Great Mangaka

In Sakura Garden community, Takumi sat on the sofa to rest after work.

"Takumi, are you working tonight?"

Shiori asked curiously.

"Tonight...", he replied. Takumi's assistants had finished their manga work. He thought for a moment and said: "I have time. What do you want me to do?"

"Go to the cinema with me." Shiori took out a brochure and said with a smile: "This film, Love Under the Blue Sky, is being released today. I've been waiting for it for two years. How about you come to the cinema with me?"

Takumi took the brochure. The image was very sci-fi. Thousands of warships flew across the sky, and the barren earth stretched below. A couple embraced on the ground.

"Sci-fi love?" he asked with a surprised expression. He hadn't expected Shiori to like this kind of film, but he also liked sci-fi themes.

"Yes, this is a story set four hundred years later, after humans set foot in the universe." Shiori smiled and replied: "Since the setting is a simulation of the future, I was looking forward to it."

Takumi became even more interested. Human exploration of the universe was one of the surprises he found in this world. Since the end of the war decades ago, countries around the world have begun to invest enormous military funds in the development and research of space technology. It is said that space migration could be achieved in three hundred years.

The longing for the starry sky and the universe has led to the birth of thousands of sci-fi films, but copyright restrictions are too strict. Takumi hasn't seen some of them so far and has never been to the cinema.

"Okay, I'm going."

He became interested. Although he had to work overtime tomorrow, watching a film could also be considered a break.

In the evening, Takumi and Shiori left Sakura Garden community. They initially invited Aika, but Aika wasn't interested in sci-fi films. She preferred to stay home alone watching TV series.

The cinema was less than 20 minutes away, and there were thousands of people, mostly young couples.

Takumi and Shiori entered and immediately attracted surprised glances. Someone whispered:

"Why are they all wearing hats? Aren't they famous?"

"Impossible. Judging by their age, they're probably high school students who fell in love young and don't want their families to see them...".

After some scattered conversations, the glances disappeared. Takumi adjusted his hat and sighed inwardly. It was his first time dressing like this.

Shiori commented that Mirai-sensei's fans had been quite noisy these past two days. She asked Takumi to wear a hat, but Takumi doubted if it was necessary. As a mangaka, he shouldn't be surrounded by people when he goes out.

Takumi looked at Shiori. Shiori, who was also wearing a hat, looked around.

"There are thousands of people. Won't there be any tickets left?"

She took Takumi's hand. She walked straight ahead: "Come on, come on!"

Shiori went to the ticket booth and asked for the remaining tickets for Love Under the Blue Sky.

"I'm sorry, public tickets have sold out." The ticket seller apologized: "There are only three tickets left for members. If you want, you can apply for a membership card first. You need to show your ID."

Takumi was a little annoyed. 'Was it a promotion for membership cards? He didn't like this system.'

"Okay, get me a membership." However, Shiori took out her ID without hesitation and asked the ticket seller to apply for a cinema membership. The card required a 10,000 yen deposit, and she also took it out.

After buying the ticket, Takumi frowned and said: "Let me pay for this. You need living expenses for school."

Although Shiori earned some money as a voice actress, Takumi felt that she didn't need to spend so much.

"No need." However, Shiori refused. She put away the membership card and said: "I'll pay for this. It's enough for us to watch seven films. Afterwards, you can help me top up 10,000 yen, and we can watch fourteen films."

Fourteen films: Shiori loves watching films, but Takumi is not that free...

Without waiting for Takumi to say anything, Shiori led him to a nearby shop to buy something to eat. Seeing her happy face, Takumi had to hold back his words for a moment and decided to tell Shiori after watching the film.

The film started in half an hour. During that half hour, the two chatted in the tea house to pass the time. Although the hats surprised thousands, nothing happened.

After the film started, they checked their tickets, went in, and sat together. It was Takumi's first time going to the cinema since he came to this world. The cinema was large and well-equipped. What pleased him most was that the seats were spotless.

Love Under the Blue Sky is a Japanese film, and the story is set 400 years later.

In the year 2410 AD, humanity moved from discovery to exploration and finally began large-scale space migration. However, due to limited space navigation technology, human migration was limited to a small part of the Milky Way. The number of planets suitable for colonization became scarce, and countries around the world began a war for colonized planets.

The story begins in this context. Haruto and Alice were lovers at Tokyo University. They separated due to a misunderstanding after graduation. Haruto joined the Japanese Space Immigration Office, and Alice returned to her homeland, the United States, and joined the same organization.

Both placed their dreams in the universe and served the future of their respective countries. However, the universe is not as peaceful as Earth. Countries did not hesitate to wage wars to compete for colonized planets. Haruto and Alice also participated. While fighting for possession of an underdeveloped planet, they met again...

Love Under the Blue Sky uses thousands of computer special effects. The wonderful war scenes in the universe are better than Hollywood blockbusters. This hooked Takumi and allowed him to better understand this world's film technology.

'How great would it be if such good technology could be used in animation!'

The inertia of his profession made Takumi begin to watch the film with different eyes, but Shiori, like thousands of other girls, was immersed in the tragic love story. She kept holding Takumi's hand, and the intensity increased each time it reached a climax.

After one film, Takumi's hands were red.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry..." Shiori apologized to Takumi. Takumi moved his hand and felt that the injury was not serious; at least it wouldn't prevent him from painting. He said: "I'm fine; go wash your face; your eyes are red."

The ending of Love Under the Blue Sky is a double-death tragedy. Shiori couldn't help but cry, her eyes red. Upon returning, Aika might misunderstand that Takumi was harassing her.

Shiori went to the bathroom to wash up, and Takumi stayed outside waiting. When he was bored, a 6 or 7-year-old girl ran out of the bathroom and bumped into him.

"Oops!"

The girl fell to the ground, and Takumi almost dropped his hat. He pressed it down, knelt, and helped her up.

"No injuries?"

Takumi asked, carefully checking her for injuries. Although the girl was safe, she sniffled, wanting to cry. However, when she looked up and saw Takumi's face, the girl stopped crying.

"Who are you...?"

Before she could shout, Takumi covered her mouth as a conditioned reflex.

"Shh" He gestured to silence her. The girl's big eyes sparkled and she nodded excitedly.

Takumi let go of her hand.

"Brother Mirai-sensei, can you give me an autograph?" The girl freed herself and asked in a low voice: "I like watching Pokémon!"

"No problem, just don't tell anyone about me." Takumi touched her head, a little confused. 'It turned out Shiori was right. He was recognized.'

'He's a mangaka; how could he be a star?'

"I'll go get a pen from my mom." The girl ran off excitedly and then returned with a pen and a small notebook: "Come on, brother, give me an autograph. I'll protect it and won't let my mom see it before I go home."

This girl is very smart... Takumi was surprised. He took the notebook, thought, and wrote a sentence:

"Thank you for keeping my secret, smart girl, Mirai-sensei."

The girl took the autograph and tilted her head: "Although I don't know what's written, your handwriting is truly beautiful, brother."

'A girl who hasn't even started school yet?' Takumi was amused and confused. 'Children nowadays are very precocious...'

"Go back quickly; don't let your mother come looking for you."

After seeing the girl off, Takumi breathed a sigh of relief. Turning around, he saw Shiori behind him. She pouted slightly and seemed a little angry.

"What's wrong?" Takumi asked, feeling strange.

"Nothing, let's go back!" Shiori took the initiative and walked ahead.

The two returned home. It was already late, and there weren't many pedestrians on the street. Takumi changed the subject to get Shiori's attention.

"I didn't expect the ending of Love Under the Blue Sky to be like that. The United States would rather destroy the planet than recover it... I feel like the director deliberately created a tragedy just to cause the male protagonist and female protagonist to die. The story is completely irrational."

But the conflict between the two sides is too great. 'Maybe the director didn't know how to end it. He could accept the ending with the two protagonists embracing and the planet perishing at the same time...'

Takumi recalled the film's plot and deliberately chose a topic that interested Shiori, but she ignored him and didn't speak at all.

"What's wrong?" Takumi frowned slightly and asked with concern: "Did you suddenly get angry? Are you feeling unwell?"

Shiori stopped, turned, and looked at Takumi.

"I'm jealous" she replied. Seeing Takumi's stunned expression, Shiori continued: "I saw you caressing that girl's head with your hand and I got jealous. Am I being too much of a woman?"

"..." Takumi's heart trembled. 'He knew he shouldn't ask, but he still asked:' "What do you mean?"

"I mean... I like you..."

Shiori faced Takumi and confessed directly on the street.

"Takumi, I overestimated myself. I don't like sneak attacks, so even if you reject me today, I have to say it. I like you more than any other man in the world."

"I want to marry you!"

- - - - - -

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