In the following days, aside from his daily work, Haruki and Kazuya rented a large house near Haruki's apartment to serve as the new animation team's production base.
Naturally, Kazuya and the rest of the professionals handled the setup equipment purchases, studio layout, rentals. Haruki's role was simple: wire money whenever the team needed it.
The team moved quickly. Within days, operations were underway.
Despite his packed schedule, Haruki also took on a hands-on role, serving as assistant animation supervisor alongside his producer responsibilities.
Although Haruki wasn't experienced in animation production, he had a solid eye for quality. While the main animation director handled technical corrections, Haruki focused on visual style and scene impact. He was learning on the job watching, asking questions, and gradually getting the hang of things alongside the team.
As for the production quality, Haruki could only hope they could reach the standard he had in mind the kind he had seen in system. But that would depend on budget and the skill of the team. He could only trust that Kazuya had brought in the right people.
Music production for the original soundtrack was also handed off to a separate team.
Over time, the animators began to view Haruki with a mix of surprise and respect. He might not have the technical know-how, but his input on storyboards and pacing often cut straight to the heart of an issue.
As for Kazuya, he juggled daytime responsibilities at Kazanami Animation and spent his nights at the new studio, solving production bottlenecks. He and Haruki were easily the two busiest people on the team.
Kazuya wanted the two movies to be finished and ready to broadcast by year's end.
But it was already late June, meaning they had less than six months to complete the project.
When Kazuya shared the production schedule with the team, his old friends and the new hires alike jokingly cursed him as a tyrant and slave-driver.
But it was all in good fun. These were veterans who had survived worse. High-pressure production was their normal.
Still, based on the schedule, the next six months would be grueling. As long as the outsourced segments stayed on track, they just might make it.
Haruki thought the timeline was tight, but he recalled that Anohana, also led by Kazuya, had been completed in just a few months with stellar results. So, he didn't protest.
After all, they were working within budget, and scope creep would only balloon the cost.
…
Even with the hectic schedule, Haruki managed to squeeze in a mockup test for his driving theory exam. Unsurprisingly, he failed again.
Ryuko had gone with him and failed too, but she didn't seem to mind at all. In fact, she seemed to enjoy the whole experience.
Haruki couldn't quite understand what she was so cheerful about. Failing a test wasn't exactly cause for celebration. But since she wasn't bothering him, he decided not to think too hard about it.
Having someone to chat with at the driving school wasn't so bad, either.
…
Meanwhile, the buzz surrounding Initial D continued to build.
Other major publishers finally started paying serious attention to the racing manga and its creator.
Previously, Haruki had flown under the radar. Though he was talented, his work hadn't yet commanded industry-wide influence. But with Initial D gaining traction, offers started pouring in.
Even the two biggest players in the Tokyo manga scene Chain Veil and Gilded Lock reached out, offering generous contracts and creative freedom.
Haruki considered their proposals… and politely declined.
He was doing just fine at Echo Shroud Publishing. There was no need to stir the pot.
With that, chapter three of Initial D was released.
The chapter opened with Takumi getting ready to deliver tofu in the early morning.
Before he left, his father, Bunta, filled a paper cup with water and placed it in the car's cup holder.
"That's a little more than usual," he muttered.
"Don't spill it," he added flatly.
The odd exchange left readers puzzled.
What was that about? A cup of water with no lid, in a car? Was it just… for drinking? Shouldn't it at least be tea?
But in the pages that followed, Takumi showed them what it was for.
On the winding downhill roads of Mount Akina, the AE86 tore through corners. Gear shifts, hairpin turns, and braking each maneuver executed with fluid precision.
The cup of water trembled at the edge, nearly overflowing.
But not a single drop spilled.
Takumi glanced at it calmly, downshifted, and floored the gas.
The tachometer climbed to 7200 RPM.
Readers were stunned.
Was this even possible?
So this was how Takumi had trained blasting down a curvy mountain road while keeping a cup of water perfectly still?
It was insane. And exhilarating.
Even as they processed the absurdity, readers couldn't help but be hyped.
The story shifted again this time to Iketani, who visited Bunta and then began practicing late at night to prepare for the Saturday showdown.
In these pages, Haruki emphasized the risks of mountain driving. The car swerved, tires slipped, and each turn carried the threat of flying off the edge.
The chapter ended with Iketani narrowly dodging an oncoming car crashing into a guardrail in the process.
Online, reactions exploded.
"Come on, Mizushiro-sensei! This is too drawn out! I want the Takumi vs. Keisuke race already!"
"I don't get it. Why does this manga feel so addictive? I can't wait for the next chapter."
"I swear, Mizushiro is way better at this kind of intense, adrenaline-pumping series. Initial D is even better than his last works."
"+1!"
"Still, I kind of miss Kenshin…"
On forums, in comment sections, and across social media, Initial D was everywhere.
To be fair, the first chapter had made the biggest splash. Chapters two and three slowed the pace slightly but not in a bad way. Instead, they built anticipation for the long-awaited race between Takumi and Keisuke Takahashi.
From the perspective of industry veterans, if that race didn't deliver, these buildup chapters might seem like filler.
But if the race turned out as thrilling as promised, then this slow burn would prove to be brilliant setup.
And right now, across Japan, thousands of fans were already on fire waiting for that first clash on the mountain roads of Akina.
Shout out to Evan Jonathan for joining my p-atreon! your support means everything to me.
(TL:- if you want even more content, check out p-atreon.com/Alioth23 for 55+ advanced chapters)