The next day.
In the morning, Ishigami Rina didn't visit Kazama Yuu's room. She seemed to know that even if he tried to rush his manuscript first thing, nothing decent would come out.
So, she decided to give him a little more time. As long as he could produce something that gave her hope, that would be enough.
Ding dong~
Just as it was mealtime, Kazama Yuu's doorbell rang.
He shook his shoulders slightly. The fifteen-hour effect of the potion had passed, and it had lived up to its promise—he hadn't felt the slightest fatigue, not even a hint of sleepiness.
Of course, he had drawn for an extra two hours on top of that, leaving his shoulders a little sore and stiff.
Still, he had completed fifty-three pages, and after reviewing them, he was quite satisfied. The plot wasn't abrupt, no crucial details were missing, and any dragging content had been trimmed.
He stood and walked to the door, opening it to find Ishigami Rina standing outside.
Today was a holiday, so she wasn't in her office attire. Instead, she wore a casual cream-colored knit cardigan and high-waisted straight-leg jeans. The V-neck was slightly open, revealing her collarbone, and a simple white camisole peeked out from under the cardigan. The cuffs of her jeans were rolled up, making her legs appear long and straight. Even without her usual uniform, she carried a unique charm.
"Excuse me, Teacher Kazama."
Ishigami Rina smiled warmly and nodded.
"Please, come in, Editor Ishigami."
Kazama Yuu stepped aside to let her enter.
"How are your preparations? Have you drawn even one page?"
Once the door was closed, Ishigami Rina relaxed slightly, casually placing her bag on a chair.
Kazama Yuu usually drew two pages in twelve hours. If he pushed himself, he might do a bit more, but it would likely affect the quality.
But now, he faced multiple challenges: creating the script and meeting the ninety-page requirement. Most manga artists had assistants—but Kazama Yuu could barely support himself, let alone hire one.
Yesterday, she had asked Teacher Suzuki for help, but she refused. His reputation in Weekly Shonen Sunday was completely tarnished, and helping him would reflect badly.
Now, Ishigami Rina also felt troubled. Ninety pages—could he really manage that?
As long as the work was acceptable, she would do her best to secure some special privileges for him and end this difficult situation.
"Yes, this is the manuscript I rushed out yesterday. Please take a look, Editor Ishigami."
Kazama Yuu handed over the fifty-three original pages from his desk.
"Huh? You're not trying to fool me with discarded drafts, are you?"
Ishigami Rina's delicate eyebrows furrowed, a flicker of anger crossing her unadorned, pretty face. She had considered finding someone to help this hopeless idiot, but his attitude disappointed her.
"No, this is the manuscript I drew all night. I haven't slept since you left, Editor Ishigami."
Kazama Yuu's explanation was clumsy, but truthful.
"If I find out you're lying, I'll—" Ishigami Rina's eyes sharpened, her tone dangerous.
"No problem," Kazama Yuu replied calmly. He had done his best; if she wasn't satisfied, there was nothing more he could do.
Satisfied that Kazama Yuu was serious, Ishigami Rina's gaze finally fell on the manuscript. If he had flinched even slightly, she would have slammed the pages back in his face and left.
But she would never look at a half-hearted work.
Even though he had drawn fifty-three pages without sleeping, the art might have been simplified. Yet, as long as the story was compelling, that would suffice. After all, he was entering the New Generation Original Work Award. A strong story could still attract readers, even without flawless art.
Her eyes were immediately drawn to the first page.
Beautiful. Truly beautiful.
This was the kind of skill Kazama Yuu should be showcasing, not wasted on trivial fantasy stories.
Regaining her composure, Ishigami Rina reminded herself that a strong story mattered most. The first chapter was titled Sakura-cho. The name didn't reveal much.
In just a few sentences, the story's background was laid out.
The male lead, Takaki, had transferred schools frequently due to his father's job, moving from Nagano to Tokyo in his third year of elementary school.
Ishigami Rina frowned slightly. The protagonist's age seemed young—but she held back judgment. It could be a story about childhood friendships.
The narration, paired with sparse yet expressive scenery, conveyed Takaki's loneliness.
A salvation of the soul…?
She understood instantly. With constant transfers, it was hard for Takaki to make lasting friends. The weight of this isolation, even for a child, was heavy.
Ishigami Rina's fingers rested on the edge of the panel, careful not to smudge the pages.
The first chapter ended with a new classmate, Shinohara Akari, arriving a year later. Kazama Yuu had drawn her adorably, capturing the charm of a small, curious girl.
This was the kind of story his talent should be applied to. Had he realized this earlier, perhaps the difficulties Nagasaki Kento had caused wouldn't have mattered so much.
Ishigami Rina also recalled Kazama Yuu mentioning the word "separation" in the story—a word often avoided in today's romance market.
Still, after the first page, she was curious to see how he would handle it.
Gently, her finger turned the page.