Tokyo, everyone is drawing comics, who still wants to fall in love?.

Chapter 207: Go back with a full stomach!
The 2023-2024 Japanese Manga Appreciation Conference of the Cartoonists Association was held at the Tokyo Bunka Kaikan.

This is a comprehensive venue located in Ueno Park, Taito District, Tokyo. It has a beautiful environment and complete facilities, and is one of the preferred choices for high-end business meetings.

The Cartoonists Association's comic awards have been held here for decades.

Oda Shingo arrived at the venue with two female assistants. Mrs. Yukino did not like to appear in public, so she did not come with them.

"Teacher Oda." Assistant Okita who was at the door came over.

Saburo Mikami arrived early because of a business engagement.

Oda Shingo arrived almost on time, because he was just a passing part and his main focus was on comic creation.

Assistant Okita showed the three invitation letters and tickets to the doorman, and then led Oda Shingo and his party into the venue.

"Three award ceremony invitations? Thank you, Minister." Oda Nobuo was knowledgeable and immediately understood what Saburo Mikami was asking.

Assistant Okita quickly said politely: "This is what I should do."

This type of award ceremony is generally divided into two stages: the waiting stage and the award ceremony stage.

The meeting is in the exhibition hall, mostly for displaying works and small-scale exchanges within the industry, and it is also the part where assistants can participate. Even cartoonists who are not selected or have not entered the industry can participate with a participation ticket.

In the "Bakuman" comic plot on Earth, the two protagonists first met a large number of industry insiders in a similar occasion.

The award ceremony will be held in the award ceremony hall, and you need to bring an invitation letter. Only cartoonists who are nominated or have a higher status will be invited, and assistants will generally not be invited.

Therefore, Assistant Okita himself only had a participation ticket but no invitation letter.

"You're welcome. It's what I should do."

"No one from the Manga Association was there to greet us at the door?" Oda Shingo felt a little strange.

This is not the norm for a normal business meeting.

Assistant Okita whispered, "I noticed that after they checked the main list, the receptionist left."

Oda Shingo frowned.

As a nominee, I am not considered a big shot in the industry. If no one welcomes me, that is not a problem.

But at least it shows the Comics Association’s attitude towards itself: dispensable!
The first area we entered was the exhibition hall, where many display boards were placed in the exhibition hall of over ten thousand square meters, all of which were various comic works from this year.

Although all the display boards are of the same size for the sake of fairness, they are placed very carefully, and the size of each cartoon is also different.

There were many people in the industry chatting or commenting on the comics near the display board.

It's not time for the awards ceremony yet, and most of the participants are here to rest and have a bite to eat.

The participants were talking in groups of two or three.

Oda Shingo glanced at the display board and did not see his own comic at the first glance.

He had an idea in his mind.

Namikaze Yuzuru and Fujido Kaoru separated and quickly moved between the display boards.

Soon, Namikaze Youzuru waved to them, but she tactfully refrained from shouting.

"It's actually here." A small display board near the bathroom has displays for One Punch Man and Parasyte. And it's sharing the same display board with the banned Goddess Sword...

Assistant Okita didn't say anything. In fact, he came early and noticed this before.

"Sure enough, we have no hope of winning the prize this time." Oda Nobuo didn't take it to heart.

He had already been mentally prepared.

I had experienced this in my previous life.

"..." Namikaze Yuzuru pursed her lips. If Oda Shingo said he wanted to kill the members of the organizing committee, she would definitely do it.

"Teacher Oda, can't we fight back against them?" asked Fujido Kaoru.

On the way here, the two women had already listened to Oda Shingo's analysis and knew that Vice President Koyama must have used his connections to suppress their side.

Oda Shingo's eyes were sharp: "Yes! When our achievements reach a level that they can no longer ignore, to the point where not giving us the award will lead to our selection being scorned!"

After looking at the comic display board, the two girls began to get nervous.

They realized that this was a gathering place for cartoonists and there were also many industry leaders.

The two girls looked at the people around them cautiously, fearing that they would do something wrong and embarrass Oda Shingo. After all, they were students. Oda Shingo noticed their predicament and gently pulled them: "Come on, let's go eat."

"Huh?" Namikaze Youhe was stunned.

"Eating? It's not embarrassing, right?" Fujido Kaoru's eyes lit up.

"The food supply for this kind of business reception is outsourced. If the Cartoonists Association is generous, we can get some nice snacks." Oda Shingo took the two girls straight to the food pick-up area.

"It's hard for us to eat in front of so many people, right?" Namikaze Yuzuru whispered to Oda Shingo.

Oda Shingo looked like he was a seasoned expert at getting something for free: "Don't worry, one person is too conspicuous, and if we come together, no one will notice us at all. The trick is: don't take too much at a time, don't eat too fast, and don't pack it up to take away, that's all."

Assistant Okita, who was following beside him, didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

Come on, you're already a rookie in comics, so you don't mind this, right?
"It's good to follow Mr. Oda." Fujido Kaoru was already staring at the food pick-up area with shining eyes.

"It's actually the snacks from Torin-do and Kawabata Doki. They're pretty good." Oda Shingo saw the logo on the side of the plate, "Fish-fried dumplings, yokan, small steamed buns, persimmon-seed rice crackers, Doki rice dumplings, matcha dumplings..."

Namikaze Youhe looked at him in surprise. He didn't expect that he could know everything about it.

Fujido Kaoru was also curious: "How do you know so much? Aren't these snacks what girls like to eat?"

"Girls are afraid of getting fat, so they eat less, right? I like these kinds of snacks more. I just didn't have the money to buy them before, so I often study pictures online." Oda Shingo made an excuse, took the small plate and started eating without hesitation.

"Who said that? I never minded." Fujido Kaoru also started moving her fork.

Are they all eating bears? Namikaze Yuzuru looked at Todou Kaoru's figure and decided to learn from her.

Therefore, the three people from Shingo Oda's studio did not come with the intention of winning a prize, but left with the mindset of eating their fill.

"Hmph, even if we are not given the award, we still have to eat our snacks to make up for the cost!" Fujido Xiangcheng complained quietly while eating.

At this time, a slightly plump figure came out of the bathroom and saw Oda Shingo from afar.

After a slight hesitation, he strode towards Oda Nobuo.

Oda Shingo quickly noticed that it was Vice President Koyama.

"Oh, Shingo."

"Hello, Vice President." Oda Nobuo was neither humble nor arrogant, and he put down his cutlery politely.

Vice President Koyama deliberately glanced at Assistant Okita, and then asked Oda Shingo: "Come, go to the VIP room with me. It will be more comfortable there, and you will feel more comfortable."

Because of his status, he was welcomed into the VIP room as soon as he got off the car.

This is not simply the identity of vice president, but represents the power of the consortium behind Shueisha.

Vice President Koyama deliberately watched Assistant Okita's actions, and then asked Oda Shingo to go to the VIP room with him, which clearly had a different meaning.

Come with me, our relationship can be eased...

Assistant Okita was standing nearby, looking a little nervous.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Koyama." Oda Shingo smiled, "I like the masses, and I'm afraid I won't feel comfortable sitting in a place that is too far away from the grassroots."

Assistant Okita smiled.

“……” Vice President Xiaoshan’s smile faded and he turned and left.

Oda Shingo continued eating.

Fujido Kaoru forked him a piece of watermelon, passed it to Oda Shingo's mouth, and said with a smile: "I like the way you confront annoying guys!"

Oda Shingo rolled his eyes: "Feeding is prohibited in public places."

"Hey, this is the first time I've taken the initiative to feed a boy. Can you leave me a good memory?"

"not good."

"Teacher Oda, you can't do this. A girl's first time is very memorable."

"Don't talk nonsense in public, or I won't bring you out next time!"

"Okay, I'll talk nonsense when I get back."

"Deduct your salary!"

(End of this chapter)