After hanging up the phone, Akifumi let out a deep breath, then a look of excitement flashed across his face.
The toughest hurdle was finally behind him!
Now, all that remained was to complete three volumes of Your Lie In April by the end of each month.
It was a significant workload, but as long as he maintained his current pace, finishing three volumes a month wouldn't be a problem at all!
"Did the company decide early on to incorporate promotional strategies?" Akifumi chuckled.
It made perfect sense.
The concern over whether rapid production would compromise quality was an unavoidable issue in any era.
While he had proven he could handle two simultaneous serializations.
That didn't mean readers would automatically believe he could deliver three full volumes in a single month without sacrificing quality.
The workload between the two was on completely different levels.
Even if he were simultaneously serializing three different works, at most, he'd need to produce about 300 pages per month.
But publishing three entire volumes? That meant doubling that workload!
And that wasn't even considering the fact that he still had other ongoing projects on the side.
That was why this approach made sense—it added credibility to the whole endeavor.
"Ending Your Lie In April in April was part of the plan from the very beginning."
By framing it this way, external speculation and doubts could be minimized.
After all, this phrasing implied that Akifumi had already prepared a large number of drafts ahead of time, ensuring that the story would conclude as planned.
Sure, the reasoning might seem a bit forced, but most people wouldn't overanalyze the logic behind it.
The only real risk was if Your Lie In April failed to conclude by April.
In that case, the problem wouldn't just be for Akifumi or Minano-san —it would be a major issue for the entire publishing house!
"Come to think of it, this setup is quite fitting for Your Lie In April!"
Both the story and this publishing strategy revolved around carefully crafted, well-intentioned deceptions.
One started in April and ended in late February; the other began with the mid-February book release and would conclude in late April.
One was a true lie.
The other would become reality once April ended.
"I didn't expect such an interesting contrast to emerge from all this." Akifumi shook his head with a smile before his curiosity took over.
"Speaking of which, who exactly is Editor Minano?"
He highly doubted that an ordinary editor could pull off something like this.
Sure, chief editors held high-ranking positions within a publishing house.
But Shueisha was just one subsidiary within a larger media conglomerate.
Decisions like increasing royalties required approval beyond even the chief editor.
That meant this was a matter that couldn't have been decided just by a few chief editors sitting in a room.
But…
"Either way, having someone influential backing you feels pretty good!" Akifumi grinned.
Did it really matter who Minano was or how he secured these opportunities for him?
Not at all.
What mattered was that, now that this precedent was set, it would likely be much easier to pull off similar strategies in the future.
And that knowledge alone was enough.
With his mind cleared, he focused on his top priority—drawing!
As for the online interview on Friday? He could just wing it when the time came.
———————————————————————
"Akifumi, what does drawing manga feel like?"
Akifumi blinked in surprise, then looked at Kato with curiosity. "Are you interested in drawing manga?"
"Just a little," Kato nodded, then clarified, "I don't intend to draw myself. I'm just curious about what it feels like to be a creator."
"What it feels like?" Akifumi pondered for a moment before answering.
"Before I even start, just picking up the pen feels exhausting. I don't want to draw at all."
"But once I start, I have to constantly think about how to bring the world in my head to life in a way that captures the readers' interest."
"When they become moved by the story's emotions, feel inspired by the hope within it, my creative passion burns even stronger."
"When I receive recognition and praise from fans, I feel genuinely happy and touched."
"And of course, on a more practical level, I don't have to worry about money anymore."
"Even if one day I stop drawing, I can still live comfortably off my past works and enjoy a fulfilling retirement."
"That's pretty much what it feels like."
Kato nodded in understanding, then let out a sigh. "That last part sounds wonderful, but I'm guessing most people never even make it past the first two steps."
"Well, manga is a long-term career. If someone can't overcome their own laziness and stick with it, success is impossible."
"Even if they persist, success isn't guaranteed, right?" Kato's tone carried an unexpected note of melancholy.
"Not everyone has the same level of talent as you, Akifumi." Realizing how her words might be misinterpreted, she quickly added, "I'm not saying you don't work hard."
"I genuinely respect how much effort you put in while others are just playing around."
"But for most ordinary people, no matter how hard they try, they probably won't achieve even a tenth of your success."
Effort was crucial.
But talent also set an upper limit on what effort could achieve.
That was what Kato wanted to express.
"I think you're absolutely right."
For teenagers still sheltered in their academic lives, the future seemed too distant to worry about.
If he hadn't regained his past-life memories, Akifumi would likely still be the same as before—spending his days studying and indulging in anime and manga.
The future felt too far away.
Even if mentors and seniors offered guidance, most students would brush it off as irrelevant.
Only a few thought seriously about it and put in real effort.
And those few were already ahead of the rest.
Akifumi smiled. "I've always loved ACG (Anime, Comics, Games), so I figured I'd give it a try."
"Turns out, I had some unexpected talent in this area."
"So why not take advantage of being young and try different things?"
"You might discover a hidden talent you never knew you had!"
"And even if you don't, knowing what you enjoy gives you a head start over others."
Kato fell silent, lost in thought.
A moment later, she let out a small sigh and gave a rare, wry smile. "You've seen right through me, haven't you, Akifumi?"
He chuckled. "Well, the semester is ending soon. And you suddenly brought up this topic—doesn't that mean you're feeling a little lost about the future?"
"…Yeah." Kato admitted with a hint of helplessness. "Someone as unremarkable as me… I feel like things will only get harder once I enter society. It's a bit overwhelming."
"Unremarkable?"
Why did people around him—people who were clearly talented—insist on seeing themselves as ordinary?
Whether it was Mahiru or Kato, they all underestimated themselves.
Akifumi sighed. "If nothing else, just a little styling and you'd be incredibly eye-catching, Kato."
"You think so?"
"Trust me on this."
But Kato refused to continue the topic, shifting her gaze toward the blackboard in the distance.
With a serious expression, she said, "Akifumi's suggestion just now was really useful."
"This Spring Festival, I should take some time to seriously consider what I want to do in the future."
Though her tone was calm, there was an unmistakable determination in her voice.
———————————————————————
After school, Mahiru, Akifumi, and Mashiro walked home together.
Out of nowhere, Mahiru spoke up.
"You know, maybe I should try to find out if I have any talents in a particular area."
Akifumi raised an eyebrow in surprise, then chuckled.
"Wow, Mahiru, I thought you were busy chatting with others after class. Were you secretly eavesdropping on my conversation with Kato?"
Mahiru's face flushed red.
Of course, she paid attention when the boy she liked was chatting with another girl—especially someone as stunning as Kato!
She knew that someone as exceptional as Akifumi wouldn't be hers alone forever.
But until that future arrived, wasn't it okay to be a little greedy and want to keep his affection all to herself for now?
Ignoring Akifumi's teasing, she earnestly asked, "Akifumi, what do you think I'm talented at?"
Akifumi thought seriously for a moment before replying,
"Cooking? Taking care of people? Keeping the house tidy?"
"…"
Mahiru sighed in exasperation.
"I was foolish to expect a serious answer from you, Akifumi."
Akifumi pouted.
"Hey! But you really are good at those things, right, Mashiro?"
"Mm." Mashiro, lost in thoughts about her manga storyline, hadn't really been listening but instinctively nodded.
Feeling validated, Akifumi continued confidently, "Take cooking, for example. It's because of Mahiru's delicious meals that we smile so happily every day!"
"And keeping the house clean—if you weren't here, wouldn't Mashiro and I be in big trouble?"
"Don't underestimate these skills! There's a huge difference between just doing something and doing it well!"
"In my opinion, you excel at all of this!"
"Is that so…" Mahiru scratched her cheek, a bit shy, and turned her head away. Deep down, she made a silent decision.
"Then, I'll do my best to support everyone from behind the scenes!"
Thinking back, she truly did enjoy the process of taking care of others.
"Oh, right," Mahiru suddenly asked with curiosity. "Didn't you mention that you had an online interview tonight, Akifumi?"
"Yeah…"
That's right. In the blink of an eye, it was already Friday.
This online interview would be conducted live, with images synced to Shueisha's official SNS account.
To promote it, Akifumi had even posted an announcement.
The interview was scheduled for 8:00 PM tonight.
"How does an online interview work?"
Mahiru's eyes sparkled with interest.
She understood the concept of interviews but wasn't familiar with this new format.
"It's simple—we just chat on LINE."
"It's a back-and-forth Q&A, and the conversation and photos get posted on the SNS account in real time."
Since Minano had mentioned it last time, Akifumi had looked it up, so he was able to explain it smoothly.
"I see! I'm really looking forward to this interview!"
"What's there to look forward to?"
Akifumi sighed. "If you have any questions, you can just ask me directly, you know?"
"That's different!" Mahiru said. "I'm watching this as a fan!"
"It's not the same as our everyday conversations!"
Was this what people called a girl's "sense of ritual"?
Akifumi could only shake his head with a wry smile.
———————————————————————
8:00 PM arrived in the blink of an eye.
Mahiru, Mashiro, and Eriri huddled together, eagerly staring at the tablet screen.
Only Mashiro maintained her usual indifferent expression.
"It's starting, it's starting!"
On Shueisha's SNS, the interview began updating in real time.
———————————————————————
Host: Good evening, "Warrior of Love and Hope"-sensei! I'm your host tonight, Hoshiyoru Ichika. It's an honor to interview you this evening!
Akifumi: Good evening, Hoshiyoru-san. And good evening, everyone! I'm today's guest, "Warrior of Love and Hope."
Host: Just as everyone says, sensei is as kind as expected.
I've also heard you're quite the handsome guy, but it's a shame I don't have a picture to confirm it!
Akifumi: Thank you for the kind words, Hoshiyoru-san, but that's just flattery. Everyone has been waiting for this, so let's get right to the main topic, shall we?
Host: You're right!
So here's the first question: How did you come up with the idea for Your Lie in April?
Oh, and just to clarify, since today's session is dedicated to Your Lie in April, even though we're curious about Madoka Magica and AnoHana, unfortunately, I can't ask about them—otherwise, my paycheck will take a hit!
That said, fans are free to ask anything later!
Akifumi: So you're planning to sneak in those questions during the fan Q&A session later, huh?
Host: Cough, cough! Even if that were true, I wouldn't admit it!
Akifumi: Well, to answer your question—since I was young, I've studied various kinds of music. In fact, the theme song for AnoHana was written and composed by me.
I've always loved music, but unfortunately, I sing so badly that I could probably shatter light bulbs. It's a bit of a regret of mine.
So, instead, I channeled that passion into something I'm actually good at—drawing.
Host: I see! So Your Lie in April was born from your love of music and your desire to fill that gap in your life!
Akifumi: Exactly.
The cherry blossoms in April are particularly beautiful, and spring is a season that naturally makes people yearn for love.
That's how the idea for this manga came to be.
Host: Next question: How long did it take you to create this work? Since you released two volumes back-to-back last time, do you have more drafts ready?
Akifumi: Whoa, that's quite the aggressive second question!
Host: If you don't want to answer, you can skip it! But wouldn't that disappoint your fans?
Akifumi: Ugh, using my fans to pressure me!? Fine, it's not a secret anyway.
I have plenty of drafts ready!
Host: Whoa, really?!
Akifumi: In fact, I started working on this manga last April.
Although I chose to submit Madoka Magica for the Tezuka Award instead, that doesn't mean I ever stopped working on this project.
Host: Amazing! Sensei's passion for drawing is beyond our imagination!
But wait… What's going on?!
Host: Everyone, sorry for the sudden interruption, but I have breaking news from Shueisha!
Host: I've just received confirmation that Your Lie in April, written by "Warrior of Love and Hope," will officially end this April!
Host: Wait, what?! But the story just started! How could it be ending so soon?!
Akifumi: This isn't an April Fool's joke. It's true!
Ending Your Lie in April in April—it just fits too perfectly, don't you think?
———————————————————————
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