Full-time comic artist

Hibiki Higashino replied, "Just as you said, a complete story has come to an end, hasn't it?"

"But I haven't surpassed 'Hikaru no Go' yet..." Yamamura took a sip of champagne, trying to drown his sorrows in alcohol.

From the very beginning of the serialization, he was preparing to surpass "Hikaru no Go," constantly telling others that he wanted to surpass it. Both Arai-sensei and editor Asada were very excited.

I've worked so hard for so long and never given up.

But now that "Hikaru no Go" is coming to an end, he feels a sense of loss.

Even drawing comics has become a bit boring.

Yoshihiro Togashi glanced at him and thought the young man was a bit strange.

Then he asked Hibiki Higashino, "After 'Hikaru no Go' ends, how long do you plan to take a break? While you're still young, you can enjoy life to the fullest..."

"A new serialization is about to begin, what is rest? I won't rest at all," Higashino Hibiki replied decisively.

"Ugh!" Yoshihiro Togashi groaned, clutching his chest. He couldn't believe how diligent the man was; just listening to him made him feel like he was suffering internal injuries.

They were chatting when Hiroshi Motomiya walked over and said, "Higashino-kun, come have a drink."

He was drunk.

"Sorry, Mr. Munō, I'm still a minor." Higashino Hibiki raised his left hand to stop him. Drinking in private was fine, but drinking in public was a different story.

“That’s right!” Yoshihiro Togashi clapped his hands. “In another week, you’ll be having your Coming-of-Age Ceremony, right? You should relax and have some fun then, it only happens once in a lifetime.”

“Coming-of-age ceremony? I’m not going to attend,” Higashino Hibiki shook his head. “I need to make time to draw manga.”

Just kidding, he's drawing "Hikaru no Go" now, and in a while, he'll be moving into the rhythm of "Slam Dunk".

The assistants also need to adapt in advance, the tools need to be changed, and the information needs to be searched. Where will they find the time to attend the coming-of-age ceremony?

Yoshihiro Togashi almost vomited, fearing that Hibiki Higashino's competitive spirit would affect him.

He picked up the champagne offered by Hiroshi Motomiya, said goodbye to Hibiki Higashino, and ran away quickly.

Then came the regular lottery event. This time, Higashino Hibiki didn't win the grand prize and watched as someone else took the big TV.

Fortunately, he was the seventh person to receive the award.

Among the remaining many unremarkable prizes, Higashino Hibiki glanced at the basketball and picked it up.

"I'll take this one, thank you."

He was quite satisfied, thinking he could use it when drawing "Slam Dunk" later.

Chapter 119 The Battle Between Hikaru Shindo and Akira Touya

Since the prize was just a basketball, Higashino Hibiki held it in both hands and prepared to get into Shueisha's car to go home.

Hiroshi Motomiya was very annoyed. He put his arm around Hibiki Higashino's shoulder and said, "You'll be an adult soon, and you'll have to attend the second party then. I can't let you run away again."

It's been a long time since I've caught up with this little brother; I, Hiroshi, have been missing him quite a bit.

"Yes, yes." Higashino Hibiki nodded.

Hibiki Higashino used to have to meet with clients frequently for work. He disliked this, feeling it was a waste of his time and negatively impacted his health.

However, it's fine for normal social interactions.

He sincerely apologized to Mr. Ben Gong and said that they would fight again next year, but he couldn't drink too much alcohol.

This has nothing to do with being afraid of what someone might say about you. The main issue is that alcohol is a Group 1 carcinogen and is bad for your health.

"We won't pressure anyone to drink. We're just having a get-together and having a couple of drinks," said Hiroshi Motomiya, waving his hand loudly.

"I'll just have to get Higashino on board first," he thought.

Hibiki Higashino began to look forward to next year's New Year's party, wondering if he would be able to hear any top-secret industry news.

After saying goodbye to Hiroshi Motomiya, Hibiki Higashino walked out of the hotel. A cold wind was blowing outside, and he hunched his shoulders and turned up the collar of his trench coat.

Higashino Hibiki was about to get into the car when Yamamura Morimichi called him back.

"Tori Akino," Yamamura said loudly, "we'll continue our competition with your new book and see who does better!"

Higashino Hibiki turned around, thinking to himself, "This guy has a really strong competitive spirit." But his body also felt unusually hot.

So he smiled instinctively, "Of course it's my new comic! It's always like this, isn't it?"

He got into the car and finally gave a thumbs-up to Yamamura Morimichi.

"How confident," Yamamura Morimichi was stunned for a moment. After seeing Higashino Hibiki disappear from sight, he realized what was happening and became furious. "That damned Akino!"

……

At 10 p.m., Higashino thanked the driver and headed towards his dormitory.

Just as I was about to use my key to open the door, it opened automatically.

Akemi Akemi was inside. The air conditioning was on, and the room was warm and cozy, instantly dispelling the chill that Hibiki Higashino had felt.

She sniffed the air and, finding no smell of alcohol, nodded in satisfaction.

"What is this?" Akemi Akimiya asked curiously, looking at the basketball.

“Basketball,” Hibiki Higashino put down the basketball and replied, “It’s a prize I won in the New Year’s lottery. I was thinking I could use it for my future manga serialization.”

Akemi Akemi took off Hibiki Higashino's trench coat, hung it on the wall, and casually said, "So you really are planning to draw a basketball manga."

"Hmm," Higashino Hibiki nodded, walked into the living room, and found that the dining room light was still on, a ceramic pot was heating on a small flame on the gas stove, and there was a smell of food in the air.

Akemi Akemi went into the kitchen, took out the ceramic pot with oven mitts, and placed it on the oven mitt on the dining table.

"This is what I made for you. Drink it while it's hot."

Higashino opened the container and saw that it contained lean meat and vegetable porridge. The fragrant aroma instantly cleared his mind.

A warm feeling welled up in Higashino Hibiki's heart. "Thank you, Akemi."

“Akami…” Miss Akimiya was taken aback.

Higashino Hibiki had always called Akimiya Akemi by her name, so this sudden intimacy made Akimiya Akemi blush.

She glanced hurriedly at the wall clock and said in a panic, "It's ten o'clock at night, I have to go back to sleep!"

Then he picked up his bag and walked out the door.

Higashino held a spoon, ready to savor the delicious treat.

Akemi Akemi opened the door again and said through the crack, "Remember to wash the dishes."

"Yes, yes! I will."

“And one more thing,” she said, her cheeks flushed, “goodnight, Xiang.”

Then he slammed the door shut and ran away with a "thump thump thump".

Higashino Hibiki touched his chest; his heart was pounding.

"Goodnight, Akemi," he murmured softly.

"It's so late at night, be quiet!" a neighbor downstairs called out.

The dogs downstairs in the dormitory started barking.

Immediately, lights came on in many teachers' dormitories, and people greeted them warmly.

Higashino Hibiki didn't pay any attention and happily took a bite of the lean meat porridge.

"Ah~" she exclaimed, "This is so delicious!"

……

A week later, Odagiri saw the latest chapter of "Hikaru no Go".

Two years and four months have passed since the three-way battle of the Neptune Junior High Go Club in the manga, and the match between Hikaru Shindo and Akira Touya is finally about to begin.

Odagiri watched with anticipation as this battle, spanning the beginning and end of the work, unfolded.

The manga style in this chapter is quite exaggerated. It uses a lot of manga effect lines to show the intensity of the game and the emotional turmoil of both Hikaru and Hikaru.

You "hang upside down", I "pinch low".

You "clamp", I "cut".

Xiao Liang discovered that Hikaru Shindo's judgment of the situation and his reaction ability were no less than those of high-ranking Go players.

The two players were playing at breakneck speed, constantly placing their pieces.

Akira Touya has been watching Hikaru Shindo grow up.

He became an insei (a student training program in Go); played games comparable to those of professional players; passed the professional Go exam; was praised by Kurata 6-dan and regarded as a rival…

Memories of the past reside in Akira Touya's heart.

After waiting and anticipating for so long, Akira Touya finally understood completely.

"Your abilities, which I've always wanted to understand, are exactly as I expected."

"There's no mistake! You are me..."

"A lifelong rival!"

Akira Touya's emotions grew increasingly excited and surging.

He paused when Hikaru Shindo made a move.

This move made Akira Touya's hand tremble as he held the chess piece.

It felt as if a giant hand holding a chess piece was descending from above, carrying an invincible aura that made Akira Touya's breathing quicken!

“That’s right, it’s Sai!” Akira Toya exclaimed, his voice trembling. “Sai’s shadow is appearing on Hikaru Shindo.”

"The shadow of another person, faintly visible!"

The shadow I've been chasing and watching all along...!

As the pieces continued to fall, the situation became very complex for both players, and they were in a tense and stalemate.

Xiao Guang assessed the situation and realized that although he was at a disadvantage, he still had a chance to win.

It's halftime, time for lunch.

He stood up and called out to Xiao Liang twice.