Stop panting!
Give me another 100 reps!
Yes!
1... 2...
Too soft!
Come at me seriously!
Yes!
I don't have to train anymore!
Monday
Good morning!
Sure.
Kurosawa Kokoro.
A total newbie in Weekly Vibes' editorial department,
and an ex-candidate to be a national judo representative.
Quite a strange one.
She just recently became the editor-in-charge for Horned Princess.
Horned Princess is a super popular work, contending for 1st or 2nd at Weekly Vibes.
It has been made into an anime, and has many fans overseas too.
The princess of Horn Land, the Horned Princess.
She's the princess of a family,
who must marry a strong human man every hundred years or be ruined,
and the strongest sorceress.
While living as a high school girl in this world,
and searching for a strong man to be her partner,
forces plotting the downfall of Horn Land appear before her.
Combining rom-com and action,
it's a true entertainment manga.
The enemy this time, Cowan, was really cool!
The battle with the handsome samurai...
Manga Artist Takahata Issun
The artist, Takahata Issun is a woman-lover.
So there's the rumour that...
that's why Vibes' only woman was left to be his editor.
Then, please excuse me!
Rather than a woman...
A bear cub?
[Welcome back, Horned Princess!!]
What's this?
It's the aori for Horned Princess.
I couldn't sum it up properly...
By the time I realised, I missed the last train so I stayed over.
An aori refers to short sentences written on the first and last pages of the work.
Editors reflect on the content and think of them for each issue.
It brings more interest to the work,
and it's a show of the editor's skill.
However...
Having a good aori...
... doesn't really bring success.
I've thought up the aori...
Please take a look!
Huh? All of these?
I thought up 100.
Nice, 100 fungos huh?
100 consecutive!
Hit them, hit them!
Yes!
Damn fighting girl...
It's good she's giving it her all.
Will Takahata-san make his deadline?
Yes.
I just checked with him on the phone,
we'll get it tomorrow at 12, as planned.
Rinne...
Takahata Issun's Girlfriend Rinne
Can't you bear with it?
Rinne-chan~
I'll get you the bag you wanted on my next day off.
Alright?
Now, let's keep our spirits up for another 24 hours!
Yes!
So boring.
Kurosawa.
These...
Scrap them all.
None of them will catch the reader's interest.
An aori is we, the editors, message to the artists, you see.
Message...
Think of new ones before we send it to print tomorrow.
Yes.
You see, manga...
... it's not like judo.
It's not like quantity will work, nor that a fighter will...
Please teach me!
I want to know your way of editing, Mibu-san!
Please!
Juhan Shuttai!
An aori, you see...
Can't just be written thoughtlessly.
It must build interest in the next issue,
and can't include any spoilers.
It can't stand out in a bad way.
If it were a food,
it's mustard.
Mustard?
With just a little, the flavour of the meat increases.
Flavour!
It's flavour.
A serve of cha siu, please!
Right away.
Even though I'm writing the aori, I read the readers survey.
Survey?
Since I'm in charge of it.
But just seeing the tallies the part-timers put together is boring,
I thought it could serve as a reference,
so I read the last 3 months worth.
3 months worth?
With 2000 a week...
It was about 24000 messages.
What a fighter.
It's useful for thinking about the progression of Horned Princess from now on too!
You moron!
What if you're swayed by the reader's opinions?
Huh?
We shouldn't flatter the readers.
It's a 3-legged race with the artist...
To earnestly put out good work.
If you do, results will follow.
This is...
The way to edit.
I've learnt something!
Whatever the readers survey says is worthless.
Thank you for waiting.
Oh, Kikuchi.
Dandelion Railroad is doing great!
It's 2nd in the survey now!
Maybe we'll get our first 1st place.
Do it! Keep this up and beat Emperor!
Mibu...
A moment.
How was Narita-kun?
I'm going to see him today.
From last place in the survey to his first discontinuation...
He must be in quite a bit of shock, I'm counting on you to look after him.
Of course.
I'll take him to the usual place and cheer him up with nice stuff.
Mibu.
Don't crush Narita-kun.
You're the one who axed it...
Who's the one crushing him?
It starts with 'M'. The second letter's 'a'.
Fool! Didn't I tell you that wasn't it?
Shall I tell you?
He's a manga artist.
- You're a manga artist? - What? Wow!
Manga Artist Narita Meronnu
Narita Meronnu-sensei.
He's the most handsome guy in the manga world.
Is he a model? Is he a manga artist?
You have no idea!
What are you writing?
"Biro Biro☆Man" and...
The high level comedy manga "Twilight Bombay".
"Will you come climb the Mt. Everest of comedy?"
It's being serialised in Weekly Vibes.
What? That's amazing!
Right?
It's being cut after the next one, though.
Our editor-in-chief just doesn't have the right eye for it.
The survey results were just a little bad...
Last for 6 consecutive weeks, actually.
Readers these days just don't know anything.
This is a real masterpiece.
- People who know it say it's a masterpiece. - Meaning nobody knows it.
My manga hasn't been made into an anime or a drama either.
That's...
"Unexpectedly it's Mumbai, turn around and it's the Ganges!"
A masterpiece, right?
The jokes in Twilight Bombay.
"Unexpectedly it's Mumbai, turn around and it's the Ganges!"
Narita-sensei, you're a genius!
Shall we drink?
Next time.
We'll make a comeback in the next serial.
I'm thinking of a new project too.
Let's do our best together!
Good work!
Next time, next time...
He sure says that lightly.
Tuesday
What happened to the bear cub's 100 fungos?
Oh, well...
What?
"Comfy cozy??"
The Horned Princess is returning to her hometown...
Can't be helped...
Comfy cozy??
[Bear cub newbie has no sense for aoris.]
Excuse me.
Good work today!
Good work...
Where's Takahata-sensei?
How's the manuscript for the 12pm deadline?
Where? Where are you?
Rinne!
Come back!
It was my fault...
Don't give me the answering machine!
Pick up!
That woman!
The manuscript isn't done?
It seems Takahata-sensei was working the whole time to make the deadline,
But when he went to his room in the middle of the night for a nap...
[Bye bye ♥]
And so, the manuscript?
He said he wouldn't drop the manuscript even if he died.
He restarted work on it just now.
I understand.
I'll contact the platemakers...
Work on the name specification so we can send it to print immediately.
Yes.
I heard his girlfriend's a former reader model?
Yeah, they met at a mixer or something.
They could just break up.
Since there's this huge fuss every time she leaves.
Sensei...
Could we somehow have the manuscript in 3 hours...?
Sensei!
Here.
Thank you for waiting!
It looks delicious!
Thank you for the food!
I'm so hungry!
I didn't get a chance to eat all day.
Everyday is tough for you, isn't it?
I never expected to walk a tightrope on my first time sending material to press...
It's good that you made it on time.
But I had to make the name specification in such a kerfuffle at Takahata-sensei's house.
Name specification?
It's a set of instructions sent with the manuscript and setting to print.
It's filled with the specifics about the size and type of font.
I think there are some artists who write them themselves,
but generally it's up to the editor's discretion.
Oh! It gets sent with the aori too.
Tomorrow, the proofread copy has to be finished.
That gets checked, and if it's okay, it gets sent to the press,
and goes into print.
Meanwhile,
the artists who've completed their manuscripts,
immediately get started on the next issue's name.
Once the name is done, they draw a sketch, use ink,
and the same day next week is another deadline for a manuscript.
It's the same thing every week,
so you need quite a lot of willpower, right?
- And stamina. - Yeah.
When I hear that, I feel sorry reading it so cheerfully.
Readers can just enjoy reading!
We have to think of the sales side of things too.
How do we sell the precious work that the manga artists laboured over?
Hmm...
Huh?
Nothing!
If I remember correctly, Iokibe-san picked out Takahata-sensei,
and his first work was Horned Princess, as his serial debut.
Eh?
He had a big hit with his debut work?
Since then, for 10 whole years it's been a featured work of Vibes.
I've always been a fan,
so I'm really happy to be sensei's editor.
As an editor, I want to be the person who understands sensei the most.
Please check the content draft for the 34th edition.
Oh.
Horned Princess made it in time, huh?
Well, somehow.
The problem is the next name.
Bear cub...
The continuation of your test is coming immediately...
Takahata-sensei...
Even in the midst of all this trouble,
he said he'd have the name in two days time, as previously arranged.
As expected...
He sure is a pro.
That's right.
Receiving the first name since becoming his editor...
I'm looking forward to it~
Rinne...
Wednesday
The time is 2020.
Mankind is living in peace.
And then suddenly...
A 100 metre, giant stink bug appeared.
It breaks through the huge wall the humans put up...
They think it's advancing, but...
It doesn't come.
It advances...
Doesn't come.
But... it stinks.
Giant stink bugs smell so bad you could die.
Even without breaking the wall, the smell crosses over.
We can't win against this...
The human survivors battle the stench.
The location for this battle is...
A small factory in town where the best in technology gather.
Titled:
[Fighting the stench, starting today.]
"The Giant Bug of Shitamachi"
I said it before, it's kind of mystery-like...
Maybe I can't do this anymore.
Huh?
I'm 33 this year.
Right on the line of being able to restart.
Manga is a job that only geniuses like Takahata should do.
What are you saying? You only got cut once...
It's alright!
- Next time... - I'm the one drawing!
Irresponsibly, and lightly, saying stuff like it'll be fine next time...
It's not your problem, after all.
That's not...
Please leave.
Leave!
1... 2... Yay!
Help me...
Thursday
Mibu-san, what do we do?
I haven't received a name from Takahata-san.
It's already 30 minutes past the promised time.
Should I call him?
Why not?
But I don't want to rush him...
Then wait!
Here it is!
Did you hear it before it rang?
A sixth sense?
Bear sense?
I'm glad I didn't have to call!
[Horned Princess 34th issue Takahata]
[To be continued!]
Rinne!
I'm sorry...
It's Kurosawa.
What?
I sent you the name, didn't I?
Yes, I received and read it.
Then what??
I'm sorry to be so direct,
but I felt like the story wasn't progressing at all.
It was all a monologue,
I feel that it's because there's no development in the story...
Because you're a novice.
You don't get it.
Huh?
Serials need moments like these too.
Like these...
Strength and weakness, you hear me?
Just going all out isn't manga.
Purposely bringing it down, in order to fly high later.
This kind of wave motion is a key point in having a long term serial.
I've been doing this for 10 years...
It's true, there are simple plotlines around here too.
Purposely bringing it down, in order to fly high later...
I feel like I understand it now.
I see.
I want to think of sensei's feelings more and more...
and do my best to run a 3-legged race, just like you said.
The one who said he wanted to create it himself was Narita-san.
Actually, I was in the diorama club in high school.
You're good.
From the small hit "Biro Biro☆Man" to the first book of my prided work "Twilight Bombay".
And the front cover is adorned with a diorama made by Narita Meronnu himself.
Narita-san, are you going to discard the handsome manga artist route,
and change into a diorama making manga artist?
W-well, that's...
"Unexpectedly it's Mumbai"
"Turn around and it's the Ganges!"
At that time, I was trusted by Narita-san.
I thought I was running a 3-legged race with him.
Where?
Where did I go wrong?
Did you see this week's Vibes?
Yeah.
They said next week's the last one for Bombay.
- I knew it'd end! - Me too.
I mean...
Hey!
Since you haven't clean up, I thought of throwing it out...
But your brother got angry at me, saying you've treasured them so I should throw them out on my own.
Here.
Just take what you need.
I'll throw out the rest.
Skimping on stamps, I didn't send any of them.
I wrote them every week.
Okay, cheese!
- Onii-chan, that's amazing! - Take another one.
Since I was a kid, I was compared with my older brother.
- Stop that! - 1... 2...
Yay!
No matter what I did, nothing went well.
The only thing I looked forward to was the magazine released every Wednesday.
Manga was the only thing that saved my from my gloomy reality.
What's with this development? I don't get it.
[If you think you can deceive a child like me and I'll be happy, you're severely mistaken. Please do your best next week.]
[I'm cheering you on as one reader!]
The story is flying a bit low,
but this too is for the development to come, so I'd like to keep it like this.
You know...
What did you think when you first read this name?
Well...
But...
I want to go with sensei's idea.
It's good to let the artist draw freely.
But you know...
Don't let them off easy.
The amount of hardship in drawing it is proportionate to the quality of the work, you know.
Who do you think we editors get our salary from?
The company?
It's the readers.
We bring the quality of the work to its highest level to please the readers.
If you're not doing that, then why are you here?
This is Kurosawa.
I'm sorry to call so many times.
It's about redoing the name.
I'll call you again.
What's that?
Takahata-san...
He won't pick up the phone.
They took this too lightly.
She's a woman, and a newbie...
Good work.
Good work today.
How do I...?
[Next issue, Horned Princess is comfy cozy at home ♥]
An aori is we, the editors, message to the artists, you see.
A replacement?
If I can make it in time,
please let me switch the proofread aori for Horned Princess!
I want to convey my message.
Sensei's having trouble with various things in his private life right now,
but no matter what it takes, I want him to redo the name.
Is it quite a crisis?
Yes, quite!
Around the 7th volume was the worst crisis.
Volume 7...
True, the development was simple...
Rather than simple, it was tedious!
It went down in the survey...
If that had gone on, it would've been over.
It wouldn't have become Vibes' featured work.
But from volume 8,
the battles got more exciting, and the story deeper...
Iokibe reorganised it.
He's continued fighting with Takahata-kun and now they're at volume 28.
Let me see your aori.
Well isn't this interesting?
I've just checked.
We're still printing the second fold.
It's alright.
Yes.
Please do send it.
Sorry.
- Please revise this. - Okay.
- It's the aori, isn't it? - Yes.
You weren't just going to send the name like that?
I'm eating my words.
I see.
Are you also eating your words, Mibu-san?
No...
Using ranks really is worthless...
But I remembered...
This is...
... me.
[For the reader's sake too...]
Friday
Excuse me!
I've brought the final layout.
Thank you so much for dealing with the sudden revision!
No, no...
I'm glad you made it in time!
Here you are.
Thank you.
[Kurosawa-sama. Contains final layout for Vibes Issue 33 - Horned Princess]
[Kurosawa - visiting Takahata-sensei]
Do you have an appointment?
He didn't take my calls, so I'm charging in!
Me too.
[Mibu - visiting Narita-shi]
Let's do our best!
Yeah.
Rinne!
Please redo the name.
No way.
Your name as is doesn't work!
I'm putting my life into writing this.
Don't tell me so simply to redo what I've drawn while covered in blood and torn to shreds! You idiot!
Aren't you being too dependent?
What?!
The readers aren't related to the trouble in your private life.
The readers can't be excited about your name right now!
What does a newbie know?
I can tell!
Until the other day, I was just one of the readers!
That's why I can tell.
Your name is no good right now.
Even if you hate or detest me, I'll have you hear what I have to say.
To protect the work is to protect you!
If this name passes through, the readers will be disappointed!
On top of being your editor,
I definitely won't let your trust be affected!
This is this edition's final layout.
Please take a look.
Please redo the name by tomorrow afternoon.
Who's redoing it?
I'll be waiting, okay?
Damn woman!
I'll be waiting!
[Proposed amendments to issue 34 of Horned Princess Vibes Editorial Department Kurosawa Kokoro]
Boring!
Are you stupid?!
What is this~!
Shut up, bear cub!
I'm writing something 100 times funnier than your damn idea!
Just wait quietly!
I'm back!
I went to the hot spring.
Icchan?
[Ah, weak... so weak... Isn't there a strong man anywhere?]
- Ladies and gentlemen. - There aren't any ladies.
Right.
What is it?
Why wasn't Twilight Bombay a hit?
I put together the reader's surveys and posts on the net.
We were focused on using reckless and absurd jokes.
Until the 8th week, there were many favourable opinions.
For a moment, we could see expectations in what was to come.
But gradually, popularity fell.
For the next volume, more people said "I don't get it, I'm getting left behind" and "What's funny about this?"
Amidst that, there was the usual joke that we were pushing.
This one's an ironic joke,
about the old name Bombay changing to Mumbai.
It means we know that it's not Bombay anymore,
but we promised not to say that.
And then the final blow.
"Turn around and it's the Ganges!"
The Ganges river is too far from Bombay, if you turn around you wouldn't see it.
We know that too.
We know that doubly.
Basically "What you're saying is right"
"It's right, but don't say that, why not just enjoy it?"
It was a joke we put all our might into, intending for it to be enjoyed.
It was "Unexpectedly it's Mumbai, turn around and it's the Ganges!"
... but most people didn't understand it.
You're right.
This unfortunate result...
is your editor-in-charge's... my fault.
I'm sorry.
I...
I thought it was seriously funny.
I thought it's fine if those who get it, get it. Those who don't are idiots.
They don't have any sense.
I insulted the readers.
In truth,
I didn't think of what I most needed to: How can I convey Narita-san's humour to the readers?
Even though there were some people who understood it.
[Twilight Bombay!! Last week, this week, next week and forever!!]
[I'm a huge fan of Twilight Bombay! When things go wrong, reading it makes me laugh!!]
For this reader too...
There was more I could've done.
So this time...
I...
What is funny?
Did I have the sense for it?
I didn't know at all...
Mibu-san, you said it was funny.
You told me it was fine as it was, but...
Meanwhile, the survey results were dropping.
My manga...
... wasn't needed by anyone
Society...
The readers...
Everyone...
Was like an enemy.
They're your allies!
The readers...
... are your allies.
Let's increase our allies.
Get more,
and this time around we'll get it right.
For this person too.
Yeah.
Yeah...
I meant to run a 3-legged race.
I meant to understand, and be close, but...
I let him drown alone.
To me, manga...
Saves me from my gloomy reality.
Like a life preserver.
Manga artists need life preservers called readers.
Connecting them to those life preservers is my job.
I won't let him drown again.
For Narita-san...
And readers waiting for the work...
Let's do our best.
Yeah.
Let's hang in there.
[Ah, weak... so weak... Isn't there a strong man anywhere?]
[To be continued]
[What do you think? My first reader!]
I'm not weak.
At least in manga.
I thought it could work, though.
"The Giant Bug of Shitamachi" wouldn't work!
Well that's...
"Unexpectedly it's Mumbai...
... turn around and it's the Ganges!"
"Turn around and it's the Ganges."
I wrote that in there so many times.
Enjoy.
Thank you for the food.
It's delicious!
It really soothes my body and soul the day after sending work to print.
You mean... that name that was redone?
Yes.
The name was wonderful too, but...
Here.
Don't smell it!
Then, please allow me to check it.
You read the name, so you know the story, right?
But...
This face?
Well... continue.
Yes.
She really is a bear cub.
Being an editor is really a happy job!
- You get to be the first reader of a work you love... - Wait!
Listen...
An editor is the first reader, and at the same time...
A bridge connecting the author and reader...
... right?
Saying that so frankly...
Yes?
You fighting girl!
[Aim for Juhan Shuttai! Make good use of energy. Mutual prosperity with oneself and others.]
[We get our salary from the readers! by Iokibe Kei]
You're lined up with the gods of judo.
Ah, don't just...
I think it was the beans...
Why did they put beans in?
I liked it!
Koizumi-san, that's...!
Ah!
No, that's not it.
Iokibe-san tore it off on his own.
Since I have the copyright for it.
Can I send an application for consent to use it?
Where to?
Thank you for your help.
Your company is a publisher without a comic department,
so we'd definitely like you to leave the comic adaptation to us.
Yes.
These are all Ds!
There weren't any good newbies this month, were there.
How boring.
Ah!
When's the Comic Bazaar again?
- At the end of the month. - Comic bazaar?
It's an official tour for manga editorial departments to take in newcomers.
Oh~
I'd like to go!
Can I go?
Go and discover a fresh newbie!
Yes!
Aim for a home run!
I'll get it in one go!
Raise Vibes' sales by 30%!
Yes!
Take down our arch-enemy Emperor!
Yes!
And eventually...
Eventually...
Knock down Jump too!
[Shounen Jump - best selling and longest running manga magazine.]
Not that one.
Huh?
That's a different playing field.
Eh?
Jump is too huge!
But a bigger goal is better...
You have to think of the number of copies...
It's scary...
Discovering newcomers, huh?
If it's discovering newcomers, Yasui-san's famous, isn't he?
Really?
Yeah.
The mega hit Rock Crown,
and Windless Land were both Yasui-san's projects.
Eh?
I have Rock Crown!
Oh!
[Bear cub newbie is in great condition, with heaps of dreams.]
[But there is poison in dreams.]