Look Back (ルックバック)

LOOK BACK

STORY IDEAS AYUMU FUJINO

FIRST KISS

RATTLE SQUEAK

HOWL

I'm surprised you remember something from so long ago.

I keep a diary, you see.

Look. Isn't it a cute diary?

Yeah.

HOWL

SCREECH

SPIN CRASH

ROLL SKID

BANG!

SMOKE

RIGHT BEFORE THEY DIE IN THE ACCIDENT

Kiss me again when we're reincarnated.

COUGHS

I promise I will.

YEAR 0

YEAR 3

YEAR 10

YEAR 17

20 YEARS LATER

I've been reincarnated!

Honey, where are you?

RUMBLE RUMBLE

NIKAHO CITY

HIMAWARI SATELLITE

EARTH

EARTH

RUMBLE

4TH GRADE NEWSPAPER

LETTER FROM AN ALIEN BY FUJINO FIRST KISS BY FUJINO

All right.

I'm handing out this week's newspaper.

Don't forget to show it to your parents.

The drawings are so good.

Fujino, this week's four-panel manga strips were really funny!

Oh, these.

I was kind of busy this week, so I drew it in five minutes.

But I guess they turned out pretty good despite that.

You could be a manga artist when you grow up.

A manga artist? Maybe.

But sitting at a desk drawing all day sounds boring.

You're good at sports too, so why not be an athlete?

Yeah, that sounds better.

Either way, give me your autograph.

Okay, fine.

I want one too!

Fujino.

Yeah. What is it, teacher?

FACULTY'S OFFICE

About the four-panel manga for next week,

can I give one slot to Kyomoto?

Kyomoto? Who's that?

A truant student from the class next door.

She can't come to school, but wants to try drawing manga.

I mean, I guess I don't mind.

But drawing decent art would be difficult for an amateur.

I'm not sure a wimp who can't even come to school can handle it.

I'm handing out the newspaper.

Don't forget to show it to your parents.

AFTER SCHOOL BY KYOMOTO

NO RUNNING IN THE HALL!

SPORTS FESTIVAL

SIR, YOU KNOW THE RULES.

SHE CROSSED INTO SOMEONE ELSE'S LINE?

MIKA THE SCHEMER BY FUJINO AFTER SCHOOL BY KYOMOTO

These are pro-level drawings.

Hey, did you see it?

Who's Kyomoto?

She's the truant kid, right?

But, you know,

compared to Kyomoto's drawings, yours look pretty average.

Fujino, how come you're so good at drawing?

You have the best drawing skills out of all my students.

You could become an artist with these skills.

Compared to Kyomoto's drawings, yours look pretty average.

I see.

Kyomoto must be practicing drawing while I go to school.

A fourth grader who's better at drawing than me?

Absolutely unacceptable!

HOW TO GET BETTER AT DRAWING

Welcome.

Thank you.

All right.

SHORTCUTS TO IMPROVE 1. STUDY PERSPECTIVE

2. LEARN ANATOMY 3. THINK 3D

MOST IMPORTANTLY, JUST DRAW, STUPID!

COMPLETE GUIDE BASICS OF FIRST-TIME DRAWING

Let's go hang out somewhere.

Wanna come to my place?

Yeah! Are you sure?

Fujino.

What are you drawing?

Hey.

A human skeleton.

Hey, we're sixth graders now, you know?

We'll be in middle school next year. Are you still gonna draw then?

What?

Yeah.

I see.

You know what?

Yosshi and Mihorin haven't been able to tell you this either,

but aren't you getting too old to keep drawing?

You don't hang out with us anymore.

Even when you do, you're always drawing and you don't talk.

Not to mention,

if you keep drawing in middle school,

people will think you're a creepy otaku , you know?

Kae, can we go now?

Coming!

Wait for me!

Stop bothering her. She's drawing, right?

Mom says hurry up and take your bath already.

Didn't I tell you to knock before entering my room?

Geez!

Sheesh!

Okay, okay.

KNOCK FIRST

How long are you gonna keep drawing manga?

You should join my karate class.

You can put it in your school report.

Whatever.

Mom and Dad don't say it, but they're worried about you.

You're always cooped up in your room and your test scores are terrible.

Get out.

All right, quiet down.

I'm handing out the newspaper. Don't forget to show it to your parents.

What will it be like?

DAD! I MEAN, TEACHER. I NEED TO USE THE BATHROOM.

HEY! HE CALLED THE TEACHER HIS DAD!

TEACHER

HA HA HA HA

HE ALSO NERVOUSLY TOUCHES HIS HAIR. IS HE MY DAD?

6TH GRADE NEWSPAPER

TRUTH BY FUJINO SUMMER FESTIVAL BY KYOMOTO

I quit.

What's wrong? Pass the newspaper, Fujino.

Hey.

Wanna go for ice cream after school?

Really? Sure!

We haven't hung out in ages.

DRAWING REVISION WORKSHOP

KARATE

KNOCK FIRST

Mom! Could you throw these out too?

GRADUATION! BYE, EVERYONE!

FACULTY'S OFFICE

Hey, Fujino. Congratulations on your graduation.

I'm sorry, but I need a favor.

Could you give this graduation diploma to Kyomoto for me?

I'll give you her address.

What? Why me?

Well, even if you quit drawing in sixth grade,

you guys still worked together on the newspaper manga.

I'm sure Kyomoto would rather get it from you than from an old man like me.

Well, I'd rather not, really.

Oh, come on.

Do your teacher one last favor.

- Seriously? - Here.

KYOMOTO

No one's home?

It's open.

Hello?

I'm here to deliver your graduation diploma.

I'll leave it here, okay?

Someone's home.

Excuse me.

I brought your graduation diploma.

KYOMOTO'S HOUSE

Don't come out! Don't come out!

Come out! Come out!

It's the world shut-in competition finals!

Kyomoto is in first place by a significant lead.

KYOMOTO

What am I even doing?

Wait...

No!

Hey...

I'm leaving your graduation diploma here!

Goodbye!

Fujino-sensei!

Kyomoto?

Every week, I got... I got the newspaper.

I read your manga from the start, since third grade.

I... I...

I'm a fan of yours, Fujino-sensei!

Can I have your autograph?

I don't have any paper!

My back!

Please sign the back of my jacket!

Sure.

My favorites are Love Square from the second week of August in third grade,

the Sasaki series you did from January to March in fourth grade,

and every single one from fifth and sixth grades was brilliant.

I couldn't always finish my strips in time,

but you did one every week while attending school.

I couldn't believe you were a grade schooler like me.