Hey.
Yes?
Something has been dragged here.
What is this?
Is that a human hand?
What's this...
No way... this person is...!
God is not a god of the dead...
...but a god of the living.
WABI-SABI SUBS PRESENTS:
YAMI NO BANSOSHA
WABI-SABI SUBS PRESENTS:
~HENSHUCHO NO JOKEN
Partner In Darkness 2: Conditions Of An Editor-In-Chief
~HENSHUCHO NO JOKEN
Partner In Darkness 2: Conditions Of An Editor-In-Chief
AJIMAPRO
THE FALL
"THE FALL"
THE FALL
AJIMAPRO
Mizuno-san!
So sorry for asking for you to come, out of the blue.
Mizuno Yuki MATSUSHITA NAO Daiji Shinji FURUTA ARATA
It's no problem. I also would like to apologize for not keeping in touch.
Horio Satoshi TSUDA KANJI Ito Shota SHIRAISHI SHUNYA
It's fine. Please come in.
Excuse me.
Watanuki Yoshimasa KONNO HIROKI Nanbu Kayoko YAGI AKIKO
This way.
Yes.
Tamura Kei MIZUHASHI KENJI Ishida Yoichi TANABE KENICHIRO
Takei Hayato KANAI YUTA Kawabata Tetsuji HASHIMOTO ICHIRO
After you.
Subtitles by WABI-SABI SUBS JP-EN Translation / Editing / Timing: EARTHCOLORS Raw Provider: VAMPIREXxX
Nice to see you again. Have you been well?
Coffeeshop Master NUKUMIZU YOICHI Takeuchi Kosuke MAENO TOMOYA
Yes. You're looking well too, Ma'am.
Part 1 Digest: HIRATA MITSURU TANAKA TETSUSHI KANAME JUN FUJII MINA TAMOTO SORAN FUJINO DAIKI
What have you been doing since then?
Photos: BENGAL YOSHIZAWA RIE FUJITA YUMIKO
Not much has changed. I'm still with the same research company.
Yajima Tomoyuki FUJIMOTO LEO Ajima Yoshiko MAYA KYOKO
I know you're still a detective, that's why I called for you today.
Ogi Toshikatsu HIRAIZUMI SEI Nanbu Masaharu IWAMATSU RYO
Um... I'm a researcher.
Not a detective, but a researcher.
Three years ago, at the request of this Ajimapro...
...I solved a certain incident.
After the death of master manga artist Ajima Fumiya...
...unpublished drawings were found, that we thought were drawn by him.
These were found next to the drawings.
Somehow, the drawings' subject matter was very similar with...
...the series of unresolved cases of missing women that happened around 40 years ago.
I, Mizuno Yuki, a former police officer who was unfamiliar with manga...
...set out to investigate it along with the help of an excellent but eccentric manga editor.
I thought you'd be interested in an investigation regarding an unpublished work of Ajima Fumiya.
When it comes to manga...
Let me see it.
...there is no one more knowledgeable than this Daigo Shinji.
Ajima Fumiya wouldn't draw a story without a diegesis as much as this work.
Diegesis?
It's the plot!
Need I explain more?
Sorry.
In the 70s, screentones were still expensive. A mangaka could not afford it then.
Also this mangaka used the kabura pen.
In the 70s, when Ajima Fumiya started drawing his mysteries, he opted to use the G pen.
From his overwhelming vast knowledge and experience...
...he was able to estimate the year it was drawn and who really drew it.
Meanwhile, a new case of a missing woman had come up...
...and an employee of Ajimapro died mysteriously.
Look. Based on the silhouette of the hair, it's the same person.
Noticing a clue hidden in the drawings...
...the two of us chased after the whereabouts of the real culprit.
The protagonist in this story wasn't the Mangaka who committed the murder.
Instead, it was the boy whom we thought was just an eyewitness!
This was the story of the boy all along!
You and I share a common destiny.
Maybe he was the Mangaka we've been looking for...
A man named Kaihara Akihiko.
The real culprit was a dreadful and sad person.
Kazumine-san... The boy in the drawings was you, right?
That person next to him... was a person he called "Manga Editor"...
...someone who was close to him, and was a companion by his side.
Are you thinking that I'll ask you for another troublesome task?
No...
If you did, you're not wrong.
Takeuchi.
Yes.
This is Chapter 31 of Red Ninja drawn by Ajima-sensei when he was in his teens.
Red Ninja Phantom Tree Leaves Slash Volume
What was the publishing magazine?
Kanto All-sha. It wasn't a magazine but a rental manga.
Rental?
You're not familiar with it, right?
Sometime from the mid-1950s to 1960s...
...rental manga were popular back then. It was this one.
At that time, a manga book cost around 100 yen to 200 yen.
Red Ninja
Phantom Tree Leaf Slash Volume 6
Now, that's equivalent to around 2000 to 4000 yen.
Children couldn't very well afford it.
That is why they did the rental system wherein they can borrow manga books cheaply.
It's like the today's rental video store.
I see.
This original manuscript...
...of Chapter 31 of Red Ninja had been missing for a long time.
I looked for it when I was working on the publication of his complete works but I couldn't find it.
Eh? Then, it wasn't included in the complete collection?
No.
We used instead drawings by an assistant who made it by tracing this rental book.
But of course, it wasn't as good as the real Ajima work, right?
Because of that, a false rumor saying, "Ajima had a ghostwriter" had spread around.
It annoyed me so much!
I understand how you feel.
However, just recently...
...there was a person who found this manuscript from somewhere and donated it to us.
But when we were about to relay our gratitude...
He died!
He fell from the roof of a building.
He's dead?
He was in charge of Ajima before.
Was it a manga editor?
Popple (Salt Karin)
Soukisha President Ogi Toshikatsu
Soukisha Managing Director Ogi Toshinori
I'm very grateful that you've considered me...
But I don't think I'm suited for the job of editor-in-chief.
Could you somehow please think about it?
Regarding the relaunching of "Manga Brave", we intend to entrust everything to you.
MANGA BRAVE
PANIC ALLIANCE
I'm sure you know but...
...the number of copies have decreased sharply over the years...
...and the magazine might fold up if it continues to be in the red.
But before that happens, we want to try a plan to revive it...
And that's where you come along.
We may not be as big as Eijinsha where you used to work before...
We're a medium-sized publishing company with about 80 employees.
However, for you...
...we are willing to double the annual income that you received from Eijinsha.
Please take your time.
There are two types of manga editor.
One is the editor-in-chief type who devotes all his efforts in designing the whole magazine.
The other one is the type that pours all his powers in making a manga a hit along with the mangaka.
In my case, I am obviously the latter.
Oh, but...
I'm sure those who were manga editors would want to experience being editor-in-chief once, don't they?
At first, they'd have that kind of wish.
The editor-in-chief is like the ace player in baseball.
*grand champion
In Sumo wrestling, it'll be the yokozuna*.
But I soon realized it.
That it's actually a lowly middle management position.
No but, regarding the relaunching of "Manga Brave", we're seriously prepared to entrust full power to you.
I'm really flattered but...
I hate management...
That is why I became a freelancer.
Actually...
You weren't the first person we asked...
...to handle the relaunching of Brave.
I'm not surprised. Who was it, by the way?
He worked at Eijinsha's rival, Houosha, and retired around 10 years ago...
...it was Nanbu-san.
Nanbu--
Nanbu-san? You mean that Nanbu Masaharu-san?
Do you know him?
Yes, of course.
He was the editor-in-chief who catapulted that "Weekly Grand Adventure" to the top of the industry.
Even in other companies, when it comes to chief editors of manga, he's known famously as a legend.
But... in the "infamous" sense too, I guess.
You're... Daigo Shinji of Eijinsha, aren't you?
In that company you're in...
Your editor-in-chief doesn't understand manga, so your staff are also incompetent.
The manga you're in charge of are the worst.
It's just trash... Trash!
You hired a skillful editor-in-chief with an idiosyncratic, enfant terrible personality like him, huh.
Um... did something happen between you and Nanbu-san?
Yes. I don't like to give the details.
I assume Nanbu-san stepped down from chief editor's position, so in the end, you came to me?
No...
Until just recently, Nanbu-san...
...was vigorously preparing towards the relaunching of Brave.
But...
He passed away.
Passed away?
He fell down from the top of a building.
The police concluded it as an accident.
He didn't leave a suicide note, and had no reason to commit suicide.
Where did that person find the original drawings...
RED NINJA Phantom Tree Leaves Slash Volume
Since you're a former police officer, I want you to investigate it.
There might be other existing works by Ajima that are still unaccounted for.
I understand.
And... why he did he die.
It was regarded as an unforeseen accident but I'm greatly troubled by it.
After all... he died soon after these drawings were found, right?
Could it be... these drawings had something to do with his death?
I understand.
Then, I'll look into these drawings and the cause of his death.
Who was that manga chief editor?
His name was... Nanbu Masaharu.
Before Nanbu-san's death...
...he said he wanted you as his vice editor-in-chief.
Nanbu-san? Wanted me? But why?
We don't know. I'm sure he had a high regard of your talent.
That is why, after his death, we came to ask you like this.
Actually, around a week before his death...
...he came to my office.
He said he discovered the "know-how for a surefire-winning grownup-oriented magazine".
"Know how"? What on earth was it?
He didn't give the details.
Just...
The hint is mizuiro (light blue).
A manga magazine for adult readers cannot win if it isn't mizuiro.
"Mizuiro"?
However, if I do this...
...I might get eliminated because of a grudge it could incur.
Mizuiro...
And... he might get "eliminated"?
Daigo-san, how about it?
Won't you compete...
...with the legendary editor-in-chief Nanbu Masaharu in your own way?
Ouch!
That was bad...
Geez...
"Nanbu... Masaharu..."
"Born in 1946...
...he joined major general publisher 'Houosha' and became a manga editor.
The manga magazine geared for grown-ups, "Weekly Grand Adventure" became a huge success...
...soon after he took over as its editor.
The maximum number of copies was recorded at 1.9 million.
After leaving Houosha...
...he worked actively as a freelance manga producer...
In August 2017, he was appointed editor-in-chief of...
...'First Editorial Staff Manga Brave' of Soukisha, Ltd."
He was a very talented editor-in-chief, huh...
Daigo Shinji
Why didn't you tell me sooner!
Am I no longer of use to you!?
Boring.
Manga has infinite possibilities.
Manga creates the era.
Era?
An Eijinsha standard editor wouldn't understand.
You never were an editor-in-chief, right?
For editors-in-chief...
...there is a scene you cannot see except for those who are standing in it.
A manga magazine for adult readers...
...cannot win if it isn't "mizuiro".
Mizuiro, huh.
I ate it all up.
SOUKISHA
Excuse me, here's the document from earlier.
Do it quickly within 5 seconds.
Yes.
Daigo-san, right?
Pleased to meet you. I'm Ishida, the assistant editor.
"Brave" Vice Editor Ishida Yoichi
Welcome to Soukisha.
Thank you.
Your desk is over there.
May I have your attention, everyone?
"Brave" Editor Takei Hayato
This is Daigo Shinji-san who will be editor-in-chief of Brave starting today.
"Brave" Editor's Assistant Ito Shota
"Brave" Editor Tamura Kei
As you all know, he was a famous manga editor at Eijinsha, and after that, worked as an active freelancer.
"Brave" Editor Kawabata Tetsuji
I'm Daigo. Nice to meet you all.
Hello.
What manga was he in charge of?
Stuff like Crime Jane, Battle OPS...
For reals!?
For real.
Oh, my godfather has descended!
You ass-kisser.
How many editors do you have all in all?
Five including me.
Only five?
It's a miracle you're still able to publish the magazine every two weeks.
The solution is simple.
We don't serialize manuscripts from slow authors.
Otherwise, a small company like ours would be...
I see.
"Brave" Editor Watanuki Yoshimasa
Well, we're going to turn over the works to the printing office today.
They'll be coming from the platemaking shop at 4pm so I'm hoping you'll do the proofreading.
Got it.
Boss, please have some coffee.
This is temp worker, Ito-kun. If there's anything you need, please ask him.
"It's the end!"
Battle OPS... I really loved it!
It's an honor, sir!
Hello.
Hello. Pleased to meet you.
Then, please do this tomorrow morning.
Got it.
In the morning, ok? Take care of it.
Kawabata-kun, may I have a word?
Yes.
Yes?
PASHIRI POLICE
Pashiri Police, right?
It's doing good as Brave's most popular manga.
But...
Isn't this episode similar to the last one?
You think so?
I'm saying it's always the same.
A manga that's been serialized for so long...
...looks stereotypical, and it really IS stereotypical, you know?
Try harder in coming up with plots that won't bore the readers.
Can you make gradual changes in the situation where the hero is placed?
I understand.
I will discuss it with Wakamatsu-sensei.
I might as well say this... But this signature pose of the hero...
...is a rule violation.
Saluting is a violation?
This is called "Hand Salute of Attention".
"Hand Salute of Attention"?
Unlike foreign troops and police officers...
...the Japanese do this "hand salute of attention" when wearing a hat.
An officer who's not wearing a hat bends his body at a 15 degree angle.
In other words, a proper bow makes a formal salute.
Really!?
Then, should we change it from now on?
This signature pose has already been embedded in the readers' minds over the years.
It's too late to correct it now. Let's keep it going like this.
However, as an editor...
Do you know what you're doing? Or you do things without knowing?
That's what I wanted to say.
I understand.
I'll be more careful in the future.
That's all for now.
Next...
"Lailala Shoji Co." is...
...Takei-kun!
Yes!
This is not realistic at all.
Yes...
Why is this company president hitting the hero?
It's far-fetched, right?
But well, it is like that...
Though you yourself admitted the setting isn't realistic...
...why did you accept the manuscript?
But, I thought it's a hit with the readers anyway, so...
Besides, Kurata-sensei is absolutely not the researcher type of person.
If you don't do research, you won't be able to draw a trading company well.
And just by reading the first page...
...you don't know what's going on the last time with the hero!
Brave's readers are 20 years old and above, right?
These people are busy working everyday...
They hardly remember what happened in the previous chapters.
That is why there are always flashback frames showing what happened last time...
It's bad if you don't prepare several cuts!
I understand.
I will tell Kurata-sensei next time.
Not "next time"! Go right now and have them redrawn!
How long can you wait for this manuscript?
I will check with the printing press but when it comes to redrawing it from now...
Um… Until now, something like this has...
This is MY proofreading.
Yes, sir...
Soukisha Advertising Director Horio Satoshi
Daigo-san, good evening.
Nice to meet you, I'm Horio.
Hello. Sorry for not introducing myself earlier.
No problem at all. First day on the job, and it's the day of proofreading, I know such hours can be tough...
Ah, if you like, please have some beer.
Beer?
Yes...
Over here, you can help yourself to some beer.
Here, let's drink.
So here's to a good working relationship!
Cheers.
So you were the editor before Nanbu-san?
Yes. I was editor-in-chief for around 10 years.
But the number of copies gradually dropped.
Since I'm not good, the President and Managing Director sought outside help.
Did you and Nanbu-san talk?
Yes.
Well, maybe the alcohol played a part in our conversation, you know?
He totally lambasted Brave.
He said, an incompetent person like me cannot edit a grownup magazine anymore.
He sure was nasty, right?
It's okay since I already know I don't have the talent for it.
Right now, I'm the director of the advertising and promotion department.
Is that so.
Yes.
But there is that, right? It's not only us...
...all the other grownup manga magazines are struggling everywhere nowadays.
I think it's because powerful enemies have emerged.
The rivals are the smartphone and the internet.
With the advent of such tools... I knew...
It meant that what people like the most are themselves.
Themselves?
Many people want to be recognized by others...
They want to be liked and respected.
But in the past it was difficult to become famous.
Yes.
That's why...
Great people learned from heroes.
From books and movies. For example...
You get your heroes from the main characters from this sort of manga.
I see.
Kinnikuman
But what about now?
In the age when SNS is flourishing, you get recognition easily when posting on the internet.
What "followers"? What's with those "I like it" comments.
Yeah...
Please look inside the trains.
No one is reading a manga book.
Most people's heads are buried in their smartphones. And are only interested in themselves.
The internet is overflowing with tiny heroes.
If admiration or ambition disappears...
...you won't want to be a manga hero anymore. You don't need it.
I knew it was the right decision to have you come work here.
Well, I'm not sure about that.
No, but you have the know-how to make a hit manga.
Please impart your knowledge to our people here.
No, I'm just helping out with the revamping of the magazine.
I don't have the know-how to make a hit manga.
Doesn't "revamping" mean making a hit manga?
The cause of death is rupture of internal organs caused by major physical trauma.
Also, the corpse' position had his right hand raised as if protecting his head.
Autopsy results showed a trace amount of alcohol.
Is there a possibility of suicide?
Of course, you can't rule it out.
But you see, they can't find any motive at all.
That is why, it was deemed an accident early on.
Well of course, it seems like they came up with that conclusion...
...after going through investigation procedures like eyewitness testimonies and bloodstains.
Thank you for your help.
Former Police, Police Dept. Yajima Tomuyuki
You haven't changed, Yuki-chan.
I'm so sorry.
So impertinent of me to ask for help after not being in touch for a long time.
No, it's fine.
Oh, well...
*Hired killer who pushes targets off buildings and train platforms
As long as the mythical "Dropper For Hire*" doesn't appear, murder isn't likely, I guess.
Oh, sorry sorry. I shouldn't be bringing that up.
But Yuki-chan, that being the cause of your father's death isn't true, is it?
No... But even when...
...my father fell from the main train station platform and died...
It seems rumors of that Dropper For Hire cropped up.
That someone in the higher-ups of Miyagi police hired a Dropper...
...to push off my father due to a political conspiracy.
When I heard about this mysterious falling incident...
...it DID cross my mind for an instant, that it might have been the Dropper For Hire.
First Editorial Department
"Brave" Editorial Dept.
"Web Comics" Editorial Dept.
"Knock Out" Editorial Dept.
This afternoon? Sure, I can spare some time if it's for a short while.
Well, I got a phonecall sometime ago, asking for an interview regarding Nanbu-san...
She's supposed to come today, so I was wondering if you could also be present?
It seems to be a request from Ajimapro, and I just can't say no.
The interviewer is something like a lady detective.
A lady detective...?
I'm Mizuno of EK Research.
Hello. I'm Horio, editor-in-chief before Nanbu-san. Now, I'm in the advertising department.
Nice to meet you.
Likewise.
Come in.
Long time no see, Mizuno-san.
Daigo-san!?
It's been a while. But how come...?
Actually, I'm the editor-in-chief here right now.
Is that so!
Aren't you supposed to say something to me?
Speaking of which, I'm sorry for not keeping in touch since then...
You ought to be sorry! You promised to call again but you didn't. You're always like that.
It was like reading a story that had a "turning point" but no "ending".
Um, do you know each other?
Yes. We've worked together before.
Is that so?
Well, let's all sit down please.
Excuse me.
Red Ninja Phantom Tree Leaves Slash Volume
What is this?
I came to talk to you about it.
It was an original manuscript drawn by Ajima-sensei for a rental manga, Red Ninja.
An early work by Ajima Fumiya.
He debuted with manga of the historical period theme.
Actually this had been missing for a long time but it was recently sent to Ajimapro...
...by Nanbu Masaharu-san who was working at your company.
Nanbu-san did...?
Then Ajimapro asked me to investigate where and how he found these drawings.
Would you say this was stored in your manuscript archives here?
This Red Ninja was published in 1957.
Our company was established in 1960 so...
As far as I can remember...
...Ajima-sensei never drew for us at Brave.
That's amazing. You can remember even that far back.
Well, if my memory serves me right, that is.
I understand. I will ask other people.
By the way, I heard that Nanbu-san died due to an accident...
...was there anything off about it?
Why? Mizuno-san, are you suspecting anything?
I heard the police had concluded it as an accident...
But just to be sure, I'm planning to investigate it from scratch.
For example, was there a possibility of suicide?
Well, the police had asked me that too...
But... we couldn't find a motive for ending his life.
Right?
Yes.
I heard that Nanbu-san would go up a building to sober up after drinking...
On that day, it seems he was pretty drunk and so they thought it was an accident...
Then, what about foul play?
Daigo-san...
It's all right.
You can trust her.
Actually...
Just before his death...
He told me, he found a sure-fire way for Brave to win...
"But if I do that, I might get eliminated because of a grudge it could incur."
...is what he said.
Eliminated? By whom?
We don't know. But the hint seems to be "mizuiro".
"Mizuiro"?
I honestly have no idea what it means.
But what I can say is... Nanbu-san didn't have the guts to kill himself.
However...
I don't think he was clumsy enough to fall down drunk either.
I see.
Thank you for your time.
I will continue to investigate from here on as well.
If there is anything else you need, please contact us anytime.
Thank you.
Actually, I plan to meet with Nanbu-san's wife after this.
Will you be okay on your own?
Yes. Thanks to you...
...I've learned a great deal about manga.
Liar.
Then, name me works handled by Nanbu-san.
I'm still learning about that.
See?
You're always like that. You tend to play along with another person's story.
What about you. You don't pay attention to a story when it doesn't interest you.
Well, if you like, you could ask anyone here to help you.
Is that alright with you?
Yes. If somebody here will be of use to you.
Then...
I can't, I can't. I'm not a freelancer anymore.
In exchange, if you find something about Nanbu-san, please let me know also.
I understand. I promise to report it to you.
Mizuno-san.
Remember, what matters in the story is the "ending".
Yes.
But... I'm a bit surprised.
You becoming editor-in-chief.
This way, right?
Sorry... for having to help me.
I don't mind. It's my pleasure to work with a beautiful person!
You've been a temp worker for a long time?
Six months, I guess.
I wanted to be a manga editor but publishers have been going out of business.
So for the meantime, I'm doing temp work.
I see.
It's that house, right? Wow... it's huge.
Nanbu's Wife Nanbu Kayoko
I haven't seen this before.
Sorry I'm not much of a help.
It's alright.
After Nanbu retired, we lived separately.
Since we were no longer meeting most of those times...
...I really don't know what went on with him these recent years.
He retired from Houosha ten years ago, right?
Yes. At that time...
...though they were set to make him president of Houosha's subsidiary company...
...he declined.
Maybe his pride was hurt.
"After all I've done, why a new subcontractor company!"
The company was Kiwi-sha, an editing production.
Kiwi-sha?
They've been popular lately with internet manga, right?
KIWI-SHA
So it seems. In the end, his junior colleague Shono-san became its president...
But it's now rapidly growing into a successful company.
Did you know Nanbu-san had become editor-in-chief of Brave?
Yes.
He suddenly called me...
And told me he became editor-in-chief...
...and that he's "going to open the airvents that would blow off the low clouds hanging over the manga world".
Was there anything unusual at that time?
Didn't you say you're investigating about this manga?
I want to find out the truth about Nanbu-san.
May I please have your cooperation?
Truth?
You're asking if there was something unusual from that time...?
I did wonder if he had changed...
He changed?
Nanbu was proud of his work even when he was a manga editor.
He seemed like someone who didn't crave to go up the corporate ladder.
I liked that about him.
But...
...when he told me he'll be appointed executive of Soukisha if he's able to increase the number of their copies...
...he sounded happy.
I was somewhat disappointed.
Anyone who's told that will feel be happy, right?
The old Nanbu would have been yelling...
"I wouldn't accept the job of editor-in-chief over such a silly thing."
How was he like at your company?
Well...
The editorial staff was scared of him.
I'm sorry.
It's okay.
But...
I think the amount of energy he gave for manga was amazing.
Really.
Yes.
This was the notebook that Nanbu kept... Do you want to see it?
May I?
And also... the key to that place...
Is it for his apartment?
I haven't sorted through his things yet... It hasn't been vacated.
Thank you. I'll take care of these.
Thank you for your time today.
Why don't you also try talking... to the mama of a bar in Shinjuku?
His mistress.
She must still be there so if you ask Tsukamoto-san, maybe he'll give you her contact details.
Who's Tsukamoto-san?
When my husband was at Houosha, Tsukamoto-san was the only junior colleague there he got along with.
Got it. I'll get a hold of him.
Nanbu-san...
Is there a possibility of suicide?
Ten years after he retired, he went back to his favorite place again.
He was a person who wanted to work on manga forever.
Is there such a person who'd commit suicide?
Do you think it was an accident?
He was poor at coping with life's problems. Had a sourpuss personality...
Since he was someone who incurred resentment in various places...
I'm guessing he didn't have good relations even with the people at the last company he worked for.
So, I thought something bad might have happened, then, someone flew into a rage and...
Our marriage might have been a failure...
But Nanbu was a part of my life.
It's not fair for him to die so suddenly, is it?
Mizuno-san, you said it, right?
That you're looking for the truth...
Why did Nanbu die?
I also want to know.
Yes.
I've returned.
Good work.
I'm sorry I was late. I'm Tamura.
What are you handling?
Gokumen.
GOKUMEN
Miyama Shingo
Someday I will surpass my mentor!! To be the best chef...
Gourmet manga specializing in noodle dishes.
It's filled with research and knowledge.
It's interesting.
The growth of the hero was drawn quite well, too.
Really? Thank you so much.
Who was the author you met with today?
Hitomi Mamoru-san. He has decided on a new series.
A new series? What's it about?
A salary man. Nanbu-san gave us the go-signal.
Is that so... All right then.
Let me read the name next time.
Yes sir. Will do so.
Watanuki-kun, can I have a word?
This Panic Alliance you've been handling...
...I really don't like it.
This detective... how was he killed?
Who knows.
Anyway, isn't it just another randomly dumb method of killing?
Also... This Akai-san's Oshime Kaetaka.
OSHIME KAETAKA
Akai Hiroshige
This man, will move the world with his little finger!!
This stock market speculator guy...
I'll tell you beforehand...
The next story in particular is gonna be terrible.
The truth is Akai-san himself doesn't want to draw it.
It's your job as editor to do something about it, isn't it!
Especially this last part, I don't understand at all how the hero won!
Anyway, this work will be over after four more episodes.
Akai-san has decided something for his next new manga.
It was wise to end it.
What's the new series?
It's about a bank clerk.
He's already finished with two chapters.
You're doing a "salaryman" story, too?
Tamura also said that a while ago. Is it okay to have two?
I dunno.
Those two chapters...
...I want to read it.
Well, okay...
Nah, don't think so. This new editor-in-chief is no different.
He doesn't understand one bit about our situation.
Well, I think he's better, compared to Nanbu-san.
Is he really~?
Do you guys...
...have time after this?
Let's unwind and have some drinks.
Yes.
Sure.
Excuse me!
Yes!
Give us additional sashimi platter good for 5.
Got it.
Thanks.
Hold back a bit, will you.
Besides, you should eat fried foods while you're still young.
But I'm hungry, I can't help myself.
You're such a millennial.
Was Nanbu-san's proofreading that tough?
He really bashed all of my serialized manga.
Oi, Ishida... Do you understand?
This ain't manga...
It's trash!
Why don't you just quit!!
I'm going to say it now...
Everyone at the editorial department didn't like Nanbu-san.
Sure, we recognized his achievement at Houosha...
...and admired him for being a legend in this industry.
But still...
Why did Managing Director bring in Nanbu-san?
What I also didn't like about him...
...was his seemingly inhumane criticisms. They sure were harsh.
I thought, "Is he really here to improve the magazine, or to restructure the staff?"
All of you aren't cut out to be editors!
Everyone of you should be fired!
I was so surprised when Nanbu-san was reading a manga, he suddenly lashed at Horio-san.
You handled a manga such as this? Are you crazy!!
What did you honestly think when Nanbu-san passed away?
Sorry to say this but I felt a bit relieved.
He got drunk and died, right?
I wouldn't be surprised if he was killed though.
By whom?
Well, I'm not interested in that theory.
We think there are many people who resented him.
For example, us members of Brave's editorial staff.
Also, the series authors, right?
He said terrible things about Wakamatsu-san's Pashiri Police which caused him to fall behind with the manuscripts.
In the first place, the one who developed Pashiri Police was Horio-san.
Horio-san?
Then, the signature pose for that "Hand Salute of Attention" was...
Of course it was Horio-san's. I just took over after him.
Well, we are contractual employees after all. We don't have a say in anything.
Wait a minute.
You guys are contractuals?
Yes.
You didn't know?
Most of Brave's editors are contractual. The only regular employees are Watanuki and Takei.
But Ishida-san, you're a vice editor so you'll be a regular employee, too.
There's no precedent, so it's not likely. Brave has poor sales.
But it would be nice, right?
Even though I'm selling more manga than Watanuki-san, right?
It's 'cause Watanuki has that thing, right? Being the grandson of the president's benefactor.
He was able to join the company based on that connection.
Don't you guys get along with Watanuki?
We have no reason to. He looks down on us like we're insects.
Nanbu-san also yelled at him at the start...
...but before long, he didn't talk to him, and ignored him during his last days.
There's something weird and scary about him.
We think it's best not to engage with Watanuki as much as possible.
Since there are some bad rumors about him.
Like what?
We can't tell you.
Do you know what Nanbu-san was working on before his death?
Most of the serialized manga were about to end.
He was about to do salary man stories...
I don't know the rest.
What could mizuiro mean... is still a mystery.
Nanbu-san's wife entrusted his notebook to me.
Tomorrow, I'll be calling each and every one of the phone numbers listed here.
I might be able to find some kind of clue.
All right.
Also...
I went to Nanbu-san's apartment... Here.
I found this over there, I wonder if this is his "idea notebook" or something...
I wish you gave it to me sooner.
Nanbu-san didn't have any manga books in his room.
No books?
He was the same as you.
But this was the only thing on top of his desk that looked important.
What do you think it is?
It's well drawn.
Was it by a famous mangaka?
It has the touch of something close to Shirato Sanpei.
But the size is strange.
Size?
It's bigger than B4 but it isn't an A3.
Plus, the four corners are a bit round... I wonder why.
I'll entrust that to you for now.
Okay.
So... What was Nanbu-san's wife like?
Nanbu-san was a part of her life.
That's why she wanted to know the truth and agreed to cooperate with me.
But she seemed disappointed with the recent Nanbu-san.
She said he ended up as a person who merely wanted to increase his social standing.
Well, that kind of opportunity will indeed change you...
Any person changes his beliefs easily.
You said it.
Like a guy who declared he hated women...
Then one day, even without making any effort, he suddenly became popular with women...
How easily he did away with his misogynistic stand.
Who are you talking about?
Take your time.
Ah! I can't take my time.
I gotta work overtime again tonight. Got a load of problems to work on.
Chief editor's job is tough, isn't it?
An editor-in-chief doesn't create hit manga...
He designs the magazine as a whole.
I see.
You nodded but... was it a nod because you understood what that means?
What it means? No, I didn't get it.
Seriously...
But what I said just now is none of your concern anyway.
My bad.
How was Ito? Was he useful to you?
He did well.
Unlike somebody I know, he didn't arrive late for the meet up...
...didn't rattle on and on about his knowledge...
Also...
Hmph! Then, good for you.
Until next time.
You're still here?
Oh, good evening.
I've just finished up. Do you need me to help you with anything?
No, I'm fine.
What I'm gonna do now is the most troublesome task of an editor-in-chief, and that is to go through the expenses.
You should go home already.
Then, may I borrow a manga?
Sure. What do you usually read?
By far, I like One Piece.
Your way of talking was inspired by Luffy's dream huh.
For the sake of his dream, he takes action without fear of death... It's the best.
Of course that's a good thing, too...
...but I'm sure you've read stuff like Osamu Tezuka's and Ishinomori Shotaro's too, right?
Ishinomori Shotaro...
His name sounds familiar...
He made Kamen Rider!
Is that so!
Can you become a manga editor without even knowing that?
Go read and study manga books, will ya!
Tha~nks.
Brave Editorial Dept. Receipts
Watanuki
It's Watanuki straight off the bat, huh...
Aren't these love hotel fees?
Soukisha
Hotel Sunport
Soukisha
Invoice
Ikebukuro SM Club Galactica
This one's for an SM club. Which of these should be covered?
Invoice
Soukisha Ltd.
Survey Fee
Comic Suplex
Tokyo, Chiyoda Ward, Kanda, Jinbo-cho 6-15-12 Kanto Central Post Office Box No. 101
"Comic Suplex".
Never heard of it.
P.O. Box?
Is it a ghost company?
Ito-kun!
Yep?
Do you know Comic Suplex?
I heard that company's name from Nanbu-san.
What's wrong?
It's nothing.
Tell me!
Well after that, Nanbu-san told me...
...not to tell anyone, and to forget about it.
He said that?
That reminds me, could it be...
Ito-kun.
Yes?
Bring me Vol. 1 of Panic Alliance which Watanuki was in charge of.
Yep. Got it.
Here it is.
PANIC ALLIANCE
Shinjo Kazuto
What do you mean? "It wasn't an accident".
Nanbu-san might have been killed!
Killed!?
Original Work: NAGASAKI TAKASHI "Henshucho No Joken -Daigo Shinji no Hakuran Suiri File-" (Shinchosha Corp.)
Screenplay: ASO KUMIKO
Music: GRAND FUNK
Photography: YAMADA YASUDA
Lighting: WATABE YOSHIMI
Images: KANEKO AKIRA
Editing: YANAGISAWA TATSUYA
Online Editing: HIDETO MIKI
MA: HACHIYA HIROSHI
VFX: KAMADA KOSUKE
Music Producer: MOGI EIKYO
Art: YUZHU YUKIHISA
Decoration: TAKI RIKA
Organization: TOKUDA KATSUHISA
Publicity: KAKO HIROYUKI
He fell from somewhere here, right?
In-Charge of Manga: MORI HIDEKI (Keizo Menzo) TANAKA KEIICHI (Ajima Fumiya)
The most important thing is "I found the phantom mangaka!"
Manga Cooperation: HIRAMATSU SHINJI (Pashiri Police) TSUCHIYAMA SHIGERU (Gokumen) NIHON BUNGEISHA, LTD. ("Weekly Manga Black" Editorial Dept)
I wonder if Mizuno-san is the Nico Robin type.
Co-Production: TOHO CO.
Subtitles by WABI-SABI SUBS
It doesn't fit your character!
If such a person did all that work by himself, it can only be a phantom.
JP-EN Translation / Editing / Timing: EARTHCOLORS
Raw Provider: VAMPIREXxX
It's possible he was involved in Nanbu-san's death.
Producer: KAWADA NAOHIRO
Is it connected with the underworld syndicates?
Produce: HATORI KENICHI
Even if you get into danger, I will not take responsibility.
Produce: KITA REIKO
Director: MIKI TAKAHIRO
Is he going to attack us?
A 2018 Production of: WOWOW
This is a work of fiction; people and organizations that appeared here have no connection with reality.