Full-time comic artist

Finally, Isumi, having gained confidence, defeated a female player.

He has been completely transformed.

After returning to Japan, I heard that Hikaru never played Go again.

To comfort him, and also to comfort myself.

Izumi found Hikaru and prepared to play a game of chess with him.

"Last year's professional exam, the game I lost because of a foul, during the time I hesitated about whether to give up, I thought about covering up the foul, those are painful memories for me. I want to play that game with you until the very end."

He's preparing for his professional exams again this year, and I hope Xiao Guang can play against him and help him shake off the shadows of the past.

Xiaoguang couldn't refuse such a reason.

There's only one more game.

After studying at the Chinese Chess Academy, Isumi's temperament and insight have greatly improved.

For Hikaru, Isumi is a very good opponent now.

Isumi always manages to see through Hikaru's probing and makes brilliant moves to prevent Hikaru from entering the decisive stage.

The two continued their attacks and counterattacks, both realizing that the other had become stronger.

Xiao Guang's mind became more and more active, and his chess playing speed also increased.

The way they hold the pieces and the way they place them become increasingly exhilarating during the exciting game.

He was enjoying the game of chess.

When Sasaki saw this, he understood that "Hikaru no Go" was going to get back on track and that Hikaru would continue playing Go.

Because Hibiki Higashino put a lot of effort into this chapter.

I kept revising the movements and rhythm, striving to best engage the reader's emotions.

In other words, it's almost over.

Chapter 114 "Sai...can I...continue playing Go?"

"I will inform them about the completion of the project," Sasaki said.

The current performance of "Hikaru no Go" is in the upper-middle range, and it shouldn't have ended so easily.

But these are turbulent times, after all.

According to Sasaki, Nobuhiko Horie could no longer stay there, and he didn't want to deal with this mess anymore.

Take advantage of this power vacuum and finish "Hikaru no Go" before the next editor-in-chief arrives.

It's just right.

This is what the deputy editor-in-chief of Jump is like.

To his surprise, Higashino Hibiki told him, "Please don't tell anyone yet. I'm just sharing this with Mr. Sasaki."

"Huh? Why is that?" Sasaki was surprised. "If the new editor-in-chief arrives, it won't be so easy to finish the story."

“I just want the new editor-in-chief to come to me,” Higashino Hibiki said with a smile.

The sixth editor-in-chief of Jump, barring any unforeseen circumstances, will be Kazuhiko Torishima, the mentor who highly values ​​Hibiki Higashino.

"It seems you have your own ideas." Sasaki pushed up his glasses. "Although I'm curious, I won't pry."

Hibiki Higashino nodded. "Yes, yes, it would be great if Mr. Sasaki were the new editor-in-chief."

“I’m still far from it,” Sasaki said unmoved. “Do you have any ideas for the next manga?”

"It's still a sporting event, but I can't say right now," Higashino Hibiki replied.

He wanted a privilege.

……

Next Monday.

Torishima Kazuhiko looked at Jump.

He began preparing for the future as soon as the latest chapter of Yoshihiro Togashi's "Level E" was serialized.

He doesn't have many cards in his hand right now. Katsura Masakazu is used to drawing short stories, and "SHADOW LADY" is still being serialized.

Akira Toriyama will never draw a long-running serial again.

And his deputy editor-in-chief, Toshimasa Takahashi, probably can't influence Yoshihiro Togashi either.

As for Mirai Toriaki's "Hikaru no Go," it is a first-rate manga, but it is definitely not a pillar manga.

After thinking it over carefully, he clutched his hair in distress.

After a short while, Torishima Kazuhiko called over Takahashi Toshimasa and asked him if he had any promising authors.

Takahashi Toshimasa thought for a while, then shook his head under Torishima Kazuhiko's expectant gaze.

For some reason, he suddenly remembered a manga artist he had been in charge of a few years ago who had performed poorly but had worked hard for about ten years before finally getting his work serialized in Jump with his guidance.

But right after the newbie protection period ended, it was immediately cut short.

Perhaps it was because they shared the same surname, Takahashi, or perhaps it was because she saw the unwillingness in his eyes.

Torishima Kazuhiko wore a bitter expression. "Then we'll just have to dig deeper."

There are certainly talented authors; this is where his ability as a talent scout comes into play.

"How is Toriakino-kun doing?" Takahashi Toshimasa asked. "Is his manga doing well?"

Perhaps we can start a new series.

“Our recent results have improved,” Torishima Kazuhiko said, picking up a form. “We’ve actually gotten back to fourth place.”

“Then it’s impossible for it to end,” Takahashi Toshimasa sighed.

He also greatly admires Tori Akino Mirai.

This cartoonist is above average in every aspect.

His creativity in storytelling, in particular, always catches his eye.

His drawing skills are also very strong; judging from the level of skill he displays in "The Garden of Words," he is even more impressive than the average manga artist.

If it's his new work, it might just create a miracle.

“Yes,” Torishima Kazuhiko nodded.

Go is a sport that ordinary people cannot understand, and the intensity of the competition between players sitting still is naturally not as high as other sports.

If Akino Tori were to draw a "baseball" type of story, he might become the next Mitsuru Adachi.

This author once brought a crisis to Jump.

pity……

He looked down, recalling the latest chapter of "Hikaru no Go".

……

During his game against Isumi, Hikaru once again experienced the charm of Go.

With the two sides evenly matched, the game became increasingly interesting as it remained close.

Xiao Guang's traps and tests were always detected by Yi Jiao.

As the art style became sharper and faster-paced, Hikaru made a move.

This move didn't seem like it was his, but rather...

Hikaru saw Sai again. Sai appeared from behind him, holding a folding fan, and pointed to the chessboard.

"This is?"

Xiao Guang turned around in shock, but there was nothing behind him, and he was stunned.

After a long while, Xiao Guang looked at his right hand, which was used to play chess, and suddenly realized what was going on.

……

After Isumi pondered deeply and finally made a move, he found that his opponent hadn't made a move for a long time.

He looked up and saw that Hikaru Shindo was crying.

The other person stared at the chessboard, their lips trembling, tears streaming down their cheeks—a truly pitiful sight.

Hikaru finally understood that his move was the same as Sai's move.

Hikaru recalled Sai's moves over and over again; if Sai were to play this game, his thinking would surely be the same as his own.

Tears fell onto the chessboard, and Hikaru said tremblingly, "I found him... Sai, whom I couldn't find anywhere... is right here."

On the chessboard, in his game against others!

Sai is hiding here.

The only way we can meet again is by playing chess!

"Sai...can I...continue playing?"

I wiped away my tears, but they just wouldn't go away.

……

"That's a really brilliant idea," Kazuhiko Torishima exclaimed.

"The protagonist can play chess again, and without causing readers to dislike him, he makes readers like Hikaru Shindo even more. Tori Akino, he's really amazing."

"Even I felt like crying after reading this episode."

The old fox, Torishima Kazuhiko, said this.

He was joking, but many people were indeed shedding tears.

The village chief cried like a child.

Hikaru Shindo finally found Sai, and although it was different from what he had imagined, he was truly moved.

Sai still exists in Hikaru Shindo's game of Go. As long as Hikaru Shindo doesn't give up playing Go, the mark of Sai's existence will not disappear.