Chapter 62: Sweet Like Candy Time slipped by like sand through fingers. Another week had passed in the blink of an eye. For Lucien D. Blac
Chapter 62: Sweet Like Candy Time slipped by like sand through fingers. Another week had passed in the blink of an eye. For Lucien D. Blac
Chapter 62: Sweet Like Candy
Time slipped by like sand through fingers. Another week had passed in the blink of an eye.
For Lucien D. Blackthorn, lying on his hospital bed, the concept of time had grown vague. Each day was measured not by clocks or calendars but by the silent countdown of his remaining life. Every second that passed was like the ticking of a death warrant, and he rarely opened the system panel anymore to see the diminishing number of days left.
Instead, he measured time by the progress of his manga.
The release of each chapter, the reaction of readers, the updates in the magazines—that was how he marked his weeks.
Now, Friday had come again. Slam Dunk had reached Chapter 41 of Volume 5 online, while Attack on Titan had just completed serialization of its second volume in Manga Jump.
---
System Status Panel
[Host: Lucien D. Blackthorn]
[Remaining Life: 46 days]
[Health Value: 22/100 (Can maintain extra consciousness for 2 hours per day)]
[Reminder: The second volume of the comic work Attack on Titan has been successfully created and published. Settlement reward pending.]
---
Lucien blinked at the glowing panel. It had been a long time since he'd dared to open it.
Across from him, Eriri—pen name Eri Kashiwagi—was absorbed in the freshly inked chapters of Slam Dunk Volume 5, Chapters 41 to 43. Her face shifted with every page: serious, then worried, then lit with excitement.
Lucien found himself smiling quietly. Watching Eriri's expressions change as she read was a joy of its own.
She didn't notice his gaze, too immersed in the story.
In the manga, the second half of Shohoku's fierce exchange match against Ryonan had begun. Finally, Sakuragi Hanamichi got his wish to step onto the court. The raw, shocking talent he displayed stunned both players and spectators alike.
The score gap was closing, every possession tense. Both sides realized their opponent was far stronger than expected. The match surged into a white-hot intensity—every play, every rebound, every breath mattered.
Eriri held her breath as she turned each page, her hands trembling slightly from the tension.
Not wanting to disturb her, Lucien reached for the newest issue of Manga Jump.
This week's serialization carried the 9th and final chapter of Attack on Titan Volume 2.
He flipped to the last page, his own heart tightening even though he already knew the outcome.
There—emerging from the steaming nape of the mysterious Titan—was Eren Yeager, alive.
Lucien stared at the panel. Even he, the creator, still felt that chill. The idea had been shocking even to him when it first formed: the boy who despised Titans most of all… becoming one.
The truth was murky, puzzling, terrifying. And it was only the beginning.
---
Reader Shock Across Japan
When Manga Jump hit the stands that morning, readers across the country were floored.
The training corps—decimated. Comrades dead or maimed.
Eren—dead, then impossibly reborn.
And now—Eren as a Titan.
No one saw it coming.
Forums exploded, message boards flooded, and social media boiled over. Theories clashed like fire in a storm.
In contrast, the rival Titan Wars had its protagonist strolling coolly through adventures, already rescuing maidens and gathering companions. Where one story descended into tragedy and mystery, the other soared in predictable glory. Readers quickly realized the two were heading down completely different roads.
Comparisons dwindled. The gap was widening.
Soon after, Manga Jump's official account posted an announcement:
[Notice! The third volume of Attack on Titan will begin serialization seamlessly next week. The debut will include a special chapter: "Captain Levi." Stay tuned!]
The comments poured in like a tidal wave.
[Netizen A: The last chapter of Volume 2 gave me goosebumps!]
[Netizen B: Totally blew my expectations. Eren was DEAD. Then alive. Then… a Titan?!]
[Netizen C: Don't laugh, but I actually guessed it!]
[Netizen D: Did you see? He didn't completely lose his mind as a Titan.]
[Netizen E: Right, he looked just as intelligent as the Colossal Titan.]
[Netizen F: There's definitely some huge conspiracy behind this!]
[Netizen G: I can't wait for Volume 3! Hurry up, Whale-sensei!]
The buzz only grew.
---
Meanwhile, Under Whale's Account
Fans were equally fired up about Slam Dunk.
[Netizen A: This Ryonan team is crazy strong. Even with Sakuragi on court, it's still tough.]
[Netizen B: He's a rookie, guys. You can't expect miracles right away.]
[Netizen C: No, Rukawa is the real secret weapon! Coach Anzai knew it!]
[Netizen D: Don't underestimate Sakuragi! He's the rebounding king!]
[Netizen E: Did you see him wrestle the ball from Uozumi under the rim? Even Akagi can't always do that!]
[Netizen F: Score's 76:72. Just four points. Who's going to win?!]
[Netizen G: If it were any other author, I'd say Shohoku for sure. But Whale-sensei? Impossible to predict.]
[Netizen H: Exactly! Just look at Attack on Titan. That reversal… god-tier writing.]
[Netizen I: I hereby declare: Whale-sensei is a god. Who agrees, who disagrees?]
---
In the Ward
At last, Eriri closed the pages of Slam Dunk, her eyes sparkling.
She practically beamed as she declared, "Hehe, you didn't lie to me. Rukawa Kaede was amazing! Absolutely amazing!"
She looked so proud, as though she herself had ensured the character's success.
From her pocket, she pulled out two lollipops. She tore the wrapper from one and held it out to him.
"Here. A reward."
Lucien blinked, then chuckled softly. He took it, popped it into his mouth, and tasted the sharp sweetness of lychee. Almost too sweet.
Eriri unwrapped her own and popped it in. Both sat there, quietly sucking candy.
Lucien glanced sideways. She was smiling so sweetly, eyes dancing as she flipped back through the pages to reread. Occasionally she laughed out loud, unable to hold it in.
Unconsciously, his heart swelled.
Her smile… it's just like this candy, he thought.
Sweet. So sweet it reaches my heart.
---
✨ End of Chapter 62
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