Takagi and Kaya are actually going out, but he doesn’t have time for dates because of his busy mangaka schedule.

They go to meet Hattori the next day at the editorial building for the feedback sheets, but he forgets them so he invites them to the actual editorial department with him. The two are delighted. Anyway, the mangaka judges gave them good scores but the editors didn’t, this is because this type of story isn’t suited for Jack, but mangaka’s like originality.

Hattori tells Mashiro that his art is actually quite good, which relieves him. He also tells them that Niizuma is getting serialised. This lights a fire in Mashiro who then asks if they draw another manuscript with serialization in mind and it’s good enough will it be serialised. Hattori can see his determination but he tells them that just because a manga’s good that doesn’t mean it’ll be serialized. But the Editor-in-chief appears and disagrees, however he does say that their manga isn’t good enough. Good mangas will be serialised, is apparently Mashiro’s uncle’s last words to the editor-in-chief. He then tells them about how things work with pros because he knows these two are serious.

It seems that Takagi’s stories are too deep and complex, realising this, Hattori asks the two to only bring in names and then he’ll pick a good one to draw out.

Later, Mashiro finds that Takagi’s already at the studio, with Kaya, who tries to get Azuki and Mashiro together but fails. They then make her promise not to tell Azuki about this place. Mashiro looks pretty depressed after hearing that Azuki may move far away for her education and other lessons and she may even be promoted as an actress before voice acting.

The two continue to draw and write managing to finish several names and bring them to Hattori. They’re all terrible! The protagonists are too jack-like and too normal so they don’t give much of an impression. Turns out they’re not suited for mainstream shounen.

Next day, Hattori suddenly calls them out after school. He tells them about the reader surveys and if 2 out of 10 people vote for you, you’re a hit. So he now wants them to create a work that 2 out of 10 people will definitely like. He asks them for works they cut out because they weren’t Jack-like and they tell them about ‘Money and intelligence makes the world go around’, a story about selling brains. He deems it perfect for the type of manga he wants them to draw and decides that’s their next manga and they aim for NEXT.

Hattori went all out this episode with his scary faces and expressions didn’t he? I’m sure he must terrify a lot of people. Makes you wonder what his job interview was like, the hilarity, I pity whoever interviewed him. Actually I pity whoever’s had to deal with him in a one on one situation, just imagine him in a bad mood, how much fear he must instil upon those who feels his wrath…

The editorial department certainly have some impressive first impressions. But the department itself just looks like a normal office building. I’m very disappointed to say the least. I was hoping it’d be more Google’s offices, but, I guess Jack’s people aren’t as fun as I thought.

Anyway, so Takagi’s story style isn’t Jack material, but definitely a hit with the other mangaka’s though. I mean who doesn’t love the obscure, their manga obviously has a place in Jack, like Death Note, then again, this is probably what the authors are going for as they wrote death note. Occult hits are the best! The good ones anyway.

Like I thought last episode, Niizuma’s presence definitely spurred on the two of them. The big rival appears, which would always have a positive effect on the protagonists. I always find healthy rivalry does no harm.

Seems that Azuki may move away, I don’t know why Mashiro’s so worried, they rarely talk in class, and they text and mail each other most of the time. Sounds like a long distance relationship already to me, only difference is that he won’t be able to see her everyday. The two have already known each other for quite a while now, and Azuki seems like the loyal type, shouldn’t be any problems. He should concentrate on his manga and trust that Azuki will keep their promise because she will.

They aim for NEXT next… lol… anyway yeah, they aim for NEXT with something obscure that they think will surely get at least 20% of the votes from Jack which means it’ll definitely do much better in NEXT. So let’s all hope for the best and see how their next manga turns out. It sounded interesting, but I didn’t quite get it at first. I’ll wait for them to expand on the story more then, I’ll understand by then.