[15] Going on a Trip

"Ah—-" Okada Tomomi almost screamed.

"Hmm? Who are you?" Kazuya pushed the door open and said.

"Um... I'm Okada Tomomi, an editor from Shueisha, responsible for editing Kurokawa-sensei's new serialization in 'Weekly YOUNGJUMP.' May I ask if you are..." Okada Tomomi looked at Kurokawa Kazuya in front of her with a pounding heart.

She had just been scared to death; her heart felt like it had received a massive shock.

"I see," Kazuya nodded, "An editor from Shueisha... So, I am the mangaka Kurokawa Kazuya you're looking for. Please come in."

"Huh? You're Kurokawa-sensei?" Okada Tomomi said in disbelief, not the monster with eight arms she had imagined, but this person...

He looked quite young... and handsome...

"What's wrong? Don't just stand at the door."

"No, nothing, I'm coming!" Okada Tomomi hastily walked in.

"Meow~"

"Oh, a cat—"

"Alright, Kohana, stay here for a while," Kazuya said to the cat, then looked at Okada Tomomi and said, "Well, let's sit here."

"Yes," Okada Tomomi nodded and sat down, taking on her role as an editor. "Here's the contract. I brought it with me this time. Please check if there are any errors or omissions."

"Alright," Kazuya nodded and opened the folder to examine it carefully.

This still needed to be carefully examined. Although a big company like Shueisha wouldn't scam a small mangaka like him, well... when you thought about it carefully, it wasn't really a joke. It was just a precaution.

Better safe than sorry.

After checking the prices per page, as well as the current situation, Kazuya nodded in satisfaction, confirming that there were no errors or omissions. "Alright, then it's settled."

"Oh, that's great. So let's sign the contract, and about the seal..."

"I have it here," Kazuya said. "Wait for a moment; I'll go upstairs to get it."

"Alright."

Kazuya smiled and went upstairs. After finalizing this deal, he would earn more than 10 million yen. This was just the basic price calculated at 15,000 yen per page. It didn't even take into account future possibilities like tankobon releases and copyright fees.

If he were to serialize in Shonen JUMP, the price per page would increase, likely reaching around 20,000 yen per page. Of course, that was just his estimate.

But if he were to hire assistants, the situation would change significantly, and he would probably have to share about half of the earnings.

That was common for regular mangaka.

However, he wasn't a regular mangaka. He didn't need assistants, not to mention he would be the one overseeing the whole process.

Okada Tomomi once again felt her lack of presence and significance as an editor. But, in the end, it was a project that fell from the sky, and she didn't have to do much. It wasn't a bad thing.

"Well, everything on my end is settled," Kazuya said in satisfaction.

"It's almost spring break... How about taking Kazumi somewhere to play?" Kazuya looked at the calendar in front of him. There were only three days left until Kazumi's school started spring break.

Unlike his past life, Japan had three major school breaks each year: winter break, spring break, and summer break.

During winter break, he didn't have much time because he was focused on drawing his new manga. Therefore, during spring break, he and Kazumi usually played with his classmates. But now that spring break was approaching, not going on a trip was out of the question...

As for the destination, he had already decided.

"In manga, what's important is realism!" Although his pursuit of realism had led to a failure because it was too realistic, he didn't plan to give up on that aspect. He could make the story a bit more fictional, romantic, and filled with storytelling elements, but he wouldn't compromise on certain descriptions.

However, he thought about places he wanted to visit, and he also wanted to check if Kazumi had any places she wanted to go.

In the evening—

After dinner, Kazuya looked at Kazumi, who had finished her homework, and asked, "Spring break is coming soon. Is there anywhere you'd like to go?"

"Huh? We're going on a trip for spring break?" Kazumi asked in surprise.

"Yes, anywhere is fine. It doesn't have to be in Japan; it can be in other countries too. And we can visit several places if you want, as long as we can return before school starts."

"Hooray!" Kazumi cheered.

"So, is there any place you'd like to go?"

"Hmm..." Kazumi thought for a moment and shook her head. "I haven't decided yet... hehe, it's so sudden."

"Well, if you have any ideas, just let me know. Anywhere is fine."

"Yeah, yeah," Kazumi nodded enthusiastically. "What about you, Onii-chan? Do you have a place you want to go?"

"Ah, yes," Kazuya nodded. "I plan to make a trip to England. I want to visit the British Museum and King Arthur's tomb."

Of course, if he had enough time, he also wanted to visit the Louvre.

But that wasn't urgent.

He could go anytime, and if there was still time after visiting the places Kazumi wanted to go, he would consider it. If not, then so be it.

"By the way, Onii-chan, what about Kohana?" Kazumi asked.

"Meow~ Meow (You finally remembered me! I want to go too!)" Kohana exclaimed.

"Well... I don't think they allow cats on planes," Kazuya said. Although he vaguely remembered the existence of specialized pet carriers, that was in the 21st century, and he didn't know if such carriers existed in this era, especially in Japan.

But taking this little troublemaker with them would be too troublesome. It was better not to.

"Oh... what about Kohana?" Kazumi asked in surprise. Wouldn't she starve to death if she wasn't taken care of for so many days?

"Ah, I'll ask someone to take care of her for a while."

"Ask who?"

"The editor," Kazuya smiled and said.

...

"Ah, ah... truly a free-spirited mangaka," Iwamoto Yu sighed as he looked at the cat in front of him.

Such a guy was rare. He had said he was going on a trip with his little sister and asked him to take care of the cat...

Most mangaka didn't even have the money for this, let alone the energy.

"But, in that case, the third manga will be delayed, won't it?"

Well, how should he put it... He had actually relaxed a bit.

"Meow~"

"It seems you're very unhappy too, huh? That guy..."

---

If you're interested in reading more, feel free to visit my patreon which already contains 20 chapters: 

https://www.patreon.com/XElenea