Full-time comic artist

"That's true. If more new people join, they'll actually take away our jobs."

"When I first entered this industry, I had the same thoughts as Mei: it's hard to make a living in this industry if you're just an ordinary voice actor."

"This is really troublesome."

They kept complaining at the door, their hearts filled with immense pressure.

There are work problems, there are problems of the times, and no one is living an easy life.

After finishing their cigarettes, they chewed some gum and went inside together through the back door.

Higashino glanced at Mei's expression; her face was deathly pale, and it was heartbreaking to see.

So I patted her head.

"Actually, I'm just like you, incredibly stubborn. I didn't tell my parents before I achieved anything in comics."

"Once I understand this, I realize I have no right to make demands on you. Keep trying, little sister."

There's nothing wrong with pursuing your dreams.

When he was a child, he watched the episode "Halloween Night" of "Ultraman Tiga" where the extradimensional being Kiranbo absorbed the children's dreams, and he felt that what Daigo said made a lot of sense.

"A child's dream belongs only to himself."

……

Hibiki Higashino entered the restaurant through the back door and headed towards the private room, without looking at Mei's expression, which was on the verge of tears.

Asahina patted her flat chest. "I'll help you, Mei. You're my go-to voice actress. It's not because of your brother, but because Mei is Mei."

"Asahina-neechan!" Mei threw herself into Asahina's arms, sobbing.

After a while, she crawled out of Asahina's arms.

Asahina asked with concern, "Are you alright now?"

"No..." Mei shook her head, her voice trembling with tears, "It's just that Asahina-neechan's ribs were poking me."

“Even I would get angry,” Asahina said expressionlessly.

"Sorry, haha." Mei laughed. "I'm fine now."

……

Hibiki Higashino knocked on the door of the private room. One of the voice actresses opened the door and asked in confusion, "Excuse me, who are you?"

Before Hibiki Higashino could answer, Tetsuya Endo walked over and exclaimed excitedly, "Tori Akino-kun, you've finally arrived!"

He pushed past the voice actor, grasped Hibiki Higashino's hand, and pulled him into the private room.

There were fifty or sixty people inside, and the more than one hundred square meters of space were completely filled. There were two rows of dining tables, and the noise was so loud that Higashino Hibiki felt suffocated.

"Everyone, please be quiet."

The private room fell silent, and everyone turned to look at Tetsuya Endo and Hibiki Higashino.

"Let me introduce you all. This is the author of 'Hikaru no Go,' Ms. Mirai Toriaki!"

"Everyone, please welcome him!"

He clapped, and the private room erupted in applause.

The applause only stopped when Tetsuya Endo pressed his hand down.

"Good evening, everyone. I am deeply grateful to everyone for your hard work in producing the 'Hikaru no Go' anime." Higashino bowed. "I'm really sorry to bother you all now."

Higashino Hibiki didn't want to disturb them, so he only said a few words, which took less than a minute.

He used to hate listening to leaders talk. He didn't know why they talked so much. What could be explained in a sentence or two could be talked about for half an hour.

Tetsuya Endo introduced Hibiki Higashino to the main creative team, including the art director, animation director, production manager, and several key animators.

These people excitedly shook hands with Higashino Hibiki.

In fact, the animation production staff, like Hibiki Higashino, don't care much about socializing.

Everyone was focused on improving their skills; they could be called homebodies.

Normally, I always have trouble conversing with clients, but now I'm talking a lot.

"Hikaru no Go is a remarkable work. It was the top-rated anime in both last year and this year. I am truly honored to have been a part of its production."

The first season of "Hikaru no Go" had an average viewership rating of around 16%, while the second season reached 19%.

This is prime time on TV Tokyo, competing with dramas starring idol stars in the same time slot.

This achievement is truly remarkable.

Moreover, at its peak, "Hikaru no Go" achieved a viewership rating of 37.5%, which was even higher than "Yu Yu Hakusho".

Higashino Hibiki received preferential treatment from the editorial department, partly due to the phenomenal ratings of "Hikaru no Go".

“That’s what I should be saying,” Hibiki Higashino said gratefully. “It is because of everyone’s dedication that the Hikaru no Go anime is loved by the audience. My manga sales will increase, thanks to all of you teachers.”

"It's because I really like 'Hikaru no Go'."

"Making this work is truly moving."

"The last time I had this much fun making an animated film was the last time. Just kidding."

As the creators were praising Higashino Hibiki and "Hikaru no Go," Higashino Mei and Asahina walked in and witnessed this scene.

Mei Higashino opened her mouth in surprise. When she was a voice actress at Clowns, she had met these people before. They were all referred to as "teachers" by other staff members, and they were a group of people she had no contact with.

"That's amazing," Mei murmured to herself.

“That’s just how Higashino is,” Asahina said. “He can be the center of attention anywhere.”

She was also noticed by Hayao Miyazaki at the animation festival.

“It’s hard to imagine.” Mei shook her head.

Because we've had so much contact with him, we don't really realize Higashino Hibiki's status.

After watching Hibiki Higashino finish chatting with the main cast, Mei's colleagues and other voice actors went up to greet him. Even the usually aloof senior voice actors hoped to leave an impression and poured Hibiki Higashino a drink.

I couldn't help but exclaim again, "That's amazing!"

……

Higashino Hibiki didn't stay long; he got up to leave after sitting for two hours.

“We still have Slam Dunk to produce tomorrow,” he said to Tetsuya Endo with a bitter face.

“Being a manga artist is too hard,” Tetsuya Endo shook his head and didn’t try to persuade him.

He went out to see Hibiki off, and accompanied Hibiki, Asahina, and Mei Higashino in a taxi.

"Hikaru no Go is doing very well, but there are still 10 episodes left to be produced. I think it won't be long before production is scheduled," Tetsuya Endo said, glancing at Mei Higashino.

"Then I'll have to trouble you again."

Tetsuya Endo waved his hand, "What trouble? This is a good thing."

After he finished speaking, he leaned closer to Hibiki Higashino, his gaze intense, "Do you have any ideas for creating new content for 'Hikaru no Go'?"

“That’s the idea,” Higashino Hibiki glanced at Mei, who was dressed rather thinly and was shivering, so he took off his trench coat and draped it over Mei.

"I want to create a short comic..."

Mei wrapped her trench coat tighter around herself, feeling warm and cozy.

When she was little, she would go out to play with Higashino Hibiki, and things like that would happen. Thinking about it now, she really misses those times.

"Huh? Wait a minute!" Tetsuya Endo exclaimed, asking in shock, "Putting aside the Hikaru no Go short story, what's going on? Isn't she the voice actress for Asumi Nase?"

In the bustling Shibuya, Tetsuya Endo's voice went unnoticed.

Higashino Hibiki glanced at Higashino Mei with amusement, and Higashino Mei lowered her head shyly.

He introduced her to Tetsuya Endo: "This is my younger sister, Mei Higashino. I thought Endo-san would find out..."

Tetsuya Endo wore a pained expression. "How could your sister possibly audition for a minor role... I would never even consider that..."

Hibiki Higashino said with a smile, "My younger sister is very self-reliant and wants to make something of herself."

Mei apologized to Tetsuya Endo: "I'm sorry."

“No, there’s no need to apologize.” Tetsuya Endo waved his hand.

“I can understand that.” He then stroked his chin nostalgically and said, “I used to have that thought too.”

"And the result?" Hibiki Higashino asked.

"It's still too difficult as expected." Endo Tetsuya shook his head.

Chapter 129 Shohoku vs. Ryonan! (The title is back)

In the cold wind, Endo Tetsuya saw Higashino Hibiki off, and only then did he realize that he had forgotten to ask about the short story "Hikaru no Go".

"Oh well, I'll ask again later. But," he sighed, looking at the taxi's taillights, "it's so good to be young. The older you get, the less drive you have."

He shook his head and went back to the private room.

……

Mei Higashino lives in an apartment near the Blue Sky Voice Actors Agency. Because it is in a bustling area, she lives with other female voice actors to save on rent.

Higashino glanced down at the apartment building; it looked even better than his own teachers' dormitory.

The apartments at Musashino Art University are old buildings, and they've had a musty smell for the past two days.

It's time to use the dehumidifier that Oda bought back then.

“Time flies,” Hibiki Higashino said, looking at Mei. “You’ve grown up now.”

He took a bank card out of his pocket and handed it to Higashino Mei. "The password is your mother's birthday. I was going to give it to her next time, but you can keep it for now. Take good care of yourself."

Mei shook her head. "I can't accept it."

"It must be Asahina here. You're sorry. There's no need for us siblings to be so polite."

Higashino Hibiki stuffed the bank card into Mei's pocket like a relative would give a red envelope.

"Don't be reluctant to use it," Higashino Hibiki added with concern. "To be honest, I don't know what to do with my royalties either. I would be happy to let you use them."