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Toko-san's goofing around with Amano-sensei again.

Amano-sensei?

Oh, Toko-sensei's rival, right?

Yup.

No

There's something so hype about rivalries in manga and in real life.

Big mood.

So I was thinking of making the new character Subaru-kun's rival, but it's just not clicking.

What about you, Sensei?

What about me?

Do you have any rival authors?

Not really.

Uh, all right then.

Want me to go answer?

No, I'll get it. I can't keep relying on you for everything.

I'll be a grown-up.

Who is it?

Huh?

Ugh, Futami.

What...

Help me!

Nashida-san? Whoa!

WOOF

WOOF

Episode 5: My Senpai Calls Herself My Rival.

Episode 5: My Senpai Calls Herself My Rival.

Futami, help me!

Nashida-san? Whoa!

So warm.

Hey, Nashida-san. Get a hold of yourself.

Sensei?

Ha-san, help me.

Uh, who are you?

Huh?

You identify yourself first.

Ugh, you reek of booze.

Futami, long time no see.

You still drinking your days away? Your liver's gonna give out.

It already has.

Sheesh. We're making some tea, so get rid of that highball.

No way. This is my holy water.

Alcohol

Alcohol

Alcohol

Alcohol

Alcohol

Alcohol

Alcohol

Alcohol

Alcohol

So who is she?

My senpai from my assistant days.

She's working on a rom-com for a shonen magazine now.

Nashida Arisa

Koku-san Is Safe!

Oh, I've seen that series before.

Aside from being a drunk and a cynic, she's a good person.

So she's basically a mess.

Who are you calling a "mess"? I can hear you, y'know!

What an annoying drunk.

So what brings you here today? I'm all ears if you need to talk.

I was told in today's meeting...

Go on.

They're going to cancel my series.

Don't mess with me. Don't freakin' mess with me! Toda, you jerk!

Oh, so Toda-san's your editor now?

Yeah, he is! That grinning, four-eyed bastard!

C-Calm down.

That said, I don't know what it's like to have a series canceled.

But I do know what it's like dealing with Toda-san.

This manga's trending, so steal— I mean, take inspiration from it.

I don't get this at all.

Nobody cares about your originality.

Not to mention, she's been developing that manga since her assistant years.

Look, Futami. All done.

Wow.

I did it!

Congratulations!

She was over the moon when her series got picked up.

Nashida-san, I know how frustrated you must be. And how awful Toda-san is.

So get it all off your chest.

Futami.

You don't understand anything.

Huh?

Your manga volume just came out and it's even getting reprinted.

You'll never understand how I'm feeling.

Deep down, you're laughing at me and thinking you're better than me.

Ain't that right? Well, I'm done. Done with everything.

It's no use when a person gets like this.

Let's leave her to it and listen to some music.

Sure.

She finally settled down.

Passed out, you mean.

I guess we should carry her to bed.

Right. We gotta make up for lost time, too.

What am I gonna do? I couldn't come up with a good rival character after all.

Just let Sato-san know, then.

But it's already 2AM.

Like I say, you're wasting time worrying about that. Should I call her again?

No! Don't!

You say that, but...

Hey, Futami.

I'm starving. Got anything to eat?

See? Some people just have zero tact.

I feel alive again.

That's good to hear.

So what were you stressing about? I'll help you to pay you back for the ramen.

She's a broth drinker, huh?

Uh, don't worry about it.

You've still got alcohol in your system, right?

It'll be okay, trust me.

I always drink while I work anyway.

That's not okay at all.

So what's the problem?

Well, I'm stuck on what my rival character's personality should be like.

I see. But coming up with a rival character is easy.

Say what?

Basically, just make 'em go up against Subaru-kun.

Head-to-head.

Like you and me back in our assistant days.

Uh, were we ever like that, though?

Have you forgotten what we talked about back then?

I-I have zero clue what you mean!

How could you?! You've forgotten our precious days together?

Futami, I've already finished one page.

Oh, wow. You're so fast with screentones, Nashida-san.

Futami's working on a spread. Hurry up and bring me the finished page.

Listen to this, Futami! My one-shot came second in the magazine poll.

Wow, that's amazing.

You're in different magazines, so why try to outdo her?

Futami, I got a serialization!

Wow, congratulations!

Looks like I win.

Can it, Nashida.

Don't tell me you forgot what went down.

Wait, we were competing the whole time?

Unbelievable. I worked really hard so you wouldn't beat me.

Are you saying our rivalry was one-sided?

I wouldn't say it was "one-sided." I just didn't think we were, uh, competing.

I'd get motivated whenever I saw how hard you were working, Nashida-san.

Hey, stop that. Don't gimme that main character act. It's like I'm the underdog here.

You actually are.

But hold on a second.

If you see her as your rival,

why come here to tell her your series was axed?

Well, because...

Is it possible that after all that whining, she...

D-Don't get the wrong idea, okay?

You'd hear about it eventually, so I figured it'd be less awkward if I told you myself.

Then, you've said your piece. Please leave. You've caused enough trouble.

I lied! Futami's the only person I can really open up to!

Your assistant's so scary.

She's a good girl, really.

Sorry I got all cringe back there. Please don't hate me.

Oh, please. I would never...

That's part of what makes you fun, and also why I like you, Nashida-san.

F-Futami.

You still like me even after seeing that side of me?

Should we get married?

You're still drunk, aren't you?

Whatever. Just get back to work.

She crashed after making all that noise.

What are we going to do? It's already 4AM.

I didn't get anything done! I have to turn something in by noon!

Hey, listen. How about we take inspiration from Nashida-san?

Her advice to make the rival go up against the MC?

No, I mean Nashida-san herself.

I don't know how I feel about that!

Think of it as compensation for the trouble she caused. We'll use her as story material.

We're running out of time, and it's kind of your fault, too.

Are you upset at me?

Not in the slightest.

"Yo, Subaru. Don't go acting all high-and-mighty just 'cause you reached the 3-dan League at 14."

"Uh, okay."

"If my birthday weren't in April, I would've had a chance, too!"

"Did you see that, Subaru? I beat Osuga-sensei in an official match!"

"Way to go! That was amazing!"

"Waaah... Subaru, I couldn't move up again."

"You shouldn't drink so much."

"Ugh, Subaru..."

"You have to take care of yourself, okay?"

"Subaru..."

It actually doesn't seem so bad when it's a manga character acting like that. Why is that?

Probably because it's doing no real harm?

Yeah, why not?

As an older "lovable loser," he'll be a hit with our female readers.

And it's Subaru who has to deal with him.

Aw, he's so cute! I love characters like him. I just want to spoil him!

What?

Don't you think he's way too childish for his age?

You didn't take my advice at all, Futami.

Um, how long do you plan to stay here, Nashida-san?

What? We're getting married, so I'm staying here forever, naturally.

You're not getting rid of me yet!

Please leave, will you?

New Message

Sato-san

Subject

I hope you're doing well

Tea

To Subaru\h\h\hChapter 9

Send

Uploading...

Upload complete

I'm done!

I'm done. I can't do any more.

Yup. Great work.

You really are helpless, Futami.

Excuse me?

A monthly magazine is like one chapter of around 40 pages a month, right?

And you're complaining about that?

I'm cracking out 16 pages every week, you know.

But only for a few more weeks. Is this really the time to be flexing?

Well, a monthly series can take its time so the quality's higher.

Both types have their pros and cons.

Sorry. I got too full of myself.

Uh, you're being too sensitive.

And like, how long are you going to stay here, anyway?

Ever since you showed up here, you've only gone back once to get your stuff.

Huh?

She's right. You can't just keep working here forever.

I'm fine.

With this, I can handle everything from storyboards to final drafts. Don't fret over me.

We're not.

Okay, then. Let's call it a day. Good work.

But it's a weird hour. You've missed the last train, right, Ha-san?

I can still walk home at a push.

I'd get all worried.

Then, mind if I crash here? I'll head out in the morning.

Yes, please do that.

I'm also extra wiped out today, so I think I'm gonna...

Gonna...

Gonna...

No, I'm actually not sleepy at all!

Huh?

But you've been sleeping three hours a night lately, right? Your body's gotta be tired.

But my eyes aren't even drooping. What's happening?

Oh, I see. That's the "post-deadline high" kicking in.

Post-deadline high?

Your built-up fatigue and the euphoria of finishing a manuscript

creates this antimony of being wiped out but also wide awake.

I think you mean "antinomy."

So I say we pull an all-nighter gaming.

Huh?

You said "antimony," not "antinomy."

Well, all right. But I don't have any games.

I know.

That's why I went back to my house to grab some.

What?

The thought occurred to me while I was grabbing more clothes.

What should we play? What should we play? I've got pretty much every popular game.

Well, I can't sleep anyway, and it's been a while since I last played a game.

So I guess I could play for a bit.

This one.

Okay.

A cheap shot on the finish line?

It's a race! The whole point is to win!

It's the middle of the night, so keep it down.

Screw it. We're done with that one. Let's switch to a game I'm good at.

Huh? Aw, c'mon. Just one more race.

Don't just sit and stare at your phone, Ha-san. Come join us.

After I've finished today's daily mission.

How... How did I just lose? You're too good at this game, Hazama-san.

I used to play this all the time when I was in elementary school.

Seriously? One more round! One more round!

Bring it on.

Sayuri

"Hazama-kun... I..."

"Uh... Ugh..."

Sayuri-chan is crying.

I should...

Hug her

Wipe her tears with my handkerchief

Leave her alone

"Hug her," I guess?

You idiot. You'll freak Sayuri-chan out if you do that in the classroom.

The handkerchief, then?

No, Sayuri-chan doesn't like it when people get too involved.

Hug her

Wipe her tears with my handkerchief

Leave her alone

Therefore, the correct answer is "Leave her alone."

Huh?

Are you sure? I don't think that applies here.

Shut up and just trust me.

Hug her

Wipe her tears with my handkerchief

Leave her alone

I should...

Sayuri

"I hate you!"

What?

I told you.

I'm not after Sayuri-chan, anyway. Rika-chan's the one I like.

Wow. A classic jerk line.

What did you say?!

This kind of reminds me of when I hung out with Ha-san's older sister back in the day.

It's been ages since I just hung out at home with friends.

It feels nice.

Okay, what should we play next? How about this one?

No, that's an RPG.

Hey, it's about time we went to bed.

No, I'm not sleepy at all.

What?

I've still got plenty of energy left.

That's amazing.

Are you always like this?

What do you mean?

After your deadline.

Are you always so hyper like this?

No, not usually.

My assistant works remotely so I'm all alone in the house.

I turn into sludge.

Wow.

What do you mean?

The "not being able to sleep because I feel weirdly hyper" bit is the same.

But lately...

Yes?

Ever since they decided to cancel my series, I've been too anxious to sleep.

I wish I could just sleep and forget about everything, but it's not that easy.

Even when I get into bed, I can't stop thinking about my life.

That's intense.

I gave it everything I had to finish the manuscript,

but the more I draw, the closer I get to the end.

They'll probably write something like:

"Stay tuned for Sensei's next series!" on the issue with the final chapter of my series, but...

I doubt many readers will be waiting.

And there hasn't even been any talk about my next series or anything.

Calling it a "recharging period" may sound nice,

but a mangaka without a series means being unemployed.

Sh-Should I go back to my hometown?

But all of my old friends are married now, so I'd just feel out of place.

What am I going to do with my life?

So I basically end up in a dark place.

I see.

It's hard to stay motivated when you're working on something that's already scheduled to end.

Frustration, regret, an urge to run away... All of those emotions start swirling inside.

And since I work alone, there's no one to vent to. So...

Low calorie 28% fruit juice

Arctic Fruit\h\hJuice

Arctic Fruit\h\hJuice

Alcohol

I end up drinking to escape.

But ever since I came here, you've been working on your manuscript right beside me.

And seeing you work makes me go, "Man, I'm so jealous,"

and "I gotta get back on my feet even if this series ends."

Low calorie 28% fruit juice

Arctic Fruit\h\hJuice

Arctic Fruit\h\hJuice

Alcohol

I think that's what made me hyper today.

Futami. Hazama-san.

Thank you.

I hope you'll root for me until my final chapter.

Nashida-san.

Sorry. That got a little awkward.

I'm gonna take a bath and hit the sack.

Wait.

So does that mean she's staying here until she finishes her final chapter?

That's what she meant?!

You gotta be kidding me.

Translation: Timing: Editing + Typesetting: Quality Control: Translation Check:

Naomi Suda Andy Ellis SMR Ashley Barboza Michelle Tymon

Next Episode: It's a Strange Dynamic Between the Three of Us.

Next Episode

It's a Strange Dynamic Between the Three of Us.