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I just want to quietly draw manga Chapter 71(2 in 1)
🕑 Added 2025-04-21 17:06:37 +0000 UTC(TL:-Quick heads-up — the next 15 chapters are a bit slow. It’s that classic Chinese style: awards, face-slapping, and a young msater. Not much plot movement, so it might feel like it’s being stretched out a bit.
Also, about Rika Hayashi — He’s the “young master” type for this arc, and while I’d love to cut down his role, he’s essential for pushing Haruki toward Tokyo. So, he’ll be around for a this arc, but I’ll minimize his scenes as much as I can.
If you want, I can also summarize these next 15 chapters into fewer ones to keep things moving faster. Just let me know what you’d prefer!)
“What the hell was that? Tomoe—she’s dead?”
“No way. She’s the heroine! How is the story supposed to continue without her?”
“Did you forget? The Remembrance arc is wrapping up. Maybe Mizushiro-sensei meant to end her storyline here. After that scene with her getting caught between the swords... was that the message?”
“But didn’t they say there’d be another chapter after Remembrance? Tomoe was clearly set up as the main heroine. If she’s gone... what’s next? Is Mizushiro planning to introduce a new lead?”
“Don’t even joke about that. Just replacing her would feel so cheap. If she’s actually dead, I might be done with this series for good…”
“You really think this is just Mizushiro trying to be edgy? Sure, she stepped in front of Kenshin’s blade—and then the enemy’s strike came from behind. But maybe she’s not dead. It wasn’t spelled out, was it?”
“Use your head. This is Kenshin at his peak, going all-out against a top-level swordsman. Their final clash hit her from both sides. If a normal person walks away from that, doesn’t that make both fighters look ridiculous?”
“Maybe there’ll be a twist, like in those old films—some hidden charm or keepsake that blocks the fatal blow.”
“Who knows? It’s Mizushiro’s call. He can draw whatever outcome he wants.”
“Still... where exactly did Kenshin’s sword land?”
“I don’t care! Just let it be some lucky charm or necklace or whatever. I’m not ready to believe she’s gone…”
This conversation played out in one of the more level-headed manga discussion groups—the kind where fans debated calmly and considered all possibilities.
But elsewhere, things were less civil.
Outside the headquarters of Kurokawa Publishing—
A small but passionate group of fans had gathered with handmade protest signs, voicing outrage over the events of Chapter 13.
“Mizushiro, you’re just a new artist! Who are you to decide what happens in Rurouni Kenshin?!”
“If Tomoe’s really dead, I swear I won’t buy another Kenshin-related book for the next ten years!”
No one tried to storm the building, but the demonstration was loud enough to attract attention—and spark even more debate online.
The backlash didn’t stop there.
On the official Awards website, the comment section under Remembrance was overwhelmed. Readers across the country flooded in to share reactions, argue over what really happened, and spread the rumor that Tomoe—known affectionately by fans as Tomoe—might have died in Chapter 13.
Like a stone thrown into a still pond, the rumor sent ripples across the entire fandom.
It was still Friday. The digital release wouldn’t go live until Saturday, so those who hadn’t bought the print edition were relying on descriptions and panel summaries from early readers.
And those alone were enough to cause a stir.
“Wait, Kenshin slashed her? And then that assassin struck from behind too?”
“There’s no way she survives that... right?”
After all, this version of Kenshin had already been shown killing decisively. In his first encounter with Tomoe, he cut down an assassin in a single, clean strike.
If Chapter 13 depicted a similar blow landing on her—
Then how could she possibly still be alive?
In the comment threads, the posts kept coming—whether Mizushiro was reading them or not.
Some pleaded with him not to go through with it.
Some vented in frustration.
A few even threatened to mass-create fake accounts to tank the series’ ratings if Tomoe really died.
The chapter had thrown a dark cloud over the Remembrance fanbase.
But for Haruki, who was quietly attending class that morning…
He scrolled through the comments on his phone during a particularly dull lecture. After a few moments of reading, he locked the screen and set the phone down.
Everything was playing out exactly as he’d predicted.
This wasn’t about shock for its own sake. The plot twist was deliberate—and it was working.
Ba, the heroine who had journeyed with readers through the entire Remembrance arc, was now presumed dead.
Of course people were upset.
Of course they were in denial.
But eventually... they’d accept it.
Chapter 13 had done what it needed to: leave a brutal, unforgettable cliffhanger.
And once Chapters 14 and 15 dropped together the following week, everything would make sense.
—
Friday, 1:00 a.m.
Chapter 13 of Rurouni Kenshin: Remembrance had just gone live.
The tension had been mounting all week. Whispers on forums and fan groups hinted at an upcoming death—one that could shake the entire story. With the last chapter ending on a gut-wrenching cliffhanger, speculation exploded. Not just long-time readers, but curious newcomers had flocked in to see how it would unfold.
Among those waiting was Renji Takeda, the creator of Blazing Feather.
He read the new chapter the moment it dropped.
And froze.
That... really just happened?
One of the most beloved characters—gone.
A death scene that pulled no punches, that left no room for doubt.
His thoughts churned. Isn’t this kind of move too risky?
Killing off a fan-favorite character this late in the story—especially with the contest still ongoing—wasn’t just bold, it was dangerous. If readers turned on the work, if the emotional backlash grew too intense... it could crash the entire momentum.
His editor,Takeshi, leaned back in his chair with a short laugh.
"Just like I heard from a few folks in Osaka... Mizushiro’s still rookie."
He didn’t sound angry—more amused.
"Remember that update last week? The announcement that Remembrance would end within two chapters?"
He glanced at Renji.
"Now that we’ve seen this chapter, what do you think?"
Renji exhaled slowly. "...Feels rushed."
"Exactly," Takeshi said with a faint nod.
"Plenty of creators come out of the gate strong. A great opening, striking visuals, a hook that draws everyone in. But keeping that energy all the way through to the end... that’s the hard part."
He paused, folding his arms.
"I’ve seen it happen a dozen times. A young artist lands a breakout series, gets overwhelmed midway, and panics. Instead of guiding the story to a proper close, they try to wrap it up fast—sometimes with a dramatic death or twist, hoping to make an impact."
"But readers catch on. They always do. One chapter left, and if the next one can’t land the ending..." He trailed off, then gave a small shrug. "Well. You know how it goes."
Renji didn’t respond right away.
He was still staring at the screen.
The chapter had hit hard—maybe too hard.
Aoyama, meanwhile, leaned back with a satisfied look.
"If I had to guess... Mizushiro just took himself out of the running."
"And with that," he added, "the rest of the field doesn’t pose much of a threat."
He paused.
"I think we’ve already won."
—
Elsewhere, in the office of a prominent manga circle in the capital—
Airi Tanaka, one of the region’s most promising young creators, had just finished reading the latest chapter online.
“…Tomoe is really dead.”
Unlike casual readers still speculating whether Tomoe had truly died, Airi sensed the direction of the story with a creator’s instinct.
An unfinished arc?
No—something didn’t sit right.
She shook her head. Bad endings usually left a trail of missteps, like cracks in the foundation. But this?
Despite its relatively short run, Rurouni Kenshin: Remembrance had been tightly constructed. Every event flowed into the next, each beat deliberate. It all traced back to that one pivotal moment: Tomoe, seeking revenge for her fiancé, thinking Kenshin was the killer. Her contact with Katsura—revealed to be a setup—tied everything together.
A story this carefully crafted didn’t come from improvisation. That meant Tomoe’s death wasn’t some desperate twist—it had been planned from the very beginning.
Killing off such a well-developed character without purpose would absolutely earn readers’ fury. But if the emotional beats landed just right...
…it could be something powerful. Deeply moving.
Airi sat quietly, lost in thought, trying to imagine how she would handle a scene like this.
But she couldn’t see a way. Tomoe had been written with such heart, such care. Even if her death came as a sacrifice to save Kenshin, audiences wouldn’t accept it easily.
Safe, happy endings might be cliché—but they worked. They were low-risk. Readers might complain, but they'd stick around.
But this? Killing off a beloved heroine?
It was like dancing on a blade. One wrong step, and the whole story could collapse.
She let out a breath.
I just hope Mizushiro can land it. I’ve been a fan since the beginning—I’d hate to see it all fall apart in the final stretch.
—
And so, a new week arrived.
Only two days remained until the first round of the Aurora Awards came to a close.
That Friday, Chapters 14 and 15 of Rurouni Kenshin: Remembrance were released.
Kurokawa Publishing had gone all out with promotion.
Posters lined street corners, buses, bookstore displays, and subway stations—Rurouni Kenshin was everywhere.
Souta Hoshino stepped into a bookstore and immediately spotted one of the posters near the register.
Thanks to the manga’s surge in popularity, circulation of Sora magazine had exploded. On some days, if you arrived too late, it was sold out.
Luckily, he’d come early—before students were out of school or office workers had left for the day.
Even so, the line at the counter was already long. Most customers clutched the same issue of Sora in their hands.
Once home, Souta tore open the magazine and flipped straight to the pages of Remembrance.
The story didn’t drag things out.
In just a few pages, Tomoe’s fate was made clear.
Gravely wounded, she used the last of her strength to carve a line across Kenshin’s cheek—intersecting the scar left by her late fiancé. The result: a cross-shaped scar.
And in her final moments, she smiled at Kenshin and whispered—
“I’m sorry... my love.”
Souta froze.
His breath caught in his throat.
The first scar had been born of vengeance. The second… of forgiveness.
It was the perfect culmination of the arc’s title: The Cross-Shaped Wound.
Tears welled in his eyes, blurring the page.
As an adult, he tried to keep it together. But the story had shattered his defenses.
Just days earlier, he’d written online: If Tomoe dies, I’m done with this manga.
Now, those words felt hollow.
The story had bypassed logic—it had gone straight to his heart.
Tomoe’s death had been swift, almost abrupt. But the grief that followed lingered, quiet and devastating.
Kenshin, summoned back to Kyoto, burned the house he had shared with her—her body still inside. He left in silence. Outwardly unchanged, but empty inside.
Chapter 15 followed with his final battle—fierce, cinematic, masterfully drawn.
But Souta could barely focus. Tomoe’s absence loomed over every panel.
Then, at the very end—Kenshin sat alone, eyes closed.
From behind, a pair of arms wrapped gently around him.
The next panel pulled back.
Tomoe, dressed in white, embraced him from behind.
The background was soft and dreamlike.
Her expression was serene. His, finally at peace.
It wasn’t real.
Just a symbolic farewell.
But it struck Souta like a blow to the chest.
Even in death, Tomoe had stayed with him. Her strength had become his. Her forgiveness, his salvation.
That was the meaning of her sacrifice.
That was the real ending.
Tears streamed down his cheeks.
There was no use holding them back.
It was beautiful.
