While readers were furious over the disappearance of Sai in Hikaru no Go and were staging a protest on his social media, Ren paid no attention. He was used to this kind of backlash.
These readers were too realistic.
Previously, they had praised Steins;Gate, calling it perfect.
Then, as soon as they saw Hikaru no Go, they were instantly cursing him.
But Ren had something far more exciting on his mind: refreshing new manga projects with his system.
As a time-traveler and an idea borrower, Ren remembered the general plots of many famous works from his past life, though not all the details. But with a rough idea, he could easily reconstruct and adapt a story.
Yet, he hadn't done that up to this point.
One reason was laziness—reworking plots required detailed planning and thinking through the story to avoid inconsistencies. It was a hassle. Another reason was his own indecisiveness.
He couldn't choose, with so many good stories to pick from.
That's where the system came in handy.
The system would randomly refresh three projects. If there was something good, he'd do it. If not, he'd let it go—a laid-back, Zen-like decision-making process.
"Let's see what I got this time," Ren said, stretching his arms as he opened the system.
"Hmm?"
The first option caught his eye.
Food Wars!, a food-themed manga. It was one of the few food series Ren had truly enjoyed in his past life.
The entire work had a lot of flair, a vibrant atmosphere, and over-the-top scenes where eating dishes seemed like taking a drug. Fans even nicknamed it Spring... Drug Wars.
But this series wasn't just about over-the-top reactions.
It was a well-crafted story with rich culinary insights and clear themes.
The setting and character design were on point. Characters like the naturally gifted Erina Nakiri, science-savvy Alice Nakiri, and underdog protagonist Soma Yukihira from a local restaurant—all left a lasting impression.
While these character tropes might seem cliché, the author executed them skillfully.
People often think it's easy to write formulaic stories, but experienced readers who try usually give up after a few attempts. Their imagined scenarios often don't translate well into writing.
"Come to think of it, after finishing Cooking Master Boy, I did promise to create another food series, didn't I?" Ren rubbed his chin, recalling his earlier commitment.
When Cooking Master Boy ended, many fans were reluctant to see it go. Ren joked about creating another food manga but ended up surprising fans with the not-so-food-themed Tokyo Ghoul, which left many wanting more.
Now, it was time to fulfill that old promise.
After all, Ren prided himself on being a reliable, fan-loving creator.
Without further ado, he redeemed Food Wars! from the system.
But he started thinking about how to refine the series.
As much as he liked the original, there were notable problems that needed fixing.
For instance, the Food Wars! manga took a nosedive after the "Father's Food War" arc. Emotional subplots lost their weight, character abilities seemed inconsistent, and personalities became flat. After that, the series only got worse, with its power balance and logic breaking down. It even led to a rushed conclusion.
The author didn't give fans what they wanted.
So Ren decided that in this world, the manga should end after the "Father's Food War" arc.
However, there were other issues specific to this world that he had to address. One of them was the portrayal of Chinese cuisine. In Food Wars!, the author's understanding of Chinese food was significantly weaker than other types of cuisine.
The original author's knowledge came mainly from Japan's interpretations of Chinese dishes.
Ren had already adjusted these mistakes in Cooking Master Boy, but he'd have to repeat the process for Food Wars!.
"Ugh, feels like there's a lot of work to fix. So annoying," Ren muttered, scratching the back of his head.
Still, he had committed to creating whatever good ideas the system offered, so he had to follow through.
Next, Ren looked at the second option: Mobile Suit Gundam SEED.
Not his favorite of the UC Gundam series, but undeniably successful commercially.
It was one of the most popular Gundams, especially among newcomers to the franchise.
In his past life, many people who got into Gundam likely started with SEED.
Of course, other Gundams like Gundam 00, Unicorn, and the classic 0079 were also great.
"Awesome!"
Ren couldn't help but cheer a little.
It was a Gundam series!
Apart from its massive commercial value, the Gundam franchise held a special place in anime history.
In the realm of mecha anime, Gundam wasn't the first, but it was the most famous, long-lasting, and expansive series.
Since its debut, Gundam had been a staple in anime, manga, games, and toys. Even college professors and critics studied it.
All in all, Gundam was a favorite among men!
Who doesn't like giant robots? It's every guy's dream!
"Phew."
Suppressing his excitement, Ren glanced at the third title.
He let out a sigh of disdain.
Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny.
This was the sequel to Gundam SEED and a series Ren personally disliked.
For fans who had enjoyed Gundam SEED, Destiny was a huge letdown.
The main character, Shinn Asuka, especially rubbed Ren the wrong way.
It could just be his personal bias, and maybe others liked it, but since he had the power, Ren decided that in this world, Destiny would not be part of the story.
"Not bad."
Ren felt satisfied after skipping the third title.
Two solid picks were enough.
He would animate Gundam SEED and revise Food Wars! for serialization in manga form.
Now, it was time to get to work…
Ren's gaze shifted to the manuscripts for Hikaru no Go.
He still had to work on that series too.
Ren couldn't help but think to himself: I really am a hardworking manga artist.
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