"Your editor-in-chief holds me in very high regard."
After reading the news, Takumi wiped the sweat from his face.
"Really? Takumi, you should have more confidence!"
Alice smiled slightly and said, "I came today just for this news. How about it? Is the sales volume
a pleasant surprise?"
"It is a pleasant surprise, yes."
Takumi frowned slightly: "But you only want to say this?"
'If it were just about the sales volume, Alice could have called to inform him, and there would have been no need to come so early.'
"Of course not, there are other reasons."
Alice shook her head and smiled bitterly. It was not convenient for her to go to the company now.
Yesterday's sales had already put Takumi in the spotlight of many media outlets. Now there must be many journalists who want to discover Mirai-sensei's true face. Kurosawa quickly decided that Alice would not go to work for the time being. He was worried that Alice, as the editor in charge, would be discovered and lead them to Takumi.
Hinotori Publishing wanted to firmly protect him this time. Alice took the opportunity to help him catch up on his tasks and deliver the manuscript to Kurosawa privately.
"Then stay today."
After listening to Alice's explanation, Takumi stood up, went to the kitchen, and said to Aika: "Mom, Alice is staying for lunch today. She didn't sleep last night. Can you use your room?"
Aika was washing dishes and laughed when she heard him.
"Let her use it. I'll go buy food later."
Of course, she agreed. Alice stayed to keep her company in conversation.
"Aika-san, excuse the trouble."
Alice also came over to thank her. She hadn't expected Takumi to take the initiative to let her rest. She couldn't help but look at him gratefully.
So in the morning, Alice slept in Aika's room. Takumi drew some images and read some books in his free time. During this time, he dedicated himself to memorizing most of the textbook knowledge, so it was not a problem without Alice's teachings.
"Detective Conan" is also on its way. Takumi thought his life would be freer in the future.
This idea made him a little uneasy. Since his rebirth, Takumi has been trying to adapt to adversity. Especially lately, he has been busy reading and painting. He has fallen in love with this full life and is afraid of falling back into laziness.
Once a person is lazy, it is more difficult for them to fight again.
Takumi felt he should consider the next manga, but serializing two manga at once is very exhausting, 'and is it okay to dedicate his whole life to manga?' He was a little irritable, so he put down the textbooks and went to the living room to exercise on
the treadmill he had just bought.
Sports can exercise the body and relax the mind. Takumi thought of Shiori's excellent physical ability and suddenly thought that perhaps he could learn martial arts. He was fond of martial arts in his previous life, but he ruined his body by staying at home for too long.
In this life, his body is still very healthy, and it's not impossible to learn martial arts.
Takumi was a little moved. He thought he saw himself flying over eaves and walls. But he soon realized it was just a fantasy. Martial arts from television and novels did not exist in reality, and practicing them required a lot of energy and physical strength, which could make his painting difficult.
If he had so much time, he might as well use his gift of photographic memory to learn other things.
"What a shame!"
Takumi shook his head and gave up. He wished that the "air mass" in his head could be used to increase his physical capacity, so he could become powerful without learning martial arts. As soon as this thought crossed his mind, suddenly, the "air mass" in his brain, which had not yet recovered, moved, and a trace of gas flowed, running through the nerves and blood vessels to other parts of the body.
"Bang!"
Takumi staggered, unable to keep up with the treadmill's speed, and fell to the ground.
He didn't scream, but looked at different parts of his body in astonishment. 'What was that? Did the "air mass" flow to other parts of the body? Could it be that it wasn't a flash of inspiration as he imagined? But something more magical?'
'What else could he do with it?'
Takumi's attention was immediately drawn to the "air mass," and the popularity of the single volume of Detective Conan also faded from his mind.
At that moment, someone was scolding him.
"Mirai-sensei, you ugly man, I hope your son doesn't turn into an asshole...".
This was the 234th time Mach had cursed Takumi in his heart. His face was red with anger, but he didn't look as proud as usual. He remained in the office with complete honesty.
"Mach-sensei..." Kazuki, editor-in-chief of Tatsuryū Shōnen Manga, sitting opposite him, let out a long sigh, slowly closed Detective Conan in his hand, looked up, and asked: "Have you read this single volume?"
"No."
Mach lowered his head and didn't dare to lie. He knew that his achievements were mainly due to the company's support. Whether he was a mangaka or an idol, Tatsuryū Publishing could take everything back at any time if they were not satisfied.
"Huh, no?"
Kazuki snorted coldly: "You didn't even read the enemy's manga, you deserved to lose. The mangaka named Mirai-sensei is a genius. At first, I thought he was mediocre, but I didn't expect him to be able to create such interesting content in just two chapters."
The character of Kaito Kid turned out to be very timely. If it weren't for him, the current result would be different.
"Take it and study how he draws." Kazuki handed Detective Conan to Mach and said coldly: "The book signing will not be held for now. I will let you know when there's news."
Mach's face turned pale.
"Yes."
He took Detective Conan and turned to leave. A well-known editor walked past him without even looking at him.
Mach felt a chill. 'He hadn't been replaced by a newcomer to the company, but by a simple original mangaka.'
"No, impossible!"
Mach would never admit it. 'What could a mere city of Osaka prove? He gritted his teeth and thought that The Detective Sherlock still had readers cultivated throughout Japan for forty years, and that it would never be defeated by a jumping clown.'
"I will be the final winner!"
He disappeared from behind in Tatsuryū's Youth Editorial Department.
"Editor-in-chief, do we still need Mach-sensei?" The editor who had just walked past Mach asked: "His myth has faded."
"It's too early to draw conclusions."
Kazuki shook his head and said: "In fact, Mach-sensei drew The Detective Sherlock well, and sales were also considerable. It's a shame that Mirai-sensei is better in this style."
As long as Mach keeps making money, Kazuki has no reason to abandon him just like that.
But he has other ideas.
"Send someone to quickly investigate Mirai-sensei's true identity! If he is confirmed to be a young genius, we must convince him no matter what!" Kazuki ordered with a smile: "We are more suitable for his development than Hinotori Publishing."
"And what if it's as rumored and there are several people?"
the editor asked.
"Then, let them find out and ruin his reputation!"
Kazuki was relentless.