Master of the Machete Style Manga

Chapter 66 The Goal is Big
Ken Sakamoto followed Keiko Kaji out of the live broadcast room, followed closely by Haruna Mikazuki.

After Mikazuki Haruna caught up with Sakamoto Ken, she reached out her hand, but then withdrew it, ultimately not patting Sakamoto Ken on the shoulder.

She said, "Sakamoto Ken-sensei, are you going back now?"

Ken Sakamoto glanced back at Haruna Mikazuki and said, "Yeah, I still have to go back and finish my manuscript."

“Oh, I also need to go back and finish my manuscript,” Mikazuki Haruna said. “Why don’t you ride in my car? I can give you a ride on the way.”

“No need, I live far away,” Ken Sakamoto said.

“It’s fine to go a little further, we’re driving anyway,” Mikazuki Haruna insisted.

The situation is very delicate. I have already met with her in person and expressed my thoughts on the manga "The Young Lady".

Judging from Haruna's reaction, she cares about it very much.

There's a common theory about liking someone: the "mere-exposure effect," which states that people develop a liking for something simply because they are familiar with it.

Therefore, the more often someone appears in front of you, the easier it is to develop a liking for them.

Currently, Natsume Mio is someone he can easily handle; he hasn't even met that mature woman yet, and as for Mikazuki Haruna...

The private space inside the car is an excellent breeding ground for developing goodwill.

Moreover, it was her car, the space she controlled, and a key to maintaining balance was to take the initiative.

Sakamoto Ken ultimately declined Mikazuki Haruna's offer to take him home, and he looked visibly a little disappointed.

Haruna Mikazuki couldn't very well force him to get in the car, could she? She was just thinking, in that dream, when we first met, you got into my car...

The three of them had arrived at the Shueisha building, where the car that was there to pick her up was already waiting by the roadside.

"Alright then, I'll head back now, Ken-sensei Sakamoto~" Haruna Mikazuki waved to Ken Sakamoto.

Kenya Sakamoto waved back at her, and only breathed a sigh of relief after watching her get into the car and drive out of sight.

Keiko Kaji, who had been standing next to Kenji Sakamoto, said, "Sakamoto-sensei, it seems like Mitsuki Haru-sensei really wants to have a deeper conversation with you."

“Hmm.” Ken Sakamoto nodded and said, “After all, she’s a competitor, and I feel she has a particularly strong competitive spirit.”

"Oh?" Keiko Kaji said, "Sakamoto-sensei is so observant? I didn't even notice."

Ken Sakamoto shrugged and didn't answer.

Kaji Keiko then asked, "So you're going home now?"

Ken Sakamoto replied, "Yeah, by the train."

"Goodbye, Mr. Sakamoto. I'm going to the bookstore now," said Keiko Kaji with a slight smile, waving to Ken Sakamoto.

"Oh? That's perfect, I'll go check out the bookstore too," Sakamoto Ken said. The bookstore was right next to Shueisha, and it was unusually quiet with few people inside.

They naturally walked to the manga magazine section and saw Weekly Shonen Jump on the shelf.

It was already Friday night, and the peak sales season for magazines this week had long passed, with only a few copies left on the shelves.

"Next, I will do my best to get a cover opportunity for Sakamoto-sensei. When the magazine is sold, readers will see Chainsaw Man at first glance. That's an exposure opportunity worth two million copies!" Keiko Kaji picked up a copy of JUMP, looked at the front and back covers, and said.

"Thank you, editor-san," Ken Sakamoto said gratefully.

“However, our focus is still on the web. It’s just that some of the older men in the group’s senior management aren’t interested in digitalization, so we still consider the weekly magazine our most important business…” Keiko Kaji said.

"Even though sales have been declining year after year, they still can't react?" Ken Sakamoto asked.

“Of course, we still use fax machines for some business communication,” Keiko Kaji said. “Like these magazines, the ones that don’t sell out are eventually sent to the paper mill, pulped, and used to print new magazines…”

After putting down Weekly Shonen Jump, Keiko Kaji picked up Bessatsu Shonen Magazine next to her.

The main cover image features Shuzo Oshimi's "The Flowers of Evil," with the words "Attack on Titan" and Eren's large head displayed next to it.

At this point in time, I wonder if Hajime Isayama has already planned to draw a scene a few years later where Mikasa cuts off Eren's head and then kisses him...

“Sakamoto Ken-sensei also wants to create a work that everyone knows,” Kaji Keiko said.

“Of course, every manga artist thinks that way,” Ken Sakamoto nodded and said.

“That’s not easy. Too many works are only brilliant at the beginning, but then they become just ordinary.” Keiko Kaji said.

“Even wildly popular works can’t escape this fate. Many manga are forced to continue when they should have ended, or keep releasing sequels…” Sakamoto Ken said.

Keiko Kaji covered her mouth and chuckled, saying, "Are you saying that they were forced into this situation due to commercial interests, resulting in a poorly executed sequel?"

Ken Sakamoto shrugged noncommittally: "Many popular works can't escape this fate."

“There are reasons why famous authors insist on continuing their successful works,” Keiko Kaji said. “After all, every super popular manga is a combination of various factors such as timing, location, and people. Even the authors themselves often can’t explain why they can create such amazing works.”

"So... after achieving success, the smartest... or rather, the most profitable choice is to prolong the production as much as possible."

“There are also writers who can consistently produce excellent works,” Ken Sakamoto said. “For example, Rumiko Takahashi.”

Rumiko Takahashi is a prime example; works like "Urusei Yatsura," "Ranma 1/2," "Inuyasha," and "Rin-ne" are all incredibly successful long-running series.

"What, is Sakamoto-sensei's goal to become a writer like Takahashi Rumiko-sensei?" Kaji Keiko teased.

Ken Sakamoto shook his head and said, "Takahashi-sensei is an eternal god. I would be satisfied if I could have three or four works that sold tens of millions of copies."

"Haha, Sakamoto-sensei, your goals are certainly ambitious! This already places you very high up the list of manga artists." Kaji Keiko covered her mouth and laughed, saying, "But I'm rooting for you!"

(End of this chapter)