Michelle ma Belle (English)

Chapter 7: Go to Manga School

At home, there was nobody. I was alone again. It was so dull, please!

My brother was still in Canada anyway. He said he would come back this week. But there was no certainty either.

This afternoon, my maid was cleaning up the house or watching the telenovela. Dad and Mom were busy at the office. Practically, I am alone at home, doing solitary activities. Lately, I was getting bored playing games. I've also finished reading all the comics. I wanted to go to the bookstore to buy new comics. Ouch, wasn't there anything else I could do?

Rang… Rang…

The telephone rang.

I reached for the wireless phone that I had been putting not far from my range to be easy if a call came in.

Click...

"Hello?" I said.

"Hello, who is this? Michelle, huh?" asked the male voice over there.

"Yes, I am. Is this Brother Reuben, huh?" I asked, pleased.

"Uh-huh. Listen, Sis. I don't think I'm going home anytime soon. But maybe around October, I go back next time, with my friends. We have special plans after graduation. Well, my study was almost over. I'll show you my works in animation. I think that's all for now. It is expensive to call abroad from a landline. I'll contact you again via e-mail, okay?" said my big brother Ruben.

"Alright. So, you are not going home anytime soon, aren't you? I will inform Mom about this," I said.

"Yes, please. Thank you so much, Michelle. Bye now," said my big brother Ruben.

Click ... The telephone connection disconnected.

Well, too bad. Ruben canceled his plan to go home soon. I couldn't meet with him.

Honestly, I was curious about the animation works made by Ruben. When he was in Jakarta, we got along well when it came to comics, animation, and games.

We both were having the same hobbies. We both liked drawing, imitating each other's favorite characters, and loved collecting the animators and mangaka's famous artwork. So that was the reason why he was in Canada studying animation.

It was so much fun doing animation things!

I also want to learn to create my animation project. Well, you had to get good scores in school to get a bigger chance of getting a scholarship.

During high school, my brother Ruben was the first rank student. I wanted to follow his steps after graduating from school to learn about animation.

Wow, what time was it already? I thought I had to go to school manga.

Since a few months ago, I joined comic lessons. The trainer was mangaka alias comic artists from Japan.

Since this time was the school holiday period, I took intensive courses. I wanted to be skillful quickly in a short time.

That day was the first day of tutoring again. I had to hurry so I wouldn't be late.

Japanese used to be on time when it was a matter of time.

"Konnichiwa, Sensei!"

"Aa, Konnichiwa, Michelle-chan! Welcome," said Nanase Sensei, bowing slightly and smiling broadly. As usual, she used a head covering, apron, and socks, typical of the modern Japanese. Her skin was white, and her cheeks were reddish. She was in her thirties, but one might think he was only in his twenties from her face.

I sat waiting in front of the class. It was ten minutes before the previous class ended.

Sensei went back to class and gave some lessons. Ten minutes later, the class ended. I immediately sat down in the classroom and took my place.

One classroom was limited to eight students. Each student got one chair and one separate table. Drawing equipment was lent, such as fude pen, maru pen, black ink, and white, a tip-ex. All were from Japan and were not sold in Jakarta, except in this comic school. That day the equipment lent is g-pen and black ink.

Nanase Sensei had only been around for four years in Indonesia. She still couldn't speak the Indonesian language fluently. She could only understand a little. Therefore, if we chattered, she had to be frustrated. It was somewhat funny, you know!

She also could not explain at length when using Indonesian. That's why every time she tried to explain something, and there was always a special assistant in charge of translating every word. Nanase Sensei had two assistants, Mika and Rika. But, the classes I had been taking were usually held by Mika as an assistant.

The course in this manga school was divided into two ages: elementary school age and below, and the other level for adolescence and above. We learned how to draw manga or Japanese comics.

For the adult class, the student's age was much more diverse, from junior high school students to office workers. It's just that office people used to take courses at seven in the evening or Sunday.

I took an adult class, considering that I was a teenager. There were four stages of the adult course, from beginner to advance. If your artworks were excellent, sensei could help you to send it to Japanese manga publishers.

Well, not long ago, my work appeared in a Japanese language newspaper, Jakarta Shinbun. It's not bad.

Some students' works, which were considered excellent by sensei, were displayed in the newspaper. The column was tiny, but it was amusing when our artworks were loaded. I still keep the paper at home.

Other students started arriving and entering the class. I knew some of them. Probably they came from different days or times at a previous course from me.

One guy took place next to me exactly. I didn't know him, but his face was familiar. Have we met before? I felt like I've seen his face somewhere.

Who were you, man? How come I couldn't remember you? Maybe we passed each other in the manga school without notice of each other. Well, I forgot about it. It was time to learn how to do manga art.

I pulled out a pencil case. Sensei entered the class, followed by Mika.

"Hi, good afternoon, everyone. Today we learn about yon coma manga," said sensei. Meanwhile, Mika was busy distributing a special paper that has eight boxes in it. Sensei started explaining in Japanese, followed by a translation from Mika.

Yon coma manga was a comic strip consisting of four boxes, like caricatures in newspapers. After sensei finished explaining, she asked all the students to practice making yon coma manga. At first, we made a rough sketch of the picture.

I pulled out a pencil and eraser from the pencil case. Um, what story did I want to make? I began to think, trying to bring out all the creative ideas that were on my mind.

This manga classroom WA indeed rather small but comfortable enough so that it was spacious enough for all student to draw their artworks freely. Each student could get their table.

Ornate works from famous mangaka from Japan were hanging on the wall. In one corner of the room, there was a bookshelf to store works and books to be used as a reference.

When I got stuck in ideas, I used to look at wall displays to get some inspiration. Gosh, at that moment, my brain was stuck, huh? What picture did you want, Michelle?

"Damn, I forgot to bring my pencil case," said the boy next to me.

I handed my pencil to him. I happened to bring three today.

"Here, just lend my pencil if you want," I said.

"Thanks, yes. Er ... what is your name?" he said with a friendly smile.

"Michelle," I said.

"Raymond," he answered.

Raymond, hmm, a familiar name. Where had I heard that name? Again, I felt very familiar with that name. Right, this was the first time I've met him. I watched him closely, trying to remember.

This guy was fashionable and handsome. The lines of his face emphasized his masculinity. His appearance was so impressive. He had a perfect smile. It was clear that he knew how beautiful his appearance. He took care of himself and accentuated his charm.

What was clear, I was sure I had met him somewhere. Again the thought was bothering me.

Ah, stop thinking about it!

I had to draw a comic here. I scribbled on paper. But, I couldn't find something interesting to bring as comic. I deleted the sketch and tried to draw from scratch.

Suddenly, I got a brilliant idea! I could make a comic about my lousy luck when I watched a movie.