Although the serialization meeting appeared routine on the surface, this one was anything but ordinary.
The conclusion of Ashes of Tomorrow had sent shockwaves through the manga scene in Tokyo. Fans flooded social media with tributes and speculation, but the impact reached deeper shaking up the editorial operations at Echo Shroud Publishing.
While Dream world had grown to rival Ashes of Tomorrow in popularity within Shroud Line, it hadn't yet matched its cultural weight. It was newer, after all and while Airi had a knack for drawing attention, Dream world had only been running a few years. Ashes of Tomorrow had built its following over a much longer span.
With its departure, the magazine faced a vacuum. Dream world alone couldn't sustain Shroud Line's momentum. To keep sales and readership strong, Echo Shroud needed fresh blood and fast.
A new breakout hit wasn't going to appear overnight. So the plan was simple: flood the field. Boost a wide variety of mid-tier titles, bank on volume and diversity, and hope something stuck.
That shift created an opening for both emerging talent and returning veterans. Echo Shroud was ready to invest in new work. And with Ashes of Tomorrow readers still picking up every issue, any promising title could gain traction quickly.
Internally, that meant a surge in submissions. Rumor had it the company had funneled extra resources into titles like Dream world, Ryūkon, and Natsume to stabilize the lineup.
This round's serialization proposals had hit a new record. Boxes lined the editorial room, stacked with manuscripts—seventy to eighty titles, even after initial filtering. With most containing three full chapters, it was going to be a long session.
"I heard this round drew some big-name mangaka," someone whispered near the back.
"Yeah," another added, "and some veterans from Shroud Line who've been quiet for a while are back—Waku, Ryosuke Yo, Mizuki En, Mountain Mouse, Docktail Fish... some of them haven't released anything in two years. They know Echo Shroud's going to push new titles hard. If they get in, they'll rise fast."
"I also heard Saeki Toma's submitting something this time," another voice said. "Apparently upper management's already seen it. Word is they loved it."
"Same with Haruka Sato," someone else added. "She's got a new pitch, and it's strong. Management's excited."
"We won't know until the reveal," an editor said. "Unless the proposing editor speaks up, no one's saying a word. But with four slots open, even if two go to Toma and Haruka, we still have a chance."
In the second row, a group of editors spoke quietly. Haruka sat among them, composed. Next to her was Toma.
Now that Ashes of Tomorrow was gone, these two stood at the top of Echo Shroud. Haruka oversaw both Dream world and Natsume—the magazine's top and third-ranked titles last week. Toma handled Ryūkon, which held second place.
"I heard your submission this round is impressive," Toma said, adjusting his glasses. "Want to tell me who the author is?"
Haruka gave a faint smile. "You'll find out soon enough. No spoilers."
Toma chuckled, a bit awkwardly. He knew better than to press. Haruka didn't engage in idle speculation.
Not that he was worried. With four open slots, he was confident his pick would make the cut—and Haruka's too.
She didn't submit lightly. If she proposed something, it meant she believed in it. Nearly two-thirds of her past submissions had been approved. And with two flagship titles already on her plate, she wouldn't have entered this round unless the work was exceptional.
Their conversation ended as the meeting officially began.
Editor-in-chief Katsumi Kuroda entered and took his seat at the head of the table. The room quieted.
Staff began distributing printed manuscripts along the long table. Although Katsumi held final say, editorial input mattered. Manga had to resonate with readers, not just one decision-maker.
That's why these meetings encouraged discussion. Editors would read, debate, and offer perspectives—Katsumi would listen before reaching his verdict.
"We've received 74 submissions this round," Katsumi said, taking a sip from his cup. "This'll be a long one. Pace yourselves."
Groans rippled through the room. Editors flipped through pages, scribbling notes, assessing each project.
As time passed, the tone grew more serious. They were only partway through, but the overall quality was clearly higher than usual. Of the ten works reviewed so far, several stood out.
Then, two hours in, one title sparked a reaction—Xtreme Boy.
Not just because of its content. The name on the cover drew attention: Kiba Rindou
And the proposing editor? Saeki Toma.
Suddenly, the rumors made sense. Management's interest hadn't been idle talk.
Chairs straightened. Pens paused.
The real contest had begun.
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