บท 3: The Beginning of a Dream

"Okay let's start with our plans, first let us assign roles and find some members for the mangaka club to fill the gaps." I implored

"I want to see what Fumi knows about manga or of making a manga." Yasu mused.

"Eh? Me? I know how to draw architectural backgrounds or environments. 'Cause I would like to be an architect or interior designer when I finish college." Fumi cheerfully replies to Yasu.

"Oh, then I wouldn't have any problem with the backgrounds! I'll leave it to you, Fumi!" I say in relief.

"Now for the membership recruitment, the two of you are transferees, am I right?" Fumi asked.

"Right, we have to make something that will stand out." Yasu is getting serious now.

"I have to practice with dip pens, I've never used them before." I implored

"Dip pens?" Fumi asks.

"These pens have different types of points on the end, every point has different pressure and strength in them. Generally, dip pens have no ink reservoir, so the user must refill the ink from an ink bowl or bottle to continue drawing or writing." I explained.

"Eh, that's too much stuff to remember! I can't even figure out when to use the right pen for drawing." Fumi looked at it nervously...

"HAHAHAHA! I know right, I'll stick to one point and practice then." I replied.

"For now let's do some research for our recruitment idea," Yasu suggests, taking no interest in the pens.

"I have an idea, how about we make a one-shot story and then make printouts?"I suggested.

"That's great! But what is the story all about though?"

"Leave it to me! Your great storyteller is here!" Yasuyuki announces proudly. He knew that I know his writing and creativity skills, that's why he was confident.

"But remember you'll have to go through me and Reina to check it out." I reminded them.

"I'll make storyboards, as many as I can and I'll leave the decision to you," Yasu said...

"Let's go!" Fumi said, excitedly. ,

"I'm so excited," Yasu exclaimed as he jumped.

The next day, while on the way to school, I decided to stop by a convenience store to check out the weekly manga magazine "Shokunen Jade".

I was shocked to see something I could never imagine.

A mangaka just about our age wins the "JADE AKATSUKA MANGA CONTEST" for the first prize! It made me get all hyped up that I was eager to get everything started immediately.

"Hey, Yasu, are you done with the one-shot story?" I asked anxiously. I cannot contain my excitement.

"Kenji, your excitement is all over the place, I can feel it,'' Yasu commented. And yes, I have done five plots for us to choose from."

"You do know me, Yasu, as I grabbed the weekly manga magazine and proceeded to checkout. "Yasu, I want to be a mangaka."

"Then I will be with you. I will write the stories that you will draw. All the stories that you love! No! Stories that the readers would love! Let this be our challenge!"

"Yes, I can't contain my excitement. I am coming for you "Makaino Joji"!I will surely surpass you!"

We entered our class full of excitement and energy, meanwhile Reina, on the other hand….

"Zzzzzzzzzzz" as loud snoring can be heard from across the room.

"Oy! Fumi wake up, Fumi!"

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA! Who are you? what are you doing in my room?!" Fumi woke up startled.

We laughed.

"This is the classroom, stupid!" Yasu reminds Fumi.

"Classroom? Eh? Eh? How did I get here?" Fumi asked, confused.

"Oh no, our Fumi, she suffered amnesia. Somebody look and get a teacher, we have a serious situation." Yasu teased further.

"Wait, don't, stooooooop!"

"She is back, she has risen back from her daydreaming."

I can't contain my laughter as Yasuyuki took advantage of Fumi's clumsy and awkwardness.

"Aaaah, I hate you Yasu! You're so mean! Taking advantage of a girl like that," and she narrowed her eyes at him.

"WHAAAA who are you! What are you doing in my room!" Yasu continues to mock Fumi's reaction waking up!

"Hiro, that's enough, let's eat together and discuss a few things at lunchtime." I interrupted his fun.

"Hmm, Kenji do you have a fever? You look fired up today. Did something good happen?" Fumi asks as she looks at me confused.

"His crush finally gave him an answer!" Yasu teased, smirking...

"EHHHHHHHH?! What, you have someone?" Fumi was shocked.

"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT YASUYUKI?" I cried as my eyes flared in anger.

Yasu laughed.

"SORRY SORRY I just want to break the ice, you looked so stiff. Anyways, I am excited about what's going to come." Yasu is covering his head as if preparing to defend himself.

A few hours have passed and I can't contain my excitement. Just as the bell rings, I stood up then called Reina and Hirohito, we ran quickly towards the school cafeteria.

"Yosh! We are the first ones to arrive. I heard from the other students that there's sirloin steak. I'll go order quickly." I rushed into the counter and ordered the sirloin steak.

"So you're saying this is what you are excited about?" Fumi questions my motive.

"Yes! This is it!" I excitedly replied.

"Idiot, I thought it has to do something with manga," Fumi shouted in tsundere mode that echoed throughout the cafeteria making all the students stare at us...

All the students whispered to each other, not because of Fumi's awkward attitude but about the word "Manga". It seems like the school's aura has changed from pleasant to heavy as a nightmare has awakened from the past. Yasuyuki and Fumi look confused as to why the school environment changed suddenly. I grabbed my food and shuffled them to the farthest table looking scared and frantic.

"Kenji, I'm sorry I shouldn't have acted like that, really I'm sorry." Fumi apologized continuously

"Hey Kenji, are you okay? You look pale?" Yasu asks.

"Did you see the students' reaction? It is not about Fumi...I should've told you about this but being a mangaka here in this school is a nightmare." I explained

"What are you talking about Kenji?" Fumi asked.

"The director warned me about the past directors making manga sort of competition and business to gain popularity and a name for themselves, making the school ruin its name," I answered.

"That's awful, then why did the school director want us to restart the mangaka club?" Yasu furiously questioned me.

"To restore what my father did and the school's name to its original state," I replied.

"Your father is the founder of the school's mangaka club right? My uncle told me that he was also his assistant." Fumi talks calmly to cool down the situation.

"Yes, but I am now confused as what I've seen from the students' reaction, it's overwhelming," I replied.

"Kenji, don't worry me and Hiro are here with you, no matter what. Even after all we did, you decided to push through this despite what my uncle has told you, right?" Fumi tried to make me feel better.

"That's right, Kenji, there is no turning back now and we have to beat our rival Makaino Joji. Remember, this is not just the mangaka club but the dream that we decided to take, Yasu chided in, encouraging me.

After hearing those words from my childhood friend and Fumi, my newest close friend and a supporter, I calmed down and regained my excitement.

"Right. It is not just about the club but the dream we decided to take in. I am going to be a famous mangaka."

"Let's beat our rival, Makaino Joji, with our skills and knowledge of manga!" Yasu excitedly answered.

"I don't know what is going on and who that person Makaino Joji is, but I will support you all the way and I will do the best I can to help." Fumi implored.

"After school, let's make that one-shot story happen and get this school back to its feet in the world of art," I announced.

"You mean get its hands back. HAHAHAHAHA" Yasu jokingly replied.

"HAHAHAHA, idiot! You always know when to stop the seriousness that is building up," I replied.

"Let's get some members! Let's go make manga!" Yasu suggested.

"Yey!" Fumi cheers us up.

We were fired up and excited about making our very first one-shot manga to present to the school and reach our dreams that have been decided. First, to build up the school's mangaka club back, Second, to become a famous mangaka and to surpass our rival Makaino Joji, and lastly to clear the name of manga and mangaka to the students in the school.

"Ah!Finally, some fresh air. Why is math even our last subject? I can't wait to just get to the studio and read some manga there." Yasu stretched his arms behind his head.

"We still need to discuss our one-shot story so don't go off slacking. l We'll meet at our place, not the studio. I have to talk about it with my mother, alright?" I told them.

"Eh! I'm meeting your mo-mo-mother? I can't, not yet, I'm not ready to be in a boy's house." Fumi says nervously.

"What are you talking about now? We will just tell her about this and discuss it in our living room. Don't get your delusions fired up," I replied.

"I-it-it's not like I like you. Stupid, what do you think of me, like I just easily fall in love with someone I just met?" Fumi replied hesitantly,

"Not really, it's just that you're too obvious with your reactions," I stated.