C78 Bakuman Bakulove 1 Linda Pro Extra Quality 〈PRO · 2026〉

"I drew this before I even knew your name," he says. "At C77. You were sitting alone, fixing someone else's broken binding. You didn't even know me, and you fixed my comic's spine when I wasn't looking."

She leaves. Silence. Then Haruki laughs — that same laugh from day one.

"Yeah. You're… Black Quill?" Shinobu eyes his box. "That's the one with the Bakuman parody chapter, right? 'Muto Ashirogi's Darkest Hour'?" C78 Bakuman Bakulove 1 Linda Pro Extra Quality

Shinobu has sold 47 copies — decent. Haruki has sold 82 — better, but he looks stressed.

"You two are my favorite creators at C78," she says, holding a microphone. "But you're both idiots." "I drew this before I even knew your name," he says

"Yeah," Shinobu whispers. Then: "Did you mean it? The hand-holding screen-tone scene? Did you recognize yourself?"

Shinobu freezes. Haruki drops his drink. You didn't even know me, and you fixed

Haruki pulls out his sketchbook. Flips to a page he's never shown anyone. It's Shinobu — at their table, frowning at a misprinted page, ink on her cheek, beautiful and real.