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Chapter 23
It wasn't long before the results of Lucien D. Blackthorn's medical examination arrived.
The attending physician entered the room with a rare gleam of hope in his eyes. "Good news! The targeted treatment seems to be effective. The spread and metastasis of the cancer cells have been suppressed!"
His mom and dad immediately grasped each other's hands, trembling with emotion.
"That's wonderful... truly wonderful," his mother whispered, her eyes brimming with tears.
The doctor nodded, though his expression grew serious. "But I must caution you. The effects are temporary. The targeted drugs must be taken consistently. Based on our current assessment, we believe Lucien can persist for another half month."
"Half a month is enough!" His father declared. Without hesitation, he resolved to continue ordering the targeted drugs from overseas.
The doctor leaned in slightly, lowering his voice. "Please be financially prepared. These treatments are incredibly expensive."
But cost was not a concern for the Blackthorn family. Their savings were substantial, and even if they weren't, Lucien's parents would willingly sell everything they owned just to extend their son's life.
What the doctor didn't say was that drug resistance could develop over time, diminishing the effectiveness of the medication. But he chose to withhold this information, not wanting to dampen their spirits.
Later, the couple rushed back to Lucien's ward to share the good news.
Lucien smiled weakly as they relayed the doctor's words. But inside, he was conflicted. He knew better.
The medicine hadn't done anything.
The only reason his condition had improved was because of the reward from the system. His extended life had nothing to do with any drug.
He felt a pang of guilt thinking about the money his parents were spending on the treatment. But he vowed to make it up to them. He would create manga after manga, using his talent and the system's aid to earn back everything and more.
He would make their sacrifice worth it.
As his condition showed signs of improvement, Lucien expressed his desire to draw again.
He had thought about waking during the night—using the system-granted two hours of consciousness to work uninterrupted. But his waking times were erratic. Often, he would regain consciousness during the day, surrounded by doctors or his parents. If he started drawing then, they would undoubtedly stop him.
So he decided to ask for their permission.
"No," the attending physician said flatly. "Your body hasn't recovered enough. Drawing would consume too much energy and worsen your condition. nodded in agreement. "We understand how important manga is to you, but your health comes first."
Lucien pleaded with sincerity. "Creating manga is my reason for living. It gives me hope. If I stop now, I'll lose the strength to go on."
Moved by his words, his mom hesitated. After a long discussion, she relented.
"You may draw for 20 minutes a day. If your condition allows, we'll extend it to 30."
Though it wasn't the two hours he had hoped for, Lucien accepted the compromise gratefully.
"It's a start," he thought to himself.
With the first volume of Attack on Titan completed and the system granting him more time to live, Lucien felt hope blooming once again.
Once alone in the ward, Lucien closed his eyes to contemplate his next work.
"A sports manga..."
Japan was home to a massive manga industry with a wide range of genres. But from Lucien's memory, sports manga in this world had never really taken off. It was considered a niche genre. No major hits. No strong reader base. Even Shonen Weekly's current submission guidelines didn't have a dedicated category for it.
That meant a sports-themed manga would be a tough sell.
Lucien frowned.
"This is going to be difficult."
Still, he wasn't the type to back down from a challenge.
If it was a niche genre, then all the more reason to make it stand out. He needed something explosive. A sports manga that could shock readers the way Attack on Titan had.
He thought back to the world he came from. There, sports manga were mainstream.
Titles like Slam Dunk, Captain Tsubasa, Major, Initial D, Kuroko's Basketball, The Prince of Tennis, and Blue Lock had left a lasting legacy.
Of those, Slam Dunk, Captain Tsubasa, and Major were widely recognized as the trinity of Japanese sports manga.
Each had inspired a generation of readers and athletes.
"But Captain Tsubasa and Major have slower starts. Slam Dunk and Initial D, on the other hand... they hook you right away."
Lucien narrowed it down to two contenders: Slam Dunk and Initial D.
Both were gripping from the very first chapter.
Slam Dunk followed Sakuragi Hanamichi, a rebellious teen who joins the school basketball team on a whim and discovers a hidden talent for the sport. His character—a wild blend of arrogance, idiocy, and genius—was unforgettable.
Initial D, meanwhile, centered around Takumi Fujiwara, a tofu delivery boy who drives an old AE86. Quiet and unassuming, Takumi stuns the racing world by defeating top-tier drivers with his unorthodox driving skills. The underdog angle, the intense races—it was addicting.
Lucien weighed the options.
As much as he loved Initial D, he realized it would be difficult to pull off.
He was still a high school student in this world. No driver's license. No driving experience. Creating a manga with that much specialized knowledge would raise suspicion.
"So... it has to be you."
Lucien smiled.
"Let's go with Slam Dunk."
End of the chapter