Anime Crossover: Becoming Mangaka in Anime World

After hanging up the congratulatory call from Hiratsuka sensei, I casually mentioned at the end that once the prize money comes in, I'd take Hiratsuka-sensei out for a meal to show my gratitude for her care.

She didn't hesitate and agreed right away.

After all, she's a secretly rich woman—anything that can be solved with money isn't a problem for her.

 A couple of meals here and there didn't matter. What she valued more was the gesture from her student.

Back in my room, I pulled out the drafts I'd been working on. Since Eriri often comes over, I usually make sure to keep my work well hidden.

If she saw it, explaining would be a hassle.

"Last night, I finished the ninth chapter."

The original work consists of 12 chapters, with about 35 pages per chapter.

When serialized in a magazine, it's equivalent to 24 chapters. Just a month ago when I met with Otsuna Mihari, I was still wrapping up the third chapter.

That means in just over a month, I've drawn nearly 210 pages!

Actually, it's 234 pages!

With a clear memory of how it all went, I didn't just copy everything.

I added and fine-tuned details here and there to make it more suitable for serialization.

The fact that I was able to get this far was partly because Eriri was slacking off.

If I were actually helping her, I wouldn't have had this much time to work.

"So, there are only about 100 pages left!"

"Plus the ten or so color pages for the cover…"

"The serialization is almost over!"

I couldn't help but feel a bit sentimental.

Who else but me would almost finish everything before it's even serialized?

And of course, after getting the serialization opportunity, who else would choose to end it this quickly?

Serialization has its benefits, but I'm not going to drag it out. No need for that.

"Keep going! I'll finish everything this month!"

Then I'll finally get some rest.

"24 chapters, with four chapters a week, I could serialize for half a year!"

That means I could rest for six months afterward!

Not bad at all!

With renewed motivation, I threw myself back into work.

What I didn't know was that after the final list for the Tezuka Award was announced, everyone following the event, from readers to fellow manga artists and other industry insiders, was in shock over the Selection of an entry after 8 years.

"WTF!! Someone actually got the Selection Award this time!?"

"There's still an Selection Award for the Tezuka Prize? It's been so long, I thought Shueisha had canceled it internally. laughs"

"Seriously? Someone really got the Selection Award this time? What's the author's name? What's the genre?"

"The author's name is 'Warrior of Love and Hope,' I checked online, but there's no information. If it's not an old author using a pen name, it must be a completely new writer."

"Nice try, but the Selection Award is for a total newbie. Do you believe that yourself?"

"Ahem, even though the probability is small, shouldn't we still consider that possibility? As for the genre of the work… maybe it's magical girl?"

"?? Magical girl!? No way!!"

"The full title of the work is 'Puella Magi Madoka Magica,' what kind of story do you think that name implies!?"

"No way! A magical girl story actually got the Selection Award!? This is crazy!"

"Are you sure it's crazy, or did Shueisha's top brass lose their minds?!"

"Even if they've lost their minds, they wouldn't make such an absurd decision! I really don't understand how a magical girl genre could be worthy of the Tezuka Prize Selection Award."

"Even if it were just an 'Honorary Mention,' I could accept that, but this 'Selection Award,' what's that about?"

"Last time, 'Crimson Sea' was so good, and it only got an Honorary Mention. I just want to ask—can 'Puella Magi Madoka Magica' actually outdo 'Crimson Sea' in terms of plot?"

"Everyone, calm down. Shueisha has been a big name for years. I don't think they'd joke around with their reputation. Maybe 'Puella Magi Madoka Magica' is actually really good?"

"It'd be better if you didn't add that question mark. laughs"

"Forgive me, my imagination isn't that good. I just can't picture how such a trope-heavy magical girl story could get an award that prioritizes storytelling like the Tezuka Award."

"Guessing around won't help. We'll find out when the work is revealed."

"Until I see the work, I'm just staying neutral."

"Clearly, there's something going on behind the scenes. Why else would they be promoting this 'Love Warrior' person? No need to wait and see."

"Shueisha is the leader in the manga industry. I don't think they need to use such underhanded methods to promote a newbie. Why not just do it through other means?"

"That's a good point. Maybe this work really has something to it?"

...

These kinds of discussions were everywhere. On all the manga forums, the topic was the same—'Puella Magi Madoka Magica.'

Some doubted, some believed, and some chose to wait and see. But the majority were skeptical.

The bigger the tree, the more it attracts attention. Shueisha, being the leader in the industry, was always under scrutiny by many others. So when such a big event happened, people saw an opportunity to stir things up.

Soon, the debate shifted toward skepticism, with more and more questioning voices.

Shueisha's PR team quickly stepped in, and with both sides fueling the fire, the situation escalated. The influence grew stronger by the hour.

In just one day, 'Puella Magi Madoka Magica' spread like wildfire among manga fans and casual internet users alike.

Later, the marketing department did a review and was shocked to find that even though they spent little money, the publicity effect was several times better than when they had spent millions on promotion in the past.

But that was all in the aftermath.

At that moment, I, the center of all this chaos, was completely oblivious. I was still focused on my work, blissfully unaware of what was happening around me.

Even if I had known, it wouldn't have mattered to me. I wouldn't have let it bother me.

After all, Shueisha knows how to handle things like this. I, as an outsider, didn't need to get involved.

What they really needed from me, from the very beginning, was one thing—create great work.

[TL Note]

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