Chapter 100: How Is She In The Car?!
In the previous life《Chainsaw Man》’s success, besides Tatsuki Fujimoto’s own abilities, several capable assistants were also a very key factor.
In terms of finding assistants, Tatsuki Fujimoto can also be said to have a keen eye.
His two main assistants during the creation《Fire Punch》, Kaku Yuji and Endo Tatsuya, the former later created《Hell’s Paradise》, while the latter is the author of《Spy x Family》.
By the time of serializing《Chainsaw Man》, he inspired Ryū Kōshin, who drew《Bold Party》.
Running into Ryū Kōshin at the company discussing a new work with his editor like this, at this time in 2015, he might not have even heard of Tatsuki Fujimoto’s name yet.
Sakamoto Ken simply walked over directly.
“Hello, I’m Sakamoto Ken, the author of《Chainsaw Man》. I just overheard your chat with Editor, and I’m looking for a drawing assistant right now.” Sakamoto Ken didn’t beat around the bush and stated his intention directly.
Seeing Sakamoto Ken step forward proactively, Kaji Keiko hurried over as well.
With a bit of surprise on her face, she asked, “Sakamoto Sensei, have you already decided? About setting up the studio.”
Sakamoto Ken nodded, his gaze fixed on Ryū Kōshin.
He was a few years older than Sakamoto Ken, but in the creative field, age doesn’t matter; there are those who succeed young, and others who create major works in middle age or even old age.
The editor talking with Ryū Kōshin obviously knew Sakamoto Ken too; he stood up somewhat surprised: “It’s Sakamoto Sensei, hello, hello.”
He glanced at the young man still stunned beside him and lightly nudged him with his elbow.
“Sakamoto Sensei, do you want Ryuu-san to be an assistant?”
Hearing the editor say this, Ryū Kōshin quickly straightened his body and then gave Sakamoto Ken a standard ninety-degree bow.
“Sakamoto Sensei! I’ve been following《Chainsaw Man》, and I really like your work!” He hurriedly picked up the stack of manuscripts on the table and offered them to Sakamoto Ken with both hands. “I’m Ryū Kōshin, I’ve been creating manga for a few years now, but… I haven’t been able to make a formal debut yet…”
As he spoke to the end, his tone inevitably carried a hint of disappointment.
Sakamoto Ken didn’t stand on ceremony and directly took his drawings.
He flipped through them page by page; the content of the drawings was exactly the story Editor Uchimura had mentioned earlier, with supernatural against supernatural, but it differed greatly from the《Bold Party》 in his memory—only a slight sense of déjà vu at best.
The drawing skills were indeed very solid, but the problems were equally obvious: the story’s pacing was scattered, and the storyboard design lacked impact.
However, as an assistant, the most important thing is drawing ability; he didn’t need to discuss plot and storyboards with assistants.
Seeing Sakamoto Ken looking seriously, Editor Uchimura said to Ryū Kōshin on the side, “Sakamoto Sensei is now the most talked-about new writer at our JUMP. He’s only serialized less than ten chapters and has already topped JUMP+, and the volume is about to be published, right? I think it’ll sell like hotcakes.”
“Sakamoto Sensei, if you think Ryuu-san’s drawing ability is up to par, it’ll be the best opportunity for him,” Uchimura said.
Sakamoto Ken put down the drawings and said, “I think Ryuu-san fits my requirements perfectly.”
He paused, then added, “Also… actually, I think Ryuu-san has the potential to debut; he just needs to refine his ideas a bit more.”
Hearing this affirmative statement, Ryū Kōshin’s eyes lit up instantly.
He bowed deeply to Sakamoto Ken again: “Sakamoto Sensei! Please let me join your studio!”
Sakamoto Ken wasn’t used to bowing; he extended his right hand to Ryū Kōshin with a smile: “You’re very welcome.《Chainsaw Man》 needs talent like you.”
Editor Uchimura on the side also breathed a sigh of relief, smiling as he said, “Sakamoto Sensei, then Ryuu-san is in your hands. Maybe following you will open his eyes, and he might really produce a work good enough to debut later.”
“Sakamoto Sensei, then… what aspect of drawing will I be responsible for going forward? And the specific division of labor with the other assistants…” Ryū Kōshin asked somewhat nervously.
Sakamoto Ken gently shook his head and said, “I don’t have any assistants yet.”
“Eh?” Ryū Kōshin was slightly stunned.
Kaji Keiko explained on the side, “All of Sakamoto Sensei’s content so far has been completed independently by him, and he still maintains an update speed of two chapters per week.”
“One person, two chapters a week?!” Ryū Kōshin was completely shocked. He pointed at the manuscript in his hand. “These three chapters took me almost three months to draw…”
Sakamoto Ken waved his hand and said, “It’s nothing, just spending a bit more time each day, so I still need assistants to help.”
He turned to Kaji Keiko beside him and said, “Then I’ll go rent a house later, get the studio equipment set up, and contact you once it’s all done.”
“Got it! But, Sakamoto Sensei, how many assistants do you plan to recruit in total?”
Sakamoto Ken thought for a moment, and two other names came to mind.
Since he was setting up a studio, he might as well go all in at once.
Although he had the complete content of《Chainsaw Man》 in his mind, doing all the details himself would always limit efficiency.
After all, manga is not just mental labor; it’s physical labor too. Drawing every line takes time, and maintaining high-intensity work every day would wear out the body first.
“Actually, I have two other candidates in mind, but I don’t know if they have time now. I’ll need Editor to help me contact them.”
“Of course, tell me!” Kaji Keiko took out her small notebook, ready to jot it down.
Recalling information from the previous life, Sakamoto Ken said, “Kaku Yuji, who serialized《Mafia Demon King》 on《Jump Square》 last year—that manga was probably canceled, right? I wonder if he has free time now.”
Kaji Keiko jotted down the name while thinking: “Kaku Yuji… the name rings a bell; I should be able to find his contact info.”
Sakamoto Ken continued, “And Endo Tatsuya; his own work was from years ago, but he’s definitely submitted to JUMP before. He might be assisting another writer right now.”
Hearing these two names, Kaji Keiko asked doubtfully, “Sakamoto Sensei, have you already looked into them beforehand?”
Sakamoto Ken just smiled and replied, “I just saw their published works before and felt their style was a good fit.”
“Got it!” Kaji Keiko said. “I’ll contact them for you as soon as possible, Sakamoto Sensei!”
For assistants Kaku Yuji and Endo Tatsuya, Sakamoto Ken wasn’t sure yet and needed Editor Kaji to reach out, but Ryū Kōshin was definitely joining the team.
Next, Sakamoto Ken didn’t stay long in the editorial department.
After leaving the Shueisha Building, he glanced at his mobile phone map and, following the rental location he’d planned earlier, boarded the train.
The trains in the city center were a bit crowded; Sakamoto Ken stood in a spot by the door and took out his mobile phone to browse rental websites.
When he looked up at the station info, Sakamoto Ken’s gaze inadvertently swept over the other side of the car interior.
In that instant, his gaze suddenly paused.
On the other side of the car interior, a girl’s figure felt extremely familiar to him.
She wore a white baseball cap with the brim pulled very low; from his angle, most of her face was obscured.
For anyone else, even a close friend, it would probably be impossible to recognize her.
But Sakamoto Ken was far more familiar with them than most; even a tiny movement would let him recognize her at a glance.
This small figure was Haruna.
But why was she in the car interior too?!
Sakamoto Ken quickly looked away, pretending he hadn’t noticed Mikazuki Haruna was on the train, just keeping an eye on that side with his peripheral vision.
Obviously, Haruna was using nearby passengers for cover, secretly peeking at him through the gaps.
Haruna had a car and could even have the family maid drive her; she would never squeeze onto a train by herself to go anywhere.
Now this girl was on the train, her gaze flicking toward him now and then—the only explanation was.
This girl was stalking!
