Crossover Anime: The Heroine is in Trouble? I Take Advantage of the Situation

Page 81

Eriri was speechless after his unashamed boast.

……

A few days later, the manga was officially submitted to the monthly serialization meeting of GIGACOMIC.

Faced with this work, which was of excellent quality in terms of story, storyboard, and final draft, the editors at the meeting had almost no disagreements.

"It has almost no flaws."

"Is this really a newcomer's work?"

"The emotions were so delicate that even I, a grown man, was moved to tears."

"I agree to continue this series!"

Ultimately, "We Still Don't Know the Name of the Flower We Saw That Day" passed unanimously and was granted the right to be serialized!

After the meeting.

Yamada Aki immediately called Eriri to share the good news.

"It's approved! Teacher! Unanimously approved!" Yamada's voice was filled with excitement on the other end of the phone. "Your work will be featured as the opening color page in the 'GIGACOMIC' magazine next week!"

"Really?!" Eriri was so excited she almost jumped off her chair. The immense joy instantly dispelled all her previous unhappiness and gloom.

“Absolutely true!” Yamada Aki smiled, her tone quickly turning professional again. “By the way, teacher, there’s one more detail I need to confirm with you. Regarding the pen name for your artwork, do you plan to use your real name, or do you have a new pen name? We need to confirm this finally so we can proceed with the production of promotional materials and magazine layout.”

"A pen name..."

Eriri's face showed a thoughtful expression.

The name Kashiwagi Eri is definitely no longer suitable. She has no intention of using the popularity of the doujinshi industry; instead, she plans to go ashore and cut ties.

As for using my real name, I feel it wouldn't be enough to maintain confidentiality.

“Then let’s use a new pen name.” Eriri thought for a moment, then remembered that Seiji Fujiwara had told her to choose any name, and said, “Let’s use… ‘Izumi Ei’.”

“Ei Izumi…” Yamada Aki repeated softly on the other end of the phone, then exclaimed, “It’s a wonderful pen name! Clear and sparkling, it matches your gorgeous art style and the atmosphere of the work ‘Anohana’s Flower We Saw That Day’ perfectly!”

"Thank you." Eriri laughed heartily.

The two chatted for a while longer before ending the call.

……

hang up the phone.

Eriri stared blankly, softly murmuring the name 'Izumi Ei'.

From now on, she will use this name to start a new chapter in her life as a commercial cartoonist.

She gripped her phone tightly, her feelings a mix of emotions.

There was anticipation and excitement, but also a touch of indescribable emotion and bittersweetness.

Sighed.

Eriri rubbed her face and cheered herself up.

She strode into the living room and excitedly called out to Seiji Fujiwara on the sofa, "The serialization meeting has been approved! We'll be able to see 'Anohana' officially serialized in a magazine the week after next!"

Seiji Fujiwara's reaction remained indifferent; he merely hummed in response, a lazy expression on his face.

"understood."

Eriri felt that all her enthusiasm had been wasted on cotton.

She was furious, puffed out her cheeks, and raised her fist to punch him.

"Can't you act a little happier?!"

However, before her fist could land, her wrist was easily grabbed by a large hand.

Seiji Fujiwara looked at her with a smile, pulled her into his arms, and whispered in her ear, "Of course I'm happy. To celebrate the first good news of our collaboration... after so long, it's time to continue expanding."

"Eh?!"

Eriri's face froze instantly.

"No...no! Absolutely not!" she struggled frantically.

That's her fatal weakness!

Last time, the brief, tentative attempt left her feeling both numb and tingly, as if her soul had left her body and she was about to be sent away.

How could we possibly continue!

But all in vain.

Seiji Fujiwara easily lifted her up, ignoring her protests, and dragged her into the room.

……

"Ugh...bastard...scumbag..."

After an unknown amount of time, Eriri's intermittent, tearful sobs could be heard from the room.

This "celebration" is more profound than ever before.

She cried out violently again, but having had experience before, she held on for longer than last time.

Seiji Fujiwara stroked her sweaty blonde hair and praised her with satisfaction, "Not bad, you've improved. It seems my teaching has been quite effective."

Eriri pouted, burying her face in the pillow, her heart screaming in frustration.

I wish I hadn't made this kind of progress! I don't want that jerk to keep thinking about it!

……

Two weeks later, the latest issue of Monthly GIGACOMIC was officially released.

"We Still Don't Know the Name of the Flower We Saw That Day," announced its arrival with a gorgeous full-color opening page.

Eriri secretly went to the bookstore early in the morning and bought several magazines.

She locked herself in her studio, flipping through her own few colored pages again and again, feeling an unprecedented sense of accomplishment.

The market reaction was far more enthusiastic than she had imagined.

On the day the magazine was released, major comic forums were abuzz with excitement over this new work.

"This new serialization in GIGA is really interesting!"

"Who are this duo called 'Yi Chengying'?! They're incredibly talented! The one who draws and the one who writes are both top-tier!"

"I can't find any past information about the group 'Izumi Ei' at all; they seem to be newcomers!!"

"A super rookie? That's terrifying!!"

"The art style is top-notch, and the story and paneling are ridiculously strong! Is this really not some veteran author who changed their name?"

A week later, the reader voting results were released.

"We Still Don't Know the Name of the Flower We Saw That Day" overwhelmingly surpassed other ongoing series to become the most popular manga in this issue of "GIGA"!

This result surprised countless people.

The new group "Yi Chengying" won the reader vote for their debut work without any prior promotion or hype!

Yamada Aki's phone was ringing off the hook.

Numerous editors, cartoonists, and assistants are inquiring about this mysterious "newcomer duo."

Because of Eriri's request for confidentiality.

Yamada Aki could only laugh it off and brush them off one by one.

……

Meanwhile, in an ordinary apartment/studio.

The two boys fell into a long silence while watching the latest issue of "GIGACOMIC".

They are Mashiro Moritaka and Takagi Akito, and are currently serializing under the pen name "Ashirogi Yumeha".

"Hey, Moritaka." Takagi Akito pushed up his glasses, his expression serious. "Have you finished watching?"

“…Hmm.” Mashiro Moritaka rubbed his temples. “I’ve finished reading it.”

"What do you think?"

“Very strong!” Mashiro’s highest answer was concise yet weighty.

“This is beyond ‘strong’ level…” Takagi Akito picked up the magazine, turned back to the first page of “Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day”, his tone filled with shock, “This team… is terrifying. Especially the person in charge of the story and storyboard.”

“Yes,” Mashiro Moritaka chimed in, pointing to one of the panels. “The animation is top-notch, no doubt about that. But what truly brings this artwork to life is the paneling. Look at these pages; there’s no intense conflict, just everyday conversations between the main characters, yet I feel completely drawn in by it! That languid summer feeling, that undercurrent hidden beneath the calm… it’s incredible! This is not something a newcomer could draw! Who exactly is in charge of the story?”

Takagi Akito shook his head, his face full of confusion and admiration: "It's a complete mystery. But one thing is certain: he's a monster. He can depict ordinary daily life in a way that is more captivating than any intense battle."

The two looked at each other and saw a sense of awe in each other's eyes.

"Damn it..." Takagi Akito scratched his hair in frustration. "There are so many geniuses in the world! We can't lose!"

"Yes!" Mashiro Moritaka gripped his paintbrush tightly again, his eyes blazing with an even stronger fighting spirit than before. "We must work even harder!"

……

Praise from the outside world came like a tidal wave.

Eriri sees countless praises for "Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day" and the name "Ei Izumi" online every day.

She created a fake account and lurked in various forums, watching readers enthusiastically discuss "how beautiful the art style of the illustrator is" and "how amazing the storyboarding is," filling her with an unprecedented sense of accomplishment and a hint of smugness.

However, as time goes by.

She sadly discovered that after the initial curiosity and amazement at the mysterious combination of "Izumi Ei", almost all in-depth analysis and discussion would eventually focus on the equally mysterious "storyteller".

"The art of the Yicheng Ying team is top-notch in terms of 'beauty.' But the story and storyboards give this 'beauty' a 'soul.'"

"I would call it the 'most perfect collaboration'! The art teacher is the hand of God, while the story teacher is the 'god' who gave that hand its will!"

"I increasingly feel that the existence of the art teacher is a 'perfect container' created to carry the concept of the story teacher..."

container……

When Eriri saw this word, her heart felt like it had been pricked by a needle.

Although comparing myself to a monster like Seiji Fujiwara is asking for trouble, there's absolutely no need for me to create unnecessary problems for myself.

But seeing these comments still made her feel frustrated.

Continue like this……

Wouldn't I be forever dominated by that man, both creatively and physically?

hateful!

When will we be able to turn the tables and become the masters of our own destiny?!

Eriri bared her fangs, biting her lower lip hard, her face full of resentment.

……

With the serialization of "We Still Don't Know the Name of the Flower We Saw That Day" on February 2.6th.

After the third episode, the work's popularity spread widely.

At the editor's suggestion, Eriri applied for a work account called "Emi Izumi".

After the account was posted, a large number of comments appeared.

"Please, stop! My tears are worthless!"