LOOK BACK
STORY IDEAS AYUMU FUJINO
FIRST KISS
RATTLE SQUEAK
HOWL
I'm surprised you remember something from so long ago.
I keep a diary, you see.
Look. Isn't it a cute diary?
Yeah.
HOWL
SCREECH
SPIN CRASH
ROLL SKID
BANG!
SMOKE
RIGHT BEFORE THEY DIE IN THE ACCIDENT
Kiss me again when we're reincarnated.
COUGHS
I promise I will.
YEAR 0
YEAR 3
YEAR 10
YEAR 17
20 YEARS LATER
I've been reincarnated!
Honey, where are you?
RUMBLE RUMBLE
NIKAHO CITY
HIMAWARI SATELLITE
EARTH
RUMBLE
4TH GRADE NEWSPAPER
LETTER FROM AN ALIEN BY FUJINO FIRST KISS BY FUJINO
All right.
I'm handing out this week's newspaper.
Don't forget to show it to your parents.
The drawings are so good.
Fujino, this week's four-panel manga strips were really funny!
Oh, these.
I was kind of busy this week, so I drew it in five minutes.
But I guess they turned out pretty good despite that.
You could be a manga artist when you grow up.
A manga artist? Maybe.
But sitting at a desk drawing all day sounds boring.
You're good at sports too, so why not be an athlete?
Yeah, that sounds better.
Either way, give me your autograph.
Okay, fine.
I want one too!
Fujino.
Yeah. What is it, teacher?
FACULTY'S OFFICE
About the four-panel manga for next week,
can I give one slot to Kyomoto?
Kyomoto? Who's that?
A truant student from the class next door.
She can't come to school, but wants to try drawing manga.
I mean, I guess I don't mind.
But drawing decent art would be difficult for an amateur.
I'm not sure a wimp who can't even come to school can handle it.
I'm handing out the newspaper.
Don't forget to show it to your parents.
AFTER SCHOOL BY KYOMOTO
NO RUNNING IN THE HALL!
SPORTS FESTIVAL
SIR, YOU KNOW THE RULES.
SHE CROSSED INTO SOMEONE ELSE'S LINE?
MIKA THE SCHEMER BY FUJINO AFTER SCHOOL BY KYOMOTO
These are pro-level drawings.
Hey, did you see it?
Who's Kyomoto?
She's the truant kid, right?
But, you know,
compared to Kyomoto's drawings, yours look pretty average.
Fujino, how come you're so good at drawing?
You have the best drawing skills out of all my students.
You could become an artist with these skills.
Compared to Kyomoto's drawings, yours look pretty average.
I see.
Kyomoto must be practicing drawing while I go to school.
A fourth grader who's better at drawing than me?
Absolutely unacceptable!
HOW TO GET BETTER AT DRAWING
Welcome.
Thank you.
All right.
SHORTCUTS TO IMPROVE 1. STUDY PERSPECTIVE
2. LEARN ANATOMY 3. THINK 3D
MOST IMPORTANTLY, JUST DRAW, STUPID!
ANATOMY: COMPLETE GUIDE BASICS OF FIRST-TIME DRAWING
Let's go hang out somewhere.
Wanna come to my place?
Yeah! Are you sure?
Fujino.
What are you drawing?
Hey.
A human skeleton.
Hey, we're sixth graders now, you know?
We'll be in middle school next year. Are you still gonna draw then?
What?
Yeah.
I see.
You know what?
Yosshi and Mihorin haven't been able to tell you this either,
but aren't you getting too old to keep drawing?
You don't hang out with us anymore.
Even when you do, you're always drawing and you don't talk.
Not to mention,
if you keep drawing in middle school,
people will think you're a creepy otaku, you know?
Kae, can we go now?
Coming!
Wait for me!
Stop bothering her. She's drawing, right?
Mom says hurry up and take your bath already.
Didn't I tell you to knock before entering my room?
Geez!
Sheesh!
Okay, okay.
KNOCK FIRST
How long are you gonna keep drawing manga?
You should join my karate class.
You can put it in your school report.
Whatever.
Mom and Dad don't say it, but they're worried about you.
You're always cooped up in your room and your test scores are terrible.
Get out.
All right, quiet down.
I'm handing out the newspaper. Don't forget to show it to your parents.
What will it be like?
DAD! I MEAN, TEACHER. I NEED TO USE THE BATHROOM.
HEY! HE CALLED THE TEACHER HIS DAD!
TEACHER
HA HA HA HA
HE ALSO NERVOUSLY TOUCHES HIS HAIR. IS HE MY DAD?
6TH GRADE NEWSPAPER
TRUTH BY FUJINO SUMMER FESTIVAL BY KYOMOTO
I quit.
What's wrong? Pass the newspaper, Fujino.
Hey.
Wanna go for ice cream after school?
Really? Sure!
We haven't hung out in ages.
DRAWING REVISION WORKSHOP
KARATE
KNOCK FIRST
Mom! Could you throw these out too?
GRADUATION! BYE, EVERYONE!
FACULTY'S OFFICE
Hey, Fujino. Congratulations on your graduation.
I'm sorry, but I need a favor.
Could you give this graduation diploma to Kyomoto for me?
I'll give you her address.
What? Why me?
Well, even if you quit drawing in sixth grade,
you guys still worked together on the newspaper manga.
I'm sure Kyomoto would rather get it from you than from an old man like me.
Well, I'd rather not, really.
Oh, come on.
Do your teacher one last favor.
-Seriously? -Here.
KYOMOTO
No one's home?
It's open.
Hello?
I'm here to deliver your graduation diploma.
I'll leave it here, okay?
Someone's home.
Excuse me.
I brought your graduation diploma.
KYOMOTO'S HOUSE
Don't come out! Don't come out!
Come out! Come out!
It's the world shut-in competition finals!
Kyomoto is in first place by a significant lead.
KYOMOTO
What am I even doing?
Wait...
No!
Hey...
I'm leaving your graduation diploma here!
Goodbye!
Fujino-sensei!
Kyomoto?
Every week, I got... I got the newspaper.
I read your manga from the start, since third grade.
I... I...
I'm a fan of yours, Fujino-sensei!
Can I have your autograph?
I don't have any paper!
My back!
Please sign the back of my jacket!
Sure.
My favorites are Love Square from the second week of August in third grade,
the Sasaki series you did from January to March in fourth grade,
and every single one from fifth and sixth grades was brilliant.
I couldn't always finish my strips in time,
but you did one every week while attending school.
I couldn't believe you were a grade schooler like me.
Your stories and drawings kept getting better around fifth grade,
I was sure of it.
Fujino-sensei, you're a manga genius!
So, why...
Why did you stop drawing your strips in the middle of sixth grade?
Well, actually...
I'm trying to come up with a story for a manga competition.
So basically, I quit so that I could reach the next level.
A manga competition?
Amazing!
I wanna see it! I totally wanna see it! That's so amazing!
I wanna see! I wanna see!
Well, the idea's only in my head for now,
but it's pretty much finished.
Basically, all that's left is to draw a draft and ink it.
I wanna see! I wanna see!
Then, I guess I could show you when it's done.
It's starting to rain. I should go.
See you.
KNOCK FIRST
METAL PARADE
Wait for me.
I'm home.
Welcome back.
You're still here? Wait, you finished the background already?
Yes. I don't go to school, so it's a piece of cake.
But it feels like we'll never be able to finish all 45 pages.
Yeah, and we've been drawing nonstop.
METAL PARADE BY KYO FUJINO
You two middle schoolers really drew this?
Amazing. I'm impressed.
But it took us an entire year to finish it.
And she's done all the backgrounds.
No, no. Being able to finish a manga as a middle school student is a feat.
The drawings and story are both high quality.
You could win an honorable mention at the very least.
METAL PARADE BY KYO FUJINO
WEEKLY JUMP
RESULTS 13-YEAR-OLD DUO TAKES RUNNER-UP!
1 MILLION YEN AWARD
METAL PARADE BY KYO FUJINO (13)
Ta-da!
I opened a bank account with my mom.
Me too.
And, guess what?
Ta-da!
I withdrew 100,000 yen.
You could buy a house with that.
Want to buy one?
Let's go into town tomorrow.
It's my treat.
Don't you need to save that?
Well, we're gonna draw more manga and make loads of money anyway.
So let's go eat tons of whipped cream with this money.
Yeah.
CREPE FOREST
Thank you for the treating me today.
We spent like crazy, but we only used 5,000 yen.
I'm glad I came out of my room.
What?
To tell you the truth, I was afraid to go out today.
You see, I stopped going to school because I was scared of people.
But I had a really good time today.
I started drawing because I had nothing to do at home.
But now I'm glad I did.
Fujino, thank you for getting me out of my room.
You can thank me with 100,000 yen.
What?
Just kidding.
THE SEA CITIES BY KYO FUJINO
MY HEART LIES WITH THE SEA
THE CICADA HUMANS BY KYO FUJINO
THE MAN WHO ATE THE CRAB BY KYO FUJINO
BAGWORM BY KYO FUJINO
THE WORLD OF BACKGROUND ART
We're getting serialized?
The editor-in-chief wants you to try it after you graduate high school.
You've already had seven one-shots published at age 17!
Honestly, it's happening a little late.
I'm sorry, I...
I want to go to art school.
So...
So,
I can't help with the series.
Where's this coming from all of a sudden?
Well, I guess it's fine.
You only draw the backgrounds anyway.
I can just get assistants to handle that.
But there's no point in going to art school.
I heard there are no job prospects even with an art degree.
Yeah.
I know...
And you'll have to talk to lots of strangers, you know?
I'll work on that.
If you just stick with me, everything will work out.
I want to try living on my own,
without having to rely on you.
It'll be so boring! I guarantee you!
No, it won't!
It totally will be!
Not to mention, there's no way you can handle college life on your own!
I can! I will learn how!
You'll fail!
You're too shy to even talk to the cashier at the convenience store!
I'll practice.
You can't pull it off!
-But... -What?
I want to...
get better at drawing.
WEEKLY JUMP
SHARK KICK SERIES RANKING
SHARK KICK VOLUME 1 BY KYO FUJINO
SHARK KICK VOLUME 2 BY KYO FUJINO
SHARK KICK VOLUME 3 BY KYO FUJINO
SHARK KICK SERIES RANKING
KYO FUJINO
SHARK KICK RANKED NO. 1 ANIME ADAPTATION CONFIRMED!
Yes. She works diligently,
but it's just not working out.
Is there anyone else?
Right, yes. I need more assistants.
She's fast, but...
She doesn't give enough thought to the full picture.
I know it's hard to find someone good.
We have breaking news from the Yamagata Broadcasting Station.
Right. I'll just have to do what I can for now.
No, sorry again for the trouble.
Let's discuss it again some other time.
Okay. Bye.
I repeat.
Today at midday at an art university in Yamagata City, Yamagata Prefecture,
a man with no fixed address
attacked students using an axe-like weapon.
The Yamagata police have arrested a man believed to be the perpetrator.
We are yet to receive any information regarding the victims.
The police are investigating the case as a possible indiscriminate attack.
CALLING KYOMOTO
MOM INCOMING CALL
If our manga ever gets serialized,
I want the artwork to be super high quality.
But I draw really slow.
I wish I could draw faster.
That's easy.
If your drawing skills improve, so will your speed.
I plan on improving mine.
Then, I'll work on my drawing skills too.
Like you, Fujino.
Awesome. Keep your eyes on my back and you'll grow too.
BREAKING NEWS ART SCHOOL MASSACRE KILLER ARRESTED
12 DEAD 3 GRAVELY INJURED
STRUCK THE BODIES MULTIPLE TIMES
"THE ART I POSTED ON THE INTERNET WAS PLAGIARIZED"
SHARK KICK HIATUS ANNOUNCEMENT THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR SUPPORT
WEEKLY JUMP SHARK KICK
DON'T COME OUT!
COME OUT! COME OUT!
SHUT-IN COMPETITION FINALS!
KYOMOTO IS IN FIRST PLACE BY A SIGNIFICANT LEAD
KYOMOTO
DON'T COME OUT!
COME OUT! COME OUT!
It's my fault.
It's because...
I drew this manga that day.
Kyomoto died...
because of me.
If I hadn't gotten her out of her room, she wouldn't have died.
Why?
Why did I draw this?
Drawing is completely useless...
"Don't come out"?
Hello?
I'm here to deliver your graduation diploma.
I'll leave it here, okay?
Must be a ghost.
LETTER OF ACCEPTANCE
SECOND FLOOR OF THE ART DEPARTMENT WESTERN ART COURSE BUILDING
A STUDENT SITS ON A SOFA FOR A BREAK
SHE HEARS A METALLIC KNOCKING SOUND FROM THE STAIRCASE
THERE ARE NO OTHER STUDENTS NEAR THE SOFA
AT 11:19 A.M., A MAN ENTERS FROM THE OUTDOOR STAIRS AND SEES THE STUDENT
HE IS HOLDING A POINTED TOOL HE FOUND AT THE ART PRACTICE BUILDING
Hey, you.
I mean...
You. I'm talking to you.
At the exhibition,
there was an artwork that looked like mine, right?
-My... -Sorry?
The artwork I posted online! There was an exact copy, right?
THE MAN SAID HE INTENDED TO KILL ANY ART STUDENT HE SAW
Don't you dare look down on me!
That was my idea!
You stole my art!
I practice karate at the dojo in the neighboring town.
I was jogging
when I saw this guy going into campus with a weapon.
I knew he was trouble,
so I ran after him and when I gave him a karate kick, I fell and broke my leg.
Pretty lame, isn't it?
Thank you very much.
I'd like to thank you properly,
so can I have your phone number?
Yeah, sure thing.
Fujino.
Fujino-sensei.
Are you Fujino-sensei by any chance?
Sensei?
When you were in grade school,
did you draw four-panel manga strips for the school newspaper?
Yeah, I did, now that you mention it.
It really is you!
I was a fan of your four-panel manga.
What a coincidence, right?
Thanks.
Sorry, but it's time to go.
Why did you quit drawing manga?
I recently started drawing again.
If my manga gets serialized, be my assistant, okay?
I'm home.
FIRST KISS BY FUJINO
-KISS ME AGAIN WHEN WE'RE REINCARNATED. -I WILL.
-I'll kill you! -Ahhh!
-Take this! -Agh!
You're Fujino-sensei!
You are not hurt?
Then my work here is done.
LOOK BACK BY KYOMOTO
SHARK KICK BY KYO FUJINO
READER QUESTIONNAIRE
AYUMU FUJINO
You know, for starters,
I don't even like drawing manga.
It's not fun, just plain tedious and super unglamorous too.
I can draw all day long and still be nowhere near finished.
I should stick to reading them.
Drawing isn't for me.
Then why do you draw, Fujino?
METAL PARADE (WORKING TITLE) BY AYUMU FUJINO
SEPTEMBER DEADLINE
METAL PARADE
IT'S SHARK TIME, BABY! TO BE CONTINUED IN VOLUME 12!