Back to the club
Getting closer to the manga and anime club room, Rina sees a familiar figure in front of the door.
“Kou-kun!”
The boy is startled, taken by surprise by Rina’s carrying voice.
“Shimi- ! Um… Rina-senpai?”
« As promised, here we are again. »
« You’re just in time. I was in the process of taking down the postings for the line. »
“For the line?”
« Yes, right after you left earlier, even more people came to line up to meet the artists. We had to set up a few facilities to structure the line. »
« That much? I didn’t expect artists from our school to be so popular. »
« Non non non, you don’t get it, Aya. They’re not just artists ‘from our school’. Most of them are so popular that they are already undoubtedly making a very good living. »
« Really? »
« Rina-senpai is right, Meguri-sensei and PekkoMekko-sensei are already established mangakas who have already won awards, their works even appear in Shounen Bump. »
« Exactly, Green Boy for Meguri-sensei and Cyborgs in Hell for PekkoMekko-sensei. And regarding Nonoro-sensei, he is still a newcomer among the great mangakas but his work I was reincarnated as an otter in a world of swords and magic is exploding on the net right now. »
“As an otter…”
« Yeah I know, it sounds weird based on the title alone but it was super addictive actually. »
“You know your stuff when it comes to manga, Rina-senpai”
“Hehe~”
But there is still a question to ask, right?
« So would these authors by any chance still be around? »
« Unfortunately you just missed them. »
« Hey… What a shame. I thought I’d have a chance to meet them. »
« Don’t worry senpai, I still thought of you. Look. »
Kou-kun retrieves a card from the table behind him and presents it to Rina.
« I haven’t forgotten the promise I made to you. I asked the sensei to make a personalized dedication to you. »
« This is… »
« Their signatures of a small drawing from their works of the moment. »
« Priceless… »
« We get to see stars in your eyes, Rina. »
« I’m glad for you, Rina-chan. »
« For you too, Sophie-senpai. »
« Hey? For me? »
« Yes, you said you were reading the works of Shiranui-sensei didn’t you? »
« Well, yes, that’s what I said. »
« I asked him to make a dedication to you also on your behalf. »
« I didn’t expect it. Thank you very much Sugawara-san. »
« You’re not leaving empty-handed either, Sophie. »
« Excuse me Aya-senpai, as I did not know if you were following the work of the senseis who came today, I did not plan anything for you. »
« No problem, I didn’t even know their names until now. Thank you all the same for having a thought for me. »
« What a brave boy, I almost want to hug you… »
« Calm down Rina, it’s not done at first and besides you might disturb Sugawara-kun. »
“…”
Or maybe he would have let her do it?
« You still want to visit the club even though the senseis have already left? »
“Sure.”
« The rest of the activities still go on until 6 pm, you still have time. »
Kou-kun slowly opens the door of the club room, keeping the suspense a little.
« Welcome to the temple of the manga and anime universe. »
Shelves full of mangas and DVDs/Blu-rays, drawing desks, figurines, and goodies in all directions.
As Kou-kun says so well, a real temple for all manga fans.
*Sniff sniff*
“Rina-chan?”
« It’s so beautiful… »
« If not beautiful, I must admit that it is impressive. »
« The pride of our club is its extraordinary collection of research materials. »
« There must be a real fortune in this room, the club has such a big budget? »
« We don’t talk about money when we talk about passion, Aya. »
« We have to talk about it at some point though right? »
« Haha, you are right Aya-senpai. But on the other hand, the club doesn’t have that big of a budget compared to others. I would say that easily 90% of the collection comes from donations from members since the club was founded. »
« That much? You’re personally investing your money in the club? »
« Let’s just say it’s never really lost since the club is open even to non-members, it’s more of a legacy that grows year after year. »
« The sharing and generosity of a community sharing the same passion. »
« On that note, I’ll leave you to do your tour, I need to take care of clearing the hallway and putting the furniture away. »
« Thanks again Kou-kun. »
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