Chapter 51: Famous Scene Or Cringeworthy Scene
“Sakamoto Sensei, are you home?”
“Yeah~ I’ve already arrived downstairs at your apartment building. There’s no intercom at the doorway, so could you come down and open the door?”
“Okay, I’ll wait for you.”
Kaji Keiko slung a canvas bag over her shoulder and stood quietly at the apartment doorway.
“It’s really rundown…”
Kaji Keiko once again surveyed the dilapidated apartment building, its exterior wall covered in corrugated metal. On a rainy day, it must be really noisy inside.
After all, this kind of wooden-framed house has no soundproofing at all.
Soon, Kaji Keiko heard footsteps coming down the stairs. She took two steps back until the sliding door in front of her opened from inside.
“Sakamoto Sensei, good afternoon.” Kaji Keiko gave Sakamoto Ken a slight bow.
Sakamoto Ken nodded and replied, “Good afternoon. Sorry to trouble Editor again.”
“It’s my job.”
With that, Kaji Keiko walked into the apartment building.
This was Kaji Keiko’s third time at Sakamoto Ken’s residence, so she was fairly familiar with it.
Once inside, Kaji Keiko first took a JUMP from her backpack and handed it to Sakamoto Ken.
“Sakamoto Sensei, don’t forget, this week is 《Chainsaw Man》’s first publication in JUMP. Did you buy JUMP yesterday?” Kaji Keiko said.
“I totally forgot…” Sakamoto Ken took the magazine from Kaji Keiko and said, “I’ve been busy rushing the manuscript these past few days, and it’s been too long since the initial deadline.”
“Haha, yeah. Mainly because Sakamoto Sensei’s creation is so ahead of its time; now there are already over ten chapters of manuscript.”
In the few steps it took Kaji Keiko to reach the living room, Sakamoto Ken had already flipped to the 《Chainsaw Man》 section in the magazine.
Since it was the first serialization, it got a color page and double length at 50 pages.
After a quick flip through, Sakamoto Ken set the magazine aside.
He picked up the neatly organized original manuscript from the desk and handed it to Kaji Keiko.
“I’ve been rushing a short story for the call for submissions lately, so 《Chainsaw Man》 is only drawn up to chapter 14.” Sakamoto Ken said.
“It’s coming along soon.” Kaji Keiko took the manuscript paper and said, “Sakamoto Sensei has become the example our editorial department’s other editors use when urging manuscripts from those writers who drag their feet.”
Kaji Keiko knelt down at the desk and spread out the manuscript paper.
“Alright, I’ll take a look at chapter 14 now.”
With that, Kaji Keiko began carefully flipping through page by page.
“Hmm… This chapter is titled ‘Sexy Kiss’.”
Kaji Keiko saw Himeno and Denji’s promise to defeat the demon and asked, “Sakamoto Sensei, in the later plot, will Himeno, who promised a French kiss with Denji-kun, join the heroine’s camp too?”
“No.” Sakamoto Ken shook his head and said, “Himeno’s love interest is Aki Hayakawa. Does Editor want to know the later plot now?”
“Huh?” Kaji Keiko was slightly taken aback and said, “Didn’t Himeno promise to French kiss Denji?”
“That doesn’t mean she likes him, and that kiss happens right in front of Aki Hayakawa…” Sakamoto Ken was about to explain the details of that kiss in the later plot but then changed his words, “Ha… But I haven’t fully thought out the later plot yet. Editor will know when the time comes.”
Some cringeworthy scenes are best not revealed to the editor in advance.
Once the original manuscript is fully drawn, even up to later plot points, the editor won’t be able to demand plot changes.
This time, Sakamoto Ken planned to replicate Tatsuki Fujimoto Sensei’s 《Chainsaw Man》 without changing a single storyboard panel.
At least for the first part of 《Chainsaw Man》, he had to trust Tatsuki Fujimoto Sensei’s skill.
Actually, certain abstract cringeworthy scenes are sources of discussion heat on social platforms.
Kaji Keiko flipped back and forth through this chapter’s content, pondered for a moment, and said, “I have no issues with this chapter, but Sakamoto Sensei needs to think carefully about the later parts too. After all, you never discuss the plot with me.”
“I know what I’m doing.” Sakamoto Ken said.
“Alright, alright, that saves me worry too, as long as the work quality doesn’t drop.” Kaji Keiko said, “By the way, regarding the plot, I have some ideas lately. Let me tell you.”
“Go ahead, Editor.” Sakamoto Ken listened carefully.
Though he wouldn’t change the plot…
Kaji Keiko said, “Things are different now than before. Social platform traffic is huge. If it can catch fire there, it’ll greatly boost the work’s popularity, especially for our WEB serialization works. Readers see discussions on Twitter or elsewhere, and without going to the bookstore to buy, they can open a webpage or app and read immediately.”
“You’re right. That’s definitely the trend going forward.” Sakamoto Ken nodded and said.
“So…” Kaji Keiko said, “Sakamoto Sensei could consider adding elements to the plot that spark netizen discussions, in other words… famous scenes.”
“Right, these famous scenes don’t have to be super refined illustrations or super exciting plot; it’s a kind of… um, how to put it…”
Kaji Keiko thought for a moment and gave an example, saying, “Have you seen the Naruto 《Naruto》 Chibaku Tensei episode? Though many say it’s drawing collapse, that less-than-one-second scene actually brought the work huge discussion volume. Years later, people still talk about it fondly.”
“Ore no itami wa omae ijō da （But my pain is greater than yours）!” Sakamoto Ken recited the line directly, smiling slightly as he said, “Don’t worry about famous scenes, Editor. There will definitely be some.”
“Haha, Sakamoto Sensei, just don’t turn famous scenes into cringeworthy scenes.” Kaji Keiko said casually.
Sakamoto Ken just kept smiling and didn’t respond.
Kaji Keiko neatly packed this chapter’s original manuscript into a file bag and carefully put it into her canvas bag.
She looked at Sakamoto Ken’s desk, where there were still drawings.
“Sakamoto Sensei, is that call for submissions short story still on time?” Kaji Keiko checked the date and said, “Right now, there’s still twenty days left.”
“It’s already half done.” Sakamoto Ken sat back at his desk, picked up the completed original manuscript, straightened it, and said, “Editor, why don’t you take a look at this manuscript?”
“Sure~ That’s exactly what I was hoping for.” Kaji Keiko reached out eagerly to take the manuscript.
The seventy-plus pages of original manuscript made quite a thick stack. Kaji Keiko placed it on the desk and examined the cover on the top page.
The cover was colored, with an overall dark tone. In a study room, the elementary school-aged protagonist sat at the desk, bent over drawing—a very simple scene.
“Look Back…” Kaji Keiko softly read the book title, looking at Sakamoto Ken with some doubt. “It’s got a really artistic vibe.”
In a joking tone, she said, “Hard to imagine the writer of 《Chainsaw Man》 drawing an artistic manga. There won’t be any scares inside, will there?”
