The following weeks were a blur of pressure and nonstop work.

Gojo immediately dove into creating new illustrations, bonus pages, and a freshly colored cover for the physical release of Heartbreak Loverboy Crybaby. He realized he wasn’t satisfied with the original version and wanted to push himself to produce something better. Seeing his determination, his parents allowed him to temporarily suspend his homeschooling so he could focus entirely on the project.

He worked day and night, barely sleeping, sketching until his hands trembled. But he finished just twenty-four hours before the deadline. The moment he submitted the final files, he collapsed into bed and slept like a log for two whole days.

Then, in the second week of February, the physical copies of HLC hit store shelves and that’s when the magic happened.

Preorders sold out within the first three days, an achievement only the most well-known mangaka had ever reached. The publisher immediately announced a second reprint, and those copies vanished just as quickly as the first.

During all this excitement, Gojo spent nearly every waking hour preparing new bonus material for each reprint. Because of that, he didn’t get the chance to see Senji Noda again; not until the beginning of March.

******

Meanwhile, across the city, inside the glass-walled headquarters of Mugen Manga Works, the atmosphere in the executive office was unusually quiet.

The head of the company Damian Edwards, a man in his late 40s sat behind his polished desk, eyes fixed on the glowing laptop screen. An article filled the display; one of many that had exploded across the internet over the past week.

“Heartbreak Loverboy Crybaby Shatters Sales Records: Newcomer Artist Takes Industry by Storm.”

He scrolled slowly, his expression caught somewhere between disbelief and admiration. The numbers were staggering. First print sold out in three days, reprints gone just as fast and social media engagements were skyrocketing. The critics were now calling it a once in a generation debut.

He leaned back in his chair, exhaling through a small, impressed smile.

A firm knock broke the silence.

Damian: Come in. 

The door slid open, and Senji Noda stepped inside and his presence made the smile in Damian's face grow stronger.

Senji Noda, a man in his late 40s was one of the most popular mangaka the company had. His manga "Two Piece Adventures" was the first manga to sell over 300M copies and get almost a billion views on the company's app. 

His manga had also gone to receive an anime adaptation a few years back and it won awards and had gotten multiple deals. Two Piece Adventures would then go on to become a hit across the country and in various parts of the world. 

Most people referred to Senji Noda as a legend, some thinnk of him as a god or an idol that was meant to be worshipped, but Damian saw him as the scrawny kid he grew up with all those years ago. 

Damian: How've you been old friend? 

Senji: I'm good. I'm good. Didn't think I'd get tired of resting after finishing my manga though. 

Damian: Already having second thoughs?

Senji took his seat across Damian before responding.

Senji: Maybe. I've been working on plans for a sequel and I thought I'd run it by you later. 

Damian: Later? Why not now? Isn't that why you came to see me? 

Senji: No, that's not it. I came to you for a different topic of discussion. 

Damian: Oh really? 

Senji then reached for his jacket and brought out his copy of Heartbreak Loverboy Crybaby and placed it on Damian's table.

Damian: (puzzled) The new kid? Why are we talking about him?

Senji: I asked Dominic to get him to see me a few weeks ago and we haven't been able to meet until today that is. And I told them that when they arrive, they should come here. 

Damian: (more puzzled) Why did you do that? I was already going to tell his editor that I want him to sign a contract with us. He doesn't need to meet me in person..

Senji: Yes I'm aware and I apologize for not telling you before hand but then I found something that intrigued me and I'm sure it'll intrigued you too. 

Damian: Something?

Senji: Yeah... (pauses) His pen name is Karakuri but I found out his real name is Gojo Masaki. 

Damian immediately had a look of intense shock on his face once he heard that. He knew his friend was not one to lie to his face and he knew the weight the words he had just told him carried. 

Suddenly, a flash of a memory Damian had thought he had forgotten flashed in his mind: the memory of four boys and a girl riding bicycles together and smiling happily.

Finally, when he did eventually speak, he spoke in a quiet voice that almost sounded like a whisper.

Damian: So is this what they call fate? 

*****

Gojo could hardly believe that he was standing right in front of the Mugen Manga Works building. He had been eagerly waiting for this moment for a long time and now that the awaited day had come, he was nervous. 

Dominic who was standing beside him could tell he was nervous.

Dominic: You're shaking.

Gojo: (adjusts his glasses) Am I? 

Dominic: Yeah, you are. Calm down kiddo.

Gojo: How can you say that to me right now? One minute, we were going to meet Senji Noda which is already big enough but I'm meeting him in the head of the company's office?! Of course I'll be nervous.

Dominic: (sighs) You know, when young artists get called like this, it's always good news. Even with your recent successes, this shouldn't be a surprise. 

Gojo: I know. But it still gets me all tensed up because.... (pauses) Nevermind. 

Dominic sighed and began walking into the building.

Dominic: Let's go.

Gojo nodded and began to follow after Dominic. 

Dominic couldn't tell if Gojo stopped talking because he was too nervous or because he had something he didn't want to say, but he forgot about that in a few seconds as they walked into the building. 

On getting into the building, Gojo was greeted by the rowdy atmosphere of Mugen Manga Works as everyone seems to be very busy and were all moving in different directions. The building poster for different manga could be found almost everywhere in the large office area. 

Gojo: It's so busy. 

Dominic: Yeah, it's a lot of getting used to. But by the time you come here more than once you'll get used to it.

Gojo: I guess that makes sense.

Gojo admired the room for a while before he followed Dominic into the elevator which took them upstairs to the last floor of the ten stores building where Damian's office was.

On getting to the office, Gojo's heart skipped a beat as his eyes fell on the Damian Edwards name on the glass door through which he could see two figures seated in the office. Gojo took a deep breath and nodded his head to Dominic who was waiting for him and then Dominic knocked on the door. 

Gojo heard a voice say "come in" before Dominic opened the doors and told Gojo to walk in. 

Gojo walked into the room as was amazed by how the glass walls reflected the light in a unique way that the lights on the ceiling didn't need to be turned on. 

Looking forward, Gojo saw two men and recognized one of them to be Senji Noda and the other was Damian, a face he hadn't seen before and while Gojo wasn't too sure, he felt like Damian was giving a stare like he had offended him. 

Then, Dominic spoke from behind Gojo. 

Dominic: Good afternoon Mr Edwards, Mr Noda. As requested, I brought him here.

Gojo: (nervously) Um... Good afternoon.  

Senji: (smiles) You must be Gojo Masaki, or as your pen name goes Karakuri. 

Gojo: Yeah... (laughs nervously) That's me.

Senji: Well, I believe I don't need any introduction but I'll say it anyway. I'm Senji Noda. I'm sure you've read my manga Two Piece Adventures.

Gojo: Um... Yes sir. I'm a big fan of your work.

Senji: (smiles and gestures Gojo at Damian) And this here, is Damian Edwards, the CEO of Mugen Manga Works. 

Gojo looked at Damian's direction and offered to shake him. 

Gojo: G...Good afternoon sir. 

Damian's eyes locked in on Gojo with an intensity he didn't understand and then he cleared his throat loud, while ignoring Gojo's outstretched hand. 

Damian: Well then… let’s get down to business, shall we?