To now and never

Chapter 1

The unveiling of the poster and the trailer of The Wild Flowers is about to be virtually released in exactly two minutes. Fanatics from across the globe await this epic event as Riku Takayama announced early this year that his popular manga series reached its final arc.

All the avid fans are hyped to mark the 13th of October at 12 pm in the 7th year of Reiwa, intrigued by the writer's sudden curtain call after 10 years of developing and creating the manga with a total of 20 series.

This much-anticipated event, almost considered an annual festival, sends its audience a sense of bitter-sweet nostalgic feelings only true fans can understand. The last ten years have been considered the Victorian Era of Japanese manga. A renewed love for reading manga has emerged thanks to the likes of Riku and the flourishing technological advancements in digital printing, online publishing, and language translating.

His manga has been widely received across the globe both by the younger and older generations, male and female audiences, especially during the last three years when the pandemic happened. While the whole world is struggling to revive lost jobs and relationships, many find Riku's manga as a means to survive uncertain times. Also, commercial industries and educational sectors have developed businesses and courses for manga creators.

Riku manages to create unique personalities for each queen that everyone can easily resonate with. They are far from the typical perfect stereotypes of fictional characters with royal blood. They curse, commit mistakes, be silly, get annoyed, and make wrong decisions, but their empathy towards their subordinates makes them stand out. Riku devises story plots around the theme of inclusivity and self-discovery, topics that his audience can very much relate to.

What makes Riku the most popular manga creator is his unique technique of launching a trailer and poster for the series before releasing the actual manga after only 150 days. As a cliffhanger, right after the release of the trailer, he presents 10 alternate endings for each queen.

Then, everyone within the legal age of 18 can submit only one prediction online. Riku will randomly choose four of the most accurate predictions that will win some of the royalties for the series and a chance to meet Riku in person. The readers go into a frenzy about predicting the ending, especially the teenagers who even ask their parents and grandparents to vote for more chances of winning.

Many have tried copying his technique, but the intricacies of each alternate ending and the thought process behind each concept are truly one of a kind. To his fans, he is the Shakespeare and Picasso of his time. There are rumors that Riku actually used this scheme and altered his story at the last minute to appeal to more audiences. To others, Riku was considered more of a gamester than a real writer. Whether it is true or not, Riku is outstanding with his technique of expanding the readability of his manga.

And the countdown to 12 o'clock midnight begins. The live icon is now on display marked by a blinking red dot.

The screen projects colored comic strips slideshow highlighting the lands conquered and battles won in all of the previous seasons of the manga. Then, it turns pitched black with the number countdown at its center.

10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, and 1!

Riku is looking straight into the computer camera with his usual innocent pale face and friendly expression. At the age of 50, he is aging well, like a fine wine. His eyeglasses are now too thick for his Japanese eyes. His pointed nose and thin lips make up his handsome features. His hair is still mostly black and neatly trimmed.

He is wearing a white kariyushi, a traditional casual top from his homeland. He is seated in front of his computer monitor, agitated by what will happen in the next few seconds. It has been a roller-coaster ride of emotions going back and forth between the denial and acceptance stages. With his gentle voice almost close to a whisper, Riku started the livestream.

"Dearest Fans,

Konbanwa! (He politely bows to his audience.)

Thank you for making me the most accomplished manga creator of my time. (He pauses and swallows hard.)

I grew up watching anime and their live adaptations. To all my fans and supporters of my manga, thank you for giving life to my brainchild and for joining me in this fictional world. (He tries to stop himself from stuttering.)

In a world dominated by shonen anime, together, we overcome the impossible race of championing women in the world of manga.

After years of working on the character development and story plot of Queen Vanda, Queen Cattleya, Queen Phalaenopsis, and Queen Dendrobium, we have reached the finish line. Thank you for supporting, loving, and at times even hating my characters or plot twists. There is nothing more rewarding for a writer than to have readers appreciating his work. I hope you continue doing so despite this being the last.

I actually hope that this point in time brings you to tears since I cried a river when I drew the final panel for the last scene of my manga. I firmly believe that happiness and sadness go together. I hope that the story still intrigues you and motivates you to keep wondering and move forward in this lifetime.

The past 10 years have been memorable and precious. Thank you for spending your decade with me. In this way, you have shared a slice of your life with me. I hope that when you retell The Wild Flowers to your great-grandchildren some years from now, you do so with delight and excitement and never with resentment.

It is with great honor and pleasure that I dedicate this final series to all the fans of The Wild Flowers.

Please continue trusting and show compassion to me in this endeavor.

Together, let us embrace without any hesitation the end of an era. Sayonara. (deep sigh)"

Bang!

A deafening sound of what seems to be a gunshot is heard from the backround while the lifeless body of Riku slowly falls to the floor. He had been shot in the head since parts of his kariyushi had just turned dark red. What is now left visible on the screen is a white wall with the black and white poster divided into four panels by neon yellow lines of a comic sketch page splattered with its writer's blood.

The world inevitably stops in silence and confusion.