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As one of the three major manga magazines based in Osaka, Kurokawa boasts a circulation of over 300,000 copies per issue. If a manga manages to rank first in the reader popularity polls among these top three publications, its author can be considered a prominent name in the city's manga industry.
And if they manage to consistently secure that top spot, issue after issue—then they've truly made it to the top tier of Osaka's manga world.
Yuna, who made the move from rival publisher Hoshikawa to Kurokawa, is already considered one of the top talents in the region. In the local scene, she's earned her place among the elite. But if she wants to grow her influence even further, she'll need to set her sights beyond the city—toward the national stage, and eventually, the international market.
Yuna is nothing if not ambitious. It's been seven years since she began drawing professionally, and through relentless effort, she's climbed to the top of the manga world here in Osaka. From the outside, it seems like her career has been smooth sailing—making a name for herself by age twenty-six and becoming one of the best in the city.
But only Yuna knows how much effort it's taken to get here. Sure, her reputation might be top-tier in Osaka, but when compared on a national scale... it's barely a blip.
So when she learned that her latest work had lost its serialization slot to a newcomer's manga at the Kurokawa editorial meeting, her first reaction wasn't disbelief or indignation.
On the contrary—her heart sank.
Unlike the arrogant and overconfident Rika, Yuna knew better than to underestimate a so-called "newcomer."
After all, her own debut was built on the same thing—rising up by outshining veteran artists and earning her place at the top of Hoshikawa Monthly.
At present, two of Kurokawa's most buzzworthy serialized titles are Phantom Mirror and Celestial Notes. Yuna was well aware of this. And yet, even with just the first chapter out, her newest series Hidden Girl had already surpassed Celestial Notes in popularity and was sitting comfortably in second place. As for Phantom Mirror, she was confident that by the end of the month, she'd outpace that too.
If things went according to plan, and Hidden Girl secured the top spot across both Kurokawa and Sora, it would give her a strong foundation for expanding to nationwide. Combine that success with Rika's support and his promise of connections, and she'd be well-positioned to make a name for herself even in the nationwide.
There was only one unpredictable factor left—
Rurouni Kenshin: Remembrance.
Yuna stared down at the latest issue of sora Series.
Flipping to the section where Rurouni Kenshin: Remembrance began, she slowly turned through the opening forty pages.
To the casual reader, those early pages might not seem especially groundbreaking—but Yuna couldn't ignore the feeling that built in her chest as she read.
A heavy, almost oppressive weight. Something about this manga hit differently. Something... dangerous.
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Another week passed in a flash.
Sunji, a lifelong manga reader since childhood, never misses a new issue. Every week, he makes sure to pick up the latest volume—he's seen trends rise and fall, but this week's issue felt special.
Between the long-running hits like Phantom Mirror and Celestial Notes, and the newest work by the acclaimed Yuna , Hidden Girl, this week's issue was already packed with heavy-hitters.
But what had really caught his attention lately was a new title: Rurouni Kenshin: Remembrance.
Set over a century ago during a turbulent era of transition in the island nation across the sea, the manga follows a lone swordsman trying to navigate a world caught between war and peace.
The art was crisp and expressive. The pacing was tight. Not a single page felt wasted.
Although Sunji had some initial doubts—particularly about whether the story's theme would resonate—they disappeared the moment he started reading.
A swordsman who kills to protect. A man who sheds blood to end an era of violence. A contradiction at the heart of the story.
Compared to the flashy school romances and light comedies cluttering Kurokawa, this felt like a breath of fresh air.
After reading the latest chapters of Phantom Mirror, Celestial Notes, and Hidden Girl, Sunji eagerly turned the page to the continuation of Remembrance.
This chapter delved deeper into Kenshin's backstory—his time training under his master, his growing conviction to protect others at any cost. His journey leads him to Kyoto, where he becomes both a hero to the people… and their executioner.
Sunji's eyes narrowed in focus.
A mysterious girl in a quiet tavern. A rainy ambush that leaves Kenshin bloodied, yet victorious.
The scene was powerful—Kenshin cutting down a skilled assassin with ruthless efficiency.
It was clean. Sharp. Unapologetically cool.
Sunji couldn't help but feel his heart race.
"This is insane…" he muttered to himself.
But just as the intensity peaked, the tone shifted.
Amid the rain-soaked aftermath, a woman appeared before Kenshin—dressed in a white kimono, holding an umbrella. Blood from the slain assassin stained the umbrella, her sleeves, and her cheek.
Kenshin's own face was streaked with blood from a reopened wound.
He looked up… and met her gaze.
A stunning, solemn face—partly shadowed, partly bloodstained.
"You really are…"
"…the embodiment of a blood-soaked storm."
Despite the violence, there was something hauntingly beautiful about the scene. Sunji felt his breath catch.
Who is she?
What is their connection?
Eagerly, he turned the page—
Only to freeze.
There were only a few words:
*End of Act I – The Executioner.*
That was it.
"…You've got to be kidding me," Sunji muttered, dumbfounded.
Cliffhanger? At this moment?
Frustrated, he stared at the page in disbelief. But beneath the irritation, he felt something else—something he hadn't experienced in a long time.
Anticipation.
The kind that makes the week feel too long.
He realized something else too. When he finished reading Phantom Mirror and Hidden Girl, he'd thought, "Not bad." But he hadn't felt this invested.
Not like this.
"This is… really something," Sunji said quietly.
He'd read hundreds of manga. He thought he was immune. But here he was, desperate for the next chapter.
"Mizushiro, huh?" He checked the credit line. "Alright. I'll make an exception today and go vote for you on the website."
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The same reaction echoed in all over Osaka.
Because Remembrance had started with a double-length debut, this week's chapter was technically the third, even though it was listed as Chapter 2. The story had been unfolding slowly—setting the mood, exploring character. Early impressions had been mixed. Some readers called it "too quiet," lacking in drama or urgency. The initial vote tallies were underwhelming.
Some even joked that Kurokawa Publishing must've lost their minds choosing it.
But after this chapter?
All across the manga scene, one thought started to spread:
*"This is incredible."*
Now it made sense. Now they understood why this series had managed to beat out Yuna Takahashi's new work for a serialization slot.
In editorial offices, group chats, and manga cafés, the same question kept popping up:
"Who is Mizushiro-sensei?"
Was this really a debut author?
Or… was it a seasoned veteran launching a comeback under a new name?
(TL:- if you want even more content, check out p-atreon.com/Alioth23 for 50+ advanced chapters)