"Yeah, that's the one," Shinji nodded.
"Even though Yuna's new work is impressive, very few serializations reach this level of success so quickly. Honestly, I don't think I could ever do something like that. Even if I develop new works in the future, I don't think I'll achieve the same impact."
"But compared to Yuna's work, Rurouni Kenshin is truly remarkable," Shinji said.
"Mizushiro's work is something else!" Shinji continued, his tone serious.
"Yuna, like you and me, has been around for years with a solid readership," Shinji's gaze sharpened.
"But what about Mizushiro? His only work before this was a short serialized story in Inkbolt." Shinji's respect for the newcomer was clear in his voice.
"He's only been on the platform a short time, yet look at the success he's had. How long has it been since his series started, and it's already this popular?"
"If Rurouni Kenshin surpasses Celestial Book, it could very well keep climbing."
"If it doesn't plateau, it could even challenge us," Shinji said, his voice full of anticipation.
"Overestimating him, are you?" Haruto asked, raising an eyebrow. "Mizushiro is still a newcomer."
"Newcomer?" Shinji smiled knowingly.
"Haruto, don't limit your view to just here. In the history of Japanese manga, newcomers have done far more incredible things."
"For instance, Takumi, Kaito, and Natsuki…" Shinji continued. "If their works had been published under Kurokawa, they'd have made it to the top easily."
"Sometimes I admit it, Haruto. You and I are talented, but compared to those true manga geniuses, we still have a lot to learn," Shinji said with a smirk.
"No, you're comparing Mizushiro to Takumi, Kaito, and Natsuki? Are you sure about that?" Haruto asked, skeptical.
"Trust me, you should read their works regularly," Shinji replied.
Haruto nodded, realizing Shinji had a point. Even his own work, serialized in Sora, one of the top journals in the city, seemed outclassed when compared to the legendary figures in the manga world.
"But seriously," Shinji continued, "when you think about it, how does Rurouni Kenshin stack up compared to the early chapters of Takumi's or Kaito's works, in terms of plot, content, and depth?"
Haruto fell silent, thinking.
Gradually, his expression changed.
"Honestly… just from the plot and content of the first few episodes, Rurouni Kenshin seems to be ahead of the game," Haruto admitted, albeit hesitantly.
"I agree," Shinji said, sipping his drink. "I think Mizushiro's work has enormous potential."
"It's still limited to Kurokawa for now. But if Mizushiro had the same opportunities as Takumi, Kaito, and the others—if he debuted in a larger market—it would have taken off even faster," Shinji said with conviction.
Haruto opened his mouth but couldn't argue. Deep down, he knew Shinji made a valid point.
"It sounds a little far-fetched," Shinji chuckled, "but honestly, I'd rather see Mizushiro surpass me than see Yuna at the top."
"Even though he's a newcomer, he's a Kurokawa artist. If we're worried about Yuna taking the top spot, supporting Mizushiro might be a better option!" Shinji said.
"That's the life of a manga artist…" Haruki sighed as he tossed his work aside. "I'm so exhausted. My head's spinning, my hands are sore. I just want to be a lazy bum and enjoy life."
He'd spent the past month pouring himself into his manga work. It had come to a point where he even started skipping shopping trips. The excitement of drawing had faded, and now it was all about deadlines and the pressure to keep up with the weekly pace.
Haruki couldn't help but admire Kotone now. If she didn't truly enjoy this work, there's no way she could balance school, her own manga creation, and being his assistant.
"Enjoy life, huh?" Sora teased as he organized the manuscripts. "Sounds like you're working hard, Haruki. How about a drink tomorrow to celebrate?"
Haruki's face turned bright red at the suggestion. Every time he and Sora went out for drinks to celebrate, they always ended up getting drunk because of Kotone's mischievous ways.
"Forget it," Haruki said, waving it off. "We're just talking about it. No big deal. It's the same as last week. No reason to celebrate."
"The manuscript for Rurouni Kenshin Chapter 6 is done. Tomorrow, I'll start thinking about Chapter 7. It's not a good time to go out," Haruki said, sticking to his plan.
Kotone had been quieter lately, but spending time with Haruki and Sora had clearly brightened her mood. She smiled more often now.
It was late, and the two left after finishing their work.
It was already past eleven when Haruki lay on his bed, thinking about the vote results from earlier.
Though it was the same as last week, Rurouni Kenshin had gained 6,000 more votes compared to the previous issue.
Honestly, it made him happier than any pay raise. Seeing his series' growing readership felt more rewarding than anything else.
He no longer felt embarrassed when people at school mentioned his work. On the contrary, he felt a rush of pride.
When someone praised Rurouni Kenshin, his heart swelled with happiness.
Since the day he had received the mangaka system, despite all the setbacks, Haruki had embraced the life of a manga artist. And now, even though it was tough, the joy it brought him made everything worth it.
"Rurouni Kenshin… I still need more works to reach the top."
He knew he needed to push himself even harder.
Haruki lay back on his bed, breathing deeply, his eyes filled with determination.
(TL:- if you want even more content, check out p-atreon.com/Alioth23 for 50+ advanced chapters)