Black Mangaka 016: Her Dream
"Then may I ask, Kashiwagi Eri Sensei, what stage have we reached now?"
Eriri looked away guiltily. "Worldbuilding."
Worldbuilding is an abstract yet fundamental concept.
It refers to the overall framework, values, and philosophical ideas conveyed by the work.
The core idea of a story runs through every aspect—its theme, characters, plot development, and other elements.
Simply put, all creations are based on worldbuilding.
To put it even more bluntly...
"Are you telling me this hasn't even started yet?!"
"Ahaha... hahaha!!"
Her slightly raised voice was clearly an attempt to mask her guilt.
Eriri followed it up with a barrage of difficult-to-understand phrases, like "Creation isn't that simple" and "We must boldly innovate on an original foundation," filling the room with a lighthearted, cheerful atmosphere.
After her laughter subsided, Nakahara Hiroshi asked, "So, you came to me now because you've figured something out?"
"Well, I've got a rough idea."
Eriri nodded. "I'll try to sort everything out by the end of this month."
"So, what do you need my help with?"
"It's simple! Just help with the background and submitting it to the networks like last time!"
"..."
Nakahara Hiroshi looked at her seriously. "Let me ask first—have you done any coloring this time?"
"Um..." Eriri averted her gaze awkwardly, her usual confidence faltering. "Maybe?"
But her quiet muttering didn't escape Nakahara Hiroshi's ears.
"Maybe?"
"I mean definitely!"
Her forced response made Nakahara Hiroshi sigh. He already knew the answer.
"If your progress isn't good, you'll still ask for help later, won't you?"
Just like back in middle school.
Still, this rare display of honesty was refreshing to see in Eriri.
In the past, Hiroshi might have hesitated briefly before agreeing, but things were different now.
June marked the announcement of the Tezuka Award winners, and serialization could begin at any time afterward.
Even if he worked nonstop until June, Hiroshi estimated he could only complete up to chapters 7 or 8 of his original manga.
It seemed like a lot, but with final exams at the end of June and other plans during July and August, he wouldn't feel at ease until it was all finished.
So...
"I can't agree to that."
It was better to refuse outright than to break a promise later.
"But how do I say no?"
When you're too familiar with someone, it's hard to refuse their requests.
At the very least, you need a good excuse!
That's it!
Nakahara Hiroshi's eyes lit up as he said, "By the way, Eriri, isn't your goal to become a mangaka?"
"A mangaka who doesn't aim to become a serialized artist isn't a real one!"
As expected, she hadn't given up on her dream.
He briefly imagined Eriri working as an assistant for a Shonen Jump author. That thought alone was amusing.
Still, even if he didn't agree to help, he had a valid excuse.
With a sly grin, Nakahara Hiroshi said, "In that case, why not give up the pseudonym Kashiwagi Eri and focus entirely on becoming a mangaka?"
"You think I don't want to?!"
Eriri had tried countless times.
But crafting a short story of only 20 pages was already a struggle—how could she handle long-form comics spanning hundreds of pages?
She just didn't have that level of skill.
"If only I could find a suitable writer to collaborate with..."
In the manga industry, writer-artist collaborations weren't uncommon.
In fact, it was becoming the norm.
But for Eriri, finding the right partner was just as difficult as creating her own work.
Her ornate art style required equally refined storytelling to truly shine.
Without that, there wouldn't be any synergy—no magical combination where 1+1 equals more than 2.
Not to mention, her fame as Kashiwagi Eri had become a double-edged sword.
Thinking of all this, Eriri sighed internally and decided not to explain further.
Instead, she said, "Creating manga isn't as simple as you think."
"Even someone like me is just a gambler with a little skill."
For some reason, Nakahara Hiroshi felt like he'd heard that line before, but he nodded anyway.
"I see. By the way, have you been keeping up with the recent Tezuka Awards?"
"The Tezuka Awards?"
Eriri blinked, momentarily thrown off by the sudden topic shift.
But she answered honestly. "If you aim to be a mangaka, how could you not pay attention?"
The Tezuka Award is the highest accolade for new talent in Japan.
Even earning an "Outstanding Work" award would open countless doors in the industry.
While thinking about the Tezuka Awards, Eriri suddenly remembered something from last night.
"Come to think of it, I didn't even make the cut this time! Ugh, damn it!!"
Since her second year of junior high, Eriri had been secretly entering the Tezuka Awards using a pseudonym.
But she had yet to pass even a single round of evaluations.
Recalling the evaluation list on the official website from a few days ago, Eriri grumbled:
"It's ridiculous! Even a magical girl story passed the review on the first try. Has the Tezuka Award's standards fallen that much?!"
"Magical girl story?"
Hiroshi thought carefully.
"If it's a magical girl theme... Was it Puella Magi Madoka Magica?"
"Let me ask you, what exactly is a magical girl story?"
"Yes! Puella Magi Madoka Magica! That's the one that passed!"
After answering his question, Eriri quickly added:
"Wait a second—are you following the Tezuka Awards too?"
Bingo!
"If even Eriri thinks that way, maybe other people feel the same."
Nakahara Hiroshi rubbed his nose. "Is it possible the work passed because its quality was good enough?"
"I've loved drawing since I was a kid, so isn't it normal for me to follow the Tezuka Awards?"
"Fair enough."
Eriri didn't doubt his explanation.
After all, that's why she came to him for help in the first place.
But the two clearly had differing opinions on the Tezuka Award's selections.
"Tezuka Awards focus heavily on plot, and magical girl stories usually follow a fixed template. What kind of plot could they have?"
"Maybe that's exactly why—because the plot is predictable, combining it with stunning artwork makes it easier to pass?"
"Whatever. It's too much trouble to explain now. I'll talk to her about it later."
Nakahara Hiroshi felt conflicted.
"Damn it! I can't find a good excuse to refuse now!!"
"Is that all you need my help with?!"
But Eriri seemed to be lost in thought after hearing what he said.
"Using a template to create something... That might actually be a good idea!"
Changing the subject, Nakahara Hiroshi said casually, "It's getting late. Want to stay for dinner?"
"Since you insist, I'll reluctantly accept."
Hiroshi rolled his eyes.
She was perfectly fine earlier—why was she being so annoying now?
And just like that, time flew by.
It was already the last day of Golden Week.
**
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