Masahiro walked up to the third floor of the Shonen Jump building. The hallway was quieter than the first floor. Doors lined both sides, some slightly open, showing glimpses of assistants moving between rooms, papers in hand, murmuring quietly.
He stopped in front of Room 5, checked the number, and pushed the door open.
Inside, the space was small. A simple table stood in the center, flanked by two chairs. Against the wall, a few shelves held stacks of files. He placed his manuscript carefully on the table, straightened a few papers with his hands, and sat back.
After a minute, footsteps echoed in the corridor. The door opened, and Koji Yoshida walked in, papers tucked under his arm. He looked at Mashiro, then down at the manuscript.
— Are you Masahiro Mashiro?
He stood, slightly bowing.
— Yes. Nice to meet you.
Yoshida nodded and took a seat across the table.
— Alright… let's see what you've got.
He picked up the manuscript and opened the first page. At first, his eyes moved quickly across the panels, barely pausing, scanning dialogue and illustrations almost in a single sweep.
Mashiro watched quietly, thinking, "Just let him read… no need to rush or overthink."
A few moments later, Yoshida reached the last page. He rearranged the papers and looked up. A short pause filled the room.
— Would you mind if I read it a second time?
— Not at all. Please.
This time, he moved the pages slower, lingering over certain panels, sometimes flipping back half a page before moving forward again.
Mashiro let his mind wander lightly, "It's funny… the way he reads, he's taking it seriously, but not too serious. Perfect."
After a few panels, a soft chuckle escaped Yoshida. It was low, controlled, as if he were restraining a smile. Mashiro noticed it and thought, "It worked."
Yoshida continued reading until the last page again, then set the manuscript down. He kept his hand resting lightly on it for a moment, his mind analyzing quietly.
"A professional-level work… not a trace of amateur mistakes. Should I rush to the meeting? No… let's test audience reaction first."
He finally lifted his eyes to Mashiro.
— Honestly… your work is excellent.
His voice was calm, professional, firm, yet there was a subtle tremor in his lips, betraying his restrained excitement.
— The comedy timing hits perfectly. The reactions land where they should.
He ran his hand lightly over the manuscript.
— Drawing style is strong. Lines are clean, expressions readable.
He flipped through a few pages.
— And the panel layout is excellent. Pages flow naturally; the reader won't get lost.
Mashiro nodded, keeping a calm expression. In his head, he thought, "It's classic… everything falls where it should. Just like I planned."
Yoshida leaned back slightly, thinking, "If he can get this much right on a first attempt, the audience's reaction could tell me a lot… but not rushing to elevate him too quickly. Let's see a one-shot first."
He spoke aloud, professionally:
— Your work is at a level worthy of publication. But first, how about drawing a one-shot? I want to see how readers react to it.
Mashiro accepted the suggestion without hesitation.
— No problem.
Yoshida nodded once, a subtle smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.
_Let's see how the audience responds to a one-shot
he said, quietly thrilled.
The manuscript remained on the table between them. Silence hung in the small room for a few seconds, both lost in thought, each considering the possibilities ahead.