On Saturday, Shiori wanted to take Takumi out, but he didn't want to. Unfortunately...
"Don't stay home all day!"
Aika pulled him out with a broom. Takumi was a little helpless. Before, when he was busy with work, Aika would say he worked too much, but now that he wasn't busy, she found him too unsightly.
"Here, a hat." Shiori stood next to Takumi and handed him a hat: "Let's go on a date!"
She called this outing with Takumi a date, which is why Takumi was reluctant. However, since he had been pulled out, Takumi had to sigh, accept the hat, and leave the community.
"Aika-san, thank you!"
Behind him, Shiori bowed to Aika, who was peeking through the crack in the door, to express her gratitude, and then excitedly ran towards Takumi.
"How about we go to the park today?"
Shiori ran next to Takumi, observing his face slightly illuminated by the rising sun, and her heart pounded a little.
"Weekly Boutique is out today. I'll buy this magazine first," Takumi replied absently while typing on his phone. He didn't object, but what he said made Shiori laugh and cry: "You really never forget manga."
But she likes men with goals, and compared to other boys his age, Takumi is full of charm. Although he's a bit cruel in love, after getting used to it, Shiori discovered that it's also a kind of tenderness. Takumi's occasional indifference makes her a little addicted.
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Shiori has fallen in love, and she knows it herself, but this feeling of being in love... She can't and doesn't want to resist.
"By the way. What are you doing with your phone?"
Shiori asked curiously.
"I sent a message to your two roommates to come out."
Takumi put down his phone. The corners of his lips curved slightly. At that moment, Shiori didn't know whether to hate him or appreciate him.
"You haven't been with them on vacation lately. Isn't that too much?" On the way, Takumi kept laughing and said: "I remember you used to be together all day. Now you've abandoned them all. Aren't you worried about hurting their feelings?"
"..."
Takumi remained silent. He couldn't say that he hoped their relationship would deteriorate.
Leaving the Sakura Garden community, the nearest bookstore was less than 500 meters away, and there were already many people buying books. The most crowded place was, undoubtedly, the manga section. Takumi and the other person queued for more than ten minutes and bought "Weekly Boutique".
"Read it now?"
Shiori asked upon leaving the bookstore.
"No, your roommates are no longer there. Now ask me where we're meeting." Takumi took out his phone, saw the message, and dialed again: "Tanaka. I'm going out to play today... Well, I'll wait for you at the community entrance."
After hanging up, Shiori tilted her head: "Driver?"
"Yes."
"Hey, the company bus is for private use, I want to ride with you!"
Takumi smiled. He wouldn't be so foolish as to ask Shiori why she wanted to get on, because it definitely wouldn't be a good answer.
And he wasn't using the company bus for private use, nor did it belong to a government department. Originally, the car was his. The driver had been inactive for the past few months, but he could receive a good salary from Hinotori Publishing, which was much more comfortable than drawing manga.
The only drawback was that he had to be available at any time, but Takumi rarely called, and he was very lucky to be his driver.
Five minutes later, the car arrived. Takumi first picked up the two girls and then the group headed to the amusement park. With more people, Takumi felt that the atmosphere had changed. It was originally a date for two, but now it seemed to have become a gathering of young people, with a very youthful atmosphere.
He liked that atmosphere.
The amusement park was very lively on Saturday, and there were many people everywhere, but the four of them had a great time. After playing, tired, they sat at a drink stall to rest. Takumi took out the "Weekly Boutique" and prepared to read it.
"Takumi..."
Before opening the package, a shy voice was heard.
Takumi looked up, and Li Yu, Shiori's roommate, timidly avoided his gaze. Although they had known his identity for a long time, they still couldn't completely let go. Sometimes they would get nervous calling Takumi.
"Is something wrong?"
Takumi's smile softened. Seeing this scene, Shiori took a sip of milk tea and cursed him in her heart for his cunningness. Takumi had never spoken to her so kindly.
"Yes, that... They say you were going to use two manga to deal with 'The Detective Sherlock' from Duke Anthony." Li Yu pointed to the "Weekly Boutique" and curiously asked: "What's the contest about? Why is it related to magazines?"
Shiori and Han also became alert. Yes, they still didn't know the specific content of the contest.
"This is a bit complicated." We're comparing sales, but not individual copies. Takumi pondered for a moment, organized his words, and slowly explained: "Firstly, the timing is the start of 'The Detective Sherlock 2's' serialization and the end of the manga, two weeks after the launch of the single volume. Well... that is, the single volume of 'The Detective's Son' was launched two weeks ago, and the contest ended."
"Then, the specific content is the sales comparison...".
The sales competition between Anthony and Takumi is not limited to individual volumes, but a comprehensive competition, which includes the sales of the magazines in which both appear. This condition was set by Kanto Manga Company, and Takumi was not clear about the specific reference standard when setting it.
However, he generally understood Kanto's concerns, because if it were just a competition of individual volumes, Takumi would have a great advantage. Individual volume sales have always been much better than manga magazines', and Takumi is the first mangaka in Japan whose single-volume sales have exceeded 10 million copies. Kanto is not confident in competing with him.
As for magazines, Kanto has a huge advantage. By incorporating the magazine standard, Kanto can widen the sales gap between the two in the initial stage. In the end, even if the individual volume loses to Takumi's two manga, Kanto will still be the winner.
The current situation also stems from this. Although Weekly Shōnen is moving forward step by step, Weekly Boutique takes a portion of sales every week. The difference has overlapped to nearly 10 million copies.
This figure, with the exception of "Five Centimeters Per Second", Takumi's other works have not yet reached single-volume sales. This means that Kanto Manga Company has used magazines to compensate for the two-to-one disadvantage of the last volume. If Takumi does not make changes in time, the difference will become greater and greater.
"This is unfair!" After Takumi carefully finished speaking, Han said angrily: "There's still a lot of time left for the magazine competition, so you'll definitely lose, right?"
"No, not necessarily...".
Takumi shook his head. Indeed, he was at a disadvantage. The new magazine was monthly, but he had great confidence in One Piece. This manga had a decisive difference from his previous works, and this difference filled him with anticipation.
"One Piece" will undoubtedly be his most popular work. It could be published twice before the sole volume of "The Detective's Son" comes out, and these two editions would compensate for the magazine's two-month sales hiatus.
"What nonsense are you talking about? Takumi won't lose." Shiori patted Han's head: "Don't be pessimistic. He still has a new work to publish!"
She had read One Piece and had great confidence in it.
"But if you lose, Takumi, you'll have to go to England...",
Li Yu asked.
"Well, there's nothing wrong with going to England." Takumi nodded, and his words surprised Shiori: "Don't you want to go to England?"
"I've never been abroad and I really want to see the landscapes of Europe." Takumi frowned slightly: "But... I think traveling is more appropriate, I don't want to lose this competition."
Shiori's face lit up: "Then, Takumi, let's go together in the future..."
"Mirai-sensei, let's go to England together in the future!" A childish voice uttered Shiori's words. Takumi's body suddenly tensed, and he lowered his head and looked at a girl pulling his clothes.
"I came to the park with my mother!"
The little princess of the pastry shop, Rei, appeared again.
- - - - - - - - -
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