[72] Changing One's Mind

Chapter 72: Changing One's Mind

"Why?" Shunsuke asked calmly.

"Fujii-sensei, you're still a high school student, right? Balancing your studies while writing light novels, preparing NAMEs for Mashiro-sensei every week, and now wanting to independently draw another manga—don't you think time is too tight?" Hattori questioned seriously.

The editorial department approved Eiji Niizuma's double serialization for two reasons: first, he had already proven his talent, and second, he wasn't attending school, so he had ample time to draw manga.

Naturally, he could handle double serialization.

However, Hattori couldn't trust a rookie like Shunsuke in the same way.

What if he started missing deadlines halfway through?

Not every mangaka was like Togashi, who could pause his work at will.

If too many authors acted like that, the magazine's reputation would crumble.

Hattori wasn't the editor-in-chief, nor even a team leader. He neither dared nor had the authority to take such a gamble.

"If I say I can manage, you probably won't believe me, right, Hattori-san? So—" Shunsuke prepared to demonstrate his resolve.

"So, I propose testing the waters first with a dual serialization," Hattori interrupted him. "The Golden Future Cup is still a few months away. During this time, if you can maintain the regular serialization of Nisekoi while also delivering one chapter of Death Note every week for a month, I'll approve your participation in the Golden Future Cup."

"The Golden Future Cup? Why not directly submit Death Note for serialization meetings? It has the potential," Shunsuke frowned. "If it were you, Hattori-san, I believe you'd see its promise. Honestly, I have higher expectations for Death Note than for Nisekoi."

"Even so, rules are rules," Hattori countered firmly. "Shiina-sensei is a special case, so the editor-in-chief granted her the treatment of a veteran author. But as a newcomer, Fujii-sensei, you need to prove yourself before you can attend a serialization meeting."

"Sticking to rules like this—where's your old sense of ambition?"

"What truly matters is what readers find enjoyable. Everything must be determined by results. And judging by the performance of the first chapter of Death Note, I believe it will achieve excellent results. So, why are you in such a rush, Fujii-sensei?"

"Because if I end up taking Takagi's opportunity, I'd feel guilty."

"That would mean Takagi-kun and Mashiro-kun need to improve their skills and keep working hard. I also think it's better for their future if they see the gap between them and their peers. Death Note could serve as a goal for them to aspire toward. Don't you agree, Fujii-sensei?"

"That's not wrong, but the timeline feels too long."

Hattori frowned. "Do you have a specific reason for needing an immediate serialization, like Mashiro-kun does?"

"No, not really."

Shunsuke paused to think. His initial urgency to debut was driven by the need to gain Mashiro's trust and establish a connection as a fellow mangaka, ensuring Mashiro would listen to him.

But now, it seemed he no longer needed that to achieve his goals.

Nisekoi alone was enough for now.

The title and income of being a mangaka didn't hold the same appeal anymore.

His main motivation for creating manga had shifted: it was about fulfilling a dream and scoring some points in the larger game of Bakuman.

In that context, participating in the Golden Future Cup actually seemed like the optimal choice.

Realizing this, Shunsuke changed his mind. "Alright, let's go with the Golden Future Cup."

Hattori smiled and extended his hand once more. "I'm glad you've come to this decision, Fujii-sensei. Looking forward to working with you."

"Looking forward to it."

Shunsuke graciously shook his hand, showing his willingness to cooperate.

...

"Team leader, we've struck gold! This is the work I'm recommending for this serialization meeting."

After returning to the editorial office, Hattori immediately sought out Soichi Aida and handed over the first three chapters of Nisekoi along with the NAMEs for the next ten chapters.

The chubby Soichi Aida took a sip of tea, casually accepting the manuscripts. "Is this a new work by one of the authors?"

"Nisekoi. From the title, it looks like a romantic comedy. This genre is tough to make a big hit with."

"Take a closer look, team leader. I think this manga has great potential and could have a long serialization run."

Hattori refrained from saying anything more, wanting Aida to judge it without any external influence.

His own assessment had been somewhat affected by the authors' ages and Mashiro Shiina's reputation.

"Hmm, that would be ideal. Currently, there aren't many manga of this type in the magazine. Aside from Kentaro Yabuki's To Love-Ru, we don't have any long-running, popular romantic comedies. But To Love-Ru has been serialized for a while now, and its rankings are precarious. If we could find a replacement, that would be great."

To Love-Ru was undeniably famous, but it had been teetering on the edge of cancellation for quite some time.

Its rankings were dangerously low.

If it were to be axed, Shonen Jump wouldn't have any hit romantic comedies left, and fans of this genre might be drawn to Shonen Sunday instead.

That could pose a significant problem.

However, sparing To Love-Ru just to avoid this outcome was out of the question.

Even Saint Seiya, which had been wildly popular, was cut when the time came.

A title like To Love-Ru wasn't significant enough to warrant special treatment from the editorial department.

With a mix of concern and hope, Soichi Aida opened Nisekoi.

Like Hattori before him, he was captivated from the very first page.

Yet, he said nothing and continued reading further.

After a long while, Soichi Aida let out a deep breath and placed the manuscript down. "The polished art style is a significant advantage in the romance genre. The character designs are also very mature. The second female lead, while a classic Yamato Nadeshiko archetype, appeals to a broad audience due to its timeless nature. On the other hand, the main female lead's design is quite intriguing—she has a lot of personality and tension. If executed well, she'll attract plenty of fans.

"Having two female leads with contrasting attitudes—one warm, one cold—creates an interesting dynamic. While their personalities differ, combined with the male lead's involvement, it gives me a sense of Kawashita Mizuki's works. If developed properly, this could very well become another Toujou Aya versus Nishino Tsukasa scenario. Oh, and the names of the two female leads should be adjusted to align more closely with their character traits."

Though unfamiliar with the concept of "faction wars" among fans, Soichi Aida quickly picked up on the potential for this dynamic.

Unlike We Never Learn, which failed to capitalize on its faction wars effectively, Nisekoi balanced the rivalry between Chitoge Kirisaki and Kosaki Onodera perfectly, with both leads far outshining the rest of the cast. This, Aida realized, was the proper way to execute faction wars.

"Add to that the main plotline involving the lock and key—it not only allows for the seamless introduction of new female characters but also offers opportunities to advance the story when necessary, increasing reader engagement and boosting rankings. The chances of this manga being axed are very low. This work has incredible potential. Hattori, which author under your care created this? I don't recall seeing it before."

Relieved to have earned the team leader's approval, Hattori finally relaxed and began discussing the next steps.

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