Chapter 65: Please Take Care Of Me
Sakamoto Ken and Mikazuki Haruna quietly stared at each other.
The firmness in the girl’s gaze gradually wavered, while Sakamoto Ken still had the same calm expression.
Mikazuki Haruna opened her mouth, but seeing Kaji Keiko already walking over from the side, she hesitated to speak.
Sakamoto Ken smoothly took the initiative: “Miyuki Haru Sensei, is there something you want to say to me?”
“Ah, this…” Mikazuki Haruna pondered for two seconds, then said, “You said you’ve read my manga, right?”
“Of course, I’ve carefully appreciated every page.” Sakamoto Ken nodded and said.
Mikazuki Haruna continued: “Then… I’d like to ask, what do you think of my manga.”
Having spent so long with her in the previous life, Sakamoto Ken was very clear about the little thoughts behind this guy’s expression.
《Young Lady, Sniper Rifle, and Pantyhose!》 It was this guy who recreated his work based on memory.
But this was different from how he copied Tatsuki Fujimoto, completely replicating every storyboard.
Even the 《Young Lady》 illustrations before the remake had some subtle changes in some storyboards and character actions design, but the overall similarity was still over 90%.
Probably because she, or rather they, didn’t have as clear memories of the previous life as he did, unable to achieve a 1:1 restoration.
So the purpose of her asking this question was to probe whether at this point in time, he had the idea to draw this manga.
For example, whether he already had character designs, story outlines, and such things that matched what she published.
From the time he faced Natsume Mio back then, Sakamoto Ken had already decided that since they had met again, he couldn’t let them seize the initiative.
Sakamoto Ken had read some rebirth love triangle light novels and manga, and at the time he wondered why the protagonist didn’t just go far away somewhere, so that the yandere trope couldn’t find him no matter what.
Now that he had experienced it personally, he realized that some things weren’t so easy to let go of. If he really gave up, what difference would it make from handing over the person he was once closest to to someone else?
He didn’t want to be cuckolded.
Of course… the premise was to ensure his life safety.
Sakamoto Ken thought for a moment, chuckled, and said: “The first time I saw Miyuki Haru Sensei’s work, I was attracted to it, probably because I had a similar idea.”
“Eh!?” Mikazuki Haruna’s eyes immediately widened, and she quickly said, “Wh-what idea!?”
“Regarding the setting…” Sakamoto Ken said with a slight smile, “But your manga has only serialized to chapter 6, and the setting hasn’t fully unfolded yet. Would me saying it now influence your creation?”
“No, no!” Mikazuki Haruna immediately said, “Tell me quickly!”
Sakamoto Ken continued: “I was thinking, the heroine always wears black pantyhose, so I came up with a setting that all the heroine’s socks are black, not just pantyhose, but also various thigh-high socks and such…”
At this point, Sakamoto Ken could even hear Mikazuki Haruna gasp.
He continued: “Then… after the heroine resolves the first trouble, she’ll encounter a bigger trouble, fall into a predicament, then meet a key character who will always help her in the future, um…”
Sakamoto Ken thought about how to say it while making it seem casual, and gave an example: “Like Professor Agasa in Conan, or Tea Water Doctor in Astro Boy, probably designed as a female scientist who invents all sorts of things related to pantyhose…”
“Sakamoto Ken Sensei… your idea is exactly the same as mine…” Mikazuki Haruna’s eye muscles twitched slightly, and she said, “Ha… what a coincidence.”
“Is it? But similar ideas are normal. Will you also introduce a female scientist character design later?” Sakamoto Ken asked.
“Um…” Mikazuki Haruna’s smile now seemed a bit forced.
She had originally thought that at most he already had the idea for this work, but she didn’t expect the conception to be this detailed!
Doesn’t that mean she really copied his manga!
Sakamoto Ken continued to add: “Actually, I have ideas for this female doctorate’s character image too, probably like… 《EVA》’s Ritsuko Akagi, you know her? That kind of capable female scientist image.”
“Sounds interesting.” Kaji Keiko, listening on the side, said, “Sakamoto Sensei just has this idea but hasn’t drawn it?”
Sakamoto Ken gently shook his head and said: “Just an idea. I still think the 《Chainsaw Man》 idea is better.”
“Haha, true… But before a work is truly born, when it’s just a setting idea, it’s actually hard to evaluate if it’s good or not.” Kaji Keiko said, “After all, everyone has brain holes. Thinking of interesting brain holes isn’t important; what’s important is incorporating the brain hole into the plot and expressing it well.”
Sakamoto Ken nodded and continued: “Yeah, for example, in my setting, the biggest brain hole is about this female doctorate. The new pantyhose she designs can change form, turn into armor, weapons, or even special styles to reward the protagonist… cough cough, no need to go into details.”
“Ah?” Mikazuki Haruna’s mouth fell open.
Sakamoto Ken raised an eyebrow and said: “Miyuki Haru Sensei?”
Mikazuki Haruna smiled awkwardly, waved her hand, and said: “N-nothing…”
“Not another brain hole coincidence, right?” Sakamoto Ken asked knowingly, then said, “No worries, even if we had the same idea, it’s fine. You can draw it according to your own ideas.”
Mikazuki Haruna’s slightly immature chest heaved dramatically. She bit her lip tightly, her mind racing.
She had seen Sakamoto Ken’s actual appearance and examined it carefully.
Plus the simple exchange just now, she had actually confirmed it.
This Sakamoto Ken, whether in appearance or soul, was the one she had been thinking of… her dream lover.
She had clearly wanted to take the initiative to bring up these matters and control the conversation rhythm, but unexpectedly, a few sentences completely suppressed her.
Yeah, her manga was copied from the manga under A Jian in her memory…
Although the storyboards were slightly adjusted and the characters drawn more finely than in memory, it was still copying at the end of the day.
But he didn’t seem to have much reaction, like anger over someone copying his work.
That means at this time, 《Pantyhose》 was indeed still just at the initial brain hole stage for him, not formally drawn yet.
Otherwise, seeing someone recreate what he drew, he shouldn’t be this calm…
Mikazuki Haruna breathed a slight sigh of relief.
She silently gazed at the man in front of her, her feelings very complex, but considering reality, she just extended her right hand toward Sakamoto Ken.
“Looks like our ideas are very similar, and I like your… um… work, so… let’s exchange more in the future.”
Sakamoto Ken nodded, calmly extended his hand, and gently grasped the girl’s tender fingertip.
“Please take care of me, Miyuki Haru Sensei.”
