Tokyo 1970: I'll draw Doraemon?

He began to miss his old friends, whom he had gradually drifted apart from since graduation.

This is normal; everyone has experienced it, but it's still regrettable.

Their presence is in all the beautiful memories we once had.

"Hey! Brother Chuan, you're back!" someone suddenly shouted.

Fushimikawa looked over and saw that three men and two women were walking over.

"Takayuki, Shunji, Keita, Mai, Shizuko, you're here for the graduation ceremony too!"

“Yes, the principal is retiring, so we should at least come and see him,” Hattori Takayuki said.

Keita Tanabe punched Fushimikawa in the chest and complained, "Honestly, he didn't even contact us when he came back."

Fushimikawa explained, "Things were rushed, and Megumi and I had just returned to our hometown."

Mai stared intently at Fushimi Kawa, her eyes sparkling: "You're even more handsome than before, you've got the air of a grown man, haven't you, Shizuko?"

She nudged her companion beside her and said slyly.

Shizuko remained silent, but the blush on her face, which she slightly lowered to hide her embarrassment, still revealed her thoughts.

“That’s the vibe of a corporate slave,” Fushimikawa sighed. “Working more than ten hours a day is really tough, and it’s not easy for me to come back this time.”

"Huh?!" Takayuki exclaimed, his mouth agape in surprise. "Isn't Kawa-nii studying at university in Tokyo?"

“It’s a long story,” Fushimikawa said, spreading his hands and standing in the center of the crowd as he told them his story at Waseda University and walked toward the school gate.

As they got closer to their destination, their group grew larger and larger, becoming a very conspicuous presence in the crowd.

"Huh?"

"real or fake!"

"That's outrageous!"

Laughter and exclamations rang out from time to time, making the others even more curious.

These seniors, some in college and some already working, have lost their usual composure and are more prone to startling and flustered than high school students.

……

Laughter reached our ears even before the person appeared.

Shiraishi was very curious about the person his teacher was waiting for. Although this person could not be described as rigid and inflexible, he was by no means a sycophant.

Even if he's the Dean of Education, he doesn't need to be so obsequious.

So Shiraishi waited expectantly for the person who was climbing up the hill and finally showing his face, and didn't bother with the graduation ceremony which still had some time left.

"Thanks to the collective efforts of everyone in the Waseda Comic Club, the CM Comic Con has successfully come to a close..."

Some people were talking animatedly about the comic book convention, which had nothing to do with the elderly.

Could it be that the people we're waiting for aren't from this group?

Just as the thought crossed his mind, Shiraishi glanced out of the corner of his eye and saw that his teacher was pursing his dry lips and trembling chin. Clearly, the person he was waiting for was about to arrive and he was about to lose his patience.

Eager to know the answer, Shiraishi walked quickly forward. Looking down, he immediately saw Fushimi River surrounded by a large crowd.

At that moment, Fushimi saw him too, and their eyes met, making Shiraishi realize what was going on.

"So it was Fushimi who returned. No wonder you were so looking forward to it, Master."

"Hey! Mr. Shiraishi."

He looked at Fushimikawa, who was waving and greeting him, and couldn't help but smile. He waved back and replied, "Welcome home, Fushimikawa."

……

What kind of person was Fushimikawa?

He was once a renowned child prodigy in Japan, and every household in Aichi Prefecture knew the name of the author, Namo San. He was once the pride of the people of Aichi Prefecture.

However, by the time he entered junior high school, his literary talent had quickly faded into obscurity.

It's not that his performance was mediocre; after all, he was an excellent student. It's just that there's nothing to look forward to anymore.

When he was in high school, Shiraishi, who was a Japanese language teacher, saw the legendary Namu San in person.

He wasn't arrogant or timid at all; instead, he had a gentle smile on his face and chatted with many people, becoming friends with them.

Unlike the high school delinquents, Fushimikawa has a mental age similar to that of an adult. He is kind and considerate to his friends, which makes him quite popular.

Even his own teacher, through his keen observation, understood his needs and proactively helped him establish connections with the literary publishing house.

Being friends with him means you don't need to worry about anything; you can just enjoy the friendship.

He can say a few words to everyone, from the principal to the high school students.

Apart from a few people who were jealous of him, the students at the industrial high school back then all had a good impression of Fushimikawa.

His return is both an outstanding student returning to his alma mater and a reunion with a close friend.

Shiraishi was in a good mood.

……

As they were about to arrive, Fushimikawa quickened his pace and saw Principal Fujino, who looked quite old.

"I am back."

“You’re so busy with work, it’s a crucial time, why waste time?” Principal Fujino complained, holding Fushimi Kawa’s hand, but he couldn’t suppress the smile on his lips.

"All you need to do is say, 'I'm very happy,' and that's it."

He accompanied Principal Fujino, surrounded by a large group of people, as they walked together toward the auditorium.

Who wouldn't want to take a second look at this scene?

Guided by his friend Horikawa, Akira Toriyama looked toward the crowd.

One glance was fine, but when he saw who it was, his pupils dilated violently.

“That’s… Oikawa-sensei…”

"What? What teacher did you say?" Horikawa was baffled.

Akira Toriyama didn't have time to explain Fushimikawa's identity to him.

He looked at Mr. Oikawa, who was bent over and chatting with Principal Fujino close to his ear, and an idea came to him.

"Could it be that the teacher came to celebrate my graduation?"

“How could that be!” Akira Toriyama shook his head repeatedly, dispelling this unrealistic idea.

"Perhaps it's because the principal is retiring, and as a well-known alumnus, he came to the school to give a speech."

"Amin, what are you talking about? I don't understand a word you're saying." Horikawa frowned.

"You'll find out in a moment," Akira Toriyama said with a smile, snapping out of his reverie.

……

The graduation ceremony for the industrial high school has officially begun.

Fushimikawa, wearing a corsage, sat next to Principal Fujino.

As a guest, his seat should not have been here.

But since Principal Fujino is retiring, no one will criticize him for making a few small whims.

After roll call and singing the school song, Principal Fujino went on stage to present graduation certificates, and then began his speech.

The process is exactly the same as that of the Fushimikawa class.

"Dear graduates, parents, and guests:"

Today, with this graduation ceremony, the graduating seniors will leave the Industrial High School and embark on a new path in their lives.

After his opening remarks, Principal Fujino offered words of blessing and guidance to the students who were about to pursue further education or enter the workforce.

As he prepared to leave his position as principal, tears welled up in his eyes as he spoke.

"This is my last time as the principal of the industrial middle school. For a long time, I have been very strict with everyone. I want to say sorry for that."

He bowed deeply, and many people immediately stood up, but only sat down after he gestured for them to do so.

After the commotion subsided and things quieted down, Principal Fujino spoke sincerely.

"Many of my former students came to see me off today, which makes me very happy. It means that my work has not been in vain."

As he said this, Hattori Takayuki and the others, who were standing to the side as guests, unfurled a banner.

"Thank you, Principal Fujino, for the wonderful memories you left us."

Fushimi River was moved.

He suddenly thought of himself and his assistants. Did they feel the same sincerity in their feelings for him?

Perhaps not. Although the relationship between a cartoonist and his assistant is said to be that of master and apprentice, it is more of a superior-subordinate relationship of mutual assistance.

With assistants, cartoonists can better complete their works.

The assistant receives a salary from the cartoonist and learns a lot, laying the foundation for becoming a cartoonist himself.

Compared to a pure teacher-student relationship, it's more about vested interests.

"But it's still pretty good."

Chapter 116 "I am the manga artist Oikawa Ji"

"Seiichi-kun, why aren't you looking at the stage? What are you looking at over there for?"

Eri Murata, who was close to Seiichi Arima, asked quietly.

Murata wasn't a student at the Industrial High School; she came to the graduation ceremony here because of Arima Seiichi.

She felt that Seiichi Arima was a reliable and hardworking person, someone she could entrust with her life.

But now he's staring intently at a handsome man, which makes Murata Eri feel threatened.

"I didn't expect him to come back today."

Arima Seiichi did not answer directly, but muttered to himself.