Tokyo: Oreimo

Haruba Arina muttered to herself, seemingly deep in thought about how to correct her own shortcomings.

"This guy..."

Ling Nai opened her mouth, as if something was stuck in her throat.

She suddenly remembered the glamorous women at the east exit of Shinjuku Station, and the disdainful looks she had given them every time she passed by.

But I never imagined that one of those women's daughters would be sitting right across from me, saying such things in such a matter-of-fact tone.

"Ms. Haruba..."

Kenta Kimura's expression turned serious. He knew something about the situation, but he never imagined it would be this serious.

"I think you might have some misunderstandings..."

"What misunderstanding?" Arina Haruba interrupted him. "Didn't CLAMP-sensei say that you can't collaborate if the relationship isn't right? So I'm working on making the relationship right. What's wrong with that?"

"Of course that's not right!"

It was Ling Nai who spoke, but her voice no longer carried the anger of before; instead, it was filled with a complex emotion.

She felt uncomfortable when she recalled calling the other person "shameless" and saying that they were "no different from streetwalkers."

"Is your mother still doing that job?"

Ling Nai's voice became much softer.

“I’m not doing it anymore.” Haruba Arina shook her head. “Last year, an uncle said he wanted to marry her. Now she’s a housewife in Saitama. She sends me pictures of the dishes she makes every day, although they don’t look very appetizing.”

As she said this, the corners of the girl's mouth curled up slightly.

That was the first time Ryosuke had seen a genuine expression on her face—not a forced, sweet smile, but a smile that came from the heart.

She quickly regained her composure. "Men all like pretty young girls, right? As long as I'm pretty enough, I can get what I want."

"CLAMP-sensei looked at me for a long time at first, which means they were satisfied with my appearance, right?"

"..."

Does this refer to when you first joined Shueisha?

He did stare at her for a while, not because he was curious about a girl who looked similar to Ling Nai in an environment full of adults.

Ryosuke couldn't refute that point, but the reason he saw it was completely different from what the other person thought.

"Well, everyone takes a second look at a pretty girl passing by, right?"

Hideo Nomura interjected.

"Besides, according to the normal reaction of a pretty girl, she would feel disgusted by being stared at by a stranger, right? Your mother should have taught you not to learn her way of life. Under these circumstances, you still want to cooperate?"

“That’s different.” Yu Cai said crisply, “I can tell the difference between a man’s gaze. My mother taught me that CLAMP’s gaze is different from yours, Uncle.”

"no the same?"

“Hmm.” She nodded. “If you stare at me, I feel disgusted, but it’s okay with CLAMP-sensei.”

"So I think CLAMP is the kind of good person my mother talks about. He won't lie to me or use me and then throw me away. That's why I want to work with him, not just because the script is well-written."

"Do I feel disgusted just looking at you?"

Hideo Nomura felt as if he had been pierced by a thousand arrows.

Saying something like that is incredibly rude.

It was probably because the other person was young and good-looking that he regretted interrupting and getting shot at for no reason.

"I feel the same way."

Ling Nai showed an expression of agreement, while glancing at Nomura Hideo.

"?" Hideo Nomura could only manage a forced smile.

One person wasn't enough, so they had to come and finish him off?

The editor decided to sew his mouth shut and never speak again.

"If you want to cooperate, it's not impossible."

Ryosuke suddenly spoke up.

"So, does that mean CLAMP-sensei has decided to date me?"

Hearing him say that, Haruba Arina's eyes lit up.

"Of course not!"

Ryosuke glared at her sternly.

The other person's frivolous behavior made him want to lecture them, saying that there should be limits to lacking common sense.

It's really disrespectful to say things like that all the time.

"You just said your mother doesn't work anymore, right? She got married and became a housewife. Why would she give up that job?"

Chun Changyoucai paused for a moment.

"Because I met someone I like."

“Yes.” Ryosuke nodded. “It’s not because of money, it’s not because of exchange, it’s because of liking. Your mother used her body to exchange for things her whole life, and in the end she found that what she really wanted couldn’t be obtained with her body.”

"So, stop using yourself as a bargaining chip. Instead, prove your strength to me."

"If you can win an award of 'honor' or 'merit' at this year's Tezuka Award, I'll consider collaborating with you."

"Consider?" Haruba Arina frowned. "Isn't it a certainty?"

“Of course.” Ryosuke emphasized again, “Winning an award proves that you have the ability and are qualified to propose a collaboration with me. Only then will I evaluate your drawing skills and decide whether to collaborate with you.”

“Normal business cooperation involves signing a contract, splitting profits proportionally, and having no other conditions attached. Let’s not even mention exchanging ‘youth’ for it.”

"But Editor Kimura said that in a normal working relationship, things could fall apart at any time due to conflicting interests, right? But if the relationship is closer..."

"Don't say things like that, it will only make people look down on you."

Ryosuke interrupted her.

"Huh?"

"If you're strong enough, this kind of problem won't occur."

Ryosuke said calmly.

"If you can consistently maintain a high level of artwork, from the perspective of a comic book scriptwriter, the collaboration won't be easily terminated. As for the issue of profit sharing..."

"Shouldn't we just go through legal procedures for this kind of thing?"

The meeting room was so quiet you could hear the air conditioning running.

Takagi Ryouno secretly glanced at Ryosuke and noticed that he was frowning.

This guy seems a bit angry; it's the first time I've seen him like this.

"Ultimately, isn't it just that you're too confident in yourself? I don't like you, but just because you want to cooperate, I have to associate with you? What kind of twisted logic is that?"

Haruba Arina was intimidated by Ryosuke's imposing manner and lowered her head guiltily, looking at her hands resting on her knees.

"That's not what I meant... I just..."

Ryosuke tapped the table with his knuckles, interrupting her directly.

"No need to explain. Since you've persuaded my sister to agree to a duel, I'll give you a chance. Just follow the requirements we agreed on before."

"At least get a Tezuka Award for Outstanding Work before you come and ask me for any collaboration requests!"

Chun Chang Youcai shrank back and nodded obediently.

"I see...."

Seeing the girl with twin ponytails looking rather aggrieved, Ryosuke didn't say anything more.

She's about the same age as Ling Nai, yet she constantly uses her body as a bargaining chip. What kind of behavior is that?

This is infuriating!

"In short, let's not talk about dating anymore. Let's talk about this with someone we like later."

Ryosuke stood up, called out to Ryouna, and prepared to leave.

As Ling Nai reached the meeting room door, she couldn't help but turn back to look at Haruba Arina, who was still sitting in the same spot.

The shoujo manga artist seemed to have been so thoroughly scolded by Ryosuke that she couldn't lift her head, her two pigtails hanging low over her shoulders.

"Hey, you're Haruba, right? I'm waiting for you to challenge me. It's settled, let's settle this fair and square!"

Hearing the sound, Haruba Arina turned to look at Ryouno.

"What's wrong with you? You look so unmotivated. Didn't you say your drawing was just as good as mine? If you have that kind of confidence, you should be able to get into the shortlist, right?"

"What that guy said was a bit excessive, but I think he's right. If you want to cooperate, you need to show sincerity, right?"

Ling Nai put her hands on her hips.

"It's not the kind of 'sincerity' you mentioned before, but the confidence and passion that a manga artist should have. If you can't even do that, then I, Rumiko Takashiro, won't take you seriously!"

Haruba Yuina paused for a moment, then bit her lip.

"Don't get too cocky!"

"I will win the Tezuka Award for 'honor' and then go to collaborate with CLAMP."

"At that time, I will definitely win the Akatsuka Prize and be selected for the grand prize, so we can have a showdown and publish our stories at the same time!"

Ling Nai gave a light snort, a slight smile playing on her lips, and turned to follow Ryosuke away, leaving behind only a few words.

"Who's afraid of you! I'll definitely crush you head-on!"

Chapter 151: Sequel, New Work

The Takashiro siblings finally left Shueisha; it was past noon.

Ling Nai's taut shoulders suddenly slumped.

"So tired, that guy was really tough..."

"You still have the nerve to say you're tired? It's all your fault."