Full-time comic artist

“It’s not the original manuscript,” Hibiki Higashino said. “I only drew a manga version of a scene from an NBA basketball game. Do you want to see it?”

Torishima Kazuhiko said earnestly, "Please show it to me, please!"

Hibiki Higashino rummaged through his desk drawer and found a picture of Michael Jordan's dunk from the Chicago Bulls.

There were only three original manuscripts, each depicting only one scene. When Torishima Kazuhiko saw them, he was greatly shocked.

This is a scene of Jordan's three reverse layups, which actually takes 3 to 5 seconds in reality, but the comic book cuts out many shots.

From different angles, we see Jordan's expression, the reactions of other players, and the reactions of the opponents.

The shots were fluid, the expressions were spot-on, it was as if we were really watching Jordan dunk.

“And this realistic art style,” Torishima Kazuhiko thought, touching the manuscript paper. “It’s completely different from ‘Hikaru no Go.’ This art style can show the characters’ expressions and increase the sense of immersion!”

“His drawing skills have become even better,” he glanced at Higashino Hibiki and clicked his tongue in amazement, “He’s almost reached the level of a first-rate artist.”

“Although drawing like this is a waste of time, as long as Tori Akino can put his heart into it, readers will definitely like it.”

Overall, he didn't find the problem; instead, he felt like he had "gained some knowledge."

He still couldn't guarantee whether it would break through the boundaries of basketball comics.

However, this comic, with its drawing style and techniques, has the potential to succeed.

That's enough.

“Reduce the comedic content and increase the basketball games,” Kazuhiko Torishima told Hibiki Higashino. “Even if Shojiro’s initial performance is not good, I will not let Slam Dunk be canceled.”

His attitude was made very clear.

Chapter 117 The Right to Finish a Work

Kazuhiko Torishima was captivated by Hibiki Higashino's three original manuscripts.

He decided to take the risk and trust Hibiki Higashino!

Torishima thought that Torishino could depict the intense competition of basketball, and he was very good at engaging the reader's emotions. He also used different angles and shots very skillfully, and his art style was suitable. He had all the conditions for success.

Slam Dunk has the potential to become a super popular work!

Having figured this out, he no longer hesitated.

Using the privilege of not being canceled, he lured Hibiki Higashino to finish writing "Hikaru no Go".

In his view, this was already a very good privilege. After all, the biggest psychological trauma for manga artists in Jump is that their work is abandoned halfway through due to poor performance.

"I will never allow Slam Dunk to be canceled unless the team finishes in the bottom three more than five times within a year."

Only if the comic is poorly drawn could it have such a bad result.

If he had put in even a little effort, he wouldn't have fallen to the bottom three.

"What's your decision?" Torishima Kazuhiko asked.

Higashino remained silent.

Torishima Kazuhiko waited a moment, then said loudly, "Does 'Hikaru no Go' hold such a heavy place in your heart? With these conditions, apart from Yoshihiro Togashi who updates once a month, no other manga artist is better than you! What are you hesitating for?"

He couldn't understand.

……

Outside the door, Torishima Kazuhiko's stern shout pierced through the wall, startling Akemi Akemi, who was eavesdropping at the door.

"Did they start arguing?" she asked, flustered.

Seeing this, Sasaki came over and comforted him, "You're about to reach a conclusion, aren't you?"

Tori Akino is preparing to finish "Hikaru no Go" but doesn't want to reveal it to anyone, so there must be conditions that he himself thinks are impossible to meet.

In this situation, the editor-in-chief of Bird Island would certainly be furious.

He had been waiting for this moment for a long time.

"I'm really curious, what exactly is Tori Akino-sensei trying to do?"

Sasaki remained calm and waited quietly.

……

Upon hearing this, Higashino Hibiki finally looked up.

"Mr. Bird Island, let's make a bet."

His eyes sharpened, revealing a penetrating light through his bangs.

"Very well, you're finally going to tell me what's on your mind." Torishima Kazuhiko picked at his ear, indicating that he was listening attentively with some displeasure.

"I want the right to finish a work!"

Higashino Hibiki's words are always shocking!

His completely unreasonable request was flatly rejected by Torishima Kazuhiko.

"Impossible! Absolutely impossible! Even with Dragon Ball, I would never give Akira Toriyama the right to finish any other works!"

His reaction was exactly what Higashino Hibiki had predicted.

"Don't react so strongly," Higashino Hibiki smiled. "Since it's impossible, I'll change the terms."

People tend to compromise, and Kazuhiko Torishima is no exception.

He nodded, waiting for Higashino to speak.

"If Slam Dunk becomes the number one most popular manga in Jump, I have the right to end it."

That makes much more sense now, thought Torishima Kazuhiko.

"You made this request because Dragon Ball couldn't end according to Toriyama's wishes, right? But you're really confident that your work can become the number one most popular work on the Jump platform."

"I made this request precisely because I'm confident I can be number one," Higashino Hibiki said with a smile. "If it were any other ranking, I don't think Editor-in-Chief Torishima would have blocked my right to finish the story."

Torishima Kazuhiko nodded, "That's true."

Looking at the spirited Hibiki Higashino, he immediately felt that Jump's future had arrived.

Torishima Kazuhiko smiled wryly, "When Goku defeated Piccolo, I stopped Akira Toriyama from ending Dragon Ball. I thought I had already been punished, but I didn't expect to suffer more here with you."

"Mr. Torishima means!" Hibiki Higashino stood up excitedly, "Do you agree?!"

“Of course…” Torishima Kazuhiko drawled, crossing his arms, “No!”

Seeing his expectant yet disappointed expression, Torishima Kazuhiko finally breathed a sigh of relief.

"Just being number one in popularity isn't enough," he said. "That doesn't meet my standards."

"Please speak," Higashino Hibiki listened patiently.

“First,” Kazuhiko Torishima raised his index finger, “Jump’s circulation has been declining every week, and now it has fallen to 450 million copies. The serialization of Slam Dunk must stop this trend.”

"Of course." Hibiki Higashino had no objection.

“Second,” Torishima Kazuhiko extended his middle finger, “450 million copies is still too low. I will only agree to let you finish the work when the circulation returns to 500 million copies.”

Hibiki Higashino looked troubled. "Japan's aging population is getting more and more serious, the number of newborns is decreasing year by year, and video games are developing rapidly. It's very difficult to meet these conditions."

Torishima Kazuhiko slammed his fist on the table. "That's why I agreed to your request. How could I possibly give you the right to finish it if it weren't difficult?"

“Third,” he said, extending his ring finger.

Hibiki Higashino stood up, incredulous. "There's a third one?"

“There’s no need for such a big reaction,” Torishima Kazuhiko glanced at Higashino Hibiki. “It’s very simple. The only requirement is to maintain the integrity of the work. It can’t be ended just for the sake of ending it.”

Higashino Hibiki breathed a sigh of relief, thankfully he hadn't made any outrageous demands. Taking advantage of Torishima Kazuhiko's silence, Higashino Hibiki nodded in agreement.

“Okay,” he said, extending his little finger.

"What?" Torishima Kazuhiko asked, puzzled.

“Pinky promise,” Higashino Hibiki said matter-of-factly. “That’s what Mr. Yamamura Morimichi taught me. After making an agreement, use a pinky promise to sign the contract.”

Torishima Kazuhiko was taken aback, then smiled.

"Ah, is that so?"

Their little fingers were hooked together, and they recited at the same time:

Higashino Hibiki: "Pinky promise, never to change for a hundred years, you have to keep your word."

Kazuhiko Torishima: "Pinky promise, never to change for a hundred years, swallow a thousand needles."

The two looked up, and what they said was completely different.

Torishima Kazuhiko was speechless: "What version is this? It's completely wrong."

Higashino Hibiki shifted the blame: "This was taught to me by Mr. Yamamura, it has nothing to do with me."

"Really, read it like I just read it," Torishima Kazuhiko complained, then cleared his throat and said loudly along with Hibino Hibiki.

"Swallow a thousand needles!"

The contract was established.

It seemed like a very simple matter, with no contract signed, but it maintained the relationship between the two people.

In the end, the rift that had just been argued disappeared.

……

The person outside was waiting anxiously when the study door suddenly opened.

Akemi Akemi rushed over, only to be met with a jaw-dropping scene.

Hibiki Higashino and Kazuhiko Torishima walked out arm in arm, laughing happily, like close friends despite their age difference.

It's as if the argument just now never happened.

Sasaki adjusted his glasses; just as he had expected.

“Then it’s settled. Let’s finish ‘Hikaru no Go’ as soon as possible,” said Kazuhiko Torishima.

Higashino Hibiki nodded. "Of course, there are four more chapters, and Hikaru no Go will be over."

Torishima Kazuhiko was taken aback. He looked at Higashino Hibiki, who was smiling innocently, and his fingers trembled. "You were planning to end 'Hikaru no Go' all along? You were just bluffing me?"