A few days later, the fifth chapter of Natsume's Book of Friends was released.
Title: Shigure and the Girl
By now, readers of Shroud Line had grown accustomed to the manga's gentle rhythm. Each chapter usually told a complete story—or occasionally two short ones—centered around Natsume returning a youkai's name and exploring the memories left behind by these spirits, often tied to his grandmother, Reiko.
This week's story shifted focus to Jun Sasada, the class representative. She suggested holding a courage test in an abandoned building—but her true motive was different.
Jun had long suspected that Natsume could see youkai.
The courage test was just an excuse. What she really wanted was help finding a spirit she'd once encountered in that same building—a kind soul that had helped her recover a protective charm she lost as a child. She never forgot it. Now, she wanted the chance to thank it properly.
Natsume's Book of Friends didn't rely on dramatic twists or cliffhangers. Its strength came from its quiet sincerity, the way it eased readers into a slow story—then caught them off guard with a fleeting but deeply emotional moment.
For readers who connected with it, the manga offered a gentle kind of comfort. They found peace in Natsume's kindness and in the way the youkai stories lingered, like echoes of forgotten feelings.
To others, though, it felt almost too quiet—like plain water. Still, there was something too honest about it to dismiss entirely.
Yet regardless of opinion, its popularity kept climbing.
In the latest popularity rankings, Natsume's Book of Friends had broken into the top eight of Shroud Line.
The result left some rival manga artists—particularly those with more flashy or battle-heavy works—visibly frustrated. A few even started grumbling behind closed doors, mostly from the Kansai side of the industry. They were itching to take a jab at this "slow, sentimental ghost manga." But before they could, they'd have to match its ranking first.
By now, Natsume's Book of Friends had made its quiet statement: it wasn't a trend or a fluke. The third and fourth chapters had defined its style; the fifth proved it had staying power.
This chapter was even more subdued than the ones before it—no sharp highs or lows, just a steady emotional undercurrent. But it still managed to climb another rank.
Popularity, though, always came with scrutiny.
Some readers began to question whether the manga had enough plot to keep going. Others wondered if it could maintain this soft tone long-term. But at the same time, early critics were changing their tune.
"A manga about quiet boys and the spirits they share names with. If you've ever felt worn out or unseen, this story might speak to you." — Tokyo Manga Commentary
"A standout for best new series of the year. Do not overlook Natsume's Book of Friends." — Kiki Manga Review Circle
"A rare, heartfelt work. If everyday life weighs you down, this story might just make you smile—or cry." — NetCulture Weekly
Haruki set his phone down.
The reviews and rankings were clear—Natsume's Book of Friends was doing well.
Shroud Line was one of the top manga magazines under Echo Shroud Publishing in Tokyo.
So he never expected Natsume to dominate the rankings outright.
He didn't need it to.
His goal was strategic: if the manga cracked the top rankings even once before its serialization ended, the system would reward him. And if the anime adaptation—scheduled for February—succeeded, there might be another reward.
Haruki was confident in both.
Just then, Kenta walked in, holding a set of finished pages.
"Haruki, I cleaned up the backgrounds for Chapter 8. If it looks good, we'll send it over to Editor Sato."
Haruki nodded. "Chapter 8 already? That means it'll reach Haruka by next week."
"We're… kind of ahead of schedule, huh."
Kenta glanced at Naoya. The two shared a silent look.
"Ahead" was putting it lightly.
Haruki's drawing speed was ridiculous. He handled most of the core art himself, while Kenta and Naoya focused on background work. Their workflow was smooth, and Haruki rarely needed corrections.
Truthfully, they were coasting.
They'd finished two chapters in barely over a week—and they hadn't even broken a sweat. Most days were a laid-back cycle of drawing, breaks, games, and TV.
But then Haruki gave them a curious look.
"I was just thinking," he said. "With how things are going… do you think we could handle two manga series at once?"
That made both assistants blink.
Two series?
The idea sounded absurd. But the more they thought about it… was it really?
Sure, it'd mean more work. But their current pace left room to grow. And doubling the workload also meant doubling their income.
Naoya scratched his head. "You're serious?"
Haruki shrugged. "Just a thought. We're already ahead, and you two haven't complained once. I figured we might be able to push a little more without losing our rhythm."
Kenta let out a low whistle. "Man… this guy really thinks we're running a manga factory."
Naoya laughed. "Well, better than running a black company."( TL:- A "black company" is a japanese slang term that refers to a company with exploitative working conditions)
"Hey," Haruki said with a rare smile, "I don't do unpaid overtime."
That made them all laugh.
Despite the work ahead, the atmosphere in the studio remained light.
And somewhere behind Haruki's quiet tone, a new idea had already taken root.
Another series.
Another world to explore.
And if the current one had already reached the top eight… maybe the next one could go even higher.
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