Episode 9

Everyone's Reactions

Hikaru showing up on her bike in just a swimsuit is seriously bold. I totally get why everyone called her a 'femdom queen'—looking at that scene, my heart might actually stop. It’s great to see the positive response after posting her manga on SNS, but she’s also dealing with that super relatable struggle: the gap between what users want and what she wants to draw. I totally feel that tug-of-war between validation and staying true to herself. When Akafuku pushed her through her doubts, it was such a wholesome friend moment. Her point about how both 'drawing for others' and 'drawing for yourself' are precious really resonated. That’s exactly why creation is so fun—it’s hard to choose, but that’s the beauty of it. Also, I nearly laughed out loud when Tejima-sensei instantly aged into a granny after being told to change her style, crying about how her 'true self' was disappearing. And now Kongoji pulling out the Gessan magazine? I’m so curious to see what happens next week!