By the time Ren and his family arrived in Japan, it was already past 11 a.m. local time. As they disembarked, Ren carried his sleepy daughter, Yueyue, on his back. She had barely slept the night before, too excited about their trip to Japan and her first airplane ride.
When the plane landed, Yueyue was groggily clinging to her father, still not fully awake, leaving Ren with no choice but to carry her off the plane.
"Ren-san! Welcome back to Japan!"
As soon as they stepped off the plane, Ren was greeted warmly by Senshu Danzou's men, holding up a sign for them.
"Mr. Senshu, I didn't expect you to personally come and greet us. I'm truly flattered!" Ren responded cheerfully.
"Oh, not at all! As the host, it's my duty to do so!" Senshu Danzou replied with a friendly handshake. They exchanged pleasantries like long-lost friends, though they had only known each other for a short while.
Ren then introduced his wife, Jada, and their two children. After another round of friendly greetings, they moved on to the main topic.
"So, Senshu-san, what exactly is this manga project you mentioned?"
"Ah, let's discuss it in the car. There are too many people around here," Senshu said with a polite smile, glancing around.
Ren and Jada looked around and quickly understood. Senshu Danzou's security team, all dressed in black suits, had already drawn a lot of attention. People were staring, whispering about a possible yakuza presence. Ren even overheard some Chinese tourists speculating about a gang.
"Let's get going," Ren said quickly.
"Please, follow me to the car, Ren-san."
They got into the car and were soon on their way to their destination, stopping at an upscale traditional Japanese restaurant. When Ren saw the lanterns hanging at the entrance, he immediately knew they were in for a luxurious meal.
As they entered the restaurant, a hostess in a kimono greeted them at the entrance, helped them change their shoes, and warmly welcomed them with a sweet "Irasshaimase."
Young servers in traditional attire offered to take their coats and towels, providing attentive service that made Ren feel a bit uncomfortable. He silently reflected on the opulence of it all, thinking, Ah, capitalism at its finest.
Then, realizing his own success, Ren mused that if he really wanted to, he could live the same luxurious lifestyle. But he had grown content with a simpler life and found no interest in pursuing such extravagance.
They followed Senshu and entered a private room where a woman was already reclining. She was attractive, but clearly not expecting visitors. She lay on the floor, casually reading a manga with her legs crossed.
When she realized she wasn't alone anymore, it was too late—everyone had already seen her.
"…"
"…"
An awkward silence hung in the air until Ren finally spoke up, giving her a polite way out. "You must be Ms. Yuno, right? Nice to meet you, I'm Ren. Please take care of me."
On the way, Senshu Danzou had explained that Yuno came from a long line of samurai. Although she practiced swordsmanship, her true passion was manga.
Apparently, Senshu's love for anime and manga had been influenced by her.
"Ahem," Yuno cleared her throat as she sat up and regained her composure, her demeanor shifting to one of elegance and grace, in stark contrast to her previous posture. "Thank you for coming, Ren-san. Please, have a seat. We can talk while we eat."
They all sat down and began their meal, a traditional Japanese feast. The first course was a refreshing green appetizer sprinkled with sesame seeds, served in a beautifully carved bowl.
Ren quickly finished the appetizer and took a sip of the miso soup in front of him, which was a vibrant red, rich with flavor and warming to the soul.
As they ate, Yuno began explaining her idea.
"So, you want to create a manga that embodies the spirit of bushido?" Ren asked, surprised.
It seemed like a simple request. Surely, many manga artists in Japan could take on such a project. Why come to him?
Could it be... Ren subconsciously touched his face. Is it because I'm just too handsome?
Sigh... Being attractive is such a burden! he thought with mock regret.
"Yes!" Yuno nodded enthusiastically. "However, I don't want it to be like the usual samurai stories on the market, which are full of fighting and killing. I want something with humor—something funny!"
"Wait, what? Samurai and humor?" Senshu Danzou looked stunned. "I had no idea you wanted a manga like that!"
In his mind, samurai stories were typically about serious matters, filled with battles and bloodshed. But combining samurai with comedy? That seemed like an impossible task!
"That's a tall order," Senshu muttered. "It's like asking for a gangster manga with idols mixed in! It's not exactly an easy fit."
"I know it's difficult," Yuno admitted, biting her lip. "But you've managed to create hilarious works like Cautious Hero and KonoSuba. I believe you can pull off a samurai comedy too! If even you can't do it, then I don't know who else could. Please, give it a try!"
Yuno then gave a deep, respectful bow, a gesture unique to Japanese culture.
"Well… I can give it a shot." Ren nodded.
He already had an idea in mind: Gintama.
A story that combined the spirit of a samurai with absurd humor, Gintama was a perfect fit. It was a series that could make people laugh uncontrollably but also move them to tears.
In his past life, Ren hadn't paid much attention to Gintama at first, but one day, when he was in the mood for something funny, he picked it up and became hooked.
Gintama was a perfect blend of slapstick comedy and deep, heartfelt moments. It was hilarious when it wanted to be, but also knew how to hit hard with emotional and intense scenes.
"I'll leave it in your hands then, Ren-san," Yuno said, relieved and smiling when she heard Ren agree to take on the challenge.
"Of course," Ren replied.
The conversation continued as they enjoyed their meal. The dessert was a translucent, watermelon-flavored mochi, shaped like long, delicate strips. Each dish was not only beautifully presented but also delicious.
Even little Yueyue was enjoying herself, devouring the food with great enthusiasm.
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