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HELIO SCANS
[Translator - Hestia]
[Proofreader - Kaya]
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Chapter 40: Final Chapter
'D Note' is currently the most talked-about manga in circulation.
There was a time when 'Monogatari' set online communities and social media on fire, but that was the limit—it never quite had the firepower to become a mainstream news topic.
'D Note', however, is different.
As soon as news broke that it was ending, several outlets published articles with 'D Note' as the headline.
It had become the kind of phenomenon that even people who don’t read manga had heard of.
And then, last week.
When the announcement of the final chapter was made, it stirred a flurry of debate among readers.
Some argued—
“Isn’t this ending way too sudden?”
Others responded—
“If you follow the plot, it makes sense—it’s been leading to a conclusion.”
The criticism was louder overall, but regardless of which side people took, everyone agreed on one thing:
Let’s see how it ends first.
And so, amidst a storm of anxiety, doubt, and anticipation, the final chapter of 'D Note' was released.
＊ ＊ ＊
“Damn, seriously… It was 50 pages and I didn’t even notice it was longer than usual.”
“I legit thought J died at the beginning. Freaked me out.”
“Hey, hold up! Don’t spoil it—I’m still reading!”
A typical high school classroom.
As soon as one boy put down his copy of Weekly Shōnen Jump, students swarmed around him like they’d been waiting for it.
In no time, they were gathered in a circle around the magazine, playing rock-paper-scissors to decide who’d read it next.
“This one was hard to get, seriously. My brother’s friend works part-time at a convenience store—he set one aside for me as soon as it came in.”
“I rushed out at dawn too, but it was already sold out.”
“Apparently, people lined up at the store and bought it the second it hit the shelves.”
“'D Note' is absolutely insane…”
It’s rare for manga magazines to sell out like this.
They're not that collectible—they’re bulky, the paper quality isn't great, and most people just read them once and forget about them. Usually, people buy one copy and pass it around, or just stand and read it in the store (which, to be clear, you’re not supposed to do).
So the fact that 'D Note' sold out shows just how intense the hype around the final chapter really is.
“Wait, hold on… So J actually died?”
“Was there no other way? Couldn’t he just keep watching Aito instead?”
“Aito wasn’t the one who wrote J’s name in the first place, though.”
A student who had just finished reading joined the group, and the 'D Note' debate kicked off in full.
“The notebook’s rules… We always just skimmed past that one, but was it meant for this all along?”
“No doubt. Aito found a way to use every other rule to his advantage, but not that one. That one stood apart.”
“But if J dies because of that, isn’t that basically self-destruction?”
“He swore from the beginning he’d risk his life to catch the killer. So in a way… isn’t that just who J is?”
But it wasn’t just students sharing their thoughts on 'D Note'.
In a university research lab somewhere…
“If a real-life 'D Note' existed and it could actually kill people, would using it to execute criminals be morally justifiable…? It sounds okay to me, but what do you think?”
“This could actually be a great topic for class discussion. There’s so much to unpack—law, justice, ethics—and it’s popular enough that students would really engage with it.”
On a crowded commuter train, among office workers heading to work…
“Honestly, J came out on top. He predicted everything, and in the end, he wrapped it all up with just his own life.”
“Aito had the upper hand the whole time—plus he even used that monster you can’t stop even with a devil’s gun—and J still beat him. Dude’s a legend.”
“When Aito touched the 'D Note' and got his memories back, and J was staring him down head-on—I swear, I thought I was watching a psychological thriller.”
Even… in a public restroom stall?
“It sucks that J died, but honestly, it made the ending hit way harder.”
“Right? That last scene where Natari calls J’s name and covers him with a blanket—man, that got me.”
And finally, in the places where the harshest criticism had once raged—online communities and social media…
＊ ＊ ＊
[“Where did all those people go—the ones complaining the ending of ‘D Note’ was rushed?”]
Just up until Sunday, tons of people were saying they weren’t going to read it or buy it, but the magazine sold out completely—guess they couldn’t buy it even if they wanted to. LOL
Or maybe they said all that and then sprinted out for the open-run release?
So? Now that you’ve all read it—what’s the verdict?
ㄴI believed in you, Wakayama-sensei!
ㄴNo lies—this is hands down one of the cleanest finales in Shonen Jump history.
ㄴFifty pages and I didn’t even breathe. It was always good, but the direction and detail in the final arc were on another level.
ㄴTotally agree. I heard the author helped with film screenwriting and anime production—definitely shows.
ㄴI mean, I didn’t love the ending… Am I the only one?
ㄴYeah, just you.
ㄴIsn’t this the same guy who was trashing 'D Note' last week, acting like a critic?
ㄴChecked their post history—habitual offender. They just hate 'D Note', plain and simple.
[“After reading D Note's ending, I just sat there in a daze… (not a diss)”]
[“Breaking down that final scene—J's full name: Jeshua Calvus Rainsworth”]
[“No one predicted 'D Note''s ending—here's the hidden meaning”]
Across forums and social media, the criticism and backlash had vanished.
Now the timelines and threads were filled with in-depth analysis and discussion of the ending.
That brief stir of controversy from the week before? Completely buried beneath the flawless final chapter—forgotten.
And 'D Note''s ending didn’t just stop at the internet.
['D Note' ends in a shock finale… Silences all doubts and controversy in one week]
[Weekly Shōnen Jump sells out nationwide… Publishing industry stunned by 'D Note' finale]
['D Note''s final chapter prompts immediate decision to reprint 50,000 more volumes in a day]
Articles about Wakayama-sensei and 'D Note' poured out nonstop.
It burned hot to the very end, like a grand finale, even making it into top news headlines.
·
·
·
In a corner of the old school building, Kanna was brimming with excitement as she read out reactions and headlines she'd scribbled down in her notebook.
“How about it? Want me to keep going? That was just what I saw this morning. Once school’s out, there’ll be even more.”
“No thanks, I’m already starting to feel queasy,” Junhyuk replied, visibly worn out.
“What? I worked so hard pulling all that up this morning.”
She pouted.
“As long as it wrapped up well, I’m satisfied.”
Junhyuk’s tired response made Kanna puff out her cheeks in disappointment.
“You know how loud they were last week? All those people totally lost their nerve—doesn’t that feel satisfying?”
“Not really. You were the one who told me not to read it. And honestly, I try to avoid internet reactions unless I’m hearing them through Matsuda.”
Junhyuk paused mid-bite of his sandwich and turned to Kanna.
“Wait—just to be sure—you didn’t argue with anyone in the comments, right?”
“…I didn’t.”
She avoided his gaze a little too obviously. Junhyuk sighed, then spoke firmly.
“If you did, go delete the comments. And from now on, don’t post anything. Actually—just don’t even read that kind of stuff.”
“Geez, that’s a bit much…”
“I’m saying this for your own good. You’re going to be an actress, remember?”
“…Okay.”
Kanna muttered her answer with her lips barely moving, clearly sulking. Seeing her like that, Junhyuk let out a small sigh.
“But still—thanks. You only did it because of me, right?”
Sure, being in showbiz meant she had to be more careful—but he still found it kind of touching that she went out of her way for his sake.
“Hehe…”
“…?”
Kanna suddenly giggled with her head down.
Now wasn’t really the time to laugh…?
Junhyuk turned to glance at her—and saw that she was staring at her phone screen.
“I got the part! I passed the audition!”
Whatever sulking had been on her face moments ago was gone—she bounced in place, clearly over the moon.
“During that last script reading, Director Akagi said he had a role that might fit me. Told me to give the audition a shot!”
“Ohhh.”
Junhyuk remembered Director Akagi as the type who looked cold but actually looked out for people.
So hearing that he’d recommended her wasn’t too surprising. Still, when it came to work, he was known to be ruthlessly objective—he must’ve seen real talent in Kanna.
“I’ve been picking up more minor roles lately, but this one’s my first lead in a long while!”
“Nice. That’s great.”
“'D Note' wrapped up successfully, and things are going great for me too—double blessings!”
“Yeah, no kidding.”
Looking at the way Kanna smiled—so innocently cheerful—Junhyuk couldn’t help but smile back, a little tension melting from his face.
＊ ＊ ＊
"Chairman, it’s about time we head out."
At his secretary’s words, Chairman Moriyama—seated in the back of the car—closed the book he had been reading.
"Alright, let’s go."
He neatly placed the closed book on the seat beside him, then followed the secretary, who had opened the car door, into the building where the meeting was scheduled.
"Did something good happen today, sir?"
"Does it look that way?"
"Yes. You seem to be in a better mood than usual. Maybe even a little... wistful?"
At that, the chairman let out a soft chuckle.
"Must be because I read something good."
Left behind on the seat next to where Chairman Moriyama had been sitting was a copy of this week’s Weekly Shōnen Jump magazine.
＊ ＊ ＊
Every Friday, the editorial department posts the latest reader survey results.
That chart isn’t just for show—it’s a direct measure of popularity, and more importantly, it’s the document that determines a series’ future.
“…At this point, I’m too exhausted to even be impressed.”
The rankings on the survey chart changed every week. But up at the top, there were certain series that just wouldn’t budge—like someone had copied and pasted them there.
One of those immovable giants was the undisputed No. 1: 'D Note'.
There was a time it tussled for the top with 'Fullmetal Alchemist', trading spots back and forth—but once 'D Note' hit its peak, it locked down first place for good.
Then, in its final arc, it kept breaking its own records—again and again.
By the time the final chapter dropped, it wasn’t even a question. Yet another new record shattered.
“Just take everything. Take it all. You win.”
“Honestly, I can’t even be mad anymore.”
“If you deliver a finale like that… Well, fair enough.”
Before release, the editorial team gets to review the final manuscript.
Naturally, that means they’d already read 'D Note'’s final chapter—and they could more or less predict how readers would react.
“The anime’s doing great, the original manga’s getting praised for the perfect ending, and they’re even rushing out the final volume ahead of schedule. At this rate, we could sit back and it’d still fly off the shelves.”
“So jealous…”
One editor muttered under their breath—and the whole room silently nodded in agreement.
“Damn it. I’m gonna go play ‘Matsuda’ real quick.”
Ever since D Note’s final chapter dropped, a new trend had taken over the office: the “Matsuda Game.”
The rules were simple.
First, you find Matsuda.
Then—
“YOU FOOL! MATSUDAAA!! ARE YOU BLIND?!”
—scream a random quote at him, working his name into the line in any ridiculous way you can.
That was the game.
Matsuda sighed and rubbed his forehead.
“Jun… Why are they calling me names…”
This “Matsuda Game” kept trending in the editorial department for six whole months before it finally died down.
＊ ＊ ＊
As spring break crept closer, the air was thick with excitement.
Cutting through a crowd of buzzing students, Jung Junhyuk made his way home from school.
Right behind him, Kanna trailed along with a suspicious grin stretching across her face.
Today, she and Matsuda had planned a surprise party to celebrate Junhyuk’s series finally wrapping up.
She’d gotten Junhyuk’s phone number back during his extended summer break.
Matsuda had asked her to exchange contact info so she could reach out if Junhyuk ever skipped school without notice.
Now that 'D Note' was finished, Junhyuk finally seemed to be letting his guard down.
Kanna figured this was the perfect time to help him blow off steam with a proper celebration.
Just as she was following behind him, thinking those exact thoughts—
Brrring—
A ringtone rang out.
Kanna flinched, thinking it was her phone, but quickly let out a sigh of relief when she saw it was Junhyuk’s.
"Hello?"
His voice was noticeably lower than when he spoke Japanese.
She couldn’t understand Korean, but she could at least pick up on the tone.
"Yeah, Dad. I called yesterday, but you didn’t answer. Yeah… Now that it’s over, I feel a lot better."
Junhyuk’s voice was calm—softer, even. He sounded more relaxed than usual.
And maybe that’s why Kanna found herself just… watching his expression blankly.
“Food? Of course Korean food is the best. But now that I’ve gotten used to things here, there’s a lot of good stuff too. Once spring break starts, I’ll come visit again.”
She couldn’t make out the actual words, but the tone was gentle enough for her to guess it wasn’t a bad conversation.
“…So then why…”
But the expression on Junhyuk’s face didn’t match the warmth in his voice.
His face had clouded over. Not just “dark”—there was something quietly lonesome about it.
Kanna couldn’t read more than that, but it felt like something deeper, something heavier was beneath it all.
Junhyuk kept walking slowly as he continued his call, eventually ending it with a soft click.
Unable to watch him look that down any longer, Kanna made her move.
"Hey… I was just walking by and saw you. You looked kinda off—everything okay?"
Junhyuk blinked, caught off guard by her sudden approach.
“Hang on a sec.”
He raised a hand slightly, as if to say “I’m fine,” then exhaled quietly.
“Phew… Must’ve been that sandwich I had for lunch. Think it’s sitting a little heavy.”
“......”
Kanna had just watched the whole thing unfold, but she simply nodded at his excuse.
He was smiling like nothing was wrong, and for some reason, that made her speak up.
“Well… just in case. I’ll walk you back. Your studio’s around here anyway, right?”
“I’m fine—”
“Nope. Let’s go. Move it.”
Kanna took the lead, and Junhyuk followed slowly behind.
His studio was just around the corner to begin with, so they got there in no time.
“Wanna come in for a quick cup of tea?”
At that moment, something clicked in Kanna’s mind—something she’d completely forgotten.
She’d followed him today to pull off a surprise celebration for finishing his series.
But Junhyuk’s sudden change in mood had thrown her off so badly, she’d totally blanked.
‘I gotta text Matsuda…!’
But she was too late. Junhyuk had already reached the door and was turning the knob.
Click—
The front door swung open.
As they stepped into the entryway, a loud—
POP!
—burst of confetti exploded in the air.
"Jun! Congratulations on finishing your series!"
"...Ah, screw it—I’m just gonna go with it!"
With that, Kanna, deciding to just dive in headfirst, popped the party popper she had been holding.
"C-Congrats!"
Then came the third and fourth bursts—more confetti, more poppers.
"Congrats, Kanna!"
"Congrats on landing the lead role!"
"Huh…?"
As colorful paper and confetti rained down on her, Kanna blinked in confusion.
"A surprise within a surprise."
"This was meant to celebrate Jun’s series ending, sure—but it’s also a party for you, Kanna, to celebrate your casting as the lead."
"...Wait, what?"
"Pretty good acting, huh?"
"H-Huh?"
Still blinking blankly, Kanna looked around in disbelief, and Junhyuk grinned, clearly proud of himself.
"I knew you were tailing me, so I played along a bit."
"Come on in. We’ve got food ready, so eat as much as you like, Kanna."
Pulled into the studio almost without realizing it, Kanna glanced over at Junhyuk.
‘That was all… an act?’
It had felt way too real to just be an act.
Still, she couldn’t bring herself to ask.
His expression back then—how genuinely dark it looked—somehow, it felt like something she shouldn’t poke at too carelessly.
＊ ＊ ＊
Avid Works.
A studio specializing in the production of drama CDs.
The director, Utahara, felt something being shoved against his elbow—it was a book, pushed by producer Mitami.
"This one's seriously good! Just give it a shot! Director! Just once!"
"Alright, alright! I’ll read it, now back off!"
"Read it in front of me! Right now!"
As Utahara shot a sharp laser glare in Mitami’s direction, the sense of impending doom made Mitami scurry off in a panic.
“Sigh…”
Things were already slow lately—no major projects on the horizon—and now they were throwing a doujin (indie/self-published) work at him? What did they expect?
Letting out a small sigh, Director Utahara picked up the book that had been thrust into his side.
“'Monogatari'.”
It would mark the fateful meeting between a director who would soon be known as a genius of his generation—and Enju, a rising author who was quickly becoming the talk of the town.
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HELIO SCANS
[Translator - Hestia]
[Proofreader - Kaya]
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