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The most distinct difference between a series like Hunter x Hunter and a standard battle manga is that the protagonist's raw power is rarely the deciding factor in combat.
In this world, a character's intelligence and their ability to adapt on the fly are far more crucial than their physical strength. In the memories Haruto inherited, the most iconic example of this style would be JoJo's Bizarre Adventure.
This tactical depth was hinted at from the very first chapter of the Hunter x Hunter manga. Whether it was Gon, Kurapika, or Leorio, they never simply bulldozed through their enemies.
There were no scenes of them screaming in desperation only to suddenly "awaken" some hidden power and defeat a foe through sheer plot convenience.
While such tropes can be momentarily exciting, they often feel logically hollow upon closer inspection.
The battles in this series are meticulously described, covering everything from the pre-fight analysis to the mid-battle testing of abilities and the eventual resolution.
As the serialization reached the Trick Tower arc, the impact of this style hit the audience with full force. Due to various circumstances, Gon, Killua, Leorio, Kurapika, and the portly Tonpa, the self-proclaimed "Rookie Crusher", were grouped together by the Hunter Association examiners.
They were forced to navigate the tower using a "majority rule" system, pressing buttons on their watches to decide which path to take and how to handle critical team dilemmas.
It was at this point that the audience truly began to grasp the unique charm of the work.
For instance, when the team was faced with a choice between turning left or right, Kurapika explained the psychological tendency of helpless people to drift toward the left. He reasoned that since even applicants would know this basic fact, the organizers would likely place traps on the left path to catch those trying to be clever.
Consequently, the team unanimously chose the right.
Immediately after, the quintet encountered a group of prisoners hired to slow them down. For every hour they delayed the candidates, the prisoners would receive a year's reduction in their sentences. To pass through this platform, the five candidates had to engage in one-on-one duels with the prisoners.
In this week's chapter, fans expected to see Gon engage in a brawl for his first real fight. Instead, the narrative pivoted into a pure psychological game.
Gon's opponent produced two candles, one long and one short, and challenged him to pick the one that would burn longer. A typical person would suspect a trick, assuming the long candle had been tampered with and that the short one was the actual winner.
However, Gon, being the ultimate "natural airhead" protagonist, didn't overthink it at all. He simply chose the long candle because a long candle should naturally burn longer. As it turned out, the long candle had indeed been sabotaged with gunpowder so it would burn faster.
But Gon, realizing the trick, ignored the wind in the tower and sprinted across the platform. Since the gunpowder core couldn't be blown out easily, he simply placed it on the ground and blew out the prisoner's candle before his own could finish.
When this chapter hit the stands, Haruto's manga fans were a bit dazed. They had signed up for a battle manga, yet over a dozen chapters in, the lead hadn't thrown a single punch. Strangely enough, despite the lack of traditional action, they found themselves completely hooked.
"Holy cow, this manga is fascinating! It feels completely different from any shonen series I've read before."
"Exactly. If you look back at the earlier chapters, it feels like Haruto has been telling us all along that combat in this world isn't about physical stats; it's a battle of the brains."
"It's great. The moment Gon realized the gunpowder wouldn't go out and just ran over to blow out the other guy's light... I was actually cheering at my desk."
"In hindsight, it wasn't some world-class stroke of genius, but in the heat of the moment while reading, you really don't expect the hero to pull something like that."
"I don't think Gon is an airhead. He feels more like a 'natural predator' who just lacks common sense."
"I agree. Sometimes his blunt honesty leaves the enemies speechless and even his own teammates are left coughing in surprise."
"It's just such a joy to read! This manga is pure fun!"
"I feel the same way. There haven't been any massive emotional tear-jerkers yet, but I've finished every chapter with a smile on my face since the very beginning."
"And while the cliffhangers are there, they aren't like Initial D where they leave you in a state of agony waiting for the next week."
"Is everyone feeling this? I thought I was the only one."
From the moment Hunter x Hunter was born, it was a top-tier title because its creator was the man who had just finished Initial D. Even if the early pacing was deliberate, it didn't stop the series from holding the number one spot in Prime Manga since its debut. This situation mirrored the series' history in the parallel world.
Back then, the author was a genius who had recently finished another industry giant.
Yet, once Hunter x Hunter began, people rarely compared it to his previous work because Hunter x Hunter was a masterpiece that transcended its predecessor.
Even with its slow-burn start, the Trick Tower arc proved that the series had found its stride. The "candle match" alone was enough to satisfy the audience.
It was labeled as a shonen battle manga, and despite having no actual fights for fifteen chapters, nobody cared as long as it remained this interesting.
Haruto constantly monitored the online feedback. He knew a work could survive on reputation for a month or two, but if the content didn't hold up, the audience would eventually evaporate.
After the thirteenth chapter, he realized the fans had transitioned from following the series out of loyalty to Haruto to genuinely loving the series for its own merits.
This was a massive relief.
....
A heavy snow fell over Tokyo.
Haruto's massive villa, which usually housed four people, felt incredibly quiet with only him and Yukino left. Haruto worked on the company's plans for the year on his laptop in the living room while Yukino followed a fitness routine on a mat nearby.
"Haruto, I'm so bored!"
Yukino had just finished her shower and changed into a light white nightgown. She sat down right next to him, her hair still damp and smelling faintly of body wash, her cheeks flushed from the steam.
If Reina or Shizuru were there, she never would have lounged around the living room like this, but with them gone for the holidays, she didn't feel the need to be guarded. They had been dating for nearly half a year, and between their secret dates and occasional kisses at the office, they were quite comfortable with one another.
"Bored? There isn't much I can do about that. It's snowing like crazy outside, so it isn't like we can go anywhere," Haruto sighed, not looking up from his screen. "Why don't we watch a movie?"
Yukino looked down at her nightgown and then at how close she was sitting to him. She couldn't believe his suggestion was to watch a movie.
"Ahem!" Yukino let out a pointed cough.
Haruto froze for a moment. Her cough finally snapped him out of his senses.
A couple alone in a house with no one to interrupt them, and his girlfriend was telling him she was bored. He turned to look at her. She was beautiful and delicate, with a soft, inviting look in her eyes.
Although they had been dating for months, they had stayed within the boundaries of kissing.
They were both new to romance and quite conservative.
"Well..."
Haruto started to say something, but seeing the look on her face, he decided words were unnecessary.
He shut his laptop, leaned over, and pulled her into a kiss. His hand moved naturally along the fabric of her nightgown. A minute later, they were both breathless, faces inches apart.
"Is that it...?" Yukino whispered, her face beet red. Seeing his lingering hesitation, she gave him the final push he needed.
"What are you waiting for?"
Haruto didn't hesitate any longer.
He scooped her up in his arms and carried her toward his bedroom. Even though the house was empty, he still wasn't comfortable using the sofa. He didn't turn on the lights in the room, placing her gently on the bed before joining her under the covers.
The next morning, Haruto woke up before five. Yukino was pressed against him, her smooth skin warm against his side. Her head rested on his arm, her hair fanning out across the pillow. While he knew they would eventually reach this stage, he hadn't expected it to happen so naturally within a week of Reina and Shizuru leaving.
"What are you thinking about?" Yukino asked softly. She had been awake for a while, sensing the change in his breathing. She looked up at him.
"Nothing... just..." Haruto thought back to the very first time they met. She had been his editor, and now they were sharing a bed. "I was just thinking about the first time I saw you four years ago. I never would have guessed we'd end up here."
"I know," Yukino blushed. "Back then, I just thought you were a shy little student."
"So, tell me. Did you have feelings for me even back then?" she asked with a sudden, playful curiosity. "I treated you like a younger brother for so long. Were you already planning to treat me like this?"
"How should I put it?" Haruto thought about it seriously. "I definitely had a crush on you. You were beautiful, and I had to go to your house every week to drop off manuscripts. Spending that much time with you... it was hard not to be attracted to you."
"Wait, was it really that simple? You and Reina saw each other at my place every week too. And now you see Shizuru every day. Don't tell me you feel that way about them as well," Yukino said, her eyes narrowing with a smile.
"What are you even talking about?" Haruto laughed. "You are my girlfriend. You are the one here with me. That's the reality. If you feel that insecure, I'll just buy another house and we can move out. It'll be a bit of a hassle since Reina is on the board of directors and I have to talk to Shizuru every day about the manga art, but it's just a thirty-minute commute."
"But... what if it isn't about how you feel toward them, but how they feel toward you?" Yukino started to say, but she trailed off and went silent.
"What about them?" Haruto asked.
"It's nothing," Yukino whispered, resting her forehead against Haruto's chest.
Haruto blinked.
It wasn't just Yukino; Reina and Shizuru did this all the time too, starting a sentence and then stopping halfway. He couldn't figure out what was going on in their heads, so he decided not to stress over it. He pulled her closer and tucked the blanket around them again.
Three days later, a SAO chapter was released and with it, came with a full-cast poster for Sword Art Online, a replica of Haruto's signature, and an Asuna keychain. It even included a "screaming chicken" toy with the face of Sugou printed on it. These were small gifts, but the appeal to the fans was massive.
The ALO arc was reaching its climax, and fans had been tormented by Sugou for nearly half a year. Being able to buy a toy specifically designed for venting their anger was a stroke of genius.
The promotion significantly boosted the magazine's sales. Two days later, the fifteenth chapter of Hunter x Hunter was officially released.