Chapter 8: The Living Miss Apartment Manager!
First, take a deep breath!
Editor Ida did his best to calm down his mind and body. Then he said with admiration, "It's amazing. Shimizu sensei, you are awesome!"
"So, are you sure you want to publish my manga?"
"Of course, when the first time I saw your manga, I had decided on that. But there are some things I have to tell you right now," said Editor Ida earnestly, "Your work is absolutely epoch-making, no, even beyond the times, but sadly, the contribution fee won't be beyond the times."
"I understand. So, how much will my contribution fee be?"
"The contribution fee can only be paid according to the standard, which may be a little higher than other mangakas can have, but won't be too much," explained Editor Ida. "This is actually determined by the nature of our magazine. To be honest, although your manga is a masterpiece, the improvement to the sales of our magazine is limited."
"Oh? I thought my work would be of great help to the sales of the magazine."
"A genius like you should have such self-confidence," said Ida with a bitter smile. "But the adult manga industry has its own unique features. First of all, we have very few channels for publicity. If it is a general manga, with your excellent style of painting, after being recognized by readers for a period of time, you will be able to achieve success quickly, but we can't help you at this point."
"I see."
"Our magazine relies on word-of-mouth promotion. When it comes to the sales of our magazine, the effectiveness of word-of-mouth promotion would be too slow."
Shimizu Hakuseki nodded. This wasn't difficult to understand.
At this time, there was no network in the world, the strength of word-of-mouth promotion was naturally weak. When people knew finally about his manga, his manga probably have been finished. After all, the manga had only 7 chapters in his plan.
Furthermore, word-of-mouth was also unreliable. For example, if you read a good book or watched a good, classic movie, you can recommend it to everyone. However, when you see an excellent adult manga, it's not very easy to tell others about your habit. Unless they were your best buddies, you couldn't recommend it to anyone. And if someone else asked you, you may even ask back, "What do you say? I don't understand. What? Adult manga? Asshole! How dare you mention these filthy things in front of me? Just listening will stain my ears. Go away!"
Nowadays, Japanese society was still very traditional, and people still needed to pretend that they were honest, straight forward gentlemen.
"I see. After all, I'm still a newcomer. I'm satisfied that you can give me the contribution fee."
"I'm glad to know that you can accept it. I believe that your influence will be higher and higher, and your income will be higher and higher too in the future. There is no hurry. And after a period of time, the bookseller who cooperates with us will come to you to publish your manga as a separate edition. The income of the separate edition will also be higher, and we will also help you at that time."
"Thank you very much… well, there's one more thing that l’m too shy to speak out." Shimizu Hakuseki lowered his head and said embarrassingly, "But under the pressure of making a living, I can only ask for your help."
"Well, please say it."
"Excuse me, when can I receive the contribution fee?"
"Of course, in the month when the manga is published in the magazine, the contribution fee will be mailed to your house along with the sample magazine. It's a tradition of the manga industry."
"Yes, I understand, but I'd like to make a presumptuous request."
"Oh, please say it."
"I want to receive the contribution fee in advance, because I'm really poor now. To be honest, I owe the apartment I’m living in a month's rent."
"Ah, you live in an apartment alone? Don't you live at home?"
"I moved out on my own for family reasons. Yes, I live alone now."
"I see. Each family has its own problems." Editor Ida nodded. "Although I shouldn't talk too much, I still hope you can reach a settlement with your family as soon as possible. I understand your difficulties, no problem."
"Ah, that’s really helpful."
"I will give you the contribution fee tomorrow, because the payment must be proceeding through our financial system."
"No problem. Really nice of you." After knowing that his biggest problem would be solved, Shimizu Hakuseki felt relaxed, "So, should I come tomorrow to receive the contribution fee?"
"No, no. I will send it to your house tomorrow. To tell you the truth, I feel very sorry for you. Because of my own reasons, you have had to come here so many times. As an apology, I will go to your house and give you the money personally."
After a while, they agreed on the meeting time for the next day. Shimizu Hakuseki wrote his address on a paper and left.
In the apartment.
"He is an editor anyhow. Will he really come here and give you the money personally?." Kasannoin Ayase ate a piece of dried radish and said, "I really doubt it. Were you being deceived?"
"Why would he have to deceive me? You know I'm as poor as a church mouse."
"Well, you don't know how dangerous the world of adults is. You are a teenager who is easily deceived by a dirty adult and sold to the United States to be a male prostitute."
"That’s all about scaring girls. I'm not that silly."
"Oh, how naive." Kasannoin Ayase shook her head and sneered, "You know nothing about the dangers of the world."
"You look down upon me too much. He said that he will visit me personally, it's probably not simply for giving me the contribution fee. Maybe he also comes to see if I was telling the truth."
"It’s conceivable."
Since Kasannoin Ayase found that Shimizu Hakuseki was drawing adult manga, she often went to his room, which made Shimizu Hakuseki feel worried, after all, nobody liked the debtor dangling in front of him every day.
But today, she brought a tray of dried radishes, which was an irresistible temptation to him.
This was the first time he saw food apart from cup noodles this month. Although the dried radish was cheap, it tasted sour and crisp.
In chatting, they also played the game of throwing the dried radishes. The rules of the game were simple: Kasannoin Ayase was responsible for throwing the dried radish high, and Shimizu Hakuseki was not allowed to use his hands but only his mouth to catch the dried radish.
Kasannoin Ayase threw a piece of dried radish up.
Shimizu Hakuseki raised his head and opened his mouth, catching the dried radish in the air!
The dried radish fell into his mouth. He chewed and felt that it tasted fragrant and crisp.
Kasannoin Ayase threw a piece of dried radish away horizontally.
Shimizu Hakuseki pounced on it and caught it with his mouth.
Crunch.
Hum, it's not difficult for me at all!
Kasannoin Ayase threw a piece of dried radish behind herself.
Shimizu Hakuseki jumped up. His body passed through Kasannoin Ayase's body and caught the dried radish in the air.
Crunch.
I won!
However, why is Kasannoin Ayase laughing so happily? It's strange!
When Shimizu Hakuseki was ready to think deeply about it, Kasannoin Ayase threw away another piece of dried radish, which diverted his attention.
"By the way, how are you going to spend your contribution fee?"
"Well, first of all, I will pay the rent."
"Don't be in such a hurry," said Kasannoin Ayase, who suddenly became talkative. "Since you have the ability to pay the rent, you don't have to pay it in such a hurry."
"No, I will pay the rent immediately after I obtain the money. I can't bear to owe other people's their money. It makes me feel uncomfortable."
"Oh, I see." Kasannoin Ayase threw a piece of dried radish out of the window.
"Hey, this breaks the rules! And it's wasteful too!"
"Ha-ha, it's your fault because you did not catch it, why do you blame me?"
"You've thrown it out of the window. How can I catch it? We are on the second floor. Are you trying to murder me?"
"As I said, you are too simple. There are no rules that must be followed in the world, so there is no violation. In the world of adults, in order to win, all methods are allowed!" After saying that, she immediately changed the topic, "By the way, I didn't expect that your contribution fee would be quite so generous. After paying the rent, how will you use the remaining money?"
"Well, I think I will buy plenty of foods."
"How boring! After stockpiling up foods, there should be still a lot of money left. What are you going to do next?"
"Ah, I'm going to buy some books," said Shimizu Hakuseki. He looked at the calendar. Today's date was August 1, 1974. The weather was getting hotter and hotter.
He wiped away his sweat and said, "A masterpiece that I've been paying attention to for a long time was published. I wanted to buy it but I didn't have the money. Now, I can finally buy it."
"Oh, oh, that's exactly what I'm thinking also," Kasannoin Ayase said in surprise. "I've also been paying attention to that masterpiece for a long time. When you get the money, let's go shopping in the bookstore together. You can cover for me."
Hum? Why do I need to cover up for you? Aren't we just going to buy books?
Before he asked the question, he heard a knock on the door.
"Dong dong dong!"
It was Editor Ida's voice outside the door, "Excuse me, is Mr. Shimizu Hakuseki living here?"
"Yes, just a moment."
Opening the door, Shimizu saw that Editor Ida was standing at the door and holding a big bag in his hand.
"It's unexpected that you actually live in Tokoharu Apartment! This must be the so-called 'art comes from life'!" Editor Ida picked up the bag in his hand and said, "This is the first time I come to your house, so I bought some gifts for you."
"It's very kind of you."
"Ha ha, they are just some cheap gifts. There's a new Western-style cake shop near the magazine. I think you young people should like cakes, so I brought some."
After entering the door, Editor Ida naturally saw Kasannoin Ayase in the room.
His body suddenly trembled as a look of total disbelief appeared on his face.
"Wait, this, this is, this is the Miss Apartment Manager in the manga!!! No, she is alive, the apartment manager is alive!"
