Great Mangaka

"Why is your phone off?"

There was only light in the sky. A car passed along the road by the sea, and from within, a clear girl's voice was heard.

"I forgot to charge it."

Takumi put his phone in his trouser pocket. 'He had fallen asleep after uploading "Five Centimeters Per Second" last night and hadn't charged it. But this was also good. Takumi didn't want Tsukimoto Genji to catch him. He didn't know what kind of stir Osaka had caused. He thought Tsukimoto Genji might ask him to take down "Five Centimeters Per Second".'

'He didn't want to take it down.'

"Mom, did you bring your phone?"

"Hey, a phone? Let's see... I don't think so."

Aika didn't bring hers either. She usually used the landline at home and practically had no habit of carrying it. And no one knew Shiori's number. The only person who could contact her was Hirano-sensei. Takumi thought about it and decided that Alice would notify Hirano-sensei if something important came up, so he didn't worry too much.

However, Hirano-sensei received several calls that day, but he didn't tell them. This music teacher took him to the beach selfishly. He had a small villa by the beach, isolated from the outside world. Hirano-sensei specially called Aika to accompany her on the musical journey.

There were five people in the car: Hirano-sensei and his wife Miyoko, Takumi, Aika, and Shiori. Shiori was there because Takumi hadn't practiced piano before, and Hirano-sensei wanted to see them play "Time, After, Time" live. Shiori had a good voice, so he thought he could train her.

In the morning, Takumi and Shiori gave a demonstration of "Time, After, Time." This time, Takumi didn't exert himself as much as before, but Hirano-sensei repeatedly praised it. "Time, After, Time" was a song composed by Takumi, which made Hirano-sensei look at him with even more interest.

Unfortunately, Shiori wasn't interested in singing. After practicing for a while, Hirano-sensei saw that she wasn't interested, so he let her go and dedicated himself to tutoring Takumi. While the two women bought vegetables, chatted, and cooked, Miyoko secretly helped Hirano-sensei as a lobbyist, and Aika understood.

"Takumi is already a manga artist, how can he be a musician?"

Aika asked, proud of her son's excellence, and replied calmly and superficially.

After eating, Takumi had some time to rest. He had never seen the sea, so he ran out to contemplate it. The sun wasn't very strong, but it warmed people. The sea breeze blew gently, and Takumi, deprived of sleep, felt a little sleepy.

He sat on the beach, narrowed his eyes, and rested.

The warm sun, the cool sea breeze, the seagulls' song, and the waves... this was a comfortable environment Takumi rarely found, and he became increasingly sleepy.

"Hey, Takumi!"

But suddenly, Shiori's voice resonated beside him.

Takumi looked up and his sleep vanished...

Shiori stood on the beach with a life preserver. She wore a cyan swimsuit, with a pleated bandeau top and a ruffled blue short skirt on the bottom. The scant fabric did not hide her elegant curves. Takumi discovered that Shiori's figure was unexpectedly attractive, something difficult to appreciate in her usual attire.

"How is it? How is it? Very pretty?"

Shiori extended her hand and turned coquettishly.

"Pretty," Takumi praised her. 'Indeed, if a woman has a good figure, she will look beautiful in anything.' However, he was surprised and asked, "Where did you get this swimsuit?"

Takumi thought Shiori shouldn't have brought a swimsuit.

"That over there is a tourist attraction. They rent swimsuits. Come on, rent one too!" Shiori extended her hand and pulled Takumi up, encouraging him: "Even though it's not summer, it's a unique opportunity to come to the beach. It would be boring if you don't have fun."

Takumi agreed, but unfortunately, Hirano-sensei soon called him to practice the piano.

Takumi practically spent the entire day practicing. Hirano-sensei, very satisfied with his attitude, gave him a break at night. Shiori immediately took him out. The two young people ran towards the beach. Aika watched them from the doorway and shouted:

"It's so dark, Takumi, you can't go into the sea!"

. "Understood!"

Takumi waved from afar.

"Don't worry, he won't do anything so dangerous." Hirano-sensei stood next to Aika and smiled: "He's usually stable, rational, persistent, and talented. Other young people don't compare to him."

Although he wasn't satisfied with Takumi's repeated failures in piano practice, Hirano-sensei still held him in high regard.

This child was, without a doubt, the most exceptional young person he had ever seen. Hirano-sensei believed there was a reason why Takumi had little time: whenever he practiced, he was very serious. For example, 'what child wouldn't go wild when going to the beach?'

But Takumi practiced and practiced. He dedicated himself all day, regardless of the weather. This concentration and perseverance are necessary factors for success.

"Aika-san..."

Thinking about this, Hirano-sensei felt more and more that Takumi was indispensable. He told Aika: "I hope you seriously consider the possibility of Takumi entering music school. With his talent and dedication, he will undoubtedly become a great musician who will influence the world."

His evaluation was higher than at first, and for a moment Aika didn't know how to refuse.

By the sea, in the dim twilight, Shiori played with Takumi like a wild child. Although they didn't go into the sea, they also had fun in the shallow water.

Tired of playing, they sat on the beach to rest.

This was not only Takumi's first time seeing the sea, but also Shiori's. The sixteen-year-old girl had a great time today, as if she had released all the accumulated pressure and loneliness in Osaka, and her heart was much happier.

She faced the sea, contemplating the infinite ocean, the infinite night sky, and the bright stars. This scene was different from that of her hometown. She liked the warm starry sky surrounded by mountains, and the starry sky in Osaka was too vast.

"Hey, Takumi..."

After a long while, Shiori wanted to say something, but something heavy fell on her shoulder: Takumi's head rested on it.

The boy fell asleep. By day, Shiori noticed the sleepiness on his face. He had been holding on, and now he had finally fallen asleep.

"Why?"

Shiori looked at Takumi's sleeping face and thought, "Why does he have to try so hard?"

She felt that she and Takumi seemed to be in a different world. Obviously, no one was chasing him from behind, but Takumi was always busy and running forward. He looked straight ahead, as if searching for something, as if he was afraid of not finding the way after looking back...

The sea breeze grew colder and colder, and Shiori wanted to shrink. Her shoulders were uncomfortable, but in the end, she didn't move.

"Why?"

Shiori murmured softly, but this time she didn't know who she was asking.

- - - -

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