Chapter 15: Ripples in the Industry [1]
Everyone might wounder why Shōnen manga is in America this world because Japan was nuked by the United States during World War II, with atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima (August 6, 1945) and Nagasaki (August 9, 1945), marking the first and only use of nuclear weapons in warfare, leading to Japan's surrender and the end of the war.
But from that moment this parallel world history is changed as Japan became a state under America Flag along with that change there was also a change of America Aliance Which be NATO but here is China .
So many Chinese people work and make lifehood in America. Also the geography of China also change as N-Korea and S- Korea also part of China.
Many historical events and Geographical location are not exist in this world for another example as the famous Rival country from Earth - India and Pakistan, but this world only India exist as Pakistan never got divided from India.
Historical Events like 9/11 never happen in America in this world.
As Alex was thinking that he as many stocks of stories that doesn't exist in this world like solo leveling,etc and now he can bring in this world. With that Alex went to sleep.
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Two weeks after the release of Volume 1, a line formed outside the Oak Creek General Store before dawn.
It wasn't a blockbuster movie queue, but for a small town, twelve teenagers huddled in hoodies against the morning chill was an event. They stomped their feet and blew into their hands, waiting for the lock to turn.
When Mr. Henderson slid the bolt open at 7:00 AM, he nearly jumped. "What in the world...?"
"Mr. Henderson! Do you have Silver Spoon?" the kid at the front, a freckled boy named Timmy, shouted.
"Yes, yes, I restocked yesterday." Henderson stepped aside, waving them in. "Don't run! There's enough for everyone."
The students flooded in, bypassing the candy aisle and heading straight for the wire rack. The new shipment of Silver Spoon Volume 1 was displayed prominently, next to a handwritten sign: VOLUME 1 - BESTSELLER.
"I need three copies!"
"Two for me!"
"Save one for my sister!"
Henderson scrambled to ring them up. This shipment of 100 copies had arrived just two days ago. He thought it would last a week. At this rate, he'd be sold out by lunch.
"Mr. Henderson, when is Volume 2 coming out?" a girl asked as she handed over a crumpled ten-dollar bill.
"Ask the publisher," Henderson grunted, bagging the book. "Rumor says soon."
"What about the anime? Is it really happening?"
"Just rumors. No official word."
The students chattered excitedly as they left, clutching their books like treasure. Henderson looked at the half-empty shelf, sighed, and picked up the phone.
"Yeah, it's me. Send another hundred... Yes, today if you can."
Meanwhile, in the city, the atmosphere at NextGen Manga Monthly was electric.
Editor-in-Chief Lee slapped a spreadsheet onto the conference table. "First week sales: 85,000 copies."
A sharp intake of breath hissed through the room.
85,000 copies. For a debut volume from a rookie author. For a manga about farming.
It was unheard of.
"Reprint status?" Lee barked, looking at the Production Head.
"Presses are running. Second batch of 100,000 ships next week," the Production Head said, adjusting his glasses. "Bookstore feedback is aggressive. They're demanding higher allocations, especially in the rural Midwest. Sales there are outpacing projections by 200%."
"What about institutional orders?"
"Ag schools, vocational colleges, even regular high schools are buying in bulk. They're shelving it in libraries as 'educational reading,' but the kids are checking it out for fun." He paused. "Several county libraries have placed orders to stock their YA sections."
Lee nodded, satisfied. He turned to Sue Vance. "How is the author?"
"Chapter 15 just came in. Quality is consistent," Sue said, opening her notebook. "He's storyboarding Chapter 16 now. he wants to wrap up the first semester in this chapter to set the stage for the second term."
"Can he keep the pace?"
"Yes. he has a three-chapter buffer."
"Good." Lee looked around the room. "You all see the numbers. Silver Spoon has landed. It's not just a hit; it's a phenomenon. And you know what that means."
He paused for effect. "It means we were right. The market was starving for diversity. It also means the copycats are coming."
"They're already here," Chen from Marketing chimed in. "Manga Weekly is launching a 'Rural Teacher' series next month. Shonen World is prepping 'Fisherman's Son'. And Era of Blood is just ripping us off entirely with an 'Agricultural Revolution' project."
A few scoffs echoed around the table.
"Amateurs," an older editor muttered. "They see the success and try to wear the skin, but they don't have the bones."
"Don't get complacent," Lee warned. "Copycats dilute the market. Our job is to cement Silver Spoon as the original and the best."
He looked at Sue. "Does the author need anything? Creative support? Personal help? Anything."
"He hasn't asked for much. He just wants to be left alone to draw," Sue replied.
"Guarantee it," Lee said firmly. "Tell him the editorial department is his shield and he draws; we handle the noise."
"Understood."
"Also," Lee turned to the Rights team. "Anime negotiations?"
"Bluebird is serious, but we're stuck on the royalty percentage," a young woman said. "They're trying to lowball us, claiming the genre has a limited ceiling. But with these sales numbers..."
"Let them sweat," Lee waved a hand. "Tell them we're in no rush. The value of this IP goes up with every reprint. The longer they wait, the more it costs."
"Got it."
The meeting dragged on for another thirty minutes. When it broke, Sue went back to her desk and opened her email.
The file for Chapter 15 was waiting. She downloaded it.
{Chapter 15: New Semester
Hachiken walked through the school gates. The air was crisp, signaling the end of summer. He adjusted his bag, his posture straighter than the boy who had slouched through these gates months ago.
"Yo, Hachiken!"
He turned. A group of classmates waved from the field. He didn't flinch. He didn't calculate the social dynamics. He just raised a hand and smiled.
"Hey."
The panels were quiet, devoid of excessive monologue. Just the visual language of a boy who had found his footing. He looked at the cows grazing in the distance not as alien beasts, but as colleagues.}
Sue scrolled through the pages, a smile touching her lips.
Steady. So incredibly steady.
(To be Continued)
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