Full-time comic artist

"Wounded...wounded? If so, it depends on the manga artist's ability. You can't stop others from drawing dark magical girl works, can you?"

"that's true."

Soma Satoru's heart sank. He didn't go home; instead, he went straight to his uncle's studio.

There will always be people like that.

Seeing his worried nephew, Soma Ichiro comforted him, "When one work is successful, similar works will appear."

"When Slam Dunk became a huge hit, there were more sports manga series than ever before."

"With successful experience and eager readers, it's easier to achieve results, and there will definitely be people willing to follow suit."

Soma Satoru: "But...but, isn't this very bad for the original creator?"

Soma Ichiro explained, "Of course, if there are too many similar works, then the readers will be divided up. It's okay for Tori Akino-sensei, but if it were a new author, he would likely lose the competition and his manga would be canceled. After all, his readership hasn't developed any loyalty yet."

"How could this happen..."

This little boy had great respect for cartoonists.

In his mind, cartoonists are creators who work tirelessly day after day, bringing joy and happiness to children.

This was far from what he had imagined.

“Hehe,” Soma Ichiro said with a smile as he looked at his nephew who was on the verge of collapse, “Manga artists like Fujiko-sensei are few and far between.”

Only a handful of cartoonists live in cramped rooms and never change their minds, driven by the idea of ​​"creating a masterpiece of comics that children will always remember."

When Fujiko F. Fujio, the creator of "Doraemon," is mentioned, Satoru Soma perks up.

"And what about Uncle?" he asked, looking up at Soma Ichiro. "What will Uncle do now that he's been unable to continue serializing?"

Soma Ichiro patted Soma Satoru's head, using a bit more force, "You little rascal, how could you think of your uncle like that!"

His comic series was canceled and hasn't been serialized again for ten years.

The neighbor said he was hiding in his room to escape reality.

His father never asked him, but he could always see the disappointment in his eyes.

In everyone's eyes, someone who hasn't succeeded is a failure.

"The person I want to be is the one who doesn't bow down to harsh realities."

"My initial motivation for drawing comics was to tell my own story."

"I absolutely do not want to change this."

Even if I'm exhausted, I hope that I will still be the one yearning for light.

"Uncle!" Soma Satoru exclaimed, deeply moved, "You're so cool!"

"Is he handsome?"

"Ok!"

How handsome?

"He's even more handsome than Mr. Toriakino!"

"Hahaha."

……

Longze's manga is about to be serialized, and in order to get more inspiration, he occasionally pays attention to the opinions of "Puella Magi Madoka Magica" readers online.

"Isn't the upcoming 'Magical Girl Duel' a rip-off of 'Puella Magi Madoka Magica'?"

"Yes, that's right, it's truly shameful."

Chapter 343 The girl who eventually became a witch is called a magical girl.

"Good, very good! As long as there is extensive discussion, that's enough!"

Long Ze was beaming, the light from the screen reflecting in his pupils; he was extremely excited.

"I'm not far from success!"

……

"Dad will pick you up after school today."

On Friday morning, Xiaohe, who was eating breakfast, held a loaf of toast and said to her daughter.

"Huh? Why?" The daughter, wearing a backpack and a yellow hat, turned around in surprise and asked.

"Because this time, the work progressed quickly, and the comic has already been finished."

The daughter gasped, "That's so rare!"

“Yes, this is the first time,” Xiaohe said, turning to the side. “So, do you need me to come pick you up?”

"Yes! I'm very happy."

Aren't you worried that your classmates will laugh at you?

"No problem, I'm the boss."

"Haha." Xiaohe couldn't help but laugh.

At three o'clock in the afternoon, he arrived at the gate of a primary school.

After her daughter left, she turned back, staring at her, as if to say, "You must come!"

He couldn't let his daughter down.

There were some parents at the entrance of the primary school, mostly housewives.

Upon seeing the stream, I couldn't help but point and comment.

It was probably something like "not working hard" or "not being a good father".

Xiaohe coughed and walked to a corner.

There's a man here, about the same age as Xiaohe.

"Those women are so noisy and chattering." When the man saw the river, he didn't seem to mind; instead, he treated it like a companion and was very friendly.

Xiaohe said, "Because women have very few opportunities to work, they can only serve their families."

"You're really serious." The man looked at Xiaohe with surprise. "But what you said isn't wrong."

He was wearing a suit, reached into his breast pocket, took out a card, and handed it to Xiaohe.

"This...this is..."

Xiaohe was stunned.

That card depicts Sayaka in her magical girl outfit.

In other words, comic book merchandise cards.

"Oh, I'm sorry!" The man hurriedly put the card away.

His face flushed, and he seemed flustered. "I wanted to get your business card."

"That is..."

Xiaohe didn't know that "Puella Magi Madoka Magica" was releasing merchandise.

Since the "Puella Magi Madoka Magica" anime hasn't even been produced or broadcast yet, I didn't expect that the merchandise would already be available first.

"Puella Magi Madoka Magica, don't you know it?"

"Of course I know, it's just..."

Jump is for teenagers; adults might feel uncomfortable watching it.

It gives the impression of someone who hasn't grown up.

Let alone someone in their thirties.

“I still like Jump at my age,” the man said seriously. “Even though I’m in my thirties, I still remember very clearly the Cat’s Eye stories I read when I was a teenager. Wow, that eldest sister really embodies all the charm of women.”

He has never given up Jump and has been watching it all these years.

It's become a habit.

Xiaohe couldn't help but reminisce, "The Tears of the Next Life were truly moving, with her slightly melancholic eyes, noble and elegant demeanor, and graceful figure..."

This is a classic work by Tsukasa Hojo, and it's still a timeless manga.

“Oh, you’re right,” the man said. “Exactly. Because it’s a hobby, I don’t want to give it up because of what other people think.”

Xiaohe gave a thumbs up, "Well said."

The man continued, "However, as I get older, I now prefer manga with deeper plots, like 'Puella Magi Madoka Magica.' Don't let its magical girl theme fool you; the story is actually quite complex, with each element interconnected. Even now, I still feel like there are plot points I didn't understand in the first chapter. The manga also explores selfish and selfless love."

"To only see it as a magical girl work is to look at it too superficially."

The man's long-winded speech piqued Xiaohe's interest as she watched him.

All this talk is just to explain why I carried the little girl's card.

“That’s how it is, so…” the man said, a little guilty, “I’m not some pervert who likes little girls.”

"I understand, I understand," Xiaohe said with a smile.

"My name is Xiaohe (Little River), what's yours?"

"Kusakabe, Kusakabe Enterprises."

They introduced themselves to each other and finally got to know each other.

"Kusakabe-san, I've actually been reading 'Puella Magi Madoka Magica' too, because my daughter really likes that manga," Koga said.

Kusakabe's expression twisted, and he muttered under his breath, "Why didn't I just say it was for the child?"

"Kusakabe-san?"

"Oh, it's alright, please continue."

“Yes,” Xiaohe nodded, “just as you said. ‘Puella Magi Madoka Magica’ is wonderful enough, telling a thought-provoking story in a genre suitable for young children.”

"Yes."