Chapter 63: Nyanpasu on Fire [3]
At the same time, Shonen World HQ.
Kane stared at the explosive data of "Nyanpasu" on the monitor, tapping his finger lightly on the desk. The conference room was silent; all editors lowered their heads, daring not speak.
"40 million views," Kane finally spoke, voice calm. "A casual line from a manga, 40 million views. We spent 25 million on Newcomer Award marketing, what's the total exposure?"
Marketing Head answered softly:
"About... 8 million."
"8 million vs 40 million." Kane smiled, very coldly. "So tell me, where did we lose?"
No one dared answer.
"I tell you," Kane stood up, walking to the screen, pulling up Non Non Biyori's reader analysis report. "We lost because—we kept thinking what readers 'should' like, while Alex draws what readers 'truly need'."
He pointed at the keywords on the report: "Stress Release,"
"Childhood Memories," "Simple Happiness,"
"Healing"—"In this society now, who isn't tired? Who doesn't want to return to that simple childhood happiness? Non Non Biyori gave them an entrance, an entrance requiring no thinking, no effort, purely enjoying happiness. And what are we doing? Teaching newcomers how to draw 'gratifying stories with depth'?"
The room was silent.
"So," Kane turned around, eyes sharp.
"From now on, adjust direction of 'Fault Line Plan'. We look not for newcomers drawing complex emotions, but those drawing pure happiness. Not imitating Non Non Biyori, but finding our own 'Nyanpasu'."
"Chief," an editor hesitated. "But will pure happiness genre be too..."
"Too childish? Too simple?" Kane interrupted.
"Non Non Biyori's data is right there. 79.8% approval, 40 million spread. Market proved readers need this. What we need to do is find different 'pure happiness'—not rural healing, maybe urban healing, campus healing, workplace healing. Anyway, give readers a place to breathe."
He paused, adding: "Also, contact Hiro. Tell him, submit a capable healing work in three months. Genre unlimited, but must move people, must be simple, must be happy."
"But Teacher Hiro drew hot-blooded battles before..."
"That's why he needs to change." Kane said. "Tell him, this is the last chance. If he can't draw it, it's really over."
Thursday morning, ranch mist hadn't dispersed.
Alex fed milk to the newborn calf in the barn. The little guy was weak, taking great effort to eat each time. He squatted beside it, patiently holding the bottle, watching it swallow little by little.
Phone buzzed non-stop in pocket. After feeding, wiping hands, he took it out. Sue sent a long summary of "Nyanpasu" phenomenon, followed by a dozen exclamation marks.
He read it, replied "Yeah", then continued checking the calf's condition.
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9:00 AM, Samantha arrived on time. Carrying a big backpack today, she opened it excitedly upon entering: "Teacher! Look what I brought!"
Backpack full of gifts readers sent to Manga Weekly editorial department—hand-knitted "Nyanpasu" scarves, handmade old rural house models, Non Non Biyori fan art drawn by children, and a big bag of special snacks from all over the country, each pack with a note:
"For Teacher Alex to taste our hometown flavor Nyanpasu~"
"These were screened by editorial," Samantha's eyes shone. "Still several boxes, Chief said too many, transfer slowly to you. Teacher, do you know how many people are thanking you now?"
Alex looked at the pile of gifts, silent for a while, then squatted down, picking up a drawing by a child. Five crooked little figures holding hands, childish handwriting beside: "Nyanpasu! Thank you Teacher Alex!"
"This child," Samantha whispered, "is a leukemia patient treating in hospital. His mom said after reading Non Non Biyori, he doesn't cry much during chemo, says he wants to be a brave optimistic kid like Renge."
Alex looked at the drawing for a long time, then carefully put it away.
"Teacher," Samantha asked, "did you see online discussions? Saying you use FMA to show world's darkness, use Non Non Biyori to show world's light. Saying you actually teaching everyone how to find light in darkness."
"I didn't think that much." Alex said. "I just draw the world I see."
"But the world you draw gave strength to many." Samantha said seriously. "In reader letters I received, office workers say Non Non Biyori got them through overtime season, college students say FMA made them think about life meaning, old people say reminded of youth in countryside... Teacher, your manga is really changing people."
Alex didn't speak, turned to studio. Samantha followed quickly.
During morning work hours, Alex drew FMA Chapter 32. In this chapter, Edward and Alphonse had first breathing time after retreat. Sitting by bonfire in temporary camp, no one spoke, just staring at flames dazed.
Very quiet, but thousand words in silence.
He drew slowly, heavily. Drawing Edward's eyes staring at fire, fire reflection on Alphonse's armor, silhouette of wounded tent in distance, cold stars in night sky.
No dialogue, but all emotions in picture.
Samantha watched quietly, suddenly said:
"Teacher, contrast between this chapter and Non Non Biyori... too strong. Non Non Biyori has warm bonfire, everyone laughing around. FMA has battlefield bonfire, two sitting silently. But don't know why, I feel... very real."
"Because both are life." Alex said. "War is life, peace is life, pain is life, happiness is life. I only draw real life."
"I understand." Samantha whispered.
Afternoon, revised Non Non Biyori Chapter 8 draft together. Plot was five girls first overnight stay in countryside, sleeping on same big communal bed, chatting till midnight.
Samantha originally drew very warm, but Alex saw and said: "Too orderly. Real communal bed chat should have snatching blankets, snoring, sleep talking, tripping when going to toilet at night. Warm, but with smoke and fire of life."
"Right right right!" Samantha revised immediately.
Revising blanket snatching part, she laughed suddenly: "Teacher, when I slept with sister as kids, always snatched blankets. Mom said we looked like fighting."
"Then draw that feeling out."
Alex said.
"Not snatching intentionally, but unconsciously when sleepy. Next morning find blanket all on self, other curled up. That warmth with guilt is more real."
"Got it!"
Evening, Chapter 8 revised. In picture, five girls slept crookedly, blankets pulled messy, someone drooling, someone leg on other. Not elegant, but real, warm.
"Teacher," Samantha looked at revised draft, smiling. "I feel now Non Non Biyori moves people because of these imperfections. Too perfect is like performance, imperfect is life."
"Yeah." Alex nodded.
Friday, Fullmetal Alchemist Chapter 32 released.
Tone still heavy, but with subtle warmth. Edward said to Alphonse by bonfire:
"When war ends, let's go back to hometown. Winry said she expanded workshop, can repair three automails simultaneously."
Alphonse armor turned to him: "Then I want to order a new one. More flexible, can hold smaller things, like... embroidery needle."
Edward paused, then laughed: "You want to learn embroidery?"
"Want to try." Alphonse said. "Sister Winry says, people with dexterous hands have fine hearts. I want... to be a person with fine heart."
Simple words, but precious in war background. Tenderness in cruelty, hope in despair.
Forum discussion appeared magical contrast again:
"Just finished FMA Ch 32, cried at Alphonse wanting to learn embroidery. Then scrolled to Nyanpasu hand dance video... now wiping tears while doing gesture, mental state worrying."
"But don't you think this is where Alex is amazing? He lets us believe in light even in darkest times. Find happiness even in most painful times."
"I get tortured by FMA every Monday, immediately watch Non Non Biyori to recover. Thank you Alex for saving my dog life."
"So Non Non Biyori is actually FMA readers' first aid kit? Tortured too hard then take a healing chapter?"
"Upstairs truth. I use Non Non Biyori as mood stabilizer now, high work pressure watch one chapter, instantly healed Nyanpasu~"
Even better, netizens compiled "Alex Walker Work Emotion Curve": FMA: Continues low, occasional small rise, overall depressing. Non Non Biyori: Continues high, no fluctuation, ultimate healing. Thorn Bird: Violent oscillation, torture cry heal then torture cry. Caption: "Is the author's mental state okay?"
Comments: "He should be busy now, drawing Big Brother human chimera while drawing chasing butterflies in countryside." "But both drawn so well! Is this reasonable?" "Unreasonable, but I love watching! Please continue split personality!"
Saturday evening, Ranch.
Alex received latest data from Sue—Non Non Biyori debut three chapters cumulative spread broke 50 million, setting manga industry record. And "Nyanpasu" term entered annual internet buzzwords top 10, and it's only February.
To Be Continued