[50] Iwamoto Yu's Tension

On that evening—

Kazuya experimented with the Stone Mask in the dream world of JoJo—

Kazuya failed.

Kazuya's mind was fried.

Kazuya woke up.

Morning arrived, a new day began—

On Kazuya's side, it was business as usual. After sending his sister to school in the morning, he returned to his studio to contemplate the concept for his next manga—

On the other side!

Tokyo, Shueisha Publishing.

Iwamoto Yu, who had returned here, brought Kurokawa-sensei's new manga.

He handed the manga, titled "Fate/Zero", to the chief editor.

"Has Kurokawa-sensei's new manga arrived..." Yoshikawa Daishi took the folder from Iwamoto Yu's hand and said.

He knew about this because Iwamoto Yu had already informed him yesterday when he rushed over. Generally, there was no need for this... including taking the manuscript directly to him for a quick look.

However, Kurokawa-sensei was a bit unique.

His drawing speed was incredibly fast.

That day, Kurokawa-sensei didn't intentionally show his manga drawing speed to him, but out of curiosity, he went to take a look later.

And then—

How should he put it...

It was highly aesthetic. Most manga artists started with rough drafts and painstakingly refined their work.

But Kurokawa-sensei was different. He didn't need a rough draft; his initial work was already a finished manuscript.

His pen moved continuously on the paper, and a complete manuscript was quickly produced.

Combine that with his storytelling abilities demonstrated in JoJo and Battle Royale... it could be said that he had the ability to single-handedly support an entire magazine. Even if there were no good stories in the future, just assisting with his speed alone would fill the coffers.

Not to mention... he had already seen ahead in JoJo and knew the future plot. He had a vague feeling that a pillar of the future of JUMP was steadily growing.

"Looking at this thickness... it's another complete work as usual... well, forget it. I have some time right now; I'll take a look. Don't you have work to do? I'll talk to you after I finish reading it. It doesn't seem like there's much."

"Yes!"

After Iwamoto Yu finished speaking, he left, leaving Yoshikawa Daishi alone to slowly read the manga...

Iwamoto Yu, who was working outside, was a bit restless.

He didn't know how things would turn out...

The story in that manga was indeed good, but that was his perspective. Everyone had their own sense of aesthetics; what he considered a masterpiece might be seen as garbage by others.

He genuinely hoped that this "Fate/Zero" would pass the serialization meeting.

He had made up his mind. Even if the chief editor rejected it, he would put on an editorial pose and argue for it. If he persisted in his opinion, there was still a chance even if the chief editor refused.

And then...

Time slowly passed, and an hour went by in the blink of an eye.

"Hey, what's up with you today? You look so restless," Shigeki Takeshi, who had returned with a cup of water, looked at Iwamoto Yu, who had been anxious since the start of work today, and asked.

"No, it's nothing, nothing at all."

"You're really strange... you."

Shigeki Takeshi shook his head and didn't inquire further; he had work to do as well...

Two hours passed.

Still no news at all.

Iwamoto Yu was starting to panic...

Three hours passed.

He hadn't even had lunch, and the chief editor hadn't called for him. He had no idea what was going on.

Was the chief editor so engrossed in the manga that he had lost track of time?

Or...

Was he pondering how to reject the manga and convince himself?

"I think you should eat something. You seem quite off today," Shigeki Takeshi, who was eating his bento, looked puzzled as he watched his colleague, who was usually very composed but acting strangely today.

"Ah... it's nothing. You go ahead and eat. I don't have much of an appetite," Iwamoto Yu shook his head and stood up. "I'll go for a walk outside."

Although he said that, he only walked around at the entrance for a while, smoked a cigarette, poured a glass of water, and then returned.

Nobody knew when the chief editor would call for him.

If it happened while he wasn't there, it would be disastrous.

Four hours... five hours...

The sun was gradually beginning to set.

But still, there was no news at all. Iwamoto Yu kept comforting himself, thinking it must be because the chief editor was too engrossed. However, even so, he still felt anxious.

His heart continued to beat rapidly, with no clear information coming in.

Despite not doing much work today, he felt tired, very tired. More tired than usual.

And then...

It was almost time to finish work.

In about half an hour, it would be time to clock out.

But even so, there was still no news. His heart had grown cold, and he could already imagine waiting until tomorrow to get any updates.

As the chief editor walked by, he casually said, "That manga from yesterday? Nope, it's not suitable for JUMP."

"Iwamoto Yu, are you here?"

Just then, the team leader of Iwamoto Yu's group, Yusuke Shoji, pushed open the door and said, "Oh, there you are."

"Yeah, I'm here."

"Well, come over here for a moment," Shoji nodded and continued, "The chief editor wants you for an urgent meeting."

"Huh? An urgent meeting?"

"That's right, just as you thought. The chief editor wants to hold a pre-serialization meeting for the manga you brought in earlier."

"…I see!" Iwamoto Yu exclaimed in delight, not expecting to see a glimmer of hope at this moment.

"A pre-serialization meeting?" Shigeki Takeshii, looking puzzled, asked the person next to him, "Have you ever heard of a pre-serialization meeting?"

"No," The person beside him replied while glancing at Shigeki Takeshi and then at Iwamoto Yu's back. "But I can guess. It's probably because that guy brought in some great manga... He's really lucky. First, it was JOJO, and now what? It looks like he's encountered a formidable sensei."

"Is it another new manga?" Shigeki Takeshi looked over in that direction, then turned his gaze away. "Ah, I should work harder too, aiming to sign up with some good mangaka!"

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