The personnel in the meeting were identical to the serialization meeting, but the atmosphere was undoubtedly much more relaxed compared to that.
"Alright, everyone, settle down."
Kazuhiko sat at the head of the table. After waiting for the editors to quiet down, he smiled and said, "This is the evaluation meeting for the second half of 1999 for the Tezuka Award. Everyone present here is not a first-timer to this task, so I don't need to go over the rules."
"In short, I hope everyone can maintain a rigorous attitude and strict standards, ensuring each work receives the treatment it deserves, so the final results are recognized by the readers."
"Yes!" × n
"Then, let's begin the scoring individually."
The final round of the Tezuka Award selection process used a scoring system.
Including the Manga Artist judges, all judges scored every nominated work, then calculated a total score, determining the award based on the score range.
However, after this, some minor adjustments might still be needed to reach the final result.
Although the editors had already read the currently nominated works several times during previous selections.
But out of rigor, many still compared and re-read them several times, occasionally whispering discussions with colleagues nearby, taking quite some time to gradually mark and submit their scores.
Finally, looking at the list of ranked works, Kazuhiko smiled and said, "Let's start from the top."
"The work voted for the 『Selected』 this term is— Emiya Kiritsugu."
"Does anyone have any other opinions?"
The 『Selected』 is the top prize of the Tezuka Award, and each term can have at most one work receiving this award.
Not only that, to ensure the authority of the Tezuka Award, Shonen Jump had always been very cautious about awarding the 『Selected』 over the years, in principle preferring to leave it vacant rather than award it to unworthy works.
Therefore, every work nominated for the 『Selected』 had to be discussed a second time with extreme caution to ensure it could convince everyone."
However, this time, upon hearing the name Emiya Kiritsugu, the editors did not speak immediately but looked at Hisashi in unison, with varying expressions.
Hisashi's reaction was very calm, and he was the first to state his position unhurriedly: "I have no objections."
Nonsense, you're the editor in charge of the author, what kind of opinion could you have!
The editors muttered to themselves, some even couldn't help but roll their eyes at him.
But seeing this, Hisashi couldn't help but grin, making people itch with annoyance yet unable to do anything about it.
Because they really couldn't raise any objections to this result.
As the most heavyweight award of Shonen Jump, the Tezuka Award received countless submissions every term.
And the works and Manga Artists who could be shortlisted were undoubtedly the best among the newcomers.
But they were only the "best among the newcomers".
And the author of Emiya Kiritsugu, Akira, was a super monster who could reach the top of Shonen Jump magazine as a pure newcomer with just one work and begin serialization.
Other newcomer Manga Artists had no obligation to challenge such an unbeatable opponent.
In fact, before this, they had even discussed whether Emiya Kiritsugu should be removed from the Tezuka Award list."
After all, Akira was now a serialized Manga Artist, and continuing to compete with other newcomer Manga Artists for newcomer awards might make some feel it was unfair.
However, such discussions were quickly suppressed by Kazuhiko and Hisashi.
"Regardless, Mochizuki-sensei was indeed a newcomer when he submitted to the Tezuka Award."
"If we exclude Emiya Kiritsugu from the awards just because the other party succeeded too quickly, such an approach is completely unreasonable!"
The two's arguments left no room for debate, and the editors were convinced.
But it had to be said, Akira's success was not just fast, it was skyrocketing, making it hard for other newcomer Manga Artists to even feel jealousy.
Because the gap was simply too large.
But then again, even without considering Akira's current status, the quality of the work Emiya Kiritsugu itself was almost impeccable.
Emiya Kiritsugu discussed the classic Trolley Problem from the perspective of the protagonist, Emiya Kiritsugu.
On one side was his own father, on the other were innocent villagers; how should one choose?
And when facing the Trolley Problem, many works stopped at merely raising the question and provoking the reader's thoughts, without letting the characters in the work truly make a choice.
Because such questions would generate controversy no matter how one chose, which is why the Trolley Problem is called a "problem".
However, in Emiya Kiritsugu, Akira boldly let the protagonist make a choice, having the protagonist kill his own father with his own hands to save more people.
Although there would certainly be people who disagreed with Kiritsugu's choice, the shock brought when the results of that choice were displayed so bloodily before the readers was undeniable.
And this point alone was enough for Emiya Kiritsugu to pull away from other newcomer works, and enough for it to receive the sole 『Selected』.
In short, almost no one had any objections to this matter.
Seeing this, Kazuhiko didn't stall and decisively concluded: "Then that's settled."
"The winner of the 『Selected』 for the second half of 1999 Tezuka Award is— Akira and his Emiya Kiritsugu."
"『Selected』?"
Receiving the call from Hisashi again and learning the final result of the Tezuka Award, Akira still didn't have much emotional fluctuation.
However, there was one piece of good news: Emiya Kiritsugu would not only be published in early December in Shonen Jump's special issue, Akamaru Jump, alongside other Tezuka Award works from the second half of the year.
At the same time, the manga would be published simultaneously in the same issue of Shonen Jump, and serialized in two parts along with the second half he was still drawing.
This was the special treatment that only the winner of the unique 『Selected』 could possess.
Soon, time came to October 19th, and the 46th issue of Weekly Shonen Jump was released.
Compared to winning the Tezuka Award, Akira was actually more concerned about this matter.
In this week's issue, "Fate/stay night" was serialized up to chapter 15.
However, this chapter was a rather plain transition episode.
Following the previous chapter, time came to the evening. Fujimura Taiga and Matou Sakura returned to Emiya Shirou's house and discovered Saber's presence, feeling incredibly surprised.
Emiya Shirou made an excuse that Saber was a distant relative of his old man, Emiya Kiritsugu, and would be staying at the house for a while, thus unfolding a joyful daily comedy segment among them.
On the other side, Tohsaka Rin and Archer were moving through the city at night, investigating something, and discovered some new clues.
At this time, Archer asked again about Tohsaka Rin's attitude towards Emiya Shirou.
Tohsaka Rin stated that the next time they met, she would definitely make Emiya Shirou retire.
Although this chapter, as a transition episode, didn't seem to have much useful information.
But he still laid out some foreshadowing that might or might not be used through the subtle depiction of Matou Sakura's expressions.
Regarding the character Matou Sakura, he really felt a bit of a headache.
Setting aside the fact that Matou Sakura's plot involved Tohsaka Rin, Matou Shiori, and the mess of the Matou Family.
The main problem was that Nasu Kinoko's depiction of Matou Sakura in the original work was just too unfair.