While Aoyama was enjoying a quiet, domestic meal, the offices of Manga World Publishers were in a state of absolute, high-tension chaos.
The reason was simple: Aoyama's "flight" video had gone beyond viral. It had become a cultural phenomenon, debated with equal fervor on both domestic and international social media.
The editors and even the rival mangaka at Manga World had all seen the clip. Most of them were currently staring at their screens in a state of stunned, paralyzed silence. For months, the readers had joked that the author of Edgerunners must be a madman.
But nobody had expected that it would be... well, true.
Tsuruki Junsei (ItchyMouse) watched the video on loop, the veins in his temple throbbing with a mixture of disbelief and professional jealousy.
"This guy... is he actually a psycho? Or is it really true that genius and madness are just two sides of the same coin?" he muttered, rubbing the bridge of his nose.
He shook his head, looking utterly defeated. "I can't tell anymore. Is it just that I'm old and out of touch, or has the world finally lost its collective mind?"
Over in the editorial department, Editor-in-Chief Hiroshi Oumi was having a similar crisis. He was scrolling through the top comments on Skyline, his forehead throbbing with a burgeoning migraine.
{I knew it! Anyone who could come up with a world-building concept as deep as 'Cyberpunk' and write a story like that had to be... special!}
{Low EQ response: He's special. High EQ response: He's a total nutcase!}
{LMAO! Success requires a little madness! I've seen the light! I'm going to go jump off my desk right now!}
{Someone should find out which asylum Aoyama-sensei is staying in. I want to apply for an internship there.}
{Isn't it obvious? His pen name literally tells you where he achieved enlightenment: the famous Aoyama Psychiatric Hospital!}
{First we had the 'Great Epiphany of 2026,' and now we have the 'Psychiatric Hospital Enlightenment.' This is peak 21st-century literature.}
{Alright, brothers, I'm heading into the asylum tonight to discuss the deep lore with the other patients! Wish me luck!}
{The pacing of Edgerunners really does feel like the fever dream of a mental patient...}
{Everyone's saying Aoyama is crazy, but his logic is actually impeccable. I can totally understand his train of thought.}
{To the guy who says he can understand Aoyama-sensei: Please report to Arkham Asylum immediately for your intake interview.}
{Gotham City: Land of the free, home of the brave! Arkham: Where the real talent lives!}
Hiroshi Oumi closed the tab, letting out a long, weary sigh.
The Good News: Manga World and Edgerunners were currently the hottest topics in the entire industry.
The Bad News: All that "hype" was centered around the fact that their star author appeared to be a raving lunatic.
"Ayumi, come into my office for a moment," he called out, his voice sounding ten years older.
"Yes, Editor-in-Chief."
Ayumi Ito stepped into the room, looking significantly more composed than her boss. "Is this about Aoyama-sensei?"
"Tell me honestly... is he actually a psychiatric patient?" Hiroshi asked, his eyes pleading for a 'no.'
"Well... I'm not entirely sure," Ayumi said, thinking back on her long year of managing the eccentric artist. "He's definitely... unconventional. He doesn't always follow the standard rules of social conduct, but he's never been a burden to anyone. If anything, he's been incredibly considerate of me."
She hesitated for a second. "He just... doesn't take the beaten path. On anything."
"And you call that 'normal'?" Hiroshi gestured wildly at the paused video of Aoyama's mid-air flailing.
He caught himself, taking a deep breath to stabilize his heart rate. Whether Aoyama was actually insane or just an extreme performance artist didn't change the fact that his mental health was now a corporate liability.
"Here's what we're going to do. Tell Aoyama-sensei that the company has arranged a comprehensive health checkup for him this week. Tell him it's a 'Top-Tier Creator Perk.' We need a full physical... and a psychiatric evaluation. We need to know what we're dealing with."
It was a reasonable request. Managing a high-value asset like the author of a hit series required ensuring they were physically and mentally capable of continuing.
"Understood... I'll talk to the Sensei," Ayumi nodded.
"Good. You're dismissed."
Once she was gone, Hiroshi leaned back in his leather chair, a thoughtful expression crossing his face.
If Aoyama's "condition" was mild, something manageable and non-threatening, they could actually lean into it.
"The Mad Genius" was a powerful marketing archetype. They could build a deity-like persona around him, provided the quality of his work stayed consistent with Edgerunners.
The art was already beyond reproach. Aoyama had proven he had the technical skill to lead a flagship title. The only question mark was the writing. If his next project faltered, they could always pair him with a top-tier scriptwriter... but for now, the "Madness" was selling books.
"The man really is a genius," Hiroshi whispered.
He looked at his desktop wallpaper: a high-resolution promotional poster for Edgerunners.
David, Lucy, Maine, Dorio, Rebecca, and Kiwi were all grouped together in a striking, cinematic arrangement.
Hiroshi was a fan. A genuine one. That was why he'd taken the risk of letting Edgerunners replace The Myriad Gods in the weekly rotation.
---
"So, Kento-niisan is drawing manga now?"
Yuto stared at the blurry, yet unmistakably familiar face in the viral video. He was frozen in a state of shock.
Yuto wasn't a frequent visitor to the "2D world." He was a popular athlete, a social butterfly whose life revolved around basketball and the physical world. He'd always viewed manga as something a bit juvenile.
But after confirming the details with his father, Yuto was 100% certain. Hayashi Aoyama was his cousin, Hayashi Kento, the genius polymath he'd worshipped since he was a child.
In the weeks since his discovery, Yuto had tried incessantly to reach Akane. But the number she'd given him was merely her school-facing line. Her private number (the one she only used for her parents, the family driver, a few trusted retainers, and Aoyama) was inaccessible to him.
He'd finally managed to get through to her a few days ago. Akane had been surprisingly evasive. She hadn't given him Aoyama's address, saying only that she "needed to consult with the Sensei" before making any decisions.
And now, her phone was unreachable again.
"Kento-niisan... why have you become like this?"
Yuto hung up the phone after yet another failed call. He looked at the video of the man jumping into the air like a manic monkey, and a bitter, painful lump formed in his throat.
[Translated and Rewritten by Shika_Kagura]