Anime rating game

"That's right, when I saw this week's JUMP cover in the store just now, I thought I was seeing things."

"This is the first time I bought JUMP because of its art style, but to be honest, the art is really good, like a work of art."

"Not only is the art style great, but the story is also excellent. Although the protagonist, Rin Tohsaka, is a girl and leans towards a girly style, the concept of Heroic Spirits is surprisingly appealing."

On her way home from get off work, Ayano Iida overheard several underage boys chatting nearby, and she looked on with curiosity.

At the same time, I couldn't help but think of a girl who was abroad.

A few months ago, a female high school student from abroad suddenly submitted a comic to the editorial department via email.

Her drawing skills are excellent; the characters and backgrounds are pleasing to the eye. However, her storytelling ability is surprisingly bad.

In order to keep her around, and also because she recognized her drawing skills, Ayano Iida specially exchanged contact information with her and would occasionally discuss the manga plot with her via email.

Even so, the girl was really bad at storytelling, and no matter how many times she revised it, she made no progress.

After three attempts, Ayano Iida relaxed a bit and decided to treat this as a long-term project.

But to his surprise, after his third failed submission, the girl never contacted him again.

It seems they've given up on comics.

Ayano Iida didn't actually care too much about this.

Perhaps, the girl has a better future outside of comics.

Perhaps it was just a passing fad.

There are many promising newcomers, and since they didn't persevere, there's no way to force them.

Thinking about this, Ayano Iida couldn't help but walk into the bookstore.

"Boss, do you still have any JUMP magazines that were just released today?"

"Are you here for Professor Zong Bai too? There are only two books left."

Zong Bai?

"Give me one."

"Give."

After paying, Ayano Iida started browsing the items right there in front of the shop.

The next moment, her eyes widened involuntarily, and her mouth opened slightly.

Not only the cover, but the flawless art style of this newly serialized comic is undoubtedly the style of that girl.

The visuals and storyboards have improved significantly compared to previous works, but the overall style remains unchanged; the elegant and ethereal qualities have not been altered in the slightest.

And the story...

Ayano Iida quickly flipped through it, seemingly lost in thought.

This is definitely not a story she could have come up with; the interesting premise of the Heroic Spirit War alone is enough to attract a large number of readers.

Furthermore, judging from Zong Baixingmeng's pen name, she must have collaborated with someone else, specifically responsible for the "painting" part.

The person she collaborated with should have the character "宗" in their name.

"Such an easy-to-understand pen name, is it a shared dream of Zong and Bai?"

"I've tried to persuade her so many times before, but she was unwilling to give up creating her own stories. Why is she suddenly collaborating with someone now?"

"And it's even JUMP."

"This type of comic would be perfectly fine even if it were published in our magazine."

At that moment, Ayano Iida suddenly felt a sense of frustration, like a little cabbage she had nurtured for a long time being picked away.

"Damn it, I was here first. JUMP just has higher sales, so what?"

……

In another town near Tokyo, Masamune and Mashiro strolled through the streets together.

"After eating, you should go for a walk like this. It's not only to exercise and digest the food, but also to regulate your mood."

"Masamune, I want to ask you a question,"

"What? Go ahead and tell me, I'm listening."

Mashiro suddenly stopped on the street and turned to look quietly into Masamune's eyes.

“I used to know an editor named Ayano who often guided me in drawing comics.”

"Hmm... I think I understand what you're trying to say. But there's nothing to feel guilty about. After all, you didn't make any prior agreement that you had to submit your work to her."

"So this feeling is guilt?" Mashiro's voice became somewhat ethereal, and her gaze drifted towards the distant sky.

"Don't overthink it. I know Ayano Iida, the one you mentioned. The magazine she works for mainly focuses on romance manga, which doesn't fit the Holy Grail War theme. Even if you submitted your work there, nobody would read it; it would just be a waste of a good story."

After speaking, seeing that she still seemed distracted, Masamune thought for a moment and then said again:

"If you feel bad about it, why don't you call her as a friend and tell her the good news? I'll be there for you too."

"You speak for me."

“Some things you have to say yourself, otherwise you’ll never get over it. Don’t worry, I’ll be there for you on the phone. If she gets angry and yells at you, I’ll yell back for you.”

"Ah."

Mashiro responded softly, took out her phone, and dialed Ayano Iida's number.

"Mashiro?"

"I'm sorry, Ayano, there's something I want to tell you."

"Well, tell me."

"The manga I created with Masamune, 'The Night of Fate,' began serialization in JUMP today."

Hearing the girl's calm and clear voice, Ayano Iida suddenly realized that she wasn't angry, but just disappointed.

The girl made a change and took the first step forward, but it had nothing to do with her.

"I see. It's a pity we can't continue our collaboration, but keep up the good work! The competition at JUMP is fierce, and it could be canceled at any time."

"Yeah, Ayano, you should do your best too."

"Isn't that obvious? I'm a senior editor with countless cartoonists under my supervision."

"Ah."

“I just read your comic. The premise is very interesting, and there should be a lot of fight scenes later on. This is your weakness, and you need to find a way to make up for it.”

"With Masamune helping me, there's no problem."

“My publication is monthly, so I have plenty of time, but JUMP is a weekly magazine, and you have to submit one chapter every week. You're probably still in school, right? Do you have enough time?”

"With Masamune as my assistant, plus the flexibility of university attendance, I have plenty of time."

"University? I remember you just started high school this year, right?"

"Masamune helped explain the situation, and the university made an exception and admitted him."

"What university?"

"Tokyo University of the Arts."

"Why……!?"

Ayano Iida looked surprised; that was Tokyo University of the Arts.

Even those outside the art world often hear the name of this university.

Without a doubt, this is the best art university in the country, bar none.

If she had entered through the senior year of high school, there wouldn't have been a problem. But to skip a grade and transfer in from the first year—just who is this Masamune-kun? How could he be so incredibly powerful?

No wonder she keeps mentioning Masamune; she must trust him a lot, right?

I wonder what Masamune looks like? Is he some middle-aged man in his fifties or sixties?

Chapter 52 Rin Tohsaka wasn't actually that angry

Fuyuki City, within the private Homurahara Academy.

On Tuesday morning, Rin Tohsaka was annoyed to find many of her male classmates pointing and whispering about her. However, her good upbringing reminded her to be elegant and never lose her temper in public.

'Damn it, these idiots! Can't they just say it to my face? Or is there something on my face?'

'Although I woke up a little late this morning, I had Sakura fix my hair before I left, so it should be fine.'

'I've got it! Let me give Mitsuzuri a subtle hint.'

The next moment, noticing Rin Tohsaka's troubled expression, Ayako Mitsuzuri slammed her hand on the table and stood up, walking angrily toward the bottom right corner of the classroom.

"You lot! Can't you say what you want to say to each other's faces?"

The boys who were whispering to each other looked at each other, and then started shouting loudly.

"Fine, let's say it face to face then! Who's afraid of who? Tohsaka-san, I'd like to interview you. As the protagonist of a manga, do you really know magic?"

"They call it magic in the manga! Anyway, it's all the same thing. Tohsaka-san is the female lead, the manga artist must be someone you know, right?"

"I also want to be drawn into a manga, Tohsaka-san. Can you talk to your relative about it?"

"By the way, the male classmate who was shot dead at the end of the first episode, although he didn't have a face, somehow felt a bit like Emiya from the next class."

"That's right, Emiya is so unlucky, he got killed right at the beginning. Tohsaka is better off, he can show off his skills as the protagonist."

Comics? What the heck?

Ayako Mitsuki snatched the JUMP magazine from the table, quickly flipped through it, and exclaimed in surprise.

"Tohsaka! You've been drawn into a manga! That tone and expression are exactly like yours."

"What's wrong, Mizuki?"

Rin Tohsaka feigned curiosity and leaned closer, but after just one glance, she couldn't look away.

The twin-tailed girl in the magazine had an unusually familiar demeanor, mannerisms, and tone of voice; she was undoubtedly my own two-dimensional self.

People who draw comics are extremely familiar with themselves and everything around them.