I, who tortured the readers, was knocked to the ground by them!

Chapter 6 Comic Awards
"I'm so touched. I never thought that one day I would receive a call from you, Mr. Haruki Nagayama. I'm almost crying."

Shueisha Building, Jump Editorial Office.

Female editor Xinhe Aimei was sitting in front of the computer, eating instant noodles while answering the phone.

"Really? Isn't it a bit too much of a fool to use the sound of slurping instant noodles to pretend to sob?" Sakurai Itsuki asked.

"I didn't expect you to be so accomplished in sound. After it's animated, you can ask the dubbing director for a supporting role." Shinkawa Aimei replied.

"I understand that making promises is a necessary part of an editor's job, but can you ever stop making promises for me? My book hasn't even been published yet, and it's already been animated?"

"How can this be called empty promises? Because you're such a genius, like you've been given a cheat code! Animation is a sure thing sooner or later."

Shinkawa Ai's words came from the heart. She had never seen a newcomer draw a work of the quality of "Flame Fist".

Even recognized geniuses like Oda and Togashi had a very immature rookie period.

But Sakurai Itsuki had none of that.

It's hard to find fault with it in any aspect.

If she hadn't seen Sakurai Itsuki draw with her own eyes, she would even think that those drafts were deliberately made by a great artist pretending to be a newcomer to tease her.

"I thought you missed me because you didn't hear me describe your vision for the future today."

After praising Sakurai Itsuki, Shinkawa Aimei teased the guy as usual.

"Be careful or I'll sue you for harassing a high school student. If this gets out, your career will be over, right, Ms. Ai Mei?"

Sakurai Itsuki also imitated Sato Wakaba and made jokes using Japanese-style phrases.

"Really? So you plan to be responsible for me in the future? Or are you the kind of bad man who plans to throw me away after playing with me?"

Upon hearing this, Shinkawa Aimei did not panic and let him manipulate her like in the classic plot. Instead, she calmly teased Sakurai Itsuki.

"You're almost thirty, right? There's a reason why no man wants you." Sakurai Itsuki, who was being teased, hit the nail on the head.

"Then could you please grow up to the legal age for marriage as soon as possible and marry me?" asked Shinkawa Aimei.

"Aren't you in charge of editing shonen manga? Can you please avoid the kind of hysterical plot where a younger handsome guy grows up to marry her, targeting older, otaku-like women?"

"Forget it, let's change the subject. Aren't you moving today? Did everything go smoothly?"

Shinkawa Ai, who had suffered real damage, simply changed the topic.

Sakurai Itsuki turned his head and looked through the crack of the bedroom door at the hot blonde girl who was rolling up her sleeves and working hard in the living room on the second floor.

Obviously, although the heavy-mouthed article shocked her greatly, it didn't seem to make her feel gloomy for the whole day like she did after reading the Flame Fist.

"Well, it's going pretty well for now. My roommate is a beautiful hot girl with excellent academic performance and good character. She's trying hard to help me pack my luggage. I heard she's also a fan of mine."

"Hahaha, your hysteria is quite suitable for the audience of shonen manga. It's quite good. Are you planning to switch to drawing romantic comedies next time?"

Aimi Shinkawa laughed out loud, obviously she didn't believe that such a magical thing would happen in real life.

"Okay, let's get down to business. I've thought about that new comic award I mentioned earlier and I think I'll participate."

Sakurai Itsuki felt that the joke was almost over, so he talked about the real purpose of his call.

As a manga whose readers have been constantly criticizing the author but whose performance has been getting better and better, it is only natural that it is time for "Single Volume Project" to be carried out.

However, "Flame Fist" is not serialized in the main magazine of Weekly Shonen Jump, but is serialized on Jump's online network platform JUMP+.

However, the online platform of JUMP+ in this world has just started, and the traffic has not yet really been built up.

Therefore, although they also bear the Jump name, the actual popularity of the works mentioned above is still very different from the works in Jump magazine.

In addition, "Flame Fist" is full of blood, violence and dark descriptions of human nature.

The style cannot be said to be the same as those boys' comics published in JUMP magazine, but it can only be said to be completely unrelated.

Therefore, even though the top management of JUMP highly recognizes the level of the work "Fire Fist", the promotional resources invested in the single-volume planning are still quite stingy compared to the works in this magazine.

Not long ago, during a storyboard meeting, while Shinkawa Aimei was complaining about a few old-fashioned people who were unwilling to provide more promotional resources, she received a call from a new author under her.

He had come to inquire about the Joint New Manga Awards, a competition recently organized by several major publishing houses for emerging cartoonists from all publishing houses to participate, and it was quite difficult to enter.

But as long as you win the award, you will almost become an instant hit and start serialization directly.

At the time, Shinkawa Aimei jokingly said, "It would be great if you could win an award at the Grand Prize. That would be a great publicity stunt. Those veterans would definitely invest heavily in publicity just for the sake of the award."

Shinkawa Aimei said it casually, but Sakurai Itsuki took it seriously.

As the saying goes, everything is difficult at the beginning. If there are few resources at the beginning, resulting in unimpressive business results, it will have a great impact on subsequent promotion.

As for Sakurai Itsuki, he is very confident that as long as there are enough recommendation resources, "Flame Fist" will definitely create a considerable influence.

Therefore, Sakurai Itsuki decided to seize the opportunity and win this grand prize while he was still a newcomer.

"Are you serious?" Shinkawa Aimi asked in surprise, "You know what this means, right?"

There are less than two months left until the deadline for the Manga Awards.

The minimum requirement for this entry is 120 pages.

It is certainly not difficult to complete 120 pages of content in two months, but in addition, Sakurai Itsuki also has to take into account the weekly update of about 20 pages.

After all, the main purpose of this award is to promote "Flame Fist". If "Flame Fist" is discontinued for the sake of the award, wouldn't that be putting the cart before the horse?
But this means that Sakurai Itsuki has to complete at least 300 pages of content within two months.

What's worse is that Sakurai Itsuki is still a student and has to go to school on weekdays.

If a cartoonist addicted to mahjong knew that someone could finish more than 300 pages of comics in two months while attending school and working part-time, he would definitely be shocked.

Who made this science fiction film?

However, Sakurai Itsuki's voice was filled with the confidence of a cheater, "Well, don't worry, I will get the gold reward back."

After a slight hesitation, Shinkawa Aimei finally nodded.

If it were someone else, she would definitely reject him immediately and remind him to calm down and not think about achieving success overnight.

But Sakurai Itsuki might really be the super genius who can reach the top in one step.

"Let me warn you, there really is a dark room in the Jump editorial department. If you don't submit your manuscript, I'll take the risk and do something dangerous."

Shinkawa Aimi issued a threat.

"Got it. Even if I have to face threats from criminals who can't get me married, I will do it." Sakurai Itsuki answered lightly.

"Well, you make me sound like a devil who makes a living by exploiting the energy of young people." Shinkawa Ai complained.

"Don't worry, what you described is a succubus. I have never seen a succubus that no man wants. At best, you are a demon who urges men to submit their manuscripts." Sakurai Itsuki's comfort sounded heartbreaking.

"hehe."

"I'll find some time to draw a rough storyboard for you. The hot girl helping me clean the room is already busy and sweating. If I slack off again, I won't be able to bear it myself."

"OK, OK, first tell me, what kind of story is this?"

Shinkawa Ai Meixin said that this guy is not very old, but when he talks nonsense, it sounds like the truth. If you don’t know, you would really think that he is living with his virtuous fan girl.

"Let me be clear, works that are too bloody and violent won't be favored in the Grand Prize selection. You have to carefully consider the style preferences of the competition."

Shinkawa Aimi reminded.

But Sakurai Itsuki thought to himself, why should I care about your preferences?
Can't I just take the open-book exam and copy other people's excellent answers?

"Don't worry, there aren't any of those elements. If anything, this is a work with a touch of fantasy."

Sakurai Itsuki answered.

That classic work flashed through my mind.

　Please collect, please do everything, please, this is really important to me.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)