"There's one more thing."
After finishing the talk about the anime, Hiroshi Oumi spoke up again.
"Eh?"
Aoyama looked at him with a strange expression. "You're starting to sound like Uncle from Jackie Chan Adventures... 'One more thing... one more thing...'"
"What? Jackie who? Uncle what?" Hiroshi Oumi asked, genuinely confused.
"Nothing. Never mind," Aoyama said, catching himself. He'd almost reached for the back of his head to scratch it, then remembered Akane's constant nagging about his messy hair and opted to scratch his neck instead. "So, Chief, how many 'one more things' do you have left?"
"Seriously, this is the last one," Hiroshi Oumi said, his face turning professional.
"What are your plans after 'Edgerunners' finishes? Surely you're planning another series? Do you have a concept?"
Aoyama's face split into a wide, bright grin. "Oh, that. I've had the next one ready for a long time. It's called..."
"Chainsaw Man."
"Chainsaw Man?"
Hiroshi Oumi blinked. "What's the elevator pitch?"
"The story takes place in a world similar to our own, but plagued by monsters known as 'Devils.' Devils are born from human fears, including everything from animals and plants to abstract concepts. The more feared the concept, the more powerful the Devil."
"Devils sustain themselves on human blood. When a Devil takes over a human corpse, they become a 'Fiend.' Most Fiends are mindless monsters, but a rare few retain their human reason."
"Then you have 'Devil Hunters', people who make contracts with Devils to gain the power to hunt them down.
Aoyama was basically reciting the wiki page from memory.
Hiroshi Oumi frowned slightly. "So... a dark fantasy setting?"
He'd been hoping for more Cyberpunk. It was a safe bet, a proven winner. Changing genres so drastically was a risk.
But then he looked at Aoyama. If the boy could revolutionize the sci-fi genre out of nowhere, who was to say he couldn't do the same for fantasy?
"Do you have a draft?"
"I've got about thirteen chapters roughed out," Aoyama said. "I'll hand them over to Ayumi soon."
"Ayumi..."
Hiroshi Oumi's frown deepened.
He'd originally assigned Ayumi, a rookie editor, to Aoyama because he was a rookie artist. It was supposed to be a learning experience for both of them.
But Aoyama wasn't a rookie anymore. He was a supernova. He was the most important talent in the magazine's stable.
Traditionally, a superstar artist deserved a superstar editor.
An editor's job wasn't just collecting pages and handing out checks. They were partners. They checked the author's impulses, helped manage the pacing, and fought for promotional resources. They were the brakes on a ferrari.
If an author wanted to do something stupid, like kill off a popular character for no reason, or suddenly turn a battle manga into a romance, it was the editor's job to talk them off the ledge.
And right now, it seemed Ayumi wasn't doing any of that. She was essentially just a delivery girl.
"Aoyama-sensei, given your current status and the scope of your next project, we think it's time to pair you with a veteran editor. Someone with the experience to help you reach the next level."
Aoyama's smile vanished. For the first time, there was a sharpness in his gaze.
"Why?"
"It's for your own benefit, Sensei! A senior editor can help you with storyboards, refine your characters, and ensure your workflow is optimized. It's about efficiency."
Aoyama shook his head. "I don't need all that. I like working with Ayumi."
He'd grown comfortable with her. She was a friend.
But more importantly... he didn't want an editor who would "refine" his stories.
The stories he was "drawing" were already masterpieces. They were already finished. He didn't need a partner to change the pacing or question his character choices. He needed someone who would trust him and get out of the way.
Ayumi never questioned his vision. When he told her Pilar had to die, she'd been shocked, but she'd let him do it. A veteran editor would have fought him for three days to save the "comic relief" character.
Ayumi's lack of "experience" was her greatest asset to him.
"I'm keeping Ayumi. I'll give my drafts to her, and I'll continue to work with her for the next series. That's my final word."
Aoyama said it casually, but the finality in his voice was undeniable.
Hiroshi Oumi looked at him for a long moment, then sighed. "Very well, Sensei. If that is what you wish, Ayumi will remain your lead editor."
"Great! Thanks, Chief!" Aoyama said, his sunny disposition returning instantly.
[Translated and Rewritten by Shika_Kagura]