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Following the marketing campaign by Kiyozawa Library featuring Haruto and Reina, the results for the latest issue were scrutinized by a massive audience of dedicated readers.
Although the magazine typically only serialized a limited number of titles at any given time, seeing a debut chapter land immediately at the seventh rank was a statistical anomaly that was practically unheard of in the industry. Naturally, the forums were ablaze with debates between the fanbases of the two creators.
"This is insane. One is at the top, and the other is already at number seven. What kind of power rivalry is this?"
"I swear Shiori-sensei did this on purpose. He could have taken the number one spot weeks ago, but he waited until the exact issue where Reina's new series debuted to reach the summit. That is deviously brilliant."
"The pressure on Reina must be astronomical now. Every interview and every promo has her aiming for Haruto's throat, and now he's officially the King of Kiyozawa Library."
"This is exactly what the industry needed! Let's be honest, the light novel scene has been stagnant for nearly a decade. Every year, the industry awards feature the same five or six veteran authors winning the top prizes. I was getting bored of seeing the same faces over and over again."
"Speaking of the awards, I remember Shiori-sensei saying that the next time he stood on that stage, he would be aiming for the number one spot. Looking at the current trajectory of Sword Art Online, that doesn't feel like a boast anymore. I have no idea who could even challenge him when the awards roll around next spring."
"Is there even another new light novel this year that comes close to SAO's popularity?"
"Not a chance. Even Crimson Abyss, which has been running for years and averages massive numbers per volume, got dragged down by SAO. If the established pillars are falling, the new rookies don't stand a prayer."
"Exactly. People don't realize the weight of being number one in Kiyozawa magazine. It's one of the 'Big Three' magazines in the country. To take the top spot there, you usually need a top national presence, which takes years of serialization to build. Sword Art Online did it in two months. That is a record that might never be broken in our lifetime."
"When you step back and look at it, Shiori is a force of nature. He conquered Weekly Prime with Initial D in a few months, and now he's done the same at Kiyozawa with SAO. It's almost surreal."
"Is there anyone in the entire industry with more influence than him right now?"
"He's incredible, but let's not get carried away with the hype just yet. There are still veterans from the Golden Age twenty years ago who have four or five legendary hits to their names. In terms of lifetime cumulative impact, they still hold the high ground. But... Haruto is only nineteen. Nineteen! Do you realize how terrifying that is?"
"To be at the pinnacle of both the manga and novel industries at nineteen... in five years, he'll be a legend."
"So, who's actually bigger now? Shiori Takahashi or the Warrior of Love?"
"It's a tough call. The Warrior of Love's Madoka Magica has a status in the anime world that is completely untouchable. But Shiori Takahashi's strength lies in his versatility and volume. If you combine his manga readers, his light novel fans, and his moviegoers, he probably has a larger total following. Though, if Initial D or SAO ever get high-budget anime adaptations, the conversation will be over. We've seen the peak of Madoka, but we have no idea how high the ceiling is for the two of them."
"Don't forget, the Warrior of Love has two new shows coming in April. He's going to be padding his stats very soon."
"It's a shame they operate in different sectors. I'd pay good money to see a 'Shiori Takahashi versus Warrior of Love' showdown."
The ascent of Sword Art Online to the number one rank sent a shock through the literary world. For days, it was the only topic of conversation in both the fan communities and the trade news.
While the top spot in the Big Three magazines changed hands occasionally, seeing a single creator seize the throne of two different top-tier magazines in two different industries within a single year was unprecedented.
As early December drifted by, another milestone was reached. The second volume of the Initial D manga was officially released.
If the first volume's performance was a shock, the second was a massacre. Surpassing the initial volume's opening of 4.8 million, Volume 2 hit a first-week total of 5.29 million copies.
The synergy between Manga Prime and Kiyozawa Library was creating a promotional juggernaut that the industry had never seen before.
Haruto's image as a handsome, young prodigy combined with the undeniable, peerless quality of his writing created a perfect storm. Initial D was now attracting massive waves of casual readers who had never touched a manga in their lives.
Despite the growing demands for his presence, Haruto began to scale back his public appearances.
Promotional tours were vital for a new launch, but now that both series had achieved escape velocity, the benefit of another talk show or autograph session was dwindling. He needed his time back.
By mid-December, Haruto finally found a rare moment of leisure. It was deep winter now, and large, feathery snowflakes drifted slowly past his window. The maple tree in the courtyard was draped in a pristine coat of white. Haruto sat by the window, cradling a cup of hot tea and staring out at the frozen landscape.
In less than two weeks, it would be the New Year. It had been exactly three years since he first set foot in the light novel world. He looked back on those years and let out a sigh.
"Is something troubling you?"
A cool, melodic voice drifted from behind him. Haruto turned to see Reina standing there, also holding a steaming cup of tea.
"Not really. I was just feeling a bit sentimental," Haruto said with a faint smile. "I've managed to achieve some decent results in anime, manga, light novels, and even film. But looking back at the last three years, I realized I've spent almost every waking hour working. My protagonists are out there living these epic, colorful lives, while I've spent my entire youth just building a company."
"Is that a bad thing?" Reina asked, her clear eyes searching his.
"I wouldn't say it's bad. But... for example, you've been writing for a few years now and you've made a lot of money, right?"
"I suppose," she replied. "The collected volumes for my previous work did well. Across six volumes, I averaged about four million copies each."
"Exactly. But if we're working so hard that we never have the time to actually enjoy the fruits of that labor, what's the point? I'm not saying the work isn't important, but sometimes I feel like I'm a bit too invested," Haruto chuckled. "And it's not just me. Look at us, you, Shizuru, Yukino, and myself. We're only living together because we're all workaholics with similar goals. But that's a bit of a problem, isn't it? We've focused so much on the business that we've ignored everything else."
"Everything else?"
"Yeah. For instance," Haruto looked at her. "Do you have any friends?"
Reina went silent for a moment and then slowly shook her head.
"See? Neither do I," Haruto noted. "I asked Shizuru, and she's the same. Ever since she started drawing Initial D, she's been a total lone wolf. And Yukino? Her only friends are the three of us."
"Is that such a problem?" Reina countered after a pause. "A person's time is a finite resource. The only path to true success is to dedicate that time to what interests you most. 'Socializing' for the sake of it is just a way to waste a life."
"That's logically sound, I guess. But... I don't know. I feel like you should at least fall in love once during your youth. I don't want to look back on my college years and realize they were nothing but ink and storyboards." Haruto turned his gaze back to the snow falling under the moonlight.
"Fall in love..." Reina's expression shifted subtly. "Do you... have someone you like, Haruto?"
"No," he said, turning back to her.
"I see." Reina mused on this for a moment. "Well, if you actually wanted to try dating, you have Shizuru and Yukino right here in this house. They are both exceptional women. Why haven't you made a move?"
"Why are you saying the exact same thing Yukino said?" Haruto looked at her, bewildered. "Think about it. We all live together. You and I have been friends and rivals since high school. If I suddenly developed feelings for someone I'm this close to, wouldn't it just make everything incredibly awkward? Besides..."
Reina cut him off mid-sentence. "How do you know what I'm thinking?"
"What?"
"Why are you being so arbitrary? How can you be so certain that I haven't already thought about dating you?"