Hatori, and
went off toward the cash register holding the check.
“Ah! Wait up!”
He gathered up the papers scattered all over the desk, shoved them into his folder,
and ran after Hatori who finished paying and was trying to leave.
“Hey Tori, are you going back to the office after this?”
“No. I OK'ed the proofs. I was working on my day off today. This was my only
business meeting, so I'm going home now.”
Hearing his reply, Yoshino made a small victory dance in his head.
“Well then, why don't you come to my place? I'm craving for some of your warm
homemade cooking! I'll finish the storyboard by the end of the day!”
As Yoshino persuaded Hatori to cook him dinner in exchange for the storyboard,
Hatori wrinkled his forehead. At that very moment, from the look on his face, Yoshino
could see he was troubled.
“Don't make that face. I'll make sure that you can say it's interesting next time!
Okay?”
“...... All right.”
“YES! I'm so lucky!”
Finally Hatori gave in and it was decided that he would make dinner for him at
Yoshino's house. It's been a while since Yoshino had a decent meal and he was in high
spirits. Hatori's homecooked meals were really delicious.
“Then, lets go to the supermarket.”
“Okay!”
His relationship with Hatori had become completely work related, however at this
moment he felt that they went back to being old friends. The sun was almost about to set
and somehow it appeared nostalgic to him.
* * * *
“You're amazing!! The best! Your mother will be proud of you even when you're
better than your future wife.” Yoshino was overwhelmed with delight and praised Hatori
as he was eating the dinner Hatori had prepared for him. But the way Yoshino had said it
was too exaggerated, so Hatori hit him on the head. “Oww! I'm complimenting
you......seriously!”
“Don't play around. Hurry up and eat.”
With this cold reply given to him, Yoshino resumed his meal unsatisfied.
It's delicious as usual......
Yoshino continued eating and was once again impressed with the meal placed
before him. All of Hatori's meals tasted delicious and also looked appetizing. It seemed
Hatori was better at making Japanese food than Western food, but if it turns out Hatori is
indeed better at cooking than his future girlfriends, then the girls would have a hard time
competing with him.
“Come to think of it, I wonder if he has a girlfriend right now?
In the old days, Hatori would sometimes talk to him about his girlfriends, but now
he didn't talk about such things at all and it didn't look like there was even a sign that he
had a girlfriend at the time being.
“Hey Tori. Do you have a girlfriend right now?”
When something starts to bother Yoshino, he doesn't stop himself, so he blurted
out the question without thinking. Hatori was just about to start eating when his
chopsticks stopped in midair.
Oh, of course. I just randomly asked him.
Yoshino was often scolded by Hatori with 'You don't say enough'.
He thought many things to himself, but since he said only a fraction of it, people
around him couldn't follow along with him. Because of that, he was often misunderstood.
And in turn, this also caused him to have arguments.
But even in this situation it was only Hatori who always deliberately stopped
Yoshino from arguing with others. Hatori understood him probably because of their
“The usual place. The store was almost closing, so I thought it was already too
late, but I went there just in case and I somehow got it.”
“You're the best, Yuu! Lend it to me when you finish reading!!”
“I'm giving it to you. It's your copy, Chiaki,” Yanase laughed. He had bought two
copies for himself, one for reading and the other for collection.
“Wow, really!? Thank you!” Yoshino accepted Yanase's kindness with gratitude;
happily took the comic offered to him, and opened the package while standing.
Watching them intently Hatori cut in, “Yoshino, that's bad manners.”
“Ah, sorry,” Yoshino apologized, but couldn't take his eyes from the book.
He waited four months for the newly published 'Odd Chef: The Kan’; there was
no way he could wait anymore. For the sake of reading everything in one go, he had to
hold himself back from reading each chapter in the monthly magazines. When Yoshino
was completely absorbed in the comic, Yanase acted as if he just now noticed Hatori,
who continued his meal.
“Oh, you're here too Hatori,” he called out to him.
“Unfortunately. Weren't you at Satou's studio?”
Was it just his imagination that it felt like Hatori's tone of voice held some
unpleasantness? And Yanase's voice also contained sarcasm, somehow.
“It looks like the storyboard got delayed and I'm ahead of schedule, so I'm going
there tomorrow. If you have time to just sit here, why don't you urge Satou to hurry up
with the rough sketches?”
“You don't have to tell me. I'm about to go there now.”
Yoshino slowly began to drift away from the comic as he noticed that they
sounded like they were arguing. These two had known each other for a long time, but it
seemed like they couldn't quite get along and it was impossible for them to be on good
speaking terms with one another. If it weren't for him, they would not be speaking to each
other at all.
Um...... What's with this atmosphere?
It was particularly hostile today. Usually, they made sure their relationship was
like that of a pair of cats, uninterested in each other.
“Yoshino, I'll be leaving now. I'm sorry I can't clean up. When you're finished
with the storyboard corrections, send them to my office.”
“Ah, okay.”
Hatori wasn't done with dinner, but did not have an excuse to stay if he was told
there was work to be done elsewhere.
“Then, take care,” Hatori said briefly, took a last bite of the meal, and left.
“That guy is as busy as always! Oh, as long as I'm already here, I want to discuss
work. When should I come in next time? As usual, it's up to you, so send me the schedule
when you can.”
Yanase's art skills were superb and as an assistant, he was in high demand
everywhere. He was Yoshino's old childhood friend, and Yoshino was quite thankful that
Yanase always gave him first priority.
“Ah, wait a sec.”
A while ago, he had arranged a rough schedule with Hatori. He compared the
calender with the schedule in his notebook, and began to write down the days he wanted
Yanase to come in.
“...... So, he made all this food?
“Yeah, I asked him to. I've been dying for some decent food lately. After that, he
did my laundry, too.”
Yoshino answered without giving it too much thought as he handed Yanase the
piece of paper he had just finished writing the schedule on.
While Yanase was looking it over, he asked him suspiciously, “...... Again?”
“Yeah,” Yoshino nodded as if to say it was only natural.
“Hm...... Aren't you relying on Hatori too much?”
“. . . . . . “
After a few minutes, Yoshino considered replying casually to him, but Yanase
had attacked his weak spot. He was startled by how accurate Yanase's point was, so he
was at a loss for words and couldn't argue back.
It certainly was exactly as Yanase had pointed out. He really did have the
tendency to rely on Hatori too much. His childhood friend Hatori was in charge of him
and Yoshino had not planned to work with him, but Yoshino would never have received
the same treatment like he got from Hatori if editor's from other companies were in
charge of him. He felt slightly disgusted with himself, even though another person had
pointed this out to him.
I'm so useless......
From the beginning, he took it for granted that Hatori assisted him without being
asked to. Hatori cooked for him and did his laundry; and Yoshino couldn't get by without
him. Yoshino's shoulders slumped; he looked miserable. Then Yanase, who was looking
at the schedule, suddenly asked, “...... Hey, about this schedule, are you doing the
corrections for the storyboard today, the ones Hatori talked about a while ago?”
“Yeah, actually......”
Like always, he was just barely making progress with the storyboard; he scoffed
at himself. Yanase picked his bag up from the floor and fixed it on his shoulder, as he
said, “All right then, I'll go home for today. I don't want to get in your way.”
“Ah... Sorry you had to come all the way here for me.”
“No, I'll see you all the time next week. I'm satisfied for now.”
“Wha-?”
“Take a break and read the comic.”
“Ah, okay. Thank you...”
What in a world did he mean by “satisfied”?
Yoshino didn't quite understand what he had meant and he tilted his head to one
side as he saw Yanase off at the front door.
“Do I really rely on him too much......?”
Yanase's comment from a while ago bothered him, but the word “reliance”
bothered him much more. Yanase was always around him and Hatori, so naturally he
must be right about this. Yoshino slowly went back to the dinning room and collapsed in
the dinning chair.
“But then, what should I do?”
However, if he thought about his relationship with Hatori, as author and editor, he
could probably say it was getting too personal, but if he considered their relationship as
friends, he felt like it was becoming more distant than before. Certainly, that was due to
their positions as author and editor. Besides, Hatori had other authors to be in charge of,
so Yoshino was conscious of the fact that Hatori can't favor only him. It was a matter of
course, no doubt about it.
“That's why Tori never complains. I'm to blame......”
He was aware of this and thought perhaps he should change his attitude. Surely
the line between friendship and work was becoming indefinite, and this complicated
relationship with Hatori was turning into “reliance”, just like Yanase told him it was.
Still, we're not fighting now, so it'll be strange to change my attitude all of a
sudden. What in the world should I do?
Lately, all they talked about was work. The only times they saw each other was
during business meetings and when the deadline was approaching.
“Come to think of it, he doesn't talk about himself......”
Ever since Hatori became an in charge of Yoshino, he had not talked about his
own private life. It was probably because work is naturally a workingman's top priority,
but even though, ever since they were both university students, every time Hatori fell in
love and said ‘There is someone I like’ - just like he did a while ago - he always told
Yoshino when he started seeing that someone and when they broke up. In those days,
Hatori thought that there was no need to tell him such things in detail, but Hatori was
honest and perhaps thought that he should tell it to his best friend, Yoshino. Now Hatori
had stopped discussing such trivial things; this was proof he had grown up.
Well, it is strange that we are 28 years old and our relationship is still the same
as when we were university students. It has to change...... It's a little sad though.
He looked at the side dishes left on top of the dinning room table and sighed. He
tried to eat one of them but somehow it didn't feel as delicious as it had a while ago.
“I see... So there's someone he likes......” Muttering to himself unconsciously, it
strangely began to weigh heavily upon Yoshino's mind.
What kind of person did Hatori like?
Hatori had not told him anything, but was it someone that Yoshino knew? One by
one, the questions popped into his head and he remembered the dejection in Hatori's
voice.
“But he said he won't get anything out of it......”
Did the person he like already have a lover?
It's not like him to steal someone else's love. Instead of thinking about his own
happiness, Hatori thought about the happiness of his loved ones. That's the kind of man
Hatori was; serious as far as being too serious, strict, and trustworthy. If Hatori didn't feel
like talking about it, Yoshino had no choice but to deal with it, but he wanted to help. For
some reason Yoshino didn't feel at peace in his heart.
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