Black Mangaka-011: Meeting
"Hello, do you have an appointment?"
The receptionist greeted with a warm smile and an attentive gaze.
Nakahara Hiroshi nodded. "3 o'clock. I have a meeting with Editor Yinsha from Shueisha."
"May I have your phone number and name?"
"856*****. Warrior of love and hope."
"Please wait a moment."
The receptionist maintained a professional smile, unfazed by the strange name.
They must be used to eccentric personalities working here.
"I've found your appointment details. Please take the elevator to the third floor. I'll inform Editor Yinsha of your arrival."
"Thank you."
As Nakahara Hiroshi turned to leave, faint whispers reached his ears from behind.
"Ahh! This teacher is so handsome! What's his phone number? Tell me now!"
"As a receptionist, I can't disclose personal information, okay?"
"Don't think I didn't see you save his number, you sly little thing! Spill it!"
"Ahaha, stop it! People are watching..."
As the voices faded, Nakahara sighed.
"Privacy feels like a thing of the past."
It wasn't that he didn't appreciate the attention, but after seeing beauty at its peak, one rarely stopped for the ordinary.
Having been guided to the third floor, Nakahara was ushered into a small meeting room where he sat waiting. Moments later, the door opened.
A woman in a gray suit with short blond hair entered. She paused upon seeing him.
"Excuse me... are you Nakahara-sensei?"
"I'm Nakahara, but I'm hardly qualified to be called 'Sensei' just yet."
Nakahara was surprised as well. From their phone conversation earlier, he had imagined a confident, seasoned woman. Instead, Editor Yinsha appeared young enough to be mistaken for a "legal lolita."
After confirming his identity, Yinsha visibly relaxed.
She smiled and said, "With your talent, it's only a matter of time before the title 'Sensei' becomes well-earned."
In Japanese, "Sensei" is reserved for teachers, doctors, lawyers, politicians, or those who've reached a high status in their profession. The compliment wasn't lost on Nakahara.
Touching his nose, Nakahara joked, "If Editor Yinsha keeps saying such things, I might get so proud I'll grow a tail."
"Hahaha," Yinsha laughed, the ice between them melting.
Rather than diving straight into work, Yinsha opted for small talk.
"Teacher Nakahara, you look so young. Are you a college student?"
"I'm in my first year of high school."
"First year of high school?" she repeated absently, before her eyes widened in disbelief.
"First year of high school?!"
Despite having been told this over the phone, the reality of it struck differently in person.
Sixteen years old!
While most teens his age were enjoying carefree youth, this boy had already qualified for serialization in Weekly Shonen Jump!
Even seasoned adults struggled to achieve such a feat. Nakahara Hiroshi wasn't just talented—he was a bona fide genius.
The stark contrast between them stirred a brief pang of jealousy in Yinsha. But this feeling was quickly replaced by overwhelming joy.
A 16-year-old mangaka!
Mature art style!
Strong storytelling!
Qualified for Weekly Shonen Jump serialization!
This wasn't just talent; it was headline news waiting to happen.
More importantly...
"This is the author I'm in charge of!"
Her golden eyes glowed with excitement as she imagined her bright future.
While Yinsha was lost in thought, Nakahara watched her shifting expressions.
Is my editor... okay?
"Ahem."
The sound snapped Yinsha back to reality. Seeing Nakahara's curious gaze, she blushed.
"Idiot, stop daydreaming!" she scolded herself internally.
Taking a deep breath, she tried to compose herself.
"Um... what would you like to drink, Nakahara-sensei? Coffee, barley tea, cola, or something else?"
"I recommend coffee with 30% sugar. If you like it sweet, 70% sugar is just right."
The sudden change in tone was jarring, making Nakahara question if this editor was fit for the job.
Still, he replied, "I'll have coffee with 70% sugar."
A short while later, Yinsha returned with two cups of coffee.
As she set his cup down, she seemed more composed. Finally, they got to the main topic.
"Teacher Nakahara, your presence here shows your intentions, but I still have to ask... would you like to serialize your work in Weekly Shonen Jump?"
Nakahara smiled. "Who would turn down the uncrowned king of the industry?"
"But I have a question for you first, Editor Yinsha."
Her heart skipped a beat.
"Please, go ahead."
"If my work is serialized, what happens to the Tezuka Award?"
Yinsha let out a sigh of relief and explained, "Rest assured, Teacher Nakahara. Serialization will begin after the Tezuka Award results are announced, so it won't affect your eligibility."
"That's good to know."
Nakahara's smile turned meaningful.
"Any other questions, Teacher Nakahara?"
"None."
With that, Yinsha visibly relaxed.
"Great! Let me explain the benefits of serialization."
Her tone grew excited.
"Even as a new mangaka, you'll receive basic royalties. For new creators, the pay is 15,000 yen per page. If your work does well, you can expect a raise!"
"But..." she added, "if your series consistently ranks low in reader surveys, it risks being canceled."
At 20 pages per chapter, this meant Nakahara could earn 300,000 yen weekly—over a million yen per month!
***
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