Full-time comic artist

"Be patient a little longer."

"Okay... Oh, by the way, Maruyama-san, what were you thinking about just now?"

"A comic book."

"comics?"

“Hmm,” Maruyama Masao put down his rice spoon, looked at Araki Tetsuro, and said with a gentle smile, “It’s Tori Akino’s ‘Puella Magi Madoka Magica’. The plot twists were so amazing that I couldn’t help but be mesmerized.”

When talking about "Puella Magi Madoka Magica", Tetsuro Araki couldn't help but nod.

Because he worked on "Death Note," he cares a lot about Akino Mirai, and he's also been watching "Puella Magi Madoka Magica."

Like most readers, the initial disappointment turned to bewilderment, and then to amazement.

Before he knew it, the story of "Little Circle" had deeply penetrated his heart.

“Most readers of ‘Puella Magi Madoka Magica’ probably feel this way now,” Tetsuro Araki said.

“That’s true. Everyone cares a lot about this manga. The influence of ‘Puella Magi Madoka Magica’ is terrifying right now. Araki-kun, actually, I’ve been thinking…” Maruyama Masao leaned forward, getting closer to Araki Tetsuro.

"Curry!" Tetsuro Araki shouted anxiously, pointing at the pot behind him, "It's going to burn!"

Maruyama Masao was interrupted, and he quickly turned around and stirred the bottom of the pot.

"You can go out now," he said to Tetsuro Araki.

"Okay, but be careful," Tetsuro Araki instructed.

"Yes Yes."

Seeing Tetsuro Araki leave, Masao Maruyama sighed.

He was just about to say that Madhouse would be producing the anime adaptation of "Puella Magi Madoka Magica," with Tetsuro Araki as director, but that guy was only thinking about eating, leaving him speechless.

"Death Note has sold over 15000 discs. For a manga like Puella Magi Madoka Magica with its unorthodox elements, the most suitable director at Madhouse would still be Araki-kun."

The disc sales figures are based on the average sales per reel.

Above Death Note is Ghost in the Shell.

It is currently ranked among the top 50 in Japanese disc sales.

Tetsuro Araki's talent is on full display.

but……

Maruyama Masao turned around and looked out of the kitchen. "Let's wait a little longer."

……

The manga series "Puella Magi Madoka Magica" was only serialized for a little over four months.

A typical proposal to adapt a comic into an anime usually takes at least one or two years.

Sasaki Takashi frowned as he looked at the documents on the table. Animation companies were already eager to feast on the "Puella Magi Madoka Magica" feast.

According to Akino-sensei, the anime adaptation of "Puella Magi Madoka Magica" will not be finished for long. In other words, the anime will not bring any benefits to the manga in the short term.

Sasaki decided to think about it some more.

At the very least, we need to choose the most sincere one among these companies.

"That's amazing!"

Kohei Onishi looked at the documents on Sasaki's wooden table and said to Souichi Aida, "So many proposals to make an anime of 'Puella Magi Madoka Magica'... 'Gintama' is..."

"You're lucky. The sales of the 'Gintama' manga are pretty good. The sales of 'Katekyo Hitman Reborn!' which I was in charge of, are dismal. It hasn't even broken 20 copies yet." Aida Soichi said dejectedly.

As an editor, he didn't know how to change the predicament facing "Katekyo Hitman Reborn!".

It's the kind of situation where it can only barely survive, but if the main storyline is changed, "Katekyo Hitman Reborn!" might plummet in rankings and be canceled altogether, creating a dilemma.

"Gintama isn't as good as D.Gray-man... let alone Puella Magi Madoka Magica... that lucky guy Yoshida!"

Onishi Kohei and Aida Soichi gritted their teeth and looked at Yoshida Koji, only to find that the lucky Yoshida was now frowning, as if he had something difficult to solve.

……

On Friday afternoon, Higashino looked at the original manuscript and felt that there were still some things he was not satisfied with, but he didn't know where to revise it.

"What do you think, Yoshida-kun?"

“No problem.” Yoshida gave a thumbs up. “Everything is great.”

"Is that right?"

"That's right!"

“Yoshida-kun…” Higashino Hibiki paused, looked at Yoshida Koji in front of him, and asked with displeasure, “Are you in a hurry?”

I have a feeling that Yoshida is just giving me the runaround, and I want to leave as soon as possible.

"Of course not."

"Then think about it carefully."

"Yes."

The minute hand of the clock on the wall moved slowly, and time ticked by.

Koji Yoshida suppressed his anxiety and tried to think things through, but his mind remained a jumbled mess.

Half an hour later, Higashino Hibiki slapped his thigh and exclaimed, "So this is it! This is the first time Madoka Magica's magical girl form has appeared. Her hair accessory was drawn wrong; it's different from the one on the color page of the first chapter. No wonder I couldn't figure it out for so long!"

More than half a year has passed since he conceived the character design for Madoka in the first episode.

This is not Hibiki Higashino's fault.

After all, in magical girl manga, the protagonist is always an ordinary person, so it's perfectly reasonable to misunderstand the details of her magical girl form.

"Should we make changes?" Yoshida Koji asked in a panic.

“Of course,” Hibiki Higashino said. “Please wait a moment, it will be ready soon.”

It's just minor tweaks; it won't take much time.

Ten minutes later, Higashino handed the manuscript to Yoshida.

"Do you want to watch it again?" he asked.

"It's already good enough. The teacher's drawing is perfect."

Yoshida put the manuscript into a file bag and left.

Higashino watched him start the car from the doorway, feeling very curious.

"Is Yoshida-kun in a relationship? He seems to be in a hurry."

He'd only be this anxious when he's about to see his girlfriend.

Just then, his cell phone rang, and Higashino Hibiki turned around to answer it.

"Is that Da Sen? I want to see Xiao Tian, ​​but she hasn't shown up yet... Don't worry, it's Friday. It must be that wicked capitalist making her work overtime. Just wait a little longer..."

Higashino comforted Omori, explaining that today was the day he was supposed to meet his online girlfriend, but she hadn't shown up when the appointed time arrived. Omori was very uneasy and instinctively called Higashino for help.

Akemi Akemi's ears twitched. She walked over and snatched Hibiki Higashino's phone. "Mr. Omori, where are you? Are you at the coffee shop near your studio? Oh, I see."

After ending the call, Higashino Hibiki scolded, "Why did you bother me? I hadn't finished saying what I wanted to say yet."

“What’s there to say?” Akemi Akemi took Hibiki Higashino’s hand and walked towards the front door. “The most important thing right now is to go and see for ourselves.”

……

Omori's studio is not far from Higashino's house; it's a 30-minute drive away.

Hibiki Higashino unexpectedly spotted Koji Yoshida's Toyota RAV4 in a nearby parking lot.

However, Higashino Hibiki has no interest in that now. Influenced by Akemi Akimiya, he is now extremely curious about Omori's side.

Who exactly is Xiaotian? She can offer heartwarming comfort to Dasen, transforming a decadent middle-aged man into the busy, career-driven man he is today.

The Higashino couple rushed over and soon arrived at the coffee shop that Omori had mentioned.

"Welcome, guests."

The waiter bowed and asked, "Are there two of you?"

Hibiki Higashino looked around the coffee shop, and Akemi Akemi said, "That's right, two people."

"Ah, there."

Hibiki Higashino saw Omori.

He was wearing a black suit with a rose tucked into his blouse, and his hair was styled meticulously, making him stand out.

"Let's just sit there and have two glasses of juice."

He pulled Akemi Akemi along, carefully moved to the empty seat behind Omori, bent down, and waited patiently.

Da Sen placed his hands on his thighs, looking very nervous, glancing out the window every now and then with a forlorn expression.

"Aren't they coming?" Akemi Akemi asked Hibiki Higashino in a low voice.

"Possibly," Higashino nodded. "After all, it's just online interaction."

"Ah~" Akemi Akemi said regretfully.

……

Koji Yoshida paced back and forth in the restroom in the parking lot.

He is very nervous right now.

"Ah, I must make a clean break!" With a determined look, Yoshida rushed toward a nearby coffee shop.

Upon entering the coffee shop, he saw Omori, whose meticulously dressed appearance made him grin.

This is going to be difficult.

……

"The gentleman there must have made an appointment with his lover."

"why?"

"Men only dress up carefully when they're seeing someone they like. And look at him, he's so nervous."