446-450

*Chapter 446: Something a Bit More... Normal*

“Seeing you all so pumped up puts my mind at ease!”

“All right, let’s keep the momentum going and do this together!”

With a quick shout of encouragement, Lazy Cat dove back into work mode.

...

Creating an anime is a long, grueling process that tests your patience to the limit.

Especially when you’ve got a boss like Lazy Cat, who’s insanely talented but demands perfection…

It’s rough out there!

Still, the team had gotten used to this vibe.

If a day went by without Lazy Cat chewing them out, they’d actually feel a bit off.

“Adjust the storyboard here!”

“Here, here! The proportions on this character are all wrong. You guys are veterans—how do you mess this up?!”

“Who told you to start coloring already? The character designs aren’t even finalized yet! What’s going through your head?!”

When Lazy Cat’s in work mode, he’s a completely different person from his usual self.

Call him the grumpy big brother of the studio, and you wouldn’t be wrong!

If his fans saw him like this?

Their jaws would hit the floor!

Is this the Lazy Cat they know?

This guy’s way too intense!

But, well…

That’s just how it goes in the animation department!

Efficiency and quality are everything here.

Otherwise, where do you think those fat paychecks come from?

They’re not just blowing in with the wind!

“The basic framework’s done. Your job today is to flesh it out along these lines!”

After barking out a few more instructions, Lazy Cat took off.

He’s got manga to finish, after all!

Otherwise, he wouldn’t be this cranky.

While Lazy Cat was busy sketching out manga panels, something was brewing online…

Fans browsing the latest ninja novels on the web suddenly got hit with the same notification:

【Your followed creator ‘Prototype One’ just dropped a new work! Check it out now!】

Staring at the alert, a bunch of fans froze, then pinched themselves to make sure they weren’t dreaming.

Ouch!

That hurt!

“I’ve lived long enough to see this—Prototype One’s dropping a new work?!”

“I thought my eyes were playing tricks on me, but I triple-checked, and it’s real!”

“Prototype One’s updating? Is this the sequel to Mobile Suit Shinobi?!”

The fans flooded the Mobile Suit Shinobi fan circle on S-Site to trade theories.

“No clue what this is!”

“It’s been ages since their last update!”

“Let’s just check it out and see what’s up!”

“Exactly, let’s take a peek!”

So, a ton of fans rushed to Prototype One’s page, scrolled to the bottom, and found the new release.

“This…”

They were expecting another Mobile Suit Shinobi chapter!

But when they saw the actual title?

They were floored.

“Your April Lie? What’s this—a sappy love story?”

“Is this really Prototype One’s work?”

“Did they just switch genres? Weren’t they all about sci-fi ninja battles?”

“What’s this old trickster up to now?”

“Noob question here—is Prototype One secretly the same person as that other infamous creator?”

Some fans were buzzing with theories…

Some were just shocked!

But a few had already clicked into the new work.

“No idea why Prototype One’s switching styles, but this writing vibe? It’s definitely them!”

“Your April Lie… Hmm, the title’s giving me bad vibes already.”

“Just from the name, I’m getting depressing, Hidden Rain Village-level feels.”

“Should I even read this?”

Clicking on the work doesn’t mean you’re actually reading it!

Fans were torn.

They’d been burned by heart-wrenching stories before!

The last thing they wanted was to get dragged into another emotional spiral.

But still…

That nagging curiosity was like a pesky summon scratching at their minds!

They’d been through this struggle before.

Most fans knew exactly what’d happen if they gave in and read it.

But…

They just couldn’t resist!

“I’ll just skim a little. If it feels off, I’m out!”

“I’ve got this under control. Yeah, I can stop anytime!”

After some mental prep (or self-delusion), the fans dove into Your April Lie.

But they forgot one crucial thing:

For a story with an unpredictable vibe, one that might lean toward gut-punching sadness, they should’ve had a box of tissues ready!

Whether it’s Your April Lie or the upcoming Your Name…

---

*Into the Story!*

When fans saw that the female lead, Kaori, was battling a serious illness, their hearts sank like a kunai through paper.

“Is this gonna be a healing redemption arc or a soul-crushing tragedy?”

“It’s gotta be healing, right? Why else would they reveal her illness so early? If it’s meant to depress us, they’d hide it for a bigger gut punch!”

“Pfft! The way Kaori meets the main guy, Kousei, and he gets mistaken for a creep? Too good!”

“Haha, this scene’s hilarious—my sides hurt from laughing!”

At first, seeing Kaori’s illness had fans bracing for a tearjerker.

But then!

The story took a turn for the upbeat, and fans were cracking up left and right!

Only…

Just when they let their guard down, the plot pulled a Shadow Clone Jutsu-level twist!

“Spring is coming soon. The spring where I met you is coming. A spring without you is coming.”

“The last snow of spring, our final moment together—meeting you was the happiest thing in my life. Let’s part here. Keep moving forward, into a April full of cherry blossoms, but please… don’t forget me, my friend.”

“The words you said, one by one, fall like starlight. Staring at the night sky alone, I’m afraid of being swallowed by the endless dark. The starry sky I gazed at with Tsubaki shifts and changes. The sky I looked at with you, though—how does it feel?”

...

Your April Lie isn’t a long story.

Five thousand words per chapter, just thirty chapters total.

For fans used to binging 200,000–400,000 words a day, this was a quick read.

But…

Halfway through, they couldn’t help but slow down.

They weren’t idiots—they could feel the shift in the story’s tone!

Gone was the lighthearted fun from earlier.

This was clearly heading toward another Hidden Rain-style tearjerker!

“Argh, Prototype One, why’re you pulling a Naruto-level tragedy?! Are you trying to make me unsubscribe?!”

“I’m starting to think this is that infamous creator’s secret account!”

“Can’t you make something for normal people for once?!”

Once they realized the story was going dark, the fans lost it!

They flooded the comments with complaints.

Why does it always have to be these grim, soul-crushing twists?!

Can’t we get something cheerful for once?

Why does every story have to be so depressing?!

Isn’t a little hope too much to ask for?!

---

*Chapter 447: A Trash Story?*

And another thing!

Prototype One, if you’re gonna write Mobile Suit Shinobi, just stick to Mobile Suit Shinobi! What’s with suddenly dropping a depressing story like this?

Fine, switch genres if you want!

But at least make it something normal people can handle!

Can you not do this soul-crushing stuff for once?

...

“The internet’s going wild, huh?”

Watching the fans lose their minds online, Lazy Cat leaned back with a smirk, like he was enjoying a good ninja sparring match.

“But if you give up halfway through, of course you’re gonna lose it!”

“To feel the healing, you’ve gotta push through to the end!”

“Come on, young shinobi, don’t panic! Brave fans don’t back down from a challenge!”

In his past life, Lazy Cat’s reaction…

Well, it was pretty much the same as these fans!

Halfway through, his heart was in pieces!

But…

He was stubborn as a Hidden Leaf ninja!

He powered through the whole story and then felt something.

How to put it?

Your April Lie is a story that heals… but not completely.

The healing part?

The main guy, Kousei, and the main girl, Kaori, save each other. They both achieve their dreams in the end!

But the depressing part…

Right when everything’s about to be perfect…

Kaori passes away due to her illness.

What could’ve been a flawless, happy ending turns into this half-tragic mess!

“So that’s why it’s Your April Lie. You promised we’d play music together next April, but you slipped away to meet the Sage of the Six Paths first!”

...

Tons of fans just noped out, refusing to read any further!

Instead, they flooded forums and comment sections, tearing into Your April Lie with all they had!

One-star reviews and harsh critiques piled up in the story’s comment section.

“Prototype One, what were you thinking? Why would you create this trash?!”

“Your April Lie is garbage, right? No one’s gonna argue with that!”

“I’m so done. Can’t you just stick to your sci-fi ninja stuff?”

“Prototype One, you’ve ruined your rep! Why ditch Mobile Suit Shinobi for this?”

“You’re not Lazy Cat! You think we’re gonna eat up this depressing nonsense? Why copy Lazy Cat’s sad stories when you can’t even compare!”

Before this…

Prototype One was drowning in praise!

Some even called him the greatest young sci-fi writer in the Land of Fire!

But now?

His rep’s taken a hit—people are saying he’s “lost his edge.”

And yeah, fair enough!

He had safer paths to take, but he chose this road instead!

Sci-fi’s his strength!

Why mess with depressing stories?

Amid all this chaos, reporters swooped in like hawks, eager to stir the pot and make the drama even bigger!

Bigger drama means more attention, right?

But…

Not everyone gave up.

Some fans stayed clear-headed, refusing to quit halfway.

Shen Brackets was one of them.

“I’m already halfway through. I’m finishing this even if it kills me—what if there’s a surprise at the end?”

Shen didn’t believe a creator as talented as Prototype One would churn out a purely depressing story.

In today’s culture scene…

Besides Lazy Cat, who else dares to mess with depressing stories like this?

No one!

So Shen was convinced Prototype One, with his track record of awesome works, wouldn’t miss the mark.

He thought…

If he kept reading, there might be a real payoff!

So he pressed on.

Then… Kaori passed away.

Shen: ?!?!

He started questioning if his stubbornness was a mistake.

The main girl’s gone?

Is there even a point to keep reading?

He didn’t think so!

But…

He wasn’t ready to give up!

He was this close to the finish line!

Quitting now would betray all the effort he’d put in!

But reading on felt like torture.

Kaori’s dead!

He could already guess how the rest would play out.

The ending’s probably gonna be a total downer!

“But their story was so inspiring, wasn’t it?”

Kaori fought her insecurities to keep up with Kousei, becoming bright, confident, and amazing!

And Kousei…

Haunted by his mom’s illness, he developed intermittent hearing loss, but Kaori helped him heal, reigniting his love for music and his dreams!

What a great story!

“If only Kaori didn’t pass away…”

Shen couldn’t help but think.

If she’d lived, this would’ve been a perfect story!

Beautiful!

Healing!

Full of positive vibes!

“Was this on purpose?”

Shen wondered.

“Or maybe it was planned from the start?”

From the very beginning, the story made it clear Kaori was gravely ill.

Her passing…

It makes sense, doesn’t it?

But Shen still couldn’t accept it!

They healed each other, saved each other, and played music together—that’s the performance that mattered!

Why, so close to the end, did Kousei have to be left alone?

This ain’t right!

“Fine, I’ll keep going!”

Shen gritted his teeth.

Only four chapters left!

If he stopped now, he’d regret it forever.

Reading on…

It’d take, what, half an hour?

He decided to finish it.

No regrets!

“You were the one who brushed the dust off my soul.”

“Do I look like I’m suffering? Geez, what a hassle. Of course it hurts—I’m sailing on an uncharted sea with no map. Challenges and creation are painful, but they’re fulfilling.”

“So… thank you!” —Kousei (Kousei Arima)

“Your April Lie—I knew it was a lie, and lies always get exposed eventually!” —Kaori (Kaori Miyazono)

“In April, I met a boy. He was crying, frustrated, struggling in the messiest way, but on stage, he shone like a star.”

“His life was like a melody played with grace. We made a promise: ‘Let’s perform together again.’”

“So I wanted to… struggle with all I had. Even if it’s messy, even if it’s desperate, I’ll keep going!”

“I want to struggle, struggle, and struggle some more—fight to the very end!” —Kaori (Kaori Miyazono)

...

In the end…

Kousei delivered a breathtaking performance!

His music touched countless hearts, just like how Kaori pulled him out of the darkness, reignited his dreams, and helped him rediscover his passion for music.

But…

Kaori…

She’s gone for good.

She lives on in Kousei’s heart, forever frozen in her most beautiful moment.

Shen: “Haa…”

He tried so hard not to cry.

But the tears?

They wouldn’t stop.

Two streams raced down his face.

He choked back sobs.

“If I’d known it’d end like this, maybe I shouldn’t have read the rest. Then I wouldn’t feel this sad…”

It’s depressing!

But not fully healed.

That’s how he felt after finishing the story.

Prototype One dug a one-meter pit but only filled it with eight-tenths of the dirt!

The missing two-tenths?

That’s enough to leave you down in the dumps for a long time.

---

*Chapter 448: Killing Intent Boils Over*

And…

A chilling wave of pressure swept in!

It was like the aura of a legendary king—terrifying and awe-inspiring!

A massive bird, its body engulfed in searing flames, soared through the sky.

The “Lightning Killer,” Yoru!

He had arrived!

The moment he neared Nous and the others, Yoru shifted forms, transforming from his phoenix shape into his human form, wings folding as he landed in front of them.

He glanced at the group, flashing a look of approval. “Let’s go—time to throw a feast!”

No need to ask how the battle went. The grins on Nous and the crew’s faces said it all—they’d scored big!

“Heck yeah!!!”

The mention of a feast sent the group into a roaring cheer.

At the banquet…

Nous filled Yoru in on their haul.

They’d reclaimed sixty percent of the Beasts Pirates’ territory and gained the allegiance of ten thousand pirates who’d joined their cause!

The Lightning Pirates now had the strength and numbers to dominate the seas.

“Nice work!”

Yoru clapped Nous on the shoulder, beaming with pride.

Then, raising his sake cup to the newly joined pirates, he shouted, “From now on, we’re family! Drink up!”

His bold, welcoming attitude instantly put the new recruits at ease, helping them blend into the Lightning Pirates. They raised their cups in return, answering Yoru’s call with enthusiasm.

…

“Marshal, sir! The Lightning Pirates, along with the New Whitebeard Pirates and a few other New World crews, have carved up the Beasts Pirates’ territory. Their power’s skyrocketed…”

“And the Lightning Pirates—they’ve collected all the Road Poneglyphs! They’ve got the key to reaching Raftel!”

“If we don’t stop them soon, the Lightning Pirates will throw the entire world into chaos!”

The report came from a Rear Admiral, his uniform marking him as a member of the Navy’s covert special unit, SWORD.

“…”

Sakaski fell silent, but his clenched fists and grim expression betrayed the storm raging inside him.

“Lightning Killer… you again!!”

After a long pause, Sakaski’s voice was ice-cold, dripping with murderous intent.

Ever since Yoru rejected the offer to become a Warlord again, the seas had been spiraling into chaos.

His actions were a direct threat to the peace of the world!

But…

Sakaski wasn’t naive.

The New World needed a few major pirate crews to keep the smaller ones in check, preventing them from getting too bold. That’s why the Navy—and even the World Government—tolerated the existence of the Four Emperors!

The Navy’s current strength wasn’t enough to control the entire ocean.

Whether it was the Warlords of old or the now-crumbling Four Emperors system, it was all the same.

Taking out the Lightning Pirates now would throw the New World into even greater turmoil!

To claim the vacant Emperor’s throne, the pirates out there would go absolutely berserk!

“Damn you, Lightning Killer!”

Sakaski slammed his fist on the desk.

He’d thought that taking down Kaido of the Beasts would bring some calm to the seas!

But now…

Here comes this Lightning Killer!

And to make matters worse…

This guy had gathered all the Poneglyphs!

He’d earned the right to sail to the final island, Raftel—the greatest threat of all!

“How do we stop him?!”

If Sakaski were still just an Admiral…

He wouldn’t have hesitated.

He’d have rounded up a ship full of Marines, tracked down Yoru, and crushed his entire pirate crew with overwhelming force!

Wipe out the evil!

---

Chapter 449: Must Be Stopped

As for the consequences that would follow, those weren’t his problem to deal with! Naturally, the Marshal and the Five Elders would handle it!

But now…

He was the Marshal!

He had to think about the bigger picture—everything from the opinions of the Five Elders to whether the Navy’s forces could support a full-scale expedition.

“Ara ara, feeling a bit troubled, aren’t you, Sakazuki?”

At that moment, a head poked in through the door! Sakazuki’s sharp, grim gaze shot toward it…

It was none other than the retired former Navy Marshal—Sengoku of the Buddha!

“Old man Sengoku, quit gloating over there!!!”

Seeing it was Sengoku, Sakazuki’s face darkened even more! The other marines, though, saluted with utmost respect.

“Ma ma ma, don’t get so worked up. I’m not here to mess with you. The Five Elders sent me to tell you to handle the Lightning Pirate Crew with care!”

“We absolutely can’t let him spread the secrets of the Final Land!”

Hearing this, Sakazuki let out a cold snort. “Do I need those old geezers to remind me of that?”

Did they think he, Sakazuki, didn’t know to be cautious?!

“Of course not!”

Sengoku plopped down casually. “So, how’re you planning to deal with this guy?”

“He’s a tough one to handle. His abilities are a real pain!”

Even Sengoku…

He wouldn’t dare guarantee he could catch Yoru!

Because that guy could fly!

And…

His vigilance was off the charts!

Even trickier than Marco!

“Naturally, we’ll send specialized personnel to deal with him!” Sakazuki said with a cold huff.

In the entire Navy, when it came to handling someone like Yoru who could fly, the only one who could be considered a specialist was one of the Admirals—Fujitora!

Gravity counters everything!

With gravity in his grasp, Fujitora could fly too!

And what’s more!

He could easily turn any battlefield into his home turf!

In a gravity field, Fujitora was king!

But hearing this…

Sengoku fell silent for a moment. “Just Fujitora alone might not be enough to take that guy down!”

“You all know how fast the Lightning Killer’s strength has been growing. When he fought Whitebeard, he was only around Shichibukai level. Now, he’s almost on par with an Emperor!”

Sakazuki: “If that’s the case, then we need to prepare early and take that bastard out!”

Sengoku: “If Kuzan were still here, it’d be so much easier. Kuzan’s the one who counters that guy best!”

“But you, on the other hand—your abilities are countered by him!”

At the mention of Kuzan!

Sakazuki’s face darkened again!

Sengoku clearly knew this…

“But Fujitora and Kizaru together? That’s more than enough to take him seriously!”

Two Admirals teaming up—there shouldn’t be anything in this world they couldn’t handle!

“When do we make our move?”

Sakazuki couldn’t help but ask.

Sengoku, after all, was the veteran with years of experience!

“Heh, those monsters in the New World—once they find out he’s got all the Poneglyphs, you think they’ll sit still?”

“All we need to do is wait for the right moment and strike with precision!”

“Let him stabilize the New World for us in the meantime. A new Emperor? That’s bound to draw some greedy eyes, especially since the Lightning Killer just stirred up trouble in Big Mom’s territory and stole the contents of her Poneglyph!”

“Big Mom’s not gonna let that slide!”

Hearing Sengoku’s words, Sakazuki nodded. “Fine, we’ll do it your way. Anything else, old man Sengoku? If not, get out of here and stop annoying me!”

At that, Sengoku didn’t take offense. He just chuckled and left!

*Chapter 450: Lying in Wait*

Yo, it’s Yoru here!

“A new storm is coming!”

“Everyone, powering up is our top priority. Stabilizing our crew comes second!”

“Naus, Luri, I’m leaving it to you to keep everyone’s spirits high and train our fighters. It’s about time I seriously leveled up my own strength!”

“With the storm that’s coming, my current power won’t cut it!”

Hearing Yoru’s words…

Naus licked his lips, a spark of excitement in his eyes. “Leave it to me, Captain! I’ll make sure the job gets done!”

“This island’s a real gem. It’s gonna boost my strength in no time!”

Naus glanced at the mountain range behind Yoru, licking his lips again.

In the New World…

It’s full of all kinds of bizarre islands!

Some are crawling with ferocious beasts!

Others are blasted by terrifying lightning, like a mountain of thunder!

And then there are islands with both powerful beasts and brutal cold, plus random thunderstorms to top it off!

Just like the island Yoru and the crew are on right now!

Thunder roars!

Beasts roam everywhere!

And most importantly…

The climate’s freezing cold!

“We’ve got about six months to train. I want everyone to make huge gains in strength by then!”

“Dogs, you and Luri head to Dressrosa before that. Strike a deal with that Doflamingo guy for those SMILE fruits!”

“Those artificial Devil Fruits he’s got will be a big help in boosting our power!”

“Caribou, you and the other captains make sure everyone else trains on the nearby islands!”

“Got it?!”

Yoru’s gaze swept over everyone present.

“Got it!”

Caribou licked his lips, looking hyped beyond belief!

Any leader, after building a new crew, has to set up a system of rewards and punishments.

Yoru’s no different!

With a crew the size of the Beasts Pirates, they set up three Heavenly Generals: Naus, Luri, and Bashas.

Five Commanders: Dogs, Caribou, Foz Fu, Sasaki, Ulti, and Page One.

(Everyone knows the Four Heavenly Kings are actually five, so what’s weird about six Commanders?)

It was only natural for Foz Fu and the others to join up!

On these seas, might makes right. Kaido lost, so serving under Yoru doesn’t shame them!

Then there’s the Ten Elites: Crib, Bagenda…

Layer by layer, they set up ranks and management systems, and just like that, the crew was formed!

If there’s no benefit in it, why would anyone follow you?

“Alright, six months from now, we’re facing the strongest forces on these seas. Get yourselves ready, brothers!”

Hearing Yoru’s words, Bashas raised both hands and let out a booming laugh. “Hahaha, Captain, don’t worry! We won’t let you down!”

“You little brats better not slack off—I’ll be watching!”

The pirates below roared in response: “No way we’re slacking!”

“Absolutely not!”

Seeing this, Yoru nodded.

Then…

His eyes sharpened. He stripped down to just his shorts and dove straight into the ocean!

“Captain’s gonna be okay, right?!”

Some of the crew looked worried as they watched him.

They’d all heard about Yoru’s plan, but still—this seemed insane!

A Devil Fruit user jumping into the sea…

Isn’t that just asking for death?!

But Yoru was deliberately using this method to push his abilities to awaken further!

“Don’t worry. I’ve got Fish-Men ready to jump in if anything goes wrong. They’ll pull the Captain out in a flash!”

Luri gave the crew a calm look, then, like a seasoned manager, waved everyone off to start training on the nearby islands.