Whoa...
SHOCK
What is that?
SHOCK
It's an onomatopoeia.
SHOCK
Can't you tell?
As I suspected...
This clearly isn't human technology.
Fairies?
Normally they would respond immediately.
Well, nothing is set in stone.
Well, let's go.
It disappeared...
DA-DUM
Assistant!
パパパラ パパパラ
pa-pa-para pa-pa-para
パ
pa-
パ
pa-
パ
pa-
パ
pa-
パ
pa
パ
pa
ラ
ra
ラ
ra
パ
pa-
パ
pa-
パ
pa-
パ
pa-
パ
pa
パ
pa
ラ
ra
ラ
ra
パパパラ パパパラ
パ
pa-pa-para pa-pa-para
pa-
パ
pa-
パ
pa-
パ
pa-
パ
pa
パ
pa
ラ
ra
ラ
ra
パ
pa-
パ
pa-
パ
pa-
パ
pa-
パ
pa
パ
pa
ラ
ra
ラ
ra
パパパラ パパパラ パパパラパ
パ
pa-pa-para pa-pa-para pa-pa-para pa
pa-
パ
pa-
パ
pa-
パ
pa-
パ
pa
パ
pa
ラ
ra
ラ
ra
パ
pa-
パ
pa-
パ
pa-
パ
pa-
パ
pa
パ
pa
ラ
ra
ラ
ra
パ
pa-
パ
pa-
パ
pa-
パ
pa-
パ
pa
パ
pa
ラ
ra
ラ
ra
パ
pa
Jinrui wa Suitai Shimashita
You smile at me as I wake up
目が覚めたなら君が笑って
目
me ga sameta nara kimi ga waratte
me
目
me
が
ga
が
ga
覚
sa
覚
sa
め
me
め
me
た
ta
た
ta
な
na
な
na
ら
ra
ら
ra
君
ki
君
mi
が
ga
が
ga
笑
wa
笑
ra
っ
t
っ
t
て
te
て
te
I thought that world would continue
そんな世界が続くと思ってた
そ
sonna sekai ga tsuzuku to omotteta
so
そ
so
ん
n
ん
n
な
na
な
na
世
se
世
ka
界
i
界
i
が
ga
が
ga
続
tsu
続
zu
く
ku
く
ku
と
to
と
to
思
o
思
mo
っ
t
っ
t
て
te
て
te
た
ta
た
ta
It wasn't enough to become normal
当たり前には少し足りない
当
atarimae ni wa sukoshi tarinai
a
当
a
た
ta
た
ta
り
ri
り
ri
前
ma
e
前
e
に
ni
に
ni
は
wa
は
少
su
少
ko
し
shi
し
shi
足
ta
足
ta
り
ri
り
ri
な
na
な
na
い
i
い
i
Seeing the blue night sky from my distorted perspective
歪んだ視界から見てた青い夜
歪
yuganda shikai kara miteta aoi yoru
yu
歪
ga
ん
n
ん
n
だ
da
だ
da
視
shi
視
shi
界
ka
i
界
i
か
ka
か
ka
ら
ra
ら
ra
見
mi
見
mi
て
te
て
te
た
ta
た
ta
青
a
青
o
い
i
い
i
夜
yo
夜
ru
After so many mornings
何度目の朝で
何
nandome no asa de
na
何
na
度
n
do
度
do
目
me
目
me
の
no
の
no
朝
a
sa
朝
sa
で
de
で
de
Like a shared love
打ち明けた恋のように
打
uchiaketa koi no you ni
u
打
u
ち
chi
ち
chi
明
a
明
a
け
ke
け
ke
た
ta
た
ta
恋
ko
i
恋
i
の
no
の
no
よ
yo
よ
yo
う
u
う
u
に
ni
に
ni
I leave feeling a little bitter
少し酸っぱいままで出かけたら
少
sukoshi suppai mama de dekaketara
su
少
ko
し
shi
し
shi
酸
su
酸
su
っ
p
っ
p
ぱ
pa
ぱ
pa
い
i
い
i
ま
ma
ま
ma
ま
ma
ま
ma
で
de
で
de
出
de
出
de
か
ka
か
ka
け
ke
け
ke
た
ta
た
ta
ら
ra
ら
ra
And we delicately get closer
近付いてく僕らデリケート
近
chikazuiteku bokura delicate
chi
ka
近
ka
付
zu
付
zu
い
i
い
i
て
te
て
te
く
ku
く
ku
僕
bo
ku
僕
ku
ら
ra
ら
ra
デ
de
デ
de
リ
li
リ
li
ケー
ca
ケー
ca
ト
te
ト
te
I'll give you a faint dream
淡い夢は見せてあげよう
淡
awai yume wa misete ageyou
a
淡
wa
い
i
い
i
夢
yu
夢
me
は
wa
は
wa
見
mi
見
mi
せ
se
せ
se
て
te
て
te
あ
a
あ
a
げ
ge
げ
ge
よ
yo
よ
yo
う
u
う
u
Something nice might happen
たまにはいいとあるかも
た
tama ni wa ii koto aru ka mo
ta
た
ta
ま
ma
ま
ma
に
ni
に
ni
は
wa
は
wa
い
i
い
i
い
i
い
i
と
ko
to
と
to
あ
a
あ
a
る
ru
る
ru
か
ka
か
ka
も
mo
も
mo
I'll give you chocolate as a prize
ご褒美にはチョコレート
ご
gohoubi ni wa chocolate
go
ご
go
褒
hou
褒
hou
美
bi
美
bi
に
ni
に
ni
は
wa
は
wa
チョ
cho
チョ
cho
コ
co
コ
co
レー
la
レー
la
ト
te
ト
te
If you have a sweet dream
甘い夢を見れたら
甘
amai yume wo miretara
a
甘
ma
い
i
い
i
夢
yu
me
夢
me
を
wo
を
wo
見
mi
見
mi
れ
re
れ
re
た
ta
た
ta
ら
ra
ら
ra
That is all that matters
それがすべてだなんて
そ
sore ga subete da nante
so
そ
so
れ
re
れ
re
が
ga
が
ga
す
su
す
su
べ
be
べ
be
て
te
て
te
だ
da
だ
da
な
na
な
na
ん
n
ん
n
て
te
て
te
And we'll laugh it off
笑い飛ばそう
笑
waraitobasou
wa
ra
笑
ra
い
i
い
i
飛
to
飛
to
ば
ba
ば
ba
そ
so
そ
so
う
u
う
u
Head straight for that hill
あの丘まで進めストレート
あ
ano oka made susume straight
a
あ
a
の
no
の
no
丘
o
丘
ka
ま
ma
ま
ma
で
de
で
de
進
su
進
su
め
me
め
me
ス
st
ス
st
トレー
raigh
トレー
raigh
ト
t
ト
t
Put your ear down against a sound you can't see
見えない音に耳傾け
見
mie nai oto ni mimi katamuke
mi
見
mi
え
e
え
e
な
na
な
na
い
i
い
i
音
o
to
音
to
に
ni
に
ni
耳
mi
耳
ka
傾
ta
傾
mu
け
ke
け
ke
The voice calling to you
聴こえた?手招きする声
聴
kikoeta? te maneki suru koe
ki
聴
ki
こ
ko
こ
ko
え
e
え
e
た?
ta?
た?
ta?
手
te
手
ma
招
ne
招
ne
き
ki
き
ki
す
su
す
su
る
ru
る
ru
声
ko
声
e
Break down a few barricades
いくつかのバリケード壊せ
い
ikutsuka no barricade kowase
i
い
i
く
ku
く
ku
つ
tsu
つ
tsu
か
ka
か
ka
の
no
の
no
バ
ba
バ
ba
リ
rri
リ
rri
ケ
ca
ケ
ca
ー
de
ー
de
ド
ko
ド
ko
壊
wa
壊
wa
せ
se
せ
se
The more you know the more you don't know
知れば知るほどわからなくもなるくらい
知
shireba shiru hodo wakaranaku mo naru kurai
shi
知
shi
れ
re
れ
re
ば
ba
ば
ba
知
shi
知
shi
る
ru
る
ru
ほ
ho
ほ
ho
ど
do
ど
do
わ
wa
わ
wa
か
ka
か
ka
ら
ra
ら
ra
な
na
な
na
く
ku
く
ku
も
mo
も
mo
な
na
な
na
る
ru
る
ru
く
ku
く
ku
ら
ra
ら
ra
い
i
い
i
In this strange world
思議な世界
思
fushigi na sekai
fu
shi
思
shi
議
gi
議
gi
な
na
な
na
世
se
世
se
界
ka
Fairy Note
"The Fairies' Douruishi"
Thin books distributed by fairies influenced by the douruishi boom. People reading the books get sucked into the panels, and then various human dramas are played out. A ranking system is created for douruishi of the same genre. If the popularity falls too far, it gets cancelled. Getting cancelled is the end of the line, because an aging artist can't change careers. All he can do is give up his job. The world of douruishi is harsh. This is all just exaggeration, and the fact that such forces are not actually at work remains a secret. Even now, customers all over the world secretly use them to test out their work.
界
i
Thin books distributed by fairies influenced by the douruishi boom. People reading the books get sucked into the panels, and then various human dramas are played out. A ranking system is created for douruishi of the same genre. If the popularity falls too far, it gets cancelled. Getting cancelled is the end of the line, because an aging artist can't change careers. All he can do is give up his job. The world of douruishi is harsh. This is all just exaggeration, and the fact that such forces are not actually at work remains a secret. Even now, customers all over the world secretly use them to test out their work.
Fairy Note
"The Fairies' Douruishi"
Thin books distributed by fairies influenced by the douruishi boom. People reading the books get sucked into the panels, and then various human dramas are played out. A ranking system is created for douruishi of the same genre. If the popularity falls too far, it gets cancelled. Getting cancelled is the end of the line, because an aging artist can't change careers. All he can do is give up his job. The world of douruishi is harsh. This is all just exaggeration, and the fact that such forces are not actually at work remains a secret. Even now, customers all over the world secretly use them to test out their work.
Fairy Note
"The Fairies' Douruishi"
Thin books distributed by fairies influenced by the douruishi boom. People reading the books get sucked into the panels, and then various human dramas are played out. A ranking system is created for douruishi of the same genre. If the popularity falls too far, it gets cancelled. Getting cancelled is the end of the line, because an aging artist can't change careers. All he can do is give up his job. The world of douruishi is harsh. This is all just exaggeration, and the fact that such forces are not actually at work remains a secret. Even now, customers all over the world secretly use them to test out their work.
Fairy Note
"The Fairies' Douruishi"
Thin books distributed by fairies influenced by the douruishi boom. People reading the books get sucked into the panels, and then various human dramas are played out. A ranking system is created for douruishi of the same genre. If the popularity falls too far, it gets cancelled. Getting cancelled is the end of the line, because an aging artist can't change careers. All he can do is give up his job. The world of douruishi is harsh. This is all just exaggeration, and the fact that such forces are not actually at work remains a secret. Even now, customers all over the world secretly use them to test out their work.
Fairy Note
"The Fairies' Douruishi"
Thin books distributed by fairies influenced by the douruishi boom. People reading the books get sucked into the panels, and then various human dramas are played out. A ranking system is created for douruishi of the same genre. If the popularity falls too far, it gets cancelled. Getting cancelled is the end of the line, because an aging artist can't change careers. All he can do is give up his job. The world of douruishi is harsh. This is all just exaggeration, and the fact that such forces are not actually at work remains a secret. Even now, customers all over the world secretly use them to test out their work.
Fairy Note
"The Fairies' Douruishi"
Thin books distributed by fairies influenced by the douruishi boom. People reading the books get sucked into the panels, and then various human dramas are played out. A ranking system is created for douruishi of the same genre. If the popularity falls too far, it gets cancelled. Getting cancelled is the end of the line, because an aging artist can't change careers. All he can do is give up his job. The world of douruishi is harsh. This is all just exaggeration, and the fact that such forces are not actually at work remains a secret. Even now, customers all over the world secretly use them to test out their work.
Fairy Note
"The Fairies' Douruishi"
Thin books distributed by fairies influenced by the douruishi boom. People reading the books get sucked into the panels, and then various human dramas are played out. A ranking system is created for douruishi of the same genre. If the popularity falls too far, it gets cancelled. Getting cancelled is the end of the line, because an aging artist can't change careers. All he can do is give up his job. The world of douruishi is harsh. This is all just exaggeration, and the fact that such forces are not actually at work remains a secret. Even now, customers all over the world secretly use them to test out their work.
Fairy Note
"The Fairies' Douruishi"
Thin books distributed by fairies influenced by the douruishi boom. People reading the books get sucked into the panels, and then various human dramas are played out. A ranking system is created for douruishi of the same genre. If the popularity falls too far, it gets cancelled. Getting cancelled is the end of the line, because an aging artist can't change careers. All he can do is give up his job. The world of douruishi is harsh. This is all just exaggeration, and the fact that such forces are not actually at work remains a secret. Even now, customers all over the world secretly use them to test out their work.
Fairy Note
"The Fairies' Douruishi"
Thin books distributed by fairies influenced by the douruishi boom. People reading the books get sucked into the panels, and then various human dramas are played out. A ranking system is created for douruishi of the same genre. If the popularity falls too far, it gets cancelled. Getting cancelled is the end of the line, because an aging artist can't change careers. All he can do is give up his job. The world of douruishi is harsh. This is all just exaggeration, and the fact that such forces are not actually at work remains a secret. Even now, customers all over the world secretly use them to test out their work.
Fai
"T
The Fairies' Subculture
DA-DUM
There's another one...
DA-DUM
Assistant?
You opened the douruishi, didn't you?
DA-DUM
And so, we found ourselves imprisoned within a manga panel!
The door never opened in panel 3, so we were stuck.
Maybe we have to make something happen?
By this world's rules,
something dramatic must happen in each panel before we can move on.
Once we do that, an onomatopoeia pops up and a door appears.
SHOCK
S
H
O
C
That seems to be how it works.
But there's nothing to work with here...
They probably want us to generate some human drama.
Huh? How do we create drama?
Let's see...
Manga-style drama...
What manga genres are there besides those filled with men?
There are loads.
Story-driven, gag-driven, career-driven, sports...
Also, US comics, one-panel, four-panel, BL, yuri...
And there's also shounen and shoujo manga.
What would this manga fall under?
None of those.
I suppose you could argue that this is a mystery.
Given the locked room.
Should we do something exciting and help clarify a genre?
Which one?
Let's try something meant for everyone, like sports.
Track?
Not enough room.
Wrestling?
No way.
Is that an analogue game?
What does that mean?
An analogue game isn't played on a computer,
for example, something like a board game.
Why is there a genre for that?
The theory is that in days of the old manga industry,
people considered playing analogue games "moe".
Your mind has become rotten...
And it's pretty easy to ship chess pieces...
Such as the pawn on top of the knight.
You can create plenty of role reversal situations.
Imagine the merchandising options.
Like decorated chess pieces!
Or would decorating an object that isn't flat be too hard?
We could keep it simple,
I don't understand the language you're speaking.
and just anthropomorphise the chess pieces.
It was boring.
That looks even duller.
What?
The room is descending?
It stopped!
The room dropped and then it got darker...
Does this mean anything?
Beats me.
We need more information...
It's a lot darker now.
Makes it easier to sleep.
Yes, the white was hurting my eyes.
We're inside a manga panel, right?
Yeah.
Why is it completely white?
There should be a background and props.
Maybe this just happens to be a blank panel?
They didn't have enough time to draw anything?
Oh, good job!
I feel a little happier now.
T-That's...
POP!!
I can live with the sound effects,
POP!!
but what are these lines for?
These are emphasis lines.
It's a manga technique.
Assistant, could you try drawing some more objects?
Whoa!
It became real.
It's good.
And edible!
Are we supposed to draw everything ourselves?
So we're the manga artists?
Now we're ascending?
This panel's tiny.
Oh, I know...
This is one of those mini-transition panels that show a character up close.
What are we transitioning to?
I've got a great idea.
I'll hold it!
Use this chance to escape!
THUD!
That was a scene where I sacrificed myself to hold up the falling ceiling while you escaped.
I have no idea where that came from.
I understand now.
We rise if the manga is interesting, and we fall if it's boring.
It's like a built-in polling mechanism.
For what purpose?
Purpose? There isn't one.
Manga is naturally bound to popularity.
The easiest way to create a hit is by pandering to readers.
That's what you did, right?
Correct!
Yes, little boy?
Hm?
What is it?
What if a manga's popularity hits rock bottom?
Isn't that obvious?
It gets cancelled.
So you thought the same thing, huh?
What is it?
What happens if our manga is cancelled?
We disappear into the void of failure?
Death?
I hope it won't be that drastic.
But I'm certain we'll suffer.
And you know how sometimes it gets darker or brighter?
I have a feeling that it indicates if anyone is reading the manga.
Reading the manga?
If a manga is interesting, more readers will open and read it.
If it's boring, they'll close it.
The lighting depends on how many people are reading.
That makes sense.
You're pretty smart!
Were you thinking I was dumb this whole time?
I get it...
Popularity is everything in the manga industry.
So we need to look for an exit while avoiding cancellation by ensuring that every panel is exciting.
Which means...
...the Douruishi Queen will be key!
That's worrying.
Um...
Please give me back Assistant.
You need to show more passion!
Give it up...
Humanity is finished!
We certainly are in decline.
Don't bring up the real world!
Say something like...
Mankind's potential is limitless!
That would be embarrassing...
What?!
CLANG
Our adventures continued through, panel after panel.
In one, we spent our youth on sports.
In one, we donned super suits and battled evil in the big city.
We endured unrequited love.
We experienced betrayal.
Nom
And we also reacted in an exaggerated manner to good food.
Nom
We made certain that readers would never lose interest.
Yeah, our lives are models of culture.
Let's try some four-panels next...
Huh?
Have you seen my knife?
Didn't you use it in the last panel?
Remember?
You caught me with your man,
so you took out the knife and yelled, "Slut"!
Oh...
The doors between panels disappear after they're used.
Hey,
could you draw a door back to an earlier panel?
It was just a random thought.
Ah.
She found us.
The human.
It's been a while.
And there they are.
Jinrui wa Suitai Shimashita
W-What are you doing?
Editing?
So you're responsible for this mess...
This is the margin.
Stay out.
The margin is the editor's territory.
You can only read human manga by jumping
You can only read human manga by jumping.
No idea what that means.
How can we get out of here?
What?
Could you please tell us?
You can leave at the ending.
What about leaving now?
Cancellation?
Rock bottom.
The abyss.
The worst, the worst.
Would anything bad happen to us?
Of course!
Great.
If you're cancelled, it means...
Your life is over?
Manga artists have no other marketable skills.
Too late to become a civil servant.
Could you tell me what, exactly, would happen?
You wouldn't get away with it.
Scary...
Who are you talking to?
I see...
We have to finish this manga while maintaining popularity.
So far, we've been successful!
But popularity is fickle.
10. Beauty and the Beast and the Robot
9. The Third Girl
8. Early Morning Factory
7. The End of Maidenhood
6. Living By Acting Out the Roles
5. Pretty Women
4. Cuteness for the Sake of Cuteness
3. Afternoon Moon
4. Cuteness for the Sake of Cuteness
3. Afternoon Moon
4. Cuteness for the Sake of Cuteness
3. Afternoon Moon
4. Cuteness for the Sake of Cuteness
3. Afternoon Moon
4. Cuteness for the Sake of Cuteness
3. Afternoon Moon
4. Cuteness for the Sake of Cuteness
3. Afternoon Moon
4. Cuteness for the Sake of Cuteness
3. Afternoon Moon
4. Cuteness for the Sake of Cuteness
2. Battle and Cry
3. Afternoon Moon
4. Cuteness for the Sake of Cuteness
2. Battle and Cry
3. Afternoon Moon
4. Cuteness for the Sake of Cuteness
2. Battle and Cry
3. Afternoon Moon
4. Cuteness for the Sake of Cuteness
2. Battle and Cry
3. Afternoon Moon
4. Cuteness for the Sake of Cuteness
2. Battle and Cry
3. Afternoon Moon
4. Cuteness for the Sake of Cuteness
2. Battle and Cry
3. Afternoon Moon
4. Cuteness for the Sake of Cuteness
2. Battle and Cry
3. Afternoon Moon
4. Cuteness for the Sake of Cuteness
2. Battle and Cry
3. Afternoon Moon
4. Cuteness for the Sake of Cuteness
1. Merry Christmas for the Soul
2. Battle and Cry
3. Afternoon Moon
4. Cuteness for the Sake of Cuteness
1. Merry Christmas for the Soul
2. Battle and Cry
3. Afternoon Moon
4. Cuteness for the Sake of Cuteness
1. Merry Christmas for the Soul
2. Battle and Cry
3. Afternoon Moon
4. Cuteness for the Sake of Cuteness
1. Merry Christmas for the Soul
2. Battle and Cry
3. Afternoon Moon
4. Cuteness for the Sake of Cuteness
1. Merry Christmas for the Soul
2. Battle and Cry
3. Afternoon Moon
4. Cuteness for the Sake of Cuteness
1. Merry Christmas for the Soul
2. Battle and Cry
3. Afternoon Moon
4. Cuteness for the Sake of Cuteness
1. Merry Christmas for the Soul
2. Battle and Cry
3. Afternoon Moon
4. Cuteness for the Sake of Cuteness
1. Merry Christmas for the Soul
2. Battle and Cry
3. Afternoon Moon
4. Cuteness for the Sake of Cuteness
Douruishi Popularity Ranking
1. Merry Christmas for the Soul
2. Battle and Cry
3. Afternoon Moon
4. Cuteness for the Sake of Cuteness
Douruishi Popularity Ranking
1. Merry Christmas for the Soul
2. Battle and Cry
3. Afternoon Moon
4. Cuteness for the Sake of Cuteness
Douruishi Popularity Ranking
1. Merry Christmas for the Soul
2. Battle and Cry
3. Afternoon Moon
4. Cuteness for the Sake of Cuteness
Douruishi Popularity Ranking
1. Merry Christmas for the Soul
2. Battle and Cry
3. Afternoon Moon
4. Cuteness for the Sake of Cuteness
Douruishi Popularity Ranking
1. Merry Christmas for the Soul
2. Battle and Cry
3. Afternoon Moon
Douruishi Popularity Ranking
1. Merry Christmas for the Soul
2. Battle and Cry
3. Afternoon Moon
Douruishi Popularity Ranking
1. Merry Christmas for the Soul
2. Battle and Cry
3. Afternoon Moon
Douruishi Popularity Ranking
1. Merry Christmas for the Soul
2. Battle and Cry
3. Afternoon Moon
Douruishi Popularity Ranking
1. Merry Christmas for the Soul
2. Battle and Cry
3. Afternoon Moon
Douruishi Popularity Ranking
1. Merry Christmas for the Soul
2. Battle and Cry
3. Afternoon Moon
Douruishi Popularity Ranking
1. Merry Christmas for the Soul
2. Battle and Cry
3. Afternoon Moon
The fairies are working hard.
What are we looking at?
I think these are all douruishi being circulated worldwide.
Douruishi that pull humans inside.
Other people are in the same situation?!
So we're in the midst of a battle between douruishi!
Yes, and...
6. Living By Acting Out the Roles
5. Pretty Women
7. The End of Maidenhood
...that's us right there.
We're not on top?
Can you replicate the miracle of the market?
Absolutely...
I'll make it happen!
Manga must begin with anticipation and end with anticipation.
What is Manga?
School Life Love Comedy Hardcore Old Man Shota HomoYuri
Love Triangle Forbidden Love Camouflaged Wife Yesterday's Enemy is Today's Homo
Boys' Love
Final Boss x Hero -> toward / Hero x Final Boss
Anticipation is what decides a manga's popularity!
She likes to use the word "anticipation".
She's referring to a technique,
known as the cliffhanger, that creates suspense.
If you can keep the audience eager for more,
you'll have them wrapped around your finger.
Nice...
To accomplish that,
we'll have to do more than play our assigned roles.
We must be prepared to completely deconstruct them.
Oh, we cleared this panel.
Wait.
First, I have something to tell you.
What is it?
You see...
I am the killer!
What is she talking about?
No idea.
Has she lost her marbles?
That must be it.
This is a pain, but it is my duty to respond.
Uh, whom did you kill?
Cock Robin.
Huh?
I killed Cock Robin!
「The End of Maidenhood」
「Pretty Women」
「Cuteness for the Sake of Cuteness」
「Living By Acting Out the Roles」
「Pretty Women」
We went up to fifth!
Just as I anticipated...
Did you really kill Cock Robin?
Nope, not at all.
This story is falling apart...
That's not important.
Yes it is!
It really isn't.
So long as you provide anticipation and impact,
no one will care if you ignore what happened earlier!
In fact, it's better if you upend everything!
You're crazy...
No, I'm right.
Just look at our new rank for proof.
From now on, every panel will end with a cliffhanger.
It doesn't matter if we never provide closure.
Huh?
Because readers won't realise it's missing until the final chapter.
A great entertainer is a great con man. -Me
I can't tell if Y's right or wrong,
but she's pulling out all the stops.
You see...
I am your sister!
「Living By Acting Out the Roles」
「Cuteness for the Sake of Cuteness」
「Pretty Women」
「Afternoon Moon」
「Living By Acting Out the Roles」
「Cuteness for the Sake of Cuteness」
You see...
I am an alien.
「Living By Acting Out the Roles」
「Afternoon Moon」
「Battle and Cry」
「Living By Acting Out the Roles」
「Afternoon Moon」
You see...
Um...
I am a man!
「Living By Acting Out the Roles」
「Afternoon Moon」
「Merry Christmas for the Soul」
「Afternoon Moon」
「Living By Acting Out the Roles」
You see...!
「Living By Acting Out the Roles」
「Merry Christmas for the Soul」
「Living By Acting Out the Roles」
「Merry Christmas for the Soul」
There you have it.
It's child's play to engage your readers.
But the story's a total mess now.
178th panel
We're on the 178th panel.
When will this end?
178th panel
Open a hole in the panel and check the editor's comments in the margin?
The smash hit series. What will happen next? Find out next time!
"The smash hit series. What will happen next? Find out next time!"
I see...
This tracks how the manga is doing.
You're so clever!
Heading toward the final battle!
I said that I was a man...
...but I'm really a woman!
Upcoming anime in the works!
You see...
I had a twin...
...and we switched places!
Charge into victory!
You see,
I have two forms left!
A new character will be introduced next issue!
These editorial comments seem a little random.
I jump around so much, the editors have to make wild guesses.
So, now both the story and the commentary are random?
It'll be fine.
What?!
Maybe most people prefer an actual story?
That can't be it!
The masses only seek stimulation.
I know!
I'll say that the final boss is actually a good guy who loves the Earth...
Why? This defies reason.
You've become predictable.
They've lost interest.
What was that?
I didn't say anything because I knew you'd be upset...
"I hope something exciting will happen in the next chapter."
"Destroy Dad's dream!"
"I had chocolate cookies yesterday."
"The anime has been cancelled! Sorry!"
Those are the most recent comments.
Sorry? That's it?!
Don't make fun of me!
I'm pretty sure they didn't mean any harm.
It was accidental?!
That's even worse!
What's this?
Let's give it a whirl.
Wait, be more careful!
Don't lean so far forward!
What if we fall into the margin like in a gag manga?
The panel!
Let's drop down!
Are we losing popularity?
No,
the panel is getting bigger.
That winch controls the panel's size...
This could be very useful.
「Living By Acting Out the Roles」
Living By Acting Out the Roles
See?
BOOM
According to Y's explanation,
BOOM
a maximum-size panel enables cool poses and scenes,
BOOM
attracting readers.
BOOM
This is known as a two-page spread.
Okay, let's retake first place!
「Cuteness for the sake of Cuteness」
「Living By Acting Out the Roles」
「Afternoon Moon」
It didn't work out.
Why?
People get sick of seeing the same gimmicks over and over.
Then I'll have to use a mixture of every technique we've used.
You should have thought of that sooner...
It was too late.
Our manga became a science fiction-mystery-martial art-voyage-adventure-action-romance-high fantasy-horror story.
Actually an alien
Actually from the future
Actually your father
Actually not on earth
Actually the crane you saved
Actually the world 400
Actually used to be
Actually a pretty boy
Actually wasn't interested
Actually wearing a wig
Actually the crane you saved
Actually the world 400 years from
Actually used to be a delin
Actually the world 400 years from now
Actually used to be a delinquent
Actually the world 400 years fro
Actually used to be a de
In order to fix the story,
we had to trim the setting,
correct inconsistencies, and tie up loose ends.
After 130 retroactive continuity panels,
we finally managed to consolidate the story into a variation of Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream.
But...
We're on the verge of cancellation...
We have to find a way to make a comeback.
I was sick of attempting to blend entertainment devices.
Our new story was a quiet romance between a human and a fairy,
Doesn't this need an ending?
set in the forest.
Eventually...
This is bad...
This is very bad!
Yes, but we have to stick with the story...
The average reader would never give this story a second glance!
But the audience has lost interest in your style.
Our douruishi has declined.
Assistant, lights!
You have no colour!
Neither do you.
Huh?
What?!
How amusing...
With both popularity and time fading,
the author has given up entirely.
They've published a storyboard!
Looks like our time is up.
What's a storyboard?
The rough sketches before the artist finishes it in pen.
It just has dialogue and character placement.
In other words, what you see here!
The panel is falling.
Where are we going?
To the abyss where cancelled series go?
You could have at least inked this!
Were you cancelled, human?
Yes.
No volume releases?
Unfortunately not.
Because manga artists have no other marketable skills?
Looks that way.
If your series is cancelled when you're thirty or forty,
after devoting your life to manga, it's very difficult to start anew.
Here is your penalty.
"Your series has been cancelled.
As punishment, you are doomed to carry on the family business."
I'm sorry, fairies...
I'm already carrying on the family business.
Hey, wake up.
Hey!
Where are they?
Oh, we're back.
That's a relief...
Were you dreaming?
Something like that.
Huh?
I thought there was a douruishi around here...
Have you seen it?
Nope.
Did it disappear after it served its purpose?
The fairies' douruishi are too hard.
Onto the ban list they go!
doushimashita, hiza ni noru risu no ko
どうしました、膝に乗るリスの子
What is wrong, little squirrel on my lap?
kuri no hata, yuuki wo motometemasu, mori no kodomo desu
栗の旗、勇気を求めてます、森の子どもです
A child of the forest with a chestnut flag seeking courage
maachi ga narihibikeba jinrui mo kizuku deshou
マーチが鳴り響けば人類も気づくでしょう
When you sound the march, I am sure humans will notice
watashi wa itsudemo mirai no kanata e tanemaki wo
わたしはいつでもミライの彼方へ種蒔きを
I am always sowing seeds for the future
yagate wa hanasaite, minori no utage
やがては、花咲いて、実りの宴
Eventually the flowers bloom and ripen
dareka ga kataru yume, dareka no yume kanau
誰かが語る夢、誰かの夢かなう
A dream that someone speaks of grants another's dream
nozomeba ii no deshou?
望めばいいのでしょう?
Is that what you wish?
wasuretai tte kimochi
忘れたいってキモチ
The feeling that you want to forget
sore mo uso ja nai kokoro
それも、嘘じゃないココロ
That is not a lie, my heart
kyou wa doushimashita, hata furu korisu
今日はどうしました、旗振る子リス
What is wrong today, little squirrel waving your flag?
mori e nigete iku ando no mori
森へ逃げていく安堵の森
Run away to the forest for safety
kyou wa doushimashita, hiza no ue demo nemurimasen ka
今日はどうしました、膝の上でも眠りませんか
What is wrong today? Why not sleep on my lap?
Before long, a meeting to prepare for the girls' market was established in Kusunoki Village.
Without moe drawings, you'll always be a pico.
Pico?
One in a trillion.
In other words, at the bottom.
Get out of here.
All right.
Goodbye.
Have a nice day.
My book sold four copies.