Chapter 24 - 24

Words : 1356 Updated : Sep 26th, 2025

Chapter 24 of "I just want to quietly draw manga" starts revealing surprises: "Well, two weeks later, the work to fill the vacancy in the comic has been... Read on!

"Well, two weeks later, the work to fill the vacancy in the comic has been decided. The next step is to discuss the distribution of the works selected by the remaining candidates..." Cheif-editor Torigoe said. The serialization meeting for the vacant spots in the manga allowed many veteran manga artists to submit their works. However, no matter how excellent the works were, only one would be chosen for serialization. Therefore, after the manga works to fill the vacant spots were selected, the remaining outstanding works would be serialized in other journals through the conference arrangement, one by one. Soon, the conference room became noisy again. However, two people remained silent. One was Sora, and the other was Rika. Sora's work had already won, so there was no need for her to participate in the placement of the unsuccessful works. As for Rika, his participation wasn't necessary either. After all, this was Takahashi's new work. Although it was not successful this time, due to Takahashi's status in the manga industry and her large fanbase, the work would likely be serialized in other journals. It was a standard process to make room for a work like Hidden Girl. In other words, two new works—Rurouni Kenshin Remembrance and Hidden Girl—would soon be serialized in sora magazine under Kurokawa Publishing. It was inevitable that new works serialized in the same periodical during the same period would compete for popularity. Both Rika and Sora understood that the confrontation between them in the conference room today was just the beginning... --- "Passed!" Kotone, who had been refreshing her phone all morning, couldn't help but shake her hand when she saw the message Sora had sent her. She tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. Though she tried to calm herself, her heart wouldn't settle. After all, she had been struggling as a mangaka for three years. When her work was recognized, her excitement was hard to contain. Although she was just an assistant on the project, having a comic she contributed to being serialized in a prestigious platform like sora made it almost impossible for her to stay composed. "Let's celebrate tonight!" Sora sent another message. Kotone knew that when Sora said "everyone," it meant the two of them—plus Haruki. After a moment of hesitation, Kotone typed her reply. "Great!" --- Almost simultaneously, Haruki , in the next class, received the message from Sora. "Passed?" Haruki finally allowed himself to smile, his usually expressionless face softening. Although he had always believed that Rurouni Kenshin Remembrance was more classic than any other work proposed for serialization, he understood the reality of the industry. "Even the best works need the right moment and the right eyes on them" he thought. There were many examples of excellent works being buried for various reasons, so he had no certainty about the serialization conference. But now, it seemed his worries had been for nothing. As for the celebration proposed by Sora, he agreed without hesitation. --- Soon, the school day was over. It was already afternoon. Monday mornings featured the flag-raising ceremony, and so did Friday afternoons. The school playground was filled with students, the same familiar square, the same familiar spot. Haruki stood in the front row. Not far away, Kotone, the president of the Student Union at School, the monitor of Class 3-6, and the top academic student, walked through the square in her blue-and-white school uniform, drawing the attention of many male students. According to the usual routine, she should have walked directly to the middle of the square, where Haruki stood at the front left. But today, as she passed him, she paused and looked at him. This small gesture caught the attention of those around them. "Congratulations, you got the serialization opportunity!" Kotone said. Her face, usually expressionless no matter who she faced, softened just slightly. Though the change wasn't obvious, the corners of her mouth tilted up, making her already stunning face even more captivating. A group of boys standing nearby watched in awe. What was happening? Kotone... did she just take the initiative to speak to a boy from Class 3? And... did she smile at him? For Haruki, this was the first time he'd seen Kotone smile in nearly two weeks since they started working on the manga together. Though it was a faint smile, it made him pause for a moment. After all, whenever Kotone worked on the manga, she maintained a serious demeanor. Outside of that, she remained calm, with neutral expressions and a composed tone. When she got to work, she didn't stop until the task was finished—even if it meant staying up late. After working with an assistant, Haruki had almost started thinking of Kotone as a manga robot with no emotions. Kotone didn't stay in front of him for long. Before he could even figure out how to respond to her, she had already moved to her usual spot. The flag-lowering ceremony soon began, and the national anthem played. Luckily, Kotone didn't faint this time. She remained alert throughout, which allowed Haruki to breathe a sigh of relief. --- At night, in a restaurant. "In other words, Hidden Girl lost to a newcomer's work at the serialization meeting?" A beautiful woman frowned as she looked at the man across from her. "This is just an accident,"Rika said. "And it doesn't matter. After discussions with the manga agency, there will be a work that gets cut from the manga to make way for your new work in two weeks." "Is it outstanding?" Yuna interrupted. It was inevitable that her work would be serialized in the magazine. She wasn't interested in hearing Rika talk about this. "That work..." Rika went silent for a moment before continuing, "That's right!" "It's impressive!" "How good is it, really?" Yuna asked, her curiosity clearly piqued. Rika thought for a moment, then replied, "Honestly... if this were a selection meeting at a top-tier publisher—not just filling gaps in the lineup—it would still stand out. Easily." "Wait, are you serious?" Yuna blinked in surprise. "You think a newcomer's work could get that kind of attention?" It was a fair question. The leading magazines in the industry were extremely competitive, with wide distribution and massive sales. Only the most accomplished creators made it through their doors—people with years of experience and strong reputations. Even with her strong track record in the local scene, Yuna knew that breaking into the top national and international publications was a different challenge altogether. Her past achievements, while respectable, didn't automatically open doors at that level. She had only agreed to submit a proposal because of Rika's personal assurance—Rika had promised to use every connection he had to help her get a foot in the door with one of the major players in the industry. It was a bold promise, and Rika had put a lot on the line for it—not just professionally, but personally as well. Now, hearing Rika speak with such conviction, Yuna felt a flicker of hope... and pressure. her that the quality of a newcomer's work could be so high... It made Yuna laugh a little. "Did you just say that my work will be serialized in the magazine in two weeks?" Yuna Takahashi took a deep breath. "If I remember correctly, the manga that just passed today, the one that stepped over my work, will also be serialized in two weeks." "That's right," Rika replied. "I understand!" Yuna nodded. "Then what are you going to do?" she asked. "I... haven't figured it out yet!" Rika rubbed his forehead, his eyes thoughtful. "Let's see how it plays out. The editorial team is optimistic, but there are still some concerns. The story's setting and themes are a bit niche—it might not click with a broader audience right away. We'll need to see how readers respond before making any assumptions." (TL:- if you want even more content, check out p-atreon.com/Alioth23 for 50+ advanced chapters)

Chapter 24 - 24

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