Haruki had checked the reactions to Episode 6, and fans were already losing it.If they thought that was dark, they had no idea what Episode 9 would bring.
For the past two weeks, he'd been buried in work—polishing the story beats for Code Geass, sketching character drafts. After completing the outline, he remembered something Kazuya had asked when Fullmetal Alchemist first began:
"Do you have something lined up after Madoka?"
At the time, Haruki had laughed it off.
"Give me a month. I'm drowning in three serializations already."
Now, with Natsume and Initial D finished, he figured it was time to revisit that conversation.
Later that night, as Haruki skimmed the newest chapter of Fullmetal Alchemist, a realization hit him.
"Oh no… this is going to get really bad."
The infamous Edward scene was scheduled to release just two days before Madoka Magica's Episode 9. That meant his fans would be hit with back-to-back heartbreak. A whole weekend lost to grief and analysis, their minds trapped between what they had just watched and what was still to come. The timing couldn't have been more chaotic.
He slumped in his chair, muttering:
"I hope they don't start rioting."
A moment later he shook his head.
"Who am I kidding? I might need to stay offline that whole weekend."
Still, he tried to reassure himself. JoJo was launching this week. Maybe that would give fans something wild enough to balance the grief.
Originally, Haruki had promised himself a break after finishing Initial D and Natsume. Instead, his workload only grew heavier. To shorten the serialization schedule for JoJo, the publishing decided to release Part 1 in complete volume form alongside weekly chapters.
What was meant to ease pressure only doubled it.
"I seriously need a break after Madoka Magica ends," Haruki muttered, rubbing his eyes.
But breaks were impossible now.
Hayato had been helping with JoJo, With Natsume and Initial D finished, Kenta and Naoya immediately jumped in. The problem? Both of them wanted JoJo.
"Come on, JoJo needs me more," Kenta insisted.
Naoya shot back, "Are you kidding? I've been practicing drawing poses for weeks. I'm perfect for this!"
The two bickered like teenagers. Haruki could only watch, half amused, half worried about the workload.
The truth was, JoJo demanded more than most series: elaborate poses, intricate designs, and dense weekly chapters. To keep up with the pace he wanted to maintain, which was releasing two chapters per week, he would need a three-person team just to manage it all.
While he wrestled with logistics, Kazuya had his eyes elsewhere.
He couldn't contain his happiness when he checked the latest popularity polls. Every single day he refreshed the rankings, heart pounding, wondering if Madoka Magica had slipped from its spot. But no—it was still holding strong at #1.
Kazuya leaned back, grinning.
"With 5 Centimeters per Second and Madoka Magica in the same year… my chances for the award show just skyrocketed."
For him, the pressure didn't matter. Recognition was within reach.
By Friday, excitement was in the air. This week, JoJo's Bizarre Adventure was finally beginning serialization in Echo Shroud.
Jin, a 20-year-old college student and new follower of Mizushiro's work, had been waiting for this day. He had first discovered the creator through Fullmetal Alchemist after stumbling across the manga's opening theme. From there, he dove into everything Mizushiro had made.
He respected all of it—stories that made his blood rush, that made him laugh, cry, and feel deeply. But strangely, none of them had become his personal favorite. They were undeniably great, even unforgettable, yet they didn't carry that unique spark that makes a series your number one.
Favorites, Jin thought, were harder to explain. It wasn't about being first, or even being unique, because sooner or later, someone else could repeat it. It was about a feeling you couldn't put into words.
Still, Mizushiro's consistency kept Jin hooked. When he saw the first teaser art, a bulky, black-haired man in a dramatic pose titled JoJo's Bizarre Adventure, his curiosity shot through the roof.
That morning, Jin picked up the newest issue of Echo Shroud. After finishing Fullmetal Alchemist, he flipped straight to Mizushiro's latest work.
The title stopped him. Part 2: JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Battle Tendency.He blinked, wondering if it was a mistake. Where was Part 1? Had it already been published, or did the story simply skip ahead? The thought lingered, but curiosity won out. If this was really the beginning, then he would just have to follow where it led. Turning the pages, he found an unusual author note introducing supporting characters.
Robert E.O. Speedwagon, founder of the Speedwagon Foundation, loyal ally of the Joestar family.
Erina Joestar, Jonathan's widow, now caring for her grandson.
A note on the Stone Mask, an artifact that could transform its wearer into a vampire.
And then, Part 1 would be released in full volume form by December.
As Jin read on, the story jumped from a mysterious discovery in Mexico to New York City, 1938.
The protagonist made his entrance: Joseph Joestar. A towering, muscular figure, built like a beast yet grinning like a troublemaker. In his very first scene, he rescued a pickpocketed boy named Smokey, violently beat a corrupt policeman, and struck a flamboyant pose as he introduced himself.
"Name's Joseph Joestar!"
Jin couldn't help but grin. There was an energy around him he couldn't explain, but he knew this was going to be an interesting protagonist.
At a restaurant later, when a gangster insulted Smokey, Joseph confronted the gangster:
"Looking for your brass knuckles? Not in your coat pocket. Try your back pocket."
The gangster froze—Joseph was right.
Then Joseph added, smirking:
"Next you'll say, 'How the hell did you know, bastard?'"
And sure enough, the man echoed the line word for word.
By the time Joseph explained his deduction and knocked the thug out cold, Jin was laughing out loud. It was rare, he realized, to like a protagonist this much from the very first chapter. Most protagonists had to grow on you. Joseph had hooked him instantly.
The chapter escalated further: the supposed death of Speedwagon, Erina's grief, and finally the appearance of Straizo—who revealed himself as a vampire and attacked Joseph. Joseph's answer? A tommy gun, unloaded point-blank into his enemy.
The chapter ended with a bold "TO BE CONTINUED."
Jin immediately reread it twice. Then he rushed online, eager to see the community's reactions. Mizushiro's forum was exploding.
"This is the first time he's made me laugh instead of cry. Is Mizushiro turning over a new leaf?"
"Don't be fooled. He builds you up just to tear your heart apart later. Always has."
"No way, JoJo feels totally different. This is comedy-action, not tragedy. Did you see him pull a tommy gun? That's insane!"
"Forget the story, can we talk about the art designs? They threw me off at first, but now I'm obsessed. Old-school, but fresh."
"Exactly! Every Mizushiro's work, art is unique every single time. Mizushiro never repeats himself—and that's rare when you're this prolific."
Thread after thread, the excitement grew.
The next day, the results dropped: JoJo's Bizarre Adventure debuted at #6 in the rankings.
Editors and fellow mangaka alike were floored. Many had assumed Mizushiro would need time to recover after finishing his big projects. Yet here he was, only three months later, already climbing the charts again.
With Fullmetal Alchemist battling Dream World for first place and JoJo off to a powerful start, it was clear that Mizushiro was once again on his way to dominating Echo Shroud's top spots.
Shout out to Jarod Pike, Christian Miguel, Dangit889 for joining my p-atreon! your support means everything to me.
(TL:- if you want even more content, check out p-atreon.com/Alioth23 for 60+ advanced chapters)