Aniverse:This Managaka is Black hearted

BlackMangaka 002:Magical Girl Madoka

Of course, a repetitive formula can quickly bore the audience, making them nostalgic for the pure and beautiful image of magical girls from earlier works.

Yet, as a groundbreaking series, it is destined to be remembered.

Interestingly, the "magical girl" genre in this world has developed similarly to the previous one, but there is no "Puella Magi Madoka Magica" yet.

This was both a blessing and a curse for Nakahara Hiroshi.

The same dilemma from five days ago loomed over him.

"So, which publisher should I submit this to?"

Shogakukan?

Hiroshi worried that if the third chapter reached the editor there, it might be rejected outright, cutting this masterpiece short.

Kodansha? That didn't seem ideal either.

"Then... Shueisha!?"

Hiroshi sighed, feeling conflicted.

Although he had considered these matters before starting the project, his art style leaned more toward the mature, detailed style of the Houbunsha manga version from his previous life, rather than the cuter, round-faced designs popularized by the anime.

But...

"The public's perception hasn't changed yet."

A slight shift in the art style wouldn't be enough to overcome people's bias against "magical girls."

"Whatever. Let's just send it."

No matter how carefully one plans, unforeseen outcomes are inevitable. Perfection is impossible.

Hiroshi decided to do his best and leave the rest to fate.

If Shueisha rejected the manuscript, he could try other publishers, one by one.

Beyond the "big three," smaller publishers might also take interest.

If all else failed, he could create a personal website and serialize the story online for free.

There are always more solutions than problems.

Hiroshi navigated to Shueisha's official website and found the submission email address.

"Huh? Tezuka Award!?"

"Well, why not just give it a shot?"

Reading through the details, Hiroshi discovered that the award offered 1 million yen for first place, 500,000 yen for semi-finalists, and 200,000 yen for honorable mentions.

Unlike the previous Tezuka Awards, submissions no longer required original manuscripts; scanned copies were acceptable. The only restriction was that the story couldn't exceed 31 pages, though there was no minimum length.

Naturally, such submissions were best suited for short stories.

"Since I'm submitting to Shueisha anyway, why not join the contest too?"

With that thought, Hiroshi scanned 29 pages, equivalent to one episode, bundled them together, and sent them off.

"Phew."

Having completed this task, Hiroshi stretched and glanced at the time displayed on the corner of his computer screen.

16:28.

"Tomorrow's Monday? After taking so many days off, my parents will definitely nag me if I skip school again."

Hiroshi scratched his messy hair, disheveled from his long hours of work, and sighed in frustration.

Taking a few days off due to force majeure was understandable, but anything beyond that risked making others worry about potential psychological trauma.

To avoid such concerns, his parents, who had been out of town, had even rushed back overnight. They'd insist he return to school on time tomorrow.

"At least I still have half a day to relax. Should I read a novel, manga, or play games?"

Sometimes, having too many choices wasn't a good thing.

---

Shueisha, Story Manga Department

April was undoubtedly the busiest month for all editors at Shueisha.

The Tezuka Award represented the highest honor and attracted countless dream-chasing creators each year.

With an influx of manuscripts flooding in, editors faced a relentless workload. Many of these submissions, little more than rough sketches or scribbles, tested the patience of even seasoned professionals.

Yinsha Kanemoto, a rookie editor at Shueisha, had barely adjusted to her new job before being thrust into this chaos.

"Where do people even get the confidence to submit something like this?"

Gritting her teeth, Yinsha balled her fists as frustration washed over her.

It was pure torture.

Reaching for her coffee, she took a quick sip to calm her nerves.

"Alright, let's keep going," she muttered, trying to motivate herself.

Clicking on the next file, she read the title:

Puella Magi Madoka Magica

"Magical girl? This should've been sent to Shogakukan."

Making a quick mental complaint, Yinsha prepared to skim through it. At the very least, the title seemed more serious than most of what she'd encountered over the past few days.

Opening the file, her eyes widened in surprise.

"What a mature art style!"

The intricate details immediately caught her attention. The completed illustrations surpassed most submissions and rivaled serialized works in quality.

"Finally! Something I can actually read!"

Though the "magical girl" theme seemed childish to the general public, Yinsha couldn't help but feel excitement bubble up as she flipped through the pages.

After days of mediocrity, this felt like finding a bowl of white rice after being fed nothing but scraps.

She calmed herself and began reading intently.

The story began with thick smoke and flames filling the scene.

A girl with a slender figure appeared amid the chaos. Blood stained her school uniform, and pain twisted her expression.

In the distance, another girl watched, her face contorted with worry.

"How could this happen? This is too much..."

The scene shifted. A small, adorable creature appeared, speaking to a girl named Madoka.

"Madoka, do you want to change your fate?"

Madoka, clad in a school uniform, stared at the figure in the distance, a hint of hesitation in her expression.

"Overturn this world. You have the power to do so," the creature continued.

"Really...?" Madoka whispered, uncertainty flickering in her eyes.

The creature smiled innocently.

"Then sign a contract with me and become a magical girl!"

The next moment, Madoka woke up in her bed.

"Was it all...a dream?"

Reading through all 29 pages, Yinsha leaned back, astonished.

"Is that all?"

She blinked, processing the story.

"It's not as childish as I thought," she murmured.

The plot had a surprising level of maturity, setting it apart from the usual magical girl formula.

"A dream sequence, a mysterious transfer student, warnings, danger, and the introduction of magical girls... This has potential," Yinsha muttered.

She jotted down her feedback:

Editorial Comments:

"Although the magical girl genre is common, this work stands out due to its high level of completion and mature art style. Fans of cute works will likely be drawn to it instantly.

It's clear the author wants to bring something new to the table, but since only the first chapter is available, it's hard to gauge their full intent.

The author has significant skill and potential. I recommend keeping an eye on this newcomer."

With her comments saved, Yinsha sent the manuscript to her editor-in-chief.

"Let's hope this one goes somewhere," she muttered, clicking on the next email.

Within moments, her enthusiasm plummeted.

"Ah! My eyes! My eyes!"

Her screams echoed through her apartment as another poorly drawn submission filled her screen.