Chapter 59 - 58

Words : 1458 Updated : Sep 28th, 2025

Chapter 59 of "I just want to quietly draw manga" opens introducing the plot: A week ago, the entire country was alive with the festive spirit of the New... Continue exploring!

A week ago, the entire country was alive with the festive spirit of the New Year. Food stalls lined the streets, children set off small fireworks that startled passing pedestrians, and the air was filled with warmth and cheer. For many—government workers, students, teachers, office employees—it was a rare break. But in the manga industry, there was no such thing as a true holiday. Manga artists had flexible hours and workspaces, but in the end, the unrelenting deadline was their real boss. As the saying goes, you can't have your cake and eat it too. For a manga artist, unless a series is finished, the wheels of publishing never stop—not even for New Year's. Fortunately, Haruki and Kotone had been working as a team for a while now, and their rhythm was efficient. Within just a few days, they had wrapped up the twelfth chapter of Rurouni Kenshin: Remembrance. "So, got any plans for New Year's?" Sora asked casually. It was Friday, just two days before the New Year. Kurokawa Publishing wasn't closed yet, and she was still hard at work at her desk. "It's a holiday tomorrow," Sora said with a shrug, trying to sound casual. "Might as well drive home." Haruki raised an eyebrow. "You say that like you're not thrilled about it." "Of course I am." She looked away a little too quickly. "Right... Blind date again?" Sora froze. "What makes you think that?" "Come on. I've known you long enough. Long weekends, trips back home, sudden urgency—it always lines up." "You're seriously calling me out like that?" she muttered. "I'm not some desperate woman being dragged around by her family, okay?" Haruki smirked. "You're twenty-four, right? The age when relatives start panicking if you're not married yet." "Panicking? Please. I've got options. Guys lining up, actually." "Oh yeah? How many exes are we talking about now?" Sora hesitated. "I... Enough to fill two—never mind." Haruki laughed. "Two what?" She glared at him. "You're annoying." "And you're a terrible liar," he said with a grin. "Seriously though," she sighed, "you should be more worried about yourself. You've got Kotone around you every day and act like she's invisible. What's your excuse?" Haruki shrugged. "I'm focused on work." "Uh-huh. Keep telling yourself that." "In my experience," Haruki said with a sly look, "people who act all innocent and sweet on the surface usually aren't so simple behind the scenes." "And the ones always bragging about their dating experience?" He shrugged. "Usually haven't even held hands." Sora glanced at him over her teacup, expression unreadable. "Heh." "And when those same people feel exposed," Haruki added, leaning in, "they try really hard to act calm... like right now." "You really think you've figured me out?" she scoffed, her tone sharper now. "You're still a kid. What experience could you possibly have?" Haruki instinctively leaned back a little. "I hung out with a lot of folks i before I got serious with manga. You meet all kinds. I just picked up a few insights, that's all. But yeah... let's drop it." He knew pushing her further might get him smacked—or worse. The air cooled for a moment before Sora deliberately changed the subject. "So... what are you doing for the New Year?" she asked. She already knew Haruki's family situation. Back when she and Kotone had first started working at his place, it had felt a bit more lively. But usually, it was quiet. Not even neighbors came by. "Same as always," Haruki said, brushing it off with a smile. "I've gotten used to it. Don't worry about me." "Alright." Sora nodded. As an editor, she was used to keeping an eye on her artists' mental health too—but Haruki wasn't the type to fake being fine. He was either genuinely okay or so good at hiding it that there was no point prying. Knock knock knock. Someone was at the door. "That's probably Kotone," Haruki said, standing up. Even though she wasn't working this weekend, she had a habit of dropping by on Friday nights—ever since their serialization began, she liked to be present when the ranking updates came in. When Haruki opened the door, Kotone was standing there with two large shopping bags, her cheeks flushed red from the cold, and a few icy crystals clinging to her lashes. White mist drifted with each breath she exhaled. "Haruki, Sora—here!" she said brightly, stepping inside and handing them each a bag before darting over to the heater. "What's this?" Haruki asked, looking inside. "New Year's gift," Kotone said with a grin. "Thought I'd drop off some greetings early." "Wow, thank you!" Sora lit up. She was the kind of person who genuinely appreciated thoughtful gestures. Haruki didn't show much on his face, but the warmth from the gift lingered with him. It was the first time in years someone had brought him anything like this. Ever since his parents passed, even the few relatives he had left were distant—he'd see them on the street more often than at home. New Year visits had long since disappeared from his life. Still, he wasn't the type to gush. He just quietly took note of the kindness. "By the way," Kotone said, taking off her coat, "am I late? Did the rankings come out yet?" "Not yet," Sora replied. "They usually hit between six and seven. Should be any minute now." The three of them settled into the warm room, chatting casually to pass the time. A short while later, Sora's phone buzzed. She checked the message. Her eyes widened for a moment, then narrowed as she looked closer. "...Wait. Is this right?" "What's up?" Haruki leaned over. "Did the rankings tank?" Kotone asked, sitting up straighter. "No," Sora said slowly. "It's up. And the jump... it's kind of insane." Years ago, things were always hectic, but even during the busiest times, Kentarou—just your average office worker—never forgot to pick up the latest manga issue alongside the weight of his daily responsibilities. He'd been a loyal reader of one of the big three manga magazines for years and had his favorites firmly in place. But not long ago, he noticed a shift. A few of his manga-loving friends had started talking about a title he'd never heard of before—Rurouni Kenshin: Remembrance. At first, he brushed it off. A story about a wandering swordsman from a distant past? It didn't seem like his kind of thing. Sounded more like some niche historical drama—nothing with the sharp twists or punchy emotion he usually craved. He figured it was just a phase his friends were going through. But then, something changed. He started hearing it everywhere. Conversations in cafés, chatter in the breakroom, even murmurs in train stations. And the online forums he browsed after work? Suddenly filled with threads dissecting the latest chapters. Curiosity got the better of him. He finally borrowed a few issues from a friend one weekend. Just to see what the fuss was about. An hour later, he had torn through everything that had been published so far. Then he went back and read them again—more slowly this time. Alright... maybe this was something special. From that point on, Rurouni Kenshin: Remembrance joined his weekly rotation. Every Friday evening, he looked forward to it. It wasn't just the swordplay or the quiet melancholy—it was the way the story lingered after you put it down. That night, after spending the day visiting family for the New Year, Kentarou sat alone in his room. He reached for the latest issue on his desk. The cover immediately stood out: no over-the-top comedy character or action hero—just a boy with dark hair kneeling in the rain, a katana clenched in his hand. Beside him, a woman in a white kimono, her face streaked with blood, gazed ahead in silence. It was unmistakable. The scene from the end of Chapter 2—Kenshin and Tomoe's first meeting. The illustration was in full color, haunting and beautiful, featured as this issue's front-page highlight. As he flipped through the pages, a folded poster slipped out from the center. Curious, he opened it. A snowy landscape spread across the page—Tomoe sitting beneath a bare tree, gazing quietly at Kenshin, who was offering his hand. His expression was gentle, the kind that lingered even after you turned the page. At the top of the poster, a bold line of text read: "Congratulations to Rurouni Kenshin: Remembrance—nominated for this year's Aurora Manga Awards!"

Chapter 59 - 58

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