Chapter 64: Monthly Decision
Wednesday morning, NextGen Manga Monthly's official website released an announcement:
"In view of creative precision requirements, Non Non Biyori will officially become a monthly serialization starting April. Released the first week of every month, 40 pages per issue, guaranteeing content quality. Simultaneously, Fullmetal Alchemist maintains its weekly schedule unchanged."
As soon as the announcement came out, the forum split into two factions.
Support Faction:
"Monthly 40 pages! That thickness is acceptable!"
"Alex doing weekly FMA and monthly Non Non Biyori simultaneously while maintaining quality—the intensity is too high, monthly is reasonable."
"Quality over speed! I want to see the best Non Non Biyori!"
"Anyway, there's a backlog, I can slowly savor previous chapters Nyanpasu~"
Opposition Faction (Wailing Faction):
"No—! One chapter a week isn't enough, now wait a month??"
"My weekly spiritual food is cut in half! Alex do you have a heart?"
"But thinking about it, FMA Northern Arc is at a critical period, Alex must be putting all effort there..."
"I understand the logic, but I still want to say Nyanpasu every week!"
The top comment was savage:
"I now understand why Alex can handle FMA and Non Non Biyori simultaneously—he spends six days a week drawing FMA to depress the whole net, and one day drawing Non Non Biyori to heal the whole net. Now extending healing time to a month, so FMA will be even more torturous, right? I'm scared."
Three thousand replies piled under this comment:
"Now that you say it... thinking carefully is terrifying!"
"FMA Northern Battlefield isn't done yet, will the next month be..."
"Don't! We need weekly healing for balance!"
"But monthly 40 pages, maybe higher quality? I choose to trust Alex Nyanpasu~"
Shonen World HQ. Kane looked at the announcement, a cold sneer appearing on his lips.
"Monthly..." He addressed the editors in the conference room. "Seems Alex reached his limit too. Maintaining two high-quality works simultaneously, even he can't do it. This is our chance to overtake."
"What does the Chief mean?"
"How is Hiro's progress?" Kane asked.
The responsible editor reported quickly: "He's been living in the Kyushu countryside for two months, updating his blog daily with life records. Yesterday's post about helping a village elder fix a roof and learning to make dried persimmons... views are very high, over a million."
Kane pulled up Hiro's blog page. The latest post featured a photo of an old rural house's eaves under the sunset. The text was simple: "So this is the texture of roof tiles. So the sound of sunset falling on tiles is quiet."
Comments were lively:
"Teacher Hiro changed..."
"This text is so gentle, completely different from previous hot-blooded stuff."
"I suddenly look forward to his new work."
"Tell Hiro," Kane said, "we will launch his new work simultaneously with the next issue of Non Non Biyori monthly. Genre set as 'Urbanite Return to Countryside Healing,' using his own experience. Launch our healing work."
"But time is too tight..."
"Tightness creates explosive power." Kane's eyes were sharp. "I want to use this work to tell everyone—healing genre isn't Alex Walker's patent. We can do it too, and do it better."
Thursday morning, spring snow on the ranch.
Alex was revising the monthly version of Non Non Biyori Chapter 1 in the studio. Although previously released, he decided to refine it for the monthly debut—adding details, adjusting paneling, making the 40 pages richer.
He revised carefully. The scene where Renge said "Nyanpasu" in Chapter 1 was originally one panel. He expanded it to three—Renge running out of the house, seeing the morning sun, squinting, smiling, then finally saying "Nyanpasu~".
Simple expansion, but the character's liveliness came out instantly.
Phone buzzed. Sue: "Monthly announcement response polarized but generally supportive. A reader asks, what does Renge's 'Nyanpasu' mean? Just a catchphrase or special meaning?"
Alex thought, replied: "It's a greeting, and her attitude towards the world. Seeing beautiful things, say Nyanpasu. Encountering happy things, say Nyanpasu. It's her way of expressing happiness."
Minutes later, Sue sent a screenshot—she forwarded this explanation on social media with caption: "Alex says, 'Nyanpasu' is Renge's greeting to the world, and expression of happiness. So today, did you say Nyanpasu to the world?"
One hour later, #NyanpasuIsGreetingToWorld hit trending.
Comments went crazy again:
"So say Nyanpasu when seeing beautiful things?"
"Saw cherry blossoms this morning, subconsciously said Nyanpasu, colleagues looked at me weird..."
"But putting it this way, this word is so warm!"
"Saying Nyanpasu to mirror every morning to start a beautiful day!"
"Suggest including in elementary textbooks, teaching kids to greet the world with happy mood Nyanpasu~"
Influence expanded again. An education scholar posted: "Behind the 'Nyanpasu' phenomenon is the younger generation's desire for simple, sincere communication. In today's internet slang filled world, such a word with no negative meaning, purely expressing happiness, becoming popular is not surprising."
Article widely reposted. Netizen added: "And Renge said it! Renge is the purest, happiest character in Non Non Biyori, her words carry healing aura!"
(To be Continued)