Eighth place?
Misaki stared at the ranking for several seconds.
As long as it's not dead last.
But in reality, a new manga serialization with color page promotions, combined with readers' curiosity about new works, rarely ranked so poorly.
They typically landed within the top ten in magazine rankings.
However, the true quality of a manga and its ranking usually became clear from the second chapter onward.
But Misaki had been worried about unexpected outcomes.
"And I was definitely overthinking it. It's true that the final chapter of 5 Centimeters Per Second received over seven thousand votes, but it was naive of me to expect Rei's fans to all rush to Sky Shadow Weekly to support him," Misaki sighed softly.
Fans of tragic romance manga might continue to support the author by reading his new work, but they wouldn't necessarily be highly motivated to vote.
Unless this new manga could move them as deeply as 5 Centimeters had.
"But given the pacing and plot of Tonight, its ranking will definitely improve in subsequent chapters."
Misaki pushed aside her worries and quickly dialed Rei's number.
"Hello, Editor Misaki."
A calm voice answered from the other end of the line.
"Tonight's first popularity ranking for the manga is eighth," Misaki said.
"Eighth?"
"Yes, that's considered an above-average debut. However, first-issue rankings are inflated by promotional boosts, so they're only a rough indicator. The real challenge comes with the second installment," Misaki explained.
"If it stays within the top ten after the second chapter's release, that's a success!"
"Staying in the top ten? You consider that a success?" Rei paused.
"Absolutely. Don't underestimate the manga industry. Rei, any manga series consistently ranking in the top ten of Ametsukage Weekly typically sells around 500,000 copies per volume, generating millions in annual revenue! There's even a small chance of adaptation into anime, movies, or live-action dramas," Misaki emphasized.
"Moreover, Ametsukage Weekly is one of the top fifteen best-selling manga magazines in Japan. It's nothing like your previous run with 5 Centimeters Per Second in Sakura Weekly, where you easily topped the charts and achieved remarkable success. You're a genius, no doubt, but your competitors are all geniuses themselves—one in a thousand, handpicked from across the industry."
"Understood," Rei's steady voice replied from the other end of the line.
Misaki sighed softly. It was clear that her words had made no impact on Rei. His expectations for his work's success remained unchanged, not diminished by even a fraction.
Most likely, from the moment his manga was confirmed for publication in Ametsukage Weekly, his threshold for success had been nothing less than reaching the summit—claiming the top spot.
Misaki, who had always been the top student in her class, understood this mindset all too well.
It wasn't that she looked down on Tonight, but she was acutely aware of the sheer number of geniuses in the Japanese manga industry.
Well, whatever. Rei is still a newcomer. It's natural for him to be insecure. After serializing for a while, he'll realize that so-called genius mangaka are still human.
And humans have limits.
Once you hit those limits, you'll understand that the world isn't just about geniuses standing at the peak. There are also geniuses who soar through the sky, defying logic with their even more absurd talents.
Hitting a wall is a way to refine yourself and grow.
It might even be a good thing.
On Monday, as soon as Rei entered the classroom, he spotted Miyu, Hana, and Yui Nakamura chatting animatedly, their faces beaming with smiles.
Leaning closer, Rei overheard the three girls discussing the upcoming conclusion of Tale of Sorrow in this week's Sakura Weekly. They agreed to vote in favor of the ending, casting their votes for Saki Sensei.
Their conversation then shifted to Shirogane's new manga.
"This manga doesn't feel like 5 Centimeters at all!" Yui Nakamura declared earnestly. "Even if the male and female leads don't end up together, there won't be that lingering sense of regret!"
"Really? I thought the art style in the first chapter had a melancholic vibe," Hana countered.
"Especially that note saying 'Don't forget Kamiya Toru.' It feels like a subtle foreshadowing," Yui added.
Miyu, who had already read the first six chapters of Shirogane's manga in manuscript form and seen the storyboards for chapter seven, wore a confident expression.
"Trust me, this manga will get incredibly sweet later on. There might be some twists and turns along the way, but the overall plot is definitely going to be heartwarming."
"How can you be so sure?" Hana frowned. "Some people online think Kamiya Toru might turn into a major jerk, leading to a really angsty storyline."
"Why would he do that?" Miyu chuckled.
"Just a feeling, based on how the characters were portrayed in the first chapter."
"Come on, Shirogane's works never have villains, right? This 'scumbag male lead' theory is ridiculous."
"Right, Rei?" Miyu said, turning to Rei, who had just taken his seat.
"Yeah, I agree. I think the middle part of this manga will be really sweet," Rei replied, echoing Miyu's sentiment.
"What about the later chapters?" Hana pressed.
Though she wasn't sure why she was asking Rei, he had accurately predicted the plot of 5 Centimeters Per Second before. Perhaps he could do it again.
"The later chapters..." Rei pondered. "Do you guys really think this manga is just a pure romance story?"
"Do you think the ending of a romance manga is determined solely by whether the male and female leads end up together?"
Isn't that how it usually works?
Misaki, Hana, and Yui Nakamura all turned to Rei in unison.
"Hino Maori's illness was shown to have a chance of recovery in the first chapter. But the main plot focuses on her forgotten past," Rei said with a smile.
"Sometimes, forgetting things can actually be a good thing. After Hino Maori recovers, she needs to move forward into the future, not dwell on past memories. I think the manga will end by returning to the world line of the first chapter. And the final scene of Hino Maori will most likely be her smiling."
"Like the final smile of the male lead in 5 Centimeters Per Second?" Hana asked, her eyes sparkling with curiosity as she looked at Rei.
"If that's the case, it would be quite symmetrical for Shirogane Sensei, wouldn't it? Both of his works would have male and female leads stepping forward into new lives."
"Hey, Hana, you're actually taking his words seriously!" Yui Nakamura said with a laugh.
"Only Shirogane Sensei's word counts! Even if the ending turns out exactly as Rei predicted, it'll just be a lucky guess."
Rei smiled but didn't argue.
Miyu looked thoughtful.
Rei disliked spoilers and even more so, lying about manga plot developments.
If he said the ending would be like that, it was almost certainly true.
The bell rang, ending their discussion.
Another few days passed in a blur.
Friday arrived once more.
Rei brought the storyboard for the eighth chapter of Tonight to school, planning to deliver it to Misaki after class for her plot review.
Meanwhile, across Japan, bookstores opened their doors early.
The latest issue of Ametsukage Weekly was officially released today.
The second chapter of Tonight was now available to the public.