Chapter 74 - 73

(TL: I edited this chapter while listening to "Date" by RADWIMPS. If you want to enhance the experience, I recommend playing the song as you read—it fits the mood almost perfectly.) When Haruki heard this, even his normally composed heart stirred slightly. As someone deeply immersed in the world of manga, Haruki understood exactly what kind of emotional impact the final chapters of Rurouni Kenshin could have on readers. First, there would be shock and sorrow. For fans who had been captivated by the story, Tomoe's death would hit hard—perhaps even provoke anger. But once that initial anger faded... what would remain was a deep sense of longing. The love between the two characters, their intertwined fates, and the vivid portrayal of a brutal era from over a century ago—all of it left a lasting impression. And then came the fifteenth chapter's ending: Tomoe embracing Kenshin, protecting him even in death. It was the perfect way to guide readers through their grief and help them find emotional closure. These weren't just theories Haruki came up with. They were his own genuine feelings after rereading the story multiple times. He was confident that anyone who truly loved manga would feel the same. That kind of emotional resonance might make fans resent Mizushiro—the pen name he used—for crafting such a cruel fate for Kenshin and Tomoe. But it would also make them remember it forever. It would earn their heartfelt support. So, while Haruki had anticipated Rurouni Kenshin gaining a wave of new fans... He didn't expect the response to be this overwhelming. By 6 PM on Friday, the series had already broken this year's record for the Award's fan growth—an increase of over 75,000. As Kotone had said, if this momentum kept up into the evening as people got off work and school—and again tomorrow when the Award's official site updated—the current 300,000 gap between Rurouni Kenshin and Blazing Feather wouldn't be hard to close at all. Kotone and Haruki stood at the school gate, chatting quietly. Their presence naturally drew attention—after all, Kotone was a bit of a celebrity at school. Haruki frowned slightly. He didn't care much about gossip, but if random rumors affected Kotone's mindset, especially during exam season, that would be a problem. "Let's go. It's getting late—we should head home." Kotone met his gaze, then glanced around at the curious students nearby. She quickly realized what he was worried about. "I'm not afraid of comments..." she said softly, but Haruki was already walking ahead. She had no choice but to follow. Watching his back, Kotone couldn't help but smile to herself. This guy... he's the number one mangaka in Osaka. The thought felt absurd and funny. Here he was, walking down an ordinary street, surrounded by people who might be his fans without even realizing it. He just didn't match his achievements at all. A total straight-laced guy—no sense of humor, barely speaks, lives alone, always pretending to be mature... Kotone could list plenty of Haruki's flaws, but somehow, none of them bothered her. When they first started working together, she'd felt reluctant and a little envious. They were the same age—how could he be so far ahead? But then she'd witnessed, step by step, how he created Rurouni Kenshin. By the time it concluded, her envy had quietly faded. Just as Haruki was astonished by her academic talent, she often felt a sense of awe at how effortlessly he came up with such brilliant stories. These past few months had been hectic, but fulfilling. When the assistant role ended, Kotone found herself feeling... empty. Oddly enough, it wasn't topping the school rankings that excited her most—it was seeing fans secretly checking their phones in class to read Rurouni Kenshin. That made her feel genuinely happy. Every day after school this week, Kotone would glance toward Haruki's house on her way home. In school, she'd sometimes pass his classroom and casually peek inside, pretending not to care. More than once, she had wanted to message him to talk about Rurouni Kenshin. But whenever she opened his contact in Line... she hesitated. Today, when she saw how much the series had surged in popularity, she couldn't contain her excitement. So she waited for him at the school gate, hoping to talk. But, as always, Haruki seemed focused on something entirely different. Eventually, they reached an intersection—one path led to her house, the other to his. "Well then," Haruki said, waving. "Get home safe." "Wait!" Kotone finally spoke up, the words she'd been holding back rushing out. "What is it?" Haruki turned to her. "Something else?" "Um... it's just..." She looked away, flustered. "If you're planning a new series, and you need an assistant again... I might have some free time." She flushed. Kotone didn't understand it herself. It wasn't like she'd have trouble finding another assistant job. So why was she so eager to keep working with him? She didn't have an answer. She just knew she wanted to. "That's all," she mumbled. Haruki scratched his head awkwardly. "I don't know why, but... something feels off between us lately." "Maybe it's just me," he added. "I know Rurouni Kenshin is finished, and so is our assistant relationship... but I don't think that means we have to act like strangers now." "I'm not sure what I'll do next. Whether there's a new project or not, I can say this much—both you and Sora are people I genuinely consider friends." Kotone stared at him. "So... yeah. I'm not great at saying these things, but you get what I mean, right?" Haruki gave her a sheepish smile, rubbing his neck. Kotone burst into laughter. Her giggles lightened the mood, melting the awkwardness between them. It felt like a barrier that had been quietly standing between them finally started to fade. "Well, I'll head home first then," Haruki said. "Be careful on your way. And if you want to talk, just message me on Line. No need to wait around like today." With that, he turned and started walking home. Kotone watched his back for a moment, then—after a bit of hesitation—trotted up to him and walked beside him. "Wait, aren't you headed in the other direction?" Haruki asked, glancing at her. Kotone shrugged, her voice more casual now. "My grandma's visiting friends in the countryside, so I'm free. I thought... why not head to your place and check out the latest rankings together?" "It'd be fun to talk about Rurouni Kenshin, right?" "Yeah, of course!" Haruki said. 'You're not going back to study?' He almost said it out of habit—but caught himself. He hadn't expected Kotone to suggest coming over. She'd visited often during the early stages of the manga, but after the series ended, she hadn't even stopped by once. "In that case, I'll call Sora too. Haven't seen her in weeks—I kind of miss her." "Sure, whatever you want," Kotone said with a grin. Shout out to Kieron Haydon for joining my p-atreon! your support means everything to me. (TL:- if you want even more content, check out p-atreon.com/Alioth23 for 50+ advanced chapters)