Old Spoiler

1st: Perfect Crime Party - Ashirogi Muto
2nd: Crow - Niizuma Eiji
3rd: Classroom of Truth - Nanamine Toru
4th: Money & Intelligence - Ashirogi Muto
5th: Detective Trap - Ashirogi Muto
6th: Panty Flash Fight - Azuma Mikihiko
7th: Otters 11 - Hiramaru Kazuya
8th: Boku no Tsujinnai - Hiramaru Kazuya
9th: Super Hero Legend - Kawaguchi Taro
10th: Money and Intelligence and Looks (KTM) - Ashirogi Muto

There are two entries in the 11th+ rankings by Eiji which I can't tell what manga it is (one of the names resemble that Space Cockroach he mentioned once lolwut). Well, that's the manga poll.

Am quite busy at the moment so cliff notes for this week.

- Hattori, Takagi, and Mashiro note how Reversi has to follow the Black Demon vs White Demon setting to the very end. It's the manga's main selling point but also their main disadvantage. In the end, Hattori just says to leave it as is.

- On the way home from the studio, while having a conversation about Azuki being in their anime, Mashiro notes they have to make Reversi better than Young Kick. Takagi asks how many volumes does Young Kick have now. "Roughly 42...43?". "=_=".

- That night, after having dinner, Takagi has lots of thoughts about Reversi. About avoiding the same fate as PCP, about making it an anime, about continuing writing Reversi after it gets animated, about whether he can keep drawing out the story for 5, 10 years, about whether to change the setting so after the final battle they come back to life, and such and such.

- August, 10th, Thursday, Takagi gives Mashiro his draft to look at, and Mashiro notes how many battle scenes he's put in when his strengths are psychological battles and how he's dragging the plot out.

- Their rank for the week is 5th. Hattori looks at the name and thinks it's linear, and Mashiro notes how slow the plot is. Takagi argues that the story would be over real fast otherwise, and argues how popular mangas (like Naruto, OP, Bleach, DragonBall, Rorouni Kenshin, Slam Dunk) are popular because of their long lasting serializations.

- The argument continues for a few more pages, but the jist is Takagi is thinking of a popular long lasting serialization, whereas Mashiro doesn't mind if Takagi's story is short as long as the story is interesting. Even if that means their manga only ends up with ~100 chapters (another loose parallel to DN).

- After hearing Azuki's radio show, Takagi and Mashiro talk on the phone about whether it matters if Reversi is serialized for a long time or not. He already knows how the ending will go and doesn't plan on writing the story after the finale. Mashiro says it's fine, even if it means less than 50 chapters left, and that he believes in Takagi and that he's the writer.

"I understand now! I won't waste one word nor one sentence, and anything excessive! This way should be ok right!!"

"Yeah, and I'll draw them out as best as possible, so we should just look forward, giving it the best we got!"

Chapter 159: Tempo and Ferris Wheel

Mashiro and Takagi while in a meeting with Hattori, lets Hattori know what they plan to do with Reversi; just give it their best in one shot and slowly build up the story until the final clash between Black and White demon and then end it there. Hattori eventually agrees with them in the end, but says to think about whether they can extend it when they get to that point. Right now, what's important is just focusing on each chapter, week by week.

We're told 1st and 2nd is pretty much occupied solely by Reversi and Zombie Gun. Those two exchange places a lot. This week is Reversi to be in 1st it seems. And the gap between 2nd and 3rd is quite large too. Lately, it makes it hard for newbies to break in, and even then it's hard to maintain its serialization. Yuujiro jokes that if 3 new series appears, they'd probably have to cut Seigi no Mikata and +Natural (I can't believe this is still running tbh).

ANYWAY. THE MAIN ATTRACTION OF THIS CHAPTER.

Yoshida tells Hiramaru that Aoki's manga will end, and he gets depressed. Yoshida tells him it's not a good chance to propose, that he should wait until she's serialized again, and takes his leave. To cheer her up, Hiramaru calls her and asks whether she wants to go to the amusement park after "What God Gave Me.." ends. Aoki happily accepts, and later notes how it's already been 2 years since that time (which was 114 btw. Whoa, 45 chapters = 2 years already)

Later, Hiramaru calls up Yoshida to tell him he's going to the amusement park with Aoki to cheer her up on Nov. 1st. During mid-sentence, Hiramaru thinks Yoshida thinks it's now the time to propose. Yoshida says no he didn't mean that but Hiramaru in a fit of enthusiasm thinks so and NOW DECIDES TO GO AND PROPOSE TO AOKI. XD

We then get a flashback of the time Yoshida and Hiramaru first met (which is downright hilarious).

Some more comedy ensues in the editorial department and then Yoshida in the end decides to egg Hiramaru on!

He goes over to his house, and tells him the plan, ride the rollercoaster, go visit a haunted house, and then ride the ferris wheel in the end. Apparently Hiramaru already bought the ring too. Hiramaru asks him where's the magical proposal line? Yoshida doesn't have one. But after a bit of back and forth argument Yoshida TELLS HIM TO PAUSE AND USE WHAT HE JUST SAID as the magical proposal line. XD Hiramaru asks what happens if he fails. Yoshid replies he'll come and recover his corpse. XD

SO THE BIG DAY COMES UP. And after going on the roller coaster and through the haunted house, Hiramaru doesn't feel too good. Eventually, they ride the ferris wheel...and come back down to another not-so-looking Hiramaru. Everybody thinks he's doesn't do well with heights, and he didn't even propose. And when he goes to get the ring, he notices it's gone, possibly dropped it while on the roller coaster. As Aoki notes it's almost closing time, Hiramaru grabs her hand and exclaims "LET'S...LET'S RIDE THE FERRIS WHEEL ONCE MORE~"

Chapter 160: Good Luck and 900,000.


Yoshida: (Good luck, Hiramaru!!)

Yoshida: Argh! You stupid idiot! You're sitting across from each other again, why don't you sit by her side!

Yoshida: (Then...then again, since it's a proposal. If he proposes like that, it's probably better to sit across from each other.)

Aoki: To go on this twice, you really like riding the ferris wheel, eh.

It's so pretty, I like riding it too.

Hiramaru: Well it's not that I really like it or something. And it's not afraid of heights or anything.

But if I must say, it's probably claustrophobia.

Aoki: ?

Aoki: ..... [when Hiramaru is stripping]

Aoki: Uhh...is it really hot or something?

Hiramaru: Not really...because it's November already...

Hiramaru: (Can't find it. Still can't find it....the 50 million yen ring...)

Aoki: What's the matter...? Hiramaru-san, you've been acting so weird today.

Hiramaru: Uhh. No I haven't.

Hiramaru: (Uwahh, Yuri-tan is looking this way, and she's looking with such a strange glance)

(If I can just find the ring right now and propose...)

(Then again, maybe it's already impossible....ahhh...it's impossible!!)

Aoki: You're not happy coming to the amusement park with me?

Hiramaru: Huh?! I'm happy, of course I'm happy.

Hiramaru: B-but...the ring...

Aoki: ?! Ring?

Hiramaru: N-no...nothing...r-ring...last night...oh right, last night I was so excited I couldn't sleep...

Not...excited...it was like that time before going on fieldtrip in elementary...the venue was the same, an amusement park too....

And the refreshments we brought along wasn't worth 300 yen? I think it was kinda like this...

Aoki: ............

Aoki: (Ring...he wouldn't be...)

Yoshida: Ughh...almost to the top now....

Yoshida: What the heck are you doing, Hiramaru. No matter how you look at it, seems like he hasn't proposed yet. What the heck are you doing

Aoki: I-it's so pretty outside.

Hiramaru: Uh...it is?

Yoshida: Ah!

Aoki: (Ehh)

Aoki: ............

Yoshida: Oh crap, I've been spotted.......

Aoki: Wasn't that Yoshida-san just now..? Why would Yoshida-san be here?

Aoki: ...

Aoki: It was the same as that time. Yoshida-san is worried about Hiramaru-san? If that's the case...

Aoki: (Ring...Hiramaru-san's appearance at an amusement park today, dressed in an all white suit...)

(...the worried Yoshida-san coming here.)

Aoki: !!!

Aoki: ...

Aoki: Hiramaru-san.

Hiramaru: Yes.

Aoki: Is there something you want to say?

Hiramaru: Ehh.

Aoki: Hiramaru-san.

Hiramaru; Y-Yes...

Aoki: Good luck.

Hiramaru; Ah...

Aoki: Good luck and say it.

Hiramaru: (Good luck and say it)

(Does she already know what I want to say??)

Aoki: Good luck...

Hiramaru: R-right...

Hiramaru: ....

Hiramaru: (Ehhh??? My head is just a blank right now, what am I supposed to say!)

Yoshida: Ahhh, it's already past the peak now.

No matter what you say, riding it again would be impossible now. Hiramaru~!!

Hiramaru: (I-I have to quickly say it. Yuri-tan already said 'Good luck'...)

Yoshida: What the heck are you doing, Hiramaru!! You're already at the end of the ride~

Hiramaru: YU..YURI-TAN!

Aoki: Y-Yes?

Hiramaru: Ple-please...

Hiramaru: PLEASE GIVE ME HAPPINESS.

Aoki: ...give Hiramaru-san happiness...

Hiramaru: Yes...

Aoki: ...Wasn't coming to the amusement park with you enough happiness?

Hiramaru: N-no, what I meant was marriage...I want this happiness to be everlasting.

Aoki: 8D

Aoki: Marriage...

Aoki: ...Please give me happiness as well.

Yoshida: !

Hiramaru: Suc...

...CESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS. <3

Yoshida: Hiramaru! It worked out?!

Yoshida: It worked out! Congrat...

...ulations?

Ferris Wheel fodder: Please watch your step.

Aoki: Um. Can we ride it again?

Hiramaru: ?

Ferris Wheel fodder: Again? But we're getting ready to close now.

Aoki: Pleeeeease...

Ferris Wheel fodder: %­_%

Ferris Wheel fodder: Alright. Wish you all the best.

Yoshida: Riding it again huh? As expected of Aoki-sensei.

Hiramaru: Yuri-tan, you were being selfish to the ferris wheel fodder staff.

Hiramaru: (Ehh!)

Aoki: ....

Hiramaru: (Yuri-tan)

Hiramaru: (Oh yeah, Yoshida told me to sit next to each other...)

Aoki: Th-this time, we should relax and take in the view from the ferris wheel.

Hiramaru: It's impossible to relax. I'm just so happy, my heart's just beating really fast now.

Aoki: Yeah, I feel so happy too.

Hiramaru: S-sorry, I should've been sitting next to you from the start.

Aoki: Yeah you should~ =_="

Aoki: And also, saying something like "please give me happiness", I can't believe you.

Hiramaru: Ehh?

Aoki: It wasn't easy to get....you only get proposed to once in a lifetime...so it shouldn't have been "please give...".

Hiramaru: Ehh, are you serious? I said "please give..."?! I said it wrong....

Hiramaru: (Uwahh, Yuri-tan is so cute)

Yoshida: Good. Very good. Now he should be able to work hard on drawing manga now.

Aoki: Hiramaru-san, look outside... There...

Hiramaru: ?

[Yoshida is crying here]

Hiramaru: Yoshida!! T_T

Hiramaru: Hurry...hurry and end this ride already. I want to be where Yoshida is!

Aoki: Hiramaru and Yoshida sure are good to each other.

Hiramaru: H-he's even more important than my parents!

Hiramaru: Yoshida~~~~Koji!!

Yoshida: You did well, Hiramaru~~~~kun.

Yoshida: Very good, very good now. At that time I was almost about ready to put "Boku no.." to rest due to the author committing suicide.

Hiramaru: Yeah, at the point when I realized I lost the ring, I didn't know what to do.

Yoshida: THE RING'S GONE?!THE 50 MILLION YEN RING IS GONE?! YOU IDIOT!!!!

Hiramaru: Who's the idiot, it was you who suggested I ride the roller coaster!

Yoshida: What?! You didn't even closely follow my plan!

Hiramaru: How are you gonna repay this 50 million yen loss!

Yoshida: Work really hard on drawing manga, YOU IDIOT.

Aoki: W-why don't we all look for it together. We can pretend we're like the main character in an idol drama.

Yoshida, Hiramaru: Yes, Yuri-tan!

Park PA: *DING DONG* Which tourist here rode on the [spinning cup ride]. In the pink cup we found a ring in a purple box.

Because of its high unknown value, we hope whoever comes to retrieve it can prove it is theirs.

Aoki: Ah, it's been found.

Yoshida?/Hiramaru?: Ahahaha.

Editorial dept: EHH? HIRAMARU-SENSEI AND AOKI-SENSEI GOT ENGAGED?!

No way!!

How should we say this, whether it's work or life, things are going well for the people of Team Fukuda.

Kosugi: Nov. the 4th, the day after tomorrow where volume one of Zombie Gun and Reversi will be on sale at the same time.

Everybody's wondering who'll have more sales.

Yuujirou: If we just go by the popularity from the questionnaires, Reversi has the edge a bit at the moment.

Miura: But because of Crow, Eiji has a group of dedicated fans.

Kosugi: But Ashirogi Muto has PCP's fans too, if you put it like that, they've also got Detective Trap and Tanto's fans as well

Miura: No no, Crow's sale volume was 1.5 million copies, PCP only managed 500 thousand copies. The gap is too big.

Kosugi: But it's already been a while from when Crow ended to now. From the look of the questionnaires..

Yuujirou: It doesn't matter which one. The first batch will be 300 thousand copies anyway. Which is a bit small.

Unknown: It's better that way if bookstores sell out and we just reprint anyway.

Better than having left overs if we print too much, that would be embarassing.

Yuujirou: Now this is the real fight, where we see which series is number one and two.

But no matter which one, they'll easily both go on to reach 1 million sales and truly become popular pieces of work.

Hattori: (A popular work with sales volume of 1 million or more eh....)

Friday 3rd November.

Takagi: Huhh? Hiramaru-sensei and Aoki-sensei got engaged?!

Mashiro: Finally... [LIKE YOU'RE ONE TO TALK, MASHIRO]

Hattori: Yeah, everybody's talking about it in the editorial department.

Another heated topic everybody's discussing is tomorrow's release of Reversi and Zombie Gun Vol 1 and wondering which one will sell better.

Ashirogi: !

Takagi: The first batch of prints will only be 300 thousand right?

Hattori: Right. Crow had 1.5 million prints. Niizuma Eiji's new work and only 300 thousand prints is definitely a bit less.

But to have the same amount of prints as him is already amazing. Both series will probably get reprinted real quickly as well.

Takagi: Yeah! One day we'll reach 1 million prints and it'll truly become a popular series!

Hattori: Yup. If we look at the current state, it won't just be a dream.

Mashiro: (Not a dream....to have the same amount of sales volume as Eiji...it's possible...1 million prints...)

(If it's like so, me and Azuki can be like Hiramaru and Aoki too)

Hattori: What's with the stupid-looking face, Mashiro-kun?

Mashiro: Oh, nothing, just day dreaming only.

Hattori: About when you reach 1 million prints? It's still too early. Ahahaha.

Hiramaru's place:

Hiramaru: Ahhh~~~~

I FEEL SOOOOO HAPPY, I CAN'T DRAW ANYTHING! <3

Yoshida: What kinda joke is this....you're about to become a family man now...

Hiramaru: AHHH, SO HAPPY. VERY HAPPY. LIFE IS SO GREATTTT.

Yoshida: (Hm...a killing intent)

Nakai: Yoshida, we have an anime now. And Hiramaru's gotten engaged now.

According to the agreement, you should introduce me to [Aoki's sister whose name escapes me] now.

Yoshida: Y-yes....after you lose another 40 kg...and then find a writer and get a serialization...

Nakai: 4...40 kg?!

Nakai: Hiramaru.

Hiramaru: What?

Nakai: Does Aoki really have a sister who looks the same as her?

Hiramaru: Hm? Never seen her in person before, never seen her picture either.

Yoshida: What's with that look. It's all true. An older sister who looks just like Aoki-sensei in every way.

Friday.....

Hattori: Alright, this should be ok. It's getting very interesting now.

Takagi: Hattori-san, did Reversi's volume 1 sales go well?

Hattori: Yup, they're already reprinting another 50,000 copies.

Ashirogi: Awesome.

Mashiro: Of course, Zombie Gun will be getting reprinted too right?

Hattori: Yup, it'll be getting another 100,0000 copies.

Takagi: Eh?! 100,000...amazing...

Mashiro: !

Takagi: Reversi, 50,000. Zombie Gun, 100,000 eh.

Mashiro: ....

Takagi: Z-Zombie Gun hasn't changed all that much in the questionnaires though.

Hattori: From just looking at the questionnaires' average results, Reversi does edge out a little.

Takagi: It's apparent we didn't lose in the questionnaires.

Mashiro: ....

Hattori: Fans of Niizuma-kun's Crow will most likely buy his new work, so these kinda early result are to be expected.

The difference between 50 thousand and 100 thousand isn't that big either.

Mashiro: Hattori-san, do you think it was because the bookcover art wasn't good enough?

Hattori: Of course not. You drew it really well. You're just overthinking things. The first volume getting 350,000 prints is already amazing.

You can't compare yourself to Eiji. But if you must, I'd say our cover art is better.

Takagi: Yeah, I think so too.

Mashiro: ....

3 days later...

Takagi: Hattori-san.

Hattori: Just wanted to tell you guys there will be another reprint.

Takagi: Ah, calling just to tell us that, thank you.

Hattori: This time it's 30,000. Which brings the total to 380,000.

Takagi: Another 30 thousand copies. Total of 380 thousand now.

Mashiro: (It's only been 10 days, and we've already gotten 2 reprints for a total of 380,000 prints.)

(The results are definitely better when you compare it to when PCP and Trap went on sale)

(At this rate, it wouldn't be surprising to get an anime within a year)

(No. You could even say it wouldn't be surprising if he came over and started talking about an anime right now)

Mashiro: This is amazing, Shujin!

Takagi: Yup.

Takagi: Oh, will Zombie Gun be getting another reprint too?

Hattori: Yes.

Hattori: It's already been decided to reprint Zombie Gun until it gets 900,000 copies.

Takagi: 9...900 thousand?!

Mashiro: ?!

Takagi: Why...why is the gap so big?! Our rankings were mostly higher in the questionnaires.

Mashiro: Zombie Gun....900,000 copies.

So in the editorial department they're deciding which to use. On one side, Eiji and Yuujirou doesn't want Zombie Gun to be animated just yet because they think they don't have enough material. i.e: anime will quickly catch up to manga. Yuujirou thinks they'll need to be serialized for 3 years before thinking of an anime. Eiji nods in agreement, but after hearing Yuujirou say "Well I guess it'll go to Reversi then", Eiji makes a stern face.

On the other end, Hattori is happy but now has a conflict. He's worried about the manga ending within the year, or worst case scenario, before the start of the anime. Best scenario is in the timespan (or at least within the year) they have an anime, their manga is still serialized. Or in other words, it can be called a condition to get an anime. But with their serialization approaching one year by the time the anime is released, they'll pretty much be heading into the grand finale battle stage.

Hattori in the end discusses it with Ashirogi Muto since he can't decide what to do. Mashiro and Takagi are, of course, ecstatic as heck. But once calmed down, they're just as dumbstrucked. On one end, Takagi wants to go ahead. He'll do whatever it takes to carry on with the serialization. On the other end, Mashiro doubts Takagi's ability, he doesn't want to drag it out resulting in the quality of the entire series dropping. Hattori thinks their best chance would be letting this chance go by, focus on the manga til the end, and then wait for it to be animated afterwards. Takagi aggresively objects that they definitely cannot let this chance go by. Mashiro deep down knows he's thinking of him and Azuki. And so, spills the beans about him and Azuki's marriage to Hattori.

Hattori seems to be touched after hearing it, and decides if they want go ahead with the anime, he'll give the go ahead, even if their manga will end shortly. If anything comes up, he'll take responsibility.

So here's Hattori approaching Aida to let him know they'll go ahead with the anime. And here, us readers are thinking YES ASHIROGI MUTO WILL FINALLY GET AN ANIME......Yuujirou bursts into the room and lays 20 chapters of manuscript of anime material for Zombie Gun on the desk, saying Eiji says if he's gonna lose his spot to Ashirogi Muto then he'd rather have Zombie Gun take over Crow's place.

Azuki is reading lines from Reversi, pretending that she is voicing one of the characters. She gets interrupted by her sister.

Hattori is meeting with Ashirogi. He tells them (and Kaya) to keep news of the anime to themselves, and the official announcement in WSJ itself will only come in Spring. Saikou hurriedly asks if that means that the anime isn't set in stone till the official announcement, but Hattori tells him that the period before the official announcement will be used to discuss things like who will sing the opening/ending themes, what timeslot etc. Hattori mentions that seiyuu will be chosen by audition. Knowing what Ashirogi are thinking, he quickly adds that they will of course take their opinions into consideration but ultimately the final decision rests with the animation studio. Saikou says that it's a good thing - he wants Azuki to get the role through her own abilities (and in the discussion we also learn that the female lead's name is "Naho").

Saikou sends a text message to Azuki telling her about the anime and the fact that the seiyuu will be chosen by audition. Azuki's eyes begin to water when she reads that they got the anime, she starts to type "congratulations," then decides to call Saikou instead! Azuki congratulates him, then starts spouting Naho's lines from Reversi that she's memorized and practiced. We get to see some pages from Reversi. She's actually managed to recite every line of Naho's from the entire first volume. Saikou praises her, they have a nice exchange about working hard for their dreams, then Azuki tells him that she's also memorized the second volume and asks if he'll listen.

Saikou talks to Shuujin about Azuki taking the role of Naho in the studio the next day. Shuujin brings up the fact that Azuki's already in 4 regular series, and how he thinks they should instead be worried that she may not be able to take the role as a result. Saikou gets kinda testy at that, haha.

Azuki is talking to her manager. Her manager tells her about her 2 new job offers, and she turns them both down, and also adds that she doesn't want any more work until the summer because by then, all her other series would have ended except one.

Cut to Ishizawa's apartment. He's grown obese, is sitting around in an otaku's dream room, eating chips (?). His mother's knocking on the door but he tells her he's gonna become a mangaka, to which she replies that he hasn't achieved anything or done anything in the past 5 years. He says he's charging his batteries. He's on 2ch chatting with people, and the topic is actually on seiyuu. He thinks to himself that Azuki's popularity is over, and mentions Ririka. Some of the others know who she is, some don't, Some think she is cuter than Azuki and that Azuki is too old (they call her nattou - fermented beans! And a pun on her name kanji). Ishizawa reads Ririka's blog, which has a post about how she met Ashirogi at the party. She also mentions that they're both hunks, but that one is married and the other is "in a relationship with the seiyuu she admires". For some reason, Ishizawa picks up on this point and smiles sinisterly to himself.

Page 166: Rumour and News

Takagi and Kaya while watching Impromptu 12 noticed Ririka's name come up and realized she's in it. Kaya wonders if she and Azuki know each other. Takagi looks up her blog to see which part she plays and they both see her blog entry (the one we saw last chapter). Takagi calls up Mashiro to tell him about the blog entry. And after he sees it, Mashiro tells him to call Kato to tell Ririka to delete it. And after Kato gets the call, the blog entry is eventually deleted.

The next day, Kato apologizes profusely. Takagi says it's okay, thinking it's alright, thinking she's not that popular and it was only up for a few days so it probably wasn't spread around much. Mashiro says well technically Ashirogi Muto is made up of two people. And one of them is married, and the other has a girlfriend. It's the truth he says. But Takagi hastily says it'd be problematic if it was known your girlfriend was the seiyuu Azuki Miho. Because voice actors usually have lots of fans and if they were to find out their idol has a significant other who knows what they'd do (clearly a jab at the weirder otakus). Takagi also notes because they want Azuki to voice Naho, if people were to know of their relationship, they'd accuse her of connections. But Mashiro notes the roles are picked by auditions though. Takagi replies others will see it differently.

Jan. 26, Hattori wants them to meet the anime production team, in the second week of February, to go over plans and talk about what kinda anime you want.

Back at Ishizawa's place, he notices Ririka's last blog entry was deleted and fumes. He then deduces the meaning behind Ashirogi Muto (A for Azuki, Shiro for Mashiro , Gi for Takagi etc), and that the popular seiyuu Ririka mentioned is Azuki Miho. And with that he starts the rumour mill to the fans. Saying Azuki Miho is in a relationship. And how Ashirogi Muto is a two man team. And that one of them is going out with Azuki. And if they don't believe him to just look up 2009 photos from the school he went to. One of them even asks Ishizawa to upload some proof himself since he's so adamant.

In some random news studio (literally says "Things Sport". Lmao), one reporter asks if the headline of "Popular Seiyuu's Relationship Uncovered" is even interesting or not. Their chief editor says it depends who it is. It's Azuki Miho. She's cute, and quite popular. Any pics of her with her boyfriend. Nope, it's a rumour being spread around the net and that the guy is supposedly a popular mangaka. The chief editor tells him to print it if he can get the faces of them.

The next day all hell breaks loose.

Fukuda calls Ashirogi up to ask how they're dealing with the rumours. Ashirogi asks what rumours and Fukuda says the one where Mashiro is going out with Azuki Miho. Tells them it's spread like wild fire. They both jump online to see for themselves. And to their dismay, people are already commenting on the connection between PCP and the drama CD, some fans going the length of throwing away her CDs, some fans going the length of throwing away Ashirogi Muto's books. Fukuda notes how they're calm about it. Mashiro says they are and they should because they've don't nothing wrong. Mashiro then thinks they may think that but dunno how Azuki's side is going.

Cut to Azuki just finishing a voice recording. She goes outside to find rabid fans and a reporter bombarding her with questions. She makes a quick getaway in a taxi. Her assistant (or some management guy anyway) looks up the rumours and asks whether they're all true. They are. He tells her no matter what to deny them to the public. And that she shouldn't see him because it's an important time right now. Azuki says they don't even meet often. And besides she firmly exlaims they did nothing wrong anyway.

Cut to WSJ editorial department. The fiollowing takes place:

"Hello WSJ here". "ASHIROGI MUTO, GO TO HELL!! -hangs up-". ".....eh?" XD

Seems like the entire editorial department knows about it too. And Yoshida yells out that any questions regarding the personal life of their mangaka is not to be replied to.

Cut to a meeting with Hattori and Ashirogi. Takagi asks if Hattori's heard the rumours. Replies yes, and tells them not to worry, the editorial dept won't answer anything (to phonecalls). Hattori notes it's not their style to be worrying, but Takagi wonders what would happen if she voices the role of Naho in the Reversi anime. Hattori calmly tells them if that's the case then what. If a person online says a manga is boring and to drawing, will you stop being a mangaka then. Mashiro agrees with Hattori. What they should be doing is give their best on the manga, and Azuki to give her best on the voice. After a bit of uplifting talk from Hattori, they're both back to normal.

But the very next day, the newspaper speaks all. Things Sport has headlines like "It's WSJ's popular mangaka, Ashirogi Muto's artist Mashiro-sensei", "They've been seeing each other for 8 years now!", and a smaller section where it notes PCP's drama CD in 2014 and that headline basically reads "Unfair or Fair?" (literal meaning of the phrase used is "unable to keep professional life from private life and vice versa" btw).

Takagi: "That's....that's going too far...."
Hattori: "......."

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