Cartoonists and their assistants

Machi Mizuki originally wanted to play around a bit more, but after this conversation, he had no choice but to start his work.

"I haven't painted for a while, so I've gotten a bit rusty."

As soon as he started drawing, he made a few strokes and immediately felt that things weren't going smoothly.

That's to be expected. Professional skills will naturally become rusty if not used for a while, and he's not like Eriri who can maintain his touch all the time.

But after a period of adjustment, his memory quickly helped him regain that feeling, and he could draw whatever came to mind.

"First, there's the character design: Kousei Arima, Kaori Miyazono, Tsubaki Sawabe..."

He gradually remembered more characters and temporarily wrote down their names and descriptions.

Of course, not every character is the same as in their memories. After all, many of the supporting characters' settings don't exist in their memories and can only be filled in and constructed by themselves.

For him, who was well-versed in comics and novels and had even personally completed a work called NAME, this was just a simple task.

The focus is still on the characters' appearances.

"What should we do about the art style?"

He rubbed his chin with his fingers, deep in thought.

......

The third grade started school.

The class assignments were largely the same as in the second grade.

He, Eriri, and Sakura Chiyo are still around, but Takasago Chie missed out on them.

In response, Chie Takasago sent a message expressing her grievances, accusing the school of rigging the class assignments.

The seats were reassigned on the first day, and he still occupied the window seat.

a few days later.

Sakura Chiyo often pays close attention to Mizuki's daily actions.

Because the other person was one of the few friends she could talk to at school, because the other person's true identity was a cartoonist she respected, or perhaps for some other reason.

Therefore, she immediately noticed his unusual behavior.

"Mitsuki-kun, are you preparing the name for your new work?"

When get out of class ended and no one was around, she quietly ran over and asked.

"Yes."

Kanzuki Makichi acknowledged this.

"So, the new serialization is about to begin? But I'm not confident enough to take over Ms. Ashisu's position yet."

A look of anxiety appeared on her face.

Whether or not Yuriko Tsukishima can be serialized is completely outside her considerations.

"It's okay. Even if it's officially serialized after passing the serialization meeting, there are still about three months left. Besides, with your abilities, Sakura, you're more than capable of handling it. Please have more confidence."

"Hehe, is that so! Then I'm relieved."

Is it that she was simple-minded, or that she trusted him too much?

Sakura Chiyo foolishly believed these seemingly comforting words.

But that's good enough, anyway, Eriri isn't that dependent on her assistant.

"By the way, what do you think of this art style, Sakura?"

Mizuki Machi picked up the drawing of Miyazono Kaori that she had just completed and showed it to the girl.

"Um, my opinion isn't important, is it...? You should discuss this with Sawamura-kun, right?"

She looked away.

"Okay, I see."

He sensed the girl's thoughts and pondered for a moment.

"I really need to talk to Eriri."

......

"It's so ugly."

Eriri glanced at it briefly before making a sharp comment.

"Sigh, this art style really lacks appeal."

Mizuki Machi sighed.

In his past life, when he watched the anime "Your Lie in April," he didn't really like the art style either, but he gradually got used to it later.

First impressions are often the most important, so he was unwilling to give them up immediately.

But now it seems that while this art style is more authentic for him, it doesn't feel the same way for other people in this world.

A defect is a defect.

Eriri's own exquisite art style is still more appealing.

"It's not just the art style, it's the technique too. Can't you just try to learn? If you beg me, I might be willing to guide you..."

Eriri smiled brightly, wanting to retaliate for what had happened before.

Unfortunately, he didn't take the bait at all.

"I've already told you, I'm the original artist. What use are you if I draw so well? Wouldn't that make you seem useless? I'm just taking care of you, understand?"

"I'm saying this because I know it. Even if that lazybones draws well, he can't endure this kind of hardship. In the end, he still has to rely on my painting."

Oh dear, you've finally learned to be smart!

Kanzuki Maki smiled to himself.

"Anyway, it's fine as it is. As long as you can understand it, just draw it in your own style based on the image I've created."

"Hmph, how boring!"

The girl looked helpless; she had no way to deal with him.

One week, two weeks, three weeks...

Time passed slowly like this.

The May Day Golden Week is coming.

Through continuous communication with Eriri, Mizuki Machi gradually established the images of all the characters with a more refined art style, and finally completed the NAME for the first episode.

The two agreed to meet at a secret base.

"Eriri, the NAME you requested for the first episode is complete."

"Why is it so thick! How many pages are you planning for the first chapter?"

Eriri took the draft paper as if it were a treasure, but suddenly her expression changed.

She could clearly feel the difference in quantity.

"Not many, only about 70 pages."

"Uh, 70 pages? No wonder it took you so long to finish."

A weekly magazine typically has 17-20 pages per chapter, while a monthly magazine has 40-50 pages. However, the first chapter usually expands considerably to develop the plot in more depth and attract readers. Some comics even have a first chapter that exceeds 100 pages. Therefore, some monthly magazines are sometimes jokingly called "bricks" because they are so thick.

Eriri didn't dwell on this matter; her focus was on the manga's plot, panel layout, and pacing.

She looked it over carefully, then nodded in satisfaction and said, "Although you say that, it's actually different from what you said, Zhenzhi! This NAME is already perfect, and it's an improvement over the one from a few months ago! If it were a comedy, it could probably be serialized right away."

"That's just because I have a good memory."

Guan Yuezhenzhi denied the Dao.

"Ah!"

The girl gave a cryptic laugh, then turned and went upstairs, her voice filled with fighting spirit.

"Now it's my turn to fight!"

The 127th installment meeting is back!

"Is the teacher already preparing a new work?"

After receiving the information from Sakura Chiyo, Gokou Ruri felt a surge of urgency.

Am I qualified now?

She asked herself the question, but couldn't find the answer.

"Forget it, we'll find out whether I'm good enough or not later. For now, I can only keep practicing... That way, I won't let that person down or let myself down."

The girl must seize this opportunity to climb upwards and escape her predicament.

As a result, she has sacrificed a lot of her free time over the past six months, and this sunk cost is unacceptable to her.

......

What are Miss Black Cat's thoughts?

Sakura Chiyo stared at the reply on her phone, her gaze fixed on the words "I understand."

She really wanted to build a good relationship with this assistant so that they could work together more smoothly in the future. However, the assistant seemed unwilling to talk to her and always gave very brief replies.

It was only when he asked her how to better perform her duties as an assistant that their conversations would last a little longer.

"Can we really debut like Ms. Ashisu? We don't seem to have any talent, do we? Sigh..."

She rested her chin on her hands, her eyes filled with uncertainty about the future.

.......

People are diverse, and the assistants below each have their own thoughts and worries.

But at this moment, Eriri had no time to pay attention to that; instead, she was working at full speed to finish the manuscript for the first chapter of "Your Lie in April".

The content, totaling over 70 pages, took her a considerable amount of time, but she managed to finish it before the deadline, albeit at great speed.

"If it were me a year ago, I definitely wouldn't have been able to finish this without an assistant's help... but now I've been reborn!"

Eriri looked at the comics on the table, each filled with her own style, and thought to herself with a sense of pride.

Her growth has exceeded her own expectations.

The experience gained this year is probably similar to the experience gained in the previous three years.

Indeed, people need pressure to move forward!

"Alright, it's time to inform Machi and submit the manuscript to Ms. Minano."

She picked up her phone and dialed a familiar number.

The secret base that afternoon.

"What a good kid. Actually, you just need to give me NAME. The original manuscript just needs to be completed before the deadline."

Minamoto looked at the original manuscript that had been delivered and couldn't help but praise it.

If it weren't for the serialization meeting, this manuscript would most likely be wasted and sent to the 'junkyard'.

Only submissions from new authors will be required to be drawn as original artwork.

"Yuriko under the moon is an integral part of the whole; we can't just let Machi do all the work, can we? Besides, only in this way can we bring out the complete charm of our work!"

Eriri stated this logically and with evidence.

"Yes."

Mizuki Machi nodded as well.

His sketches and the girl's paintings were indeed fundamentally different.

"Hmm... Compared to that original manuscript, you have made a lot of progress and have reached the middle level among professional cartoonists."

Minamoto looked down at the manuscript and, after reading only a few pages, gave it high praise.

"Not bad, with this quality, there shouldn't be any obstacles to serialization."