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May
The animation, manga, and light novel markets were as scorching as the rising temperatures.
The second volu of the Sword Art Online tankobon was released at the end of April. True to expectations, its first-week sales shattered the five-million-copy mark, once again setting a new record for opening-week performance in the market for the current year.
Simultaneously, the Initial D tankobon reached its fourth volu. Its first-week sales also broke through the five-million milestone. If one were to temporarily set aside the newly released fourth volu, since sales figures generally take a month or two to stabilize, and focus only on the first three volus, the series had officially surpassed an average of twenty million copies per volu.
It had only been a week since Haruto revealed that he and the Warrior of Love were one and the sa. Consequently, the two fanbases began to rge and convert. Both Sword Art Online and Initial D experienced a massive secondary surge in sales as curious fans from the animation side crossed over to explore the original source materials.
Whether it is a novel, a manga, or even an ani, popularity requires ti to accumulate and fernt. Even if Haruto had brought Dragon Ball or One Piece into this world, he could not expect them to achieve global cultural dominance in a re six months. The expansion of a franchise’s influence is a process that demands ti to breathe. Under normal circumstances, even with top-tier quality, it would take a year of consistent serialization for Sword Art Online or Initial D to reach these astronomical sales figures. However, Haruto’s unprecedented success across three different sectors had created a unique situation.
Capitalizing on this montum, Kiyozawa Library and Pri Manga began planning a massive cross-dia collaboration.
Not only did they prepare a joint rchandise event featuring Initial D and Sword Art Online, but they also entered negotiations with Haruto himself to bring Puella Magi Madoka Magica into the fold.
The plan was to release a series of high-end collectibles featuring Haruto’s three works, including new illustrations for Madoka, a setting guidebook, and non-canonical What If short stories for Sword Art Online that featured elents and caos from Initial D and Madoka Magica. It was reminiscent of the legendary crossovers between One Piece and Dragon Ball in the parallel world.
When the news broke in early May, Haruto’s legions of fans were ecstatic. Usually, when a creator launches a collaborative event like this, industry critics sneer, claiming the author has run out of money and is peddling lazy sketches and recycled plotlines just to squeeze the fanbase.
But for Initial D, Sword Art Online, and Madoka Magica... the fans were practically begging Haruto to take their money. Especially with Madoka. Even if Haruto rely posted a new promotional poster on his creator account, it would rack up millions of views and likes within forty-eight hours.
So fans even flooded his comnt sections, pleading for a second theatrical film, insisting they did not care if it was a cash grab, they were more than willing to be scamd if it ant more content. It was in this feverish atmosphere that the fans of his ani, manga, and novels eagerly opened the latest Chapter of Initial D in Weekly Pri.
It was early morning when Haruma woke up. He prepared a gourt breakfast, brewed a cup of coffee, played video gas for two hours, and then took a leisurely one-hour stroll through a nearby park. By the ti he finished lunch, he was ready. He walked toward the local bookstore.
If you asked why he was not at work, the answer was simple: his family was incredibly wealthy, and he did not need to be.
Despite being only twenty-five, he had already embraced the lifestyle of a retired man. He slept early, woke late, kept a strict three-al schedule, and spent most of his ti imrsed in the sea of ACG culture. His primary hobby was purchasing manga and novel magazines and his secondary passion was collecting high-end figurines.
As an otaku, he had naturally beco a hardcore follower of Haruto. In fact, he was a well-known leader of a Shiori Takahashi fan club in the Tokyo.
In the previous month’s Chapters of Initial D, the showdown between the protagonist Takumi Fujiwara and the series’ most popular antagonist, Ryosukei, had reached its conclusion. Ryosuke, in an attempt to perfectly replicate Takumi’s racing line on Mt. Akina to apply psychological pressure, had overtaxed his tires and ultimately suffered defeat.
Following Takumi’s victory over Ryosuke, the manga had entered two weeks of transitional narrative. After the dust settled, a new threat erged: the Emperor Team from an outside prefecture, led by the formidable Kyoichi Sudo. The Emperor Team’s goal was to conquer every local team in the region, including Ryosuke’s RedSuns. Naturally, this path led directly to the AE86 of Mt. Akina.
The introduction of a new rival was par for the course in a racing manga. One enemy falls, another rises. However, in last week’s Chapter, a seemingly minor character from the early days of the series, Natsuki’s cute classmate, Shiraishi, had been seen slipping a note into Takumi’s desk.
The note told Takumi that if he went to a specific location at a specific ti, he would witness the secret Natsuki had been hiding from him. The previous Chapter had ended right there, on that cliffhanger.
To be honest, Haruma felt mostly immune to this kind of drama.
"Natsuki betraying Takumi? Please," he muttered to himself, clutching the latest issue of Weekly Pri as he left the shop.
"It is just Takahashi-sensei manufacturing a bit of suspense. They will have a misunderstanding, they will argue, then they will make up, and their bond will be stronger for it. It is a classic trope."
Once ho, he found his favorite spot by the window and flipped to the latest Chapter of Initial D.
The new Chapter began with Kyoichi Sudo, the Emperor Team leader, arriving at Mt. Akina to challenge Takumi. However, after defeating Ryosuke, Takumi felt he had hit a ceiling on his ho turf. He decided to follow Ryosuke’s example and start racing on other mountain passes, vowing never to race on Mt. Akina again.
Sensing an opportunity, Kyoichi proposed a race for the following evening at the RedSuns’ ho turf, Mt. Akagi. From the look on Takumi’s face, Haruma could sense the protagonist’s internal excitent.
On one hand, Takumi had the anonymous note claiming his girlfriend was cheating on him the next day. On the other hand, he had a challenge against the Emperor Team on that sa night. The timing of it all struck Haruma as a bit forced.
’What is the play here?’ he wondered.
’Is he setting up so irritating drama just to ss with Takumi’s ntal state before the big race?’
Perhaps Takumi would not trust Natsuki, and she would realize it, leading to a massive heartbreak that would affect his performance behind the wheel. It made sense from a narrative standpoint. Takumi was so strong now that even the Final Boss Ryosuke had lost to him. If Kyoichi, who had been crushed by Ryosuke two years ago, was going up against Takumi, the fight would be a slaughter unless Takumi was distracted. Adding a personal crisis would create tension and make the eventual victory feel earned.
’Perfect,’ Haruma thought, convinced he had figured out Haruto’s intent. He continued reading.
Driven by a mix of stubbornness and a lingering sense of unease, Takumi decided to investigate. He trusted Natsuki, but the accusation rankled him. He felt foolish for even entertaining the thought, yet he found himself driving to the location ntioned in the note, parking a short distance away to wait.
"Wait, what is going to be there? Takumi, stop! Do not doubt her!" Haruma muttered, feeling a slight sense of frustration. "She is such a cute girl; how can you let a scrap of paper get to you?"
He believed that true love ant unconditional trust. Takumi’s inability to ignore his curiosity felt a bit uncool for a protagonist. Then, the perspective shifted.
The manga showed Natsuki standing face-to-face with a man.
"So, you’ve made up your mind? You won’t reconsider? Even if we talk about the money..." the man said, lighting a cigarette.
"Yes. Because... I finally found soone I love. I cannot be with Papa anymore." Natsuki looked lancholic, but her rejection was firm.
Haruma froze.
’Wait. In a normal father-daughter conversation, do people talk like that? The father says he won’t reconsider? Reconsider what? And why does he keep bringing up money?’
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