While someone was off enjoying a joyful weekend with a certain beautiful girl, the ever-loyal Kisaki Tetta was anything but idle.
Knowing that most of the delinquents in "Rampaging Angels" weren't exactly manga fans, he personally dispatched people to help them fill out the feedback forms for One Punch Man, guiding them every step of the way.
He also launched a full-on PR campaign to promote the idea that Kyousuke was the real-life inspiration behind Saitama.
That point had been central to the marketing strategy he and Shimomura Tetsuya had originally devised.
After all, the Japanese are known for their love of over-the-top, idealistic stories.
Even with fictional manga, they get fired up.
So imagine the buzz when people find out there's an actual monster of a man like Kyousuke walking among them and he's the basis for a manga hero?
Even people who couldn't care less about manga would end up buying a copy out of sheer curiosity.
———————————————————————
Sunday morning, after finishing breakfast, Kyousuke headed out alone for a casual stroll.
It was a picture-perfect morning for walking a dog, the sun shining down gently.
The cherry blossoms lining the sidewalk were already starting to fall, catching the wind like scattered dreams.
This quintessentially melancholic Japanese scenery made Kyousuke's steps quicken slightly, he had a destination in mind.
He was headed to Nihon Medical University Hospital, which was conveniently close to his home.
He lived in Sendagi 49-ban, while the hospital was in Sendagi 1-chome.
Even on foot, it would take less than ten minutes.
On the way, he enjoyed the refreshing sight of energetic female university students jogging.
This area was a dense hub of academic institutions pretty much every university you could name had a campus nearby.
Kyousuke eventually arrived at the hospital, only to find out he had wasted the trip.
Nihon Medical University Hospital was one of Japan's top-tier university hospitals, also designated for regional cancer treatment.
It offered Japan's most advanced full-body checkups (known as ningen dock), which could detect everything from basic health issues to early-stage cancers through genetic and precision testing.
However, appointments were required, and the checkups weren't done at the main hospital but at a separate medical center located a few hundred meters away.
On top of that, there were dietary restrictions and other preparations he hadn't informed Sakura and the others about.
Plus, the entire checkup process took 4 to 6 hours minimum even without any breaks.
Ideally, it should be done over two days.
So yeah, today's plan to get Sakura and the girls a full medical screening? Scrapped.
He booked appointments for four people next Saturday instead and headed back home.
Might as well stick to the original lunch plan: sukiyaki with Sakura.
———————————————————————
Meanwhile, Kisaki Tetta was discovering that the situation had snowballed far beyond even his wildest expectations.
One Punch Man, a manga that cleverly used monsters to satirize environmental and social issues, had exploded in popularity overnight.
It wasn't just manga fans talking about it, it had reached people who didn't even read manga.
Why? Partly due to Kisaki's aggressive grassroots campaign, sure.
But more importantly, it reflected something deeper about Japanese society.
Japan had one of the world's highest suicide rates, despite also having the longest average lifespan.
Was it because the young were dying, skewing the numbers? Not quite.
The high lifespan was thanks to cutting-edge medical technology.
Take Kyousuke's plan for Sakura's detailed medical screening, for example.
Japan's full-body health checks were world-class.
Early detection meant a significantly higher chance of surgical success.
Still, even if someone underwent surgery for early-stage cancer and was declared "cured," all it really meant was that their life expectancy increased from months to five years.
Five-year survival post-op was the benchmark and not a true recovery.
So yes, Japan's medical system extended life, but its social system weighed heavily.
From the toxic "senpai culture" to economic stagnation, many young people had developed a culture of nihilism low ambition, low desire, full-on apathy.
Even then, the pressure didn't stop.
So some chose to bow out entirely, taking a leap during off-peak subway hours, or walking into a forest, never to return.
And for those who didn't go that far, many became shut-ins. Or like the delinquents in "Rampaging Angels," they sought other ways to vent.
In such an environment, it wasn't hard to see why One Punch Man resonated.
On the anonymous message board "knock" a haven for the socially anxious and the frustrated—discussions were blowing up.
———————————————————————
"'Just because of declining birthrates'—what do you mean just?! Don't you realize losing one more child could doom Japan?"
"This country's gone downhill because we don't have people like Saitama who take social responsibility seriously!"
"Oh, you care so much? Then why aren't you married with kids, helping the cause?"
"If I were Saitama, I would be!"
"I heard the creator of One Punch Man is actually incredible in real life."
"Huh?!"
"My friend at Higashi High says the mangaka is only a first-year in junior high and has already defeated three delinquent gangs. He's the protector of all Bunkyō Ward!"
"..."
———————————————————————
Since it was anonymous, Kisaki didn't know whether that source was one of the agents he sent out.
But it didn't matter—it was working exactly as planned.
Just like how voice actors became idols, Kisaki's goal was to turn the manga mangaka into an icon.
By associating Kyousuke with Saitama, they could create a feedback loop and Kyousuke can boosts the manga's fame, and the manga elevates Kyousuke's reputation in turn.
———————————————————————
"It's true! I was in elementary school with the mangaka. Back then, he beat the crap out of a bully trying to harass a classmate!"
"Is he really exist?"
"Of course! Just look at Saitama, he gains unimaginable power but still lazes around at home unless there's a crisis. Isn't that totally relatable?"
"Yeah… I'm only a shut-in because I don't have power. If I did, I'd probably become a hero too, just for fun."
"No one wants to rule the world with that power?"
"Why bother? Just make anime updates come faster."
"You know what? That's actually a pretty good idea."
"….."
———————————————————————
Soon, the thread devolved into chaotic what-ifs about what people would do with Saitama-level powers.
Kisaki couldn't help but smile, this was the magic of a story.
It let people dream.
It let them imagine a different life.
He switched to another thread, where people were debating the origin of Saitama's power.
———————————————————————
"Is it even scientifically possible to get that strong from such a basic workout routine?"
"You idiot! 'Basic'?! You wouldn't last a week on that regimen, even if you divided it by a hundred. The point isn't the intensity, it's the consistency!"
"Exactly! Not using air conditioning for three years? That's straight-up torture! He probably broke human limits from that alone!"
"I've decided. Starting tomorrow, I'm training like Saitama."
"Will that actually work?"
"Clearly, you don't know how amazing the mangaka really is!"
"Pics or it didn't happen!"
"….."
———————————————————————
The images included Kyousuke sparring solo against an entire kendo team, sending opponents flying with one swing.
Others showed him mid-swing, exuding an almost demonic aura.
The most epic one? Him standing atop a mountain of defeated foes, comet streaking behind him.
Kisaki silently applauded, no doubt about it this was the work of one of his agents.
If they were going to idolize Kyousuke, they had to use that heartbreakingly handsome face of his.
Maybe it was time to draft up a management contract for the guy, just to make things more official.
As Kisaki entertained the idea, the photo thread caused a momentary pause in the forum but then, discussion exploded again.
———————————————————————
"Damn, I can feel the power just from these photos!"
"So he really got that strong just by training like Saitama?!"
"Anyone down to run at Yoyogi Park tonight?"
"Meeting up in Ikebukuro for a jog. Who's in?"
"…."
———————————————————————
A new trend had quietly begun. And with trends came followers.
———————————————————————
Chiyoda Ward, Ichibashi 2-chome-5. The headquarters of Weekly Shonen High.
"No wonder you're the Editor-in-Chief! You've got an amazing eye—finding a gem like this! The feedback return rate is 70%!"
An editor who previously campaigned for his own mangaka's series (Ski Prince) to get a prominent spot in the magazine had completely changed his tune.
Waving the reader report in his hands, he practically shouted his praise.
"Oh, I didn't do much, it's the mangaka's natural talent," Shimomura Tetsuya replied humbly, sipping from his thermal cup with a modest smile.
"With numbers like this, shouldn't we ride the wave and publish a volume ASAP?" a new editor suggested.
"What are you talking about?! It's only one chapter in! Have you not slept in days or something?!" a senior editor playfully smacked him with a rolled-up script.
"Still, it'd be a shame not to release a volume while it's this hot! You've all seen the online buzz, right?"
"If we dropped a volume now, we could sell out 200,000 copies in no time."
"Not just online, some anime critique magazines are calling One Punch Man the 'soul of the Japanese youth.'"
"Insane, right? Only one chapter's out! There are plenty of manga tackling social issues, why this one?"
"It's the mangaka. Didn't you see? The mangaka is—"
"The priority now is getting the next chapter ready."
"If it's another 80 pages, plus a short bonus story, we could totally have enough for volume one," the Deputy Editor said, turning to his boss.
"Actually," Shimomura said, his smile still composed, "I already have the next chapter."
"How is it? Same quality?" the Deputy Editor pressed. If this was just a one-hit wonder, one of his mangakas could swoop in and take the spotlight.
"Same as the first, flawless. The storyboarding, plot, and artwork are all top-tier."
"The monster designs continue to reflect societal issues, and the dialogue stays witty, keeping the tone balanced despite serious themes."
Glancing at his longtime rival-turned-colleague, Shimomura finally allowed himself a hint of pride.
"Honestly, I still can't believe EGOIST-sensei can create something this good at that age."
"That smug bastard. Acting all high and mighty like he didn't just stumble upon a golden goose thanks to his son."
The deputy editor cursed silently, though he kept his professional tone on the surface.
"So, what about the tankōbon? Have you talked to him about it?"
[TL Note – for those who don't know what is the meaning of tankōbon, tankōbon is a standalone volume of a manga series, typically published in book form, that collects a series of chapters that originally appeared in a magazine.]
"I already did. He said he'll draw a bonus chapter soon, and if all goes well, it should be ready by next week. But I'm still a little worried."
"Most series only get a collected volume after at least two months of serialization. I have no idea how One Punch Man will perform."
Shimomura Tetsuya set down his thermos with a worried expression.
'Ugh, cut the act, I know you're just fishing for more praise about your golden boy.'
The deputy editor rolled his eyes internally but outwardly put on a serious face and replied, "You're wrong there, Chief. One Punch Man is a breakout hit."
"Over seventy percent approval rating after just the first chapter? This isn't your average manga."
"Releasing the tankōbon alongside the second chapter is the perfect move. It'll hook all the readers who missed the first issue and boost sales for sure."
"But what if the magazine's sales take a hit?" Shimomura continued with his faux-concerned act.
"Oh, come on. It's just a single chapter. It's not going to disrupt our regular readership. People who usually buy the magazine will still buy it."
"For 230 yen, they're getting a whole book's worth of content. What else are they gonna do with their time?" The deputy editor waved dismissively.
It's not like the magazine's revenue comes solely from sales anyway.
Thanks to their partnership with the mangakas, the magazine becomes a key player in anime production deals, merchandising, and so on.
Sure, the publishers take the bigger cut, but the earnings are still substantial for the creators.
But if the manga becomes a hit, everyone wins.
"Hearing it that way makes me feel a lot better," Shimomura said, as if finally making up his mind. "I'll push EGOIST-sensei to get that bonus chapter done ASAP."
'Yeah right.' The deputy editor practically rolled his eyes again.
'Don't think I didn't hear you on the phone with him this morning.'
'All you asked was if the manuscript for the next chapter was ready, and the guy immediately sent it over!'
'Where do you even find an mangaka that easy to work with?!
And sure enough, the call had gone exactly like that.
The moment the feedback reports came in, Shimomura had excitedly called Kyousuke to share the good news.
When Hojou said he was at the hospital, Shimomura nearly jumped in a car to go check on him.
Thankfully, it turned out to be just a routine physical. False alarm.
Still, Shimomura was pleased an mangaka who cared enough about his health would naturally keep producing quality work.
He'd even asked if Hojou wanted the company to reimburse the check-up.
"Eh? That's a thing?"
"For someone like you, Hojou-sensei, of course it is."
"Then… would a full-body precision scan be covered? Also, can I include three family members?"
…
'A 500,000 yen comprehensive exam, sure… for just you I might've made it work', Shimomura thought.
'But for four people? Forget it.'
Luckily, Hojou had only been joking. He even graciously asked how the manga was doing.
"Big win, Hojou-sensei! Over seventy percent approval! A record-breaking debut!"
"Really? That's great to hear."
His tone was calm maybe a little too calm.
Despite the great news, Kyousuke, a first-year middle school student, was completely unfazed on the other end of the line.
Shimomura, a hardened veteran of the publishing world, suddenly felt embarrassed by his own excitement. All these years in the game, and I still get this hyped…
"Um, have you finished the next chapter yet?"
"Yeah, finished it yesterday. I emailed it to you."
After coming back from Akihabara and crashing at Eriri's place, the two of them had powered through the night to get it done.
Of course, they'd also taken the opportunity to shoot plenty of new photos of Hojou as a model.
'What a dream mangaka,' Shimomura sighed, deeply moved after hanging up.
He'd worked his way up from being a rookie editor and knew all too well how hard it was to get mangakas to submit on time.
Someone as proactive and professional as Kyousuke? Editors prayed for talents like him.
Later that afternoon, Shimomura called a meeting to start planning the release of the One Punch Man tankōbon.
Even though they didn't have the full content yet, there was no reason to delay the prep work printing estimates, bookstore orders, marketing campaigns, maybe even a signing event.