For Ichiro the day started as any other working day. Except that no day was normal in ‘Odd jobs Yamada’. Today’s job was to act as an errand boy/body guard for some, what he supposed by the good amount he was going to get, rich girl. Ichiro didn’t really care for that, he was just a bit salty; I mean, how come that his favorite adult mangaka has his face reveal and first sign event the same freaking day? Not his lucky day.
In the text sent by her agent (or what the woman who hired him told him she was) she must be in the main Ikebukuro Station entrance. He had to look for a girl with half pink hair, some fancy sunglasses and a lot to carry. Aaaand… of course, she must be the one being pestered by some idiot.
As Ichiro was getting closer, he could hear how much of a pest the guy was being and the sights from her client. Even with the glasses making it impossible for him to see it, he knew she was rolling her eyes.
-Hey, good morning, I’m the guy hired by Miss Suzuki to scourt you-. Ichiro used his body to block the dude that clearly can comprehend a “no”.
-Oi, I was talking to her first!
Ichiro just looked at him and he knew. Muttered some excuse, an apology and flew the scene. It still was too early for the pick up girls guys to appear, for fucks sake! … That was a bit too much, but Ichiro was really hating to be a responsible adult right now. When he turned again to look at the state of his job, he catched her looking past him to watch the pester running away.
-Ah, I don´t know if your intention was to scare him away, but anyway thank you-. The girl told him after she noticed the change of focus.
-Is part of the job. I´m Ichiro Yamada, from Odds jobs Yamada; I'll be at your service today.
-I´m Mine Mizushima, but sorry I don't remember em, calling or anything…? You said it was Suzuki?
She took her heart shaped sunglasses off and started rubbing her forehead. Ichiro could momentarily see her eyes. Not yellow like his brother’s, golden. Such an extrange color (even for an odd eyes himself), but really pretty… Wait.
-Is there a problem with that?- “Please don’t tell me it is an error or worse, a prank. If it is that, God forbids the dumbass that crosses his path.”
-I don't think it is. I really asked for her. But for HER to come help me to carry these- .Mine gestured to the suitcase, backpack, a tote bag, a purse and some bakery box. How was she able to get here?- If this comes out of my extra I’m gonna be hella pissed.
Mine looked at him, shrugged and started to pass some of the bags to Ichiro while thanking him. Ichiro decided to look somewhere else apart from her eyes. Just a normal girl, with a ton of things to move. Was she moving? But with some anime charms on her backpack, anime stickers on the suitcase and a phone case of one of Ichiro’s favorites anime.
-Do you like kimetsu?- Ichiro tried to hide his excitement, at least he would have some enjoyable company today, while carrying half of the luggage. And started to walk alongside her as guiding her to the destination point.
-Mm? Oh, yeah, I mean, who doesn’t? It's pretty famous.
-It is, but that doesn’t mean it isn't great.
-The anime is so good, the animation is sooo pretty.
And it started there, just two geeks talking about their animes. This makes Ichiro feel better, she knew about some series that his brothers didn’t. It wasn’t a long walk, but he already had the feeling that the day wasn’t going to be as bad as he initially thought.
They arrived at some alley and Mine called the ‘manager’ to get them and she appeared in one of the back doors of the shops. She greeted them with a hope you had a safe trip and jokingly said to Mine if she was glad to have Ikebukuro’s superstar helping her. She just responded with the threat she said earlier but with some more insults in the middle. A funny scene to watch from the outside.
When they entered the building, Ichiro noticed something: this wasn’t a normal store. This was the Animate building. With a girl with a ton of luggage and a manager. Was she… a cosplayer? An idol in undercover?
This day was getting better by seconds.
They were left alone in a waiting room/store room while Miss Suzuki went for some drinks. Could he… ask? Mizushima got out a sketchbook and started doodling. She was doing that thing he saw in a mangaka video in one of those afternoons with nothing to do, the “use all the arm” thing.
-So, would I need to leave your side at any moment?- nice and professional way to ask.
-I don’t think so? Well, except for the bathroom.
She smiled and excused the bad joke. Ichiro thanked that at least the person he was obligated to pass the day with was nice. So now the question was if she didn’t need him to go out he could discard idol as a possibility. He heard that cosplayers used to change in events with others in the same room, maybe it was that? He hoped that at least she had some “don’t mind if you see” undies or change behind a screen or something. Not like she isn’t pretty or something but… it would be uncomfortable and not knowing where to look…
Mine put the ink maker (when did she grab that?) on the table with the drinks that Suzuki brought and left to do some preparations. And then she showed the page to Ichiro. It was him. In an anime style. He was euphoric.
He grabbed the sketchbook that Mine offered him. He put his hand on his mouth while looking at the drawing in detail. It was so cool.
-This is awesome! Can I have it? My brothers are going to freak out. This is so cool!
-I’m so glad you like it! Take it as an apology.
-Ah, this is embarrassing… you see, I’m pretty sure that idiot of Suzuki called you because, well, I’m a fan, and it's kinda an important and a day to celebrate, so… yeah… I’m sorry.
-Pst, hahahahahahaha!- she was cute, it resembled when his brothers showed him something to make him proud.- Don’t worry about it! It’s the reason I got half of my works! But seriously, this drawing is awesome! You draw hella well.
-Well,I hope so or I will have to reconsider changing career paths!
-A mangaka, but I also do illustrations for light novels,from time to time.
-Really? That’s awesome!- Ichiro tried to find her name in his read list, but to no avail-. Do you mind signing it? I’m going to frame it!
Mine took back the sketchbook to sign the portrait and Ichiro decided to start drinking the cola. The day was getting better and better. He should look into her home because, honestly, she has to be pretty bad for him not to like whatever she writes. She put the drawing in a plastic cover and then handed it to him. Ichiro took a last sip and grabbed the drawing.
He was an idiot. Why didn't he think of the possibility? It was kinda obvious, there wasn't any other event announced.
It was a signature Ichiro knew too well.
His last obsession. At least in manga. He wanted to scream. It was the best day of his life. Best work ever. He has to escort his favorite mangaka for an entire day? Fuck, he would have done this for half the price.
Ah, right, he did cough a bit, didn´t he? He was just making a fool of himself. Anct cool, act cool.
-Yeah, yeah… It was just a surprise to know your pseudo was…
-Oh, yeah. Did you read any of my works?
Ichiro just nodded trying to hide his excitement. His eyes travel between her and the drawing. A smile could be appreciated among his fingers. That honestly relieved Mine.
-Haha, that´s a bit embarrassing. But it's a bit relieving to have a good reaction…
-I already told some people, and the majority out of my circle just looked at me as some degenerate. I mean, yeah, but rude-. She just laughed. That was the type of humor she posted on her twitter account, so Ichiro didn't think too much and laugh too-. This thing of revealing my face just got me a bit anxious.
He kinda gets that. Not that her works were on the line of illegal or something; they were more on the wholesome side but… yeah, if his brothers catched him reading it he would want the earth to swallow him.
-Well, if someone just said something; they will have to find another division to live or confront a good beating.
She laughed pretty bad. Surely Ichiro was joking, but it was just half true.
-I would have Ichiro Yamada to defend my honor? Didn't know my work was that good!
After a good laugh for both parts, the conversation just flowed naturally. Even better than before. A while later, Suzuki (that in reality was the editor, but liked to call herself manager) came saying that the place was ready, and they went to install the desktop computer with the drawing tablet (so that´s what was in so many luggage), and Ichiro was blessed with a privileged sit behind some panels but with a nice view of the monitor and the room while Mine answered questions and draw the cover for the next volume.
At the end she signed some of the new volume of a new series she was promoting. And when all that finished they even gave Ichiro a volume and signed it. Mine opened the cake box and inside were some homemade cookies to thank all the staff. Ichiro was crying of happiness inside.
When they finished packing up, Mine and Suzuki started talking about where to go to dinner. So Ichiro recommended this place for yakiniku since Mine was eager to get that. And thanks to that he ended in a vip room with the two and free dinner. His brothers were fine and assured him they were good with some cup ramen that they had home, so he was making sure to make the most of it.
After dinner, Suzuki paid Ichiro and parted ways. Ichiro accompanied Mine to a nearby convini for a dessert (and discreetly bought him some too) and went towards the station. A comfortable silence felt while they were eating the sweet of a vainilla mochi on one warm night of spring. Ichiro felt the need to be honest as they were approaching the station.
-I was honestly a bit frustrated with the job. I really wanted to go to the same event I was able to go to as your helper. And it ended up being one of the best days I had. So, yeah… thank you for all.
-It makes me happy to hear that-. She stared at the entrance of the station while thinking-. Talking about first impressions now that we are being honest… The first time I saw you, I really thought that it was the end of me. But you ended up helping me. That was when I started to root for you.
Ichiro was dumbfounded. It was pretty believable but he wast able to remember anyone like her. But if he was looking bad to a scared girl… that sure must be a long time ago.
-It was like someone slapped me and told me to stop being a baby. It was a dark time for me at that moment. So…-Mine smilingly turned to him-. If what you´re saying is true, we can call it even.
Ichiro smiled, not the first time he heard how he helped someone and how grateful they are; but this was new.
They stared at each other, not sure what to do, only knowing that they didn't want to leave it like that.
-... well, today you also helped with my nervousness, so… this is your chance to request something! Shoot it!
Ichiro laughed and thought. He really wanted to keep talking and as she was one year older than him, he could talk to her about some series that he could´t mention to his brothers.
-Can I ask for your number then?