Chapter 61: Nyanpasu on Fire
The trending list for the first week of February presented a peculiar spectacle: nine out of the top ten topics were related to Alex Walker.
"Nyanpasu" held the number one spot with a massive lead, followed by "Alex Walker's Split Personalities,"
"How Many Steps from Alchemy to Nyanpasu," and "Rural Healing is a Necessity." Only poor "Shonen World Newcomer Award" squeezed into sixth place, but clicking into it revealed nothing but mass ridicule.
At NextGen Manga Monthly Editorial Department, Lee looked at the backend data, his expression slightly dazed.
"Non Non Biyori debut three chapters, reader approval stabilized at 79.5%." Kevin Zhang pushed his glasses, his tone filled with a sense of unreality. "Relaxed slice-of-life genre, no main plot, no explosive points, just five little girls eating, sleeping, and catching fish in the countryside—and it hits 79.5%. Is this reasonable?"
Sue pulled up a more detailed analysis. "And reader feedback is incredibly consistent—'Cried watching it,' 'Want to go back to my hometown,' 'This is life.' The most ridiculous part is this—" she clicked open a reader survey. "Under the question 'Why do you like Non Non Biyori,' the number one answer is: 'Because FMA was too depressing, need healing.'"
Suppressed laughter rippled through the conference room.
"So," Lee summarized, "readers treat FMA and Non Non Biyori as a complementary set meal. Tortured by FMA on Monday, healed by Non Non Biyori on Sunday. A perfect closed loop."
"And The Thorn Bird Chapter 12 hit 80.3% too." Kevin added. "White Night officially enters the 80% club. The internet is saying this year is the 'Alex Walker Lineage' domination year."
Lee pondered for a moment. "Reprint another 300,000 copies. Also, increase promotion for FMA Chapter 30. Since readers like this 'complementary' effect, we give them the most extreme complement—Monday darkest, Sunday most healing."
Manga Weekly Editorial Department. Gavin Zhao looked at the 80.3% figure for The Thorn Bird Chapter 12 on the screen, unable to hide his smile.
"Chief," Klein reported excitedly, "three animation studios are in contact. Although they all say to discuss specifics after The Thorn Bird Part 1 ends, intentions are strong. The highest bidder says if Samantha can maintain this standard until the end, they are willing to give a prime time slot."
"No rush." Zhao waved his hand. "Part 1 still has ten chapters. Let her draw at her own pace. As for Non Non Biyori—" he paused, "the first revenue share has arrived. Alex took half, and we still netted over 20 million. Put all this money back into The Thorn Bird's promotion."
"All of it?"
"Yes." Zhao's eyes were sharp. "We need to push Samantha to a higher position before Shonen World's Newcomer Award results are announced. Make her the undisputed 'Number One of the New Generation'."
Klein nodded vigorously, then remembered something. "By the way, Samantha went to the ranch again this weekend. She said Alex is teaching her how to handle slice-of-life details, gaining a lot."
"Let her go." Zhao said. "Her master-apprentice relationship with Alex is our biggest signboard now. I'm going to the ranch next week too. Some things need to be discussed with Alex face-to-face."
_________________
Shonen World HQ. Atmosphere heavy as a memorial service.
The final results of the Newcomer Award were out. The Gold Award work selected by the six-magazine alliance—Stardust Traveler—had a debut approval rating of 61.3%. This figure might be passable usually, but compared to Non Non Biyori's 79.5% and The Thorn Bird's 80.3%, it looked like a joke.
Kane looked at the final report, silent for a long time. He spent 25 million in prize money, mobilized resources from six companies, and the newcomer they propped up couldn't even smell Samantha's exhaust fumes.
Worse was public opinion. Forum discussion heat for the Newcomer Award was a fraction of Non Non Biyori's. And comments were full of mockery:
"This is it? 61.3% dares to call itself Gold Award?"
"Kane spent 25 million to buy this?"
"Suggest renaming Newcomer Award to 'Consolation Award'."
"Honestly, with that 25 million, better beg Alex to open a training class."
The most glaring comment was: "Now there are only three paths to becoming a manga artist: 1. Become Alex Walker. 2. Become White Night. 3. Wait to die. Newcomer Award? What's that? Express train to path 3?"
Kane closed the page, leaned back, and closed his eyes.
He knew he lost. Not a temporary loss, but a loss of direction. While the opponent seriously cultivated creators and polished works, he thought about buying heat with capital. While the opponent explored creative diversity, he thought about copying successful formulas.
A knock on the door. Hiro pushed in, face terrifyingly calm.
"Chief," he said, "Chapter 7 data is out. 60.1%, dropped."
Kane didn't open his eyes.
"Yeah."
"I want to take a hiatus for three months."
Kane opened his eyes abruptly.
Hiro was calm, but his eyes held a sobering clarity after a metamorphosis. "I want to live in the countryside for three months. Not for research, but to live. I want to see what Alex's world looks like, understand why such simple daily life can move people."
"Three months is too long, the company won't agree."
"Then terminate the contract." Hiro said crisply. "I'll pay the penalty. These six months, I drew painfully. Not because of bad data, but because I know what I draw is fake. I want to draw real things, even if the data is only 30%."
Kane looked at him for a long time, then smiled bitterly.
"Go. No need to pay the penalty. Consider it Shonen World's last gift to you. But I have a condition—"
He paused. "If you really draw something different in three months, show us first. Let us see what real change looks like."
Hiro paused, then bowed deeply. "Thank you, Chief."
After he left, Kane reopened his computer, looking at Non Non Biyori Chapter 1's page. The warmth was blinding.
Saturday morning, thin mist on the ranch.
Alex checked the expectant cow in the barn. Position correct, should give birth in a day or two. He patted the cow's belly, whispering, "You got this."
Footsteps behind him. Samantha, carrying a drawing board, face red from cold. "Teacher! I'm here!"
"Yeah." Alex stood up. "Drawing Non Non Biyori Chapter 5 today?"
"Yes! I want to draw the five girls going to a summer festival! Fireworks, goldfish scooping, candy apples!" Samantha's eyes shone. "But I feel I can't draw the fireworks part well... too deliberate."
"Then don't draw it too beautifully." Alex walked out of the barn. "Real fireworks choke people, drop ash, someone gets burned. Draw that real imperfection."
"I understand!"
Back in the house, it was warm. Sarah brought hot tea and homemade rice cakes. Samantha ate while browsing reader feedback for Non Non Biyori Chapter 4, laughing.
"Teacher look at this!" She pointed at her phone screen. "Netizen says: 'My current life rhythm: Mon cry at FMA, Wed sob at Thorn Bird, Sun healed by Non Non Biyori, spare time watch Silver Spoon milking—perfect loop, saved money on psychiatrist!'"
Alex glanced, corners of mouth curving slightly.
"And this!" Samantha showed another. "'My grandma read Non Non Biyori and wants to go back to hometown, grandpa read Silver Spoon and wants to retire to farm, I read FMA and want to learn alchemy—our whole family led astray by Alex!'"
"That's good." Alex said.
To Be Continued