But during the race, Sayuki clearly frustrated lashed out at Mako, calling her too timid in that moment.
So much for sisterhood, fans joked online.
Still, most readers didn't think the argument would damage their friendship. It just looked like a typical mid race spat.
As many fans had predicted, Sayuki snapped out of her hesitation thanks to Mako's push. There weren't many corners left, and even though the odds were slim, they couldn't afford to back down now.
That was where the latest chapter of Initial D ended.
Of course, fans were used to Initial D leaving off at critical moments, but that didn't stop them from flooding Mizushiro's feed with complaints. It had become a kind of weekly tradition. Haruki, meanwhile, was completely unfazed. For him, cliffhangers were part of the rhythm of serialized storytelling especially in a tightly structured racing manga.
In contrast, Natsume's Friends fans were much more relaxed. The story's episodic nature and gentle tone made it less anxiety inducing to wait between updates.
Still, some Initial D readers weren't just hooked by the races they were eager to see the development between Iketani and Mako. Those fans… well, Haruki could only offer his sympathy. In a few weeks, they'd find out just how their story unfolded.
With 5 Centimeters per Second and Voices of a Distant Star already concluded, Haruki now had a lot more free time after finishing his manga pages each day. He usually spent it gaming or checking out the latest domestic manga. Compared to the chaos of the past few months, life had become far more relaxed.
That is unless Ryuko decided otherwise.
Since her confession, Haruki had been clear about wanting to remain friends. But Ryuko clearly had her own pace and her own intentions.
She messaged him often through Line, checking in casually, sometimes calling at night just to chat. There was no pressure or awkwardness in her tone only a quiet persistence.
And she had become noticeably more proactive.
Just three days earlier, she messaged him asking if he wanted to go out.
That day? February 14th.
Even someone as emotionally slow as Haruki couldn't miss the implication.
Ryuko didn't try to force anything. She kept the conversation light topics ranged from games to anime to funny travel stories. And when Haruki turned down her invitation to go out that day, she didn't get upset. She simply asked if he wanted to hop online and play co-op that night.
Haruki thought that was the end of it until he opened the door for a delivery later that evening and found a box of homemade chocolates and a bouquet of flowers from Ryuko.
That was when the pressure started to sink in.
Ryuko wasn't overbearing but her feelings were sincere, and she didn't expect anything in return other than, perhaps, one day being accepted.
It felt strange, surreal even. Everything he'd once seen guys do on TV dramas to court girls… was now being done to him. By Ryuko.
And of course, his two assistants noticed.
They had been with Haruki long enough to read him well and they weren't shy about giving their own advice.
"Why not give it a try?" they said. "If it doesn't work out, at least you'll both know. And if it does work out… maybe she's the one."
Haruki responded by handing them the rough outline for a new story that was scheduled to start the next day.
That shut them up.
They were far too free and far too nosy.
So, between drawing, dodging advice, and navigating Ryuko's subtle pursuit, February slipped by.
She kept reaching out casually, and Haruki gradually adapted to the new dynamic. Though he still had no real plans to date her, he was no longer thrown off by her small, affectionate gestures. He had learned how to respond to her flirtatious jokes, her half-teasing comments, and occasional remarks about relationships with polite deflections.
Meanwhile, the popularity of 5 Centimeters per Second and Voices of a Distant Star began to slow slightly across the internet. By the end of February, total viewership had reached 31 million for 5 Centimeters per Second and 10.2 million for Voices of a Distant Star.
Combined, the two short works just four episodes in total had surpassed 40 million views. Averaging over 10 million views per episode, their success had now reached legendary status.
And while the growth was slowing, those numbers would only continue to rise in the long run. Many animation media outlets were already predicting that in 2022, one of these two could easily become the year's breakout hit.
Though neither show belonged to a mainstream genre, popularity metrics weren't only about target demographics. They measured average views, post-release discussion, and cultural impact. By all accounts, both series had hit every mark.
Their success also boosted the reputations of Kazuya Mori and Mizushiro across the industry.
People talked about how these two turned a small, low-budget production into a massive success. And even in class, Haruki found their story mentioned in lectures. Professors praised their ability to overcome lack of funding and resources to create something great.
Haruki sat quietly in the back, feeling a little guilty, while misaki kept sneaking glances at him.
Everyone in class had heard of Mizushiro and Kazuya. Their names were all over anime forums and news articles. But outside of misaki, no one seemed to realize that Haruki was Mizushiro.
And to Haruki, that still felt like a miracle.
(TL:- if you want even more content, check out p-atreon.com/Alioth23 for 60+ advanced chapters)