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A few days later, the fifth chapter of Initial D hit the shelves. The fanbase, having endured a week of agonizing suspense, finally discovered the secret behind Takumi's technique.
Through a conversation between the Takahashi brothers, Ryosuke and Keisuke, the mystery of how the AE86 could overtake on a hairpin turn by hugging the inner rail was finally unraveled.
The Gutter Run.
Across the Initial D community, the reaction was a mixture of disbelief and pure adrenaline.
"Is something like that even possible?"
"Holy crap, using the gutter to turn? That's genius!"
"This chapter blew my mind. I spent all week trying to figure out how an old 86 could pass on the inside of a turn. The gutters... the author is on another level. How do you even come up with that?"
"Isn't this just the creator's wild imagination? Using the gutter to hook the tires, isn't that just pure fiction?"
"Actually, I asked my dad, who's a huge rally racing nut. He said that in off-road and rally racing, there are similar techniques where drivers use roadside slopes to increase grip. It's a legitimate professional move. The Gutter Run is just a specialized variation of that concept. It's not just made-up nonsense."
"But it's exactly like Ryosuke said in the chapter.
Even if you know the theory, you can't just copy it. It's like walking a tightrope. You have to know every inch of Mount Akina's roads. Anyone else trying it would just end up in a ditch. That's the absolute advantage of home-turf racing! No matter how much an outside team practices, they can't touch the locals."
"It makes sense why the fans are already calling Takumi the Ghost of Mount Akina."
"I live for this kind of manga. First Keisuke, and next is that Invincible Legend Takeshi Nakazato, right? And then there's Ryosuke Takahashi, he thinks he's so cool? Just wait until Takumi shows them what's what."
The Ghost of Mount Akina, a term that had essentially become a meme and a catchphrase, was now spreading rapidly through the internet. It leaked out from the manga circles and into the territories of light novel readers and anime watchers.
Even those who didn't follow manga were starting to see the buzz on social media. They were becoming aware of a series in Weekly Prime called Initial D that was supposedly "fire."
The protagonist is some kind of ghost of what mountain? This kind of crossover fame was a crucial milestone. While hardcore anime or novel fans might not immediately pick up the manga, these early impressions would linger. If Initial D were ever adapted into an anime, this established reputation would heavily influence their decision to watch it.
After the fifth chapter explained the mechanics of the gutter run, Takumi's next rival appeared.
Takeshi Nakazato of the NightKids, along with his menacing black Nissan Skyline GT-R. While the chapter served as a build-up for the next major conflict, the reader response was as explosive as ever.
Initial D continued its climb in the rankings.
Although it remained at the number two spot in the magazine, the absolute number of votes was ballooning with every issue.
Anyone with eyes could see the massive threat it posed to the reigning champion of Weekly Prime, The Forbidden Gate.
The Forbidden Gate had been serializing for five years. Its author was one of Japan's premier manga titans, and the series was a permanent fixture on every Top Manga of the Year list. Yet, here was this legendary king facing a lethal challenge on its own home turf from a duo of young creators.
It was the ultimate new generation eclipsing the old scenario. While the veteran peers were quietly cheering the titan on, the younger generation of mangaka was watching with bated breath, hoping to see Haruto and Shizuru successfully pull off a god-slaying feat.
In the span of just over a month, a period so brief that half the industry hadn't fully processed the new arrivals, an elite-tier series had successfully established itself.
Prime Manga capitalized on the momentum, pouring even more resources into the promotion of Initial D. Since both Haruto and Shizuru were on summer break, the agent assigned to them by the publisher drafted an intensive plan.
The goal was to have the duo cooperate with the house to push the series into the mainstream.
Haruto was mentally prepared for the disruption Initial D was causing. He knew the series had spent decades as a global phenomenon; its raw power was a proven commodity. In the otaku industry, if a work is truly exceptional, word of mouth travels at the speed of light.
When you combined that with Haruto's existing light novel fanbase and Prime's marketing of them as a handsome and beautiful young genius duo, they captured everyone from the story focused critics to the idol-chasing fans.
The rise was astronomical, yet logically sound.
Shizuru, however, was still struggling to catch her breath. During their recent promotional events, she had been noticeably overwhelmed by her new reality.
Just a few months ago, she was a nobody in the industry, an artist with great technique but zero hits.
Now, the media was packaging her alongside Haruto, labeling them as Japan's Number One Rising Manga Duo of the year.
At every event, swarms of fans mobbed her for autographs. Every professional she encountered bowed respectfully and addressed her as Shizuru-sensei.
Following a promotional session at a major anime convention that morning, Shizuru and Haruto retreated to a private room in a cafe nearby to rest and grab a drink. Shizuru watched Haruto's handsome profile as he sat across from her, even during his break, scribbling notes onto a manuscript. She hesitated before finally speaking.
"Haruto... I have to ask..."
"Hmm? What is it?" Haruto looked up, meeting her gaze.
For today's convention, the two of them were participating in a cross-promotion between Initial D and a highly anticipated fighting game sequel set to release the following week. At the request of the organizers, they were in full cosplay.
Haruto was dressed as the game's male lead, a swordsman in elegant black-and-white traditional robes, carrying a striking blue blade. Shizuru was cosplaying the female lead, wearing a flowing emerald-green gown. Her hair was styled to cascade down her shoulders, and her light makeup accentuated her pale skin and delicate features. She looked breathtakingly beautiful.
The game's development team had returned the favor by cosplaying as characters from Initial D, and they had even parked a custom-painted black-and-white AE86 at the center of the exhibition hall.
"I've noticed that no matter what's happening, you're always the same," Shizuru said with a soft smile.
"I don't have much of a choice."
"Besides the manga, I have the novel industry to deal with, and then there's everything else..." Haruto let out a sigh. "I'm sorry if I'm being a bit of a bore, handling my private business while we're supposed to be on a break."
"No, no! That's not what I meant at all!" Shizuru waved her hands frantically. "I just mean that since the day I met you, your attitude hasn't shifted at all. Even though Initial D is now the number two manga in Prime, you don't seem excited, or even a little bit nervous."
"It's just my personality, I guess," Haruto chuckled.
Truthfully, as much as he liked the series, being number two wasn't enough to make him lose his composure.
Shizuru bit down on her straw, her eyes fixed on him.
"You clearly have something on your mind," Haruto noted, seeing her hesitation.
"I just wanted to say..." Shizuru paused, taking a breath. "Thank you."
"For what?"
"I want to thank you for choosing me to work with you, out of all the talented artists in Japan," she said. "The last month of serialization has felt like a dream. Even in my wildest fantasies, I never imagined I'd be working on a manga that could actually threaten the legend of The Forbidden Gate."
Shizuru wasn't a sentimental person, but working with Haruto had given her everything: fame, prestige, and a thriving career. While a simple thank you might not have a price tag, it was a sincere expression of gratitude that she didn't offer to just anyone.
"You don't need to thank me for that. You should thank your past self for all those years you spent practicing," Haruto replied with a grin. "If you hadn't put in the effort to master your craft, this partnership would never have happened in the first place, right?"
Shizuru knew he was being humble and protective of her pride.
She didn't push the point further. Instead, she reached into her bag and pulled out a small charm, a pendant in the shape of a longsword.
"This is for you."
Haruto looked at the pendant. It was an exact replica of the sword he was carrying for his cosplay today.
"Is this...?"
"I bought it at the convention right after our stage event ended," Shizuru said, her eyes warm. "I bought two, so I wanted you to have one."
Haruto hesitated for a second. If Shizuru were a guy, he would have accepted it without a second thought. But receiving a gift from a girl even a small pendant carried a different weight.
"I'm giving this to you as a friend and a partner. Don't overthink it," Shizuru laughed. "Consider it a thank you for choosing me as your collaborator and letting me experience what it's like to be a top-tier mangaka. My childhood dreams have basically all come true this month."
Haruto felt a wave of relief and accepted the gift. Spending so much time immersed in anime, novels, and manga had made him hyper-sensitive to romantic subplots, and he found it hard not to read into things when a girl gave him a present out of the blue.
"Alright then. I'm actually planning to buy a car next month. When it arrives, I'll hang this inside as a lucky charm."
"Wait, really? I'm giving you a standard sword pendant and you're going to use it to guard your car?"
"Don't you know the lore of the game we're promoting? The protagonist is an exorcist. This sword is meant to slay demons and ward off evil. It's perfect," Haruto joked. "Since you're such a huge fan of Puella Magi Madoka Magica... I'll make sure to get you a return gift in a few days."
"A return gift? And wait, why are you suddenly bringing up Madoka?"
It was currently early August. In late August, the Madoka Magica Rebellion movie home video release was scheduled to hit the shelves. Since Haruto mentioned the series...
"Wait... Haruto, do you actually have a way to get in touch with the Warrior of Love?"
"You could say that," Haruto said, his expression turning quite complicated.
"No way! Are you serious?" Shizuru practically lunged across the table.
"I'm serious."
"Then... then could you please, please get me his autograph?" Shizuru's eyes were practically shimmering with excitement.
"Whoa, easy there. Why that face?" Haruto blinked. "Do you really respect the Warrior of Love that much?"
"Of course I do! Before this year, my favorite magical girl anime was Magical Girl Hazuki. After this year, it's Madoka Magica. No contest," Shizuru said, her voice rising in volume.
"I've been a die-hard fan of the magical girl genre for over a decade. Why are you looking at me like that? Is the author the type who doesn't like giving autographs?" Seeing Haruto lost in thought, she assumed she had asked for too much.
"An autograph? No, that's not a problem at all," Haruto laughed. "Actually, that's exactly what I was thinking of. In a few days, when the movie version is released, I can get you a signed Blu-ray from the Warrior of Love himself."
"Are you for real?"
"Totally."
"So... you really, truly know him?" Shizuru asked one more time.
To the otaku world, the Warrior of Love was a total enigma.
No one knew his identity. It was only natural for her to be skeptical when Haruto claimed to be on speaking terms with the man.
"I know him."
"Are you guys close?"
"I'd like to think so."
"So... what's he like? Is he handsome? Is he a kind, gentle person?" Shizuru asked, her curiosity now in overdrive.
"Oh, that much is beyond a doubt," Haruto replied.
This time, there wasn't a shred of hesitation in his voice. He wasn't the least bit embarrassed to say it.
Shizuru's eyes shone with even more intensity. Once she started on the topic of the Warrior of Love, there was no stopping her. She didn't doubt Haruto's words for a second; after all, it made perfect sense for a genius in the manga and novel world to be close friends with a legendary anime scriptwriter. They were like-minded souls.
Their short break didn't last long. Soon, their agent found them to signal that the afternoon's promotional activities were about to begin.