Originally, the sales of the 5 Centimeters Per Second manga volume were already performing well in the market.
Regardless of public opinion about the author, Shirogane, both new and old readers consistently praised 5 Centimeters highly.
Then, Hoshizaki Aira suddenly publicly endorsed the manga.
This led to a surge of attention from manga critics and news outlets across Japan, all focusing on the 5 Centimeters Per Second volume.
Hoshizaki Aira's massive fanbase and curious onlookers flocked to purchase the manga, eager to see what the hype was about.
This only made things worse.
Another wave of "train-bombing hopefuls" became victims of the story's emotional impact.
Hoshizaki Aira's fans spread exaggerated rumors about the manga's content.
"A masterpiece of depression!" "It'll leave you with a stomachache and heartache!" "You won't be able to sleep all night!" "It'll make you want to contact your ex!"
In short, this buzz drew even more curious readers to buy the 5 Centimeters Per Second volume, creating a self-perpetuating cycle.
Meanwhile, many manga critics and media outlets, recognizing the manga's undeniable popularity in the recent market, began covering it extensively.
Of course, news reports tend to exaggerate things.
"Genius Manga Artist Shirogane Makes Stunning Debut in Japan's Manga World! 5 Centimeters Per Second Crowned This Year's Emotional Masterpiece!"
5 Centimeters Per Second: A Heartbreaking Masterpiece That Will Leave You with a Stomachache and No Appetite for Three Days.
Cherry blossoms fall at a rate of 5 centimeters per second. Multiply that speed by the thirteen years Akari and Takaki have been separated, and the resulting distance is astonishingly similar to the distance between the North and South Poles. Is this mere coincidence, or a hidden metaphor from Shirogane Sensei, the author of 5 Centimeters? Two people who once loved each other deeply, separated by time and space, eventually find the distance between their hearts as vast as the distance between the Earth's poles.
Genius manga artist Shirogane Sensei's short masterpiece, 5 Centimeters Per Second, has received unanimous critical acclaim. Sales are booming in bookstores nationwide, with copies nearly sold out.
A mediocre manga artist could serialize for ten years without moving a single reader. A genius manga artist can move readers for a decade with just five chapters. We eagerly anticipate Shirogane's next work, hoping it will surpass even the heights of 5 Centimeters Per Second!
Another genius high school manga artist has emerged. Can Shirogane follow in the footsteps of Hoshizaki Aira, Kentō, and others who fought their way through the cutthroat manga industry to have their work published in the Six Major Magazines? Or will he peak with his debut, like so many manga artists who quietly fade into obscurity?
"Highly recommended by top manga artist Hoshizaki Aira! Even ten years from now, 5 Centimeters Per Second will remain a timeless masterpiece!"
Several factors led to a significant surge in sales of 5 Centimeters Per Second in the days following its release.
Many provinces had initially received limited copies, and these were now completely sold out. Fortunately, thanks to the production capacity of Hoshimori Publishing Group's partner printing factories, these shortages were expected to be resolved nationwide within two to three days.
Soon, Friday arrived.
Rei found himself unable to sleep early that morning.
The first volume of 5 Centimeters Per Second had been released the previous Wednesday.
The sales data for the week ending this Wednesday would take one to two days to compile.
According to information Misaki had shared with him, the first-week sales figures for 5 Centimeters Per Second were expected to be available by morning.
While the online buzz surrounding 5 Centimeters Per Second over the past few days suggested strong initial sales, Rei couldn't shake off his anxiety until the official numbers were released.
"200,000 copies in the first week is the minimum acceptable target. Ideally, we should aim for 250,000 to 300,000 copies," Rei recalled Misaki's words.
He was a rookie manga artist, still in high school. This was usually a bonus at Hoshimori Publishing Group, but his only work was a short, five-chapter manga.
This didn't showcase his potential for long-term serialization, putting him at a disadvantage compared to more experienced artists, even with similar sales figures.
In other words, the sales performance of 5 Centimeters Per Second would directly determine whether Rei's next manga could be published in the group's prestigious magazines, Sky Shadow and Fantasy Realm, allowing him to compete for a serialization slot at the Serialization Meeting, or...
...whether he would remain in Sakura Weekly, accumulating experience and building his reputation until his popularity, recognition, and fanbase were large enough that even modest sales figures could secure him a serialization slot in those top magazines.
What would the outcome be?
After breakfast, Rei stayed home, drawing backgrounds for his manga. He momentarily lost focus, thinking about this question.
Just then, his phone rang.
Misaki
The large characters flashed across his screen, causing Rei's heart to quicken slightly.
It's here.
Without hesitation, he answered the call.
"How's it going, Editor Misaki?" Rei asked with a soft chuckle, taking a deep breath.
"The 5 Centimeters Per Second single volume..."
"What were the first-week sales figures for the 5 Centimeters Per Second single-volume edition?"
A brief silence hung on the other end of the line, followed by a delighted laugh that reached Rei's ears.
"360,000 copies."
Rei's expression remained calm, but his hand trembled slightly.
"Rei, the first-week sales for the 5 Centimeters Per Second single-volume edition reached 360,000 copies," Misaki continued.
"This far exceeds our expectations. With these results, you're absolutely qualified to submit your new manga to the upcoming Serialization Meetings for Sky Shadow Weekly and Fantasy Realm Weekly over the next two weeks."
Misaki tried to keep her voice steady, suppressing her excitement.
She was the type who preferred to keep her emotions hidden.
But after two years as a manga editor, the first-week sales figures for 5 Centimeters Per Second were undeniably the highest among all the series she had handled!
With 360,000 copies sold in its first week, the single-volume edition of 5 Centimeters Per Second was almost certain to surpass a million copies in total sales.
And since the manga was a single-volume edition, this meant the series would achieve an average volume sales of over a million copies.
Most manga achieving such sales figures would originate from Japan's Six Major Manga Magazines.
A small fraction might emerge as top-tier works from second-tier manga magazines.
For third-tier magazines, even average sales of 600,000 to 700,000 copies per volume would be considered miraculous, let alone a million.
But 5 Centimeters Per Second had earned its success through its own quality, further boosted by the support of the immensely popular manga artist Hoshizaki Aira. The overwhelmingly positive media coverage throughout the week had amplified its momentum, propelling its sales to such extraordinary heights.
A faint smile curved Misaki's lips as she considered this.
"Rei, please organize the manuscript for your new manga over the next few days."
The meaning behind her words was clear.
After hanging up, Rei exhaled deeply.
He repeatedly told himself to remain calm, but his heart refused to settle.
Just then, another call came through.
"Congratulations, Rei!" Miyu's cheerful voice rang out.
This time, there was no trace of disappointment or resentment, only genuine joy for her friend's success.
"Thank you," Rei replied.
"My manga Tale of Sorrow has only two weeks left until completion, so I won't be joining the serialization meetings for Fantasy Realm and Sky Shadow magazines for the next two weeks," Miyu said with a lighthearted laugh.
"But you're different. You've been preparing your new work for months. Given the success of the 5 Centimeters Per Second single volume, I'm sure you'll get your work accepted into the serialization meetings for both magazines."
Miyu paused for a few seconds before speaking again, her tone turning serious.
"Don't lose, Rei. You absolutely can't lose to the other works at the serialization meetings. Your new work better top the popularity charts in Sakura Weekly just like 5 Centimeters did. And then, just wait. Once my new manga is serialized, I'll knock you off that number one spot."
"Then you'll have to hurry," Rei replied with a smile.
"What do you mean?"
"My new work will be longer than 5 Centimeters Per Second, but not by much. Strictly speaking, it's still a short manga. If you're not fast enough, your new manga might not even start serialization before mine finishes."
Miyu was silent on the other end of the line for half a minute before hanging up.
Rei smiled, then glanced at the original manuscript of his manga, Tonight, laid out on his desk.
He felt confident about adapting 5 Centimeters and Tonight, whose original versions were animated films and novels already adapted into live-action films.
To put it bluntly, the fact that these works had achieved such high acclaim after being adapted into animation and live-action films in his previous life meant they had already survived the brutal market competition and emerged victorious.
There was no reason they couldn't succeed in the manga market of this world as well.
Currently, the name "Shirogane" wasn't yet well-known in the Japanese manga industry.
But Rei believed that within two years, this name would become a household name in the Japanese manga world.
Of course, before that happened, as Miyu had pointed out, the real challenge lay ahead.
Rei wasn't worried about the market competition after serialization.
What truly concerned him was the discerning taste of the judges and editors at the Serialization Meeting. After all, these were the gatekeepers who would determine whether his work even saw the light of day. What if they failed to recognize its potential?
In his previous life, even the Attack on Titan manga had been rejected in the Sakurajima region, proving that anything was possible in the manga industry.
With this in mind, Rei grounded himself, refusing to let pride cloud his judgment.