Chapter 33: Coming To Pick Up The Manuscript
This was not Sakamoto Ken’s first serialization.
The serialization in the previous life was pure original content, and someone even wielded a whip to urge updates, with pressure many times greater.
Over the next week, Sakamoto Ken smoothly advanced the manga to chapter 11.
On the Editorial Department’s side, the slot for the next JUMP main magazine serialization had already been confirmed, mainly because Miyuki Haru Sensei voluntarily withdrew.
According to her, she was preparing a big move, waiting to redraw all the content, replace the manuscripts on the WEB side as well, and then debut on JUMP in the most perfect form.
Sakamoto Ken had already learned all the details through his alt account Meguro Ward First Deep Affection.
In the Twitter DMs, the reply from Miyuki Haru.
Miyuki Haru: 「Thanks for the support, Deep Affection! Currently redrawing the manga from the beginning, with a very skilled illustrator joining this time, and I’ll post the news on Twitter right away when it’s ready~」
Meguro Ward First Deep Affection: 「Awesome, Miyuki Haru Sensei, can you quietly reveal some illustrations?」
Miyuki Haru: 「Well, that’s not impossible, since Deep Affection was the first reader to follow me, but you absolutely can’t share them anywhere.」
Meguro Ward First Deep Affection: 「Of course, I’m just appreciating them myself.」
Miyuki Haru: 「『Image』『Image』『Image』」
Miyuki Haru: 「How’s that? The first three pages of chapter 1, and all the later content will be of this quality.」
Sakamoto Ken downloaded the images and zoomed in to examine each panel carefully.
The biggest change was the heroine’s appearance, especially the pantyhose part.
He knew exactly what level his previous drawings were at; the pantyhose was just blackened in.
But in Haruna’s redrawn illustrations, the texture of the pantyhose, and even the semi-transparent effects from the leg and foot joints, were all depicted in detail.
One panel in the storyboard showed the heroine stepping down toward the shot from above, where the original perspective was broken, deliberately enlarging the foot further so that even the spreading toes were shown dynamically.
Due to this spreading motion, the pantyhose fabric was stretched, forming a space between the toes covered by a thin layer of fabric, with the fabric lines clearly visible.
This wasn’t drawn by Haruna, was it?
In the previous life she didn’t draw manga, but they had been together for so long, and they both attended Kanzaki Art Academy, so Sakamoto Ken knew her skill level.
Haruna’s drawing skills weren’t bad, but they absolutely weren’t at this level.
She must have recruited an assistant, and one with super strong skills.
Do you want to beat me that badly?
Sakamoto Ken knew this young lady’s mindset all too well.
Without any rival to stimulate her, she wouldn’t put in the effort.
But once stimulated, she absolutely wouldn’t admit defeat.
Overall, she was a girl who wanted to be on top in everything; even if forcibly pinned down on the bed, she would have an expression of absolute refusal to lose, cursing while enjoying it all.
Mio was still the obedient one; she wore whatever he told her to wear, did whatever actions he told her to do, more well-behaved than a little dog.
Sakamoto Ken had never been reborn before, but now that he was reborn, he found himself subconsciously recalling things from the previous life from time to time.
Though he kept telling himself to shake off those psychological shadows, the experiences shared with them weren’t so easy to forget.
This sensation was something only those who had been reborn could understand.
He reined in his thoughts and focused his attention back on the work at hand.
It was now February 28.
According to the serialization schedule, 《Chainsaw Man》’s first chapter would be published in the 《Weekly Shonen JUMP》 on March 9.
For serialization in weekly magazines, writers generally create the manuscript for three weeks ahead during that week; even in the most urgent cases, there should be at least one week of buffer.
Writers submit on Friday, and from then until the following Tuesday is the editors’ work.
If the writer delays submission, the editor may have to camp out at the writer’s home during those days to ensure text proofreading, layout, submission to the printing factory, and other tasks are completed before Wednesday.
Delays are almost commonplace, so editors rarely get a full weekend off.
Starting Wednesday, it’s the printing factory’s platemaking and printing.
Combining different manga chapters, color pages, and ad pages, then binding them into magazines.
By Friday, the printing factory packs and ships millions of copies to logistics hubs nationwide, then distributes layer by layer to bookstores and convenience stores over the weekend.
The final step is usually completed around Monday morning to ensure the magazines are on the shelves when stores open.
The entire process is tightly integrated, and once in the printing factory, no content can be withdrawn, or it would be a serious work accident.
So the pressure on writers and editors is enormous during the deadline rush.
But this had nothing to do with Sakamoto Ken; he had enough manuscripts for over two months of serialization, soon enough for two volumes.
Cover, color pages, character designs… he had organized these and sent them to Editor Kaji, but currently only digital versions; the scanned manuscripts from his convenience store printer were okay for WEB serialization, but not sufficient for the main magazine.
So, Kaji Keiko was coming to Sakamoto Ken’s home to pick up all the original manuscripts.
Just past 1 p.m., Sakamoto Ken received a call from Editor Kaji.
“Sakamoto Sensei, are you free at noon? I’ll come pick up the original manuscripts,” Kaji Keiko said.
“I’m free; Editor can come anytime,” Sakamoto Ken said.
“Okay, let me confirm the address again.” Kaji Keiko looked at the navigation info and said, “Adachi Ward, Umeda 4-chome 13… right?”
“Editor, just navigate directly to Myo-in Temple,” Sakamoto Ken said.
“Myo-in Temple?”
“That’s the temple, with a large cemetery next to it,” Sakamoto Ken said.
“Huh… cemetery?” Kaji Keiko was slightly startled.
“Yeah, and the temple has free parking; it’s hard to park in front of my apartment,” Sakamoto Ken said.
“Alright, I see Myo-in Temple on the map; heading over now,” Kaji Keiko said.
Sakamoto Ken organized the original manuscripts at home; generally, writers have at most three chapters’ worth before serialization, but he had eleven.
All B4-size manuscript paper, thick sheets stacked thicker than three manga volumes, probably three or four kilograms heavy.
Soon, about twenty minutes later, the phone rang again, caller ID showing Kaji Keiko’s name.
“Sakamoto Sensei, I’m nearby, um… but which intersection do I enter from?” Kaji Keiko asked.
“Editor, what buildings do you see around?” Sakamoto Ken asked.
“An elementary school; I just passed the school gate,” Kaji Keiko said.
“Okay then, Editor, wait in front of the elementary school; I’ll come right over.”
Sakamoto Ken hung up, checked the time: 1:30 p.m.
Editor Kaji was really dedicated, working even on the weekend at this hour.
Holding the manuscript paper, Sakamoto Ken pushed the door and went out.
Turning through a narrow alley where even a K-Car had to proceed carefully, he soon saw the gate of Adachi Ward Umeshimanishi Elementary School ahead.
Turning his head, he saw a white Toyota Sedan parked on the roadside with hazard lights flashing.
At that moment, the sedan started again, drove a few dozen meters forward, and stopped beside Sakamoto Ken.
The window rolled down, and Kaji Keiko smiled slightly at Sakamoto Ken: “Sakamoto Sensei, why don’t you get in first? Where’s that parking lot?”
Sakamoto Ken directly handed the manuscripts through the window: “I brought the manuscripts; Editor can just take them.”
Kaji Keiko shook her head and said, “Since I’m here, I can’t just take the manuscripts, right? Let’s also discuss the animation short video promotion for later.”
“Mm… alright then.” Sakamoto Ken nodded and walked toward the front passenger seat on the other side.
Actually, he didn’t really want to get in the car.
Getting in a woman’s car, and with her driving, no less…
It always felt like it would trigger serious consequences.
After all, the trigger for the yandere ending in the previous life was Mio seeing him get into Haruna’s car…
