"Sagiri, you really can't look at it! If you do, it will have a really bad impact! It might even affect your ability to draw!"
Yeah, isn't that right? If Sagiri were to look at it and start drawing doujinshi with that kind of genre, it would be a big problem!
"Why other people can look at it then?"
"Well, let's just state the facts and reason with them. Forcing them won't work."
"The others are novel writers, not artists. Eriri is already a doujin artist, so it's fine for her. And Mashiro doesn't mind how people address her... but that's not the case for you! Do you also want to draw doujin and completely become 'Eromanga-sensei'?"
Sagiri froze, and Homura continued.
"Think about it! If you become a doujin artist, your fans will say, 'Truly worthy of being Eromanga-sensei! Shouldn't this name be drawing doujin from the start?!' If that happens... Are you really ready to fully accept this pen name as your own identity?"
"I won't look! I don't know anyone with that name!"
Alright, Homura successfully dissuaded Sagiri from wanting to read that doujinshi! He secretly gave himself a thumbs-up!
Elf and Eriri were surprised. They didn't expect Homura to convince Sagiri.
"Homura, you're really something." Elf chuckled.
Homura waved his hand. "I'm just stating the facts. If Sagiri really accepts that name, then I have no way to change it."
"That's true..." Eriri nodded. "If it were someone else, they might have to force with 'You're not allowed to look!' or something like that."
"But that would probably make them even more curious to see it, right?" Megumi added. "Saying 'You're not allowed to look!' would likely lead to that result. It's best to explain the reasons clearly. That's the most suitable approach for Sagiri-chan."
"So, Homura-kun is really good at understanding people's hearts like Haru-chan." Utaha acknowledged his handling of the situation.
"Sorry, Senpai, for causing you trouble..." Izumi said nervously.
"It's alright." Homura gently patted her head. "Just be more careful in the future."
"It's not a big deal. I've been drawing doujin manga since I was young," Eriri shrugged.
"Is being a doujin artist a bad thing?" Mashiro asked, tilted her head.
Homura felt a headache coming on. 'How am I supposed to answer that?'
But, before he could explain, Eriri already started to explain.
"It's not a bad thing... It's just that once you become a doujin artist, it becomes challenging to draw serious manga. Readers' expectations of you will revolve around more adult-oriented works, and they may not accept it if you want to create something more innocent. Although not all doujinshi are adult-oriented, that's the general perception most people have of them."
She added, "That's why I draw various types of doujinshi manga. Readers easily form preconceptions, and once they accept a particular style from you, it's hard to change. Well, this also applies to other forms of works like novels or manga."
Mashiro frowned. She understood, but her current manga is also romance-based, so should she focus on romance in the future?
Or should she draw multiple genres like Homura? But it seems she doesn't have as many ideas as him...
Thinking about it, she decided to ask Homura, "Homura, should I also diversify my works?"
"Hmm?" Homura pondered for a moment, then understood what she meant. "You're saying you're afraid readers will form preconceptions and then won't accept you drawing other genres?"
Mashiro nodded.
"Firstly, answer my question..." Homura mused. "Mashiro, do you know what type of manga you're good at?"
Mashiro shook her head. "I don't know... Although I've only drawn romance manga, Ayano has always said they weren't good enough."
"Then you should try first and see if you're suitable for drawing other genres. If you're not, there's no need to force yourself to diversify."
"I see... I'll give it a try."
"By the way..." Elf looked exasperated. "Why are we standing at the doorstep chatting?"
Everyone: "..."
"Let's pack up and go back to your respective homes..." Homura also smiled wryly. "You can contact me by phone or online if anything comes up."
"We don't have much to pack, right?" Eriri asked Utaha and Megumi. "We can just go home directly."
The two nodded and Utaha said to Homura, "Homura-kun, we're heading home now. See you later."
"Sure, see you all... Let me know when you're home, just to put my mind at ease."
"No problem, just a quick message."
After a simple farewell, it suddenly felt much quieter. Homura, who had gotten used to the presence of the girls, felt a bit uneasy.
He picked up Haru and placed her on his shoulder, then pulled Sagiri along and said to Mashiro and Nanami, "Let's go inside."
""Okay.""
===
The windows were all opened, and Haru ran out to the yard to play.
Sagiri, Mashiro, and Nanami returned to their respective rooms, but Homura didn't. He first went to the opposite side of his room and lit a stick of incense for his mother.
Then he went to the yard and watched Haru climb up a tree, not knowing what she was doing. He didn't pay much attention and just brought out a lounge chair to relax and check his messages.
"Homura-shi! We've arrived home!" - from Saori.
"Homura-niisan, I had the driver drop everyone off at their homes. I'm home now." - from Tsumugi.
"Homura, have you come back? You promised to sign the manga books before you left, remember? Don't forget to sign!" - from Ayano.
"Homura-kun, we have safely arrived at the school. Don't worry." - from Kotori.
"(Attached image)" - from Utaha.
...
"There are quite a few. Are the rest not there yet? Oh? Here comes another one... Eriri has arrived too."
Homura replied to each one, and by the time he finished replying, everyone else had also arrived.
"Okay, everyone has arrived home safely."
Then he posted a blog post.
Minamiya: Went out to play during the Golden Week, and just got home. But before I could rest, those annoying editors were already pushing me to sign! Hahh... How come I haven't signed the promised manga books at the signing event yet? (Crying face.jpg)
Comment 1: "Minamiya-sensei spotted!"
Homura was startled. 'What a fast comment?! Who could it be? Someone who has been watching me? Or is it just a coincidence?'
Comment 2: "Annoying editor? That's a show we all enjoy!"
Comment 3: "You're always teasing us, and now the editor will deal with you!"
Just as he was about to continue reading, Ayano called.
Homura: "..."
She's also fast! Just got mentioned in the blog, and she already found out!
"Ayano..."
"Your post is just to tease me, right?"
"No, really... What I said, isn't it the truth?"
"You still have an excuse?! You promised it yourself, didn't you? If it weren't for fear that you would forget, I wouldn't have bothered reminding you, you know!"
"Haha... Let's not joke about it. Ayano, you must have called for a reason, right?"
Ayano on the other end of the phone also chuckled. "Nothing much, just called because I knew you were home."
"Well, it seems like tomorrow's manga will go smoothly." Homura understood, "Oh, by the way, I have something to tell you. Muse will be performing a concert in Akihabara three days from now, which is the last day of Golden Week."
"Eh?! How come I'm only finding out now?!"
Ayano was genuinely surprised.