Tokyo: Oreimo

Iori Setsuna was an incompetent editor and failed to provide Takashiro Ryono with proper guidance, which led to a serious decline in the quality of the second half of the manga.

"However, it's better for you to finish it sooner, since there's no copyright revenue to be gained anyway."

Ritsu Saito suddenly laughed and patted the manuscript on the table.

“I’m really looking forward to your next project. If you’re willing, I can take charge of it and I guarantee you’ll get the treatment you deserve.”

As he spoke, Ritsu Saito tidied up the original manuscript of "Moon Witch Transformation" and put it back into the file bag.

"Well then, if there's nothing else, I'll be taking my leave now." He handed a business card to Takashiro Ryouno.

"Here is my contact information. You can call me when your next project is ready."

Ritsu Saito prepared to leave the meeting room.

"Wait, Editor Saito."

Takashiro Ryou quickly raised her hand to stop the other person.

Is there anything else?

Saito Ritsu watched as the blonde girl in front of him pulled another file folder from her backpack and placed it on the table.

"Actually, I have already written the opening of my new work, and I hope you can take a look at it."

"Ok?"

Ritsu Saito frowned.

"The original manuscript?"

"Yes."

Ling Nai nodded nervously.

"Iori Setsuna didn't teach you anything. Just use NAME for the editor's initial review. The original manuscript takes a lot of effort and resources."

Ritsu Saito took the file bag and sat back down in his original seat.

"That being said, it hasn't been long since she submitted the last draft. Given that she completed the original artwork in such a short time, does she even have time to create a new piece?"

The thought popped into his head.

Polishing a good work often takes time, especially the opening, which is the most energy-consuming part.

'Judging from this, the quality of this work may be far inferior to the previous one.'

Saito Ritsu thought to himself.

He could see from "Moon Witch Transformation" that Takashiro Ryono truly possessed the talent to become a manga artist, and in terms of drawing skills alone, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to call her a genius.

However, the plot is her weakness. The huge success of her previous work can be said to have been due to favorable circumstances, but it is difficult to replicate.

Ritsu Saito's gaze fell on the file folder, the title of the work written on the cover.

'Cardcaptor Sakura? Is this another magical girl-themed shoujo manga?'

He had initially held some hope, but upon seeing the name, he couldn't help but show disappointment on his face.

Kadokawa has no shortage of works like this; in fact, you could say they're everywhere.

Since the huge success of "Moon Witch Transformation", the editors in the department have received a large number of similar submissions, and many works have benefited from this trend.

This is indeed true; the market response at the time was excellent.

But just six months later, all similar works began to fail miserably, with extremely high content repetition.

There are countless examples of this type of work that are canceled within two issues of a serialization convention.

In this market, is Takashiro Ryōno submitting another work like this in an attempt to replicate the popularity of her previous work?

That's impossible.

Ritsu Saito was somewhat uninterested.

However, given his position as the editor in charge, he still began to open the file folder.

"After reviewing it, let's give her a new direction. In the current market, she could try drawing some campus comics; with her drawing skills, that shouldn't be a problem."

Ritsu Saito was well aware of Ryoko Takashiro's strengths and was confident that under his guidance, she could steadily improve.

But before that, we must dissuade the other party from continuing down this path of no return as a magical girl.

He pulled out the original manuscript and looked at the paper covering the top page.

In addition to the title of the work, there is also the author's signature.

"Rumiko Takagi....and CLAMP?"

"Joint authorship?"

Ritsu Saito looked at Ryōno Takagi.

"Isn't this a work you created independently?"

"No, it was created in collaboration with someone. He was in charge of the name, and I was in charge of the drawing."

Takashiro Ryouno nodded, while inwardly complaining.

Tell that guy to come up with a decent pen name, he insists on using this string of English words as his signature.

I don't know what's so good about these ambiguous words?

"Does this CLAMP member have any previous works?"

Saito Ritsu asked the question, while his mind involuntarily recalled the person he had mentioned to Hayakawa Rumi and Hattori Takuya that morning.

——Takagi Ryosuke.

As far as he knew, the other party was Takashiro Ryōno's older brother.

As a veteran editor, I am used to the events that happen within the department and can still maintain a considerable level of sensitivity.

He had clearly found out the whole story of the scandal that Iori Setsuna had caused a while ago.

This older brother, who seems to be there to seek justice for his sister, is actually someone brought into the manga editorial department by Hayakawa Rumi.

Bringing someone into the company as a tourist, even if they are just friends, is completely against the rules. How could a newcomer dare to do that?

If he were a newly emerging light novel author, then it would make sense.

He had heard that the gold prize winner of the most recent Dengeki Bunko Newcomer Award, 'Keichi Sigsawa,' was actually voiced by Rumi Hayakawa.

Saito awaited Takashiro Ryōno's reply.

But the girl in front of him shook her head.

"No, that guy is just a bookworm."

"Completely no creative experience?"

Saito Ritsu persisted, asking the question relentlessly.

"No, but his name is very interesting, and I was attracted to it before I decided to work with him."

Takashiro Ryouno spoke, her posture slightly awkward.

There's something wrong with praising that guy in front of others.

Ritsu Saito: "Speaking of which, what is your relationship with the person you collaborate with? This situation also exists in the industry. Most of them are couples or relatives. If it is not a stable relationship, it is common for them to part ways due to the distribution of benefits."

Husband...husband and wife?!

Takashiro Ryouno almost jumped up; it would be a big problem if the editor misunderstood because of this.

The girl felt her face getting hot.

"Although I hate to admit it, that guy is my older brother."

Chapter 24 Saito: I've struck gold!

What does it mean to not want to admit it?

Saito Ritsu didn't understand, but seeing that Takashiro Ryōno seemed unwilling to say more, he didn't press the matter.

'If we're talking about older brothers, then this CLAMP should be Ryosuke Takagi, right?'

Ritsu Saito still harbored a sliver of doubt.

Is Ryosuke Takagi really Keiichi Sigsawa?

Although Takashiro Ryōno's answer was no, based on his own intuition, he always felt that Hattori Taku was also hiding something from him.

'Is Hattori trying to prevent me from stealing him, or is he just playing hard to get?'

In any case, you should be able to understand it by looking at this drawing.

Saito opened the original manuscript of Cardcaptor Sakura and began to read the work.

......

Magical girl stories have become somewhat clichéd in the current manga world.

But when Ritsu Saito started reading the third chapter of this work, a feeling of excitement began to grow in his heart.

Ritsu Saito flipped through the pages faster and faster, glancing at each page before immediately turning to the next.

It took him five minutes to read the entire opening chapter.

The manuscript paper returned to the first page in his hands, which he held with both hands and tapped on the table to organize it.

He finished reading it so quickly? He read it even faster than that guy! I hope it won't be approved.

Takashiro Ryouno suddenly tensed up.

There was absolutely no problem with Ryosuke's story; she was certain of that.

As the first person to encounter "Cardcaptor Sakura," the mere mention of the name was enough to keep her reading, and even after finishing it, she still felt unsatisfied and wanted to know what would happen next.

If the plot is fine, then isn't the problem with the original artwork?

Takashiro Ryouno was a little insecure, after all, the other party had just pointed out the shortcomings of the previous work.

"Wait a moment, Professor Takashiro, please allow me to look at it again."

Saito Ritsu's voice was flat, and before Takashiro Ryōno could respond, he turned to the second page again.