Chapter 51: Morning on the Ranch
5:00 AM.
Dawn had not yet broken over the ranch.
Alex was awakened by the mooing from the barn.
He wrapped a coat around himself and got out of bed, pushing open the window. October's cold air poured into the room, carrying the scent of dry hay and livestock. From downstairs came John's voice—he was already preparing the morning feed for the cows.
When he went downstairs, Sarah was in the kitchen cooking porridge. The white porridge bubbled in the pot, and a small dish of homemade pickles sat beside it.
"Up? Early today." Sarah didn't look up. "Your dad said the cows in the west shed are due to calve in the next couple of days. Go check on them later?"
"Yeah." Alex scooped a ladle of water to wash his face; the icy well water woke him up considerably.
"Those comics of yours..." Sarah paused. "Did you run into trouble recently? Your dad went to town yesterday and heard Mr. Henderson at the bookstore say someone was cursing you online."
Alex's hand stopped while wiping his face. "Let them curse. Doesn't affect my drawing."
"But your dad is worried." Sarah turned around, looking at him. "He said those people use ugly words, saying you can't draw, saying your manga is ghostwritten... aren't you angry?"
"Being angry is useless." Alex picked up the porridge bowl. "Their mouths are on them, but the pen is in my hand. They curse theirs; I draw mine."
Sarah sighed and put a piece of pickle in his bowl. "Mom doesn't understand your industry, just thinks you look thinner lately. I'll stew chicken soup tonight, nourish you."
After breakfast, Alex put on his work clothes and went to the barn. The three expectant cows in the west shed were in good condition, but one might have a breech position. He squatted by the cow to check, feeling the calf's restlessness inside the belly.
"Tonight or tomorrow morning." John walked over, handing him a bunch of hay. "Keep an eye out. If it's a difficult birth, call the vet."
"Okay." Alex stood up, brushing hay off his hands. "Dad, if there's something wrong with the calf when it's born..."
"Treat it if we can; if not, there's no helping it." John said practically. "In this line of work, you have to understand not every life survives. Do your best, and your conscience is clear."
The words were simple, but Alex heard the depth in them. He nodded and turned back to the house.
8:00 AM. He sat at his desk and opened his computer. On the screen was the ending of Fullmetal Alchemist Chapter 19—the dialogue scene between Winry and Edward in the workshop.
Outside came the sounds of cows, his father's shouts, his mother hanging laundry. Inside was quiet, save for the scratching of the stylus on the tablet.
He drew slowly. Every movement of Winry adjusting Edward's automail had to be revised repeatedly—the curve of fingers, the grip on tools, the focus of eyes. Not showing off technique, but reality. Real craftsmen don't pose; they focus.
Halfway through, his phone buzzed. Message from Sue: "Weekly Shonen World released a teaser today. Hiro's Chapter 4 is 25 pages full color, protagonist 1v5. Their bots started spamming 'Can't understand FMA,' 'Gratification is king.' Chief asks for Chapter 19 progress; we need to counterattack."
Alex glanced at the message and didn't reply. He continued drawing.
Drawing the panel where Winry looks up at Edward. The sunset slanted through the workshop window, casting a warm halo on her face. Her eyes were complex—concern, worry, reluctance, but finally settling into calm determination.
"Add a line here," Alex whispered to himself, writing in the dialogue box: "Come back alive. No matter what state you're in, I'll fix you up."
Simple, but heavy.
He finished the panel, saved, and then replied to Sue: "Chapter 19 will be done tonight. Not a counterattack, a response. A response to those who say we 'only have darkness and no warmth'."
Weekly Shonen World Editorial Department, 2:00 PM.
Hiro stared at the teaser image for FMA Chapter 19 on his screen—Winry and Edward in the sunset workshop. The image was warm and quiet, without any flashy technique, but it was impossible to look away.
"Teacher Hiro?" The editor asked carefully. "For the climax of Chapter 4, you said add more special effects..."
"No more," Hiro said suddenly.
"What?"
"I said, no more special effects." Hiro leaned back, rubbing his sore eyes. "Look at this image. No effects, no showing off. Just two people, one scene, but it moves you. Why?"
The editor didn't dare answer.
"Because of reality," Hiro answered himself. "We think all day about how to make it 'gratifying,' 'burning,' 'explosive,' but forget the most basic thing—real emotion moves people."
"But readers want gratification..."
"Then give them true gratification." Hiro stood up. "Not gratification piled up by effects, but the gratification of a story told well, emotions hitting the mark, and winning in the end. Redraw. Chapter 4 redraw."
"But the deadline..."
"Delay it." Hiro was firm. "Let them curse. At least, I want to draw a work worthy of myself."
Evening, smoke rose from the ranch chimneys.
Alex finished the last panel of Chapter 19. Edward left the workshop; Winry stood at the door, her shadow stretching long in the sunset. The scene was quiet, but surging with emotion.
He saved the file and sent it to Sue. Then turned off the computer and went downstairs for dinner.
On the table, the chicken soup Sarah stewed had golden oil floating on top, smelling delicious. John talked about ranch matters today—a calf was born weak and needed separate care.
"Finished your comic?" Sarah asked.
"Yeah, Chapter 19."
"What did you draw?"
"Two people saying goodbye." Alex sipped the soup. "A very calm goodbye."
"Oh." Sarah half-understood but didn't ask more, just put a piece of chicken in his bowl. "Eat more, nourish the brain."
Ordinary dinner, ordinary conversation. But Alex felt this was real creation—not isolated in an art palace, but rooted in life, in the smell of the barn, the aroma of chicken soup, the simple care of parents.
After dinner, he received Sue's message: "Manuscript received. Chief says it's excellent. But pressure will be high this week. Although Hiro said he's redrawing, their bots haven't stopped, still spamming 'can't understand' rhythm. We need to do something."
Alex thought and replied: "Don't do anything. When Chapter 19 is out, it will be clear."
"You're that confident?"
"Not confident, I trust the readers," Alex typed. "True readers can distinguish between genuine emotion and bluster."
Saturday, Fullmetal Alchemist Chapter 19 released.
Oak Creek Bookstore. Mr. Henderson set up a sign: "FMA Ch 19 Arrived. Limited Author Signed Postcard (Random)."
Doors opened at 7:00 AM; over twenty people were already in line. Not all students—several office workers, and an elderly couple.
"Boss, my grandson said this comic is good, sent me to buy it." The grandfather said. "He's in college, said the stuff inside is deep.
"Deep, but good." An office worker chimed in. "I buy it every week. Better than those fighting and killing ones."
Henderson thought while collecting money: Truly all kinds of people read this manga.
10:00 AM. The first batch of readers finished Chapter 19.
The forum didn't explode instantly like usual but was quiet for a few minutes. Then, posts slowly surfaced:
"Just finished Chapter 19. I cried in the office." "Winry's line 'Repairing you is my duty'... reminded me of my wife." "This chapter has no big scenes, but it moved me more than any big scene." "Those saying FMA is only dark, look at this chapter. Warmth in darkness is most precious." "My parents never read comics I buy. Today I showed them this chapter, my mom cried."
No exaggerated hype, no fierce arguments, only plain emotion.
Even more surprising, many who didn't usually read comics began discussing: "I don't usually read manga, but this chapter reminded me of a lot of things." "True feelings don't need fancy language. A look is enough." "Those saying they don't understand haven't experienced real feelings, right?"
The wind of public opinion changed unknowingly. The label "Can't understand" seemed ridiculous in front of Chapter 19—what's there not to understand? It's just a calm goodbye between two people. Everyone has experienced goodbyes; everyone understands that feeling.
Afternoon, data came out. Fullmetal Alchemist Chapter 19 Approval Rating: 78.5%, rising instead of falling.
More crucial was the supplementary question in the reader survey: "Why did you like this chapter?" Top three answers: "Real, like real life." "Emotion restrained but profound." "Reminded me of someone important."
No "Gratifying," no "Burning," only "Real."
Meanwhile, Seat of God Chapter 4 delay announcement was released. Hiro apologized sincerely on social media: "Chapter 4 needs redrawing because I want to draw a better work, not a more 'gratifying' work. Thank you for waiting, and thank you to the opponent—for showing me what true 'good' is."
No names named, but everyone knew who he was talking about.
Evening, Ranch.
Alex helped in the barn. The weak calf was in bad shape; he fed it medicine with his father. The calf's eyes were dark and bright, looking at him, mooing softly.
"Will it survive?" He asked.
"Depends on itself," John said. "We did what we could. The rest depends on its fate."
Simple words, but Alex understood. Just like creation—did what could be done, the rest left to readers, to time.
He patted the calf's head and went back to the house.
Opening his computer, forum discussion on Chapter 19 continued. Someone wrote a long analysis of Winry's character; someone shared stories of goodbyes; someone discussed "what is true emotion."
Lively, real.
He watched for a while, then closed the page, opening the storyboard for Chapter 20.
Next chapter, the plot enters a new stage. Edward and Alphonse's counterattack begins. There will be battles, schemes, sacrifices. But also warmth, trust, hope.
He knew this was the story he wanted to draw—not just darkness, but light. Not just cruelty, but tenderness. Not just despair, but hope.
To be Continued