Chapter 25: The Editor’s Care
Sakamoto Ken is also looking at the Young Lady, Sniper Rifle, and Pantyhose!》.
He even savors every single panel.
Seeing his work from the previous life being redrawn by someone else gives him a truly magical sensation.
It’s like experiencing the “victim” from a plagiarism novel.
Moreover, the author is one of the three killers who sent him to rebirth…
Although Sakamoto Ken is also doing the plagiarism thing, he’s copying works that haven’t been born yet.
Even if Tatsuki Fujimoto Sensei himself saw it, he, who is still creating short stories now, could only exclaim, “Senior Sakamoto Ken’s manga is so good!”
But Haruna copying his manga—he, the original author, has complete memory…
Watching his own manga being copied by her right in front of his eyes.
She’s currently committing it.
And he’s actually quite enjoying it.
The entire manga has no difference in plot or character designs, but the drawing skill has clearly improved a lot.
Simply put, the female lead as drawn by Sakamoto Ken back then could barely get a rise.
While the female lead under Haruna’s pen can make one involuntarily stand up.
Maybe if she redraws this manga of mine once, it really could become a hit…
After one in the morning passes, the works scheduled on the JUMP+ platform for today are uniformly updated.
At this moment, Sakamoto Ken is still in the store.
Natsume Mio only comes to work on weekends, but during this period before school starts, he comes every day.
There’s still one hour until his shift ends, but there are no customers in the store right now, and Miyamoto Shota, who is coming to take the night shift, has already arrived early.
Thinking about the work updates in his mind, since the store requires no mobile phones during work hours, Sakamoto Ken pockets his mobile phone and heads to the restroom.
He opens the JUMP+ webpage.
Just a few minutes later, Sakamoto Ken sees someone posting in his comment section.
「First!」
It’s a very common floor-claiming post, but it also shows that the manga already has readers chasing updates in real time.
He clicks open Haruna’s manga update page, and the comment section surprisingly already has several posts early on.
「Great, another update to read!」
「Author, draw faster, chasing every chapter~」
「One person blood book for the work to be serialized in Weekly Shonen JUMP!」
「First place in this issue’s serialization, no doubt!」
Sakamoto Ken is also a bit surprised; he didn’t expect his manga, after being modified by Haruna, to gain loyal readers so quickly.
Just as he walks out of the restroom, Miyamoto Shota, sitting in the dining area playing on his mobile phone, calls out to Sakamoto Ken.
He arrived at the store early, but it’s not yet his work time, so he hasn’t changed into his uniform.
“A Jian, not bad, the manga is great.” Miyamoto Shota waves his mobile phone at Sakamoto Ken.
“You’re already chasing updates?” Sakamoto Ken walks over.
Miyamoto Shota grins and says, “I even helped you post in the comment section.”
So it was you who posted.
No wonder; it’s only been a few minutes since the update—even popular works don’t necessarily get comments that fast.
That said, Haruna’s manga is even more impressive; hers has several in a row.
Sakamoto Ken sits down across from Miyamoto Shota: “Any thoughts after reading it? Tell me.”
Miyamoto Shota grins and says, “When does the male lead get together with Miss Makima?”
“You just want to see that?”
“Of course, Miss Makima is too cute.” He flips through a few pages on his mobile phone and asks, “By the way, Makima isn’t a bad woman, right?”
“What, if she’s a bad woman, you won’t like her?” Sakamoto Ken asks.
“That would make me like her even more.” Miyamoto Shota’s eyes light up.
“You’ll know if you keep chasing updates.”
“Tsk tsk, not willing to spoil?”
“No comment.” Sakamoto Ken shrugs and says.
Miyamoto Shota lazily spreads his hands and says, “Still acting mysterious. Actually, you haven’t even planned the later plot, right? I heard that normal authors only know the latest update plot one hour ahead of readers.”
“What you’re talking about is WEB light novels; manga isn’t like that,” Sakamoto Ken says. “Manga is weekly because there are many processes.”
“Alright, anyway, when you get on《Weekly Shonen JUMP》, I’ll put the magazine in the most prominent spot in the store every day to boost your sales volume.” Miyamoto Shota gives Sakamoto Ken a thumbs up and says.
“Thanks a lot then.”
Sakamoto Ken also knows he’s just joking.
After all, JUMP’s weekly circulation now exceeds 2 million copies; selling 20 copies in this store would be great and wouldn’t affect sales volume at all.
Moreover, it’s uncertain if he can get on JUMP soon—don’t lose to his previous life’s work by then.
Soon it’s time for the shift handover; Sakamoto Ken grabs a rice ball he got for free in the store and heads home to eat as breakfast tomorrow morning.
Tonight he doesn’t continue rushing the manuscript; he sleeps until the next morning, until woken by a phone call.
He checks the time: just past nine-thirty.
“Sakamoto Ken Sensei, sorry to disturb you so early in the morning. Are you up?” Kaji Keiko’s voice comes from the mobile phone receiver.
This question is purely redundant; if he weren’t up, could he answer your call…
Sakamoto Ken is still sitting on the bedding, his hair a bit messy, but thinking it’s the editor’s call, he says, “I’m up. Editor, what’s up?”
“I’ve already read the first seven chapters you sent me. The content is quite good; I have no suggestions, and it’s already enough manuscript for one volume.”
“Can it be published as a volume?” Sakamoto Ken asks immediately.
“Ah… not that fast for the volume yet, but with《Chainsaw Man》’s current performance, it’s only a matter of time,” Kaji Keiko says. “I’ve seen last week’s reader vote results. Among the new works, Sensei Sakamoto is leading by a landslide with over 6700 votes; second place has only 2800. At this rate, serialization in the main magazine should be stable.”
“So, today I want to discuss the color page cover design with Sensei Sakamoto. It can be used directly later when landing on the main magazine for new serialization promotion.”
Color page, huh…
An illustration immediately comes to Sakamoto Ken’s mind, just like in the manga content—he can recreate the illustration from his memory.
And it’s not limited to what Tatsuki Fujimoto Sensei himself created; there are also various fan arts, even including doujins.
He was a fan of Tatsuki Fujimoto Sensei back then; his browser favorites still have some treasures about Makima.
For example, in one work, when Makima uses her skill to summon heavenly justice, that hand gesture is used for something else with Denji.
And Denji transforms into Chainsaw Man using the traditional method, with his head and hands turning into chainsaws—could it be possible for other parts to sprout little chainsaws too?
Of course, Sakamoto Ken won’t draw those…
But there are many beautiful designs in proper fan works that are perfect for color page promotion.
Probably because there’s no reply from the other side for a while, Kaji Keiko takes the initiative: “Sakamoto Sensei? I wonder if it’s convenient for you. If possible, how about we meet in person to discuss the color page and subsequent plot designs?”
She pauses, then continues: “Sakamoto Sensei, no need to trouble you to come over; I can come to your residence.”
Editor home visit?
This kind of thing isn’t uncommon in the industry; some editors in charge of famous writers even move near the writer’s residence specifically to urge manuscript submission.
They even book hotel rooms for writers, prepare coffee, Red Bull, energy drinks, nitroglycerin tablets, squat there while the writer creates inside, providing physical care to the writer.
It’s said that during the bubble era, there were even examples of editors taking writers to Kabukicho for on-site research.
Sakamoto Ken immediately replies: “No, it’s not convenient to meet here!”
It’s not that he feels embarrassed about living in a rundown apartment; it’s mainly an instinctive wariness about revealing his address to a woman…
He still hasn’t shaken off the psychological trauma.
“Oh dear, I was already about to grab the keys to the company shared car,” Kaji Keiko says. “It’s not convenient to discuss over the phone, so can I trouble Sensei Sakamoto to come to the editorial department in person?”
“No problem, I have plenty of manuscript stock anyway, no need to rush,” Sakamoto Ken says. “Then I’ll come to the editorial department this afternoon.”
