manga artist Kirito

Page 155

Honestly, how out of touch are you guys? Don't you read crossdressing doujinshi? Don't you play the crossdressing mountain game?

"But Fuji... um, Mr. Houraisan, don't you know that your voice is a bit androgynous?"

Kohei Horikoshi held his teacup, a hint of mischievousness in his smile. "A neutral voice, a cute face, and slightly messy long hair—unless you have a mental problem, the first impression would be to label you as a girl... although I think even with short hair, people would still think that way."

"Stop! Stop, my friend!"

Kirito raised his hand with a serious expression, then turned to look at Asuna, "Is there something wrong with my vision?"

"No, it's perfectly normal."

Asuna looked completely bewildered, but she was secretly laughing to herself. So she finally figured it out, huh? This is the consequence of using a fake voice too much.

"Let's ignore the voice issue for now, since two teachers haven't introduced themselves yet."

"I am the creator of Kill la Kill. The title is a bit strange. Just call me Xiao Wu."

"I am Nao Akitoku, the creator of 'Seven Magicians'. As for the other partner who was in charge of the original script, I won't introduce him since he didn't come."

Nao Akira stroked his chin and smiled, then revealed a mysterious expression, "I won't say anything else, the top five are all squatting here at today's awards ceremony... Hmm, you know what, it seems like some big shots came today."

"A master? What kind of master?"

Horikoshi Kohei looked at him curiously, not knowing what kind of person this "god" was.

"Look, isn't it a bit noisy over there on the left?"

"and then?"

"Actually, they were playing mahjong."

"...Mahjong? What does that have to do with the expert you mentioned? Or is the expert who came to the party playing mahjong over there?"

"As you said, they were indeed playing mahjong over there."

"..."

Kirito turned his head blankly and pushed up his glasses. If he remembered correctly, Suigetsu had prepared a membership card for me at that mahjong parlor where great manga artists often went... although I had never been there.

P.S.: Oh, it's really banned from speaking now. How about you try using emoticons?

By the way, if you guys are in the "nurturing" phase, I'm probably in the "fatigue" phase right now...

344

【NO.340 Don't pull me, I want to play mahjong】

"..."

A very dedicated manga artist might not understand what Nao Akino is saying, but if everyone here is a seasoned veteran, then they will naturally understand the ins and outs of playing mahjong.

...However, isn't it a bit excessive to play mahjong at a party like this?

Most of the people here now are new comic artists, and there are even award winners. Aren't you afraid of setting a bad example?

What are the editorial thoughts of JUMP?

In fact, most of the cartoonists who attended the party wore name tags to signify their status, in order to avoid certain formalities, but most of them politely introduced themselves.

...Well, anyway, Kirito and Asuna don't have any brand-name items. I don't know if Amano Touko forgot or if she simply didn't prepare any for them, but it's more likely the former.

"I said, how about we go watch the big shots play mahjong? Anyway, there's still a long time before the awards ceremony... Besides, the awards ceremony is only for the top three of you."

Nao Akino smiled, seemingly very interested in playing mahjong, but indifferent to the awards ceremony.

"Oh? You want to watch them play mahjong?"

Amano Touko, who had appeared beside him unnoticed, looked exasperated. "Ugh! Doing this in front of the editor is just too much!"

With one hand on her forehead, Amano Touko began to complain, "Seriously, why does Editor-in-Chief Bottle have to get involved? Now I have to handle everything, it's so troublesome... Oh, right, Fujiwara-sensei, these are your and Kamishirasawa-sensei's name tags."

"Well, thank you."

Kirito took the name tag from Amano Touko, smiled at the four manga artists next to him who were deep in thought, and then handed the name tag to Asuna.

Judging from the expressions of the four manga artists next to him, and considering what Amano Touko had just said, Kirito could easily figure out what they were thinking with a little thought. But it didn't really matter, since this kind of thing wasn't that important anyway... Perhaps, in their eyes, it really was?

Even if they knew, there was nothing they could do. After all, they were all manga artists from JUMP, while Kirito was a manga artist from Rouge en rouge. Unless these guys switched companies or had the idea of ​​working on two projects at once, it was impossible for him to curry favor with them... Of course, the prerequisite for currying favor was that Akane Kousaka agreed. Sui Ishida cared a lot about these things, and besides, she valued potential more than her current strength.

"By the way, I'm on my way there now, do you want to come along?"

Amano Touko pointed to a private room. In order to avoid dragging away the editor-in-chief who was playing mahjong and leaving the game empty, she had to bring someone with her. And the most suitable person... without a doubt was the winner of this year's grand prize. The higher the ranking, the better. And who knows, the seniors inside might think that she has great potential and is worth cultivating?

As a master, one's eye for talent is naturally excellent.

…………

Well, speaking of playing mahjong, the first manga artist that comes to mind is naturally the ever-vacant Togashi, the old rascal. While it's true he's getting old, his daily mahjong addiction is enough to make you want to come knocking on his door with a knife and demand more work. Even though the Hunter x Hunter manga has gone through several hiatuses and comebacks, and the plot progress hasn't been ideal, it hasn't diminished the fans' enthusiasm for it at all...

Right now, Yoshihiro Togashi is leisurely playing mahjong with Editor-in-Chief Bottle and two manga artists in a private room.

At the door of the private room, Amano Touko first raised her hand and knocked, then pushed the door open and entered.

Although I had never seen Yoshihiro Togashi in person before, I had seen photos of him. Now that I saw him, I really wanted to put a knife to his neck and force him to go back and update. However, since he was a senior, it would be too rude to do such a thing in front of so many people. It would be better to wait until he was walking at night and put a sack over his head.

"Ah, Orange, what brings you here... Perfect timing, I need to talk to you about something."

As soon as they entered the private room, Pingzi, who was full of confusion and melancholy, saw Chengzi and immediately stood up as if she had seen a savior. She quickly stood up, went to Chengzi's side, and took her hand to walk out.

It looked like they had just finished a game, and Yoshihiro Togashi, who was arranging his cards, immediately became dissatisfied. "Hey, I say, Aquarius, that's not very fair of you. You've only lost two meals and you're already trying to run away? Have you no shame?"

...You have absolutely no right to say anything good about me. All you think about is playing mahjong, and you keep taking breaks from publishing. Do you have any shame?

But no matter what, Aquarius didn't want to keep losing. After all, she had lost half a month's salary. If she kept losing, she might have to kneel on durians when she got home!

"Ah, perfect timing. These six are the top five manga artists in this year's awards. Why don't you find one of them to stand in for me? I'll finish what I'm doing and come back to keep you company after the awards ceremony."

Only an idiot would continue with you guys; I don't mind having too much money.

Also, who was it that said Togashi's mahjong skills were terrible? He's clearly amazing!

"...Um, Mr. Fujiwara, could you please cover for the editor-in-chief for a bit? We'll be right back."

I don't know what the bottle whispered in her ear, but Amano Touko reached out and patted Kirito on the shoulder, looking at him with a serious expression, as if she were entrusting him with a task.

"Me? That's not a good idea, I don't know how to play mahjong."

Kirito is interested in this meme, but he doesn't actually like mahjong. It's like Gwent, addictive and hard to stop playing.

"Anyway, please!"

With that, Amano Touko left the private room and closed the door behind her.

...This is like forcing a duck onto a shelf.

However, considering the influence of everyone present in the industry, it seems that Amano Touko's decision to have him take his place is not wrong.

But... I'm not a JUMP manga artist. I only signed the copyright for "Dark Souls," but they didn't sign me here. Is it really okay for me to go up here? Are you really not a JUMP traitor?

"Oh! A new face. I've never seen you before... Oh right, I almost forgot, you're the winner of this grand prize. Come on, sit down."

Yoshihiro Togashi wasn't too concerned about the bottle's departure; instead, he watched the newcomers with great interest.

"Togashi, open your eyes a little! You play mahjong all day and don't you ever pay attention to anything in the industry?"

The man sitting to Togashi's left gestured for Kirito to sit down, and said with a slight smile, "This is the young man in the industry who has the best chance of becoming a god right now, Fujiwara Echizen."

"Uh……"

It's inexplicably awkward. Achieving godhood and all that... Have you been reading too many chuunibyou novels?

P.S.: Looks like I can't even send emoticons anymore, it feels so lonely without your comments...

345

[NO.341 Playing mahjong is so damn fun!]

Well, you're asking me to go up and play mahjong, I can't just go because you say so. After all, I'm not that interested in it. Besides, the three old thieves here don't look simple. Wouldn't it be embarrassing if I lost?

Yes, Kirito wanted to refuse. As far as his mahjong skills were concerned, he was confident he could easily contribute to those three old rascals. But young people don't want to lose.

Of course, rejecting this idea altogether is also unreliable.

He's someone who works in the industry, and some people there even recognized him. If he refused to sit down, it would be a slap in the face, especially since this kind of thing could easily be used for publicity... So, Kirito had no choice but to bite the bullet and sit down.

Kirito took out his phone and handed it to Asuna, then smiled at Togashi and the other two familiar-looking old thieves.

Kirito's act of taking out his phone seemed to pique their interest, and they nodded slightly. However, they also seemed to sense Kirito's lack of confidence. The short-haired man grinned and said, "Fujiwara, don't be afraid today. The purpose of our visit today is just to see the newcomers in the industry... Of course, that's Togashi's job. I was just casually pulled over to be a gambler when I went to the mahjong parlor. Oh, by the way, Gen Urobuchi is a scriptwriter."

Good heavens! It's you, the warrior of love!

Upon hearing the introduction at the end of the other person's words, Kirito's eyes widened immediately. The famous warrior of love, Gen Urobuchi, whose representative works include "Kikokugai," "Saya no Uta," and "Phantom Breaker," and later, the even more depressing Madoka Magica, Psycho-Pass, and so on... But I really didn't expect it. I didn't expect that you, Gen Urobuchi, would also be a member of a mahjong parlor, and it seems that you have a pretty good relationship with Togashi. Did you develop your friendship through playing mahjong?

But does this mean that it will be much easier to find a powerful backer or cooperate with others in the future?

It seems that sometimes playing mahjong isn't necessarily a bad thing.

Incidentally, those manga artists who entered the private room with Kirito and are now just watching are also showing expressions of regret. If Amano Touko had recommended them, it would have meant they could have more easily communicated with living masters, and perhaps even received their help...

"Ahem, my name is Fujiwara Echizen, a manga artist... well, this time I'm collaborating with a friend to create a work that I'm submitting to JUMP."

Kirito is very familiar with Gen Urobuchi's works, especially Saya no Uta, which left a deep impression on him!

"I have a general understanding of that. After all, he's the most well-known newcomer in the industry right now. Fujiwara, you'd better work hard!"

"Hey! Gen Urobuchi, are you trying to give Fujiwara a knowing look? Let me tell you, mahjong is mahjong. Trying to use your status as a big shot to bully others? I'll be the first to object!"

Another person, who hadn't yet introduced himself, raised his hand and said, "Hey Fujiwara, watch out for Gen Urobuchi later. He's got a lot of bad intentions, so don't hold back. A meal in Ginza isn't cheap, you know... Also, my name is Kubo Tite, and I'm your senior!"

...Holy shit! Are these expert players teaming up to farm newbies or what?

Tite Kubo, back in 1996, when he was just 18 years old, published his debut work "Zombie Powder" in the supplement of Weekly Shonen Jump. He then published two more manga in two years. However, his work was not recognized at the time because it was too unconventional and unsuitable for shonen manga, so it was canceled. But his new work "Bleach" was released immediately and became a hit!

...But why do you, with your thick eyebrows and big eyes, betray the word "hardworking"?

Okay, okay, everyone here is a pro, and I'm the only newbie!

"Brother Fujiwara, Pingzi mentioned your work to us earlier. I think Monkey would definitely have something in common with you, but unfortunately, he's incredibly hard to find... But speaking of mahjong, it's a skill. Although there aren't many rules, it's not easy to grasp the essence. So, here we'll see how much you understand human nature."

Yoshihiro Togashi first made a brief mention of Sorachi, the monkey, to improve his likability, and then quickly shifted the topic to manga. "Even if you don't understand it very well, it doesn't matter, because I haven't fully grasped the essence of mahjong in all these years. That's why I chose mahjong as my source material. The game between people's hearts is what inspires the most!"

After saying all that, you still just want to drag me into playing mahjong with you, right?

Moreover, mahjong is the best way to inspire creativity?

Bullshit! For erotic artists, the satisfying yet empty feeling after finishing a doujinshi is when new ideas are most likely to emerge. Togashi, you may be a senior artist, but you still need to learn something!

"Well, all of you teachers are experts. Please guide me from now on."

After exchanging ideas with various big shots, Kirito is no longer worried about losing; he even wants to throw mahjong tiles in their faces. However, this time, it's clear that he can make a connection regardless of winning or losing, since what he loses is food, and what he wins is... well, to be precise, friendship.

But honestly, it's extremely rare to be able to establish a relationship like this.

Looking at Asuna's hand on his shoulder, Kirito nodded slightly, knowing what she was worried about, but in the current situation... there was no need to worry at all.

When Kirito drew the mahjong tiles, he simply arranged them in the order they were drawn, without any intention of rearranging them neatly. After all, there are many intricacies in mahjong, and even if he didn't understand them, Kirito knew that too many rearrangements would reveal something to his opponents.

"Hey! What are you talking about? Although we may seem like seniors, we don't actually have as much experience in the industry as you, Fujiwara. You're a member of the board of directors of the Kousaka Group, the second-in-command of its subsidiaries, and you also know about various business operations and such... By the way, I heard that you're actually a scriptwriter too. Many games from the Kousaka Group have scripts written by you."

Gen Urobuchi seems to regard Kirito as an old friend he has known for a long time. He is not only very familiar with Kirito, but also knows a lot about Kirito's deeds.

"To be honest, I really like your art style. Maybe we can collaborate sometime when the opportunity arises."

Whether you cooperate or not is not important, let's draw our cards first!

"No, I don't think we should discuss work; after all, we should focus on gathering information!"

“What the seniors say is true, but I’ve remembered what Senior Urobuchi said…”

Kirito reached for his cards with a broad smile, then paused, "...A perfect hand?"

P.S.: Without the complaints, does the whole Bookke app seem rather dull?

Yes, I found the whole book utterly boring, let alone the readers.

346

【NO.342 Perhaps, this is what a show-off is】

"...You might be a genius?"

Old Xu squinted, staring intently at the erotic manga artist he admired.

"...A perfect hand! Absolutely bullshit! They won't even let me draw any tiles!"

Togashi, the old scoundrel, showed an exasperated expression. Although Togashi pretended to be very humble, in reality, no one in the room had better card skills than him, and no one was better at gathering information than him. Yes, back when I went to gather information with a certain black dragon, I also said that I didn't know how to play 300, but Toy lent me an account, and then we never lost.

Even now, Kirito may not know much about mahjong, but sometimes when luck comes, there's just no stopping him!