Chapter 6: I Am Miyuki Haru
Sakamoto Ken turned his head and saw Editor Kaji coming out of the meeting room as well, so he quickly caught up.
“Editor!” Sakamoto Ken called out to Kaji Keiko.
“Sakamoto Sensei, is there something else?” Kaji Keiko asked.
Sakamoto Ken raised his hand and pointed at that poster, saying, “What’s the deal with that work?!”
“Young Lady, Sniper Rifle, and Pantyhose?” Kaji Keiko read out the book title, puzzled. “What’s wrong with this work?”
Something’s very off!
This is a manga from my pen name!
In the previous life, it was serialized in a niche magazine. Two weeks ago in this life, he directly threw the manuscript into the trash can.
But how could it appear on Shueisha’s new work poster wall?!
The key is, Sakamoto Ken couldn’t just say it directly.
He took a deep breath, forced himself to stay calm, and said, “I just think this book title is pretty interesting, so I wanted to ask the editor…”
“I haven’t heard of this name,” Kaji Keiko pinched her chin and thought for a moment before saying, “It definitely isn’t a new work from our department. All published new works are discussed at the team meeting.”
Could someone have stolen the manuscript I threw into the trash?
Sakamoto Ken frowned in thought and dismissed the idea.
Two weeks ago, this manga’s manuscript was still in draft state, with no cover or color pages.
And the heroine on the poster matches exactly the color page image specially prepared for serialization in the previous life.
Same hair color, same clothing style, same action, even the details of the sniper rifle are identical!
“Is it a manga that’s already being serialized?” Sakamoto Ken continued to ask.
“That’s strange…” Kaji Keiko thought for a moment, then saw a colleague passing by and directly stopped him. “Noda, do you know the situation with that manga new work?”
The editor named Noda looked in the direction Kaji Keiko pointed and also shook his head: “From another editorial team? 《Strongest JUMP》 or 《JUMP SQ》?”
“The new work wall only features works from the main JUMP magazine, right?” Kaji Keiko said.
“Yeah, could it be an old author poached from another publisher?” Noda was also puzzled. “I don’t think it was mentioned at the team meeting?”
Kaji Keiko said to Sakamoto Ken, “This happens occasionally. Writers from other publishers jump ship and might contact the chief editor directly, but this writer is named…”
Kaji Keiko stepped up to the poster and examined it closely, spotting the author’s name on it.
“Miyuki Haru… Never heard of it.” Kaji Keiko shook her head.
Kaji Keiko had been a manga editor for several years and had always paid attention to the industry, so she knew the names of all somewhat famous authors.
“Found it, found it.” Noda held up his mobile phone and showed the screen to Kaji Keiko. “JUMP CHANNEL is doing an interview live broadcast for this manga. New writers don’t get that kind of treatment, right?”
“Is that so…” Kaji Keiko pondered for a moment and said, “Probably the chief editor negotiated directly with the writer sensei, so it didn’t go through the team meeting.”
While Kaji and Noda were discussing, Sakamoto Ken was already breaking out in cold sweat.
Miyuki Haru, Miyuki Haru…
Repeating the pen name a few times, the name that popped into his mind was one familiar to his very bones.
Mikazuki Haruna.
All three characters were included in the name.
But on the other hand, “Miyuki Haru” wasn’t really an obscure pen name.
March is mid-spring season, so if wanting a pen name related to the season, this term comes to mind easily.
“Oh no, that’s trouble…” Kaji Keiko said to Sakamoto Ken with some distress. “Sakamoto Sensei, if this really is a writer poached by the chief editor, the slot in the next issue of the main JUMP magazine might go to him.”
Sakamoto Ken felt his thoughts getting a bit chaotic.
This is clearly his work!
Could it be a world line change from rebirth that led Haruna to publish this work?
Sakamoto Ken took out his mobile phone and snapped a photo of the poster.
“I was just curious about this poster… Editor, I’ll head back first then…”
“Sure, Sakamoto Sensei. If it’s not selected this issue, don’t get discouraged. There are still opportunities. Building popularity on JUMP+ first is good too,” Kaji Keiko said to Sakamoto Ken.
“Got it, thanks Editor Kaji.”
He didn’t care whether he got selected for magazine serialization next issue. With the foundation of 《Chainsaw Man》, it would happen sooner or later.
The key was, he wanted to figure out the origin of that manga.
After leaving the Shueisha Building and boarding the train back, Sakamoto Ken searched on his mobile phone for news about 《Young Lady, Sniper Rifle, and Pantyhose!》.
The first thing he saw was the news released by JUMP official.
“Interview live broadcast? Is that treatment ordinary new writers get?”
Sakamoto Ken clicked on the live broadcast reservation, planning to see just who this “Miyuki Haru” was.
……
Side of the Shueisha Building.
Staff were posting a new poster on the outdoor promotion board.
Natsume Mio had originally planned to just wander around and return to the front of the building to wait for A Jian to come out.
But this poster made her stop in her tracks.
Natsume Mio examined the poster closely until the staff left.
She was certain the heroine on the poster was exactly like the manga from A Jian in her memory.
However, the writer’s name on it was “Miyuki Haru,” so this shouldn’t be A Jian’s work. It must be her mixing up memories from the dream.
Even in the dream, A Jian used his real name as the pen name.
At this moment, a fashionably dressed girl came from across the street, looking at the newly posted poster with great interest.
Natsume Mio glanced at her. She was a beauty, no doubt, but she wasn’t interested in girls, so she didn’t pay much attention.
“Hi~”
However, the other girl greeted her first.
Natsume Mio turned to look at the girl who seemed about her age and politely replied, “Hello.”
The girl had a smug smile at the corner of her mouth and said, “Do you like this poster?”
“Yeah… the book title is pretty interesting.” Natsume Mio nodded and said.
“Then follow it!” The girl tapped the poster with her hand and said, “This is my work~”
“You’re Miyuki Haru?” Natsume Mio was slightly surprised.
Mikazuki Haruna patted her chest and was about to speak when her gaze instinctively swept over Natsume Mio’s chest. Her originally full confidence suddenly diminished a bit.
No, why am I envying a stranger’s chest…
“Ahem!” Mikazuki Haruna cleared her throat lightly twice and said, “I’m Miyuki Haru. The manga will be published on JUMP+ tonight. Do you have the app downloaded? If not, download it quick. You can reserve it first~”
“I don’t read manga on my mobile phone…” Natsume Mio felt a bit awkward about the girl’s overly familiar personality.
Mikazuki Haruna went “Oh” and then said, “No problem, no problem. Do you read 《Weekly Shonen JUMP》 then? If all goes well, it’ll be in JUMP in a few weeks.”
“That impressive?” Natsume Mio said. “Getting published in JUMP is hard, right?”
“Of course.” Mikazuki Haruna put her hands on her hips, puffed out her chest, and said, “But as long as the work is good enough, it’s fine.”
Natsume Mio had planned to leave directly, but she was particularly curious about this manga that had appeared in her dream.
Somehow, she said to this girl with the pen name “Miyuki Haru,” “What a coincidence. Can we take a photo together?”
“Sure!” Mikazuki Haruna raised an eyebrow and agreed immediately.
Someone being interested in her work was the best thing.
“Then let’s take it in front of the poster.” Mikazuki Haruna pointed at the poster.
So, the two stood side by side, using the poster as background, raised their hands in a V-sign, and took a photo.
“Alright, I have important business at the company, so bye-bye~ Be sure to support it.” Mikazuki Haruna waved to Natsume Mio.
