The editorial division of Hoshimori Publishing Group was structured with one Editor-in-Chief and six division directors. Each director oversaw a specific magazine line.
The Editor-in-Chief, Han Esumi, was not only the highest authority managing the entire editorial department, he was also the Editor-in-Chief of Dream Comic, the company's flagship magazine with a terrifying weekly circulation of 16 million.
His job was to track the performance of Dream Comic's serializations, but also to monitor promising rising works in the company's second and third-tier magazines.
Because in truth, every standout talent in those lower-tier magazines was a potential future author of Dream Comic.
Months ago, when Rei submitted Even If This Love Disappears Tonight to both Mirage Comics and Ametsukage Weekly, Mirage's director had rejected it outright.
But the director of Ametsukage Weekly, recognized its potential immediately and accepted it.
Originally, the weekly circulation of Ametsukage and Mirage had been nearly identical, both hovering around 2.5 million, with at most a difference of a few tens of thousands.
Now, after weeks of viral discussions about the mysterious manga artist Shirogane, Han Esumi sensed a shift coming.
"Editor-in-Chief Han, I'm… not sure what you're referring to."Misaki's hand trembled slightly as she held her phone. But her voice stayed steady.
"I'm asking, as Shirogane's editor, what do you think of him?" Han paused before adding:
"And it's Saturday. We're off the clock. Don't talk to me like staff, call me what you used to."
Misaki blinked.
"Old man Han?"
"It's Uncle Han, Misaki. You're an adult now, show some respect," he sighed.
"Rei Kirishima…"Misaki exhaled lightly, dropping the teasing tone.
"He's, a genius."
"Better than your sister?" Han asked bluntly.
He had always kept an eye on the Yukishiro sisters, daughters of an old friend. He would help when he reasonably could, but the sisters rarely needed it.
Especially Miyu, whose talent rivaled even their mother's.With proper growth, she could become extraordinary.
But this "Shirogane", he had never heard of him before Misaki discovered him.
Debuting in June with 5cm/s, and now, by November:
Already topped Sakura-iro Weekly
Now serializing a second hit in Ametsukage Weekly
Top 3 for two consecutive weeks
With a very real chance of taking #1 before it ends
If that happened, a newcomer debuting and topping two different magazines within half a year would be ridiculous.
Misaki hesitated, but answered honestly:
"Better than my sister."
Even saying it aloud made a knot tighten in her chest.
Han wasn't satisfied.
"What about compared to Takeda, Amamiya, and the other young stars of the industry?"
Those were the "Golden Youth", prodigies who debuted in high school or university and were now top-tier authors.
Maybe their story-writing didn't surpass the old masters, but their fame certainly did.
Misaki didn't dodge the question.
She took a breath.
"I believe Shirogane's future achievements will surpass all of theirs."
That was her true belief.
Before the results of Chapter 7 and 8 of Even If This Love Disappears Tonight, she had a sliver of doubt.
But now, that doubt was gone completely.
At the very least, Rei's grasp of manga-market instincts and reader psychology had already surpassed Misaki's.
On the other end of the call, Han fell silent.
After a long pause, he finally spoke again.
"This manga artist, Shirogane, if he has any new concepts after this series wraps up…"
He paused.
"Tell him to speed up his creative cycle."
Misaki's hand tightened instinctively.
"Most likely around January or February next year, one or two serializations in Dream Comics will end. There will be open slots."
His tone lowered, calm but decisive.
"You may tell him, to submit a new work at that time."
And with that, Han hung up, offering no further explanation.
In the quiet living room of the Yukishiro family villa, Misaki stood still, her expression complicated.
Normally, even if a manga in Ametsukage Weekly hit first place,Han would never personally call about such a matter.
Dream Comics did not need to recruit new talent.
Its open slots were coveted by elite manga artists across Japan.
But, Rei was only sixteen.
A true discovered prodigy.
And his achievements already matched the exact profile the Hoshimori Group had been longing to cultivate.
"Sis…"
Miyu emerged from the corner of the room, her expression tangled with amazement and resignation.
The villa was quiet enough that she had heard everything.
"Rei is… incredible," she exhaled.
"He's about to serialize in Dream Comics. Mom only entered Dream four years after debuting…"
"It's not guaranteed yet," Misaki reminded her.
"He still has to pass the serialization council. And even if he submits, approval isn't certain."
But Miyu shook her head softly.
"I just have this feeling. As long as he gets into the room, any work he submits will pass."
She let out a helpless, slightly bitter laugh.
"Sis, you're an editor, you don't understand the pressure of being his peer and classmate."
Misaki gives a hard truth
"Don't keep staring at others," Misaki said.
"The new manga that failed at the last serialization meeting, you're submitting it again to Ametsukage Weekly this week."
Miyu's eyes brightened instantly.
Misaki continued,
"Even If This Love Disappears Tonight is ending soon. Next Monday, Ametsukage will choose its successor. If you want this slot, polish your plot and your art."
"And if you actually get serialized, be diligent. Don't make me chase you every week."
Her voice softened only slightly.
"Rei, regardless of talent, has never missed a manuscript deadline.Not once."
Miyu winced.
"You said before that your new manga would compete with his. But his serialization is finishing, and you still haven't secured a slot."
She paused intentionally before adding:
"And the slot you're aiming for, might even be the one freed after he steps down."
"You need to take this seriously."
Miyu explodes
"Sis!! That's way too harsh!"
"What do you mean 'a slot he leaves behind'? Like it's some kind of throne?!"
She puffed up defensively.
"I'm fighting for serialization with my own strength!"
Seeing her sister's healthy burst of indignation, Misaki allowed herself a small smile.
If Miyu still had the energy to complain, then she hadn't lost her spirit.