Chapter 1038: Even in manga, I still like women!!!

When returning to Tokyo, it was almost night, and the drizzling rainy season fell again, making the whole city look hazy in the misty rain.

"Eitaro, don't go out! Your feet will get dirty again!"

Akina blocks the dog jumping out at the door, then looks at Naoki Nagayama walking over from the garage,

"Naoki-san, it's raining, I thought you would be back even later..."

"Because I hit the road before it rained." Naoki Nagayama hangs up his coat and leads Akina towards the living room, "Didn't delay much."

"Have you eaten dinner?"

"Not yet..."

"Then I'll go prepare..."

Seeing his wife with a big belly about to go to the kitchen, Naoki Nagayama hurriedly stops her. He doesn't let Nono Mori continue to be busy, but instead cooks a bowl of noodles himself.

Akina keeps wanting to help on the side, but is rejected by Naoki Nagayama for the reason of protecting the fetus, so she can only prepare some side dishes slightly.

"How is Uncle Xiong Yuan's body?"

Akina sits on the side watching her husband eat and asks casually.

"When I went, Uncle was sleeping because he was weak, but he should be fine, it's just recuperation after that." Naoki Nagayama says, "But Grandfather also fell ill by accident."

"Grandfather?"

"Hmm, this time he forced himself to clean up the mess, and Grandfather was also very tired."

Naoki Nagayama tells Akina about the situation of the Nagayama-gumi, the plan of the Nagayama-gumi to disband, and the fluctuations that may occur recently.

Even if the Nagayama-gumi chooses to disband, there will definitely be conflicts between the Yamaguchi-gumi and the Ichiwa-kai during this period, and even competition for interests...

The death of the fourth-generation leader of the Yamaguchi-gumi last time caused the various organizations under the Yamaguchi-gumi and Ichiwa-kai to experience national conflicts lasting more than three months... It wasn't until the pressure from the upper levels that the conflict was concentrated in Kobe.

"Although it doesn't have much to do with us, but... one must be prepared for everything."

Naoki Nagayama says to Akina. After all, the Nagayama family is the party involved this time, and no matter what, Naoki Nagayama is also a member.

"Shanying Yuan is very quiet, and the security in Chiyoda is also good, but maybe some hot-headed guys from the Ichiwa-kai... I am the only male in the family, what if something happens when I am not here..."

"How could that be?!" Akina is somewhat surprised. "Could the Ichiwa-kai find us?"

"The probability is low, but be careful about everything..." Naoki Nagayama shakes his head to soothe his wife. "And I really feel that there are too few people in Shanying Yuan... It will be very troublesome if there is a sudden situation."

Originally, according to his current wealth, hiring a team of servants to serve himself would be normal.

However, because he and Akina are not the type of people who like to be served, there have always been two people in Shanying Yuan, until they hired Nono Mori to take care of them because of the pregnancy.

"So, what does Naoki-san mean?"

"Let's hire another male butler... During the time Akina gives birth to the baby, if there is anything, in case I am temporarily not here..."

Akina listens quietly to her husband's explanation. Regarding such big things, the head of the family always makes the decision.

By the end, Naoki Nagayama had already decided to find a butler for Shanying Yuan, who would be responsible for the maintenance of the courtyard, flower beds, and environment of Shanying Yuan, and also maintain security by the way.

As for the candidate, it is best to have a family and have some relationship with Naoki Nagayama...

A night without words~

In such a misty rainy season, Naoki Nagayama, who came out of the Shuyu building, came to the animation studio in Ikebukuro again.

Accompanying him naturally is Xiuichi Idou, who is presiding over the animation work.

"Naoki-san, don't say... you really don't say... the feeling of 'Slam Dunk' drawn out is very interesting!"

Xiuichi Idou is full of excitement because the first episode of "Slam Dunk" has already come out and can be serialized in "Weekly Shonen Sunday."

"Haha~ Does Xiuichi-san also like reading manga?" Naoki Nagayama asks with a smile, "Then which character do you like the most?"

"Of course I like Kaede Rukawa the most, cool and handsome, he is the most stylish character among the characters who appeared!"

Without hesitation, Xiuichi Idou says the name, and then talks endlessly about this character in the manga.

He has already read the manga that was just drawn several times, and even read the subsequent drafts, and knows the characters in "Slam Dunk" very well.

Kaede Rukawa, who is clearly a master among masters, is his favorite...

Xiuichi Idou talks for a long time, sees Naoki Nagayama looking at him with a strange gaze, and asks:

"What's wrong? Naoki-san doesn't like Kaede Rukawa? Then which character does Naoki-san like?"

"I like Haruko Akagi..." Naoki Nagayama silently says his answer. "Even in manga, I am a firm heterosexual! I like women!"

"!!!"

Xiuichi Idou breaks his defense instantly,

"I am also heterosexual! But aren't we discussing manga characters?! This is a sports anime! Kisho!"

"Anyway, I like Haruko Akagi..."

Naoki Nagayama quickens his pace towards the animation studio,

"I won't interfere with Xiuichi-san's hobbies!"

"...... Aki to mattai! Naoki-san, wait for me..."

The two walk into the studio one after another. Gosho Aoyama happens to be explaining something to other staff on the first floor, and is very happy to see them come in:

"Naoki-san, Xiuichi-san, you guys are here!"

"Hmm... Xiuichi-san notified me that the first episode has been completed." Naoki Nagayama nods to Gosho Aoyama with a smile. "The action is very fast!"

"After all, so many people together..." Gosho Aoyama shares the credit with others present. "It's the result of everyone working together..."

"Haha, Aoyama-kun is too humble..."

Looking left and right, Naoki Nagayama doesn't see one person's figure,

"Old thief Togashi... ah no, where is Togashi-kun? Why didn't I see him?"

"Togashi-san is drawing on the second floor..." Gosho Aoyama's expression is very subtle. He always feels that Naoki Nagayama seems to dislike Yoshihiro Togashi. "He is drawing the draft for the fifth episode of 'Slam Dunk'... Togashi-san is almost soaked in the drawing board every day..."

In fact, although it is said that the first episode is completed, actually episodes 1-2 are already completed, episodes 3-4 are already in the stage of tracing lines, and episode 5 is drawing drafts. This is the efficiency that a studio with six or seven people should have.

"Hmm hmm, it's to add some burden to Togashi-kun. Such good talent cannot be wasted!"

Naoki Nagayama nods with satisfaction, indicating that this workload is very good, and perhaps some can be added!

"Then... let me see the manga!"

"Hai!"

Gosho Aoyama invites Naoki Nagayama and Xiuichi Idou into the reception room and presents the completed manuscript.

Naoki Nagayama is very curious looking at the manga manuscript in his hand. Manga that was usually seen in weekly magazines or collected volumes is now on sheets of manuscript paper...

He begins to flip through it with a bit of scrutiny. Hanamichi Sakuragi from his memory leaps onto the paper... the delinquent uniform, the upright red hairstyle, and the background of being rejected by fifty girls in a row that was revealed at the beginning...

"Hahaha..." Naoki Nagayama laughs looking at the manga, the memories of the past and the present blending together. "It's really very interesting!"

Xiuichi Idou and Gosho Aoyama, who are drinking tea on the side, look over, and Naoki Nagayama says with a smile:

"I just came up with an idea. It's really Aoyama-kun and Togashi-kun's ability to draw this manga so interestingly!"

"Where, where..." Gosho Aoyama waves his hands repeatedly. "This is because the story itself is good..."

"You guys really have the potential to be manga masters!"

Naoki Nagayama doesn't spare praise for the two, after all, he still needs the two to continue working hard in the future!

"Naoki-san is very satisfied with this manga!" Xiuichi Idou says with a smile. "Can we let Shogakukan start serialization?"

"Of course, no problem!" Naoki Nagayama puts the manga back into the file bag and looks at Gosho Aoyama. "I'll take these two episodes, and I'll go find the people from Shogakukan today..."

"Hai, sorry to trouble you, Naoki-san!"

It was said before that it could definitely be published, and Gosho Aoyama also knows that the publication of "Slam Dunk" this time is a nail in the coffin.

Xiuichi Idou knows that Naoki Nagayama attaches great importance to "Slam Dunk" this time, but he didn't expect it to be so swift and decisive this time, actually taking him to Shogakukan immediately~

"Naoki-san, am I going too?"

"Of course..." Naoki Nagayama laughs. "You are the real person in charge of the Shuyu studio. It will be your job to connect with Shogakukan's manga editors in the future..."

"Is that so..." Xiuichi Idou nods in understanding.

The driver takes the two to the familiar black box building. Xiuichi Idou is here for the first time and can't help but sigh:

"Shogakukan's headquarters, how..."

"Looks like a coffin, right?"

"I meant a safe..."

The two walk into the lobby while chatting and laughing. Naoki Nagayama naturally sees the glasses girl Reiki Nozawa on duty at a glance, who seems to be reading some strange novel again...

"Reiki-san!"

Reiki Nozawa looks up, sees that it is Naoki Nagayama, and is immediately pleasantly surprised:

"Naoki-san, why did you come today?"

"There are some things for Kuniharu-san to see, so I didn't make an appointment in advance..." Naoki Nagayama laughs. "Kuniharu-san is there, right?"

"Hai, he is in the office!" Reiki Nozawa immediately leads Naoki Nagayama towards the reception room. "Naoki-san, please wait a moment, I will go invite him over immediately..."

"Arigato~"

After Reiki Nozawa makes tea and leaves, Xiuichi Idou speaks up:

"Naoki-san, you are really familiar with Shogakukan! You can even directly let 'Weekly Shonen Sunday' publish our manga, very face-saving!"

"Xiuichi-san, if you can be the sales champion of an enterprise for several consecutive years, then you will also be very face-saving within the enterprise!"

A well-known writer like Naoki Nagayama basically has a bestseller published every year, almost contributing one-fifth of Shogakukan's annual indicators. If he wants to jump ship to Shogakukan, the position of editor-in-chief would have to be given to him.

"Hahaha~"

Just as Naoki Nagayama and Xiuichi Idou were chatting, Kuniharu Morikawa came down in a hurry.

"Naoki-san... why did you come today?"

"Ah... it's the manga I mentioned before, it's already drawn!" Naoki Nagayama hands the file bag with the manuscript to Kuniharu Morikawa. "So I couldn't wait to send it over."

"Also... this is the person in charge of the Shuyu studio, Xiuichi Idou. This manga work will be presided over by him in the future..."

"Xiuichi Idou..." Kuniharu Morikawa didn't react for a moment. "This... isn't this Director Idou?!"

Xiuichi Idou is a great director who has won the Blue Ribbon Best Director Award. How could he come to manage small manga affairs?!

"Haha, it's me! Xiuichi Idou~" Xiuichi Idou stands up, reaches out to shake hands with Kuniharu Morikawa. "Nice to meet you, please take care of me in the future."

"Hai, I am Kuniharu Morikawa... please take care of me."

Kuniharu Morikawa doesn't look at the file in his hand, but still wonders,

"Director Idou, have you started drawing manga in the future?"

"Haha, no no..." Xiuichi Idou has been asked by many people during this period and has a standard answer. "Shuyu now wants to expand into the field of animated movies. I am actually leading this new project... Manga is just our first attempt to step into animation..."

"Is that so... so it's an attempt!"

Kuniharu Morikawa seems to accept this explanation. He takes out "Slam Dunk" and takes a look,

"'Slam Dunk'... sure enough, it's a sports anime..."

However, he doesn't continue reading, but says to Naoki Nagayama:

"Naoki-san, I am not a manga editor after all. Please wait a moment, I will let the editor of 'Weekly Shonen Sunday' take a look. Don't worry, it can definitely be published, just see if there are any places that need adjustment..."

"Okay, we are not in a hurry..." Naoki Nagayama nods.

Kuniharu Morikawa puts down the file bag and goes out. It takes a while before he leads a middle-aged man with glasses over:

"Naoki-san, this is the editor-in-chief of 'Weekly Shonen Sunday', Yuji Morimoto..."

"Nice to meet you, I am Yuji Morimoto..."

Yuji Morimoto introduces himself very gently,

"Nice to meet you, please take care of me!"

Actually, he didn't want to come, because as a manga editor-in-chief, he has always had high requirements for the manga published in "Weekly Shonen Sunday"...

But you, Kuniharu Morikawa, said that this work is the work of a big shot and must be published in a manga magazine, and even used the order that the editor-in-chief had already agreed to to pressure him, so he had to come over.

However, seeing the two in the reception room, he is also astonished...

"Nice to meet you, I am Naoki Nagayama..."

"Nice to meet you, I am Xiuichi Idou..."

These two are both well-known figures in the entertainment industry. Naoki Nagayama is a great talent who combines director, writer, and musician... How, could he want to break into the manga circle again?!

"Editor-in-Chief Morimoto, this is the work of the Shuyu studio... I took a look, it's very excellent..."

Kuniharu Morikawa naturally introduces the manuscript sent by Naoki Nagayama very enthusiastically,

"It will definitely be popular in our magazine!"

"..... Let me take a look...."

Yuji Morimoto takes the manuscript and starts reading, flipping through it page by page. Before long, he looks up at Naoki Nagayama with a surprised gaze,

"Does Nagayama-san also have research on drawing manga?"

"Ah... this is not my manga." Naoki Nagayama explains. "It's the work of the Shuyu studio. The main writers are Gosho Aoyama and Yoshihiro Togashi..."

"Gosho Aoyama... Yoshihiro Togashi..."

Yuji Morimoto knows most of the manga artists in Japan, but these two people seem to be unknown...

"Have they won any newcomer awards?"

"Not yet..."

Naoki Nagayama shakes his head. Both were recruited by him before they debuted, but Gosho Aoyama did work as an assistant in Yutaka Abe's studio.

"Ah, I see..." Yuji Morimoto is not surprised. There are too many manga people in Japan, and many talented ones have been buried.

He browses "Slam Dunk" attentively. He has to admit that this is a very good comedy sports anime. Whether it is the drawing style or the character plot, it is very interesting... and it has the order of Shogakukan's editor-in-chief...

"Nagayama-san... there is absolutely no problem with serializing this manga in 'Weekly Shonen Sunday'!"

Yuji Morimoto promises to publish it after closing the manuscript,

"Can the Shuyu studio provide manuscripts stably every week?"

"No problem!" Xiuichi Idou says happily. "Actually, episode 5 has already started drawing!"

"So fast?" Yuji Morimoto reminds, "It is recommended that you slow down the rhythm. After the manga is published, you will receive feedback from readers. There may be some plot or character modification opinions... As a creator, you need to adjust in time!"

"Hai, I understand!"

Xiuichi Idou nods repeatedly.

"Since there are no other problems..." Yuji Morimoto is also a decisive person. "Then when we meet next time, let's prepare to sign the contract..."

"Hai, we will bring the official seal!"

As for the contract... pure newcomers originally have no capital to negotiate conditions, but this is Naoki Nagayama's face after all, and the manga is very good, so Yuji Morimoto decides to sign with the highest level of remuneration.

After chatting for a while, Naoki Nagayama and Xiuichi Idou leave Shogakukan.

"Didn't expect it to be negotiated so simply..."

"Originally, the manga world should be established by manga artists after they become famous, but we did it the other way around..."

Naoki Nagayama laughs. People like Osamu Tezuka, Yutaka Abe, and Hayao Miyazaki are all like this, having a famous work first, and then creating a studio.

"Hahaha, we have it too, isn't Naoki-san famous?!"

Xiuichi Idou teases with a smile,

"Counting it, I am also a celebrity!"

"......." Neither is in the manga world!

Naoki Nagayama shakes his head and instructs:

"You have to come over to hand in the manuscript every week in the future... Xiuichi-san, don't forget..."

"I won't forget!" Xiuichi Idou replies. "I also want to watch 'Slam Dunk' become a manga pursued by the whole nation!"

"So confident?"

Xiuichi Idou looks at Naoki Nagayama with full confidence:

"Because it's Naoki-san's idea, it will definitely be very popular!"

Over the years, Naoki Nagayama has become a kind of belief in the eyes of those around him. As long as everyone sees Naoki Nagayama, they know that Shuyu's future will definitely be booming!

"......"

Facing such a trusting gaze, Naoki Nagayama feels a kind of pressure, and hurriedly shifts his gaze,

"Where is Xiuichi-san going later?"

"Eh? Back to the Shuyu building? Naoki-san, aren't you coming with me?"

"I won't go back..." Naoki Nagayama looks at the familiar street and takes an umbrella from the car. "It's not far from Shanying Yuan here, I'll just walk back!"

"Alright....."

Naoki Nagayama opens the umbrella and strolls in the fine rain.

The raindrops hit the umbrella, making a pattering sound, falling into his ears rhythmically, like a massage for his eardrums, making people feel relaxed when listening.

"No wonder Totoro likes this kind of sound..." ===== CHAPTER 1039 =====