Meeting the Perverted Mangaka Yuu
The venue was still pretty empty since it was too early, and only staff and participants could enter Anicon before it officially started. Of course, the crew was bustling around here and there, setting things up.
"Hmm... I think we've seen the basics. Before Anicon kicks off for real, let's grab a break at the cafe. They have their own cafe here."
"No idea. We'll see when we get there."
Suihwa said that, glanced at the map saved on her phone, and we headed off. Screeech. We carefully pushed open the door, and a cafe decked out in high-end style came into view. It looked like something straight out of the Middle Ages, the kind of place nobles would frequent.
Nice design.
The cafe interior was empty. It was 11:20 AM now, and Anicon didn't start until 1 PM. Still an hour and forty minutes to go.
By the way.
I wonder if Yuu's here. I'd love to meet her now if she is.
We could meet on Sunday, but if we were going to, I wanted it to be today, not on my departure day. Schedules could always change.
With that in mind, I cautiously texted Suihwa.
A moment later.
"Hmm..."
Suihwa checked her phone, thought for a sec, then—
She coolly gave the okay.
> If it's okay, could we meet now before the event starts?
With Suihwa's permission, I fired off a DM to Yuu on X-Net. And shortly after—
> Sounds good! Let's meet at that cafe we talked about—right now!
We set it up in no time.
*
Screeech. I carefully opened the cafe door. Huge sign reading SWEET KING. And the sweet aroma wafting from everywhere. Looked like she was into sugary desserts. Rare for a guy to love sweets that much.
I scanned around cautiously, intrigued, when—
Wave.
Far off, a woman timidly raised her hand. She's looking for someone too, huh. Felt like a meetup spot. Where the hell was Yuu? Not here yet?
As I thoroughly checked the place with those random thoughts—
"...Sino-san?"
The woman who'd been shyly waving came right up and asked timidly. Wait, hold up. Is this Yuu?
"Ah... hi."
I replied in my awkward Japanese. She looked a bit flustered too, then spoke carefully.
"I'm Yuu...!"
She'd clearly practiced her Korean—it was clean and natural, no rough edges. But I couldn't believe it. This woman is Yuu?
...I figured she'd be a guy, obviously.
With all those uhuhu pervy drawings flooding X-Net, I assumed dude. But a woman? Totally thrown. Still, I kept cool on the outside and asked carefully.
"Kashio Yuu...?"
"Ah, yes...!"
Hmm. Things were getting way more interesting than expected.
*
Heading to the cafe to meet Yuu, I'd worried about communication, but it sorted itself out easy. She knew basic Korean, and I had basic Japanese. Mix in some gestures and our clumsy words, and conversation flowed smooth.
One thing I noticed quick.
...This girl's a total perv.
She looked super plain, but every word dripped with degeneracy. Like detailing her fave boob shapes, or how she really digs female characters getting defeated in manga. Spouting filthy stuff totally casual.
But no issue there.
"I love boobs too."
I'm a perv too. Otherwise, why blast all those R18 pics on X-Net?
"I really like when they get forced..."
The absurd part? She blushes hard saying this crap but never dodges or mumbles—commits to the perversion fully.
We chatted tastes for who-knows-how-long.
"Ah, by the way, my new tankobon’s coming out—could you do the cover, onegai?"
Her Korean got jumbled there, but I got it. We'd touched on it in DMs before.
By the way.
...Am I even good enough?
Yuu didn't look it, but her art skills were god-tier, untouchable. And me doing the cover for her tankobon? Tough. It was one of Japan's hottest mangas right now.
But—
"Hi." (Sure.)
No reason to say no. I wasn't about to pass up this golden chance just 'cause it felt heavy. Better get flamed for sucking than kick away an opportunity rolling right to my feet—that wasn't me.
"Yoroshiku...!" (Please!)
Yuu lit up—her usually flat expression burst alive. I should be the thrilled one. Felt like everyone around me was secretly filming a prank show lately. I checked the time.
12:32 PM
Time to head back.
As I wrapped up with Yuu and stood to leave—
"...Could I get your SNS ID...?"
Yuu timidly handed over her phone. Ah, right—Japanese folks chat via this stuff. I inputted my ID quick, marveling briefly.
Good thing I installed it just in case. Heard it's big in Japan, so I'd grabbed it—and boom, useful.
We swapped contacts, and soon after.
"Otsukaresama!" (Thanks for your work!)
Yuu looked super satisfied, bowed politely, and zipped out of the cafe.
Never imagined a woman, seriously. She'd never shown voice or gender publicly. Manga content and dialogue screamed dude. No way I'd suspected.
Better keep this secret. No proof anyway. My knowledge only.
Thinking that, I stepped out—
"Hmm...?"
A familiar face way off. What? Nah, must be seeing things. No way she's here.
Brain froze. Why was someone who should be in Korea here?
...What the actual fuck?
Stunned, I froze up. Then—clack clack.
She stared straight at me from afar and walked over slow.
"There you are. Took me forever to find you."
"...Why the hell are you here."
"I squeezed in some time to rest too. Got a problem?"
"No, no problem—just threw me."
Yujia stretched casually and asked flatly.
"Who was that big-boobed girl earlier?"
Ah. She saw. Dammit.
"Just an acquaintance. Met up since I'm in Japan."
"Hmmm."
Yujia smirked.
"Sunbae, you know that?"
"What."
"When you lie... your right eyebrow twitches a bit."
"...For real?"
Shocked. Had no clue about that habit.
As I panicked, Yujia grinned like it was fun.
"Kidding, obviously. But you look so busted—guess you are lying."
Ah. Played.
"Whatever, I don't care who you meet. Just curious. Not your girlfriend or anything—no reason to meddle."
She glanced me over, then continued.
"So, heading to Anicon now?"
"Yeah, Suihwa's waiting."
"Mind if I tag along?"
"Permission's for two—might be tight..."
Getting into Anicon was tough enough; adding Yujia as staff? No way. Suihwa wasn't some mega-YouTuber.
But—
"Nah, no issue. I got an invite too."
Yujia pulled a card from her pocket. Bold letters: STAFF PASS.
STAFF PASS
Looks like Yujia scored an invite too. No idea how.
