Master of the Machete Style Manga

Chapter 7 Haruna's Standard Color

Ken Sakamoto returned home.

Since I don't have a computer at home, I can only use my phone to open the video website's app and follow the JUMP CHANNEL account.

The live stream is about to start in ten minutes.

I originally wanted to take out my original manuscript to look at it, but I just threw it into the trash can, and the trash bag had already been taken away.

The cover image for the live stream was that poster, and the book title seemed particularly eye-catching to Ken Sakamoto.

Finally, the live stream began.

First, the two hosts exchanged pleasantries and introductions with the camera, and talked about some recent news about Shueisha's works.

"Recently popular works such as Assassination Classroom and Tokyo Ghoul Season 2 have seen a surge in online popularity after a month of airing. I bet everyone has watched them."

"Anime fans are in for a treat right now, as the second seasons of Food Wars! and Nisekoi will be released in two months."

"..."

Then it smoothly transitioned to the interview segment with the new author.

"Next up, please welcome the beautiful new author, San Yue Chun!"

The two hosts applauded, and the camera zoomed out slightly, revealing Mikazuki Haruna sitting next to them.

It really is her...

She had long, flowing hair, wore a white headband, a black and white gothic dress, and a lace choker around her neck.

Because she was sitting behind the table, her legs couldn't be seen, but Ken Sakamoto was certain she was wearing black stockings.

Black is Haruna's signature color.

A normal girl's sock drawer usually contains all sorts of colors and styles, and at the very least, there should be white socks.

But in Haruna's wardrobe, there are pantyhose, fishnet stockings, knee-high socks, mid-calf socks, knee-high socks, calf socks, ankle socks, boat socks... different styles and different fabrics, but without exception they are all black.

Hmm... Haruna probably doesn't have any fishnet stockings in her wardrobe right now. Sakamoto Ken bought them for her later, mainly so she could experience that feeling...

This setting is consistent with his previous work, "Young Lady, Sniper Rifle, and Pantyhose!"

When he designed the female protagonist in this manga, he didn't even know Haruna; it was pure coincidence.

This is one of the reasons why Haruna always felt that the female protagonist in the manga was based on her...

Although he had expected it, Sakamoto Ken was still deeply moved when he actually saw the girl appear on the live stream.

Last week, his number one hater, the contestant who locked him in a dark room and relentlessly pressed for his work, suddenly appeared on screen to introduce his piece…

How did my work, which I published last week, end up here?

Moreover, why does Shueisha value this manga so much? Isn't it just a very clichéd romance manga that skirts the edge of romance? At the time, almost no one paid any attention to it.

During the live stream, Haru Mitsuki introduced the manga in great detail, and Ken Sakamoto could clearly sense a strong passion flickering within her words.

Even in this playthrough, does she still like this work that much?
"Teacher March Spring, we have a few questions we'd like to ask. Are you ready?"

"Of course, feel free to ask!"

"Mr. March Spring, how did you come up with the idea for this work?"

"Well..." Mikazuki Haruna smiled smugly at the camera and said, "This is a story that Lord Benzaiten told me to draw in a dream."

It seems they hadn't gone over the script before the interview. The host was slightly taken aback when Mikazuki Haruna said that, and then professionally replied, "Haha, then Mikazuki Haruna-sensei must have had divine assistance when she wrote it?"

"Of course, here's an announcement: JUMP+ usually serializes one chapter per week, but my editor and I have made a special agreement that we'll be releasing two chapters per week. Remember to download the JUMP+ app to support my work~" Mikazuki Haruna said.

Sakamoto Ken dragged the progress bar back to Haruna's words about Bensaiten.

"A dream?"

Ken Sakamoto grasped this key word.

He suddenly felt a sense of crisis.

Could the so-called "dream visitation" be just an excuse she used?

Is it possible that she also has memories of the previous game?! After all, producing two episodes a week is no easy feat. Conceptualizing, designing, and drawing—even during the last game when she was under the most pressure, completing one and a half episodes a week was already her limit.

The fact that she can so easily say that she writes two articles a week shows that she is absolutely confident in completing the manuscript.

In other words, it means copying verbatim.

Well, you've turned against the Heavenly Gang, trying to copy me, huh?

If she also has memories of the previous timeline... then what about them!
Ken Sakamoto gripped his phone tightly. There was no air conditioning in the rented room, only a fan whirring. Although it was only early spring, he was already drenched in sweat.

Sakamoto Ken spread out a sheet of paper on the table and tried to write down his thoughts and clarify them.

It is known that Mikazuki Haruna drew the manga he published in the previous timeline in this timeline, and she claims to have been appeared in a dream by Benzaiten-sama.

Ken Sakamoto did not believe that gods truly existed, so "Benzaiten" was probably just a way of putting it.

After all, he was unwilling to reveal that he had memories of another time and space in his mind, and Haruna was probably for the same reason.

Ken Sakamoto even considered whether he should back out of the contract with the editor and take "Chainsaw Man" to another publisher on his own...

Being serialized with the same publisher as her always made me feel there were unknown risks involved.

But after carefully reviewing the contract, Ken Sakamoto reluctantly dismissed his earlier thought.

The contract has now been signed, and his name and book title have even been registered on the JUMP+ platform.

If you want to back out, you'll have to pay a penalty.

Feeling a little anxious, Ken Sakamoto rubbed his throbbing temples, seriously considering whether he was being too tense.

There is a psychological term called PTSD, post-traumatic stress disorder, which refers to a mental health condition caused by experiencing or witnessing extremely stressful or terrifying events.

Typical symptoms include flashbacks, nightmares, and severe anxiety, as well as the inability to control the urge to recall something.

Ken Sakamoto felt his symptoms were quite pronounced, and if he had the money, he would have booked an appointment with a psychologist right now…

There's no way around it. If you have money, you can ask someone else to counsel you; if you're poor, you can only counsel yourself.

Now we're back to where we were before, we have no connection to them whatsoever, and there's absolutely no reason for the machete incident to happen again.

Ken Sakamoto wrote down the names of the other two girls.

Mio Natsume.

After being reborn, he only met her once outside the exam hall. Even according to the original timeline, she was planning to confess back then, so the fact that he ran and she chased her cannot prove that she has the memories of the previous timeline.

Ai Hoshino.

After writing down the name, Ken Sakamoto's pen lightly touched the paper, and the image of this older sister appeared in his mind...

According to normal circumstances, his first meeting with her would not happen for several months.

The worst-case scenario is that they all have memories of last week's events.

So, the strategy to deal with it is...

Pretend you know nothing about "last week's episode".

He insisted that he didn't remember those things, nor did he have any strange memories.

What business is it of mine if you dream about me in your own erotic dreams?

If they meet again in the future, aside from Natsume Mio who has already been entangled in karma, the first thing to do is to insist that it is the first time they have met and that they do not know each other at all.

In this way, one can stand in the absolutely safe position of a "stranger".

Don't worry about whether I'm a jerk in your dreams or not.

Tell me, this time, aren't we all starting from scratch?

Since we're starting from scratch, and I didn't actively seek you out,

What if, just what if, we get caught up in some kind of chaotic situation again...

Just tell me whether it was voluntary or not.

(End of this chapter)