Tokyo: Oreimo

As soon as she stepped into the classroom, Takashiro Ryono heard a familiar melody. Several girls sitting at the classroom door were humming the theme song of "Cardcaptor Sakura".

They chattered excitedly about their experience watching the animation on TV yesterday.

The initial nervousness from being in a new and unfamiliar environment quickly dissipated.

"Good morning, Ling Nai!"

By the window, Ruri Aragaki, dressed in her brand-new school uniform, was smiling and waving at her.

Takashiro Ryou walked over quickly. On the first day of school, everyone could sit anywhere. Afterwards, seats would be assigned by drawing lots.

This is a tradition of Chiba Daiichi High School.

Therefore, Ruri Aragaki arrived at the classroom early and took the adjacent seat.

It's still the same front and back rows as in junior high.

"I'm so lucky to be in the same class as Liuli! ☆~"

"After all, our scores are very close, and we have to thank our older brother for his tutoring."

That's true. If it weren't for that guy, there would be no way I would have gotten into this school.

Ling Nai admired Ryosuke quite a bit in terms of his studies, but she didn't show her full approval on the surface.

"I also studied hard, okay? You can't blame it all on him."

"Pfft, yes, Ling Nai is also trying her best to cooperate. You're truly amazing."

"Speaking of which, I watched the anime you and your older brother made together last night. The theme song was really good. When I came in this morning, all the classmates were talking about it."

"If they knew the original author was a classmate, they might come and ask you for an autograph."

Hearing Ruri Aragaki's praise, Ryouko Takagi seemed quite pleased.

But I'd rather not tell them that I'm Rumiko Takashiro, after all, I did 18+ illustrations and almost lost my best friend because of that.

She didn't want to be looked at differently by others in the class.

The morning bell rang, and the previously noisy classroom quickly quieted down as the teacher walked into the classroom carrying a stack of test papers.

"Has Ling Nai been studying hard? I heard there will be an academic ability test when school starts."

Ruri Aragaki whispered something behind her back, which sent a shiver down Takashiro Ryouno's spine.

Seeing the stiff smile on her friend's face, the girl covered her mouth in surprise.

"You didn't study at all, did you?"

Isn't that obvious? Who would remember something like that?!

"Didn't your older brother remind you? If I remember correctly, even high school sophomores have to take an academic ability test."

.....

Ryosuke was sitting in the classroom directly above the two girls, idly twirling his pen as he waited for the exam papers to be passed down from the front row.

Because I was so busy during the summer vacation, I never expected that there would be an academic aptitude test when school started.

But it didn't matter to him.

He had already self-studied the knowledge required for Japanese high school before graduating from junior high school.

As for reviewing?

This kind of behavior seems to have been largely eliminated from his memory since four years ago.

But when Ryosuke received the exam paper, he suddenly realized something.

"Oh no, I seem to have forgotten that Ling Nai is a poor student. I didn't arrange any review for her in advance."

If you go crazy having fun all summer, you might forget a lot of the knowledge that wasn't really solidified before.

Chapter 97 "Takashiro! Ryosuke!"

Learning is something that cannot be neglected.

This was especially true for Ling Nai, who wasn't particularly bright.

In Ryosuke's room that evening.

Takashiro Ryou sat cross-legged on the tatami mat, her cheeks puffed out, looking defiant.

"What the heck? The difficulty of this test is on a completely different level from the ones we've done before. Chiba High School's academic ability test is way too strict!"

"What Dad said went too far. It's like I'm completely useless without your tutoring."

Overall, she was quite happy today, except when she received her academic test results after school.

During dinner, Takashiro Isao sighed deeply while holding the exam paper, and grasped Ryosuke's hand as if entrusting his son to someone else.

She said things like, "I'm entrusting Ling Nai's future to you," her eyes brimming with tears.

In that situation, Ryosuke simply couldn't refuse.

"That's the truth. Without anyone supervising you, your studies will plummet."

"The academic ability test at No. 1 High School is not difficult, at least not as difficult as the entrance test for higher education. It is obvious that you have regressed."

Ryosuke waved the exam paper in his hand, the red score on it standing out prominently.

—62 points.

This is a rather dangerous score, barely passing.

"Starting tomorrow, the academic tutoring will continue. I will help you consolidate your junior high school knowledge and preview some high school knowledge at the same time."

Ryosuke rummaged through the cabinet and found his study notes and exercise book from last year.

This time is different from before. In order to solve the problem once and for all in the future, we must help Ling Nai develop good self-discipline in learning.

"hateful!"

Even though Ryosuke was unhappy with Ryosuke's arrangement, Ayano had no choice but to accept it.

If she disagrees, her father, Takashiro Isao, will most likely ruthlessly confiscate her computer.

She would die without a computer.

"As a way of repaying me for helping you with your studies, could you please take some time to revise this draft for me?"

Ryosuke handed a notebook to Ayano.

"what?"

"It's a new animation script that's planned to be produced in two months."

"Is this the one that Saito rejected on the day I went to Kadokawa? I thought it was because the quality wasn't good enough and I was asked to revise it."

"No, it's just the part that needs some adjustments."

Ling Nai looked enlightened and took it.

She turned to the first page, and the notebook was a scene of utter devastation.

"Although it's a bit abstract, isn't it drawn quite clearly? Magical girls fighting monsters and stuff."

The girl looked puzzled.

"Yeah, but since he brought it up, let's just revise it. It won't take you much time, right?"

Ryosuke agrees with Ayano's view; in a sense, the two siblings are on the same page when it comes to understanding abstract concepts.

If Ritsu Saito were present and heard such words, he would probably be heartbroken.

"Okay, I'll just draw it out with a pencil."

"Hmm, this time the art style can be referenced from Sakura, but it needs to be differentiated. Anyway, show it to me when you're done."

Ling Nai gave a soft hum and got up from the tatami mat.

"Okay, I know. You're such a nag."

......

Takashiro Ryou returned to her room and sat down in a chair with a relaxed air.

I casually flipped through the notebook in my hand. It had a full 50 pages, each one filled with drawings.

"Only three chapters of the draft have been completed?"

When I was creating "Cardcaptor Sakura," I felt like I was following a series, and I often urged Ryosuke to provide the NAME as soon as possible. This guy always likes to disconnect when things are getting good.

She experienced this most deeply when playing FateDemo.

What a malicious fellow.

Ling Nai didn't even need to think that the new animation content recorded in this notebook would definitely be interrupted at some annoying part.

"Can't you just give me the whole story at once?"

Takashiro Ryou muttered to herself as she turned to the first page.

"Puella Magi Madoka Magica? What? This title is even worse than the last one. This guy doesn't seem to have any talent for naming things."

In short, it's definitely a slice-of-life magical girl anime, just like Sakura.

Ling Nai took out a pencil from the pen holder, erased Ryosuke's scribbles, and began to sketch the characters and scenes according to her own understanding.

"But the opponent in this work looks really strange, much worse than the Clow Cards in Sakura."

She drew while watching the plot unfold.

Since it was just a sketch, she only spent about half an hour revising the drafts for the first two episodes, with an overall style that leaned towards warmth and cuteness.

Ling Nai read it with satisfaction and turned to the third chapter - "I am no longer afraid".

"Mami-senpai is so cool, Tiro Finale!"

Ling Nai looked at Mami Tomoe holding a huge rifled flintlock musket in his drawing, and an excited expression appeared on his face.

"Is this character the team leader?"

He seems quite reliable, and even with two unsigned contracts, he can easily deal with the witch.

"What's this? This story feels more like my previous work than Sakura's. Is it going to be about friendship between friends?"