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Chapter 3

April 9, 2015

"And with that," Shizuka said to Takeo, who by now was living with her part-time. "Break The Ice is officially in print." She held up that month's issue of Monthly Girl Step, showing off the first two pages of the story with pride in her eyes. "It still feels so weird to actually hold this and see my work in a manga magazine."

"It looks wonderful, Shizuka," he told her before giving her a kiss. When the two split, he showed her the magazine his light novel was being serialized in. "And Chapter 4 of My Girlfriend's Past Life is also in print. We're just three more chapters away from the entirety of Volume 1 being serialized, and so far, readers like it."

"Hopefully they love my work too, Takeo." She then picked up a copy of that month's issue of Afternoon Riders, which contained a picture of the main character of Uncontrollable Battle on the cover with a major announcement next to him. "And would you look at this? They've announced a second season for the Uncontrollable Battle anime adaptation for October 2015."

"Oh yeah," Takeo replied as he read the announcement on the cover. "I remember some guys at the office talking about that! I can't wait!"

"Me neither," Shizuka said, fangirling over the manga alongside her boyfriend. "The first season was so fucking good! I can't wait to see them adapt the Siege of Hell's Gate Arc! That arc's my favorite in the whole story."

"So, what do you got planned for the day?"

"I got a meeting at Shimizu plus a little work party to celebrate publication. I should be free after six in the evening if you wanna, you know..."

"I'll be free by then," Takeo replied before giving Shizuka a long kiss, which she gladly returned as they wrapped their arms around each other. The two then split off from each other before they both broke down in laughter. "Did I surprise you?"

"Yeah, a bit." Shizuka then got up from her work desk and grabbed her bag. "Well, I'm off to work. Have a good day. I love you."

"I love you, too." With that, the two lovers both walked out of Shizuka's apartment and went their separate ways for the day.

...

In a meeting room at the offices of Shimizu, Daichi, Shizuka, Taiki, Kyosuke, Michi, and several others were all congregating together as they celebrated the first chapters of Break The Ice and The Tale of Yuga being published today. Kyosuke began the celebrations by saying as he raised a wine glass, "Congratulations to our two newest published mangaka, Hiratai Shizuka-sensei and Iwakawa Taiki-sensei! Today, their respective manga have made their debut in Monthly Girl Step and Afternoon Riders!" Everyone clapped for them, earning a smile and slight blush from Shizuka. "Now, let's all celebrate a bit. These two have earned it after all the hard work they've put in. Besides, they both got plenty of work to do very soon, so for now, we all can relax."

"Indeed," Michi agreed. "Congratulations to both of them, and a toast to a job well done!" All of them then took a sip from their wine glasses, after which Michi joked, "I know day drinking exists, but drinking at 9:30 in the morning's really pushing it."

The rest of the room laughed before they began to converse among themselves. Shizuka began talking to Michi in particular, the two of them having formed a friendship in the months since January. "I'm glad you made it, Anzai-sensei."

"Of course," he replied. "I was a judge this year, after all. It wouldn't be appropriate if I skipped out on this. By the way..." He then pulled out his phone and opened up a photo app to show her something. "Remember this fanart you sent me?"

"Yeah. Why?"

"I wanna do an art swap," Michi explained as he showed her art of Uncontrollable Battle's main character slaying a dragon she had drawn. "Can I draw Ichigo from Break The Ice? I'll include your art of Robert in the next volume release of Uncontrollable Battle if you include my art of Ichigo in your first volume release of Break The Ice."