Tokyo: Oreimo

Chapter 232 Writing fanfiction of one's own work? (Combined chapter)

On the second day after the freshman orientation, Ryosuke's university schedule had not yet officially started.

He checked the course schedule for the next few days in the Literature Department building. During his lunch break, he remembered the club application form from yesterday, so he went to Student Club Building No. 3.

A handwritten sign on the door of room 411 reads "Comic Research Club," and next to it is a mascot that is hard to tell whether it is a cat or a rabbit.

The door wasn't locked.

The moment Ryosuke pushed open the door, a smell mixed with paper ink, instant coffee, and air freshener hit him.

The activity room was larger than I had imagined. The bookshelves against the wall were crammed with comic books and magazines, and two long tables were placed together in the middle, with digital tablets, manuscript paper and several mugs scattered on them.

Tian Zhongxue was squatting in front of an old monitor, sweating profusely as he plugged in the computer's video cable.

"Ah! Ryosuke-kun!"

He jumped up from beside the computer, almost knocking over the beverage can next to him.

"Perfect timing! The line's just been connected! Ayumi, look who's here!"

Horiuchi Ayumi sat on the other side of the long table, holding a pencil in her hand, with a graphics tablet spread out in front of her. She looked up and nodded to Ryosuke as a greeting.

"If you want to officially join the company, just give me the form."

Ryosuke took the neatly folded application form from his pocket and handed it over.

Ayumi took the form, glanced at it, and suddenly stopped writing.

"Ok?"

She stared at the surname "Gao Cheng" on the form, her brows furrowing slightly.

"what happened?"

Ryosuke asked without changing his expression.

“It’s nothing, it’s just your surname.” Ayumi tilted her head, twirling the pen between her fingers. “Teacher Rumiko Takashiro also has this surname, but Takashiro isn’t exactly a rare surname.”

"It's not exactly rare."

Ryosuke naturally pulled out a chair and sat down, casually picking up the latest issue of "JUMP" that was open on the table.

The cover prominently displays the title "DEATH NOTE," with the tagline below proclaiming, "Number One in Reader Surveys! A Super Popular New Series!!"

"Ayumi, are you a fan of Professor Takashiro?" Tian Zhongxue peeked out from behind the TV.

"Of course, or rather, which manga artist isn't? The artwork in Cardcaptor Sakura and Death Note is simply monstrous."

Ayumi sighed and tapped the pen tip twice on the tablet. "I just can't capture that feeling at all."

Ryosuke silently turned a page of the magazine.

The latest chapter of "DEATH NOTE" features the scene of Light Yagami and L's first confrontation on campus.

It was drawn by Ling Nai, and she even specifically referenced his face when she drew it.

This fact still leaves him with mixed feelings.

However, it seems that unless someone is particularly sensitive, they probably won't associate that face with themselves.

"Speaking of which, Ryosuke, it's really amazing that you were able to complete the S;G true ending."

Tian Zhongxue finally got the video cable working, clapped his hands and stood up, "When I posted the strategy on the forum before, a lot of people got stuck on Lingyu and didn't continue."

"You post travel guides on the forum?"

Ryosuke looked up.

“That’s right, the S;G section of the Future Dimension Forum,” Tian Zhongxue proudly pushed up his non-existent glasses, “I’m the author of the Platinum Strategy Guide, my ID is ‘Chestnut Milk,’ you might have heard of me.”

Chestnut milk.

Ryosuke knows this ID.

As mentioned before, Gokou Mao is one of the most active users in the S;G section of the forum, and her plot analysis posts have been featured three times.

“I’ve read your post,” Ryosuke put down the magazine. “The one analyzing the suicide note of the part-time worker was very detailed.”

Tian Zhongxue's eyes instantly lit up like two LED light bulbs.

"Really?! You really saw it?! Oh my god, Ayumi, did you hear that?! A newbie has seen my post!"

"I heard you, keep your voice down, or the light music club next door will complain."

Ayumi continued drawing without looking up.

At that moment, the door to the activity room was pushed open a crack.

A petite girl wearing round-framed glasses peeked in, her gaze timidly sweeping across the room before finally settling on Tian Zhongxue.

"Excuse me, is this the manga club?"

She spoke very softly, as if she were afraid to speak loudly in a library.

"Yes! Yes! Please come in!"

Tianzhong Middle School immediately switched back to its recruitment mode.

The girl walked in cautiously.

"I'm Misaki Asakura, a first-year student in the Faculty of Education. I heard there are fellow Aniplex fans here..."

"You're the 'Tricolor Cat Food' who contacted me in the future dimension before!" Tian Zhongxue slapped his thigh. "Welcome, welcome! We just happened to be preparing for the S;G appreciation event!"

Misaki Asakura bowed awkwardly and, accompanied by Ayumi Horiuchi, found a seat.

Ryosuke's gaze lingered on her for a moment before shifting away.

The users of Future Dimension are gathering offline one by one, which is a pleasant surprise.

The appreciation event has officially begun.

Tianzhong selected several of the most impactful scenes from S;G ​​to replay, including the moment the first D-mail was sent, the moment Mayuri died, and the full text of Reiha's suicide note scrolling.

He passionately explained while operating the mouse, and with Ayumi occasionally interjecting supplementary explanations, the entire activity room was filled with the atmosphere of a mini-lecture.

Misaki Asakura's eyes started to redden during Mayuri's part, and by the time she got to the part about Rei's suicide note, Ayumi Horiuchi had to hand her a tissue.

"I had a terrible time when I first got to this point," Tanaka said with a sigh. "But what really drove me crazy was the choice in the true ending. To save Kurisu, I had to delete the initial D-mail, but deleting it meant Mayuri would..."

“So,” Ayumi put down her pencil and rubbed her temples, “Gen Urobuchi really went too far.”

"That's right, that's right!" Tian Zhongxue nodded vigorously. "Making players forced to delete everything they've accumulated is really awful! But I just love it!"

"Yes, even though I know the plot is pre-arranged, I still feel it's my responsibility."

"Ultimately, why use such a cruel way of expressing it in the story? There are clearly more gentle ways to write it, aren't there?"

Misaki Asakura wiped her eyes and quietly agreed.

"Because it's interesting."

Because Ling Nai had asked him a similar question, Ryosuke instinctively spoke up after hearing it.

He regretted it as soon as he finished speaking, because the other three people in the room looked at him almost simultaneously.

"Takashiro-kun must have a special opinion, I'm very curious."

Tian Zhongxue's eyes lit up, and he came closer.

“A die-hard fan like you must understand Gen Urobuchi’s mentality. Tell me about it.”

Do I understand myself? This is the first time Ryosuke has ever analyzed his own psychology in front of others.

“Well…” He considered his words carefully, “Perhaps the creators believe that only when players truly feel the weight of ‘loss’ will the final Steins Gate have meaning. If the middle isn’t painful enough, the end won’t be so sweet.”

Tian Zhongxue stroked his chin thoughtfully.

"That makes sense, but it's still too much from a player's perspective. They're tormented to the point of death by their favorite work, and then they have to write long posts on the forum to recommend it to more people."

"This is what a warrior of love must be like."

Ryosuke gave a rather helpless smile.

"Hmm, Takashiro-kun must have meant it in a negative way... I'd better not experience this kind of subtle love too often."

"Speaking of which, if I ever had the chance to meet Gen Urobuchi in person, and if there was a handshake event, I would definitely attend, and then pinch him hard to get revenge for the 'evil deeds' he committed against the working-class warriors!"

As Tian Zhongxue spoke, he even smiled and waved his fist.

Ayumi, who was standing to the side, couldn't help but cover her face and waved to Ryosuke.

"Ignore this guy. He's already this age, and he still keeps saying nonsensical things. Despite his appearance, he won't allow anyone else to say anything bad about that writer except for himself."

"..."

Ryosuke didn't say anything, but silently decided to keep Gen Urobuchi's identity hidden until the very end.

.....

When we left the activity room after the appreciation event, it was already getting dark.

Ryosuke glanced at his phone; it was exactly 5:10.

It takes another hour and a half to get from the school to Chiba, so it's about time I left.

"Takashiro-kun, there's a gathering on Wednesday, you'll be there, right?"

Tian Zhongxue chased after her to the door, clasping his hands together in a pleading gesture. "Ayumi said she's bringing her new line art next week, and Asakura will also be bringing her complete collection of Aniplex artwork!"

"It will come."

That's good.

Tian Zhongxue breathed a sigh of relief.

The student union assesses the activity level of clubs; if few members participate in activities, the club will be shut down soon.

As the president, this is the aspect he is most worried about.

Yesterday, we handed out a lot of flyers at the freshman recruitment fair, but we only recruited two new members. Including the five members who were already in the club, we only have seven people in total.

Since some of the older members cannot attend regularly, maintaining the attendance rate of the new members becomes particularly important.

"Oh, by the way, since you're in the literature club, Takashiro, why don't you try writing something?"