Chapter 116 - 114

Words : 1061 Updated : Oct 4th, 2025

In the weeks that followed, Natsume's Book of Friends continued serialization, steadily gaining traction with each chapter. By Chapter 6, readers are introduced to a poignant moment: Jun Sasada finally finds the spirit Shigure on the rooftop of an abandoned building. In Shigure's memory, she had once stood there, calling out into the still air: "Please, just once... let me see you." But Shigure misunderstood. Watching quietly from behind a shattered window, he thought, If I show myself... you'll leave and never return. That quiet heartbreak resonated deeply with readers. Unlike most yokai-themed stories, the spirits in Natsume's Book of Friends aren't monstrous or evil. They are gentle, emotional, and achingly human in the way they love and remember. Combined with its graceful art style, soft atmosphere, and the quiet kindness of its protagonist, the series stands out as something truly unique. By the end of Chapter 6, Natsume's Book of Friends had firmly carved a place for itself in Shroud Line, Echo Shroud Publishing's flagship magazine. Initial skeptics who doubted whether Mizushiro—Haruki's pen name—could handle such an emotionally subtle story began to reconsider. The fanbase was growing quickly, especially among female readers, who now made up nearly 80% of its audience. Word of mouth carried far, and Echo Shroud's quiet but strategic promotion helped the series reach even readers loyal to rival publications like Orange Cat and Seven Leaves. Male readers found it likable, if not especially personal. But for many women, certain lines and illustrations struck a much deeper chord. Some even began to associate Natsume himself with the author behind him. A few curious fans dug up footage from the Aurora Manga Awards and discovered Haruki's face. While he didn't quite match Natsume's fragile elegance, his calm demeanor—and similar height—sparked waves of admiration. Thankfully for Haruki, the public only knew he was now worked in Tokyo. His school and apartment remained unknown. Still, he knew: if Natsume's Book of Friends kept rising in popularity, it was only a matter of time before someone connected the dots. By the release of Chapter 7, The Swallow at the Lake Bottom, the series had climbed to #7 in Shroud Line's rankings—no small feat in one of Japan's most competitive monthly magazines. Suddenly, editors across Tokyo began paying attention. "Is there really a market for this kind of quiet, emotional manga?" some editors wondered aloud. In an industry dominated by flashy action and suspense thrillers, Natsume was slow, introspective, and deeply atmospheric. Its success suggested something important: there might be a quiet hunger in the market—one not satisfied by the usual tropes. Some editors had only begun considering this shift. Others had already acted. Not long after Chapter 8 went live, Silent Parlour and Witherleaf each launched a new series—Soul's Calling and Demonwood—both echoing Natsume's emotional tone. Soul's Calling followed a protagonist who helped lingering spirits find peace. Demonwood featured a young exorcist who learned to coexist with yokai instead of fighting them. While the structures differed, both series clearly tried to tap into the same emotional depth. When Haruka, Haruki's editor, stopped by to report the news, she looked a bit uneasy. But Haruki only smiled. His system didn't let him read other unreleased works directly—but it did offer insights into how manga developed in other worlds. And in the world where Natsume first appeared, copycats had never succeeded. People assumed that emotional fantasy was easy to write, that Natsume's charm came from a lack of competition. But if it were that easy... why had no one else matched its impact? The editors of Soul's Calling and Demonwood had walked into that same trap. When the weekly rankings came out, the verdict was clear: both new titles were floundering. Weak art, clumsy pacing, and shallow emotions—they couldn't capture what made Natsume special. The industry noticed—and quickly backed off from the trend. Fans noticed too. Many who had heard about the two copycat titles picked them up out of curiosity. But once they read them, the disappointment was palpable. Where Natsume had been bittersweet and sincere, these new series felt hollow and manufactured. Angry fans didn't hold back. Social media lit up with negative reviews, and forums filled with frustration. Within two weeks, backlash forced both publishers to cancel the series. They had tried to ride Natsume's success, only to become laughingstocks. Imitation isn't a crime—but copying something and still failing? That invites ridicule. The crash of those two series served as a warning to other creators: Natsume's Book of Friends couldn't be replicated by formula. As December came to a close and the new year began, Natsume climbed to sixth place in the Shroud Line rankings. The pace had slowed a bit—partly due to reduced promotion, partly due to the niche audience. But the gap between sixth and fifth was shrinking. To Haruki, that was perfectly fine. The top-ranked titles had been running for years. Overtaking them wouldn't happen overnight—not unless he pivoted to something action-packed and explosive. Winter deepened in Tokyo. Snow began to fall. Haruki's small apartment stayed warm thanks to a reliable space heater. He'd now lived here for half a year. Almost a year ago, he was still in his hometown, working on Rurouni Kenshin. Now, Natsume's Book of Friends had become a widely respected name. Meanwhile, the anime adaptation of Anohana was approaching its debut. Last month, Ryuko had often messaged Haruki, asking to meet up. He'd turned her down most of the time. This month, she'd gone quiet—likely busy with work and voice acting training. Haruki wasn't involved in the anime's production, but that didn't mean he didn't care. On the contrary, he was counting the days until it aired. If Anohana could succeed the way it had in the other world... The system would reward him. And with that reward, he could move forward with his next serialization—no need to burn precious world points if he didn't have to. They were hard-earned, after all. He'd rather let his success bring the next story to him. (TL:- if you want even more content, check out p-atreon.com/Alioth23 for 50+ advanced chapters)

Chapter 116 - 114

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