"Shōsei's ranking this week is also 1st place. Congratulations."
"Thank you."
Akira smiled. The action scenes and information density in Chapter 6 were both substantial, and it had generated a lot of discussion, so this ranking was within their expectations.
However—
He asked somewhat cautiously:
"Mr. Sasaki, your tone doesn't sound very happy."
"Is that so?"
Hisashi replied with a forced smile:
"Actually, I was very happy when I first received the results. I just don't know why, but I'm not as happy when I'm on the phone with you."
He knew why.
Akira also knew the reason for this. He laughed it off:
"Well..."
Geez, is there any need to be so resentful?
He thought about it and suddenly remembered the short story plan the other party had mentioned a few days ago. Maybe he should take some time over the next few days to draw a short manga to appease him.
"Then, Mr. Sasaki, is there anything else?"
"No."
Seeing that the other party wasn't taking the bait, Hisashi was helpless.
"Oh, right,"
Just as he was about to hang up, he immediately remembered something and reminded him:
"Next week, Shonen Jump will have a combined issue. After you finish drawing this time, don't continue drawing ahead."
After saying that, even he couldn't help but lose his composure.
Even though the other party was already neglecting his proper work to this extent, he still had to dissuade him from drawing too fast. Is this really reasonable?
It's frustrating!
"Mhm, I understand."
Akira, unaware of the other party's thoughts, nodded and agreed with a smile.
A combined issue of Shonen Jump refers to merging the issue numbers of the next two magazines into one release, but the content is still just one issue's worth.
At the same time, only this merged issue will be released over the next two weeks.
Therefore, simply put, a combined issue is a holiday set by the Shonen Jump officials.
Every time there is a combined issue, the serialized authors on Shonen Jump get a week of rest.
Shonen Jump has four fixed combined issues every year. The timing aligns with Japanese holidays: once for Golden Week, once for Obon, and twice for Christmas + New Year.
And this time, it is the combined issue for Obon.
Actually, the three of them, including Tanaka, were discussing this today.
"We're on break next week. I'm planning to go back to my hometown. What are your plans?"
Hayato spoke first, setting the tone for the conversation.
Shota said:
"I'm not going back. I'll just rest well at home and think about some manga ideas."
"Seriously... There's no need to be thinking about these things during the holidays, right?!"
Hayato wailed immediately, showing absolutely no awareness as a new Manga Artist, which left the others feeling amused yet helpless.
Then, Daisuke smiled and said:
"As for me, I'll probably stay home and spend time with my wife."
"Eh?"
"Eh—?!!" x 3
Daisuke's sudden, explosive statement directly ignited the entire studio.
Even Akira was somewhat surprised:
"Mr. Tanaka, are you already married?"
"Yeah."
Seeing their exaggerated reactions, Daisuke said with helpless amusement:
"I'm already thirty years old. Isn't that normal?"
"It's not like everyone is as young as you guys."
The three of them, aged 18, 21, and 22, looked at each other and felt that what he said made some sense.
However, the sudden appearance of a mature man who was already married and established among them was still somewhat shocking.
Mentioning his wife, the smile on Daisuke's face became much brighter.
He even generously showed them a photo of his wife in his wallet. She was a woman with a gentle smile on her face, looking very graceful.
Furthermore, Daisuke and his wife were high school classmates; the two of them started dating back in school.
After entering society, the two naturally walked down the aisle, supporting each other all the way to the present.
"Damn it, that's too wonderful!!"
Daisuke smiled proudly:
"Not only that, but Momoko's cooking is also delicious."
"Damn it—!!!"
Hayato let out a jealous, frantic cry, and Akira and Shota shared his indignation.
He's totally living the dream, you bastard!
But just then, Hayato suddenly asked curiously:
"Speaking of which, since Mr. Tanaka is married, do you have any kids?"
"This..."
Daisuke's smile instantly stiffened, and he replied with a forced smile:
"Of course we've considered it, but after calculating the various expenses after having a child, we decided to save up more money first."
"Uh..."
The cold, hard reality was suddenly placed before them, and the atmosphere instantly turned cold and quiet.
Hayato scratched his head awkwardly:
"Um... Mr. Tanaka, I'll be rooting for you."
"Thank you."
Hearing this, Daisuke cheered up a little, nodded, and smiled:
"I'll keep working hard too."
*Exhale*—
Seeing the other party's reaction, Hayato breathed a sigh of relief. Seeing this, Shota quickly changed the subject:
"By the way, Mochizuki-sensei, do you have any plans for this holiday?"
"As for me..."
Akira thought for a moment and said:
"I'll probably stay at home and draw manga."
He wasn't mentally prepared to go back to his hometown yet.
Anyway, he'd just drag it out until the New Year.
And since the weather was sweltering right now, he didn't really want to go out if he didn't have to, so he might as well take this time to draw a short manga.
"Draw manga?"
The three assistants were a bit confused when they heard this.
Indeed, some Manga Artists don't rest during combined issues and use the ample time to hurry up and finish the next chapter.
But Akira clearly didn't belong to that type of Manga Artist.
What's more, he currently had a backlog of 5 unpublished chapters, so what was there to worry about?
"It's like this..."
Akira explained the cause and effect to them roughly.
After understanding the general situation, Hayato exclaimed:
"Mochizuki-sensei is planning to draw a short manga? Then what should we do?!"
"What should you do? You should try drawing one yourself first instead of slacking off here every day."
Akira glanced at him with amusement. Someone who hadn't even managed to squeeze out half a short manga yet was one to talk.
Hayato was instantly speechless. Seeing this, Shota chuckled twice and then said expectantly:
"Mochizuki-sensei's short manga... After it's finished, can I take a look at it?"
Akira nodded and smiled:
"Of course."
"Then I want to too!"
"Please let me take a look as well."
"Alright, alright, you all can."
Seeing the expectant looks on the three of them, Akira reminded them in advance:
"However, I'm not very good at short stories, so I advise you not to have too high expectations."
As he had said before, because he hadn't read many short manga, there wasn't much he could copy.
So, what should he draw?