CH 56

“I see, Mikey Saburo was in such a state of mind. I understood half of it, but I didn’t understand the deeper part. Well, that’s interesting, ……. Then what about the state of mind in line 67 of episode 13?”

” Ah, that’s because Mikey Saburo, who was still trying to trust people, was tricked into being a slave–“

At first I was speaking in honorifics, but Mitobe Sensei told me to speak in my normal tone of voice. I was puzzled to hear him say such a thing, but as I concentrated on my novel, I gradually stopped caring.

We’ve had this exchange dozens of times now.

Mitobe sensei is memorizing my novel. I was happy to hear that, and he answered my questions as if I was devouring him.

Hamumi was already taken away by the editor and was not here.

It’s just me and Mitobe sensei on the couch. We’re talking about novels, and things are heating up.

“The heroine, Anne, a Pomeranian beastman, has gradually grown into an attractive character. I think it probably started to change around episode 87.”

…… That’s when I met Anri.

I’ve been betrayed and can’t trust anyone, so I spent some time with Anri at the food court.

That’s when things started to change for me.

Memories of Anri flashed through my mind. It’s a very important memory for me.

“…..I met a wonderful person. I got my once dead heart back.”

There was no response from Mitobe Sensei.

He was staring at me. It’s a little embarrassing to have such a handsome man staring at me, even if he’s a man. ……

“…… Can you give me a minute?　I’m starting to feel like drawing a little.”

He took out a pencil and a sketchbook from his bag and started to draw a picture.

And then my phone vibrated,……, Ah?!　Saeko-san…..T-That’s right, the time for the interview …….

“Mitobe sensei ……, there, the time for the interview has passed. I have to get to the editorial office quickly.”

“………….”

Mitobe-sensei was concentrating so hard that my voice didn’t reach him.

I let out a sigh and picked up Saeko-san’s call …….

When I told Saeko-san what had happened, she came quickly into the lobby.

Her face is always cheerful, but …… her brow wrinkles and she looks angry.

Next to Saeko-san was a slightly stingy woman and a girl, also in uniform.

“Hayato!　You can’t draw here!　Come on, let’s go to the editorial department!”

At the words of the girl in uniform, Mitobe-sensei stood up with a big smile on his face.

“Ou, Kaede!　I just wanted to draw it. Okay, let’s go to the editorial department.”

“Ah, I-I’m Kaede Kagurazaka, n-nice to meet you. Uhm…I’m the author of the manga, and this guy over here, Hayato Mitobe, draws the manga.”

“Y-yes, my pen name is Nyanta, the creator of Mikey Saburo. …..My real name is Makoto Shinjo.”

Kagurazaka-sensei and I bowed to each other. I don’t know what it is, but looking at her makes me feel very warm and fuzzy.

She seems like a very kind person.

As soon as Mitobe-sensei arrived at the guest room of the editorial department, he started to draw next to Kagurazaka-sensei.

The distance between them is halfway ……. It’s a little embarrassing to watch them. Kagurazaka-sensei’s face was red, but she looked happy.

“Haaa, I’m jealous …… your flirting again. Gohon! And Saeko, this is the author of “Mikey saburo”? He was really late. That’s why students are no good. Oh, except for Sensei. he’s a professional and a successful Sensei, so he’s special!” [TL: they refer authors as Sensei]

The wrinkles between Saeko-san’s eyebrows deepened even more as she heard the words of the woman who was the editor in charge of Mitobe-sensei.

I think I can see a black aura behind me. …… Something like a curse leaked out of Saeko-san’s mouth.

“……Well, that’s why you’re not popular.”

“Hmm?　What?　What did you say? Whatever!　You know, I’ve actually turned down all illustrator requests. Kagurazaka-sensei said she didn’t want to do it if she couldn’t work with Kaede. Well, I set up the interview because Saeko, my cute junior, asked me to~”

[TL: I think the author made a mistake with the names. If someone can help me this

「ん？　なに？　何か言った？　まいっか！　てかさ、本当はイラストレーターの依頼は全部断ってんのよ。神楽坂先生が楓ちゃんと仕事が出来ないならやりたくないって言ってね。まあ、可愛い後輩である冴子のお願いだったから面談をセッティングしてあげたのよ〜」]

“…… That’s true, Senpai. If Nyanta-sensei can find the artist of his choice, we can bow down to Hiratsuka-senpai, whose personality is bankrupt, as much as we wants. ……Are you excited about a meet-up with your junior colleague’s contacts?”

“H-Ha?　W-What are you talking about?!　I-I’m popular……”

“Hiratsuka-sen, please shut up for a minute. Your squeaky voice is too loud. I don’t think you should be too vain, Hiratsuka. You were crying the other day when you said you had a bad experience at a party.”

“U-ugghh, That’s……Because I was the only one left out, and I wasn’t even invited to the after party ……, ugh.”

“Hiratsuka-senpai, I’ll listen to you complain later, I’m at work now, so don’t cry. Haa……”

Saeko-san came up to me and whispered in my ear. …… I am a little embarrassed because she smell the same as Anri.

“I’m sorry to say that Hiratsuka-senpai is very good at his job, but he has a very bad human nature. ……I’m sorry –It looks like Mitobe-sensei’s finished drawing.”

Mitobe sensei handed me the sketchbook with satisfaction.

“After all, the more I hear from the author, the more images come to me. There’s still so much more to hear. Now, Nyanta, what do you think of my drawing?”

I recognized the scene at a glance.

It was Anne, the heroine of Mikey Saburo, who somehow resembled Anri.

–Anne, giving Mikey Saburo a tight smile.

I got goosebumps all over my body. It’s not just a good drawing. I’ve never seen a picture that appealed to my emotions to this extent before.

This is the scene in episode 98 where Anne shows her emotions to Mikey Saburo for the first time. Her heart had been broken, but this is the first time she smiled. ……

What the hell?　This picture is crazy?　Why does it look so much like the image?　

Like for real this is….

…… This, is A-Anne.”

I can’t get the words right. My eyes are burning. My own childlike creations are being painted as pictures. My precious heroine is doing her best to smile at him.

For some reason, the memory of when I met Anri comes vividly to mind.

A wounded girl and a sulking me.

A novel was the only thing that connected us.

It had only been a few months since we met. And yet, it fills up most of my mind.

Without realizing it, if I had written the novel while thinking about Anri, it would have affected my work.

Mitobe sensei stared at me for a long time without saying a word.

I know I have to say something, but my mind is a mess and I can’t get the words out.

“…… Okay, Kaede, can I draw a manga for this novel?　I feel like it would broaden the scope of our manga.”

“Yes, of course. We still have a lot to learn. Besides, I was also curious about Nyanta-sensei’s story. Hehe, we’re both on the same track!

“If that’s the case …, Nyanta-kun, I’m looking forward to working with you. I’m not used to working as an illustrator, but I promise to do my best.”

I still couldn’t say a word.

My mind was filled with Anri.

I could barely keep my eyes from nodding my head …….

As I left the office alone, I felt exhausted.

Afterwards, when I had calmed down, I was bombarded with questions from Mitobe-sensei. It was a very enjoyable time, but it was so intense that my brain almost short-circuited. He was so smart that he remembered every single word of my 132 stories. He said he can remember everything he sees. ……

The meeting ended when Mitobe-sensei suddenly stood up.

[“Today, I’m going to do some shopping for the forest school with Kaede. The rest of the day I’ll be drawing in my studio. I’ll be in touch with you later, Nyanta-kun,”] he said, and left the editorial office.

He is a strange man, but he is smart and draws very well, which is very reassuring.

…… So, forest school, huh?

It was the beginning of August, right?

I don’t have good memories of school trips, so I tried not to worry about it.

But now it’s different. I have Anri next to me.

I can see Anri…… in a little while. Do I need to rest somewhere?”

The thought of seeing Anri made the fatigue disappear.

…… I never knew I was so lonely.

I had a few hours before my appointment with Anri.

As I walked through the city, I thought about the past.

Surely I can face the past now. ……