Original subtitles

Okay, let's go with these adjustments for the storyboards.

I'll get Toko-san to look over the match scene.

Okay. Thank you very much.

To Subaru \h\hFutami Nana

How's the new assistant? Is Nekonote-san handling the work okay?

Oh, way more than okay. Nekonote-san's a total lifesaver.

WOOF

WOOF

Episode 6: It's a Strange Dynamic Between the Three of Us.

Episode 6: It's a Strange Dynamic Between the Three of Us.

Okay, I'll be back in about two hours.

Message me if anything happens.

Got it.

Oh, and if you could also give Nekonote-san some background assignments.

Just up to where the storyboards have been approved.

Okay.

Futami, what 'bout me?

Shouldn't you be going home, Nashida-san?

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

Anyway, I'll keep things going on our side, so there's nothing to worry about.

Okay, I'll leave the rest to you.

Have a good day.

Off I go.

What's the matter? You should get going.

It's just... I wonder if this is what cheating feels like.

And there it is. Another of your weird metaphors.

Maybe I should've just declined by email?

My name is Setouchi from Young Machine Gun

Inbox

Setouchi Ruri

Me

Futami Nana-sama,

I hope this email finds you well.

from the Young Machine Gun editorial department.

My name is Setouchi from Young Machine Gun

Setouchi Ruri

Futami Nana-sama,

I hope this email finds you well.

My name is Setouchi from the Young Machine Gun editorial department. I hope you don't mind me following up, but I wanted to reach out once again to express our strong interest in having you write for our department as well.

\hI've been really enjoying reading your series To Subaru in Clover. I love your work and would be thrilled if we could collaborate someday. I know you must be very busy, but if you'd be open to a brief meeting, I'd be very grateful.

Thank you very much for your time and consideration.

Reply

Forward

Ha-san! Ha-san!

I was just cleaning up my inbox...

Lost your concentration again?

Th-That's not important right now. Just come over here and look at this.

Huh?

Sheesh. What is it?

I got an email from an editor at another magazine.

Mail

Compose

Inbox

Draft

Flagged

Sent

Spam

Trash

Status: Online

My name is Setouchi from Young Machine Gun

Setouchi Ruri

Futami Nana-sama,

I hope this email finds you well.

My name is Setouchi from the Young Machine Gun editorial department. I hope you don't mind me following up, but I wanted to reach out once again to express our strong interest in having you write for our department as well.

I've been really enjoying reading your series To Subaru in Clover. I love your work and would be thrilled if we could collaborate someday. I know you must be very busy, but if you'd be open to a brief meeting, I'd be very grateful.

Thank you very much for your time and consideration.

Young Machine Gun Editorial Department, Setouchi

A writing request?

She likes my manga, so she wants to work with me.

Huh.

She wants to meet up and chat.

Oh. So you're going?

Huh?

You're accepting the offer without giving it any thought?

Despite barely keeping up with one series?

There's only so much Nekonote-san and I can do.

Don't jump ahead and go into lecture mode.

Don't do it. Seriously.

They sweet-talk you into working with them, then ditch you the second you stop making money.

Unwilling

Editors. Men. Everyone's the same.

"Everyone" is a pretty big generalization.

You're afternoon drinking again.

Your series may be canceled, but don't you still have work to do?

I'm doing a series that's getting canceled. The booze is what keeps me going.

Wait a second. It says here...

I hope this email finds you well.

My name is Setouchi from the Young Machine Gun editorial department. I hope you don't mind me following up, but I wanted to reach out once again to express our strong interest in having you write for our department as well.

I've been really enjoying reading your series To Subaru in Clover. I love your work and would be thrilled if we could collaborate someday. I know you must be very busy, but if you'd be open to a brief meeting, I'd be very grateful.

...they emailed you before.

Uh, yeah. They emailed me a month ago.

Looks like this editor's already found out that you're sloppy.

I feel bad, so maybe I'll at least go meet her, even if I am going to turn down the offer.

That said, I'm nervous.

I don't know if I can say no, and who knows what kind of person this editor is.

You must be Futami-san, yes? Nice to meet you. I'm Setouchi from Young Machine Gun.

Oh, she's a new type of editor.

Conventional!

Thank you for taking the time to come meet me today.

I-I look forward to speaking with you today.

Ditto.

Um, I'm sorry for not responding to your email.

Oh, don't worry about that. I'm just happy to see you today.

If I had to describe her...

I'd say she's like Toko-san.

I really love your manga. It'd be great if you could write for our magazine, too.

Th-Thank you.

Clover and Young Machi are from the same publisher,

so it'll be easier to arrange comic fairs, too.

Oh, I, um...

I really appreciate the offer, but... I'm already tied up with my current series.

I see.

It'll be okay.

How so?

We're more than happy to work around your schedule.

If starting a full series right away would be tough,

maybe we can start with a one-shot.

Uh, I—

Even just a simple plot idea or something you'd like to try out is completely fine.

If that's too much, just the chance to chat with you once in a while would be wonderful.

Well? What do you say?

So not only couldn't you say no, but you've got another meeting lined up?

Please don't yell at me.

You know better than anyone that you don't have time for more work right now.

But... But she was really insistent!

You gotta be kidding me. You said you were gonna turn down the offer, remember?

I did!

I did, but she said I could write a one-shot. And it's not like I actually agreed to anything.

I knew it.

That's how you end up with a full series.

Arctic Fruit Juice

And once the editor's gotten their credit for the launch, it's over.

You get tossed aside without a shred of feeling.

Editors. Men. Everyone's the same.

Nashida-san, be quiet for a moment.

Deflate.

Well, it's fine, either way. It's your call, Sensei.

I'll help you in the end.

Thank you.

But shouldn't you let Sato-san know?

Sh-Should I?

She'll find out, anyway.

It's the same publisher.

It's better to hear it from you than from someone else.

Yeah.

But who'd be dumb enough to talk about the person you're having an affair with?

It's not an affair.

And she'll probably call you soon about those storyboard fixes you sent this morning.

True.

So you should just tell her.

Yeah.

Sato-san

What timing!

Answer it.

Huh? Uh, but...

No buts.

Hello?

Sato-san

Hello there. It's Sato.

Is now a good time to talk?

Yes, it is. But...

"But"?

Tell her! Tell her!

Uh, before we talk about the storyboards, there's something I'd like to tell you.

What is it?

Well, you see, um, I...

I was contacted by an editor from Young Machine Gun about writing for them.

Huh.

Good for you. Are you going to write for them?

Oh, um, that's not decided yet.

And Young Machi is our company's magazine. Who's the editor?

Huh?

Um...

Someone named Setouchi-san.

Huh? Sato-san?

Oh, sorry.

Anyway, the storyboards. I think they're fine, so please proceed with them.

Thank you for your great work.

Huh? Sato-san? Uh, hello?

I think I really pissed her off!

Huh?

What do I do?

What do I do?! What do I do?! What do I do?! What do I do?!

What'd she say?

Huh? She didn't say anything.

You're overreacting.

Her vibe completely changed!

Well, she approved the storyboards, right? Let's get down to work.

Gimme the storyboards.

No!

I can't work when I feel like this!

Aren't you a professional? Don't let your emotions take over.

Why does nothing ever go right?!

Futami...

That's just life.

Shut up, you drunk!

Setouchi, of all people?

That woman!

What's up, boss lady?

It feels like I've been cheated on.

Huh? What do you mean? Spill the tea!

Oh.

Oh, it's been a while, Sato-san. Are you coming in?

I think I'll take the stairs.

What's this? Are you on a diet or something?

You don't have to follow me.

Oh, come on. What's the rush? Chat with me for a bit.

She's still clueless as ever.

In fact, there's something I wanna talk to you about. It concerns Futami-sensei.

I met her the other day to ask if she'd do a project for our magazine.

I heard. Futami told me herself.

Oh, I see. That was fast.

Futami-sensei's wasting her talent.

If she did a straightforward rom-com in a major mag, she'd get way better numbers.

That's such a cheap idea. Doing something conventional isn't as easy as it looks.

Huh? I think she'd be able to pull it off, though.

Oh, I get it.

You're jealous because I got in touch with her, aren't you?

You shouldn't let your personal feelings get involved. We're doing business here.

I'm not. It's Futami's call, after all.

I'm glad to hear that.

She's so annoying.

Sounds like this Setouchi person is something else.

She actually went out of her way to mess with you?

But she started the same year as you, right? A little chat won't hurt—

I'm talking about the timing. Besides, we also went to the same university.

Wow, that's quite a history.

Plus, this isn't anything new.

I wanna join the same seminar as you.

Okay, I guess.

University seminars.

Film club sounds fun!

You're joining?

Clubs.

Interview room

Looks like we're interviewing together.

Even my job!

Ever since we met, it's like she follows my footsteps.

Wait, do you think maybe she likes you, boss lady?

If she does, there are better ways to go about it!

What's even worse is she has a better sense for stuff,

so she ends up doing everything better.

That's a tough one.

I still haven't forgiven her for copying my research topic.

She has no idea what I went through.

Wow, I don't think I've ever seen you so upset before.

Seriously. Why her, out of everyone?

But your experiences with Setouchi-san have nothing to do with Futami-sensei's business.

Yeah, it's not my place to say. If Futami wants to do it, I can't hold her back.

If anyone understands her talent, it's me.

Huh? In that case, you should just tell her not to do it.

But those are my personal feelings.

Are they, though?

If starting a new series ends up affecting To Subaru, that'd obviously be a problem.

Besides, not saying how you feel and misunderstanding each other

is something that should stay in the world of manga.

Okay, I've got a meeting to attend, so excuse—

Wait!

Can you give me a bit more advice?

Aw, c'mon. You just gotta tell her what's on your mind in person.

I'm kinda hungry. Let's go grab something from the convenience store, Futami.

No, I at least need to show my sincerity to Sato-san.

So like a cheating husband trying to atone by doing all the chores?

Well, I don't really care as long as you're doing your job.

But I don't think Sato-san is upset at you or anything.

She's an editor. She doesn't have the right to get upset.

After all, they're the ones that have mangakas stashed everywhere.

Stashed?

But you said it yourself, remember? About being the weakest card in her hand?

The weakest...

Huh? Stabbed in the heart by your own words?

But to me, she's the only editor who's ever seen something in me.

So I don't want her to leave me!

There, there.

Here. Have a drink.

Okay, that's enough now. You two should get back to work.

You want to take over as Futami-san's editor?

Yes, please.

Well, it's totally fine with me.

But you really liked her enough to come ask me directly?

Yes.

Huh. Well, she comes up with some odd ideas, so watch out for that.

Like shogi, for example.

Shogi? How did her storyboards look?

Who cares about the content? Clover's a women's magazine.

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.

There is 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.

Shogi for Beginners Recommended by professionals Supervised by a Shogi Master

New Series

New Series

An ambitious new series by a young talent begins here!

A woman who's lost all hope \hmeets a lonely boy \h\hten years younger than her...

The game of shogi is \hwhat connects them.

To Subaru

Shoot, what do I do?! Sato-san's... Sato-san's calling me!

Nothing'll happen if you don't answer it.

H-Hello?

Good evening. It's me, Sato.

G-Good evening!

Um, I need to say something to you in person. I'm in your neighborhood right now.

I-I see. Then, how about we meet at the nearby family restaurant?

Oh, it's better if we can talk privately. Is it okay if I come to your house?

S-Sure! I'm totally fine with that.

Okay. See you in a bit.

What are you screaming for?

S-Sato-san said she's coming here right now!

Oh, should I step out?

No, please stay!

After what happened the other day, in my mind, Sato-san's still pissed at me!

Ooh, do I smell drama?

Nah. Judging from the timing, it's probably just to go over the shogi supervision notes.

You think so?

I do.

After all, you're always freaking out...

and it usually turns out to be nothing.

Grrr.

Guess "Grrr" is your only comeback.

So yeah, just relax and treat it like a usual meeting.

G-Got it.

Vacuum!

Uh, no, too late at night. I need that thing you wipe the floor with.

Nashida-san, clean up all your beer cans!

Ah, shoot! Do I even have drinks to serve to guests?

"Got it," my foot.

I hope it'll all go okay.

That must be her.

Already?

Lemme go say hi to the legal wife.

Okay, we'll be in the bedroom, so take your time.

Aw, c'mon. I wanna watch the drama.

Don't leave me.

Try doing your best on your own for once.

Coming!

But maybe it will be nothing just like Ha-san said.

Sorry for making you wait.

Um, sorry for dropping by like this.

Not at all. It's a bit cramped, but come on in.

I-It's so tense.

U-Um, s-so what brings you here tonight?

Oh, right.

So, um, about you telling me that Setouchi had pitched you an offer...

Ha-san, you liar!

I-I owe you an apology for that.

Why are you freaking out so much? I'm not upset at you or anything.

I shouldn't have hung up on you like that. I'm sorry.

How should I say this?

I don't get along with her.

Oh.

Don't look like it all makes sense now.

No, sorry. Forget what I just said.

That's not the problem.

I mean, getting an offer from another magazine

just shows that your current work and your talent are being recognized.

There are plenty of mangakas who juggle multiple series, so it's your call. But...

But?

That said, what I'm about to say is strictly personal.

Huh?

So it's perfectly fine if you disregard it.

Okay?

Huh?

U-Um, what is it?

Well, Futami...

I'm hoping you'll only work with, um, me.

Huh?

S-Sato-san, I didn't say anything about working with Setouchi-san, though.

Huh?

I should focus on my current series, and I don't have much room in my schedule.

So I'm not going to work with Setouchi-san.

But...

But it makes me happy to know how you feel about me, Sato-san.

I'm leaving!

What, you are? But what about our meeting?

I'll email you later.

So why'd you come here?

I'm leaving.

But why?

Must be nice to be loved like that.

Why? Tell me why!

You said it.

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

Naomi Suda Andy Ellis SMR Ashley Barboza Michelle Tymon

So yeah, Futami-sensei turned down my offer.

But it's normal to have to wait like two years.

I'll wait for her current series to end.

I'll do my best to turn it into a long-running series.

Next Episode

Next Episode: I Didn't See It Coming.

I Didn't See it Coming.