Chapter 872: A Rebellious Teenager Reads Fuji Jump’s Magazine
The Myata house, a perfectly average two-story suburban dwelling in the meticulously landscaped Elffire City neighborhood, buzzed with the chaotic energy of a family reunion. Bloom Week’s Sunday, a time for Elffirian families to celebrate the blossoming of the iridescent moonpetal trees, had arrived, and the Myata clan, numbering somewhere in the vicinity of a small army, was descending upon the house like a flock of brightly colored, slightly over-enthusiastic birds.
Aunt Hana, known for her aggressively cheerful personality and questionable casserole recipes, arrived first, followed by Uncle Kenji, a man whose smile lines suggested a lifetime of slightly embarrassing karaoke nights. Their greetings, a cacophony of joyous shouts and air kisses, echoed through the house. Downstairs, the dining room table, usually a modest affair, groaned under the weight of a mountain of food – enough to feed a small village, or perhaps, just the Myata family.
Meanwhile, upstairs in his room, Toshi, the perpetually scowling teenage Myata, remained oblivious to the familial frenzy. He was engrossed in the first issue of the online magazine from Fuji Jump. His thoughts were far from the floral festivities; he was contemplating the existential angst of the main character in "The Devil is a Part-Timer!" The story follows the Demon Lord Satan, who, after being defeated by the hero Emilia Justina, is forced to flee to modern-day Sakura City and work at a fast-food restaurant, MgRonald’s. He sighed, the weight of this dramatically difficult manga relationship far exceeding the weight of the family gathering he was avoiding. The irony, of course, was lost on him.
That’s right!
Fuji Jump had launched its own magazine!
Theo had approved this project for months already, and after months of planning and design, Fuji Jump’s Magazine was officially launched earlier this month, on April 17th. But the magazine was only launched in its digital format. Without the new large printing factory, which was still under construction, the Fuji Jump didn’t have the printing capacity to issue a physical magazine.
But even after the printing factory construction, Theo didn’t plan to issue the physical format of the magazine. His view was that the digital format was the future. The only reason why the physical format of manga was still resisting the time changes was because of the force of tradition that the whole Sakurean country built along almost a century of the manga industry. Otherwise, the physical format would already have been extinct to give way to the digital versions of mangas.
The crisp digital pages shimmered on Toshi’s tablet screen. He swiped through the interview with the ’Naruto’ mangaka, a surprisingly candid discussion about the creative process behind Sasuke’s character development and the initial struggles with finding the right balance between action and emotional depth. A small, previously unseen sketch of a young Sasuke, clinging to a worn wooden doll, was tucked into the corner of the page—a charming detail that tugged at Toshi’s heartstrings. The ’Naruto’ snippet was a hilarious side story with Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura. Toshi laughed out loud as he read it.
He then tapped on the ’Sword Art Online’ preview, a stunning visual spread depicting Kirito and Asuna facing a terrifying new boss in a breathtaking, never-before-seen virtual environment. The article gave a few behind-the-scenes views from the SAO anime production. The SAO snippet was a story of Kirito going on a side quest; this was a completely new side story that didn’t appear in the original light novel. Toshi already had the whole SAO light novel series, so he was especially excited as he read this new side story.
The ’Tree of Life’ snippet was a particularly emotional piece, as it offered a glimpse into a future without any tragedies for the orphanage children. It wasn’t just a simple excerpt; it even showed the happiness that could have happened, and that’s exactly why it was so sad. Because the reader who had Tree of Life knew exactly how much these children suffered, and knowing how happy they could’ve been, it was especially painful. Toshi found himself tearing up as he read that, at that moment, he found himself thinking that it wasn’t that bad that he had such a big family.
He scrolled past a vibrant collage showcasing fan art from various series, interspersed with the heartfelt, humorous, and occasionally heartbreaking letters they’d sent. One fan even proposed a hilariously absurd crossover between *The Devil is a Part-Timer!* and *Naruto*, imagining a ramen-eating competition between Emilia and Naruto. Toshi chuckled, appreciating the creative spirit of the community.
Finishing the last article, a short piece on the upcoming anime adaptation of a lesser-known manga from Fuji Jump, Toshi leaned back, a satisfied sigh escaping his lips. This special edition wasn’t just a collection of excerpts; it was a meticulously crafted celebration of the publishing house’s works, its creators, and its passionate fanbase. He knew this first Fuji Jump magazine wouldn’t be his last. He already eagerly awaited the next issue.
While Toshi was reading his magazine, his mother, Akari, a woman who possessed the patience of a saint and the organizational skills of a seasoned general, periodically glanced upward, a mixture of exasperation and affection in her eyes. She knew Toshi’s rebellious phase was a temporary storm, albeit one that involved an alarming number of discarded energy drink cans and questionable fashion choices. She’d get him eventually. Probably with the threat of extra chores, or perhaps the allure of an exceptionally delicious mochi cake.
She was thinking about how to persuade Toshi to come down when she saw her rebellious son climbing down the stairs.
"Look who it is!" Uncle Kenji shouted, "Our rebellious child!"
The whole family laughed merrily as Toshi’s aunts walked to him and started bullying him as they squeezed his cheeks and kissed him.
"Our baby!"
"How I miss when you were little, Toshi-chan!"
"Are you liking any girl?"
Toshi suffered his aunts’ assault with a resigned expression; he knew this would happen when he decided to come down. As the only male grandchild and nephew(all others were girls). The family liked to tease him.
The lunch itself was a chaotic masterpiece. Dishes overflowed with vibrant colors and tantalizing smells – tempura shrimp delicately crisped, glistening edamame pods, and a mountain of pickled ginger that seemed to multiply with every passing moment.
Toshi, despite his initial reluctance, found himself swept up in the whirlwind of familial affection. He recounted his latest escapades at high school, embellishing the stories slightly for comedic effect, earning chuckles and playful nudges from his uncles and aunts. Even his grandfather, usually a man of few words, joined in the merriment, sharing a wry anecdote about his own youthful rebellions – a tale involving a stolen motorcycle and a very angry policeman that had the entire family roaring with laughter.
Later, as the sun began to dip below the horizon, painting the sky in hues of orange and purple, the family gathered on the veranda. The air was cool and fragrant with the scent of jasmine. Toshi, sitting beside his grandfather, felt a warmth spread through him, a feeling of belonging that transcended the playful teasing and boisterous energy of the day.
He watched as his aunts, their earlier playful bullying forgotten, engaged in a quiet conversation, their hands clasped together. He realized, with a sudden clarity, that beneath the surface of their sometimes overwhelming affection lay a deep well of love and unwavering support. It was a messy, chaotic love, certainly, but undeniably genuine. As the stars began to emerge, twinkling like scattered diamonds in the velvet sky, Toshi knew he wouldn’t trade his slightly crazy, incredibly loving family for anything in the world.