Full-time comic artist

"Oda is really amazing," Hibiki Higashino said, nodding in praise as he watched the television.

"Isn't it just interpreting the plot?" Akemi Akimiya pouted, feeling that someone was being arrogant again.

“Of course that’s not what I meant,” Hibiki Higashino said. “Oda has so much time to analyze Puella Magi Madoka Magica in addition to drawing One Piece…”

For a weekly cartoonist, that's quite remarkable.

……

A few days later, the second volume of "Puella Magi Madoka Magica" was released.

This manga, which only has 24 chapters, is only available in three volumes.

That's it, the second volume is also quite captivating.

Buyers flocked to the store.

The craze for the first volume hadn't even died down when the buying frenzy for the second volume began.

Akihabara is full of fans of "Puella Magi Madoka Magica", and manga tea houses are full of otaku who drink tea and discuss the plot of "Puella Magi Madoka Magica".

"It's really scary."

On a television program, a reporter filmed the spectacular street scene from the front lines, and the invited guests, upon seeing this, were deeply moved.

The host asked, "Professor Terao, what is your opinion?"

"Puella Magi Madoka Magica is a work that has not yet been adapted into an anime, but its influence is already astonishing."

“I’ve noticed that there are people now using the influence of ‘Little Circle’ to make money. Look over there.”

Professor Terao pointed to a coffee shop decorated in the style of "Puella Magi Madoka Magica," with a Madoka illustration at the entrance and staff serving customers in cosplay.

“There are a lot of guests.” The reporter went up to interview them.

"Yes, everyone here is a fan of 'Puella Magi Madoka Magica'," the shop manager said.

"What is your approximate income?"

The store manager smiled. "It's a secret."

"Hahahaha." Laughter erupted in the studio.

"Why do you like 'Little Circle'?" the reporter stopped another customer.

“Because Madoka is so gentle,” said the overweight customer, wearing a shirt covered in images of characters from the anime *Puella Magi Madoka Magica*, seemingly unconcerned about the stares of others. “It makes me feel warm; wearing it makes me feel like there’s nothing to be afraid of.”

"The truth?"

"Because it's cute, haha."

The camera cuts back to the studio.

Professor Terao said, "That's right. 'Puella Magi Madoka Magica' has already formed an economic circle, and companies born around 'Puella Magi Madoka Magica' are constantly emerging. As far as I know, Tunghai University has already opened a course to analyze the success of 'Puella Magi Madoka Magica'."

"Tori Akino-sensei has succeeded once again."

……

"I still don't know the contents of the last episode of 'Puella Magi Madoka Magica'."

Satoru Soma arrived at Ichiro Soma's studio.

The 24th episode of "Puella Magi Madoka Magica" – "My Last Friend" and the 23rd episode – "The Law of Cycles" – contain an astonishing amount of information, all of which has been condensed.

If we spread these out, drawing another 24 episodes wouldn't be a problem.

Soma Satoru, who has now entered middle school, has grown up compared to previous years, but he still doesn't quite understand the deeper meaning of the story. He is only moved to tears and deeply shocked.

“Well,” Soma Ichiro said, stroking his beard, “I actually have a lot of feelings about this.”

"Madoka Kaname saved the magical girl in the end, but still couldn't change the dark world."

"Darkness is eternal; it will exist in various twisted forms, and even God cannot eliminate it, but God can bring salvation to the soul... In the end, it still returns to realism."

"Magical girls are not perpetual motion machines. In this realistic world, everything comes at a price. They create hope, but the price is that they will lose hope. This work directly tears away the fairy tale exterior of magical girls, revealing their darkest and most realistic essence."

"I thought the final plot would be idealistic, with Madoka and Mami's love saving everything."

"This is the contradiction between realism and idealism."

"The final plot reveals the truth of saving magical girls under the idealism, a miracle born from the love of Homura Akemi and Madoka Kaname."

"But correspondingly, realism has not disappeared. People still have to face the fact that love cannot change everything and make the world a better place."

"Puella Magi Madoka Magica, which unifies realism and idealism... I can only say, as expected of Akino Tori.

Soma Ichiro sighed deeply as he recalled that young man.

If he can create a storyline like "Puella Magi Madoka Magica," then his shortcomings in drawing skills will not matter.

“Uncle,” Soma Satoru scratched his head, “I feel even more confused… I can’t understand it, I can’t understand it at all.”

“So,” Soma Ichiro looked at his nephew, “ordinary readers enjoy the entertainment value of Puella Magi Madoka Magica, while those with higher standards appreciate its artistry.”

"It's no wonder that 'Little Circle' is so successful because it has both elements."

A work that combines entertainment and artistry, and is so wonderful and profound, is the only manga that Soma Ichiro has read in recent years that is "Puella Magi Madoka Magica".

……

Half a month after the release of the second volume of "Puella Magi Madoka Magica", Koji Yoshida came to the Higashino family.

“Teacher, Mr. Tori Akino,” he shouted.

"What's wrong?" Hibiki Higashino asked, looking up from his seat in the living room.

He was playing Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas.

This game was released on the PS2 platform on October 26th of this year.

Hibiki Higashino, who has played countless AAA games since then, was also completely absorbed in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas.

If the manga hadn't ended, he might have really gone on hiatus.

"The second volume of 'Puella Magi Madoka Magica' has sold over 70 copies!"

70 views is a significant milestone in Jump, representing a very popular manga.

Being able to achieve this level already makes them a pillar of Jump.

The sales of the manga volumes of "D.Gray-man" and "Gintama" are still far from 70 copies.

There is no hope of achieving this result in the short term.

It took more than a year for Naruto to reach 70 readers.

This was the level of success for most of the time during the serialization of "Hikaru no Go".

But now, the second volume of "Puella Magi Madoka Magica," which has only been released for half a month, has already achieved results that other comic artists envy.

“Oh,” Hibiki Higashino nodded, then picked up the controller again. “Thank you, Yoshida-kun.”

"Teacher, your reaction is too calm!"

Yoshida stood in front of Higashino, blocking his view.

"Get out of the way," Higashino Hibiki said.

"Excuse me." Yoshida said timidly, quickly stepping aside.

Ten minutes later, Koji Yoshida still hadn't left.

Hibiki Higashino, having completed a mission, put down the controller with satisfaction.

He then glanced at Yoshida and asked, "What exactly do you want today?"

There's absolutely no need to notify me of a mere 70.

It has to break a million.

The first volume of "Little Circle" easily achieved the milestone of selling over a million copies.

"Puella Magi Madoka Magica" is now more talked about and has undoubtedly surpassed the data from the first volume.

So Yoshida can just make a phone call and let them know.

Editors are busy too.

"Teacher, do you see anything different about me?"

Yoshida struck a pose in front of Higashino.

Higashino frowned. "You've gained weight?"

"Of course not! I've actually lost two pounds!"

"Do you have forehead wrinkles?"

Yoshida covered her forehead. "Don't worry about these things!"

He pointed to his coat, "Look at my clothes!"

Yoshida's jacket had English on it, which Higashino read aloud, "team leader..."

“That’s right!” Hearing Higashino Hibiki say that, Yoshida puffed out his chest and pointed to himself, “I became the group leader a long time ago!”

He had wanted to show off this to Higashino Hibiki for a long time.

I just never had the chance.

Therefore, he could only use the good grades of the second volume as an excuse to come to the Higashino family.

He even searched for a long time for a jacket with the words "team leader" printed on it.

To be honest, he really didn't like such a baggy coat.

"Ah, congratulations, Yoshida-kun, no, Yoshida-gumi-sama." Higashino clapped.

"Thank you, teacher." Yoshida smiled broadly, overjoyed.

How should I put it? Facing Akino Mirai, he felt a sense of kinship with his parents.

Yoshida feels a great sense of accomplishment when he can let Yoshida know that he has achieved something.

This has been a major driving force behind his continuous efforts.

"This is something to celebrate." Hibiki Higashino saved his game, stood up, and turned off the TV and game console.