Fool's Love

A sign of something huge and terrible.

The drawing process of "Miss Chocolate" is very smooth.The process of "drawing manga-learning" is in full swing, without feeling tired at all.In a blink of an eye, the whole spring has passed.

After the spring break, I successfully entered the second year of high school.From then on, some people began to discuss issues such as entering a higher education.

Previously, I told my parents that I wanted to go to a fine arts university in the future.Because I was threatened that I would not be allowed to go to art class if I couldn't take care of my studies in the third year of junior high school, I was ready to be scolded by my father, so I summoned up the courage to bow and tell the matter, and later She didn't dare to look up at his expression.

Incredibly, my father agreed.That stubborn dad... is incredible.

Not only that, he once again paid for me to go to the art classroom every weekend to study.As for my target school, it is a design department of a university of fine arts in Tokyo.

The change of department has already been carried out.I have no interest in becoming an officer of the department, and neither does Masumi.

During the first department activity time of the new semester, I saw quite a few new faces with bright eyes.

Facing this group of radiant juniors, feeling the passage of time intuitively, I inadvertently showed a somewhat bitter expression.

When the drawing of the manga for the departmental publication was drawing to a close, I had the idea that "it's almost time to start drawing the manga for the magazine".

After communicating with Masumi, the two hit it off.The magazine and subject matter for submission have already been decided. It is a periodical called "Weekly Barita", and the name of the manga is "Ono-san wants to go to the universe".

"Weekly Barita" is an established magazine.Although not as well-known as "Shounen Jump", the competitive pressure is much less, and the subject matter of comics is also very tolerant.

At present, there are several popular works on the market that include exotic and sci-fi themes, all of which are from this magazine, and the style of the magazine and Masumi's original work is also the most suitable.

I planned to start work like this, but I didn't expect Masumi to have concerns: he hoped to make a few more alternatives in the draft stage.Completed the manga in a hurry, and was sentenced to death by the editor in the end-it was a very enthusiastic thing.

Just do it right from the start.However, most of the initial pressure was shared by Masumi, so his workload increased several times.

Out of concern, I asked "Is it okay?" several times, but the reply I got was "No problem".Sometimes Masumi is so stubborn, and I can only follow his wishes.

In Masumi's view, it is much easier to create short stories than long ones.Just have an idea and express it clearly.But if it is a long-form serialization, it is necessary to continuously conceive the plot.

The second work as an alternative is based on the setting of the work I told him called "Big City".

Immediately afterwards, the story line of Alternate No. [-] was also prepared: the protagonist is the savior No. [-], who has no initial memory, and is just a person who travels through different worlds to save the world.

"Recently, I was reading a mystery novel, which was the inspiration I had at that time." Speaking of this, he frowned slightly, "However, can this be called inspiration? It's more like a trick. Because that book The author set up an astonishing riddle, but the level of the solution does not match, which is a pity. On the other hand, if you don’t prepare to answer it from the beginning, there will be no problem of driving high and low.”

I laughed. "So you thought of making it into a short story?"

"Yes. At the beginning of the story, the hero has no idea of ​​the world in which he lives. Solve the puzzle, save the world, and throw a bigger puzzle at the end - just like that. Because I didn't even think about it. How to tell a complete story, leaving half of the ending would be better."

If he had followed the previous style, he would have said this with a shy smile on his face, but at this moment his face was full of seriousness.Touching her chin with one hand, Masumi spoke slowly.

Drawing started as soon as the theme was determined.The drawing of the draft took three months, from April to the beginning of the summer vacation, the time is really not short.

The reason is, on the one hand, there is academic pressure, and secondly, this is the first time to cooperate with Masumi, and it is for the submission of a magazine. Both Masumi and I take it very seriously.

Finally, since I'm going to art class on weekends, I spend less time on it.

Every Saturday morning, Masumi would come to my house.The two spent the morning drawing the storyboards. In order to ensure the smoothness of the plot, Masumi drew them in groups of random plural pages and sent them to me, and I made revisions.

After everything is finished, I will modify the places where the connection is not smooth, and finally I will draw a rough draft-this is the process.

I have been drawing very fast, so there is less need to use my brain, and I only use "swish, swipe" to refine the picture to enhance the expressiveness of the picture.

After eating at noon, Masumi stayed alone and continued to draw the storyboards, while I went to the art classroom for class, and came back near the evening, and then the two of them continued to rush to work until night fell.

After more than a year, Masumi's painting level has improved a lot.While maintaining imagination, it can basically let the viewer see what the objects in the picture are.

Although sometimes out of shape...but it's ok.The slightly broken part of his picture fits the content of the story.

After refining by me, it looks good, but the features have been greatly reduced.

It might sound contradictory...but that's it.For example, if I compare his painting style to that of a picture book, I am more realistic and comic.

Masumi's manga, which I modified, is like a picture book remade with a mature style of painting. It can't be said that it is not good-looking, but it doesn't match.In the follow-up, I also adjusted my painting style according to this point.

On a summer night, after a whole day of drawing, I took Masumi to a nearby station.

It takes a while to get there from my house.The granular asphalt on the ground rubbed against the soles of the shoes, and the grass stems caught in it made the sound of being crushed.

Masumi walked a little ahead of me.He seemed to be walking fast and anxiously, while I walked slowly behind, and the distance between the two did not change.

Recently he has spoken much less than before.Sometimes I would be in a daze, staring at one place, as if stuck in some kind of tangled thoughts, very distressed.

When asked what was the matter, he replied "no".If it's not a serious problem, Masumi won't shy away from me.

His non-acting nonchalance was a symptom of something huge and terrible.

Is it the same now?Watching Masumi walking forward without saying a word, I was terribly worried, but I didn't know what to do.

"I... heard that "SARABA" will come to perform a special performance near here recently...it is the theater we went to a few times ago.If Masumi has time, would you like to go together? "

--no answer.Didn't even the combination of favorite skits pique his interest?

I feel a breath stuck in my throat.After a while, the mechanically walking man in front suddenly stood still as if realizing something, and turned around, "Did Shan'an call me just now? Sorry, I was thinking about something, but I didn't hear clearly."

The chirping of cicadas continued in the sultry heat of summer.I repeated it again, and this time Masumi's eyes finally lit up.But I still think...he should be more excited in his usual condition.

Masumi is still a top student academically.As a result, after adding the item of "drawing manga" to his life, his original life was hardly disturbed, and many processes were still advancing on an equal footing.I am very envious of him.

Masumi was still walking forward at the previous pace, and there was no sound from there other than the sound of footsteps.

Anyway... pick up any topic!

I racked my brains and finally blurted out: "I plan to go to a fine arts university in the future."

"I know."

"But sometimes, different ideas pop up in my mind. I want to do everything, maybe even if I am 50 years old, I want to take risks, I want to talk about short dramas... I don't want to run anymore—— I want to draw manga.

If one can't do it, find a lunatic like me.Worrying about his blood getting thicker and thicker, like galloping as hard as he could while he was warm and still able to flow.Is this weird? "

Masumi didn't respond, but he stopped walking.

"Does Masumi feel similar to me?"

Still no response.Cicadas, please don't disturb us now.

"But if Masumi wants to do something, please call me." At this point, I swallowed and secreted too much saliva, and raised my voice, "I want to do anything! Manga too! Manzai too! If If there is anything you want to do, do it while you are young!"

The conversation didn't end here, but suddenly something rushed over.When I came back to my senses, I was lying on the asphalt road, facing me was the moon in the night sky, and in a trance, I felt that the one hugging me at this moment was also a moon.

Masumi's neck was hanging on my shoulders, he was sweating a little, but his body temperature was lower than mine.

My mind went blank, and in order to calm down the turbulent breath, I began to count the strands of Masumi's unraveled hair in front of my eyes.

After a while, Masumi let go of the arms around me and stood up again, and lent me his left hand.I grabbed his hand and got up.I thought he was going to tell me something.

"I'm sorry, I'm in a better mood after hearing your stupid talk."

While talking exaggerated words, Masumi smiled and wiped the corners of his eyes that were shining brightly under the moonlight.Is it really that funny?I'm starting to feel the warmth of my cheeks.

"Next time, let's go to the special session of "SARABA" together! "