NOVEL NEXT chapter 42
42: People Heading Towards Their Dreams
Karina, whom I reunited with after a long time, wasn’t wearing an eye patch or bandages anymore, but instead had glasses on.
“What we are about to embark on… is a war.”
When she mentioned being a vendor at the festival, I imagined something like a booth at a local fair, but that was a mistake, and yet, in a way, it was correct.
What we handle are not roasted flour snacks or cotton candy, but “books”.
Doujinshi events – these kinds of events are held at least twice a year, even the larger ones, where amateur manga, novels, and other merchandise are sold.
Karina has been participating every year since she entered high school, and this year will be her third time.
Apparently, she even has regular customers now.
Indeed, her manga drawings are skillful, and even for someone like me who doesn’t read much manga, the content is easy to understand. She claims it’s still at the “amateur level,” but it makes me wonder what has happened to the manga industry lately, as it is something that even instills fear.
Currently, I prioritize “studying” above all else.
However, since I have been rejecting all kinds of invitations, my schedule is open. Moreover, there was no peculiar smell like that of a feverish patient emitting from Karina’s invitation, and above all, her doujinshi is said to be filled with her passion and dreams.
Helping her with that dream was something that made me feel a sense of pride.
I don’t have a dream that I can proudly declare to others, and the fact that I don’t have enough passion to devote myself to something to the point of neglecting sleep and meals might be a positive reason for helping Karina.
In short, I envy people who are dedicated. And I find it admirable.
As someone who doesn’t “devote myself to something” in life, even though I understand that what she is devoting her energy to is a meaningless detour from the purpose of “surviving,” I still find joy in being able to expend effort there.
So, there is no “no” when it comes to helping.
I accepted the role of a cosplay vendor.
Wait.
What is a cosplay vendor, exactly?
“A cosplay vendor is… someone who cosplays and works as a vendor.”
She said it in a solemn tone.
I couldn’t ask for further details… There was an imposing air about her face as we faced each other.
Although I don’t know what a cosplay vendor is, I could understand in my heart that it was an important mission, even without words.
When she showed me the character she would be cosplaying as, even someone like me who isn’t familiar with manga could recognize the character, and based on the official setting that was mentioned, I realized that their physique was similar to mine.
She bought fabric, bought a wig, and then finished the costume with hand sewing—her dedication was beyond imagination.
When you see someone deeply engrossed in something, it makes you feel more focused too. I willingly offered to help her.
As she introduced me to the “other comrades,” she accepted my offer to help.
That was the entrance to the abyss.
From the moment I offered to help, we became fate-sharing companions.
As soon as summer vacation began, I was invited to Karina’s room.
It seemed that Karina had started living alone from her senior high school years, and during the “festival” preparation period, she and her comrades would stay over there—Karina’s room. Karina’s comrades were both women. One man and three women staying over. One room. There was no way nothing would happen.
Night after night. A breaking heart. Speech and behavior became incoherent, and I would get angry at trivial things.
At first, they were tense around me, the outsider, but gradually they lost that composure, and I, a high school senior, had my illusions about “women” shattered thoroughly by these older sisters.
It was a tough daily life, but it was also invaluable.
Looking back, there’s no doubt that it was an experience to be cherished, but when will this death march end?
Approaching deadlines. Unattainable schedules.
“Why don’t you set the schedule in advance? Look at the schedule. ‘Oh, I still have time.’ Look at the schedule the next day. ‘If I work hard for two days somewhere, I’ll have time.’ Look at the schedule again the next day. ‘If I pull an all-nighter for about three days, I can manage.’ Gradually, it becomes ‘If I work hard twice for two days,’ ‘twice for three days,’ ‘thrice for three days.’ And there it is—’now.'”
I didn’t have any skills related to manga work, so I left that to Karina and the others, and focused on costume making and supplying materials (odd jobs).
I can sew. I can clean. I can cook. The domestic skills I had honed oddly came in handy here.
“It’s great, Rex. I wanted someone like you. I’ve wanted someone like you since two years ago…”
With unusually heavy bags under her eyes, and with her skin and hair in a mess, she spoke, yet she was still beautiful.
In that space, there was no concept of “men and women,” and there was no concept of “romance.”
Well, there was romance, but it was a creation of men talking about men on paper…not a world that we, who were creating it, had any connection to.
As someone who was tired of watching classmates excited with romantic fever, the chaotic atmosphere was comfortable for me. And though I said I didn’t pay attention to men and women, I couldn’t help but feel a little happy when senior girls, whose minds were melting from consecutive all-nighters, hugged me.
“Because Rex is here this time, everyone can maintain a minimum level of cleanliness, and that’s a relief…”
It’s scary to hear about the time when I wasn’t there.
I cleaned and cooked. I made coffee and provided nutritional drinks.
If someone was sleeping on the desk (and was sternly ordered to be woken up no matter what if they fell asleep), I woke them up, ventilated the room, and checked the printing schedule.
After everything was done, there was not even a trace of a sense of accomplishment as we each, one by one, fell into a deep sleep as if dying.
Meanwhile, I, who had been leading a normal life, setting a normal schedule, sleeping normally every day, and finishing my work normally, contacted the printing house and quietly worked on the mundane task of turning the girls’ soulful manga from data into physical copies, and neatly lined up the 18-year-old (and 17-year-old) girls scattered on the floor and covered them with blankets.
I went shopping and decided to make some snacks.
Karina’s room had few cooking utensils… but with just a frying pan, I could make most things. I tidied up and organized the kitchen to make it easier for me to use, and it was comfortable.
By the time they woke up after almost a full day of sleep, I recommended that they take a bath first and prepared some snacks in the meantime.
Since I had been drinking coffee excessively while working on the manuscript, I thought it might be bad for my stomach to have more, so I prepared some high-quality tea leaves I had bought as a small celebration for finishing the manuscript and made iced tea by cold brewing them. I poured it for the three of them and served it with waffles I made only using the frying pan, topped with whipped cream and fruits.
“I’m a butler… a real butler…”
I answered shyly. The truth is, I’m aiming to be a “parasite” – it’s a small but serious dream of mine that I haven’t told anyone about.
Karina and the others said one after another, “I think it’s a good idea,” “I think you’re suited for it,” “Please take care of us even in winter.”
I knew then. How happy and satisfying it is to have your dream affirmed…
We are living the dream.
And now, the festival of dreams is finally about to begin.