Once the viewership ratings for the first episode of Cyberpunk: Edgerunners were released, the premiere data for the four most anticipated anime of the season was officially complete.
First were Red Dragon and The Otherworld Reformer. Riding the massive wave of popularity from their original source material, they secured the first and second spots in the seasonal rankings. Cyberpunk: Edgerunners and Terminal Descent, both being original productions without a pre-existing fanbase, lagged slightly behind, taking the third and fourth positions respectively.
These four titles were the only ones to break the 3% ratings barrier during the first week of July. The gap between them and the rest was astronomical, as most other shows failed to even approach a 3% share.
However, the fact that Cyberpunk: Edgerunners debuted in third place was all the ammunition Haruto's long-dormant haters needed. They had been waiting for a moment of weakness, and they swarmed the forums the very next morning.
"I thought it was going to be something special, but it's just another third-place show,"
"Remember before the premiere when Shiori Takahashi's fans were screaming that this would be the 'Overlord of Autumn'? Third place isn't exactly 'Overlord' material, is it?"
"These fans are just too blinded by cult-like devotion. They think that just because Madoka Magica was a hit, everything he touches will automatically crush the competition."
"The only reason his other show, 7 Years From Now, stayed at number one last season was the lack of real competition. Now that big-budget adaptations like Red Dragon and Otherworld Reformer are on the field, Haruto is finally showing his true limits."
"You guys are hilarious. You're calling the race after one episode? Puella Magi Madoka Magica premiered at barely over 1%, and it ended up hitting 6% and becoming the most legendary anime of the decade. Do you even understand how this works?"
"Are you really comparing an original anime to adaptations of manga and novels that sell twenty million copies per volume based on the first week? What are you smoking? Talk to us again after episode three. You're embarrassing yourselves,"
"The funniest part is that the gap between the top two and Edgerunners is negligible. It's a matter of a fraction of a percent,"
"The Warrior of Love taught us that the first three episodes are just the prologue. You've already seen the plot of Red Dragon and Otherworld Reformer in the books; there are no surprises left. But with Haruto? No one has any idea what's coming. When the twist hits, you're all going to be eating your words."
"It's only a matter of time before Sword Art Online and Initial D overtake the rival source materials in sales. The same thing will happen with the anime ratings. Just watch."
"I just love watching the haters scream early on, get stubborn in the middle, and then play dead by the finale."
"Anyway, for those who actually watched it, what did you think of the first episode of Edgerunners?"
"It was incredible. The world-building is dense and the atmosphere is heavy. It hasn't fully opened up yet, but I'm hooked on the potential."
The employees at Haru-Yuki Animation spent the day scouring the internet for feedback.
When they saw that the general sentiment was overwhelmingly positive despite the trolls, they let out a sigh of relief.
Early that morning, Haruto returned to the studio after a quick photoshoot at Kiyozawa Library's headquarters. He immediately called a meeting with the senior management to finalize the operations for the coming week. He authorized an additional 150 million yen for the Edgerunners marketing budget and then dropped a bombshell.
"For the next week, the three directors of this company will be away on personal business. You won't be able to reach us. I'm leaving the daily operations in the hands of the department heads," Haruto said, looking at his senior staff. The studio had grown significantly, now employing over a hundred people, and had moved into a high-rise building in the heart of Tokyo.
The equipment was state-of-the-art, and the staff was elite, which was why no one could find a single flaw in the animation of Edgerunners. Even the haters had to admit the production value was top-tier.
The managers were stunned. In the year since they had joined, they had never known Haruto to step away from the business for more than a day. Even when he was in the hospital or traveling for awards, he was always reachable and working remotely. To leave the studio completely for an entire week was unprecedented. But since he was the boss, they didn't push for details.
With the company affairs settled, Haruto drove home. There, he found Reina, Shizuru, and Yukino in the middle of a lively discussion about their upcoming trip.
"Finally, a vacation! I feel like I'm coming back from the dead," Yukino said, her eyes shining as she leaned back. "Managing the business every single week for a year without a single break is more grueling than any 9-to-5 job."
"I agree," Reina added, looking sharp in a white blouse and a light skirt.
"Balancing university and deadlines is a special kind of hell. Most office workers don't have to worry about being creative on a schedule."
Shizuru, dressed in a red hoodie and a baseball cap, nodded in agreement. "I've been spending three times more time on my drawing than on my actual coursework."
"But what I really don't understand is Haruto. He writes novels, produces anime, scripts manga, and handles all the PR events for two different publishers. Where does he find the time to actually breathe, let alone think of new ideas?"
Two years ago, Reina had vowed to surpass Haruto before they graduated university. She wanted her name to be the one that echoed through Japan.
While her recent success with Absolute Realm, which was a consistent top-three hit with nearly ten million copies in circulation, was impressive, she felt the gap between them was only widening.
She was technically the number one female light novel author under thirty in Japan, but that "female" qualifier bothered her. Haruto was the absolute number one, regardless of gender, and she was a distant second.
"He told me once that he gets his ideas from his dreams at night," Yukino said with a laugh. "Let's stop talking about him. It only makes me feel like I'm wasting my life."
"Speaking of daily life, Yukino, you and Haruto have been spending a lot of time together lately, haven't you?" Reina asked, pulling a popsicle from the freezer. "You've been coming home together almost every night around eight or nine."
Shizuru's fingers stiffened for a split second. She shot a suspicious look at Yukino. She had been so buried in her own manga work that she hadn't noticed the pattern. Yukino's expression faltered for a heartbeat before she managed a casual smile.
"We have the Edgerunners premiere to deal with! There are contracts with Blu-ray manufacturers, overseas licensing deals, and merchandise meetings. You know how he is."
Reina and Shizuru accepted the explanation. It sounded like the kind of headache Haruto would drag his lead consultant into. They didn't know that Haruto was actively pursuing Yukino.
Nearly every evening after work, he would take her to dinner at high-end restaurants near the office, go for walks in the shopping districts, or visit the scenic night spots of Tokyo. Their relationship had entered an ambiguous phase. Yukino was still too shy to reveal this to their housemates, and Haruto didn't want to make an announcement until things were official.
Just then, Haruto walked through the door.
"Alright... let's get moving," he said, looking at the three of them with a wide grin. He was dressed in casual shorts, sneakers, and a light blue jacket.
"Our first official vacation since starting university."
The luggage was already packed and waiting by the door. His two-seater sports car was out of the question for a group trip, so he had recently purchased a luxury SUV specifically for outings like this.
A road trip was impossible given his limited time, and an overseas flight was too risky. To appease his fans' inevitable resentment, he had only allowed himself a one-week hiatus, ten days away at the absolute most. They had settled on a luxury resort island. After a three-hour flight and a boat ride, they reached their destination. The water was a brilliant sapphire, the air smelled of salt, and sea birds circled overhead.
"Now this... this is living," Haruto said, standing at the bow of the boat.
For four years, from his second year of high school to his second year of college, he had lived every day in a cycle of creation. The fatigue had been deep in his bones.
"Look! Fish!" Shizuru pointed at a school of flying fish breaking the surface, her face lit up like a child's.
"It's the ocean, Shizuru." Reina said, though she couldn't take her eyes off the horizon either.
"They're so beautiful! What kind are they, Reina?"
"How should I know? I didn't major in that," Reina replied, rolling her eyes.
"Is there actually something you don't know?" Shizuru teased, snapping photos with her phone. "That's a rare sight."
Reina huffed, looking like she wanted to drop a biting remark, but the beauty of the scenery held her back. Meanwhile, Haruto slipped away and joined Yukino on the other side of the deck.
"Lean in a bit," Haruto whispered.
"What for?"
Haruto held up his high-definition camera. "A souvenir! This is our first trip together, after all." He stepped closer until his shoulder was pressed against hers.
"Hey, not so close! Reina and Shizuru will get the wrong idea," Yukino hissed, though she didn't move away.
Haruto tilted his head toward hers and snapped the photo. In the image, he was beaming with confidence while Yukino's face was flushed a pretty pink, though her smile was genuine.
"The wrong idea? You mean the idea that we're dating?" Haruto asked. "That's not a misunderstanding."
"It is just a spoiler for the near future."
"You...!" Yukino was speechless.
Haruto didn't push his luck. He knew she wasn't rejecting him, but he also knew that these things required a natural progression. He stepped back and picked up a fishing rod, preparing to try his hand at sea fishing. Yukino watched him, letting out a long breath. She didn't hate the attention, but being exposed in front of her friends was still a terrifying prospect.
The captain of the small boat watched the three beautiful girls and the handsome young man with an amused smile.
They looked like typical city folk who had never seen the ocean before, finding wonder in every wave. On vacation, the experience is directly proportional to the budget.
Since Haruto didn't care about the cost, everything was top-of-the-line, from the private villa to the personal guide.
The next day was a blur of sea fishing, diving, and even a helicopter skydiving session. Haruto found himself particularly distracted by the sight of the three girls in their swimwear; their figures were far more stunning than his artist's imagination had ever conjured.
While the four of them were basking in the sun and forgetting the world, millions of fans were in a state of mourning.
Sword Art Online was on hiatus this week.
Initial D was on hiatus this week.
When Kiyozawa Library and Prime Manga announced the news on the same day, a wave of despair swept through the industry.
"What's going on? Why are both on break at the same time?"
"Is Shiori-sensei sick?"
"Sick? No way,"
"I heard he's on a break."
"He went on vacation?! Both series at once?! Just for that?!"
"Are you kidding me? SAO ended on that scene with Sugou and Asuna, now I have to wait two weeks to find out what happens?"
"Don't even get me started on Initial D. The 86 just got its new engine and we're waiting for the rematch with Kyoichi Sudo. This is torture!"
"Vacation? At his age? How can he sleep at night knowing we're hanging like this? He has no soul!"
The resentment among the fanbase was palpable. However, while the print works were silent, the animation continued. On Sunday, July 12th, the second episode of Cyberpunk: Edgerunners was set to air.