Chapter 39: Shocking Launch
Saturday, March 21st, 6:00 AM.
In front of the Oak Creek General Store, Mr. Henderson pulled up the roller shutter as usual. The early spring wind was still chilly. He rubbed his hands together and started moving the newly arrived magazines to the entrance.
This issue of NextGen Manga Monthly was exceptionally thick. Henderson found it strange when he lifted the box—usually around 200 pages, this felt like over 250. He glanced at the cover: it was the Silver Spoon finale special edition cover. Hachiken stood in the sunset-lit pasture, the title reading "Second Year, Finale."
"This issue is going to sell out," Henderson muttered to himself. He knew the Silver Spoon readership well; many would buy the finale.
Sure enough, just past 7:00, the first batch of students arrived.
"Mr. Henderson! Is NextGen here?"
"Finale issue! I need two!"
"Save one for me!"
Students flooded the store, heading straight for the magazine rack. Henderson collected money, mentioning, "This issue is extra thick, price is up by a dollar."
"Whatever, gotta buy the finale!"
"I'm keeping this for collection!"
By 8:00 AM, the store was packed. Mostly here for Silver Spoon, including students, office workers, and even some readers in their thirties.
"Boss, is it really ending?" an office worker with glasses asked.
"Second year ends. Third year will continue," Henderson said.
"That's good. Thought it was over for good."
Henderson looked at the bustling store, feeling good. Silver Spoon had been serialized since last June, ten months ago, and had become the store's signature item. Selling over a hundred copies on launch day was an astounding number for a small town.
What he didn't know was that at this moment, in the capital city's largest bookstore, "Knowledge Ocean," something even crazier was happening.
Capital City, "Knowledge Ocean" Bookstore, Comics Section.
Doors opened at 9:00 AM. The first wave of customers rushed in to grab NextGen Manga Monthly. A long line formed at the register, everyone holding the thick magazine.
A high school student bought his copy and couldn't wait, sitting in the reading area. He flipped to the final chapter of Silver Spoon, reading intently. When he reached the part where Hachiken said goodbye to Komaba and Mikage, his eyes reddened.
"It's over..." he muttered, reluctant to let go.
He continued flipping, wanting to see the preview for the next issue or any extra content.
Then, he froze.
The next page wasn't a preview, wasn't an ad, but a completely unfamiliar scene—a rain-drenched, gloomy town, two young boys standing in front of an old house.
{Rain fell in sheets. The atmosphere was heavy, suffocating.}
"What's this?" The boy frowned, thinking he picked up the wrong magazine. He checked the cover. NextGen Manga Monthly, correct.
He continued flipping.
{The attic. The transmutation circle. The glowing light.
The black hands reaching out. The screams.
And then—Edward losing his left leg, Alphonse losing his entire body.}
The boy's breath hitched. His hand stopped mid-air, eyes wide, staring at the panel.
"What... what is this?!"
He flipped frantically. One page, two pages, three pages... all full color, exquisite quality unlike any magazine. Edward fitting the automail, embarking on a journey with the armored Alphonse to find a way to restore their bodies.
He flipped to the last page and saw the line of small text: "Fullmetal Alchemist, officially serialized starting April. The journey of redemption in darkness begins."
Author credit: Alex Walker.
"Alex Walker?!" The boy shouted aloud.
Readers around him looked up. "What's wrong?"
"Look at the end!" The boy held up the magazine excitedly. "Alex Walker's new work! At the back! Full color! Thirty pages!"
The reading area exploded. Everyone started flipping to the back, and gasps erupted one after another.
"Holy sh*t! It's true!"
"This art style... completely different from Silver Spoon!"
"Human transmutation?! This is too dark!"
"But drawn so well! The paneling, the coloring..."
"Alex Walker can draw this? I'm shook!"
The bookstore's comics section fell into chaos. People rushed back to the counter to buy another copy "for collection"; people pulled out phones to take photos for social media; some just sat on the floor and started reading from page one.
The cashier looked at the sudden surge of people, bewildered. The manager ran over. "What happened?"
"Don't know... suddenly a lot of people came back to buy the magazine..."
10:00 AM. The forums detonated.
The homepage was flooded with dozens of new threads, titles more sensational than the last:
"There's a Monster Hidden Behind the Silver Spoon Finale!!!"
"Alex Walker's New Work Fullmetal Alchemist Full Color 30 Pages! No Warning Drop!"
"Watched FMA Chapter 1, I'm Dumbfounded..."
"Alex Walker is God! No Explanation Needed!"
(To be Continued)
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