The noise of the press and the flashing of cameras could be heard from inside the Mugen Manga Works main building. Different news outlets had sent their journalists and all of them gathered at Mugen Manga Works to get the latest scope of the news that has gone around the country.

"MUGEN MANGA WORKS LAUNCHES REVOLUTIONARY MUGEN MANGA ACADEMY TO TRAIN THE NEXT GENERATION OF STAR MANGAKA”

The news took the Internet by storm when it was first announced two years ago with people showing their interest and excitement for the school. Though it was announced back then, it took two years for the school to finally be established and be ready to receive students.

A building property was bought, demolished and built up again and completed at the start of the year. Phone calls were made and tutors for the students were hired. The next thing that came was the admission of students through the school portal.

Before the students were given admission to the academy, a drawing prompt was sent out for the students to draw and they were to submit the results to the Mugen Manga Works email. Over ten thousand young artists turned in their world and only a total number of 240 students were admitted into the school.

By August 1st, all the students who made it in, had been registered into the academy's database. 

Now the grand opening of the school was here and the press waited on the CEO of Mugen Manga Works to make his speech.

After what felt like ages, Damian Edwards stepped out of the building and with him was Senji Noda, the prestigious author of the popular manga “Two Piece Adventures”. 

The crowd immediately entered a frenzy once Damian Edwards was sighted and they refused to remain calm despite the security’s attempts to calm them down.

Damian then ushered them to remain calm and told them he was going to answer their questions one at a time. He then pointed at a young lady and the she spoke: 

Reporter: Mr. Edwards, you’re already running the most successful manga company in the country. Why take on something as risky as building a school?

Damian cleared his throat and began speaking into her recorder.

Damian: When I was seven years old. My family and I traveled to Japan to spend the holiday there. When we were there, we had a chance to visit the Kyoto International Manga Museum. My visit there changed my life and is what got me interested in the art of making manga and right there and there, I decided that I would make the manga from Hoshigoata, stand out and leave a significant mark in this country. Becoming the CEO of Mugen Manga Works is the first step to that dream and this school will help solidify that dream into reality. Next question.

The reporters got rowdy again until Damian pointed to the young man who stood at the back. Once he realized he had been pointed out, he immediately rushed the crowd and made his way to the front. 

Damian: Ask your question. 

Reporter: What matters more at Mugen Manga Academy? Raw talent or hard work?

Damian: Raw talent or hard work? Why do you feel the need to separate the two? As far as I'm concerned, they both work hand in hand I'm ensuring success. So to answer your question, they both matter. Next question please. 

The rowdiness occurred again until Damian pointed out the next person. 

Reporter: This question is for you Noda-sensei. How involved will you be with the students directly?

Senji cleared his throat before he spoke.

Senji: Well, I have been put in charge as the head of the school so I will be involved with the students in more ways than one. 

Reporter: Are you currently searching for someone who can become your successor?

Senji laughed at this.

Senji: A successor? No, that would be too soon, don't you think? I have many stories I want to write so it's too early for me to throw in the towel. 

Damian then pointed at a young man with glasses.

Damian: This would be the last question we take. (to the young man) Go on. 

Reporter: Out of tens of thousands of applicants, only 240 were accepted. What criteria did you use?

Damian didn’t hesitate.

Damian: Talent gets you noticed. Discipline keeps you alive.

We didn’t accept students based on passion speeches or luck. We looked for three things: technical foundation, creative instinct, and psychological resilience.

He lifted a finger.

Damian: Technical foundation is simple. Can you draw? Can you construct a panel that communicates clearly without explanation? If your art needs a paragraph to justify it, you’re not ready.

Another finger.

Damian: Creative instinct is whether you see like a storyteller. Whether your mind naturally builds tension, emotion, pacing or whether you’re just copying what you’ve already read.

Then the third.

Damian: And psychological resilience… That’s whether you can fail, be criticized, be ignored and still show up the next day and work.

He cleared his throat before he continued. 

Damian: This industry will take everything from you if you let it. So we chose the ones who can take the pressure and keep drawing anyway.

He glanced over the crowd.

Damian: 240 wasn’t a number we wanted. It’s the number that met up to our standards.

The crowd of reporters could feel Damian's aura and at that moment they felt a chill flow through them. That's when Senji pitched in. 

Senji: And just to be clear, psychological resilience doesn’t mean cruelty. It means commitment.

He glanced toward the cameras.

Senji: We’re not here to break students down. We’re here to help them strengthen their skills, their imagination, and their hearts.

He gave them all a small, calm smile.

Senji: If they’re willing to grow, we’re willing to guide them. That'll be all the questions we can take for now. We have to go to the opening ceremony at the school. Thank you all so much. 

The crowd made way as Damian and Senji made their way to a car that was already parked at the edge of the road and as they approached the car, the driver quickly came out and opened the doors for them. The moment the driver entered the car, he immediately started the engines and drove off into the road. 

Senji: You truly are ruthless, you know that right?

Damian: Am I?

Senji: You could've at least tried not to scare the reporters with your ideologies. 

Damian: They asked the questions so I gave them the answers they wanted to hear. If anyone, it'll get more people to be interested in the school now.

Senji: That makes sense. 

Damian: By the way, do you still have the list of the students who were admitted into the academy?

Senji: Of course.

Senji reached into the small pocket at the back of the driver's seat and pulled out a brown folder which held the list in it. Damian took the folder and began going through the list. Senji smiled knowing exactly what his friend was doing.

Senji: You're looking for his name right? Gojo Masaki. 

Damian: Yes… Yes I am.

Senji: I already told you that he passed the prompt I put out back then.

Damian: Yes I know you told me that but I want to see his name with my own eyes. 

Senji chuckled and Damian went through the list until his eyes finally rested on Gojo's name. His mind then flashed back to the first time Gojo came to his office with Dominic. 

Damian smiled and then looked out the window.

Damian: It's been two years since that day, hasn't it?

Senji: Yes and I'm curious to see how much he's grown since then.