Ikebukuro West Gate Park (池袋ウエストゲートパーク)

beef bowl

curry

This is a work of fiction. The characters,organizations, and names herein are fictitious,and bear no relation to existing entities.

When video sharing websites first appeared, they were like pitiful mice.

Mice darting around underfoot of huge dinosaurs

like TV, newspapers, and publishing.

But now, the dinosaurs are starting down the path to extinction,

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and the mice are evolving, and are about to become the stars of the next era.

But as mice, they still face their own relentless struggle for survival.

This time, it's that kind of story.

Oh! There are also Red Angels videos.

See?

Can you really make money this way?

Silly question.

In fact, it's absurd.

These days, "pro video creator" is high on the list

of what grade school students want to have as a job.

boys

girls

"1st: video editor/creator" "5th: video editor/creator"

This is a job...?

The Montos Cola Chug !

Ikebukuro West Gate Park

Thanks for waiting!

There are a number of sites where you can make money submitting videos,

but the one with momentum lately is ZettaMovie here.

If you register and become a so-called ZettaMovier,

RAs Kyouichi Ozaki's Dance

you're paid money each time a video you submit is viewed.

views

How much can you get per view?

It varies, depending on management.

I hear it's come down lately, but even so,

¥0.1 for one view means 1,000,000 views equals 100,000.

So, what got you interested in this kind of thing?

Are you helping to promote Kyouichi Ozaki?

No, it was at Takashi's request.

One of these pro video creators asked the G-Boys for a bodyguard.

I was asked to look into what kind of guy he is.

The G-Boys do that kind of work, too?

And this guy just invited himself along.

I've been spending a lot of time around Makoto- san lately.

When I'm with him, I get to meet all sorts in Ikebukuro.

A new little-brother figure, huh?

It's nothing like that,

I just think it couldn't hurt to put in a hotline to the Red Angels' #2.

I'm gonna get going.

Strawberry

I'll pay the bill, as I owe you for the lesson.

Total

"Video Artist 140★Ryuusei"

I'm 140★Ryuusei, the one who requested a bodyguard.

You don't seem to know much about video sharing.

Yeah. None of my buddies are ZettaMoviers.

Okay, I'll give you a demonstration.

It's 140★Ryuusei!

Ryuusei Shooting Star!

This week's Onion Time is coming to you from West Gate Park!

It's showtime.

1:46! Four seconds slower than last week!

You know what to do, kids: Try this at home.

It does wonders for your health, especially blood flow!

Bye-bye.

Done.

It's huge!

So's your voice!

This is my abode and studio.

Those two are my staff.

Gong Saitou and Cheadle Yokoi.

My channel has 1.2 million subscribers.

Onion Time is popular content, so nearly all of them watch it.

Wow.

With that video I made earlier, I've already earned about 32,000.

I tried rapidly eating an onion ver. 14

So, what's the reason you asked the G-Boys for a bodyguard?

Take a look at this.

"ToDaBaShi Destroyer Z1"

"ToDaBaShi Destroyer Z2"

"ToDaBaShi Destroyer Z3"

"ToDaBaShi Destroyer Z4"

These guys are ToDaBaShi Destroyer Z.

Their popular content is them busting stuff up.

A Rap for the Onion Publicity Whore

The other thing they specialize in is dissing other videos.

This is about you, right?

I wish I'd never fired back, but I went and made this video.

Heh, trash-talk.

Then, they got angry.

In four days, it'll be my five-year anniversary since my video-sharing debut,

and I received this.

A five-year anniversary present, from ToDaBaShi Destroyer Z to the Onion Whore!

Onion Whore, be careful this don't happen to you!

Onion Whore! You'll get yours!!

"No update yet?" "Now things are getting good!!"

This is earning them a whole bunch of views.

"A legend is born." "Who's Onion Whore?"

I just know they're going to try something.

"Ryuusei- san is a good guy, but--" "I feel a little better now."

"What's going to happen with this fight? Destroyer Z started it, then Ryuusei- san fought back--"

In other words, you want to be protected from those gorillas?

That's right. For my fifth anniversary,

A Grateful Human Die!!

I'm thinking of doing the last installment of another one of my popular bits.

"The Human Die, at Ikebukuro Bridge"

What number will come up? What number will come up?

Time to throw the Human Die!

* I have received special training

* I have received special training

Clack!

If you picked four, it's your lucky day!

Thank you.

Is there any meaning to this stuff?

None at all. It's meaningless, but it's amusing, and that's enough.

For the anniversary, I want to do it here.

You don't mean, that escalator?!

This is sure to get talked about!

And if I get hurt, I can post my recovery and/or rehabilitation.

Right...

That's why I want the G-Boys to guard me until I shoot this video in four days!

Please!

You take some serious risks.

All so people will watch your videos.

Of course!

Even if it's ridiculous or pointless,

there are a lot of people who enjoy watching my videos!

That's a joy I could never replace!

TV, magazines, books. They bring you a single, contained world.

A realistic story from start to finish, without inconsistencies.

But on the net, you don't need a worldview or a sense of coherence.

Just a brief, pointed depiction of the world.

Not carefully chosen words, but whatever chatter comes to mind!

Not a polished lie, but cheap reality, as it is!

A fragmentary, spur-of-the-moment, periodic series of uploads!

The world is shifting towards the net!

In a cultural sense, we're right in the middle of a huge transformation!

All right. The G-Boys and I will protect you.

I'm grateful! You can be sure I'll compensate you!

Talk to Takashi about money.

I'm basically a volunteer. I'll take what time I can get, though.

For free? You're a weird one.

Aren't we both weirdos?

Accept his request.

What can I say? He's an interesting guy.

One thing's for sure, he takes his work seriously.

Super Macho Party

It makes me want to root for him.

If you say so, the G-Boys will get involved, too.

I'll send out a guard detail soon.

I'll stick close to Ryuusei.

I'm the same as him. I do my job right.

Be sure to subscribe!

Takashi

Takashi

Takashi

Takashi

Takashi

Takashi

Takashi

Makoto here.

Makoto? Those guys are already watching the place.

For real?

There's a vehicle outside the apartment that's likely theirs.

They might be looking for a chance to attack.

What now?

If possible, I don't want to get violent.

Besides, we don't know if it belongs to ToDaBaShi Destroyer Z or not.

That's true.

Keep an eye on the vehicle, for now.

All right.

That's amazing!

They've already spotted them!

Just you wait!

Whoa, whoa!

What're you so happy about?

You're being threatened!

If I get a good shot, I can upload it!

Stupid Destroyer Z and their stupid stakeout.

Their channel also has close to 1,000,000 subscribers,

so I can shave off quite a few!

Forget it. If they notice they're being watched, they'll run for it.

Best thing you can do is sit tight!

Yeah, but it's a photo op!

You don't get it.

When the G-Boys seriously tail somebody,

that means about 20 people get involved.

A little longer, and they'll secure a perimeter around this building.