*Chapter 8: Please, Landlady*

The landlady wants to see my room?

Could she possibly have other intentions?

In Oda Shingo's mind, a small horse pulling a large cart appeared—perhaps even a funeral carriage for a widow…

"I'm not going into the room, just wanting to understand your living and working situation," Yukino Fuyuto, the landlady, explained further with a respectful 45-degree bow.

So that’s what it is, Oda Shingo breathed a sigh of relief.

No need to pull the cart anymore.

Huh? Why do I feel a hint of disappointment?

Yukino Fuyuto remained very formal, still bowing. “After all, I can’t hastily make a decision based on just a few words from you. Please!”

Oda Shingo had no reason to refuse, so he immediately stepped aside to let her in. Meanwhile, he wondered why he felt a slight disappointment that she wasn’t entering the room. Could there have been some sort of storyline if she did?

Yukino Fuyuto bowed again before glancing around the room.

A young man with such a tidy room is indeed rare, she thought, comparing him to other tenants she had encountered.

And judging by the state of the drawing tools on the desk, the room was starting to feel more like a workspace.

“May I see the works on your desk?” she asked politely, still standing at the doorway.

“Of course,” Oda Shingo replied, handing over the sketches.

With his current efficiency, he had already drawn several storyboard frames in a short time.

Yukino Fuyuto took them with both hands and carefully examined them.

Though not a professional, she could tell that, despite being rough and simple, the sketches had a certain power to them!

"These are called drafts, right?" Yukino Fuyuto asked as she studied each page.

“They’re storyboards,” Oda Shingo explained. “I’m not very skilled at drawing yet; I focus more on scripting and storyboarding. The main drawing will be done by my teammate.”

“Teammate?”

“A teammate in my creative group,” Oda Shingo smiled. “To be honest, I’ve only just invited her and am not sure if she’ll join.”

“Her?” Yukino Fuyuto noted his choice of words.

“Yes, a junior in the art department. She probably has more concerns than I do, but I’ll win her over with my passion and sincerity for the work.” Oda Shingo nodded firmly, showing his determination.

“My, I really envy the drive of young people,” Yukino Fuyuto said as she returned the sketches with another bow. “I understand. I’ll come back to check on your progress soon. In about three months, I’ll have to collect the rent you’ve owed for six months.”

Come back to inspect, huh? No problem! Oda Shingo bowed deeply. “Thank you very much, Yukino-san!”

“If your work gets serialized, I’ll even offer a congratulatory gift,” Yukino Fuyuto said slowly, her tone serious.

“Ah, that would be too much, I’d be embarrassed by such kindness,” Oda Shingo responded courteously.

Yukino Fuyuto’s tone shifted as she said, “But if you don’t make any progress, the rent will accumulate interest, and… it will be collected forcefully!”

Oda Shingo felt as if a sharp glint passed through her eyes, though it disappeared almost instantly.

“Well then, I’ll visit again soon,” she said, bowing elegantly as she slowly walked away in her wooden sandals.

After a few steps, Yukino Fuyuto turned back and smiled. “Oh, by the way, the rental agreement doesn’t prohibit cohabitation. No need to avoid it.”

The long-legged girl hiding in the closet suddenly froze in shock.

Oda Shingo: “?”

“Oh?” Yukino Fuyuto seemed slightly surprised by his clueless expression, and the smile in her eyes grew even more mischievous.

Without saying more, she bowed once again before walking away gracefully, her sandals lightly tapping the floor.

Oda Shingo stood at the doorway, watching the widow landlady's figure fade into the distance.

The graceful silhouette in her kimono slowly disappeared from view.

Somehow, I feel like I want her to come and collect rent again…

Returning to his room, Oda Shingo took a sip of water.

His mouth still felt dry.

He couldn’t deny it; the landlady wasn’t just physically attractive—her demeanor and actions could easily stir a man's heart.

No! I need to focus on drawing manga! I’m destined to become the king of the anime world!

“You witch! How dare you disturb my willpower!” Oda Shingo suddenly realized he was being seduced by the landlady.

He walked to the small bathroom and stared into the mirror.

Oda Shingo, you weren’t moved by the long-legged junior buying sketchbooks or by the edgy girl throwing herself at you. So why are you interested in a widow? How shameful!

Could it be that I was related to the infamous Cao family in a past life?

No distractions! I’m going to be the overlord of the anime world!

“The long-legged junior is a spider demon!”

“The edgy girl is a rabbit demon!”

“The landlady is the bone spirit!”

These women—they’re not in love with me. They’re all after something! They each just want my pure essence!

He shouted into the mirror three times, reaffirming his resolve as an innocent otaku, then slapped his own face.

Alright! My mind is now clear!

He sat back at his desk and fully immersed himself in his work once again.

Completely unaware that the long-legged junior hiding in the closet was about to explode!

Is he talking about me? Who is he calling a spider demon?!

Although she wasn’t quite sure what a spider demon was, she knew it wasn’t a compliment.

The kunai was already drawn. If it weren’t for the closet door, she might’ve thrown it at him by now.

Thankfully, she was a ninja.

[Patience, one of the four noble truths; the seeds of virtue are planted deep...] she silently recited the ninja code.

Soon, her mind calmed down.

You—though you’re not the criminal I initially thought, you’re not a good person either!

But since you’re sincerely trying to draw manga with me, I’ll let you off for now. We’re even!

She planned to sneak out when Oda Shingo went to the bathroom or left the room.

But…

Why don’t you close the door when you go to the bathroom?!

The long-legged junior blushed in embarrassment inside the closet.

More time passed, minute by minute.

The long-legged junior quietly practiced a meditative technique in the closet.

This is a form of rest for ninjas, a way to stay alert while resting lightly.

In this half-sleep state, she recalled drawing manga in school.

[She actually wants to draw manga?]  

[How laughable, a country girl trying to draw manga?]

Her classmates' mockery was still fresh in her memory.

Because her subject matter was embarrassing, she had to hide in quiet corners of the library to draw.

Whenever someone approached, she would frantically switch drawing boards.

When inspiration struck, she would stay up all night drawing.

But the library closed, and she’d have to move to the dimly lit underground passages to continue.

Fortunately, she had the skills to handle any trouble.

"I want to create a manga that people can't put down!" she had often whispered to herself, gripping her pen.

But every time she uploaded her work to a web platform, nervously checking the comments, she found that readers weren’t interested in her story.

[Great art, but what is the author thinking? Doesn’t the story need a plot too?!]  

[The drawing is great, but is the author telling a child’s story?]

I wasn’t drawing a smut manga, and I was offering it for free. The beautiful boys were just having pure emotional connections with each other.

I want people to read the stories I create, but…

The only thing praised was my artwork.

Do I really lack the talent to create stories?

Maybe creating manga isn’t for me.

Should I return to Konoha, take the Jōnin exams, and, like countless ninjas before me, pledge my loyalty to a political figure…

But I still want to create my own manga…

In a daze, she imagined a manga book before her, a vague sense that it was her own printed work…

She reached out in joy, ready to hold it…

Wait, no! I’m still in the closet!

She suddenly snapped back to reality.

Peeking outside, she still saw Oda Shingo working hard at his desk.

He’s working on his manga… this hard?!

(End of Chapter)