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After witnessing the legendary narrative explosion in the ninth episode of Puella Magi Madoka Magica, many industry insiders assumed the series would finally lose its momentum in the tenth.
Logic dictated that every story has its peaks and valleys; after reaching such a height in episode nine, how could the tenth possibly sustain that level of quality?
Yet, the tenth episode of Madoka Magica delivered a resounding slap to the faces of anime fans and professionals alike. While the raw emotional bond between Sayaka and Kyoko in the previous episode was undeniably moving, the tenth episode introduced something even more deep.
It revealed Homura's solitary struggle, her journey of looping through time over and over to save Madoka, only to fail every single time. Could the weight of her feelings for Madoka be considered any less significant than Kyoko's sacrifice for Sayaka? Not a chance.
The viewership ratings for the tenth episode were released the following morning, clocking in at a staggering 4.72%. .
Haruto sat at his desk, scrolling through the millions of private messages and comments on his Warrior of Love account. He had braced himself for another mountain of hate, but as he clicked through them, he was stunned by what he found.
"Warrior of Love Sensei, keep it up! We're all supporting you!"
"I'm begging you, let Homura loop just one more time. Let her save Sayaka, Kyoko, Madoka, and Mami-senpai all at once, okay?"
"I really thought this show was going to be a total tragedy. I admit I was shouting too loud a few days ago. Sensei, you're planning to have Homura save everyone in the next loop and give us an ultimate happy ending, right? If that's the case, I'm your biggest fan! Love you!"
"Hahaha, stop hiding it, Sensei! I knew it! No one named the Warrior of Love could be truly heartless. Sayaka, Kyoko, and Mami can all come back. You just need Homura to reset one more time and they'll all be revived!"
"Resurrect them! My magical girls!"
"We love you, Sensei! Don't let us down in the last two episodes!"
"That time-loop twist was a work of genius. I never imagined you'd find a way to bring back characters who had already passed away."
"Hahaha, Sensei, does it make you feel proud that your audience finally figured out your brilliant plan for the ending? We're pretty smart, aren't we?"
The speed at which the Madoka Magica fan base flipped their attitude was nothing short of terrifying.
Yesterday, he was a monster; today, he was "Sensei." Yesterday, millions were cursing his name; today, they were flooding his inbox with heart emojis and praise.
Haruto noted that the vast majority of fans were now convinced the finale would involve Homura resetting the timeline, gathering all the magical girls together, and launching a final, united assault to destroy Walpurgisnacht and defeat Kyubey.
"In a way, the ending they're imagining isn't half bad. It's a shame, though," Haruto whispered, shaking his head. It simply couldn't compare to the original masterpiece's conclusion. Still, looking at his ecstatic fans, he decided to give them a little something to chew on.
His fingers flew across the keyboard as he posted a pinned comment on his profile.
"For the final two episodes, I will depict a beautiful world filled with love and justice. Please look forward to it."
Well, it wasn't technically a lie.
In the original ending, the world does become a more beautiful place through Madoka's sacrifice, even if the path there is heart-wrenching.
However, this pinned post sent the fans into a frenzy of misguided relief. They were now absolutely certain that the "Homura Reset" and the full-cast revival were guaranteed. After ten weeks of suffering, were they finally going to see some genuine "healing" content? Many fans found themselves moved to tears, this time, tears of joy.
Two days later, while Haruto was at home researching production details for the Madoka Magica spin-off movie, Rebellion, he received a call from Ms. Hime. After a brief conversation to go over the details, Haruto prepared for an important meeting.
That evening, Haruto and Shizuru were seated in a private room of a high-end restaurant, waiting for their guests. Shortly after, Ms. Hime entered, accompanied by a middle-aged man.
"It is a pleasure to meet you, Takahashi-sensei. I am Katashi, the Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Prime Manga," the man said as he entered. He gave Shizuru a polite glance before fixing his intense gaze directly on Haruto.
This was only natural.
Although Haruto and Shizuru presented themselves as equal partners, both Katashi and Ms. Hime knew who the soul of the collaboration was.
Prime Manga was one of Japan's "Big Four" manga publishers, and the man standing before them was its second-in-command.
"The pleasure is mine," Haruto said, stepping forward to shake his hand.
Despite the size of the banquet table, there were only four people present.
"I've heard from Ms. Hime that you've collaborated on a new manga and are interested in submitting it to Prime Manga," Katashi said with a friendly smile.
Haruto glanced at Ms. Hime.
Seeing her encouraging expression, he gave a firm nod.
"That is correct."
Internally, Haruto was impressed.
He hadn't expected Ms. Hime to pull a string as powerful as the Deputy Editor-in-Chief of a Big Four Manga Publishers. He looked at her again, wondering just how deep her influence in the industry actually went.
The meeting proceeded with a professional flow.
Since Ms. Hime had arranged for Katashi to come in person, it was clear the editor had come prepared.
Katashi was less interested in the submission itself and more fascinated by Haruto's reputation as a "Genius Novelist" and his sixth-place ranking at the Naoki Awards. His willingness to meet suggested he saw Haruto as a rising star. If a manga written by the industry's most promising young talent succeeded, it would be a marketing goldmine.
Shizuru stepped forward and placed the manuscripts for the first three chapters of Initial D on the table. Katashi picked them up with a relaxed expression, but within two minutes of reading, his demeanor shifted.
His eyes narrowed, and he became completely absorbed in the pages. He spent twenty minutes reading just those three chapters. His expression cycled from calm to excitement, and finally to a look of intense anticipation.
When he reached the end of the third chapter and realized there was no more, his face fell in disappointment. He blinked a few times, his heart rate visibly faster as his mind replayed the scenes he had just witnessed.
"Where is the rest of the story?" Katashi asked urgently.
"We haven't drawn it yet," Haruto replied with a grin.
The dinner conversation was highly productive, and both sides expressed a strong desire to collaborate.
Prime Manga held immense influence, and the combination of a high-potential writer like Haruto and a talented, strikingly beautiful artist like Shizuru was a compelling package. Once they went public with their photos and profiles, they were sure to attract a massive following.
More importantly, the quality of Initial D was undeniable. The pacing of the story was nothing short of divine.
Katashi wasn't an editor-in-chief by accident; if he had looked at those manuscripts and failed to see their worth, he wouldn't have been fit for his position. As for Haruto, he had never been worried about whether Initial D would be picked up for serialization.
From the top editors of the elite magazines to the junior staff at small-time publishers, anyone with eyes would recognize the series' potential. His only real concern was that, as a newcomer to the manga world, a publisher might not give him the respect he deserved. He feared they might force him to start in a low-circulation, entry-level magazine to "pay his dues."
Serializing Initial D in a low-tier magazine would be a waste of a masterpiece. That was why he had asked Ms. Hime to introduce him to an industry titan. A deputy editor-in-chief would have the vision and the authority to bypass the usual seniority hurdles. High-ranking executives don't personally interview candidates for entry-level positions; if Katashi was signing this himself, there was no way he would bury it in a back-alley publication.
During the discussion, Haruto made his stance clear. He wanted Initial D to be featured in Prime Manga's flagship top-tier magazine. If that wasn't an option, he was prepared to hold onto the project and produce it as an anime himself.
Between manga, anime, the production of the Madoka Magica movie, and his university, Haruto was spread incredibly thin. Time blurred as the days raced by.
Finally, it was time.
The eleventh episode of Puella Magi Madoka Magica was ready for broadcast.