The next day, as soon as Kyousuke arrived at school, he was greeted with good news from Kisaki Tetta.
The chief editor of Weekly Shounen High, one of the top three manga magazines in Japan, had agreed to meet with him that evening at his home to discuss the serialization of his manga.
"You really came through, Kisaki!" Kyousuke patted Kisaki Tetta's shoulder with a grin.
"It's just what I should do," Kisaki replied humbly.
As someone who thrived by aligning himself with stronger forces, Kisaki Tetta understood that proving his worth was essential, constantly taking without giving back was a surefire way to be discarded.
Any task his boss assigned had to be completed perfectly.
"How did you pull it off?"
"Just a few small tricks, nothing worth mentioning," Kisaki answered, playing it cool.
In truth, all he did was pass on two key pieces of information to the editor's son.
First, that the manga's author could single-handedly create a best-selling light novel with just one sentence, and second, that the author was Tokyo's most feared delinquent leader.
For someone in the publishing industry, where timing and information were everything, the editor-in-chief was no fool.
With that kind of reputation backing the manga, its success was practically guaranteed.
"I'll treat you to a feast once we get the first paycheck!" Kyousuke promised.
He didn't press for more details—after all, a leader who micromanaged everything would only contradict his own principles.
At lunchtime, Eikichi Onizuka came to report on the aftermath of the previous night's incident, once again leaving Kyousuke amazed at the creativity of delinquents when it came to punishment.
"It's a shame, boss. If you hadn't told us to go easy on them, we had some even more 'fun' punishments lined up for those punks," Onizuka said regretfully.
"No, no, I think this was plenty. Those three won't be setting foot in Bunkyo ever again," Kyousuke assured him.
"Also, boss, your loyal underling has a once-in-a-lifetime request…"
Onizuka hesitated, fidgeting with his hands like a child begging for candy.
"If you already know you shouldn't say it, then don't," Kyousuke interrupted before he could continue.
"Huh?"
Onizuka turned to Danma Ryuji with a puzzled look.
Ryuji, understanding him perfectly, first shook his head, then gave him a hard kick to the backside as if telling him to get on with it.
"Boss~~ if you don't grant my wish, I won't be able to rest in peace even after I die!" Onizuka whined, his voice as sticky as melted asphalt.
"Wouldn't that be perfect? The demons in hell are supposed to be really cute," Kyousuke replied nonchalantly, flipping through a collection of haiku by Matsuo Basho.
"Wait, seriously!?" Onizuka's face lit up in excitement.
Clearly, he was very invested in whether he could attain peace in the afterlife.
"Idiot! Just spit it out already!" Ryuji barked, smacking Onizuka on the head.
"Ugh, fine. Boss, what we wanted to ask was… could you create a hero in your manga based on the two of us?" Ryuji finally blurted out.
"Huh!?"
Kisaki Tetta, who had been half-listening, immediately perked up.
Of course! Why didn't I think of that?
If I appear in the boss's manga, wouldn't that let all of Japan see the bond between us?
"Boss, I also have a once-in-a-lifetime request! If you don't include me, I'll die with regrets!" Kisaki added earnestly.
"You guys…"
Kyousuke sighed and closed his eyes.
Fine. He'd give each of them a ridiculous side character.
If only their names were something like Fortune Ichiro or Lucky Shuko, he could even make them Saitama's loyal sidekicks in One Punch Man.
Imagine waking up every morning and calling out, 'Fortune, where are you? Lucky, come here!' That would be an instant mood booster.
Even Saitama, with his existential crisis, would get a kick out of it.
Since he had to meet with the Weekly Shounen High editor-in-chief in Roppongi, Kyousuke wouldn't be able to have dinner with Okudera Miki that evening.
As he rode his motorcycle toward Roppongi, he called out to Kisaki over the engine noise, "Are manga editors really that rich?"
After all, why would the editor-in-chief, whose workplace was in Chiyoda, choose to live in Roppongi—one of the most expensive neighborhoods in Tokyo?
"Not sure. Maybe it's inherited wealth," Kisaki replied.
"Damn rich Tokyoites."
Meanwhile, in a modest home in Roppongi, Shimomura Tetsuya, the editor-in-chief of Weekly Shounen High, sat in his living room, sipping tea as he contemplated the golden opportunity that had landed in his lap.
That middle schooler, Kisaki Tetta, had only sent him a few random manga pages.
But even with just that, Shimomura's trained eye could tell—the art was refined, the paneling was exceptional.
Even if the artist had submitted it through the usual channels, it would have had a high chance of getting serialized.
But now, knowing that the author himself was a person of considerable influence and popularity, Shimomura saw an even bigger opportunity.
This wasn't just some regular newcomer, this was someone with built-in hype.
Weekly Shounen High had carved out its place among Japan's top manga magazines by aggressively scouting (and squeezing the life out of) fresh talent, gradually stealing market share from the two industry giants.
Their cutthroat, data-driven approach to reader surveys was both brutal and fair.
The magazine's policy was simple: after ten chapters, they would analyze reader feedback to determine whether the series continued or got axed.
The ranking of each chapter determined its placement in the magazine.
If a manga consistently placed at the bottom, it was swiftly canceled to make room for new series.
Of course, new series were given a grace period of about a month or two before they were judged too harshly.
But for someone like Kyousuke, who already had a fanbase, there was no doubt he would rank at the top from the start.
Even though Weekly Shounen High used sophisticated algorithms to ensure balanced demographics among their surveyed readers.
Accounting for factors like age, gender, and social class, the reality was that their core audience had always been clear: middle schoolers and young teens.
And if what Kisaki said was true, that Kyousuke was practically a legend among Tokyo's middle and high schoolers, then this wasn't just a potential hit—it was a guaranteed success.
And then there was the other claim—that Kyousuke could make a best-selling light novel with a single sentence…
Shimomura Tetsuya smiled to himself.
This was going to be very interesting.
The publishing house had already looked into it, and it turned out to be true!
A novel that was originally set to be returned to the publisher suddenly became a bestseller among teenagers—all because of a single recommendation from this man.
If that were the only factor, it would already be impressive. But the real kicker was what he saw on his son's phone.
That guy—Kyousuke—had a face that put even the most popular idols to shame.
And let's not forget: shoujo manga was also a major selling point for their magazine.
If female readers found out that the author of this manga was this ridiculously handsome, it wouldn't even matter if the story was good or not.
He'd still amass an army of devoted fans.
At this point, even before serialization had begun, it was almost guaranteed that Kyousuke's manga would dominate the reader survey rankings.
And if the quality turned out to be as good as expected, even cover illustrations could be on the table.
Of course, all of this would only boost magazine sales, so there was no reason for him to complain. On the contrary—he was thrilled.
But his real dilemma was figuring out how to keep Kyousuke on board for as long as possible.
This guy didn't look like a manga artist at all.
If anything, he resembled a rich kid playing around to "experience real life" before going back to his mansion.
If they could convince him to commit to a long-term serialization, then Weekly Shounen High might be able to expand its readership even further—perhaps even claim a larger share of the market.
That was precisely why he had chosen to meet at his house instead of an office or a café.
By setting the stage in a more personal environment, he hoped to establish a closer relationship from the start.
———————————————————————
'Ding-dong!'
The doorbell rang.
Shimomura Tetsuya had just started to stand up, adjusting his suit to properly greet his guest—when his son, who had been grinning at his phone like an idiot ever since getting home, suddenly sprang off the couch and sprinted toward the door.
The sight gave him pause.
It reminded him of their family chihuahua, who would go absolutely feral whenever it heard the sound of dog food hitting its metal bowl.
His son had never shown this much enthusiasm when welcoming him home.
A quiet sadness welled up in Shimomura's heart.
...But, well.
Ever since his son started following this "Kyousuke" as his leader, things had changed for the better.
At the very least, he no longer spoke like a thug. His manners had improved.
He actually stayed after school to participate in kendo club instead of loitering around the streets.
Even at home, he'd started sharing interesting stories from school—though, granted, they were mostly about how amazing his "Boss" was.
But still, it was progress.
Shimomura Tetsuya had seen firsthand just how dangerous Kyousuke's influence could be.
His idiot son had only attended a handful of gatherings, yet his admiration for the guy had already rewired his entire personality.
And if someone with that much influence was now making manga…
What kind of story was it going to be?
After working in the industry for decades, after climbing all the way up to Editor-in-Chief, he thought he had seen it all.
Even the newest works from legendary mangaka rarely excited him anymore.
And yet, this time…
For the first time in years, he felt something stir inside him.
A thrill.
An expectation.
Shimomura took a deep breath, straightened his suit jacket, and walked toward the entrance.
His expression was composed—exuding the dignity of an Editor-in-Chief of one of Japan's top three manga magazines—ready to meet his new rival in negotiations.
———————————————————————
"Boss! You've worked hard today!"
The energetic greeting from outside hit him like a sledgehammer.
Shimomura froze.
…His own son had never greeted him like that before.
A fresh wave of fatherly sorrow washed over him.
(...It's fine. It's fine. Someday, he'll greet me like that too…)
The silent lament of a Japanese father.
———————————————————————
"No need to call me 'Boss' at your own house," a crisp, clear voice responded. It was refreshing, like an icy breeze cutting through an open plain.
"If anything, I should be the one thanking you. This opportunity wouldn't have come together without your help."
…So this was Kyousuke.
Polite, well-mannered—no wonder his son had changed so much under his influence.
He should take this chance to push for even more 'education' for his son.
"Oh, it's nothing much!" his son replied excitedly. "That old guy at the magazine just happened to lose a writer in a plane crash, so they needed a replacement fast. We're actually doing them a huge favor by having someone as talented as you step in, Boss!"
Shimomura's right hand—pressed tightly against his side—trembled slightly.
Calm down.
You raised him.
The neighbor's kid just ran away from home last night. Compared to that, your son is doing fine.
Finally, the lock clicked, and the front door swung open.
———————————————————————
"Good afternoon, Hojou-kun. Kisaki-kun."
Shimomura greeted them in a calm, composed tone, his expression perfectly composed.
"Good afternoon, Editor-in-Chief Shimomura. Sorry for the intrusion."
Kyousuke responded politely, and Kisaki Tetta followed suit.
After changing into indoor slippers, the group made their way into the living room.
Since this was a business discussion, they sat at the dining table instead of the couch.
Kisaki placed a document folder on the table.
There was no need for small talk—they had already agreed to the serialization. This meeting was simply to discuss contract details and compensation.
"So this is… One Punch Man?"
Shimomura swallowed hard.
The title, printed in bold black letters, stood out on the yellow envelope.
"Yes. Please take a look."
Kyousuke replied politely.
"Then, I won't hold back."
Shimomura's hands trembled slightly as he opened the folder and pulled out the manuscript.
———————————————————————
He didn't read it immediately.
First, he flipped through the pages—front to back—to check for consistency.
Good. The art quality was impeccable throughout. The two pages he had seen earlier weren't just a fluke.
Satisfied, he turned to the first page.
A colored cover illustration greeted him.
A black title: "ONE PUNCH MAN."
The image featured a bald man taking up 90% of the page.
His expression was stern.
His eyebrows were… nonexistent.
His white cape billowed behind him, red gloves clenched into fists.
A few white streaks indicated the force of his punch.
And in the background—
A monster, its chest blasted wide open, reduced to shreds.
…Interesting.
A protagonist with questionable aesthetics, yet strangely compelling.
Then, he turned the page—
And froze.
One punch.
Just one punch, and the city-destroying monster was obliterated.
This was…
A completely new concept.
He kept reading.
Push-ups. Sit-ups. Squats. Running. No air conditioning.
…A ridiculous training regimen.
At first glance, it seemed absurd.
And yet…
It made perfect sense.
———————————————————————
After reading for a while, Tetsuya Shimomura closed the manga with a satisfied expression.
"Hojou-kun, to be honest, this manga of yours..." Shimomura began, pausing thoughtfully.
Even if it had the potential to be a blockbuster, it was still his job as an editor to squeeze out every advantage.
He needed to find a way to secure a proper serialization contract, preventing the author from simply losing interest and quitting halfway.
'Masao, watch closely,' he thought to himself. 'Your father is about to show you the true authority of an editor-in-chief!'
Before he could continue, his son, Masao Shimomura, cut him off impatiently.
"Dad, can you just cut the crap?"
"Do you have any idea how many people in Tokyo are waiting for this manga?"
"If they don't get to read it, your editorial office is going to get pelted with rocks!"
"Masao! Show some respect when speaking to your father!" Kyousuke scolded sharply.
Then, realizing his words might have caused confusion, he quickly turned to the editor-in-chief.
"Ah, sorry, Shimomura-san. I was talking to your son."
"Heh, no problem," Shimomura chuckled awkwardly, wiping the sweat from his forehead with a handkerchief.
"Seriously though, since you've already decided to serialize it, just offer the best contract terms to Kyousuke-senpai and be done with it," Masao muttered under his breath.
"Masao!" Kyousuke's brows furrowed slightly in irritation before he forced an apologetic smile toward the editor-in-chief. Shimomura returned the same awkward smile.
Realizing his mistake, Masao immediately corrected himself.
"Father... I apologize for my rudeness," he said, bowing in a formal apology he had perfected at school.
Though the words felt slightly forced, the rare use of "Father" a term Masao never uttered, not even when asking for allowance hit Shimomura right in the heart.
He was genuinely moved.
"Hojou-kun, you're a good man. Next week, I'm transferring Masao to Higashi Middle School. Please look after him and guide him properly!" Shimomura declared passionately.
"As for your manga, I will personally take charge as your editor! And I'll make sure you get the highest possible rookie rate!"
With that, he extended both hands and firmly grasped Kyousuke's in a heartfelt handshake.
"Uh... hehe..."
Kyousuke wasn't entirely sure what just happened, but at this point, all he needed to do was smile, right?
He reached out his other hand, sealing the moment in a four-handed handshake.
The final contract details were settled:
Shimomura offered 15,000 yen per manuscript page—an impressive rate for a rookie.
Kyousuke had originally prepared a hefty 80 pages for the debut chapter, which was longer than usual.
However, Shimomura decided not to cut any of it, as the extended battle sequences, drawn with masterful composition and dynamic paneling, were exhilarating to read.
The serialization details would be finalized in tomorrow's editorial meeting, but one thing was certain—this manga would appear in this Saturday's issue!
There was just one last matter to settle.
"Hojou-kun, are you planning to use your real name or a pen name?" Shimomura asked.
Ah... the dreaded naming decision.
Eriri had asked him the same thing before, but back then, Kyousuke had dodged the question.
Should he go with something simple, like "Kita" or "Kyoto"? Maybe even borrow the name "Sakura"?
As someone notoriously bad at naming things, Kyousuke fell into deep contemplation.
After much internal struggle, he finally decided.
"I'll use a pen name. Let's go with... EGOIST."
The name was inspired by Eriri's doujin circle. It had a nice ring to it.