Chapter 4 Boy IC (1)

  "Nice to meet you, Miss Naka Naka! I'm a huge fan of yours! If I were to be reborn, even if it goes against the will of heaven, I'd want to stay by your side. I want to spend my days with you. Even if all this is just a dream, when I wake up, I hope you'll still be there beside me. But as morning sun shines on me, it reveals my true form... Still, I have to tell you... I love you! I want to spend my days with you. Miss Naka Naka, these words of Yamamura Teiko's are just too moving!"

  "President, you're too kind! Your praise makes me feel embarrassed!"

  "Ms. Kanako, don't be so modest! You are the first winner of the Yoshikawa Eiji Newcomer Award from our company, and the best-selling book of 1985. The sales record of 'Midnight Bell' is unbeatable by anyone except you!"

  "This is all thanks to President Soichiro's help! I'm truly grateful!"

  ……

  Jerry sat on the side, watching Shugang Zhenming and Tanaka Nanae, one was flattering, the other was bowing humbly, he yawned boredly and rolled his eyes!

  "So, Miss Cai Cai Zi, can I have your autograph?"

  "Hi!"

  "Then I'll trouble you!"

  Moriya Masaaki directly pulled out three sets of books, "This is Koinu's, this is Naishi's, and this is mine!"

  Tanaka Nanako picked up her pen.

  "Mr. Shuya Meiming, didn't you keep three sets of the 30,000 limited edition books?"

  "I did take care of the bookstore side, but because sales were too hot, in the end not even one set was left! Miki and Takashi have been blaming me all along!"

  "Cough...cough..."

  Jerry couldn't take it anymore, how did these two guys get along so well!

  "Ah~ Jerry, I'm so sorry, really sorry! Due to the busy affairs of San Sheng Tang, I didn't have a chance to meet with Tanaka Nana-chan until now. Honestly, honestly, I couldn't control myself!"

  "Alright then! Jerry, I heard from Miss Cai that you have something very important that needs my help. So, what is this important matter?"

  This kid called Jerry, don't be deceived by his 5-year-old appearance. With just one suggestion, he can spread the information of a new book to over 80% of Japan's junior high schools. With just one suggestion, he can boost the daily sales of "Midnight Bell" to a terrifying 110,000 copies, and indirectly increase the sales of various textbooks from Sanseido. With just one suggestion, he can make Sanseido Bookstore lead other bookstores in New Year's sales by a wide margin. Sanseido has entered the publishing and sales field with "Midnight Bell", this kid's contribution is undeniable, his sales ideas are far beyond his time, and cannot be compared to those idiots in Sanseido's publication department. Tanaka Nanako said he needs help with something important, does he have a new idea again?

  "President, would you like to enter the comic field?"

  Just this one sentence made Shugo Yamato stunned! The seasoned Shugo Yamato was taken aback in an instant! What a great temptation it is!

  In the Japanese comic industry of 1986, there were Shogakukan, Shueisha, Kadokawa and Kodansha, all major powers wanting to jump from serious educational fields into comics. This leap was too big! The board wouldn't take such a risk, the success of "Midnight Bell" was an exception! It's a completely unreplicable myth!

  For Takehiko Inoue, manga is a bone that must be discarded yet cannot be discarded. This is what they call "chicken ribs". He has high hopes for the future of manga development. After all, from post-war to now, under Osamu Tezuka's influence, manga has transformed from being children's toys in the past to an air age, and in the future, manga will surely welcome a brighter future!

  The market positioning of Sanxitang was originally for young people, but their previous domain was too serious!

  But in front of a huge tempting cake, everyone will show their greedy teeth!

  Or could you use the huge success of the field to persuade the board?

  "President, now, I and Tanaka Nana-ko are offering you such an opportunity! You don't need to ask about the progress of things at all. You just need to help us with two things! First, help us get the magazine's publication number application settled. Second, let us use Sanseido's distribution channel!"

  "Jerry, you mean you and Miss Chanchan are going to set up a comic company and publish a comic magazine!"

  "Hey, President! This is exactly what Jerry and I wanted to ask of you!"

  "As for borrowing Sanseido's distribution channels, we have two sets of plans. The first plan is to pay 20% of the income from each issue of comics as remuneration, and the second plan is that Sanseido invests in the comic company with its distribution channel in exchange for a 10% stake."

  Giving up 10% of the shares was very painful for Jerry. According to his original idea, he thought 5% of the shares were too much!

  "Jerry, this matter cannot be decided by me alone. I will give you a reply after it is discussed at the board meeting at the end of the month!"

  "I understand! But the manga company is definitely going to be established, so I'll leave the application for the publication number to the president!"

  "This thing is no problem! If it's fast, the publication number can be applied for within three days. So, what is the name of the comic company that Jerry wants to establish?"

  "Boy, I see!"

  "Hi!"

  After seeing off Tanaka Nana and Jerry, Moriya Masaaki sat alone in the office, deep in thought. The cigarette in his hand had burned down to his fingers but he didn't even notice! It wasn't until his forehead suddenly relaxed that he spoke up, "Miyamoto-san, help me contact all the directors. Tomorrow, under my name, convene a board meeting!"

  "Hi!"

  ……

  Aoyama Gosho has been waiting anxiously for the past few days, but there is still no news from Nakahito-san about the submission of "Promise"! He was originally going to follow the encouragement of Abiko Fuku, the president of Shogakukan, and continue submitting his work, but since his first two manga submissions sank without a trace, he has been hesitant. Just then, he heard from Takayama Seiko-senpai, who had stayed on at school after graduating a few years ago, that Tanaka Naoko-senpai, who was popular in Japan last year, was going to start her own manga company, so he impulsively handed over his third work to Seiko-senpai.

  "Mr. Aoyama~ Mr. Aoyama~"

  "Hi!"

  "Your phone call, Qing Shan, was from a woman. Can't you tell? The normally honest Qing Shan has actually got himself a girlfriend!"

  "Asakawa-kun, don't talk nonsense!" Aoyama Koji replied to Asakawa and took the phone with a somewhat puzzled expression. It was a woman's voice on the other end of the line. Could it be his mother? Was something wrong at the repair shop or gas station? Or perhaps it was his father?

  "Hey! I'm Aoyama Koshiro! Who are you?"

  "Is that Aoki Kousuke? I'm Tanaka Nanako, and your submission to Shonen IC's 'Promise' has passed our review! The editor-in-chief of Shonen IC, Jerry, would like to ask if you're interested in becoming a full-time manga artist for Shonen IC!"

  "Shonen IC? I've never heard of this manga magazine before! Tanaka Nana-ko! It's Tanaka Nana-ko-senpai!"

  Eiichiro Oda's pupils constricted.

  "Mr. Qing Shan... Mr. Qing Shan... are you still there?"

  "Hey~ Hey~ I'm here, I'm still here~"

  "Excuse me, Mr. Qing Shan, can you come to Beima District North Village Road 7-4-7 on May 7th? We need to discuss further cooperation."

  "Wow~ Wow~ I really want to thank Tanaka-senpai so much!"

  Aoyama Koji held the phone and kept nodding and bowing until Tanaka Nanae hung up, his body finally stopped!

  "Yada yada yada..."

  Suddenly, Aoki Kiyoshi raised his hands and shouted loudly as he rushed out of the room! Shallow island lying on the bed was almost scared to fall to the ground, "Aoki-kun, are you crazy?!"

  Asa Island said this when Aoki Koji had already run away!

  "President, President, I've been accepted! I've been accepted!"

  "Haha ~ Qing Shan Jun, I knew you'd definitely make it!" Abe Feng looked at the excited Qing Shan Gangchang, who had been depressed for several days and was now dancing like a child. He was also happy for his junior, "So, how does it feel to be accepted by Elementary School Gallery, future great cartoonist!"

  "President, it's not Shogakukan, but a company founded by our seniors! It's called Shonen IC!"

  "Our predecessors?"

  "Hey! It's Tanaka Nana-chan, last year's best-selling author!"

  "Ah~ So it's Menma-sama! Congratulations, Aoi-kun, you get to work with such an excellent senior!"

  "President Abe, thank you for your care over the years!" Kiyoshi Aoyama bowed deeply to Ryota Arai. If it weren't for Arai's guidance, he wouldn't have entered this field in the first place. Without Arai's encouragement, he would have given up long ago. Of course, if it weren't for Arai, he also wouldn't have fallen into the "comic book pit" and been "killed" by it!

  "Then, Qing Shan, come on! In the future, you must become a great person like Cai Cai Zi!"

  "Hi!"

  ……

  "Is it Asa Binna?"

  "Hey... you're Shizuko-san?"

  "Hey! Asahina-kun, Neneko-san just sent a message, you've been accepted!"

  "Oh, this is really, really great news!"

  "Alright then, Asahina-kun, on the 7th of this month, be prepared to report to the Youth IC!"

  "Hi!"

  ……

  Like the other 29 people who were hired, Koizumi Ryōichirō felt like he was dreaming, working as a convenience store clerk day and night, busy with life, but his life couldn't be without manga! However, his preference for Western-style drawing and dark style made his manga become alternative! But he still persisted! And now, a great opportunity is right in front of him!

  Finally!

  Koizumi Ryuichiro pumped his fist towards the clear sky!