The next day, Satoru was called again.
"The Death Note short story will be published in Akamaru Jump," Yoshihisa explained why he'd brought Satoru to Shueisha.
Akamaru Jump was a supplementary issue of Weekly Shonen Jump, published only three times a year: during Golden Week, Obon, and the year-end/new-year period. Japan's Golden Week was at the end of April, so it was coming soon.
"The editor-in-chief had high hopes for Death Note, especially after I told him the plot of the first chapter," Yoshihisa said. "But he wasn't sure if Death Note would be well-received by readers. After all, this was a unique manga that might have a negative impact on Shueisha. So he chose to publish it in Akamaru Jump first."
"The purpose of Akamaru Jump was twofold: first, to replace the discontinued Weekly Shonen Jump; and second, to publish short stories, using reader survey results to determine whether serialization should continue."
Satoru nodded. "I see no problem with that." He remembered that Death Note had received negative feedback initially but quickly gained popularity.
"How much is the royalty?"
Yoshihisa was speechless. "You really are... Most newcomers focus on achievements, but you're thinking about royalties."
"8,000 yen for a black-and-white manuscript."
"46 pages of black-and-white manuscript..." Satoru calculated a total of 368,000 yen.
Although it wasn't much, it would last for a while. After buying the computer and furniture, he didn't have much savings left. It was a timely help.
"Satoru-kun," Yoshihisa said meaningfully, "if Death Note does well, then serialization would..."
As an editor, he shouldn't speak too definitively; he should just touch on the subject and leave it at that.
"I understand," Satoru nodded, handing Yoshihisa the storyboards for chapters two and three of Death Note. "Please take a look."
Yoshihisa took the storyboard and started reading. After a while, he looked at Satoru with a complicated expression.
He was just a newcomer, yet the storyline was perfect. As an editor, he had no room to intervene and could only discuss issues related to drawing techniques, thus fulfilling his duties as an editor.
"Great job. It's perfect."
"Thank you for the compliment," Satoru said, accepting the statement on behalf of Tsugumi Ohba, the original author of Death Note.
Yoshihisa had no intention of accepting the storyboard drafts for these three episodes for the time being and asked Satoru to revise them again.
Once the results for the Death Note short story were released, he would immediately submit the storyboards for these three chapters to the team leader for participation in the serialization meeting.
Satoru was getting closer and closer to the start of serialization.
"By the way, Yoshihisa, I've chosen a pen name for myself," Satoru said with a smile, wondering what Oda's reaction would be. "When the short stories in Death Note are released, please use 'Laugh Tale'."
****
On the following days, Satoru spent mundane days, going from eating, drawing, and studying techniques from other mangaka.
It wasn't until the weekend that he left his seclusion and went to the station to pick up his little sister.
"Come to think about it. Wasn't Akamaru Jump supposed to release today?"
Satoru made a quick stop at a nearby store and bought the new release.
The magazine was much thicker than Weekly Shonen Jump, as it contained more stories that were either on the verge of serialization or disconnected.
He didn't have to flip through the pages to search for long, as Death Note was the first story.
"It's indeed my work."
Even though he knew he was just an imposter, seeing his hard work getting published still gave him a wonderful feeling. Like passing a hard college exam in his previous life.
"Though, I still need to work on my drawing."
Seeing the bizarre look of Ryuk, who looked like a clown instead of a shinigami, made him speechless.
He didn't want to become like ONE, who was a good storyteller but a terrible artist.
***
After waiting half an hour near the station, a car stopped beside him. Before Satoru could get a proper look, the door swung open, and a small figure rushed out.
"Satoru!"
Maki slammed into his chest with surprising force, nearly knocking him off balance. He steadied himself and instinctively wrapped an arm around her shoulders, preventing the two of them from tumbling onto the pavement.
"Hey, slow down," he said, a little helplessly. "You're not light anymore."
"I am!" Maki protested immediately. "You're just weak!"
Satoru snorted and glanced down at her. She was still small, her hair tied into two short ponytails that bounced as she moved, but her face looked healthier than he remembered. Brighter, too.
The car horn interrupted his thoughts.
"Sorry to interrupt your reunion."
A middle-aged man stepped out, leaving his wife inside.
"Thank you very much for escorting Maki, Hayano-san."
The man in front of him was their hometown neighbor and a close friend of his father.
"We were coming to Tokyo anyway," Hayano said with a friendly wave. "Figured it wouldn't be right to send the kid alone."
"Thank you," Satoru said sincerely. "I really appreciate it."
The woman smiled. "She behaved herself the whole way. Didn't stop talking, though."
"That's not true!" Maki turned red. "I only talked a little!"
Satoru relaxed visibly. "Let me at least buy you lunch. You came all this way."
The man waved his hand dismissively. "No need. We've got plans already."
"Yeah," his wife added. "Just take good care of her."
They didn't linger. After exchanging a few more pleasantries, they got back into the car and drove off, leaving Satoru and Maki standing alone near the station.
Maki tightened her grip on his sleeve, causing Satoru to glance at her.
"What? Missed me that much, huh?"
"How cheesy. It had only been a year since we met." Maki let go of him and averted her eyes.
"Well, since you're too ashamed to say it, I'll do it." Satoru hugged her. "I missed you, Maki."
Maki trembled in his arms. "You left me alone."
"Sorry."
"You didn't call me for more than a year. You missed my 12th birthday. You didn't bring any presents. You made Dad angry…"
Satoru patiently listened to her rant and couldn't help cursing the original Satoru.
'You bastard. You have a family that loves you and a sister that cares about you, but you abandoned them for something you're not even good at.'
Satoru couldn't understand the idiot's thought process, but he knew that most people wouldn't appreciate what they have until they lost it.
As someone who lost his family early in his previous life, Satoru was determined to prevent any regrets from this new family.
"So, do you forgive your brother, or do I need to bribe you with some food?"
Maki backed away with red eyes, but a smile betrayed her inner feelings. "I want burgers."
"Burgers it is then." Satoru picked her bag, and the two left the station.
On the way to the nearest McDonald's, Maki noticed the magazine in his hand, and her eyes lit up. "Did your story get published today?"
"Yeah." He handed her the magazine. "How about you guess my story, and I'll buy you more burgers."
"For real?!" Maki snatched the magazine and flipped through the pages, reaching Death Note. "What a garbage drawing."
Satoru nearly fell after hearing her harsh criticism, but the worst was yet to come.
She shook her head and looked at him. "This is definitely yours."
"How?!" He couldn't figure out how she found out so quickly.
"Have you forgotten that I watched you draw for years? Because this looks like the worst drawing story, so it's definitely yours."
'Was I just ridiculed by a 13-year-old?!'