Hi there and welcome to my read-through of Chapter 170: Fame and Popularity in which this is the arc that never ends, it just goes on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and–

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Fame and Popularity Summary

Marriage approved

At Saiko’s house, his mother makes toast for breakfast while watching the news. Saiko, still waking up, munches while watching the news when a little article gets the attention of the newscaster: Tozai Sports tabloid reportage.

The reporter discusses how touching the love story between Saiko and Miho is. They agree it’s rare to see these days.

Saiko hurriedly shuts the TV off, but his mother thinks he doesn’t have to do that. Saiko makes up a bullshit excuse about needing to get to work; she side-eyes that: it’s only 8 o’clock. He admits that he’s behind on work and needs to get there early.

His mother sees through it all and mentions that he has a fine job and nobody’s going to object to his marriage with Miho. Saiko does an epic spit take at that.

Changes In Fortune

Saiko bikes over to the office, surprised to hear his mom talking about it. He stops in at a convenience store when two boys approach him asking if he’s Mashiro-Sensei.

So Kawaiiiii

They’re students at Yakusa Middle School, and they’re happy to have Ashirogi as an alum. Their homeroom teacher was Miho’s homeroom teacher during Saiko’s third year. The two ask for his autograph and handshake.

Saiko gets nervous and asks to do so outside so as not to cause a scene.

How Japanese.

Meanwhile, Kaya cleans the studio and teases Saiko about it. She notes how fast the news is spreading. She was surprised to see it on the news and all about their “Z” (I have no idea what that means).

Shujin chimes in: Miho has regained her popularity due to Fukuda and the radio show. Kaya brought the Voice Actor Fan More magazine to show them some more good news: Miho received third place in the popularity poll, up from before; Kaya thinks she might hit the top of the poll next month. Shujin jumps in: Kaya doesn’t get something.

Most of the voters for this magazine are fans of voice actresses as idols, so her popularity in these polls is unlikely to improve because the demographic will be upset she’s not single. He also mentions that despite their change in fortune, there are a number of people who are depressed and still bashing Saiko and Miho on the internet.

Shujin does qualify this with the fact that those are the extreme minority of fans, and the general sentiment is positive, like what they saw this morning. Shujin thinks she’ll get the role of Naho simply because of he current popularity.

Saiko wonders if that means she won’t get the role because of her skills. Shujin’s surprised by that line of thinking: the production is holding an audition, so what’s here to complain about?

Saiko calms down. Shujin also scolds him: Hattori will come for the final draft that night, so they need to be done with the inks before the assistants arrive. Saiko has a busy week.

New Opportunities

Meanwhile, at Prine 8, Miho is offered a TV commercial spot by the President: Sawasui, a vitamin water. She reminds him that she does not want to appear on television. The President demurs: she’s very cute, and the court of public opinion is very favorable. Promoting vitamin water is not the worst way to help fulfill her dream.

She still wants to focus on her audition for Reversi. And she wants her voice acting skills to win, not popularity.

The President points out that if she appears in this commercial, it could give her a popularity boost, and that will increase the likelihood of good results in the audition.

The President tries a new tactic: if she wants to make more money, appearing in the commercial would be a good idea, and it’ll help the company.

She turns it down, but if she gets the role of Naho, she’ll give thought to doing any work.

The President is surprised by that news.

Ruh-roh.

At Studio 92, Producer Konaka observes that the anime is getting a lot of attention due to Miho. Reversi is off to a good start. Ehara looks glum.

He wants Naho to be voiced by the best voice actress for the role.

Konaka, in stark contrast to earlier, notes that they’re going to have an audition, but based on the news, her popularity, and her skill, they’re going to go with Miho.

Ehara does not seem pleased.

A True Flagship Series

That evening, Hattori approves the boy’s final draft. He also mentions that volumes 1 and 2 are getting reprints again. He mentions that it’s partially due to the anime announcement, but the radio program has also increased sales. It was causing chaos, but they managed to turn it to their favor. He admires how they gain strength from challenging situations.

Privately, Hattori thinks they are an impressive pair. Miho as well. He’s confident they will make their dream come true. The boys are concerned by his silence.

He lets them know that Zombie-Gun is printing at 1.05 million copies per volume, and Reversi is 830k. With the popularity and book sales, becoming a true flagship series is no longer a pipe dream. Shujin gets excited: with the buzz from the radio bringing new readers, and the anime announcement, they’re getting a lot of attention. Once the anime begins, it’s gonna be over.

Saiko is quieter and more reserved: the radio buzz is inflating their numbers, but are they successful because of current events, or are they successful because they have a good manga? Saiko tries to convince himself that they’re going in the right direction and that Miho will get the role with just her skills.

Shujin wonders what has Saiko looking so down.

A Proposal

The following Monday, Miura fields another phone call about Saiko and Miho’s relationship. Hattori tells him tough titties: they’re just going to have to tough it out for a while. They can admit the relationship now, so it shouldn’t be as big a problem

Miura explains there are other issues: people asking to break the couple, and questions of nepotism for Reversi. Hatori asks if it’s only people who are against her calling. Miura reasons that people who want her to get the role wouldn’t bother calling.

Hattori reminds him that there is going to be an audition. Miura knows that, but he’s anticipating a headache if she gets the role from the audition. Hattori points out that he’ll get calls if she doesn’t get it as well from the other side.

Hattori heads off for a meeting with the anime staff. Miura wonders why that’s so late at night; apparently, they have something they need a decision on.

Konaka runs the proposal to Hattori and Heishi. He’s personally opposed to it, but the director won’t budge. Heishi isn’t against it; Hattori wants to make sure that they’re getting Ashirogi’s permission before doing this.

Hattori looks at Ehara, who is stone-faced as ever.

A Live Audition

The next days, the boys try to figure out what the anime team wants so suddenly. Saiko thinks there is a lot to talk about: it’s coming out in September, but they haven’t even decided on voice actors yet.

Shujin teasingly speculates that they’ve decided to skip auditions and just give Miho the part of Naho. Saiko gets gooey about it, but thinks they could have just given them a phone call about that.

They welcome the anime team back and apologize for the studio’s size.

Two new people have come: Goto and Furuike from Together Movies. The boys introduce themselves. Shujin asks for confirmation: Together Movies is an internet streaming service, right?

Konaka explains they were brought as part of a larger proposal for Ashirogi.

They all sit down to discuss, and the boys are shocked to learn that the team wants to broadcast the audition for the role of Naho:

Konaka confirms that they wish to have an open-to-the-public audition just for the VA of Naho. Goto explains they want to watch it over the internet. Shujin asks if there would be a voting component like a reality TV show through the remote or cell phone.

Goto confirms it. Konaka thinks it would be best to forestall the rumors by having the entire proceeding be public. Saiko notices Ehara being quiet.

Ehara speaks up: they want to do the thing that Jump does with series to determine popularity using surveys. They would like fans to vote for the actress who will play Naho. They’ll narrow down the candidates to about 20 people and have them attend the audition. Then they’ll stream it over the internet for a week and the people who watch will get to vote on who they want to play the role.

Shujin Warsn Saiko: This might end up becoming purely a popularity contest and not based on skill. Saiko asks why.

Public opinion has not completely turned in favor of Miho yet. There are people who don’t believe in their relationship, or even if they do believe it, the avid fans of Miho will never vote for her.

Saiko’s alarmed to hear that Miho’s skills as a voice actress won’t even be taken into consideration. Shujin hates to admit it, but the other voice actresses like Ms. Natara – another VA – have better skills than Miho. Popular Actresses do well because they are talented. It’s as simple as that.

Shujin asks the team whether more popular VAs like Ms. Natara or Ms. Otsuki will be attending the audition.

Konaka confirms that it is the case: they’re sending notices to every popular VA and given the attention the anime is now getting – it’s the most talked about production coming out in the fall – they’ll all open their schedules for it.

Shujin advises

Don’t do it!

Shujin thinks it’s a bad idea to do it on the internet. TV might work, but the internet will definitely be bad. Hattori acknowledges it’s not his place to make the decision, but he has doubts about this approach. It’s been his dream for Azuki to play a role, right?

Saiko thinks it’s odd to see Hattori like this as well.

Konaka also advises that if Saiko wishes to actually have Miho play the role, he should not go about it this way. There is a gap between what the internet feels about it and how the public feels about it. The story has generated a lot of buzz, and there are many people in support of their relationship and dream. The audition is a formality. That’s why Konaka objects to this proposal.

Ehara finally chimes in: he proposed it.

Shujin’s shocked. But Ehara is firm: if they held an audition in name only and chose Miho, then they would not have chosen her for their skills.

Konaka thinks she’s proven her skills, and she fits Naho perfectly. As Shujin already explained, they will get a popular actress if they do this, not the right actress.

Ehara hits the jugular: they are popular because of their skill. Ehara was moved by the radio program and Miho’s attitude. That’s why he’s asking Saiko to do this. Does he really want to give Miho the role just to make things look proper?

That hits Saiko where he lives.

If they just go with things because they are on their side now…

Saiko’s Decision

Saiko thinks it’d be meaningless to hold an audition in name only, right? He wants Miho to get the role more than anyone else. He wants her to get it with her own skills; he feels more strongly about this than anyone. If the audition is going to be the best way to demonstrate this, then he’s for it.

Oh boy.

Shujin warns Shim that Miho might not get the role if they get his route.

Saiko thinks that if that’s the case, it’s better than Miho being accused of getting the role through personal connections. Miho has been preparing for this before anybody else and is taking everything she’s got on it.

Even if there is a more popular or more skilled actress, Miho will get ahead of them. No. Miho will not have the right to perform as Naho if she can’t beat the others. He wants them to do it. To broadcast the audition.

Ehara grins to himself, and Konaka shakily agrees to it.

On that shonen note, the chapter concludes

Fame and Popularity Reaction

Welp

This arc just won’t fucking die, I guess. I guess this is going to be the last hurdle and the final battle.

I mean, look, it makes narrative sense that this is where the story ends. Well, maybe, I’ve been so comically wrong lately that it’s entirely possible that Eiji’s going to do a sneaky final kincho right before the final five chapters, and it turns back to manga stuff. But…

This is the last thing preventing Saiko from his dream, so of course, it kinda has to be the last part of the narrative and the focus of the conclusion.

And, even though we’ve been in this arc for 5 chapters now – I’m combining this with the rumor arc – there has been the one thing that they’ve been talking about the entire time that has not yet happened: the audition itself.

It makes total narrative sense that they’re still in this arc when the audition hasn’t happened yet because it’s the one thing separating Saiko from his dream being fulfilled. And once Miho gets the role, the narrative is technically concluded.

Like, my major complaint about this right now is that they haven’t definitively beaten Eiji yet. And this chapter kinda highlights the fact that that storyline is not yet entirely resolved – so it may come into focus if Miho gets the role – but this is really the meat and potatoes of what Saiko has worked for, and honestly, everything else that is narratively significant has been resolved adequately.

But yeah, I dunno, as a concluding arc, it feels like a weird tangent if only because it’s not really about manga anymore. And this series has been so in the weeds about MANGA for so long that to have the final battle of battles be for Miho, rather than for Saiko – although Saiko is obviously being challenged as well – it just feels tonally quite weird.

But as I just said

The Series Has Not Definitively Stated That They’ve beaten Eiji Yet

So this chapter, during the happy moments – which holy shit, I needed that so badly after the relentless bullshit of the last several chapters – has them mention Eiji’s circulation still being higher but Reversi catching up, but only catching up because the tide has turned in their favor. That feels like a signal that Eiji and the boys aren’t done just yet.

But we only have six chapters after this. And I have to imagine the audition is going to take at least 2. So that’ll leave just four chapters to resolve the final manga battle.

And if the series is planning to delve into being forced to extend the series, that’s going to have to be resolved.

It’s feeling tight right now, is what I’m saying.

But clearly, there is something the boys have not done yet to truly beat Eiji. They have become the signature series in Jump. Which makes this whole debacle feel even more like a tangent than it would normally because there is this pressure as a reader, knowing the series is done, to see the final battle manifest itself and see the boys finally, and definitively overcome Eiji.

And if it sounds like I’m harping on this too much, I might be. But yeah, even though this story has been about Saiko and Miho’s relationship the whole time – and we haven’t had the audition where she knocks it out of the park despite fierce competition – I am, and always have been, primarily here for the manga.

I’m just a little grumpy, is alls I’m saying.

But I guess we’ll just have to see. I’m okay with the other cast members getting their ultimate fate in the inevitable two-year time skip in the final chapter, where we see how everyone is doing

But let’s get back to the actual topic at hand

Miho’s Final Battle

So I audibly rolled my eyes when I saw Ehara’s solution to the nepotism problem. And if you’ve never been a master at eye rolling, you know it can be audible. It sounds disgusting.

Where was I?

Yeah, so this is one of those “this moment is not narratively interesting on its own, so we have to juice it up just to make it a challenge, so that when she wins, it’s satisfying,” which was easier to do during the rumor arc because that shit is hard to fight.

But now we’re going to get some VAs for Miho to compete against. The color pages seem to have foreshadowed their designs: generally attractive ladies. And we can assume either Natara or Otsuki is going to be her primary competitor since they were name-dropped.

But I…kinda hope this battle doesn’t go too long.

Is it a novel way to inject a challenge into this part of the story? yes. Do I think it’s silly? Definitely.

To be clear, I think it’s going to be handled well, and it’s going to be handled classy, but also super shonen-y and it’s going to end up with a defining climactic moment of Miho giving it her all in such a way that it’s totally undeniable.

But yeah, it still feels weird and extraneous to devote 10 chapters of manga to this.

It should be entertaining, if nothing else.

But yeah.

Sigh

I do like Saiko’s central struggle here

Roll With the Good Times?

I think this is actually a pretty good depiction of the challenge of not getting caught up in the good times when they come. It’s easy to ride a wave of success and get lost in the sauce a bit, which is part of Saiko’s struggle. He wants to be the best in the truest way possible, no hype—just truth.

And it’s a good moral lesson: even when things are going great, keep your eyes on the prize. Be devoted to doing your best and being the best. Good times come and good times go, but discipline will always carry you through.

It’s also interesting to see how these last few chapters have really expanded the world so widely just as we’re concluding. It’s astounding to see two boys who look a lot like Saiko and Shujin asking for autographs; it’s cool to see his mother be tacitly proud of her son’s choices and okay with his wife choices – I giggled when she needled him for that. And it’s cool to see the boys reaping the fruits of their labor.

But Saiko is still, at heart, the protagonist protagonist and he knows this is nice, but it won’t win them anything if they let it make them complacent. In that sense, this was a pretty solid chapter.

But yeah, goddamn it’s frustrating to be this close to the end and feel like there’s a bigger story that needs to be told.

And to be clear, given how dense Bakuman is, one chapter is worth several chapters for most series. But even so.

Man, it’s going to be really hard to get over this, so let’s talk about some other things

The Consequences feel realistic

This was one of the actual strengths of this chapter. The idea that even though they’ve turned the court of public opinion on their side, the internet is still holding out (as it does), and that thing hasn’t actually really gone back to normal.

That’s more obvious in the newfound fame and buzz the anime is getting, but it’s also reflected in the fact that the internet might shank his girl’s chance of winning.

That’s an important touch to this final part of the puzzle. Even though they’ve done a lot to repair things. Things aren’t fixed. They might never be fixed.

I even felt bad for Miura, who is getting it from every angle this chapter. And like, I could give a shit. But having to deal with the fallout of all this must be exhausting. And it isn’t really over, which gives the fame and popularity a nice little sheen of falsity. Because they are famous and popular.

But they’re not unimpeachable yet. And that’s where the need to be.

So I know why they’re setting up a narrative battle royale for the role.

And I’ll admit

I Like Ehara

Yeah, he’s fun. I’m a sucker for the stone-faced man in a position of authority who likes the gumption of the young buck who is a little too headstrong but sees potential in him and only proffers a smile when he’s genuinely pleased.

It’s a really fun trope.

And it speaks to the desire for authenticity that’s at the heart of the chapter’s conflict. The fact that he decided it means he’s a good director at least in the story.

But I do have to say that in the real world, Shujin is right. And he may be right here. I doubt it. But he may be right here.

PCP. Yamashita? Plz? Plz?

If it were on the internet, internet people would find a million ways to render that poll suspect, and it would be a popularity contest—one which Miho would lose.

And I also like that they all acknowledged that popular actresses are also good at their job and not just popular for no reason. That’s probably my favorite thing about this final run of chapters: everything is pretty grey, even when you know the victory is coming. It has’ been a clean resolution.

So yeah, I like Ehara being tough. It gives Sasaki vibes. And it has to happen because the narrative can’t let up until the very end. I will say, though, it’s getting kind of obnoxious keeping all these new names and characters in line.

That said

The Obnoxious Characters are Fun, if Scummy.

Seeing the president and Konaka in such a good mood is such a great way to depict how scummy the industry can be, even if it’s not intending to be. Just the fact that they’re willing to capitalize on the change in public sentiment on the drop of a dime. Yeah. Who needs integrity?

And look, I’m not actually calling out either Konaka or the President. They are doing their job. And their job is sales. And their job is sales tied to personality. They are simply acting on the incentives their fields demand.

Butttttt, yeah. It’s kinda scummy.

Especially the president who is now using Miho’s dream to sell her on doing commercials and potentially other, less savory things like Gravure shoots. Not that I think she’d take it, but she’s open to doing “anything” after getting the role in Reversi. I don’t like how that sounds.

It is good that she’s considering alternative income streams because if Siako goes through with ending his series early, then he’s not going to be taking in as much money.

But I digress.

These are not bad chapters. I’m enjoying everything. This one was delightful in all the right ways. A good wrap-up of the previous darkness, and preparing for the final final.

But I cannot help but be eager to get back to manga. The thing we’re here for.

Eiji is not yet beaten. I want to see him beaten. The moment Azuki gets her role, I want us back to Reversi vs. Zombie-Gun. I want to see the boys win definitely.

I hope we have time to do it

Stray Thoughts

–The comments about the internet have not only aged amazingly, they’ve aged like fine fucking wine. Goddamn the internet fucking sucks.

–It’s wild to me how much media in Japan surrounds media. Like magazines about voice actors; broadcasts around TV series. I get that the US does it, too. But I don’t know if we have magazines with dedicated fanbases talking about our favorite voice actresses like they do over there. But then again, voice actresses aren’t also idols. I guess that’s the differences.

–The boys whom I included were a nice touch. I like that they look a bit like Saiko and Shujin to remind us that there is a new generation coming.

–Saiko’s coffee spit take is one of the ages. Love my boy and his purity.

–The relationship is cute now, and I am cool with it. I’m so tired, man.

Until next time,

peace