Ep 19. Two and One

In Bakuman season 1 episode 19, titled "Two and One," Mashiro and Takagi find themselves in a difficult position as they attempt to balance their work on their manga, "Detective Trap," while also trying to participate in the upcoming "Jack" auditions. With only two weeks left until the audition deadline, the two struggle to come up with a new idea for their entry, as their previous idea was rejected by their editor, Hattori.

As the deadline looms ever closer, Mashiro becomes increasingly stressed and starts to doubt whether he and Takagi will be able to come up with something in time. Meanwhile, Takagi reassures him and suggests that they try a different genre for their manga.

They decide to focus on a romantic comedy instead and begin brainstorming ideas for their new story. However, they soon hit another roadblock when they realize that their new idea has already been used before. This setback causes Mashiro to lose hope once again, but Takagi's optimism motivates him to keep going.

In the midst of all this, Mashiro receives a surprise visit from Azuki, who comes to visit him at the studio. She reveals that she too has been working hard on her voice acting and has landed her first role in a TV commercial. Her success inspires Mashiro and reminds him of the importance of pursuing his dreams.

With renewed motivation, Mashiro and Takagi decide to take a risk and add a supernatural element to their romantic comedy, in the hopes of making it stand out from other manga. They work tirelessly, even forgoing sleep, as they try to meet the deadline for the Jack audition.

In the end, the two submit their new idea and await the results. As they anxiously wait, they realize that they have grown closer as friends and partners, and that their shared passion for manga has brought them even closer together.

Overall, "Two and One" is a standout episode that showcases the ups and downs of pursuing one's dreams. It also highlights the importance of perseverance and hard work, as well as the power of friendship and support. Fans of Bakuman won't want to miss this exciting and emotional episode.