2 The Rebirth of The Mangaka Club

I remembered that my father worked as an illustrator and he did all kinds of art. 

Maybe it all started with the mangaka club. 

Why do I not know much about my father? Is he even my father?

I asked myself as a lot of questions came to mind...

"Excuse me, I'm Kenji. I was asked to come and see the school director," I said

"Oh, please come in," he told me as I walked into the room. "I'm Hitoshi Ueda the school director, your father's former partner."

"Partner? What do you mean?" My eyebrows furrowed in confusion. 

"Oh, Didn't your father tell you? I wrote the storylines and he did the illustrations. Your father was such an amazing artist back in the day."

The Director reminisced, smiling oddly...

"Thank you, you speak highly of my father. Unfortunately, I know very little about him."

"As expected of Masao-senpai, He does keep everything to himself."

"Senpai? You mean you're younger than him? Wait! I'm confused. Why did you ask us to start the mangaka club again ?"

Hitoshi laughed. Then he said,

"Not quite. It was because I looked up to him as his best friend and partner. You see, the mangaka club is your father's stepping stone for his dreams to be an artist. It became a reality because of his perseverance and dedication... First, it was just him and me doing all the work, but later his talent was recognized by everyone in the school. When we won the "Akatsuka Manga Contest", many called him the prodigy at fifteen. Surely, many have followed our footsteps but after a while, it started to decrease and soon, was lost within this school."

"I get the story, but why did it decrease? Something must have happened."

I inquire even more.

"A lot of things happened in this school. But in our prefecture, our school used to be famous for its passion for art and care for its art students, too. Then, the school directors got frustrated, the ones I looked up to, despised art after they were not able to produce winners. If your father were to find out about that, he would smack those bastards with his canvas. Your father did not make manga or art for the competition and title, he built the club to create a place for aspiring artists, like him, to be in the environment where they feel closer to making their dreams a reality,"

Hitoshi explained.

"That's awful of them to do such a thing!"

"Well, every corporate junkie will take advantage of something that their name could benefit from. Talk about greed and pride, they'll do everything to gain popularity."

"So, why are you going to make me rebuild the mangaka club?"

"I knew you'd ask. Your father already warned me that you'd think I am like those before me and that I'll be using you to get the school recognized again. But I am not one of them, and I respect your father and his name. The school wouldn't be the same without the mangaka club." He lifted his chin, still taking pride in his school.

"Last question, how'd you know about Fumi?"

"She's my niece."

"You mean, all those things that happened?! When she bumped into me, dragged me all over the campus, making people misunderstand our situation, during the opening ceremony! Was it all scripted and not a coincidence?"

"Eh? I don't know what you're talking about. She's just as clumsy as her mother, that's for sure," Hitoshi gives a creeping look...

"Okay. WHAT IS WITH YOUR CREEPY FACE!"

"Was I that obvious?"

Hitoshi mused.

"You are indeed different from those before you, PERVERT!"

"WHAT? I AM THE SCHOOL DIRECTOR MIGHT YOU HAVE FORGOTTEN THAT"

"Ah, sorry! I got carried away. U-N-C-L-E!"

"WHAT?"

I left the office while Hitoshi's face was in despair.

"Seriously, WHY IS THIS HAPPENING TO MY LIFE!"

I shouted in the hallway leading to all the students looking at me. My best friend Yasu walks up from behind me.

"Oy! Kenji, what's wrong? Are you okay? How's the meeting with the school director?"

"Fumi is his niece, and here I thought I finally found peace in my highschool life."

"But isn't Fumi cute, shy, and clumsy? Which makes her a perfect wife!"

I turned to him, narrowing my eyes. 

"Enough with your fetishes or I am calling the cops."

"Alright, we should be heading to class now. It'd be a good idea to hold a club meeting as well."

"I'm going to the nurse's office for a while. Just let our teacher know.."

"Eh, okay. I'll meet you at the club?"

"Yes."

By the moment I heard the story and answers to my questions, I felt the motivation to bring back my father's legacy and the true nature of the school along with the mangaka club.

"I'm calling my father. Tell Fumi to meet us outside the school."

"Uh, okay."

I took out my phone and called my father.

"Hello, Papa, are you busy?"

"A little bit. I'm in the middle of work, why?"

"Ah, sorry for calling you suddenly. It's about the mangaka club."

"Yes, what about it? I'm sorry for forcing-"

"I'm doing it. I will give it my best to bring back the mangaka club and tell them that art is not just for a competition."

"I see, although your mother is against it, make sure to tell her about that. We always talk about things before agreeing to whatever it is, right? But don't worry you have all my support."

My father continues. His voice softened. 

"Kenji, I am always proud of you, son. I know you can do it, and you have good people that surround you."

"Thank you, Papa. By the way, can I borrow some stuff from your studio?"

"Sure, the keys are in my room's first shelf cabinet. Just don't mess up my studio okay?"

"Yes. Don't worry we won't."

I hung up the phone and met up with Fumi and Yasu outside the school campus.

"Fumi, behave yourself when we get there."

"Eh? Huh? Where? There?" Fumi looks scared. 

*Have I awakened some evil thoughts on this guy* She remembered Kenji's voice.

"I'm so-so-sorry please forgive me!"

"Huh? What are you talking about? Did you do something wrong again?" I questioned.

"You-You said to behave me when we get there!"

"Ah yes, but what are you afraid of??" I asked one more time.

"BECAUSE ITS MY FIRST TIME DOING IT."

Students looked at us in shock after hearing those words.

"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU TALKING ABOU?!"

Yasu can't control his laughter in the corner, after hearing those ridiculous words coming from Fumi.

" It's not what you think!" I try to correct her misunderstanding.

"It's my first time walking out of school with a boy together.." Fumi mutters.

I put my palm on my face in awkwardness and whispered,

"Same."

"You two, are you done arguing?"

Yasu still can't stop laughing.

"We will be heading to my father's studio, we'll borrow some of the materials there and we can think better in that proper environment."

"I can't wait to go back and check out his father's collection! You will see every corner of the house full of manga references and toy collections!" 

Yasu stated excitedly.

"Don't forget the drafts and manuscripts that were untouched."

I reminded him.

After arriving at my father's studio, they can't contain their excitement to go inside and check all the stuff.

"Hu-waaaaaah~ there are so many collections, HERO ACADEMY, That Leaf Ninja, Ball of Dragons, Road to Pirate King! This was more than what I have in my place, amazing," Fumi's excitement is all over the place.

"Hey, hey Kenji! What's with all these action figure collections?"

It was Yasuyuki who spoke.

"Fumi, you're such a fan of shokunen, are you?"

"Uh, not just shokunen but also shokujo."

Fumi corrected.

"I see here, check this corner out. My father is not only about shokunen manga, but let me just also say he's a man of culture."

"AAAAAAAAAAAA! MAGICAL GIRL MAJIKA, RESTART FROM ZERO and it's all legit from Great Smile Co!"

"Yes, I know, right? I am quite jealous of his father's collection. Even Though he's a retired mangaka, he doesn't miss a chance to buy or watch new releases,"

Yasu added.

"Alright you two, come! The real studio is behind this door."I announced as I stopped their fantasies.. "You will see all kinds of stuff a mangaka needs Fumi!"

I opened the door, exposing the wonders behind.

"Wow!that's larger than I thought. Also, look at all these shokunen magazines and comic books."

Fumi is still amazed by the studio's atmosphere.

"H-Hey, Kenji this is where the drafts and manuscripts are placed right?"

Yasu made sure.

"Ah yes, just don't misplace them or my father would kill you."

"Waaah, look at these boxes lined up neatly. It is so well organized. I feel bad just looking at them."

"What are these papers full of unfinished drawings?"

Fumi asked, pointing at some papers on a shelf.

"Those are names, it's the rough draft that the finished manga is based on. This doubles as the pitch for the manga editors to decide if the manga is interesting enough to publish. If they decide it is interesting enough they give the mangaka and approval to do the manuscript. The English word for name is 'thumbnails' but 'storyboard' is commonly used."

I explained and continued,

"First, you will make the names and show it to your editor, then if the editor approves it, you'll be able to create the final draft, which is the manuscript. You have to keep making the names until your editor is satisfied with your work."

I ended my lecture.

"Oh! I remember that back when we were in elementary, you'd plan the names and you draw the final draft, without the editor though."

Yasu replied.