"I've already started planning a new series," Haruki said as he sipped his tea. "I'm used to being busy. This downtime just feels weird."
"Wait, where are you publishing?" Sora blinked.
"Where else? With Kurokawa, of course." Haruki glanced between her and Kotone. "You two didn't seriously think I was quitting, did you? I've still got six months left on the contract. I'm not about to pay a penalty."
Sora and Kotone exhaled in unison, visibly relieved.
"I don't plan on sitting idle. I'll put something out soon," he added.
They both nodded, but Kotone hesitated, then asked quietly, "And after the contract ends… will you stay with Kurokawa?"
Haruki looked thoughtful. "Honestly, no idea. Maybe I'll stay. Maybe not. I'll decide when the time comes."
It wasn't a deflection—he genuinely hadn't made up his mind. With his system, staying in a smaller market like Osaka felt like wasted potential. If Remembrance had run under a bigger publisher, it might have avoided the messy drama around the Award.
Still, thanks to the award buzz and the loyal readers he'd gained, Haruki had enough points to unlock two new B-rank manga—both strong contenders for serialization.
He could stay in Osaka, keep dominating locally, and maybe earn another lottery reward through hidden achievements. Or… he could head to Tokyo, publish with Seven major publishing house, and aim for global recognition—even if that path came without system rewards.
And if Rurouni Kenshin actually won the Award? That might unlock a reward big enough to change everything—maybe even an A- or S-rank title. The possibilities were tempting.
But for now, he wasn't leaving. Not yet.
"Got it," Kotone said. She didn't press the issue.
After breakfast, she and Sora headed home to rest. With Rurouni Kenshin firmly in first place, there was nothing more to worry about for now.
Over the next two days, Rurouni Kenshin held its top position without challenge. Blazing Feather pushed promotions harder than ever, but it wasn't enough.
By Sunday night, the official rankings updated.
Blazing Feather: 1.38 million fan points.
Rurouni Kenshin: 1.6 million.
First round—complete.
The Osaka manga community erupted in celebration. Even the middle-tier artists at Kurokawa threw a party in Haruki's honor—though he didn't attend. They were proud nonetheless.
On Monday, Sora walked into the Kurokawa office greeted by smiles, congratulations, and a few veiled jabs from jealous colleagues. She ignored them. Today felt good.
As she packed up at day's end, an assistant approached.
"Editor-in-Chief Daichi would like to speak with you."
Sora blinked. "Sure, I'll be right there."
She found Daichi waiting in his office, brows knit together.
"Something wrong?" she asked cautiously.
Pang hesitated, then spoke. "Sora, I need you to stay calm. There's been a personnel decision from upper management…"
Meanwhile, Haruki was home cooking dinner—simple fare for one. With no active serialization, his evenings were quiet.
A knock broke the calm.
Odd, he thought. Kotone and Sora usually messaged first.
When he opened the door, two men in suits stood outside. One unfamiliar. The other, unmistakable.
"Deputy Editor Rika?" Haruki frowned. "You lost?"
Rika gave a practiced smile. "Not at all. My assistant and I came to see you. May we come in?"
Haruki stepped aside reluctantly. As soon as Rika spotted the modest dinner on the table, he chuckled.
"Still eating like a High school student, I see. There's a fantastic place downtown—I was going to suggest we talk business over dinner."
Haruki gave a tight smile. "I'll pass. This suits me fine. Say what you came to say."
Rika's assistant shifted awkwardly, but said nothing.
"Well then," Rika began, pulling a folded document from his coat. "It's a simple matter. A change in editorial assignment. Effective immediately, your manga editor has been reassigned."
Haruki's expression darkened. "Reassigned?"
"Kurokawa's management believes your work is critical to the company's future. While Editor Sora has done well, she's considered too junior. From now on, I'll be your new editor."
He handed over the document. "Official notice. Signed by the board."
Haruki stared at the paper. The room fell silent.
-----
"Change editors? Why am I only hearing about this now?" Haruki frowned. His usually calm voice had grown cold.
"That's exactly why I came to visit you in person, Mizushiro-sensei," Rika replied with a smooth smile, as if this was merely a formality.
But Haruki could already feel a bitter emotion rising within him.
"I don't accept this decision."
"You told me before that Sora was removed because she lacked experience or ability. But I've worked closely with her. I've seen firsthand how capable and committed she is. There's no justification for this."
"I'm sorry, Mizushiro-sensei," Rika said, still smiling, "This was a decision made by Kurokawa Publishing. It's final."
Haruki's heart sank. Now he understood why Sora despised this man.
The arrogance, the shameless ambition—it was all right there, veiled by a superficial politeness. Not only had he taken credit for someone else's work, but he didn't even seem to feel the need to hide it.
"Associate Editor Rika," Haruki said firmly, "with my current standing at Kurokawa, I believe I've earned the right to choose who edits my manga. I've had a strong working relationship with Sora. I don't want that to change. I'd ask that the company respect my wishes."
Rika's expression didn't shift. "Unfortunately, editorial staffing decisions are not something even the top manga artist in Osaka has a say in. The company has made its choice."
Haruki stared at him for a long moment.
Then, silently, he picked up his bowl and began eating. Soup. Rice. A quiet clatter of dishes. The TV clicked on in the background. For nearly fifteen minutes, not a word passed between them.
Rika's assistant finally tried to break the silence. "Mizushiro-sensei, if we could just—"
"The door's that way," Haruki interrupted, gesturing without looking up.
The message couldn't have been clearer.
Rika stood, still pretending to smile. "Understood. One last thing before I go…"
He adjusted his coat and continued, "Rurouni Kenshin has passed the first round of the Aurora Manga Award. The second round results will be announced next Saturday. Our editorial team is organizing a trip to Tokyo for the award ceremony."
Haruki's eyes narrowed.
Rika went on. "Daichi-san, myself, and your assistant Kotone Shirasaka will be attending. Please make the necessary preparations."
With that, he left.
The door clicked shut.
Haruki stared at the dark screen of the TV for a long moment. The truth was obvious now.
This wasn't just about internal politics. Rika didn't care how disgraceful it looked—he was angling for recognition at the Awards. Even though everyone at Kurokawa knew Sora was the editor behind Rurouni Kenshin , the award committee didn't. Rika was banking on that.
He would fly to Tokyo, stand beside Haruki at the podium, and act like he'd discovered the next great mangaka.
Haruki clenched his jaw. He could already imagine the story Rika would tell once he returned to his old circle in Tokyo—how he'd scouted Remembrance from a small-time manga artist, how he backed it when no one else would.
It was disgusting.
Daichi's Office – Later that Afternoon
"I can't accept this!" Sora's voice shook with frustration as she slammed her hands on the desk.
"I know Mizushiro-sensei would've succeeded with or without me," she said, eyes glassy with emotion. "But I was the one who pitched his first series. I was the one who pushed for Remembrance, who fought for it when people like Rika called it too niche. And now he gets to stand beside Haruki at the award ceremony? After everything?"
"It's unfair," she whispered, her voice breaking. "It's not just about credit—it's about integrity."
Daichi looked down at the desk. He didn't interrupt.
"No one in this company should be okay with this," she added, staring him down. "This kind of thing shouldn't happen at Kurokawa."
Daichi sighed. After a long pause, he finally spoke.
"Kurokawa Publishing… isn't what it used to be."
(TL:-Also, about Rika Hayashi — He's the "young master" for this arc, and while I'd love to cut down his role, he's essential for pushing Haruki toward Tokyo. So, he'll be around for a this arc, but I'll minimize his scenes as much as I can.)
(TL:- if you want even more content, check out p-atreon.com/Alioth23 for 50+ advanced chapters)