I just want to quietly draw manga Chapter 358(4in1)

Saturday, late afternoon

Haruki checked his phone. 5:28 PM. The car would arrive any minute.

He looked over his speech again. He had prepared something short and simple: thank everyone and sit down.

As his phone buzzed:

Haruka: Are you ready?
Haruki: I'm ready.
Haruka: Car should be there soon.

Haruki set his phone down. After a few minutes, his apartment doorbell buzzed. He grabbed his jacket and headed downstairs.

The ride to the destination was quiet. Hotel New Otani. Tokyo’s evening glow filtered through the tinted windows as they crossed into the hotel district. Office lights blinked across the skyline one by one, like stars appearing in reverse. Salarymen in dark suits walked toward train stations. Convenience store signs glowed warm against the cooling air.

Haruki watched it all pass, hands resting on his lap.

Seeing this, he thought, How different my life would be if I didn’t have the system. Watching people heading home after work… maybe I would be one of them.

His dream had always been to become a mangaka. He did try drawing manga before, back when he still believed that was enough. But would he have had the talent to publish anything? Would he ever have created something on the level the system gave him?

“Haruki, don’t overthink,” he told himself. Lately he had started questioning this more and more as the fame grew.

A voice cut through his thoughts. “Muzishiro-san, we’ve arrived.” The car pulled up to Hotel New Otani. From outside, the building radiated quiet luxury, tall glass doors and soft golden lighting spilling onto the pavement.

A staff member in a sharp suit stood near the entrance, holding a small placard with his name.

“Muzishiro-san. Welcome. Please follow me. The celebration is being held in the Sakura Banquet Hall.”

Haruki nodded and followed him through the hotel’s quiet, carpeted hallways. The walls were decorated with tasteful art, traditional ink paintings, modern photography. Soft classical music played from hidden speakers. The air smelled faintly of expensive cologne and fresh flowers.

Ahead, voices drifted through an open doorway: low conversations, the gentle clink of glassware, polite laughter.

The banquet hall doors opened.

Inside, the space was larger than Haruki expected. Round tables filled about half the room, each draped in white cloth with small centerpieces. Waiters in black vests moved between them with practiced efficiency, setting down drinks, adjusting silverware. The lighting was warm and subdued, designed to make everyone look slightly better than they actually did.

People clustered in small groups, most of them Haruki didn’t recognize. Some were already seated. Others stood near the bar area, nursing drinks and making small talk.

The staff member guided Haruki toward his assigned table.

Kenta, Noya, and Hayato were already there, sitting a bit too upright in their suits like they were attending a job interview they weren't sure they had been invited to.

Haruki pulled out a chair and sat down. "You three look uncomfortable."

Kenta immediately tugged at his collar. "We thought your table would be on the other side of the hall. Near the executives or something."

"Why would it be?"

"Because you're..." Kenta gestured vaguely at him. "You know. You."

Noya added, adjusting his tie, "We got here twenty minutes early and didn't know where to stand. This place is way too fancy. I kept thinking someone was going to kick us out."

Hayato, who had been quiet, nodded in agreement. "I've never been to a hotel like this. The bathroom has heated floors."

Haruki shook his head. "You're overthinking it. Just sit and eat when the food comes."

"Easy for you to say," Kenta muttered.

Before anyone could respond, someone else approached the table.

Kotone.

She had dressed simply, a dark blouse, neat slacks, minimal jewelry. Nothing flashy. She scanned the hall once, her gaze sweeping across the tables before spotting them and walking over.

"I thought they'd seat me somewhere random," she said, pulling out the chair next to Haruki. "Glad they put me here."

Haruki glanced at her. "They probably grouped us on purpose. You were my assistant. Makes sense."

“I was worried I’d get stuck at a table with strangers. I didn’t know anyone here.” Kotone set her small purse on the table and looked around. “This is nicer than I expected.”

Kenta leaned forward slightly, looking between Kotone and Haruki. "Wait, you're Kotone-san? The one doing Clannad?"

"That's me."

"Oh man." Kenta's face lit up. "My girlfriend loves that manga. She keeps asking me if I know you."

Noya smirked. "Kenta talks about his girlfriend constantly. It's annoying."

"It's not annoying," Kenta protested. "It's called being in a healthy relationship."

"It's annoying," Hayato said quietly.

The table laughed. Even Kotone's expression softened a little.

Before the conversation could continue, Haruka appeared, resting one hand lightly on the back of Haruki's chair. She was dressed sharply—blazer, minimal makeup—her usual no-nonsense demeanor radiating competence.

"You have your speech ready, right?"

Haruki nodded. "Yes. Short and simple."

"Good. Don't overthink it. Just say a few words, thank some people, and sit back down," she said.

She straightened and walked off to greet others.

Kenta smirked. “Are you ready, Haruki?”

Haruki, seeing his smile, said in an annoyed tone, “If you keep this up, I might tell some embarrassing story.”

Kenta stiffened immediately. “Haruki, I’m joking. Don’t take it seriously.”

Noya half-smiled. “Haruki, you should do it. But which story? There are so many accidents.”

Kenta and Noya began bickering, Hayato watching them like it was routine.

Kotone leaned slightly toward Haruki. “You’ve got quite the team of assistants.”

Haruki said, “They make the daily drawing more lively. That’s why I keep telling you that you need assistants. You’re drawing alone in your apartment. You’ll burn out faster.”

Kotone said, "Look who is giving me advice—the one who works all day."

Haruki said, “If you don’t want assistants, you can come over to my place to draw sometimes. Some liveliness might help, and I’ve been staying home more anyway. I’ve started drawing more.”

Kotone said, “I’ll think about it.”

As the hall began to fill, more guests arrived, finding their tables and greeting colleagues. The murmur of conversation grew gradually. Waiters started bringing out some starters, and background music played softly to set the atmosphere. Haruka returned to Haruki’s table and took her seat.

The lights dimmed slightly. A hush spread through the room as someone stepped onto the small stage at the front of the hall.

A man in his late forties, maybe early fifties.

Haruka leaned over and whispered, "That's President Shirakawa Reijirō. He's been running Echo Shroud for almost twenty years."

President Shirakawa adjusted the microphone, the soft feedback barely audible.

"Thank you all for coming tonight." His voice was calm and measured, the kind of voice that commanded attention without trying. "We're here to celebrate Echo Shroud reaching the number three position among publishing houses in Japan."

A wave of quiet applause rippled through the hall.

"This achievement," Shirakawa continued, "belongs to every person in this room. Your work. Your dedication. Your consistency. Some of you have been with us for years. Others joined recently. But everyone here contributed to this milestone. I hope we continue growing together in the years ahead."

More applause. Haruki clapped along, keeping his expression neutral.

Shirakawa waited for the noise to settle before continuing.

"Of course, one of our greatest contributors this year has been Muzishiro-sensei." He gestured vaguely in Haruki's direction. "His work has played a major role in bringing us to this point. Natsume. Initial D. Fullmetal Alchemist. JoJo. Each of these has significantly impacted our sales and reputation. Let's give him a warm round of applause."

The clapping grew louder. Heads turned toward Haruki's table. He nodded politely, unsure where exactly to look, and settled for staring at a spot somewhere near the stage.

Kenta muttered under his breath, "You look so awkward right now."

"Shut up," Haruki whispered back.

President Shirakawa smiled faintly. "Now, I'd like to invite our Editor-in-Chief, Amane-san, to say a few words."

Amane stepped onto the stage, bowing briefly to the audience.

"Thank you, President Shirakawa." Amane's voice was sharper, more direct. "Reaching number three is a milestone, but it's only that—a milestone. We're not stopping here. Our goal is to keep climbing and become the number one publishing house in Japan."

She paused, scanning the room.

"I want to thank everyone for their effort. For trusting our direction. For believing in the vision we're building together."

Her gaze shifted toward Haruki's table.

"And I'd like to personally acknowledge Muzishiro-san. His work has pushed us forward in such a short time. He's raised the standard for what our readers expect. And he's shown us what's possible when talent meets dedication."

Haruki nodded respectfully, feeling the weight of everyone's eyes on him.

Amane gestured toward him. "With that, I'd like to invite Muzishiro-san to say a few words."

Shit.

Haruki stood slowly, his chair scraping softly against the floor. Kenta sat up straighter. Noya held his breath. Kotone gave him a small, encouraging nod.

He walked toward the stage.

Amane handed him the microphone and stepped aside.

Haruki looked out at the audience. He exhaled slowly.

"Thank you for inviting me tonight." His voice was steady, but quieter than Shirakawa's or Amane's. "Echo Shroud has supported me since the day I moved to Tokyo. I didn't know how the industry worked. This company has taught me many things about the company."

He glanced briefly at Haruka.

"I'd like to thank my editor, Haruka-san. When I came to Tokyo, I didn't understand the industry at all. She guided me through every step, from my first manga to the anime-related work I do today. I've relied on her more times than I can count."

Haruka's expression didn't change, but there was a faint warmth in her eyes.

Haruki looked toward his assistants.

"And Kenta, Noya, Hayato—I say this all the time, but I can't do half my work without them. They work as hard as I do, sometimes harder. They've drawn entire chapters based on my outlines. They've stayed late when deadlines were tight. They deserve as much credit as I do."

A small wave of laughter and applause passed through the tables.

Haruki continued, his voice steadying.

"I'm grateful to everyone here. To the company for believing in me. To the staff for supporting me. To everyone who contributed to this milestone. Let's keep doing our best."

He bowed slightly and stepped away from the microphone.

Warm applause followed him back to his seat.

Haruki sat down and exhaled quietly, the tension in his shoulders easing.

Amane returned to the mic. "Thank you, Muzishiro-san. Now, let the celebration begin."

Waiters began moving immediately, pushing carts loaded with covered dishes. Conversations resumed. The formal atmosphere loosened.

Kenta picked up his chopsticks, grinning. "That wasn't bad."

Haruki stared at him. "I can deliver a good speech. I just don't like this type of setting."

Kotone added quietly, "It was a good speech. Simple and honest. Very you."

Haruki nodded once, not sure how to respond, and started eating.

The first course arrived, something light, beautifully plated. Haruki wasn't sure what half of it was, but it tasted good. The assistants seemed equally uncertain, poking at their food cautiously.

Kotone ate more naturally, clearly more comfortable in this kind of setting than the rest of them.

The conversation at the table gradually loosened. Kenta formally introduced himself to Kotone, then Hayato, then Noya. They had heard of her, but this was their first time meeting in person.

Noya grinned. "Kotone-san, serious question. Are you planning to follow Haruki's style?"

Kotone raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"

"Making readers cry," Noya clarified. "Because if you are, I need to warn my friends now. His fans are always in emotional crisis."

Kotone gave a dry smile. "I'm aware of his reputation."

Kenta groaned. "Please don't do anything tragic to Clannad. My girlfriend loves that manga. She knows I work with Haruki. If something sad happens to her favorite characters, she'll blame me by association."

"That sounds like a personal problem," Noya said.

"It really isn't."

The table laughed. Even Haruki cracked a faint smile.

Kotone turned to him. "You've been busier since Code Geass finished. You said you would be free until second season production starts."

Haruki set his chopsticks down, thinking. "I'm working on my first anime. Still in pre-production."

Noya leaned forward, eyes widening. "Already? Code Geass had insane production value. Wes mentioned in an interview that season two will be even more ambitious. With your anime and Code Geass season two, do you even have enough staff for all of that?"

Haruki said, “We’re only in pre-production right now—just testing things out. Once we finish Code Geass, we’ll start the real work.”

Kotone said, "But why the rush? You can take your time. You will burn out if you keep that pace."

Haruki didn't respond immediately. He knew she was right. Everyone kept telling him the same thing.

Kenta, sensing the mood shift, tried to lighten it. "Okay, serious question. Can you at least tell us what the anime's about?"

Haruki looked at him flatly. "No."

"Why not?"

"For your own good."

Kenta blinked. "What?"

"It doesn't release until next summer," Haruki explained. "If I tell you the story now, you'll spend a year and a half obsessing over it. You can't wait for the second season of Code Geass, which releases in six months. You'll drive yourself crazy. Trust me, it's better if you wait."

Kenta pushed his plate away slightly. "Fine. Don't tell me."

Laughter rippled around the table.

The conversation drifted naturally after that—some story about their workplace, Kotone telling them about the US comic industry, how it's different from Japan, some fun facts.

Time passed easily.

After about an hour, Haruka approached their table. She had gone after Haruki's speech.

"Haruki, come with me. I'll introduce you to the president and some of the shareholders."

Haruki stood, wiping his hands on his napkin. Kotone glanced at him briefly, just a flicker of eye contact, before looking away.

He followed Haruka across the hall. Near one of the side areas, a small group of executives stood together, drinks in hand, engaged in low conversation.

President Shirakawa turned as they approached, extending his hand with a warm smile.

"Muzishiro-san. It's a pleasure to finally meet you face-to-face. I've heard a great deal from Editor Amane."

Haruki shook his hand. "The pleasure's mine, President Shirakawa. Thank you for the opportunity to speak tonight."

"Your speech was excellent."

Haruka gestured to the next person, a man in his early forties with calm, measured posture and expensive glasses.

"This is Board Director Ishizue Naoyuki. He is the son of Echo Shroud’s founder and currently serves on the board of directors."

Ishizue gave a polite nod. "Muzishiro-san, thank you for your work. My father built this company hoping we could become the number one publishing house in Japan. Your series have helped strengthen that foundation."

Haruki returned a small nod.

Another shareholder stepped forward, an older man, maybe in his late fifties, with sharp eyes. "Muzishiro-san."

"Yes?"

The man's tone was measured, professional. "I have recently watched Code Geass, and I have to say, in this modern time, you are writing one of the most unique stories. And I hear this is an original story you have written."

Haruki said, "Yes."

"So, seeing the success of Code Geass, have you planned to make it into a manga? It would help with funding for your next anime. I heard you fund it yourself."

Haruki said, "I will think about it."

Another shareholder, a woman in her forties, stepped forward. Her tone was polite but slightly amused.

"Haruki-san, can you tell us a hint about Code Geass season two? My son is a big fan."

Another shareholder beside her raised an eyebrow.

"Are you sure you're asking for your son, or are you asking for yourself?"

She gave him a look. "Please. You're the one who wants spoilers. I'm just saying it out loud because you're too scared to ask."

Their small circle laughed. Haruki gave an awkward smile, not sure where to look.

They continued asking harmless questions, nothing too deep. Mostly about his writing process, the anime production schedule, and Echo Shroud’s recent growth. Haruki answered each one politely, keeping his responses short.

After a few minutes, President Shirakawa stepped slightly forward.

"Thank you all for your time. We should let Muzishiro-san enjoy the rest of the evening."

The group nodded. Before Haruki could step back, Ishizue, the board director, held out a small business card.

"If you ever face any difficulty here at Echo Shroud, feel free to contact me directly."

Haruki accepted the card with both hands and bowed. "Thank you. I appreciate it."

They exchanged polite bows, and Haruka guided him back toward the tables.

Haruki sat down, feeling a quiet sense of relief.

Kenta leaned over immediately. "How was it?"

"Fine," Haruki said quietly. "Normal business talk."

The dinner began winding down naturally. Plates were cleared. Conversations shifted from work topics to lighter things—weekend plans, recent movies, random observations about the hotel. People started standing, gathering bags, thanking colleagues before heading out.

The hall, which had felt crowded and energetic an hour ago, now felt quieter. Kenta, Noya, and Hayato had also left.

Kotone was checking her phone. Haruki watched her for a moment before speaking.

"How's Clannad going? Didn't get a chance to ask earlier."

She looked up, setting her phone down. "It's going well. Ranked seventh right now. The first volume releases next month, and my first signing event got confirmed."

"That's good," Haruki said. "The ranking will probably climb once the volume drops. People tend to buy in waves."

Kotone smiled faintly. "Your fanbase helped a little. Anything related to you, people search online, and seeing I was your assistant, I gained a few thousand followers."

"Is that good for you?"

She thought for a moment. "Maybe both. The attention's nice, but it comes with expectations. People compare my work to yours. They expect the same level as you, which does put pressure. But the response that comes with it also feels good."

Haruki said, "Your stories are better. People connect to stories that feel personal, and you write those naturally. There is nothing to feel pressured about. It's just that I draw multiple manga, which makes it feel like I'm way beyond normal mangaka compared to authors who draw one manga at a time."

Kotone blinked, surprised he said it so directly. "Thank you. It helps hearing that from you."

There was a quiet moment between them.

"You've helped me since the beginning," Kotone added softly, her voice quieter now. "More than you probably realize."

"What I have helped with, I didn't think I helped you."

"You did. When I started as your assistant, it helped me find my direction again after my serialization failed, and after assistant work that was just profit-chasing with Rurouni Kenshin. You reminded me what I was striving for. And for Clannad, you helped me too."

Haruki didn't know how to respond to that, so he didn't. But his expression softened slightly.

Haruki, breaking the moment, said, "We should go. They're starting to clear the hall."

Kotone stood, adjusting her bag. Haruki rose as well, pushing his chair back in.

They walked together toward the exit, falling into step naturally, walking side by side.

The hallway outside the banquet hall was cooler, quieter. The soft classical music from earlier had stopped. Only the faint hum of the hotel's ventilation and distant voices from other events filled the space.

"You'll be busy again tomorrow," Kotone said quietly.

"Probably."

"If you need help with anything, let me know. I can return the favor."

Haruki glanced at her. "I know. Thanks."

They continued toward the entrance. The space between them wasn’t wide, but it wasn’t close enough to draw attention either. Just a comfortable distance.

When they reached the lobby, Kotone paused near the entrance.

Sitting in her car, she said, "See you around, Haruki."

"Yeah. See you."

He stood there as Kotone’s car left.

A staff member approached. "Muzishiro-san, your car's waiting."

"Right."

As the car pulled away from the hotel, Haruki looked out the window. Tokyo blurred past, lights, crowds, the endless motion of the city at night.