Chapter 30: Professional Recognition [2]
In early May, Silver Spoon Volume 3 was released.
The cover featured Hachiken in a white coat, standing outside the veterinary clinic. Sunlight hit his face, half bright, half in shadow.
The title: "After the Choice."
Lines formed outside bookstores again.
This time, it wasn't just students. There were people in their thirties and forties—young vets, agricultural technicians, farmers.
"Boss, can this book really be used as a reference?" a middle-aged man in work clothes asked Henderson.
"Look at the back cover," Henderson pointed. "Recommended Reading by the State Veterinary Association."
The man flipped open the book, scrutinized the illustrations, and nodded. "The drawings look legit. I'll buy one for the workers at the farm. Better than lecturing them a hundred times."
"I'll take one too," a woman with glasses said. "I'm from the Ag Tech Station. It'll be useful for village outreach."
Henderson rang them up, thinking: The readership for this manga is getting wider and wider.
Among the buyers were students from the State Agricultural University, holding student IDs, claiming they were buying "supplementary textbooks."
"Teacher recommended it," one student said. "Said the practical details in this book are more vivid than the textbook."
Henderson smiled as he cashed them out. When they left, he turned to his nephew helping in the store. "See that? That's called professional recognition."
His nephew nodded, half-understanding.
That night after closing, Henderson tallied the receipts. Just Volume 3 of Silver Spoon sold over two hundred copies today, a single-day record for the store.
He texted Alex: "Volume 3 is selling like crazy. Congrats."
Alex replied: "Thanks, Mr. Henderson."
Henderson looked at the text and smiled. That kid, famous now but not arrogant, same as always.
In mid-May, Alex received a courier package. A large box containing a dozen hardcover books.
"Basics of Animal Husbandry (Illustrated Edition)"
"Illustrated Veterinary Operation Standards"
"Handbook of Common Livestock Disease Diagnosis"
...
On the cover of every book: "Illustrations selected from 'Silver Spoon'."
On the copyright page: "Special Illustration Consultant: Alex Walker."
Attached was a letter from the State Agricultural Press:
"Dear Mr. Walker: Thank you for your support of agricultural science popularization. This series of books will serve as designated training materials for agricultural technicians statewide. Initial printing: 100,000 copies. Your professionalism and artistic attainment have added much color to this series. Enclosed are sample copies as a token of our gratitude."
100,000 copies.
Alex touched the covers. The paper was thick, the printing exquisite. He opened one.
His art—Hachiken using a stethoscope—was used to illustrate "Cardiopulmonary Auscultation Techniques"; Hachiken suturing was used for "Trauma Treatment."
His manga had become a textbook.
Not extracurricular reading, not a recommended list, but a proper training textbook.
He put the books on the top shelf of his bookcase. It was already full of certificates, appointment letters, and thank-you notes—from the Dept of Agriculture, Dept of Education, Veterinary Association, publishers.
Each one represented recognition.
But what he cared about most was still the stack of reader letters on his desk. The childish handwriting, the neat ones, the messy ones. The letters that said "Thank you."
His phone buzzed. Sue texted: "Received the textbooks?"
"Yeah."
"How does it feel?"
Alex thought for a moment. "A bit heavy."
"What's heavy?"
"The responsibility."
Sue was silent for a moment, then sent a long message: "The Editor-in-Chief said in a meeting today that Silver Spoon is no longer just a manga; it's a cultural phenomenon. But you must remember, no matter what it becomes, first and foremost it is your work. You draw it, you call the shots."
Alex looked at the message for a long time.
Then he replied: "I know."
He knew Silver Spoon was popular, mainstream, recognized.
But he knew even better that the foundation of all this was the story he drew line by line. Hachiken's confusion, Komaba's rough tenderness, Mikage's pragmatism, the bits and pieces of Ag High life.
If he forgot this and chased the halo, the work would die.
He turned off his phone and opened the draft for Chapter 32.
In this chapter, Hachiken faced an ethical dilemma—an old cow with an incurable disease. The owner wanted to euthanize it, but Hachiken wanted to try again.
He went to the teacher. The teacher said: "A vet's duty is to alleviate suffering, not to forcibly prolong life."
Hachiken asked: "Then how do we know if we are alleviating suffering or giving up too early?"
The teacher was silent for a while. "There is no standard answer. Every vet must find that line themselves."
Hachiken thought for a long time. Finally, he chose euthanasia.
Not giving up, but respect.
Alex drew slowly. Drawn Hachiken's hand preparing the agent, drawn him stroking the old cow, drawn the calmness of the injection, drawn the peace as the old cow closed its eyes.
When finished, the last panel was Hachiken standing outside the clinic, looking at the night sky.
In the dialogue box, only one sentence: "I'm sorry, and thank you."
Sorry I couldn't save you.
Thank you for teaching me this lesson.
At the end of May, the State TV Agricultural Channel aired a special program:
"Seeing New Era Agriculture Through Manga."
In the program, the host held a volume of Silver Spoon and interviewed Ag University professors, the Veterinary Association President, frontline farmers, and Ag High students.
The professor said: "This manga shows young people that agriculture isn't just facing the yellow earth with your back to the sky; it's a profession with technology, knowledge, and a future."
The Veterinary Association President said: "It accurately conveys the professional ethics of veterinarians—not gods, but doing their best."
A farmer said: "My son used to hate coming to the farm, thought it was dirty and smelly. After reading the manga, he actively comes to help, and says he wants to study livestock later."
An Ag High student said: "Many people in our school read Silver Spoon now. We used to think Ag High was embarrassing, now we feel proud."
At the end of the program, the host concluded: "A manga capable of changing so many people's concepts, influencing the social perception of an industry, is something the creator likely never expected. But perhaps, this is the power of literary and artistic works—not high-handed preaching, but influence that moistens things silently."
After the program aired, ratings set a record for the channel.
The forum buzzed again:
"It was on the Ag Channel, next step national news?"
"This manga is truly awesome, covering everyone from students to professors to farmers."
"Heard the author is young? Amazing."
Alex didn't read these discussions.
He was drawing Chapter 33.
In this chapter, Hachiken was graduating—not from school, but finishing his second year, choosing an internship. He could choose a large-scale farm or a rural veterinary station.
Large farms had good pay and development. Rural stations were hard, low pay, but exposed to more cases.
Hachiken hesitated.
Alex drew him looking through the internship directory, asking teachers for advice, discussing with Komaba and Mikage.
Finally, he chose the rural veterinary station.
Not because he was noble, but because—he wanted to go where vets were needed most.
There might not be advanced equipment or rich income, but there was real life, and simple gratitude.
At the end of the chapter, Hachiken carried his luggage, standing at the Ag High gate. Komaba and Mikage came to see him off.
Komaba patted his shoulder. "Don't embarrass Ag High."
Mikage handed him a notebook. "Remember to write an internship diary."
Hachiken nodded, turning to walk toward the station.
The scene froze on his retreating back. The Ag High sign gleamed in the sunlight.
Chapter 33, End.
Alex put down his pen and looked out the window.
Spring was deep, the pasture grass a vibrant green. The herd grazed leisurely, birdsong in the distance.
He remembered crying when he read Silver Spoon in his past life, seeing Hachiken choose the rural station.
Not tears of sadness, but of being moved.
Moved by an ordinary boy making an extraordinary choice.
Now, he had brought that emotion to this world.
And let more people see it.
He opened his email and sent Chapter 33 to Sue.
Subject: "Chapter 33, Internship Arc Begins."
Body: "Hachiken is going to the countryside."
Sue replied quickly: "Received. This chapter is going to make a lot of people cry."
(To be Continued)
Read Advanced chapter at Petreon.com/ Otaku_Reader
25+ Chapter on my Patreon
Please Support me there and get daily Updates.
---------------------------------------------------------