Great Mangaka

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In April, the cherry blossoms in Tokyo are getting brighter and brighter.

Masako Natsukawa is a singer who has just debuted in Japan. At eight in the morning, she began rehearsing for tomorrow night's performance. This performance is very important for her because it is Masako's first outdoor performance.

If she manages to attract the audience, her future development will be smoother.

"Masako!"

Just as Masako Natsukawa was seriously rehearsing, her agent, Miss Suzuki, entered from outside and called her name. Suzuki was accompanied by a man in his forties.

"Ms. Suzuki, Mr. Fukuyama...".

Masako Natsukawa stopped rehearsing and rushed to greet them.

She knew this man; he was an agent at the same company, and the artist under Fukuyama's charge held the top position. Masako didn't understand why this man, whom even Miss Suzuki had to respectfully call senior, was appearing there. Could it be that the company was not satisfied with her and sent Mr. Fukuyama to reprimand her?

Masako Natsukawa was a little nervous.

"Masako, Mr. Fukuyama wants to ask us a favor." However, what Miss Suzuki said exceeded her expectations. The agent smiled and explained, "You're performing at Ueno Park tomorrow night, and Mr. Fukuyama wants us to provide a stage and a piano after the show. He has a friend who wants to perform on stage."

"No, that guy isn't my friend. But it's a request from my friend." The man interrupted her: "I know the request is a bit excessive. But, Miss Masako, please agree!"

He bowed, and Masako Natsukawa immediately recoiled a few steps.

"Mr. Fukuyama, you're welcome. If you ask me, I'll agree," she said nervously. In fact, it wasn't up to her to make decisions on such matters. Masako Natsukawa knew very well that Fukuyama was just being polite.

After the man left, Masako Natsukawa breathed a sigh of relief. Then, with doubts, she asked her agent: "Ms. Suzuki, Mr. Fukuyama never asks for help. Why would he bow to me today?"

Suzuki chuckled upon hearing this: "He has no choice. Mr. Fukuyama's friend asked to prepare a stage in Tokyo tomorrow night. Mr. Fukuyama searched everywhere, and we're the only ones left."

"Searched everywhere..." Masako Natsukawa's mouth dropped open and she exclaimed, "What kind of friend is that? Is it worth Mr. Fukuyama doing this?"

Suzuki's smile became mysterious: "The Witch of Tokyo?"

"The Witch of Tokyo?" Masako Natsukawa was stunned for a few seconds. She had heard of that nickname. She was a very famous agent in the Japanese entertainment industry. It was said that even ordinary artists could become popular idols after being managed by her. Her name seems to be...

"Miss Alice?"

Natsukawa Masako's eyes lit up: "Mr. Fukuyama really knows Miss Alice, it's incredible... No, it's not true. If it was Miss Alice who asked, why couldn't Mr. Fukuyama find a stage? There should be many stages that would eagerly welcome her!"

The Witch of Tokyo is well known in the entertainment industry. Natsukawa Masako was puzzled, but soon noticed her agent's face darken.

"Masako, you still don't know. Alice has already retired from the entertainment world. She even swore not to return, which offended many people. And the request she's making now is very rude, giving the stage to an artist... Who would be willing to do that?!"

"An artist?!" Natsukawa Masako was stunned. What? The one who was going to perform on her stage was an artist? No wonder the others refused; it was ridiculous, how could such a precious stage be given to an outsider?

"Yes, an artist." Miss Suzuki nodded: "They say the artist wants to record a piano piece. It would be fine if he recorded it, but Alice wants him to perform it live and record it...".

Upon saying this, Masako Natsukawa understood and got a little angry.

"It's a mess. If an artist fails, won't I be laughed at?" She began to complain indignantly: "I wouldn't have agreed if I had known earlier. This will scare away the audience!"

She will perform outdoors at Ueno Park tomorrow. The park has reserved a large area for her, and tourists must pay an entrance fee.

Although the entrance fee is very low, it is still income, and the number of attendees determines the company's valuation of Masako Natsukawa. She is a newcomer and wants every performance to be as perfect as possible.

Unfortunately, it's over now. Tomorrow's flyer will add a sentence: the last program: artist plays piano live. When tourists see this sentence, they won't be interested in listening to the song.

"You don't have to worry about that."

Miss Suzuki comforted Masako Natsukawa: "I brought Mr. Fukuyama here, and of course I also calculated the audience. The cartoonist seems to have some fans in Japan. This is his farewell performance there, and some will come to support him."

"As long as there are tens of people, we'll make a profit." Suzuki smiled and said, "Masako, you have to perform well. As long as you do well, you can attract the cartoonist's fans."

"Don't worry about the artist! If he performs poorly, it only highlights your excellence!"

Masako Natsukawa listened to this and understood that it was true. She had never been on a big stage, and her reputation wasn't prominent enough. The audience scheduled for this performance was 500 people. If she managed to exceed that number, she would be gaining an advantage.

"What's the artist's name?" she asked curiously.

"Mirai-sensei, a local artist from Japan..."

Suzuki said it, and Natsukawa Masako didn't make any impression of that name.

She usually only reads clothing and magazines, and knows nothing about manga. And the name Mirai-sensei has never been heard in the entertainment industry. It's true that he's not a very famous pianist, not even a newcomer.

Natsukawa Masako no longer cared; she turned around and fully immersed herself in the rehearsal.

At that moment, those who knew Alice in the Tokyo entertainment industry were talking about it.

"Has Alice returned?"

"She's crazy. She actually wants us to give her a stage for an artist to play the piano!"

"Haha, I heard she left the entertainment industry to become a manga editor. I didn't believe it at the time, but now I do. How funny! A Witch of Tokyo has fallen to this point!"

The entertainment industry generally disdains this matter. People leave, and the situation cools down. Alice has left this industry, and no one will worry about her.

However, some media still perceive a different scent. An artist wants to play the piano? ... No matter how you look at it, this is news that can be followed, and perhaps unexpected surprises will be found.

The next day, some reporters from Tokyo went to Ueno Park. There were no representatives from any famous television stations among them, but at such a small event, the number of reporters was very scarce.