A Boy's Journey Beyond the Panels

Prologue

It was December 24th, a considerably cold winter evening.

As evening approaches, a young boy finds himself immersed in his creative world, hunched over his drawing tablet with his hands still holding the stylus. The room is bathed in the soft glow of fairy lights, casting a warm and festive ambiance.

The boy, lost in his artistic endeavors, fails to notice the gradual drop in temperature. Suddenly, a draft from the closed window sends shivers down his spine, and he awakens with a start, snoring abruptly silenced. Blinking away drowsiness, he mutters, "Oh, it's cold."

The realization that Christmas Eve had brought a touch of winter to his workspace stirred him, and he reached to close the window, cocooning himself once more in the comforting glow of holiday lights.

With a weary yawn escaping his lips, he glanced at the clock on the wall. Looks like the all-day long drawing session had caught up with him.

"Grr~" Naturally his stomach grumbled as he did not have lunch.

"Bwah. My stomach is growling like an animal..." Missing out on breakfast due to various circumstances, he somehow made it out of his chair.

As he noisily heads towards the fridge, he finds only the remaining leftovers of the bento box inside

"Oh nyo~." Suppressing a quiet yawn, he discreetly covered his mouth with his hand.

This is Tadashi Towa a normal 15-year-old high school student.... or so he claims to be. His presence stands out not only for his towering height of 5'10" but also for his striking bright blue eyes, a rarity in the Japanese populace (Last name -Tadashi with kanji of justice, first name – Towa with kanji of eternity and harmony)

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Unlike most students his age, Towa resides in a dorm rather than with his guardian, his aunt who lives in the faraway town of Kawagoe. The decision to live independently stems from his recent venture into the manga industry.

As a new manga assistant, Towa has embraced the challenge of working with a mangaka whose storytelling prowess surpasses their drawing abilities. This opportunity arose from Towa's exceptional illustrations, showcased on platform X or Twitter, catching the eye of professionals in the field.

While the pay from his freelance illustration commissions is substantial, Towa opted for the stability of a manga assistant position. However, the fixed pocket money provided by this job is in stark contrast to the potentially higher income he could earn from commissions. Nonetheless, he values the experience gained by working closely with a mangaka.

Towa's passion for manga, anime, and light novels transcends his professional endeavors. Illustration isn't just a job for him; it's an almost obsessive hobby, to the point where he occasionally sacrifices meals to complete his artwork. Despite his dedication to this craft, Towa insists on maintaining a semblance of normalcy as a high school student as his main goal is to attend Tokyo University.