17 Talent Versus Love

"We got a little bit off-topic, but I think the main thing that's missing is more like JADE-hero, whether it's science fiction or not if you can create a story with that kind of hero maybe you'll win a prize next time. After all, Makaino Joji isn't allowed to join anymore. HAHAHAHA! "

Kiichi gave a lot of thoughts on our work, probably it's the best thing to do for now.

"We have AKATSUKA awards next and let's try joining in it, and hopefully you will win or get an award in it. And if you win it is possible that you'll get serialized and you will finally get your debut."

Kiichi ended his opinions here.

"Okay"

Yasu somehow is now feeling relaxed.

"... Is that the best way to get serialized?"

I still have doubts in my mind and a lot of questions that need to be answered.

"Huh?"

Kiichi and Yasu looked at me in confusion.

"I mean, if we create a manuscript with serialization in mind, is that enough to get serialized?"

I voiced out in a serious tone to let show them I am not joking around.

"Kenji, we?"

Yasu seems to misunderstand my point.

"If you want to try you can send me manuscripts at least three chapters and not just names."

Kiichi spoked out some pointers

"Whether it's interesting or not they will decline you with just a second if they don't think it is good enough for JADE, they might even throw it or shred it and then think you are full of yourselves-"

Kiichi continued, right after he finished his sentence our attention was called by the attendant.

"Excuse me, there was a call from the SHOKUNEN JADE editorial department. That you guys should come up there.

The Attendant then left our cubicle,

"EDITORIAL DEPARTMENT?"

Yasu and I were shocked to hear that the editorial department wants to see us. So then after arriving at the editorial department's floor we were stunned by the numerous amount of posters of the manga's they have published.

"K-Kenji, look it's the 'That leaf ninja' 'Baruto' cardboard is here too...Ummm Mr. Kiichi can we take pictures of this place?"

Yasu is like a child on a field trip to his favorite magazine's office.

"Sheesh, Yasu we can do that later after the meeting."

I replied dragging him with me in the alley.

"Kiichi, you didn't say a word that my favorite boys are here."

Mr.Miura welcomed us in the office doors like an uncle who missed his nephews.

"F-favorite boys?!"

Yasuyuki questioned the editor-in-chief's choice of words.

"Ah, yeah, we just have a meeting about their manga 'SECRET SCHOOL CLUB' and the comments from the judges."

Kiichi sits back on his desk and continued his work.

"Come on in, welcome I had lots of things to answer from the looks of your face."

Mr. Miura read our faces perfectly, so I started asking a question.

"What does it takes for a manga to get serialized?"

Everyone in the editorial department suddenly went quiet.

"As long as the manga is interesting, if it is interesting I will get you serialized."

Mr. Miura answered my question with a straight face.

"Wait, are you sure?"

An editor stood up and asks Mr. Miura's answer.

"Do you question my judging in the manga, Kawaguchi?"

Mr. Miura looked at him fiercely,

"No, it's just that they're still young."

Kawaguchi pointed out his reasoning.

"And Makaino Joji isn't it?"

Mr. Miura stands his ground.

The editor-in-chief believes in interesting more than just anything, and he believes in us because of our passion and love for manga. He didn't bother judging our age however he got high expectations of our talent. His dignified words pierce right through the heart of the topic.

"I've watched you work on this one but this story is not interesting. You're way too long for serialization at your current level."

Mr. Miura started voicing out his opinions.

"Why, could you please tell us?"

Yasu inquires authenticity from the answer.

"You rush through things if you're talking about getting serialized with JADE the story is what matters the most. You should concentrate on your current goal which is making a doujinshi just like what your father said to me, but if you really want to get a serialization, go build a story and come up with an interesting manga together with your editor. That is the quickest way to get serialized. Got it?"

Mr. Miura pointed out the right things about us, we rush things, we aim for a bigger goal than taking small steps forward.

"YES!"

We acknowledge that fact.

"Believe in yourself as your father believes in you, and he had done the same things as he was your age, he believes in the people around him and more to himself. Your friends are working hard, the real question is are you?"

I was placed into the hot seat directly as soon as I asked that impossible goal.

"He's the one who said that to me before he retired and married your mother. A manga just needs to be interesting to get serialized. If it is interesting enough it will get serialized."

Mr.Miura explained his point further,

"...."

I cannot think of any word to reply.

"JADE pays all their serialized writers a yearly contract fee."

He then blurted out something to ease the tension in the room.

"Should you be really telling them that?"

Kiichi joined in the conversation as he saw that Mr.Miura is taking interest in us.

"They wanted to be a professional right? Then there is no reason to hide the truth from them."

Mr. Miura sits down on his desk and started scanning his files.

"I don't want to sound cocky but how much?"

Yasu went in for the kill, he's obviously in for the money.

"HAHAHAHA, it is not that much but I think of it as an annual fee for sports players, each year they're serialized, their contributions are taken into consideration, and the upcoming year's contract fee, then lastly the manuscript rates are determined. But if the writer fails and ends it serialization then he can't come up with anything good then his contract ends and he's out of JADE."

That's pretty harsh but why is he telling us this when we are not even serialized yet.

"When I was your father's editor I was also the assistant editor-in-chief that time, I had a hard time telling him that he was out."

Mr.Miura pulled out a manga, a work of my father, and handed it over to me.

So my father experienced this harsh treatment. I wonder how he must have felt.

"He just said that don't worry I feel better now that I can finally retire, remember as long as the manga is interesting then it will get serialized then he left. And after a few years, he contacted me to see his son making a manga."

So my father experienced this harsh treatment. I wonder how he must have felt.

"I see."

I mused while I take the time to comprehend his explanation.

"To be honest with you, a lot of editors here wondered why he retired instead of getting back into JADE. I remember he was so dead set on getting serialized in JADE then all of that disappeared as days passed by, took him all his time in highschool joining our contests and so, we were afraid of the tenacity he had before. If they can't make money of out your work, they'll just trash you out and want nothing to do with you."

So this is the truth about being published in a magazine.

"But if my father did draw something else interesting, you would've published it right?"

I ask a question, hoping to find closure for my father's decision.

"Of course, if it is interesting then it will be published, then if it's popular and high demand then it will get serialized. Your father was right about that."

Mr.Miura didn't hesitate to answer my questions directly.

"So Makaino Joji is getting serialized right?"

"Supposedly, she was going to be, but she joined your mangaka club. I'm sure she has reasons now."

"I don't want to be rude to Hanako and Yasu for being her cousin, could you please tell me what's the difference between me and her?"

Yasu looked at me surprised

"The drawings or if I may be harsh, it will be the love for manga!"

I was flabbergasted by the words that came out of Mr.Miura's mouth.

"That's right when we were young, Hanako and I usually read a lot of manga and tries to draw them as well. Also, we don't really have anything to talk about it was all just manga "

Yasuyuki looked at me as he reminisces his past time with Hanako,

"Makaino Joji is almost too crazy with her dedication to manga ever since she picked up a pen and started drawing at the age of seven. Drawing manga to her is like she is living in it and she was breathing in it. She said she could die if she won't be able to make a manga."

Mr. Miura handed us Hanako's manuscript from her entry during the AKATSUKA awards.

"She is surely evolved a little bit crazy."

Yasu scratches his head for being surprised with the astonishing change on his cousin Hanako

"When I was able to meet her and her parents, she just sat there and swinging the pen left to right never putting it down. That is why I thought she was living in it.

I am surprised she can talk about Makaino Joji like this in one sitting, he continues to tell us more about what he thinks.

"I think she'll become popular once she gets serialized but she chose to follow your goal and hope for the best of it."

Mr.Miura sounded a little bit down after knowing that Hanako joined us but,

"She's still young, and her works like I said fit her age, the kids will love it, but the rest of our readers will find it lacking."

I see his point now, even Hanako needs a lot of improvement to do as well, maybe that's the reason she joined us aside from our main goal.

"That's it. They are young, but their story is too deep and sophisticated. Kenji, Yasuyuki, and the guys in the club continue bringing me names. Just concentrate on having a JADE-like hero. Then let me help you decide which one to draw!"

Kiichi sounded like he found the golden answer to make us win or get serialized.

"Wait…"

Everything is happening too fast, I couldn't keep up.

"Remember, I told you if you keep on drawing you will get better, so it's not like you completely stuck, we just need to concentrate on the story. You can try AKATSUKA if you want."

Kiichi continued voicing out his thoughts,

"Good thinking, Kiichi take a good look at their names. I am looking forward to seeing something or even a hit from you guys."

Mr. Miura smiled and walked us out of the office.

And we decided to write several names with JADE-like heroes and choose one with Mr.Kiichi to try and win the AKATSUKA award.

"So, then thank you for having us! Yasuyuki let's go we got names to make."

We walked out of the SAESHA building full of confidence and energy.