On Monday, NHK broadcast news about The Detective Sherlock.
That night, Mach and Tomato were drinking together. The The Detective Sherlock anime caused Mach severe psychological damage, as he had no idea about it.
"Boss, two more bottles!"
After drinking a beer, Mach ordered two more.
"Alright, Master Mach! You can't drink anymore!" Tomato tried to stop him. There were already several bottles in front of them, and Mach had drunk most of them, which worried Tomato greatly.
"Tomato, don't worry about me." Mach waved his hand and said: "Beer doesn't intoxicate me, I just want to let off some steam!"
The Detective Sherlock was silently taken by others, and Mach's discomfort is imaginable. Although it wasn't his story, he drew the manga himself, stroke by stroke. He carefully studied the characters, backgrounds, and buildings with references to the novel and presented them in manga.
The result of half a year, the anime is anime, and Kanto didn't greet him. Thinking of others holding the manga characters he created and openly broadcasting them on television, Mach felt as uncomfortable as if he had been pricked with a needle.
"Master Mach, don't dwell on the past." Tomato sighed: "The copyrights for 'The Detective Sherlock' manga and anime are in Kanto Manga Company's hands. You are an adapter. Forget it... Anyway, you're no longer there, so there's no need to lament."
"I know, but I feel uncomfortable..." Mach shook his head: "I want to drink!"
He took the beer and poured it down his throat again. Tomato tried to stop him, but a text message sounded on his phone. He took out his phone.
"Sakura is calling you to come back?" Mach wiped his mouth. Turning, he said: "Go back. Don't let Sakura worry...".
"But you...". The message Tomato received was indeed from Sakura, and he hesitated.
"I'm fine. I'm a big person. I know my limits." Mach forced a smile and said: "Thanks for accompanying me, Tomato. Let me drink for a while and I'll leave soon."
"Really?"
"Well, let's go..."
Mach pulled Tomato away from the wine. Looking at his back as he left, his smile grew increasingly bitter. The two were mangaka who debuted together, and now Tomato has found happiness. After drawing manga for ten years, what did he get? Nothing.
He envied Tomato, but the latter achieved what he has today through his effort and sincerity. And Mach fell into this situation because of his arrogance and ignorance.
"Boss, change this bottle of beer for white wine!"
Mach entered the bar eager to get drunk. The stronger the wine, the better; the stronger the wine, the clearer he would be of his mistakes.
An hour later, Mach staggered out of the bar. He walked towards a park, there. Suddenly, he felt something very familiar: he had gone on a date with a fan in that park.
"It's ironic..."
Mach laughed at himself; he had played with many women, and the places for dates were so numerous that he couldn't remember all of them. But he walked towards a place he recognized.
He still remembered that the person he had dated in that park was a naive and romantic fan; she was always very quiet and believed in him unreservedly. When he discovered that Mach was only using her as a tool to vent his desires, she wanted to stay with him.
But Mach got tired, so he kicked her out. Seven years later, remembering it now, Mach realized how stupid he had been back then.
"Ugh...".
He felt a knot in his stomach, and Mach grabbed a tree and vomited uncomfortably. However, as he vomited, he slowly bent down and cried, regretting what he had done in the past.
"Yumiko, I'm sorry...".
He apologized to the woman who was nowhere to be seen. If he hadn't been so inconstant at that moment. If he had been more mature, if he hadn't been so arrogant back then, he probably wouldn't be alone now.
"Are you calling me?"
Suddenly, a voice sounded behind him.
Mach turned his head and saw a woman in a business suit, standing, with tears on her face. She said in a low voice: "Master Mach, long time no see...".
At that moment, Mach thought that time had passed, and after so many years, the woman's face had become mature and serene, and her gaze, firm. But he still recognized her at a glance. It was the fan from back then.
"Why, why...". The smell of alcohol in Mach's head began to dissipate. He stood up in a panic and wiped away his tears: "What are you doing here?"
The woman did not answer. She took out a tissue and handed it to him: "Here, a tissue."
Mach looked at it, stunned. With the slight breeze, the familiar scent of perfume wafted from the tissue.
But Mach did not take it, or did not dare. He lowered his head and said: "I'm sorry, Yumiko, I let you see my shameful side. I'll leave first...".
He turned around, wanting to leave.
"Hello, Master Mach...". With his clothes snagged, Mach turned and looked at the woman.
"Do you hate Mirai-sensei?" She looked at him and asked: "He brought you here, do you hate him?"
"Hate? No, how could I hate Mirai-sensei?" Mach shook his head and said: "He is my benefactor. If it weren't for him, I might not even have a job...".
He said nothing more, but the woman understood. She smiled. In the last seven years, Mach discovered that the smile on her face was still sweet.
"You've matured, Master Mach... Mirai-sensei has truly transformed you." The woman let go of his hand and smiled: "It's a great step forward that you can work at Hinotori Publishing."
Mach was a little stunned: "How do you know?"
"Because I've been reading manga, I'm a hardcore fan of Mirai-sensei." The woman lowered her eyebrows slightly and said in a low voice: "I've seen your competition and witnessed your failures and changes. Master Mach, you are truly incredible. In fact, your readers are still there, and now everyone appreciates you."
Many people saw that Mach joined Hinotori Publishing, and his readers returned one after another.
"I'm sorry, I actually saw the news about 'The Detective Sherlock' anime. I knew you wouldn't be happy, so I followed you." The woman looked at Mach and smiled slightly: "Master Mach, I haven't gotten married yet. If possible... could we see each other again?"
Mach was stunned for a moment. After several seconds, he couldn't help but cry again.
"Mirai-sensei, thank you very much!" He shed tears, but in his heart, he uttered Mirai-sensei's name. Tomato and Sakura joined forces thanks to Mirai-sensei, and Mach would no longer be single thanks to Mirai-sensei. Could Mirai-sensei be the reincarnation of Musubi-no-Kami?
The haze in Mach's heart disappeared.
- - - - - - - - -
Hello everyone!
Thanks for reading this chapter.
This week, we'll have 3 daily chapters for you to enjoy. This is possible thanks to all your support with Power Stones.
To keep increasing our chapters, I'm asking for your support. For every 150 Power Stones we collect across all novels this week, I'll add an extra daily chapter for next week.
If you want to catch up and read even more, you can find over 150 advanced chapters of my novels on my Patreon.
Your comments and Power Stones are what make this possible. Thanks!
@Patreon/iLikeeMikee