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I just want to quietly draw manga Chapter 243

“Maybe blur this shot slightly—it’ll help convey a better sense of speed,” Haruki suggested.

“Understood.”

“And in your character model sheet, I think Natsuki’s legs could be drawn a bit slimmer. Right now, her proportions feel off. She’s meant to be a slender, elegant character, but the way she’s drawn now makes her look a bit too youthful—almost baby-faced.”

“Got it.”

“Also, for Takeuchi’s voice... I think the current version sounds a ...

I just want to quietly draw manga Chapter 242

Two hours later, both Ryuko and Saya had given their statements at the police station.

The man who had attacked Amane wasn’t seriously injured, thanks to Ryuko holding back, but he’d still be detained for a few days for attempted assault.

As for Ryuko and Saya, they were free to go.

Outside the station, the night air was crisp. Saya pulled her coat tighter around her as they walked in silence.

“Thanks… Ryuko,” she murmured, her voice soft.

Everything th...

I just want to quietly draw manga Chapter 241

Amane stared at Haruki’s hand pointing toward the door.

For a moment, the calm on her face cracked.

She couldn’t even remember the last time someone had treated her like this certainly not in years. A part of her was indignant. Is this how young creators behave now? She was a senior figure in the industry, after all. She came to speak civilly. And yet here he was, brushing her off after just a few sentences?

Still, she didn’t show her irritation. She hadn’t lasted th...

I just want to quietly draw manga Chapter 240

Evening, after the signing event.

Haruki and Haruka sat down for dinner at a quiet restaurant. Haruka was unusually attentive, even helping him with his food—his hand was too sore to hold chopsticks properly after signing for hours.

“It’s seriously exhausting,” Haruki muttered between bites. “Next time, don’t arrange something like this again. I’d rather spend the whole day drawing than go through that.”

He’d repeated that complaint a dozen times today. Har...

I just want to quietly draw manga Chapter 239

While Haruki and Haruka were meeting with Saya at T-Bone Animation Studio, news of Initial D’s latest milestone spread quickly across the manga industry.

Just weeks earlier, Natsume’s Friends Journal had claimed the top spot in Shroud Line magazine’s popularity rankings. Now Initial D had followed suit—two vastly different works, both reaching #1 in close succession.

The reaction within the industry wasn’t surprise anymore—it was confirmation...

I just want to quietly draw manga Chapter 238

The next morning, Haruka arrived promptly to pick up Haruki. After nearly an hour of driving, they pulled into the parking lot of T-Bone Animation Studio.

Haruki looked around, curious. It was his first time here, and he couldn’t help but compare it to his last visit to Kazanami Studio.

In the anime industry, only a handful of studios sat at the top—T-Bone, Kazanami, Dakai, and a few others. These companies regularly worked with the biggest manga publishers and light novel lab...

I just want to quietly draw manga Chapter 237

"Then I’ll take you tomorrow so you can meet the team,” Haruka said the moment Haruki agreed. She didn’t waste time.

“Tomorrow? That fast?” Haruki was a little surprised.

“You said you wanted to visit their studio on weekends, didn’t you? Tomorrow is the weekend,” she replied matter-of-factly. “There’s nothing urgent going on, so it’s a good time to introduce yourself.”

Haruki thought for a moment, then nodded. “Alright.”

“Great. I’ll be...

I just want to quietly draw manga Chapter 236

What Haruka said was true. The executives at Echo Shroud Publishing were stunned when they heard Haruki wanted to end both of his current manga.

Mizushiro, what are you thinking?

Two of the most popular series in the country, and you want to end both?

Don’t you realize how much attention and income the ongoing serialization of these titles still brings?

Editor-in-chief Katsumi felt a headache coming on the moment Haruka brought him the news.

He’d seen this so...

I just want to quietly draw manga Chapter 235

Ryuko hadn’t expected anything to come from her audition at T-Bone Animation. Honestly, she’d only gone to give it a shot and her casual attitude during that chance encounter with Producer Saya had reflected that.

But three days later, she received a surprising call: she’d been selected for the role.

She stared at the message in disbelief.

Wait, what?

Large scale productions like into the Abyss were usually surrounded by fierce competition. Dozens of agencies fou...

I just want to quietly draw manga Chapter 234

As soon as Ryuko walked in, she noticed the unusually dressed woman sitting at the center table.

Wearing a men’s outfit, complete with fake beards, the woman definitely stood out. Even in that strange get-up, her good looks were hard to miss.

Ryuko had done her homework before coming and recognized her immediately—Saya Tachibana, the producer of into the Abyss.

More importantly, she was also behind Devil’s Journey, one of last year’s biggest anime hits.

If not ...

I just want to quietly draw manga Chapter 233

The thought of having two S-level lottery chances in the near future made Haruki feel a rush of excitement.

Right now, he’d already saved enough World Points to redeem a standard S-rank title. With Initial D and Natsume’s Book of Friends both still ongoing, he figured that no matter what the system threw at him next, he’d have options when it came time to start his next project.

Currently, Initial D had reached the intense race between Takumi and Ryosuke . After that came th...

I just want to quietly draw manga Chapter 232

"But this just doesn’t feel real. Haruki—that Haruki who skips class and plays games all day is actually Mizushiro? The guy behind 5 Centimeters per Second? That film had me crying... and now I find out the creator’s been sitting next to us in class all along?"

"He definitely skipped class a lot. But games? I doubt he had time for them. He was drawing two manga and writing anime scripts at the same time. Honestly, he probably sacrificed his grades to keep up with all of that."

I just want to quietly draw manga Chapter 231

After all, this time they were working on Puella Magi Madoka Magica. Haruki and Kazuya had pooled together a total of ¥300 million for production. With that kind of budget, Kazuya had naturally rented another office building near the university as the new base for the animation team.

Thanks to the success of 5 Centimeters per Second and Voices of a Distant Star, both Haruki and Kazuya had become well-known in the animation industry. Many freelancers and former staff from other studios ...

I just want to quietly draw manga Chapter 230

“No… no, I just see you as a friend,” Haruki said firmly. Ryuko looked at him with a soft smile, unfazed by the answer. She’d expected it. E

“No… no, I just see you as a friend,” Haruki said firmly.

Ryuko looked at him with a soft smile, unfazed by the answer.

She’d expected it. Even after confessing months ago, nothing had changed between them. Haruki never gave her hope, but he also never avoided her or showed discomfort.

That alone was enough for her...

I just want to quietly draw manga Chapter 229

Ryuko looked around the now-empty karaoke room and let out a long sigh.

Originally, she had planned to have some of her friends help Haruki home after he passed out. But instead, they’d all vanished likely afraid she’d scold them. Now she was left alone… with a drunk Haruki slumped on the couch.

She stared at him for a few seconds.

How am I supposed to carry him by myself?

Just as she was considering whether to call for help, Haruki stirred and sat up slowly, his...

I just want to quietly draw manga Chapter 228

Satsuki got up first and forcibly sat on the left side of Haruki.

Before that, on the left side of Haruki was Ryuko’s friend, and on the right side was Ryuko.

However, Ryuko’s female friend, who was sitting on Haruki’s left side, kept a certain distance from Haruki. After all, in the eyes of Ryuko’s friends, Haruki and Ryuko must be friends with each other, as the media reported. I have never seen the two of them deny it. It must be fine. If the two young lovers sit togeth...

I just want to quietly draw manga Chapter 227

“Wait... Haruki , you’re that manga artist? The one everyone’s been talking about—Mizushiro?” Miyu’s voice sliced through the chatter in the karaoke room.

The room fell completely silent.

Haruki paused. Then nodded.

“Yeah... that’s me.”

He could’ve tried to dodge the question, but what was the point? The rumors had already circulated for months. Denying it would just make things worse.

Among Ryuko’s friends, Mizushiro’s name had long been...

I just want to quietly draw manga Chapter 226

Ryuko’s roommates Tsumugi, Ayae, and Satsuki were the first to notice her growing restlessness.

It didn’t take long for everyone else to pick up on it either.

Some of her classmates and friends weren’t sure whether the rumors were true that her “boyfriend,” the now-famous manga artist Mizushiro, might actually show up. But her three roommates? They knew the truth, and they didn’t keep it to themselves for long.

Soon, nearly everyone at the party was glancing towa...

I just want to quietly draw manga Chapter 225

May 17, 4:00 p.m.

As soon as class ended, Ryuko rushed back to the dorm.

Shower. Hair. Makeup. Outfit change.

By the time she was curling her bangs, her three roommates were lounging around, watching her prep like an audience at a stage play grinning, whispering, occasionally outright laughing.

“Would you look at her,” Ayae said, nudging Satsuki. “And she still insists there’s nothing going on with Mizushiro.”

“Yeah,” Satsuk isaid, resting her chin ...

I just want to quietly draw manga Chapter 224

“But that’s not what you said last year,” Tachibana’s assistant said, exasperated.

“Back when The Devil’s Journey aired in October, you were tense every week, refreshing the numbers to see if it could beat Anohana. You didn’t relax until the final stats came out in January.”

She paused, then added, “Let’s not pretend that was smooth sailing.”

Saya clicked her tongue. “You done?”

The assistant didn’t back down. “That was last year. Anohana ...

I just want to quietly draw manga Chapter 223

A magical girl series that "redefines the genre"?

Really?

Fans who followed Mizushiro on social media all day were skeptical.

The magical girl genre had long been considered overplayed. Every year, at least a dozen such anime aired and nearly all of them followed the same tired formula.

They weren't made for storytelling. They were built to sell toys and merchandise. Most of the time, animation studios treated the anime itself as a marketing vehicle just a flashy way t...

I just want to quietly draw manga Chapter 222

Two days later, while Haruki was working on a manuscript, he received a call from Kazuya inviting him out to discuss production plans for Madoka Magica.

There wasn’t much debate to be had their meeting mostly involved ironing out investment and division of labor.

After an afternoon of discussion, the agreement was finalized: the project would receive a total budget of ¥300 million for a 12-episode run. Haruki would contribute ¥225 million, and Kazuya would cover the remaining ...

I just want to quietly draw manga Chapter 221

It was a hot day in May. Just stepping outside felt like walking into a wall of heat.

Although Haruki and Kazuya had finalized their preliminary plans to adapt Madoka Magica, from the fans' perspective, Mizushiro was still just serializing manga as usual.

The anime adaptation of Natsume’s Friends had been airing for a while now, and its popularity had started boosting the original manga as well. Many anime only fans, unable to wait for weekly updates, had begun picking up the ma...

I just want to quietly draw manga Chapter 220

The next morning, Haruki was up early, already working on the name draft for Puella Magi Madoka Magica.

The moment his two assistants arrived at the studio, they could tell something was up. Haruki was clearly in one of his creative zones the same focused state he’d been in when Voices of a Distant Star and 5 Centimeters per Second were born.

What they hadn’t expected back then was that both projects would become such massive hits.

But honestly, a lot had surprised them ...

I just want to quietly draw manga Chapter 219

“You’ve got inspiration?” Kazuya blinked, not sure if he misheard.

“For a new series,” Haruki nodded, serious. “Something that could work as an anime. High-quality, too.”

“Wait, seriously?” Kazuya’s expression twisted in disbelief. “You’re telling me that half an hour ago you had nothing, and now after ten minutes of zoning out you’re suddenly inspired with a whole new project?”

He was both excited and concerned.

Kazuya had worked with Haruk...

I just want to quietly draw manga Chapter 218

Although the visuals in Natsume’s Book of Friends weren’t as polished as some high-budget series, the original background music personally selected and arranged by Haruki had drawn widespread praise from anime fans. And since Natsume wasn’t an action-heavy series, the animation quality didn’t interfere with the viewing experience.

Among the crowded lineup of April releases ranging from saccharine romcoms to formulaic isekai and yet another overpowered-dragon series Natsume’s B...

I just want to quietly draw manga Chapter 217

Ryuko couldn’t do much about the Initial D fans venting under Haruki's feed account.

Honestly, she wished she were Haruki’s actual girlfriend, like all the online rumors claimed. But... from the day she confessed to now, despite doing everything she could to spend more time with him, Haruki remained just as evasive. She had asked him out two or three times to go sightseeing around Tokyo but each time, somehow, she ended up helping him grind through online games instead.

Whoeve...

I just want to quietly draw manga Chapter 216

Not only had Haruki’s feed account exploded with messages, but even the official Kazanami Animation site was flooded by fans venting their frustration some dramatically declaring they were “dropping” the series.

At this point, though, Kazanami’s staff wasn’t surprised. Fans of Mizushiro had said the same thing many times before. Yet every time, by the release day, they’d forget last week’s pain, buy the magazine again, swear it off and end up repeating the cycle all over. ...

I just want to quietly draw manga Chapter 215

As the summer season approached, major animation studios were already busy lining up their releases.

"Natsume’s Friends was originally just one of many manga and light novels being adapted into anime by studios across the seven major publishers. Every year, multiple projects entered production nothing unusual."

But unexpectedly, Natsume’s Friends had begun to cast a long shadow over the summer lineup, creating mounting pressure for other studios aiming to dominate the season.<...

I just want to quietly draw manga Chapter 214

But during the race, Sayuki clearly frustrated lashed out at Mako, calling her too timid in that moment.

So much for sisterhood, fans joked online.

Still, most readers didn’t think the argument would damage their friendship. It just looked like a typical mid race spat.

As many fans had predicted, Sayuki snapped out of her hesitation thanks to Mako’s push. There weren’t many corners left, and even though the odds were slim, they couldn’t afford to back down now.