Original subtitles

Go! Go! Sensei!

Put some love into it! Again!

Don't be ridiculous!

You convinced me to do this and now you say it doesn't motivate you? That's just cruel.

The deadline's in two days.

Say what you want.

Honestly, though, the storyboards for Chapter 7 look so good this time.

It'd be a shame if the quality dropped because we ran out of time.

"This time."

"This time"?

What you just said completely drained my motivation.

Business is closed for the day.

Oh, that's probably pre-book release depression.

P-Pre-book release depression?

It's when the release date's approaching, and anxiety outweighs excitement.

But all the work is done, so there's nothing she can do except wait for release day.

Seriously? But there's no use worrying about that.

You're right.

But the fact is many creators struggle to draw that line.

That said, I do have a plan.

Sensei, it's Sato-san calling.

Answer it for me, Mom.

I don't recall giving birth to you.

SATO-SAN

Yes, hello?

Oh, Futami. Sorry for bothering you. Is now a good time?

If that's a "yes or no" kind of question...

I'll go with "No."

Oh. Sorry to ask this when there's lots going on, but this month's deadline is pretty tight.

Can you send the cover illustration before the manuscript?

- I can't. - Huh?

I see. I know you're working hard on the manuscript right now...

so I really don't want to rush you.

But is there any way at all?

Sato-san.

I'm not working hard at anything right now.

Is it okay if I get it to you in two hours?

I see. She went for the guilt trip approach.

Oh, and...

Um, well...

The storyboards for this chapter turned out great again.

I look forward to the completed manuscript.

I'm so bad at giving compliments.

I'm fast once I get started! I'm unstoppable!

Is that so? That's fantastic.

EPISODE 4: IT'S A JOB I CAN'T DO ALONE.

Here. Freshly printed books.

W-Wow.

This doesn't feel real at all.

Even with the book in front of you?

Takizawa-sensei went out of her way and wrote an endorsement.

SUBARU'S FEELINGS BROUGHT ME TO TEARS. MITSUKI'S FEELINGS BROUGHT ME A SMILE.

No, I'm happy. I really am.

I guess it just hasn't sunk in yet. And I can't believe it's really happening.

You've got a complicated heart.

So I need to sign these books, right?

Yup. For promotional use in bookstores.

It'd be nice if you could draw something small on the inside front cover.

Okay.

Thanks.

Why are you sitting next to me?

Hand the book to me when you've finished signing it.

I'll slip a sheet in so the ink doesn't bleed through.

It still doesn't feel real. These books are actually going to be sold in bookstores, huh?

That's right.

I mean, it's been four years since I did the storyboards for Chapter 1 of this manga.

Oh. Yeah, you're right.

TO SUBARU BY FUTAMI NANA

It sounds like you were in hell before you met me.

Yup, I sure was!

Toda-san rejected every storyboard I turned in.

And all he'd say was: "Give me something traditional"!

Ah. He's really into the straight-up, pure romance variety of manga, huh?

But I wasn't good at that kind of story.

So I was rotting away inside.

I was Takizawa-sensei's assistant at the time, and even she was worried.

And that's when it happened!

I'm sorry. I got transferred to Weekly Machine Gun.

This is Sato-san, your new editor.

Nice to meet you.

Oh, uh, right. Nice to meet you, too.

Good thing you don't have any ongoing projects right now.

All right. I'll leave the rest up to you two.

Um, you don't need to sit so far away. Come closer.

Oh, um, okay.

So, uh, you don't have any storyboards you're currently working on, correct?

No. I haven't done anything for a month now.

Is that because you have no ideas or topics you want to draw?

No, I do. It's just, um, the things I want to draw usually get rejected.

Are you talking about a shogi manga?

Huh?! You know about that?

Toda-san told me. He also gave me the storyboards, so I read them.

I think it's really good.

There's no such thing as a bad subject.

I believe any story can be made interesting if done right.

Let's bring it to life and prove him wrong.

Looking back, I guess we really have pulled it off.

All that's left is for people to read and enjoy your manga.

Good morning.

Thank you for coming all the way here. I look forward to spending the day with you.

This is Ikenami from our sales department.

Nice to meet you.

Yeah, uh, nice to meet you.

Your very first volume is finally out.

It sure is.

Why do you sound so flat?

This is your first time doing bookstore rounds, right, Futami-sensei?

Yes. What do we do exactly?

We're going to go say thanks and you can sign some books.

Sign books? But didn't I already do that the other day?

Those were sent to regional bookstores, like in the Kyushu and Tohoku regions.

It really motivates the staff when you go in person to sign the books. Also...

Signed copies generally can't be returned to the publisher once they've been purchased.

Okay! Ten locations, 20 signed books in each. Let's ensure we sell 200 copies!

Ikenami's got real potential, hasn't she? This is just her second year with us.

Impressive.

MOCHIDA BOOKS

I'm the manager of the comics section, Tsukamoto.

I look forward to working with you today.

I'm Futami. Nice to meet you.

Look, Sensei!

Your book made it onto the front display!

W-Wow.

TO SUBARU BY FUTAMI NANA

What's wrong?

Well, seeing it on the shelf made me realize it's actually been released.

It's about time.

I'm sorry it took forever!

Just embrace it already. It's something to celebrate.

But if the signed copies don't sell, it'll be a loss for the bookstore.

Look what you've done to her, Ikenami.

Huh?

Sure, signed copies can't be returned, but selling the books is our job.

That's not something for you to worry about.

We'll sell them and people will buy them. After all...

There's an intellectual handsome boy on the cover! Who wouldn't buy it?

Subaru-kun is so cute. He's totally my type!

I'll always cheer you on. I'm wishing you all the best!

U-Um, I have to sign the books, so...

Oh, I'm sorry!

TO SUBARU BY FUTAMI NANA

THANK YOU FOR BUYING THIS BOOK FUTAMI NANA

Okay! That's 20 books!

Good work.

Thank you so much. I'll put them on display right away.

Thank you, but um...

I made a mistake in one of them.

So can I buy this one?

Oh, you don't have to do that.

In that case, may I buy that book?

What? But I'd feel bad.

There's nothing to feel bad about!

Tsukamoto-chan's really into the series. She emailed me when Chapter 1 got published.

I totally did.

If you don't mind, can you add a bubble and make Subaru-kun say, "To Tsukamoto-san"?

Then, if I may...

Yay!

And that's all the bookstores. Thank you for your help.

I wonder if those 200 signed copies will sell.

There you go again. You shouldn't be so negative.

Yes, but... Will it really be okay?

It will. What are you so worried about?

Honestly, I was so caught up in meeting the deadlines,

I didn't really have time to think about how well the series was doing,

nor how my readers felt about it.

But now that Volume 1 is being released,

I'll find out how much my story has resonated with readers through sales numbers.

Futami.

Should we go back to one of the stores, then?

Huh?

Looks like Tsukamoto-chan posted about it on social media,

so let's go check out if it's selling.

MOCHIDA BOOKS

Welco—

Huh? What happened? Did you forget something?

Nah, we're just curious to see if the signed books are selling.

They're selling quite fast. Would you like to see the shelf?

Aw, yeah! There's some left.

LIMITED SIGNED COPY BY FUTAMI-SENSEI

Okay, I'm gonna go buy this.

One more manga for the pile at home.

This one's an exception. It's a signed copy.

Fine.

Futami?

Excuse me.

Can we have a picture together?

Huh?

It's so great we got such a nice end to the day.

I laughed when you asked those girls for a picture.

I'm sorry.

By the way, what happened with the flyers for To Subaru?

It's set for the day after tomorrow. We're putting it inside Kimi Cho's latest volume.

I see.

What's the matter, Futami?

Oh, it's just that...

I always thought making manga was something you could do alone.

But I was wrong. There are all these people involved, like Sato-san...

Ikenami-san...

Ha-san...

Toko-san...

and Tsukamoto-san.

And above all, manga only finds its meaning when it's read by someone else.

You're only realizing that now?

I'm sorry that I'm so useless!

But you're right about that.

There's no such thing as a job that can be done alone.

Then, how about we all go out for drinks? We deserve a little celebration.

Good idea. It can double as our year-end party.

Oh, let's also invite Kakunodate-sensei for advising the series.

Oh, but Toko-san's out in the Kansai region. I wonder if she can make it.

Just let her know. Hazama-san, too.

Uh, so... Thank you very much for coming today.

Uh, everything went smoothly this year, so thank you all for your hard work.

And my book was also released, so thanks for that.

And uh...

Wrap it up.

It's bad manners to interrupt a speech!

Cheers!

I know!

Excuse me. May I order some more?

Sure, go ahead.

One coke.

Oh, plus a highball and a Shochu with oolong tea.

Wow, you've already finished your beers? That was fast. I've only had two sips.

What are you talking about? It's impossible not to drink at a party.

She's right.

Those who can tolerate alcohol should drink. It's on the editorial department anyway.

Thanks for treating us.

You should drink up and have fun, too, Futami-sensei. Your books are being reprinted.

No, I always get nauseous. So I have to go easy on the booze.

It's getting reprinted?!

What? Nobody told you?

No!

Huh? Yes, I did.

No, you didn't!

Yes, I did. Don't you remember me calling you the other day?

Oh, Futami? It's about Volume 1 that released the other day.

Yeah?

Did you notice any typos when reading it? We can fix them up.

No, I didn't see any.

Okay. If you want to make any adjustments to the drawings, now's the time.

Um, but it's already been released, right? We can still make adjustments?

Huh? Sure.

Oh, huh. But I don't have anything.

That call was to let you know about the reprint. We make corrections for the second edition.

See? I knew I told you about it.

Y-You never said the word "Reprint," though.

- Oh. - Don't "Oh" me!

You need to spell it out if you want me to understand!

I had no idea what you meant by "corrections" when it was already out!

Yeah, but these days, the internet has all the information you need.

How could you not have caught on?

You're blaming this on me?!

Now, now. You should let it go now that you've found out.

She's right. It's still good news.

It doesn't sit right with me.

Sorry, my bad. I'll make sure to be clearer next time.

Getting reprinted means the book did well,

so I thought the announcement would be more exciting.

Well, I guess reprints aren't a big deal for Sato-san since she's an editor.

I'm still a newbie, so the first run wasn't all that many copies, anyway.

So a single reprint mustn't be a big deal to her.

No!

In this economy, a reprint is pretty amazing when I'm basically a nobody! Right?

Isn't it too soon to be tipsy, Sensei?

I'm fine!

But yeah, it's a big achievement for sure. I'm super happy for you, too.

So am I. I'll promote it at the year-end event I'm attending.

Maybe we can push it harder for another round of reprinting.

We wanna see those numbers grow.

What number are you aiming for, Futami-sensei?

I'm aiming for the sky!

You're making no sense.

Futami-sensei, would you like another drink?

Okay, I'll have a vodka lemon soda.

Could we order, please?

Are you serious? You only had one beer and a vodka lemon soda.

- Are you okay? - Oui.

You're so adorable, Sensei.

Are you still okay for a meeting with me? We agreed to do one, remember?

Oh, crap. It's a demon.

Sato-san, you should've switched the order for her sake.

I'm worried about her. Will you give me a call when you're done?

I live nearby, so I can take her home.

Thanks, but what will you do while you're waiting for us, Hazama-san?

I'll be at the karaoke place over there.

I'll come with you since I don't have anything after this.

Okay, let's have our own after-party!

I'm in.

I wanna go with you guys!

Denied.

Uh, is this...

Um, do you come here often with a handsome gentleman?

Huh? I drink alone.

Oh, I-I see.

Excuse me. Can I have the same again?

You drink quite a bit.

Do I? This is normal for me.

Come to think of it, this is our first meeting with drinks. Do you like to drink?

Not really.

I'm a bit confused here.

Um, I'm too drunk to do any brainstorming, so mind if I head on home after this one?

- Hold your horses. - What? Hold them for what exactly?

I mean, I have to turn in those storyboards right after the New Year.

So I understand that we need to get it sorted out today.

Yeah, there's that, too. But...

But?

Huh?

What are you doing? You're not a klutz like me.

Uh, I'm sorry.

Sorry for not making it clear that your book got reprinted.

I think I got a little carried away myself. I was so happy when I called you about it, so...

You were? But compared to me, you've seen way bigger reprints with other mangakas, right?

- Idiot. - Id—

It's not about the numbers.

I helped launch that manga, and nobody knows it better than I do.

Of course you're the one who put in all the effort, and it's your manga, but...

I'm also in charge of it.

So I'm happy it got a reprint, too.

You're not the only one who gets all nervous and anxious about a book release, idiot.

You've felt that way all this time?

You bet, idiot.

How many times are you gonna call me that?

Ah, that makes me happy.

I want more people to know my work now.

I didn't think you had that kind of ambition in you.

It's not an ambition exactly, because I don't necessarily want to become famous.

I hope to work with everyone on this team for many years to come

to give this manga the ending it deserves.

That's my goal for now.

I see.

We can probably say we've hit the safe zone once we've sold around 50,000 copies.

You're giving a serious answer? Wait, 50,000?

I'll do my best.

Good.

Let's do it together.

Let's keep up the good work together.

Next episode: My Senpai Calls Herself My Rival.