Riku's appearance immediately caught the attention of many in the audience.
After all, My Husky Has Become a Perfect had made quite the splash—not just commercially, but as a quirky talking point in manga circles. Its success was a frequent topic of post-dinner chatter among editors and creators alike. Everyone was curious about the man behind it.
But when they saw Riku's cheerful, slightly goofy expression on stage, the tension in the room seemed to ease a little. Laughter and smiles passed among the crowd.
"Hello everyone, I'm Riku, author of My Husky Has Become a Perfect," he said brightly. "It's a real honor to be standing here at the Kurokawa Publishing Annual Meeting..."
His speech was upbeat and humble, but mostly the same sort of thing everyone said on stage: thanks for the opportunity, appreciation for the industry, and vague hopes for the coming year.
After listening to a few such speeches, Haruki began to zone out. Leaning back in his chair, lulled by the warm air circulating through the hall, his eyes slowly closed. Despite the background noise and chatter, he drifted off.
...
Ever since the chairman's speech concluded, and Sora had taken over as host alongside her rather unremarkable male counterpart, the event had shifted into a parade of testimonials. One by one, editors and manga artists with standing in the industry were invited onstage to give brief remarks.
Even with Sora's hosting skills, each person only spoke for about five to six minutes before moving on. But she had been up there for nearly two hours straight now, coordinating transitions and introducing speakers with energy that didn't seem to wane.
As she pulled out the final segment of her list and announced Haruto Minami's name, most attendees understood—they were nearing the end.
Following Haruto Minami would be Shinji, the author of Demon Realm, and then Yuna Takahashi, the creator of The Hidden Girl.
And finally—there was no doubt—the last person on the schedule would be the breakout manga artist who had shot to the top in just a few short months. The one whose work, Rurouni Kenshin: Remembrance, had shaken the industry.
Mizushiro.
The realization sent a subtle ripple through the venue. The air shifted.
People sat up a little straighter, glancing toward the stage, whispering among themselves.
All night, there had been no sign of him. No interviews, no glimpses. Unlike the other top-tier manga artists—Haruto Minami, Yuna Takahashi, Shinji—who were surrounded by fellow creators and editors, nobody had spotted Mizushiro. Aside from one young man's offhand joke earlier in the night, the elusive figure had been a complete mystery.
And yet, despite his anonymity, most of the veteran artists present had nothing but goodwill toward him.
He was a newcomer, yes—but a Kurokawa Publishing newcomer. His rise had been fast, sure, but at least he was one of theirs. Better that than someone from a rival publisher like Horizon.
Some even admitted, quietly, that it would've stung more if Yuna—immensely talented, but representing a different background—had taken the top spot.
So when Haruto and Shinji wrapped up their speeches, and Yuna began walking toward the stage, the atmosphere in the room became charged with anticipation. They were nearly there.
Even at Haruki's table—despite him now dozing lightly—conversations had turned toward Rurouni Kenshin and its mysterious author.
"I mean seriously, the plot is so tight, and the execution is gorgeous," one artist said, gesturing animatedly with his glass in hand. "That splash page of the duel with Hajime Saito... you can practically feel the emotion bleeding off the panel."
"Yeah," another chimed in. "I refuse to believe a newcomer drew that. The panel layouts, pacing, and that brushwork—it's too refined. If you told me it was the pen name of some seasoned veteran, I'd believe it in a heartbeat."
"There were rumors about that," said a third. "A lot of people tried to guess who it might be—comparing art styles, story structure—but none of the usual suspects matched."
"Doesn't matter," the first speaker said, waving a hand. "We'll know in just a few minutes anyway. Once Yuna steps down, there's only one name left. Whoever walks onstage after her... that's Mizushiro."
Kotone sat quietly, listening to the flurry of speculation while sipping from a glass of mineral water. Rin leaned in, whispering a comment now and then, but mostly the two watched with quiet amusement.
After all, the truth was sitting right next to them, lightly snoring.
The same guy who had openly admitted to being Mizushiro earlier tonight—only to have everyone laugh it off as a joke.
Kotone covered her smile with her hand. It was amusing watching so many seasoned artists and editors chasing shadows... when the real answer was so plainly right in front of them.
"...Lastly, I'd like to thank my editor Rika Hayashi, and everyone at Kurokawa Publishing for supporting The Hidden Girl. Without your efforts, this series wouldn't be where it is today."
Yuna Takahashi stepped up to the stage. After a respectful bow, she stepped down with practiced grace.
She'd attended these kinds of annual meetings for the past five years—saying the expected things had become second nature by now.
As she returned to her seat, her gaze lingered with curiosity on Sora , who was still holding her post onstage.
After hosting for more than two hours, Sora was clearly fatigued. Nearly every name on the program had been called now.
Only one person remained.
At that moment, everyone— Rika Hayashi, Yuna Takahashi, and even veteran artists like Haruto Minami and Shinji—seemed to sit up a little straighter.
The host smiled knowingly.
"I think everyone already knows who's coming up next."
A wave of anticipation passed through the hall.
"Yes, this winter saw his breakout debut in Sora. In just seven weeks, his work swept the manga industry, and the critically acclaimed Rurouni Kenshin: Remembrance gained a massive following. Please welcome the artist behind it—Mizushiro-sensei."
The host turned to Sora beside him.
"And as it happens, the editor standing beside me—Sora—is the very person overseeing Mizushiro-sensei's work."
"But before we bring him to the stage, I'd like to ask Sora a few quick questions." Despite showing signs of fatigue, the host's energy lifted again for the main event.
"Of course, go ahead," Sora said with a soft smile.
The host nodded.
"Rurouni Kenshin: Remembrance is exceptional. It's easily one of the strongest works we've published in years. Could you tell us a bit about how this manga came to be?"
Sora hesitated. It was a question they'd prepped for, but in the moment, it still caught her a bit off guard.
She wanted to laugh. How was it created? She had no idea!
That guy, Haruki, always looked like he was slacking—going to class, doodling absentmindedly, fiddling with his phone. He never looked like he was deeply planning anything. He'd just put pen to paper, and like magic, the work came together.
"Well… Sensei has a strong interest in historical periods. While researching certain eras, he found inspiration naturally striking him—like a bolt from the blue."
She was bluffing. Haruki had never mentioned any interest in history.
"I see..." the host nodded thoughtfully.
"Mizushiro-sensei is truly something. If I try to read anything historical, I just end up falling asleep."
The crowd laughed softly.
"One more question before we call him up. In your view, what kind of person is Mizushiro-sensei?"
Sora paused. The image that immediately came to mind was the novelty scale Haruki had gifted her on Christmas Eve—a quirky but somehow meaningful gesture.
She took a breath and smiled faintly.
"I think… he's someone who was born to make manga. It's like it's all he ever wants to do."
The crowd stirred at that. Was that praise from a professional peer… or a subtle complaint from someone who'd tried to talk to him outside work?
The host laughed. "That's quite the evaluation! But alright, let's not keep everyone waiting. I think we're all ready to welcome Mizushiro-sensei to the stage!"
——
At his table, Kotone gave Haruki a nudge.
"Hey, wake up already."
"Mmph… don't mess with me," Haruki grumbled, face still buried in his arms.
"It's your turn to go up, remember?" she said, leaning closer.
Riku glanced over, curious about their exchange. She hadn't caught what Sora was saying on stage.
"What's the big deal? Even if Mizushiro-sensei's up next, he can just stay asleep."
Kotone gave Rin a helpless look. If he doesn't wake up, who's going to walk on stage as Mizushiro?
——
"Now, please welcome the author of Rurouni Kenshin: Remembrance—Mizushiro-sensei!"
The host waited for the applause to die down... but nothing happened.
Half a minute passed.
The host glanced awkwardly at Sora. She looked out into the audience, which was darkened slightly for effect.
——
"Haruki, seriously, get up. They're all waiting for you."
The venue had gone silent in anticipation. Kotone's voice at their table rang out a little too clearly.
Haruki stirred groggily.
"Stage? Oh right… this is the annual meeting. It's my turn?"
His thoughts struggled to align, and just as clarity returned—
"Agh!" he winced, grabbing his waist.
He turned to see Kotone's apologetic expression.
"Sorry... but, you're awake now, right?"
Haruki groaned. Could he even be mad at her?
"Very… very awake," he muttered, still wincing.
He forced himself upright.
The sound of his chair scraping the floor echoed sharply through the hall. Heads turned.
Yuna, Rika, and the others at the next table glanced over in surprise. Even Shinji and Haruto Minami shifted in their seats.
"Haruki, you going to the restroom? Now's not really the time…" Riku began, but trailed off as he realized—
Everyone else had just realized it too.
It was him.
Mizushiro-sensei.
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