The fact that Izumi Ki (Izumi Kotomi) was now serializing a manga in Weekly Shonen Jump wasn't just sothing Haruno Yukinoshita had learned—it quickly spread through the entire Dengeki Bunko editorial departnt.
Even though Dengeki Bunko's contract with Izumi Ki was based on book rights and didn't exclusively bind her as an author, there was no breach of contract, even if she worked with other publishers like Shueisha. However, it could potentially lower her contract benefits in the future since people are inherently selfish.
Sword Art Online had just signed an A-level contract, and the first volu of the paperback was in the midst of a high-priority printing process. Then, all of a sudden, they saw her manga on the cover of Weekly Shonen Jump with the striking words "New Serialization" in bold.
It wasn't hard to deduce that this must have been sothing Izumi Ki had recently submitted to Shueisha.
In short, after submitting her light novel Sword Art Online to Dengeki Bunko, Kotomi hadn't stayed idle. She had imdiately started drawing a new manga and submitted it to Shueisha, a publishing company that had ties to Dengeki Bunko.
What made this even more significant was how Shueisha, despite Izumi Ki being a new manga artist, had given her quite the debut treatnt.
A cover appearance and a full-color opening page—this wasn't sothing even moderately successful veteran manga artists could expect in their first serialization.
Putting all these pieces together, it was hard not to feel increasingly intrigued.
"Even though our relationship with Shueisha is pretty good, and we're not sure if this Izumi Ki, the mangaka, is the sa as our Kotomi, it's better to clear up any confusion. Izumi Ki is the rising star author we've invested in for Dengeki Bunko. We must ensure there are no risks before the release of the first volu. Haruno, give Kotomi a call and ask if she's currently serializing a manga at Shueisha," said Hiratsuka, the chief editor.
"I understand, Hiratsuka-san. But even if Kotomi is serializing a manga, there shouldn't be any issues, right?"
"No, there aren't any contract violations. I just want to confirm if the manga artist Izumi Ki at Shueisha and our Kotomi are the sa person. If they're the sa person, that's fine. If they're not and it's just a coincidence that the pen nas match, then, even though we'd be on shaky legal grounds, I'll personally call Shueisha and ask them to have the mangaka change their pen na."
Recalling her earlier conversation with Hiratsuka, Haruno Yukinoshita couldn't help but wonder if the Chainsaw Man mangaka Izumi Ki was the sa person as Izumi Kotomi.
Worried that calling during school hours might interrupt Kotomi's classes, Haruno waited until the end of the day to dial her number. During this ti, she'd read through the entire first chapter of Chainsaw Man.
The feeling afterward was sothing Haruno could only describe as a thrilling, breathless excitent.
The plot was unconventional, the battle scenes had an almost wicked intensity, yet instead of feeling disturbed, Haruno found herself more and more hooked as she read. Without even realizing it, she had finished the entire first chapter.
As she flipped to the final page, Haruno Yukinoshita couldn't help but recall the eagerness she had felt when she first devoured Kotomi's Sword Art Online.
Dammit! I want to read the second chapter of Chainsaw Man right now!
After exchanging a few pleasantries with Kotomi and discussing the progress of Sword Art Online Volu 2, Haruno cut to the chase.
"Kotomi-sensei, I just wanted to ask, are you serializing a manga in Shueisha's Weekly Shonen Jump? The title is Chainsaw Man."
Hearing Haruno's question, Kotomi cursed inwardly. She had anticipated that soone at Dengeki Bunko might notice her manga work, but she hadn't expected it to happen this quickly.
It's only Tuesday!
The latest issue of Weekly Shonen Jump had just hit bookstore shelves yesterday, on Monday.
At least give a couple more days before finding out!
Cursing in her heart, Kotomi decided not to hide it. "Yes, it's ."
Pffft—
On the other end of the line, Haruno Yukinoshita had just taken a sip of water to moisten her throat while waiting for Kotomi's response. Hearing such a straightforward answer, she choked and sprayed water all over her computer screen and keyboard.
"Damn!"
Haruno quickly grabbed so tissues to clean up. Luckily, she was using the thin plastic mbrane keyboard provided by the editorial office, which ant she didn't have to worry about water damage. Had she been using her chanical keyboard at ho, this might have been a permanent goodbye for it.
chanical keyboards and liquids do not mix well.
"You're the one who asked, so why are you so shocked when I answer honestly?" Kotomi couldn't help but tease when she heard the commotion on the other end.
"I just didn't expect it and nearly choked to death on my water… cough, cough! Okay, maybe my reaction was a bit over the top, but honestly, Kotomi-sensei, this surprise is huge!"
"Oh, so it's my fault, huh~" Kotomi smirked, clearly enjoying the mont.
"No, no, not your fault."
Haruno was quick to respond, feeling more and more like she had struck gold by discovering Kotomi.
"I finished reading the first chapter of Chainsaw Man, and let tell you, both the plot and the visual impact are amazing! It's unconventional to the point of being almost wicked, but it's so addictive. I couldn't stop reading! Kotomi-sensei, if you can keep up this montum, Chainsaw Man might just beco a hit manga!"
"I'm flattered, but as a light novel editor, is it really okay for you to be praising a manga this much?" Kotomi asked, amused.
"What's wrong with that? Don't underestimate light novel editors! We don't just read novels all day. A good editor should analyze trends across novels, manga, ani, and gas, constantly assessing the state of the market and identifying erging trends," Haruno boasted proudly, even letting out a smug little hum as if she had all the insight.
In reality, she didn't.
Haruno simply used that excuse to slack off during work hours, reading novels and manga as she pleased.
"So? Were you surprised when you found out I could draw manga?" Kotomi asked.
If only she were at the Dengeki Bunko office right now—she'd love to see Haruno's surprised expression.
"Surprised? I was shocked! When I saw your pen na on the cover of Weekly Shonen Jump, the entire editorial team was in disbelief. Even Hiratsuka-san ca over personally to ask what was going on. You're quite the talk of the office, Kotomi-sensei~ And to think, your first volu hasn't even been released yet, and you're already causing such a stir."
You're part of that group, too, Kotomi thought but didn't say aloud.
"I just serialized the first chapter of a manga in Weekly Shonen Jump, and it's already causing such a big reaction at Dengeki Bunko. If Chainsaw Man gets published as a paperback, do you think the editors might be so shocked they'll blow the roof off the office?" Kotomi joked.
Haruno laughed at the joke and played along: "That's not entirely out of the question! After all, most authors can't even draw. So authors, when trying to communicate with their illustrators, end up producing sketches that are downright inhuman. But you, Kotomi-sensei, are a rare gem who can both write novels and draw manga. Not just at Dengeki Bunko or Shueisha—you're a rare treasure across the entire creative industry! Truly terrifying!"
What Haruno Yukinoshita said wasn't an exaggeration. Many authors are not particularly skilled at drawing, and, of course, even if you put an illustrator in front of a computer for a whole day, they may not be able to write a thousand words.
As the saying goes, everyone has their specialty—there simply aren't that many people who can master both writing and drawing.
But when soone like that does exist, anyone who hears about it can't help but marvel and think: "That's amazing!"
Thanks to the system's assistance in boosting her creative skills, Kotomi was one of those rare people who could make others exclaim "That's incredible!" both in their hearts and out loud.
However, after finding out that Kotomi was indeed the sa person as Shueisha's manga artist, Izumi Ki, Haruno was not just shocked—she also realized a more practical concern. She spoke with genuine care in her tone:
"Kotomi-sensei, as much as I love your Chainsaw Man, and Dengeki Bunko won't restrict you from pursuing both novels and manga, I hope you'll be mindful of the deadlines for your manuscript. Please don't let working on the manga delay the progress of your light novel."
Kotomi wasn't surprised by Haruno's concern. After all, Haruno was her editor for light novels, and it was only natural for her to worry about manuscripts. The biggest headache for any editor is when an author delays submitting their work.
Even though this was Haruno's first ti serving as Kotomi's editor, she had often heard her colleagues complain about authors who repeatedly missed deadlines. Many editors had shared their frustration over promises to have drafts ready by the 10th, only for the 20th to roll around without a single word.
These editors often joked about wanting to transform into One Punch Man and chase after those authors who seed to have morphed into pigeons.
Longti editors who had grown accustod to such delays would half-jokingly call the annual Dengeki Bunko writers' conference a gathering of "flocks of pigeons."
They wished they could lock all the authors inside until they finished their manuscripts.
Recognizing the concern in Haruno's voice, Kotomi chuckled and reassured her: "You don't have to worry about that. I write pretty fast, and I've already arranged my schedule for both writing and drawing. I've got everything planned out—when to work on novels, and when to focus on manga. It's all clear and under control."
"Well, hearing that makes feel a lot better. I'm looking forward to your second volu!"
"Yes, yes, it's coming along, almost done!"
Just as Kotomi finished her sentence, Haruno lowered her voice and sneakily added: "Of course, make sure Chainsaw Man moves along quickly too! I can't wait to see the second chapter!"
"If the chief editor Hiratsuka hears that, you might have your pay docked," Kotomi teased.
Hiratsuka... That na—wasn't it the sa as her horoom teacher, Shizuka Hiratsuka?
Could it be they were related?
Kotomi pondered this. While she knew that Hiratsuka, the chief editor, played a significant role in supporting her as one of Dengeki Bunko's rising stars, she didn't actually know much about her. The only thing Kotomi knew was that Hiratsuka was a woman. She hadn't even seen her picture.
Thinking about it, Kotomi decided that if she ever got the chance to et this Hiratsuka, she'd ask whether she was related to her horoom teacher.
After hearing Kotomi's playful warning, Haruno let out a nonchalant hum, seemingly unconcerned about losing her paycheck:
"Let them dock it, whatever. I only took the job at Dengeki Bunko to experience working life. If my salary ever dries up, I'll just swallow my pride and ask my mom to top up my account."
"You really are the quintessential spoiled rich girl, aren't you?" Kotomi teased again.
"Hehe, I guess~ But my younger sister is the real spoiled one."
Kotomi noticed that Haruno often ntioned her sister Yukino. Even though she usually teased or mocked her, it ca across more like an older sister subtly praising her younger sibling in a roundabout way, unwilling to admit it outright.
The contrast between Haruno's words and the underlying affection behind them was amusing.
After hanging up, Kotomi, still wrapped in nothing but a thin bath towel, shivered involuntarily, her body, smooth and radiant like polished ivory, reacting instinctively. Her chest even trembled slightly in the process.
It was no surprise she felt cold, standing there in just a towel after her bath!
Kotomi tightened the towel around herself.
To be fair, even though it had been a while since her reincarnation, she still sotis absentmindedly wrapped the towel around only her lower half after a bath. Fortunately, every ti she nearly stepped out of the bathroom like that, she caught herself just in ti and adjusted.
If she hadn't realized it, the resulting scene would've been quite a spectacle.
With her left hand holding the towel tightly to cover her chest, and her right hand pressing against her abdon to prevent the towel from slipping, Kotomi rembered the ti it had actually slipped off before.
And it had happened right in front of Aimi, who had been so excited her eyes almost glowed red!
Still damp from the bath, her skin glistened with moisture, and her entire deanor radiated a gentle and refined aura. Anyone looking at her would undoubtedly think: Wow, this girl looks so radiant!
Quickening her steps, Kotomi hurried back to her room, and once there, she imdiately shed the towel and put on her cute penguin pajamas.
She wasn't planning on going out for the rest of the evening, so she might as well get comfortable. After dinner, she would settle in to draw more manga and maybe play so gas.
Although the two-day exams had temporarily paused all club activities, there were so upsides—like the fact that there was no howork today.
Despite having superior learning abilities, Kotomi still disliked doing howork.
Who actually liked doing howork?
While students might differ in their academic performance, most shared a common disdain for howork.
After drawing for a while, she heard her mother, Izumi Akina, calling everyone downstairs for dinner.
Just as Kotomi finished saving her progress, she slipped on her slippers and walked downstairs, coincidentally bumping into her father, Izumi Kaneyoshi, who had just returned ho from work.
"Dad, welco ho."
"Ah... finally done with overti. Tonight, I can finally sleep properly in my own bed," Kaneyoshi said with a warm smile. Despite the exhaustion clearly visible on his face, he still maintained his usual light-hearted tone, joking with Kotomi about his long hours.
"Dad, you didn't co ho last night. Did you manage to get any rest at the company?"
"I had a eting that went until 2 AM, and after dealing with another hour of work, I crashed in the company's break room. I've gotten so used to sleeping in our bed at ho, that trying to sleep in the company's bunk beds just didn't cut it. When I woke up this morning, I couldn't even tell if I'd slept at all."
Kaneyoshi company, aware that employees sotis worked late and missed the last train ho, had set up a few break rooms on the sixth floor.
The rooms had private bathrooms, four bunk beds, and cupboards stocked with instant noodles, beer, and snacks for late-night munchies.
Even though they had tried to make the rooms as comfortable as possible, just as Kaneyoshi said, sleeping there never compared to the comfort of ho.
Still, there were so employees who deliberately worked late just to use the break rooms.
The reason was simple: they couldn't afford to buy or even rent a place in Tokyo.
As real estate prices soared, even renting beca a significant monthly expense.
Especially in a tropolis like Tokyo.
Kotomi noticed that whether it was in her previous life or this one, housing prices remained overwhelmingly high.
Even with a lifeti of 996-style work schedules, owning a ho in Tokyo seed nearly impossible.
After her reincarnation, Kotomi had resolved to use her creative talents to build a solid financial foundation for herself. She didn't want to spend this life stressed about money.
Earn money, fall in love, start a ga company, and live the dream life.
That was Kotomi's "simple" plan.
She had already started earning money and was prepared to restore the glory of Type-Moon. After all, it was her duty.
Now, she just wondered—when would she find that sweet, romantic love?
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