Bakuman 64

Chapter 64

01

Manga bubble: Shut up about Eco.
Manga bubble: If you humans didn't exist, the word "Eco" wouldn't exist.
Text on the left of the page: The debut work of the genius hikikomori author that Niizuma Eiji approved of is here!!
Manga text: The suspicious actions of the species that has transcended humans have begun!!
Manga bubble: Don't worry. We'll kill you in a way that's good for the Earth.
Manga bubble: You of the old humanity will become fertilizer for the Earth.
Manga bubble: Do we have that right? We do. Since we have wings, we True Humans don't need Eco Cars and we do not even pass gas.
Title: Page 64 Unchanged and Secrets

02

Mashiro: This is dark...

Mashiro: Shizuka Ryuu... This is darker than "Money and Wisdom"... Actually it might be more gross than it is dark. Eiji said that dark is good, so I'm sure it's got his recommendation.

Takagi: Shizuka Ryuu? You read that first? R-read them in order.
Mashiro: There's no point in reading ours. We already know what's in it.
Takagi: Uh...

Mashiro: It's similar to the first one we brought in, "Two Earths"...
Mashiro: It's not Jump-like, but it should do well in the polls.

Mashiro: But I think the idea of there not being any humans is actually childish.

Mashiro: Shujin, are you listening?

Mashiro: Why aren't you saying anything?
Takagi: Read Aoki-san's "Time of Fresh Leaves".

03

Manga Box: I am Mame Shouichirou, 15 years old. Starting today I am a first year at Aoba Private Academy.
Manga Box: The reason I chose this school...
Manga Box: is that the girls' uniforms have the shortest skirts in the prefecture.
Manga text: A heart-pounding, energetic school life begins!!
Manga bubble: Ah, spring is the best.
Manga Box: According to the school rules, the girls must wear underwear with a white base and are not allowed to wear any type of shorts or girdle over them.
Manga Box: Since this means they have only white panties and an oddly short skirt, I respect and admire the headmaster that created these rules.
Manga bubble: Kyah!
Manga Box: I use every chance I can to make a positive impression on the girls around me. Not just at school, but to and from school, at my part-time job, and anywhere else I can. But if I don't start dating one of them, I don't know what will happen from here on.

04

Mashiro: Unlike "hi door", this will get some popularity in a shonen magazine.
Takagi: Just keep reading...

Mashiro: W-wait, this is bad.
Takagi: J-just showing panties isn't that bad.
Mashiro: Not that. The story...this is bad.

Takagi: So you get it, too?
Mashiro: Of course I do! These two can't date until they accomplish their dreams.
Mashiro: The girl who thinks she's been confessed to because he says, "We need to talk".

Mashiro: This is us!
Manga bubble: We won't meet until we accomplish our dreams.
Manga bubble: ...Yeah.
Manga bubble: Until then, we'll only contact each other via email.

Takagi: *sigh* I never thought she would put the things we talked about in her manga unchanged.
Mashiro: You talked about way too much. Why did you talk about me and Azuki?

05

Takagi: I wonder if Miyoshi'll be able to tell Aoki-san and I talked from reading this.
Mashiro: I dunno. It's a common story, so you might be fine. And Miyoshi used this material for a cell phone novel already.
Mashiro: Have you contacted her yet?
Takagi: She'd be offended if I called her, so I'm waiting for her to tell me to apologize.

Manga bubble: When we accomplish our dreams, please marry me...

Mashiro: No, this really bad! This goes on sale in 2 weeks. You need to deal with this misunderstanding before that!
Takagi: H-how? Am I supposed to tell her I was talking with Aoki-san and promised to meet her and then Iwase came for some reason?
Mashiro: That's the truth, isn't it?
Takagi: I can't! She was pissed when it was just Iwase. What happens when she learns about Aoki!?

Mashiro: Does Miyoshi know that Aoki Kou is 22 or 23 and beautiful?
Takagi: She's seen her... And after I first saw her at Eiji's place, I said she was an intellectual beauty and that I felt something about working on manga when she was.
Mashiro: Are you an idiot!?
Takagi: No, I wasn't saying I liked her; I meant as a rival. And there's nothing wrong with what I did, right? It was for the sake of our manga.
Mashiro: We may see it that way, but Miyoshi might not!

06

Takagi: More importantly, we need to read these mangas.
Mashiro: More importantly? That's our biggest problem at the moment!

Takagi: Aoki-san likes Nakai-san, doesn't she?
Mashiro: Eh?

Takagi: There's a thirty-something, plump gym teacher and gymnastics coach. The female gymnast he confessed to thought it was disturbing at first, but as he continued to confess to her, she started to like him.
Mashiro: Now that you mention it...
Manga bubble: I love you!
Manga bubble: I love yooou!

Takagi: Aoki-san said she had a similar experience, so this has to be about her.
Mashiro: Well our love lives were in there unchanged.
Mashiro: Is she just revealing everything!?

Mashiro: Now that she's used us as material, I'm gonna feel like a joke if it doesn't get popular. I don't like this.

Takagi: Well I got some ideas from her, but maybe it wasn't very balanced.

Mashiro: Who cares about a balance? You just talking with her is the main problem.
Takagi: I know, but she's the one who initially tried to end it, but I had to act all cool and say that we couldn't quit because we were both gonna be in Akamaru. I can't just tell her we're gonna stop now.

Mashiro: *sigh* Well, just do something about Miyoshi.
Takagi: But what?
Mashiro: I dunno.
Takagi: N-neither do I.
Box: At that time, I didn't realize that this was going to bring problems between Azuki and me as well.

07

Sign: Fukuda

Fukuda: Why is Ashirogi making a gag manga!?
Assistant: But it's pretty funny.
Fukuda: That's because you like lame jokes.
Assistant: Yeah, that's why I took the job as an assistant for "Kiyoshi".

Fukuda: You think it'll get first?
Assistant: Akamaru has a bit higher age range than Weekly Shonen Jump.
Assistant: Thinking about that, it looks a bit iffy and "True Human" has the impact to do better.

Fukuda: What about Aoki Kou?
Assistant: I don't like romance mangas myself, so I don't know.

Fukuda: What did Nakai-san think when he read this...?

Assistant: Who are you calling?
SFX: *beep*
SFX: *beep*
Fukuda: Just keep putting on the tone.

08

Nakai: Like I said, it's more about what's inside people than what you can see. But what I can see of you is pretty good as well, Katou-san.
Katou: Not this again, Nakai-san...

SFX: *beep*
Nakai: Fukuda-kun? It's been a while.
Fukuda: Nakai-san, have you read "Akamaru Jump"?
Nakai: Yeah, just now.

Nakai: I was surprised to see Aoki-san had drawn girls' panties. It turned me on a bit to think that Aoki-san had drawn them. Ha ha.

Fukuda: Was that your only thought?
Nakai: Oh, well, it looks like Ashirogi-kun is going for serialization through the "Doraemon" route.

Fukuda: Not that. I was asking if you had any more thoughts after reading Aoki-jou's "Time of Fresh Leaves"?

Nakai: Hmm. I can't think of anything... I'm working right now, so...
Fukuda: Are you planning on being an assistant forever? I heard you went there to help out, but you've stayed even after they found other people to do it.
Nakai: I haven't found a good manga to work on...

Fukuda: What are you talking about...? Make a storyboard yourself or search more actively for a manga! Are you going to be an assistant your whole life!?
Nakai: What are you getting after me for? I do things my own way. I like being an assistant.

09

Fukuda: !... He likes it...?

Fukuda: You don't deserve Aoki-jou, Nakai-san!!

Nakai: That's right; it didn't work between me and Aoki-san.
Nakai: So I'm going after a new love.

Fukuda: What's with him...?

Fukuda: Okay, sorry to have bothered you.

Fukuda: Everyone's useless!
Assistant: I don't get what's going on, but you need to worry more about "Kiyoshi" than about other people.
Assistant: At this rate, the next serialization meeting's gonna end badly for us.

Fukuda: It's because you said that the battles between different styles of fighting was a good idea.
Assistant: B-but you really liked the idea!

10

Sign: Niizuma Eiji

Editor: Okay, I've gotten the manuscript.
Eiji: Thanks.

Editor: Ah.

Editor: How was Akamaru? The editing department's been talking about who of Aoki Kou, Ashirogi Muto, and Shizuka Ryuu would come out on top.
Eiji: Ashirogi-sensei's was amazing. It was like a model for a gag manga. The art and writing matched the style, too. Both Takagi-sensei and Mashiro-sensei are very skilled.

Editor: Then do you think that Ashirogi-sensei's was the best...?
Eiji: But I think Ashirogi-sensei is better suited for a serious story. I personally liked "True Human" better.

Editor: Better suited for a serious story, huh?

Eiji: Ashirogi-sensei doesn't have to become a jack-of-all-trades.

Editor: A jack-of-all-trades! Come to think of it, someone in the editing room said something about superficial cleverness...
Editor: It was Hattori...

11

Editor: By the way, have you read Akamaru, Hiramaru-kun? A rival is sure to come from there.
Hiramaru: I'm not interested in "Akamaru". I have my hands full with my own work. Could I seriously take a week off? I'm really, truly at my limit.
Hiramaru: Haa
Hiramaru: Haa
Hiramaru: *pant* *pant*
Hiramaru: *cough* *cough*

Editor: I thought you'd say that, so I brought this. She's a 22 year old beauty.
Hiramaru: Yoshida!!

Hiramaru: I'm so glad I believed in you. I truly think that.

Editor: You'll have to wait.
Hiramaru: Eh? B-but why!?

Editor: I'll let you see the picture once you finish the manuscript you're working on.
Hiramaru: That's how it is, isn't it?

Editor: And I'll let you meet this young beauty...let's see...after you finish 3 more manuscripts.
Hiramaru: Wh-what!? Y-you're too cruel, Yoshida!!

Editor: No, I'm not. Listen up, HIramaru-kun.

12

Editor: Once you see this picture, you'll like her even more than Aoki-sensei!
Hiramaru: Really? She's that wonderful?
Editor: Yes. A mangaka who doesn't meet many new people doesn't get to meet a girl like this often.

Editor: But a mangaka mustn't fall in love. I know one whose manuscripts went downhill and who stopped drawing altogether when he did.
Hiramaru: Falling in love and quitting... What a wonderful dream...

Editor: Don't be stupid! Think about it! A young beauty like that's happiness would be based on your work.
Editor: She would be happy if "Otter" was made into an anime, you made a killing, and you could live the life of leisure.
Editor: But if you quit and have to subsist off of loans, what'll you do? The reality is, you'll lose her.

Editor: A mangaka in love has to keep making manuscripts without drowning in love and make a schedule and balance between work and love.
Hiramaru: I see.

Editor: How about you leave the schedule for work and love to me?
Assistant: Ph.
Hiramaru: Assistant, quit laughing!
Assistant: S-sorry.

Hiramaru: U-understood. I finish this and I get the picture.
Hiramaru: Another 3 and I get a meal with her.
Hiramaru: That's my love schedule!
Editor: That's right. Go, Hiramaru! Your future is bright.

13

Sign: Shueisha

Miura: *sigh*
Miura: I wonder if "Tanto" will get first.
Editor: Why are you talking about that when only the sample book is out? It'll be a month before we know the results. You should be preparing for if you get a good result.

Miura: I really hope it gets first.
Miura: I don't want to lose to Yamahisa...
Editor: You're too obsessed with first place. A gag manga can get serialized even if it doesn't get first.

Editor: Even if it doesn't get first, huh...?

Editor: Hattori, you wanna get some coffee?
Hattori: Well, that's a little disturbing.

14

Editor: What do you think of Ashirogi-kun's gag manga.
Hattori: What do you mean?

Editor: Niizuma-kun said that a serious story was better for them than a gag manga. He said they didn't have to become a jack-of-all-trades.
Editor: Niizuma-kun's opinions on manga tend to be right.
Editor: And before you said they were just using superficial cleverness.
Hattori: A jack-of-all-trades, huh...? That's a good way of putting it.

Hattori: But this isn't something for us to worry about.

Editor: That's rough. You think they should go the story route, too, right?

Hattori: I've been watching Ashirogi-kun since they first came here.

Hattori: They first brought "Two Earths" which was similar to "True Human"... It was a story where our Earth was copied and we were being watched by the true humans from the true earth.
Hattori: Their next one "A Hundred Million Parts" was about humans being ranked by a computer... It wasn't chosen because Niizuma-kun was chosen.
Hattori: Next was "This World is Money and Wisdom" which ran in "Akamaru".

Editor: So you do think that that type fits them better.
Hattori: Well, I like serious stories better personally and I don't think what they're doing is the way to go. I don't really get "Tanto", but it's well made so I hope the readers like it.

15

Editor: Aida-san really likes gags.
Hattori: He started "Bo-bobo" and "Reborn!".
Editor: If we could get promoted to vice-chief or team leader, our opinions would hold a little more weight.

Hattori: Why are you this interested in Ashirogi-kun, Yuujirou-san?

Editor: I think Niizuma-kun and Ashirogi-kun are about equally good. I thought they were gonna overtake us for sure, so I was really worried.
Editor: Niizuma-kun also saw them as his biggest rival, so when "Trap" was ended, he got a little less motivated...

Editor: I was wondering why their experiences have been so different.
Editor: Is it just luck?

Hattori: It's ability.

Hattori: It's the ability they've gotten up to this point. Ashirogi-kun are still 18. Whatever form it will come in, their ability will increase.
Editor: I see. So that's it.

16

Takagi: Man, gags are really hard. I'm stocking up a lot of them for when it gets serialized.
Mashiro: Make sure not to steal jokes. Don't read all of "Doraemon" and the like.
Takagi: Oh, my phone.

Takagi: Eh!? Azuki!
Mashiro: Eh!?
Takagi: Crap, did Miyoshi squeal to...I mean talk with Azuki?

Mashiro: But she's not the type to call you because of that.
Takagi: No, she can be pretty honest about this kind of stuff.

Takagi: Hello.
Azuki: Good day.
Takagi: Good day.

Azuki: Kaya is currently out buying some things, but she's staying at my place.
Takagi: Eh!? She ran away from home!?
Azuki: Yes. But she's just saying that she's here to have fun during summer break.

Takagi: She said that Miyoshi is at her place.

Azuki: She said that you met with Iwase-san.

Takagi: I knew it...

17

Takagi: That's just a misunderstanding...
Azuki: Then you should hurry up and explain it to her. Kaya said that you said you would explain after finishing your manga and you've finished already, right?
Takagi: Well, I don't really know how to put it. I don't want to make an excuse...If she trusts me, that shouldn't be necessary.

Azuki: That's enough. I'm calling Mashiro-kun.
Takagi: Oh, he's right here...
Azuki: Then put him on.

Takagi: She wants you. She sounds mad, so watch out.
Mashiro: Eh...? I haven't directly talked to her since I was in the hospital...Wait, she can hear us!

Mashiro: Hello.
Azuki: It's been a while.
Mashiro: ...Yes, it has.

Azuki: What happened? I'm sure you've heard from Takagi-kun.
Mashiro: U-umm... Takagi and Iwase met by chance, they didn't plan it or anything.
Takagi: That's right.
Azuki: Then why did she prepare a letter? That doesn't make any sense.
Mashiro: Eh? A letter!?
Azuki: Kaya said there was a letter in the book.
Mashiro: In the book!?

18

Takagi: Ah.

Mashiro: W-wait a second!

Mashiro: Should I tell her about Aoki-san?
Takagi: No...
Mashiro: Then I can't explain it...

Mashiro: Sorry, Takagi doesn't want me to tell you the details.

Azuki: Mashiro-kun.
Mashiro: Yes?
Azuki: I'm disappointed. Why are you keeping secrets?
Mashiro: ! ...No...

Azuki: I heard in the hospital that your uncle was Kawaguchi Tarou. I know that my mom used to be in love with him.
Mashiro: Eh?
Azuki: I'd heard that she liked "Jump" and that there was a person who she only spoke to through letters. And when I was little, the only show she would watch all the way through with me was the "Super Hero Legend" anime.

19

Azuki: You knew my mom and your uncle were in that relationship, but you didn't tell her.

Azuki: Why do you keep it a secret?

Mashiro: It's just not something you say...And this has nothing to do with the thing about Takagi...

Azuki: Is that so? I think the relationship between my mom and your uncle has an important meaning to us. And I think that we can't have any secrets so we can have a different ending to our story.
Mashiro: But...I wasn't really trying to hide it from you...

Azuki: Then tell me everything about yourself.
Mashiro: Um...but...

Azuki: I can't trust you, Mashiro-kun.
SFX: *click*
Mashiro: Eh?
Mashiro: Ehh?

Mashiro: A-Azuki might've broken up with me.
Takagi: Ehhhh!?
Text: A sudden crisis!!