363 Come Be a Mangaka! (1/2)

”I know,” Seiji said. ”He's a strong opponent for me, and I'll do my very best.”

”As long as you realize it.”

After Seiji went back home, he returned the drawing to Shika and explained what happened.

Shika revealed a complex expression after learning that Seiji was going to have a competition against the artist that had been hired.

”I'm sorry, Brother Seiji. All because of my willfulness…”

”What are you saying? I promised you, and this isn't only something that you want, it's something that I want to do now as well.” Seiji smiled. ”I'll do my best to achieve victory.”

”…Good luck, Brother.”

”Yep!”

Seiji immediately started preparing to draw.

He faced off against a blank piece of drawing paper and began considering how he wanted to draw.

The scene was going to be the main character fighting against the antagonist. Specifically, the scene should involve a fierce fight with weapons.

The people, clothes, actions, weapons, expressions, and backgrounds… Seiji carefully considered everything.

After some time passed, he felt that he had imagined plenty of details already, but that there was still something insufficient.

That's right, he should add the female lead into the scene!

The 'younger sister' was only a bystander in this battle. Logically speaking, it was probably fine to not add her into the drawing. In fact, it could even be said that drawing her here might distract from the focus on the 'older brother' and the 'antagonist.'

However, Seiji wanted to add her into the drawing, and give her the feeling that she wasn't a simple bystander, in order to add on to the mystery of the first volume's ending.

The male lead and the antagonist were the focal points of the drawing, and the female lead definitely couldn't be allowed to surpass them in attention drawing. He needed to draw her in a way so that she wouldn't be in the forefront, but that when people looked closer, she would seem somewhat abnormal.

At any rate, the female lead's appearance in the drawing needed to be an add-on element which didn't affect the main focal points, in order to add more of a mysterious feeling to the drawing.

Seiji did his best to imagine how to do it and took quite a while to think about it.

After he finally finished imagining what he wanted, he picked up a drawing pencil and began drawing on the blank paper.

Lunchtime.

Seiji continued drawing after finishing his lunch.

At this time, he received a phone call.

It was from Peach-sensei!

”I heard about what happened from Saki… do you need my help?” the mangaka asked.

”I'd be more than happy to.” Mayuzumi smiled.

And so, Seiji took a picture of his current drawing and showed it to Mayuzumi.

”It's pretty good, Haruta-kun… When did you start learning how to draw?” Mayuzumi praised him after looking at the photo that he sent.

”About two months ago, I started practicing every day by myself at home…” That was Seiji's reply.

The mangaka couldn't help but widen her eyes at this.

”Two months… you only practiced by yourself, without especially learning, or going to an art studio, or having anyone teach you?”

”Yeah.”

Mayuzumi was astonished to hear this.

He was capable of drawing at this level already simply by learning on his own for two months!?

She was so shaken that she didn't know what to say for a while.

”Sensei, what's the matter?” Seiji was mystified by her silence.

”Haruta-kun… Come be a mangaka!” Mayuzumi couldn't help but say this.