After all, the manga artists Mihari's handling aren't just limited to Akifumi Mugiho.
Including him, there are three other mangakas whose works are being serialized in magazines under her watch!
The workload has increased significantly compared to when she first started.
Speaking of which, the Tezuka Award will be starting in April...
"Sigh" Mihari couldn't help but sigh again.
"I feel like I need to ask Minano-san for a raise!"
The lightheartedness and joy she had when she first joined the company seemed like a distant memory.
"Do you want me to talk to her for you?" In response, Akifumi received an eye-roll from the young editor.
She was just joking, but was he planning on taking her seriously?
"By the way, Minano-san asked me to tell you that the first three episodes of 'Steins;Gate' are ready."
"Oh?!" Akifumi's eyes lit up, a little excited. "Are there copies from the completed episodes?"
He had put in quite a bit of effort for this project, after all.
As the screenwriter, coordinating with the director was an essential part of the process.
Thankfully, the two directors working on this were among the most capable in the company.
They quickly understood his ideas with just a few words, so he didn't have to worry too much about the final result.
But still, he wanted to see it for himself.
Mihari smiled and handed him a neatly wrapped CD.
"The screenwriter also asked if you could take a look and see if there's anything that needs adjusting."
"After all, no one knows the script better than you, and only you can tell if the presentation matches the story you envisioned."
Akifumi waved his hand. "Well, my ideas aren't necessarily the best. Both directors are professionals. What can I possibly suggest?"
"I'll just watch for fun," he said, taking the CD and carefully putting it away.
"By the way, the company's speed is really impressive."
"The last time we spoke was at the beginning of the month, and now, just a little over two weeks later, they've completed three episodes!"
Mihari didn't know much about the specifics of the project, but Minano had mentioned a few things.
"They said they're really focused on this script, so they've put a lot of manpower and resources into it."
"Actually, they already finish up to episode five is almost finished too."
"Does that mean we'll be seeing it on screen soon?"
Akifumi felt a rush of excitement.
"I'm not sure," Mihari said, shaking her head. "For the specifics, you'll have to ask Minano-san."
"I understand."
After that, the two of them moved on from work and began chatting casually.
———————————————————————
Later that evening, Akifumi returned home.
On the way back, he learned from Minano that, if there is no unexpected issues, Steins;Gate would likely air in early to mid-March.
The production had been targeted for awards, which is why they didn't plan to follow the usual seasonal release schedule.
In fact, even in his past life, there had been times when things didn't follow the typical release schedule, and in this world, that was even more common.
"What's Mugiho-kun planning to do?" Mahiru asked curiously.
You should know that in their house, the TV was more of a decoration, collecting dust most of the time.
Turning it on today was a first.
"Well, I'm going to watch an anime. Want to join?"
"Sure!" Mahiru smiled and sat next to Akifumi.
"By the way, where's Mashiro?"
"Mashiro went out with Eriri."
"Eh? Those two?"
Mahiru tried to imagine the scene but couldn't quite picture it.
"They ran out to buy more art supplies."
Akifumi chuckled. "How much can those two carry? It's something I could easily do myself."
It seemed like a small amount, but when you added it up, it turned out to be a lot, especially since three people were consuming the supplies.
They always bought in large quantities.
Mahiru shrugged. "Well, I said the same thing, but they know you've been busy finishing Your Lie In April, so they took care of the small stuff."
"They also knew they couldn't buy as much as you in one go, so they're just getting the essentials and ordering the rest online."
Though online shopping had become quite convenient, some specialized supplies were still easier to find offline.
Hearing this, Akifumi nodded, feeling a warmth in his chest.
"Well, let's not worry about them. Let's just watch the show."
"Okay."
The two settled in, comfortably sitting together. They had grown accustomed to this position by now.
"Is this the anime you're working on, Mugiho-kun?" Mahiru asked, looking at the screen.
"Yep."
Akifumi nodded, focusing his gaze on the TV.
Since it wasn't a completed version yet, the opening and background music weren't in place, and they jumped straight into the story.
Mahiru also watched carefully.
The three episodes only lasted an hour, and before long, it was over.
With the screen going black, Akifumi nodded in satisfaction.
The performance was excellent in all aspects, even better than the original.
This wasn't surprising, considering how advanced the animation industry and technology were in this world.
Moreover, the two directors working on the project were more skilled than the original ones, so the result was expected.
In contrast to Akifumi's satisfaction, Mahiru seemed a little confused.
Noticing her expression, he asked, "Is something wrong?"
"It just feels... kind of strange?"
Though Mahiru was no longer a complete beginner, Steins;Gate still felt a bit difficult for her.
Akifumi smiled. "Well, the beginning of the story can feel a bit chaotic. Some parts are vague, but it's all setting things up for the future."
"I see!" Mahiru nodded, relieved.
"To be honest, I thought Mugiho-kun's anime might not be that great."
After all, compared to his previous works, the first three episodes of this one did seem to have some noticeable differences.
Akifumi wasn't offended. He laughed and explained, "The first 12 episodes are all about setting things up."
"It's only after episode 12 that the true charm of the show will shine through!"
"I believe in you, Mugiho-kun!" Mahiru said enthusiastically.
"By the way, will Eriri and Mashiro be back for lunch?"
"Um... probably not."
As she said this, Mahiru's cheeks turned visibly red.
It seemed like she had an idea of what was going on.
Akifumi gave her a knowing smile.
———————————————————————
With that, the first two volumes of Your Lie In April were released on March 5, and as expected, the bookshops were packed with fans lining up to buy copies.
Like last time, the books sold out in just a few hours.
"Dammit! They're already sold out?!"
"Hey, shopkeeper, didn't you know how well Your Lie In April was doing? Why didn't you order more copies?"
"Now we have to wait days again!"
The store owner could only grin awkwardly, trying to explain and calm the frustrated fans.
As the series progressed, sales were becoming more and more unpredictable.
They had seen many people claim they were fans, but when the release day came, only a few actually showed up to buy the books.
As a long-established bookstore, they had learned their lesson and preferred to be cautious.
Better to sell fewer copies and make less money than risk getting stuck with unsold stock.
Those who managed to get copies of the books, however, didn't care about the shortage.
They happily carried their purchases books back home.
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