Tokyo 1970: I'll draw Doraemon?

……

Monday, Future Society.

"Wasn't Editor-in-Chief Wu Ju on vacation? Why does he still look so tired? He seems even worse than when he's working."

The company is thriving, with increasing circulation and media attention, and it's on the right track.

Editor-in-Chief Wu Ju finally began his first weekend vacation since arriving here.

But judging from Kitahara Shinsuke's condition, he seemed to be in worse shape than he was last week.

“His face was sunken and he looked completely listless,” Noguchi Masakyu sighed as he watched Takei Toshiki’s retreating figure. “Although he decided to take a break, Editor-in-Chief Takei was still worried about our future, so he couldn’t enjoy his vacation properly. He’s so responsible.”

He was filled with admiration, and Kitahara Shinsuke felt a chill run down his spine.

'This guy is such a smooth talker.'

Upon entering the editor-in-chief's office, Toshiki Takei lay down on a chair and closed his eyes for a short rest.

He had an extremely difficult weekend and paid a heavy price to maintain his dignity as a father.

Only when I get to the studio can I finally get some proper rest.

But not long after, the phone on his desk rang.

Frowning slightly, Takei Toshiki answered the phone, his voice gentle.

"Hello, this is Takei from Mirai-sha. How can I help you?"

"Junshu, it's been a long time. This is Keizo."

"Oh, what's the matter?"

Although it was a question, Toshiki Takei's face revealed a smile of triumph.

"Want to contact Mr. Oikawa? That won't be easy. He has a very bad impression of Sunday magazine."

Holding the microphone, Takei Toshiki reclined in his chair, put his feet up on the table, and fiddled with his pen while responding to Inoue Keizo's polite remarks.

"That's why I had to ask you for help. Only you can do this. I'm sorry to bother you, but Sunday needs your help. Just making a connection would be great. No matter the outcome, I'll remember this favor."

He hasn't reached the point of being so humble as to say, "Please, without you, we would... I'll do anything I can!" But as editor-in-chief, he has already lowered his guard considerably.

After another five minutes of communication, having listened to enough flattery, Takei Toshiki finally nodded hesitantly, "Okay... alright, I'll give it a try. If it fails..."

"This is a loss for Sunday!"

"That's settled then."

After hanging up the phone, Takeshi Takeki felt satisfied, and all his fatigue vanished.

He wasn't deliberately making things difficult for Inoue Keizo; it's just that things that are easily obtained are not cherished by anyone.

It's easier to control them when they're feeling insecure and anxious.

"Let's wait a while, five days? A week? We'll contact Shogakukan again when they get impatient, but I need to talk to Mr. Oikawa first."

……

"I usually hate thrillers or horror works, but I inexplicably read Parasyte. With the ever-growing population of the Earth, such a thing may really happen one day. This work is not only frightening, but also thought-provoking, and occasionally humorous. I can't help but read it now."

With the fifth chapter of the manga "Parasyte" serialized, editor Shinsuke Kitahara handed over the reader letters he had collected at this stage to Fushimikawa.

Because it is a manga for young adults, the age range of readers of Parasyte is quite wide.

For example, this 30-year-old office worker from Kanagawa Prefecture who had many feelings about it.

“Mirai-sha’s next plan is to prepare for the publication of a single volume of Parasyte,” Shinsuke Kitahara explained his purpose. “Once we have enough chapters for Parasyte in another two weeks, these interesting comments can be placed at the end of the chapters to enhance interaction between you and your readers.”

"Yes." Fushimikawa nodded.

"Have you thought about how to reply?"

"What's there to think about?" Fushimi Kawa shook his head.

He picked up his pen and started writing.

"What if one day, plants and animals other than humans, those life forms that are not respected by humans, possess great power? Parasyte is a work that shows this. So it gave you a positive feeling, right?"

"However, explosive population growth? I don't think so. Perhaps in the future, the fertility rate in many countries will drop below 2."

Current Japanese textbooks include discussions about the topic of a continuously increasing population and whether the Earth can sustain it.

He looked like someone who was worrying unnecessarily, in the eyes of people in the 21st century.

But now, with the emergence of Japan's second baby boom after World War II, children are everywhere in life, and mother and baby stores are popping up all over Tokyo. People simply cannot imagine the aging society of the future.

"In modern urban society, children are no longer so important. The desire for a free life, free from the burdens of children, may become a consensus, regardless of gender."

"So I think the unknown future is always worth looking forward to, and uncertainties are waiting for us ahead."

After Fushimi finished writing, Kitahara Shinsuke picked it up and glanced at it, his brows furrowing.

"How is that possible? It's completely unrealistic."

The current Japanese government's slogan is to control the rapid population growth and achieve a stable population.

In his opinion, Fushimikawa's idea was utter nonsense.

"But that's also possible; this perspective might offer readers a different perspective."

Kitahara Shinsuke put away what Fushimikawa had written: "I'll remember to use it."

He looked unconvinced, and Fushimikawa didn't argue.

Time will prove him right.

Fushimikawa has not yet predicted that Japan's economy will remain sluggish for many years to come and that right-wing ideology will regain control of propaganda.

Besides that letter, there were some other interesting letters that came in.

What will become of humans who feel no pain in the future?

This is a student's reaction after watching "Parasyte".

His idea makes a lot of sense. Many people in Japan only began to reflect on the war of aggression because they experienced the pain.

Fushimikawa picked up his pen and said that everyone can start by caring for their family, friends, and the animals and plants around them. At least, they will feel content.

……

A parasite has infiltrated the school; it is Ryoko Tamiya, the female assistant homeroom teacher of the class of Satomi Murano, the girl Shinichi admires.

She discovered Shinichi but showed no murderous intent; she was a special kind of parasite.

To prove her existence, she and another parasite, Mr. A, together conceived a new life.

The newborn baby in her womb is an ordinary human being.

What exactly are these parasites?

They have no ability to reproduce and just keep repeating the same thing... eating their own kind?

Tamiya Yoshiko and Yu were puzzled by this.

These are creatures that should not exist in this world.

Mr. A had little interest in this topic; all he knew was eating and killing Shinichi Izumi, the one who threatened his life.

……

"Ah, the story is getting more interesting. Besides the right, there is another parasite that has always existed as a predator, Tamiya Yoshiko, who has begun to study its own origins and the meaning of life."

"After she gives birth, will she eat the child, or raise it as an experiment? Or perhaps..." Yuka Higashino's eyes sparkled, "...will she develop feelings for her child and possess maternal instincts?"

Miyuki Nagai's ears hurt from her noise.

"Didn't you love watching Doraemon the most? Why are you suddenly so keen on Parasyte?"

“Fujiko-sensei’s manga is interesting, but it’s for children. As an adult, I find it childish,” Higashino Yuka sighed. “It has to be Oikawa-sensei. Without his Doraemon, I would only be able to read Parasyte.”

"However, this comic is also very interesting, especially the scene where the dog flies through the air like a bat, which really surprised me. The new story direction is also very refreshing."

"Parasyte wasn't created as a monster; Oikawa-sensei gave them respect for life. I wonder what interesting stories will unfold in the future. Perhaps the parasites will coexist peacefully with humans, since they are both intelligent life forms."

She started talking about comics again.

This troubled Miyuki Nagai. She never expected that what she had only asked her to do was accompany her to see the person she had a crush on, and it would end up like this.

"I think you admire Fushimi-kun even more than I do."

"Where did I admire him? He abandoned Doraemon halfway through and just walked away," Higashino Yuka scoffed. "What an irresponsible man!"

There are countless other readers who share her thoughts.

Because of Fushimikawa's recommendation, they came to like Doraemon.

Fujiko Fujio created the story for children, who desperately needed a Doraemon for teenagers and adults.

Unfortunately, it's very difficult now.

He has left Sunday and started his own comic platform.

Parasyte replaced Doraemon and performed very well, so there's no indication that he'll return to Shogakukan.

Chapter Ninety: Doraemon Returns, Drawing Content Suitable for Himself

"Huh? Doraemon?"

Early in the morning, Eiko Ueda arrived at Oikawa's studio and found that Oikawa was not drawing Parasyte, but creating storyboards for Doraemon.

"Doraemon Returns?" Curious, she looked at the title and asked, puzzled, "Why draw this?"

“Because it’s very interesting,” Fushimikawa replied.

“Drawing Parasyte is hard work, not to mention the workload of adding Doraemon. But to not draw it because you are afraid of hard work is the act of a coward.”

"Wow, that's amazing!" Ueda Eiko didn't understand, but she thought that Oikawa-sensei, who said such a firm word, was very cool.

Forgetting the previous embarrassment, she only felt that she was so happy to be able to join Oikawa Studio.

"And what about me? What do you need me to do?" she asked impatiently.

Spending time with Mr. Oikawa, she developed feelings for him and dreamed of becoming a husband-and-wife manga artist with him after she became a manga artist, creating a legend in the industry.

This future is amazing!