Tokyo: Earth Online Manga Artist

However, their rankings are clearly not as high as those of Attack on Titan, which is also a new work.

The meeting room was silent for a few seconds.

Although it's cruel, that's the rule of Weekly Shonen Jump and the reason it has stood the test of time.

The ranking in the reader survey determines everything; if you consistently rank at the bottom, you'll be cut in half—there's no room for leniency.

Every cartoonist who serializes in this magazine knows this, and every editor knows this too.

No one will offer words of comfort at this time, because everyone has been through it too many times.

"Alright, meeting adjourned."

Ibaraki Masahiko clapped his hands and said, "Everyone, go back and check the rankings with your teachers. Encourage those who deserve it and remind those who need a reminder."

"Yes!"

The crowd responded.

The editors stood up one after another, the chair legs scraping against the floor.

Some people picked up their cups to get water, some walked straight out, and some whispered something to their colleagues.

Masaya Sakurai closed his notebook, stood up, walked out of the meeting room, and returned to his seat.

He put the notebook on the table, picked up the phone, found Eri Aragaki's number in his contacts, and dialed it.

This is also an unwritten rule that new cartoonists must be informed of their ranking regardless of their performance.

Not to mention that Eri Aragaki's work actually ranked quite well in popularity this time, which is quite unexpected.

The phone rang a few times before being answered.

"Hey."

Eri Aragaki's voice came through the receiver, with video game sound effects in the background, like a character unleashing a skill.

"Teacher Aragaki, I am Sakurai."

Sakurai Masaya cleared his throat and said seriously, "The popularity poll results for the first episode are out. I'll share them with you."

Eri Aragaki was actually curled up on the sofa in the living room, playing a game on her handheld console.

The royalties she earned during this period were enough to allow her to splurge a little.

After receiving the Tezuka Award prize money, along with her convenience store salary and weekly royalties from the start of Attack on Titan serialization, she had a lot more money to spare.

She bought a brand new handheld console, bought a batch of comics and anime DVDs that she had always wanted, and even occasionally went out shopping and eating with Ayane Takeda and Akane Natsume.

It's fair to say that she's been living a much more comfortable life lately.

Erina went to work at the bookstore today, so she's home alone.

The air conditioner was on, and on the coffee table sat a half-empty bottle of barley tea and an opened bag of rice crackers. She had placed a sofa cushion behind her back and was slumped in a comfortable position.

Hearing Masaya Sakurai's words, she pressed the pause button and said, "Yes, you said..."

"Thirteenth place."

Masaya Sakurai's voice came through the receiver, saying, "Ranked thirteenth out of twenty-one works, this is a very good result for the first chapter of a new author's new serialization."

Eri Aragaki merely expressed her happiness slightly, smiling before saying, "Okay, thank you, Mr. Sakurai."

But in reality, she felt somewhat calm, even a little disappointed.

Chapter 41 The Indolent Eri Aragaki

Ultimately... Attack on Titan achieved such a high level of success in Eri Aragaki's memory.

She still clearly remembered the scene when Attack on Titan became a global sensation after its anime adaptation in her previous life—the phenomenal popularity, the grand occasion where you could see the Survey Corps' Wings of Liberty emblem everywhere you went.

She is currently only ranked thirteenth, which is in line with her previous prediction of aiming for 15th or 10th, but she still has some expectations in her heart.

After all, what if?

What if Attack on Titan's first episode breaks into the top ten in popularity?

It's like how many new online novel authors fantasize that they can become a legend with just one book, get a contract with an editor after only three chapters, and then have 100,000 clicks and collections within a month of signing the contract.

Although these are all fantasies, and everyone knows they are not very realistic, who doesn't have such fantasies?

What's more, Eri Aragaki is a time traveler, and what she copied is "Attack on Titan"!

On the night she submitted her manuscript, Eri Aragaki had similar thoughts while lying in bed.

Who knows, maybe Attack on Titan will also have a great start in Weekly Shonen Jump?

Well... okay.

It seems that even Attack on Titan could not achieve the feat of quickly passing the top ten of Weekly Shonen Jump with its first episode.

After all, this is Weekly Shonen Jump. The top ten manga works are all popular masterpieces, making it a dominant force in the industry. Let's not even mention Naruto, Bleach, and One Piece.

Gintama, Katekyo Hitman Reborn!, and D.Gray-man are all works that have been serialized for several years and have accumulated a large number of loyal readers.

For a new author and a new serial, trying to squeeze into the first chapter is definitely overthinking things.

Masaya Sakurai couldn't detect the specific changes in Eri Aragaki's mindset, but he gleaned something from her "okay" response.

He immediately thought that Eri Aragaki was being overly ambitious or didn't understand Weekly Shonen Jump, and therefore thought the ranking was very poor.

"Aragaki-sensei, as a newcomer and this is your first serialization, your ranking of thirteenth is already quite good."

He said helplessly, "Many works that are very popular now started out in the teens and climbed up slowly when they were first serialized."

In fact, Eri Aragaki understands this principle, so what else can she say?

"Yes, I understand."

Eri Aragaki nodded, and although the other person couldn't see her, she still said earnestly, "Thank you, Mr. Sakurai. I will do my best from now on."

She was about to hang up the phone.

Masaya Sakurai spoke up again, saying, "By the way, Aragaki-sensei..."

Then he remembered something.

"Ah."

Eri Aragaki had no choice but to respond.

"You've finished drawing the manuscript for your sixth chapter, haven't you?"

Masaya Sakurai immediately replied, "If you finish drawing it, you can submit it to me in the next couple of days if you have time."

"Hey???"

Eri Aragaki blinked, then suddenly fell silent.

There was silence on the other end of the phone for several seconds.

It was so quiet that Sakurai Masashi could clearly hear the game sound effects coming back from Aragaki Eri's handheld console, which sounded like a character screaming after being hit by an enemy.

Masaya Sakurai initially felt there was nothing to worry about.

Eri Aragaki had previously submitted a five-chapter manuscript to him at once, and its quality was impeccable, leaving a deep impression on him.

Moreover, he noticed that Eri Aragaki was a girl, and girls generally give the impression of being more self-disciplined and hardworking, unlike many male manga artists who frequently miss deadlines, disappear, don't answer calls, or don't reply to messages.

Just like the difference between boys and girls in a class when you're in school, although there are some stereotypes, there are also some differences.

For example, there are many self-disciplined and diligent boys, and there are many girls who do not study well, are lazy, or violate discipline.

But in most cases, it's just as stereotypical.

After all, stereotypes are the impressions that a group of people often present. If this group does not often present such an image, it will not give people such a stereotype.

So Masaya Sakurai was relieved during this time and didn't specifically remind or urge Eri Aragaki to hand in the manuscript for the sixth episode.

He should have reminded or urged Eri Aragaki to draw the manuscript for episode six half a month ago and then submitted it to him.

But he subconsciously trusted Eri Aragaki too much.

But unexpectedly, it seems that Eri Aragaki hasn't been thinking about drawing at all during this period of time?

Especially Eri Aragaki's reaction now...

This reaction was silent for several seconds.

Masaya Sakurai's expression turned serious.

"teacher."

He lowered his voice a little and asked, "You haven't finished the manuscript for chapter six yet, have you?"

Eri Aragaki's hand holding the handheld console froze.

She glanced at the pile of game cartridges on the coffee table, then at the stack of comic books and anime DVDs next to the TV, and the snacks scattered on the table, before finally looking at her pajamas and the clock on the wall…

It's 2:30 PM now...

After getting up today, she brushed her teeth and washed her face, then curled up on the sofa to play games. Even her breakfast was a rice ball that Erina left for her on the table before she left.

As for the artwork for chapter 6 of "Attack on Titan"?

what is that?

She hasn't even drawn the storyboard yet!

After all, who would want to work if they could lie in bed all day playing games, reading comics and anime, and occasionally going out shopping with pretty girls?

No way, no way, can anyone really love their job?

but!

Now she realizes that people... can't live without working!

At least her comfortable life now is earned through her work. If she doesn't want to go back to that miserable working life, she has to work hard!

That's just how people are...

When faced with enjoyment, one becomes lazy and loses ambition.