Full-time comic artist

Higashino gradually understood.

Sure enough, the person inside the car said, "We've indulged you for 20 days. It's time to go home and prepare for a new life."

"Yes, Father." Akemi Akemi bowed her head, her voice gentle like that of a Yamato Nadeshiko.

With a docile air, he walked towards the other side of the car.

Akemi Akemi lowered her eyelids, gripped the handlebars, and finally met Hibiki Higashino's gaze. Her brows furrowed, and she managed a weak smile.

It's uglier than crying.

Hibiki Higashino took off his hat, placed it on his chest, and bowed. "Goodbye, Ms. Akimiya."

Akemi Akemi looked at his buzz cut and burst out laughing.

"Thank you." Her lips moved, but no sound came out.

Hibiki Higashino kept his head covered by a hat, not wanting to show his bald head.

But now things are going against the norm.

Goodbye, Higashino-kun.

She smiled as she got into the car, sat next to her father, and then drove off.

Chapter 16 Go

"As expected of a master of ukiyo-e, he really has an aura." Akira Toriyama wiped his forehead.

Hibiki Higashino squinted at the car at the end of the road and asked, "Does Toriyama-sensei think that those who draw ukiyo-e are better than those who draw manga?"

“Of course, they are artists,” Akira Toriyama blurted out.

Hibiki Higashino said, "I think manga artists are even more amazing."

"why?"

“Manga can bring joy to more people, while only a small number of people appreciate ukiyo-e.” Higashino Hibiki turned around. “Now we’ve lost another laborer. Hurry up and go back to drawing Dragon Ball.”

"Is that so?" Akira Toriyama hesitated, watching Hibiki Higashino's retreating figure before chasing after him. "You're right, hurry up and start drawing the manga."

……

A week later, Higashino Hibiki walked out of the Toriyama house with his schoolbag on his back.

"Can you please not leave, Higashino-kun!"

Akira Toriyama hurriedly caught up from behind.

"School's about to start, I'm sorry, Toriyama-sensei." Hibiki Higashino refused and strode away without looking back.

Akira Toriyama was filled with regret, saying, "I really hate to see you leave."

Having an assistant has made things so much easier. It has reduced my workload by 4%, and most of it was tedious and meaningless.

It's really difficult to draw comics by yourself; it's hard to go from luxury to frugality.

“Oh, right,” Hibiki Higashino turned around, “I’ve always wanted to ask, why didn’t Toriyama-sensei hire an assistant?”

Most manga artists have assistants, because drawing manga is incredibly hard work. Artists like Akira Toriyama, Eiichiro Oda, and Yoshihiro Togashi often only sleep 2 or 3 hours a night. It's much harder than writing.

“Ah, well,” Akira Toriyama scratched his head, trying to find the right words, “it’s probably because when Dr. Slump was first serialized, Kazuhiko Torishima didn’t tell me about the assistant.”

It was tough back then, drawing comics all by myself, it was exhausting. Now I want to recapture that feeling.

Moreover, I think it's good for one person to complete the work that attracted readers who love Dragon Ball through their own efforts.

"Hmm." Higashino Hibiki nodded as if he understood, "I still don't get it, but Toriyama-sensei is truly talented and virtuous."

He gave a thumbs-up and walked away.

"You'll see my work on Jump!"

Hibiki Higashino's last words brought a smile to Akira Toriyama's face. "I'm looking forward to it."

……

Tokyo again.

Hibiki Higashino, carrying his schoolbag, stood at the door of the Higashino family home, feeling stronger than ever.

Just like Yamcha's first appearance after his cultivation, the entire story is about a complete transformation, an invincible power.

"I will not let reality defeat me, smash me into a crater, and make me curl up in a ball!"

"Big brother! Long time no see!"

Just as Higashino was feeling sentimental, a voice came from behind him. He turned around and saw a wild female junior high school student.

"Mei...Mei," he said, reaching out his hand after realizing she was the original owner's sister. "It's been so long...wow!"

He was only halfway through his sentence when the girl ran over and crashed hard into his arms.

"What a powerful Iron Mountain Lean..."

"I missed you so much!" Mei nuzzled her head against Higashino's chest. "Why didn't you tell me you were going away for a month of training?"

"I said stop." After finally regaining her senses, Higashino Hibiki pushed Higashino Mei away and looked her over. "You're cute again, Mei."

"Yes!" they cheered happily.

She finally quieted down, and Higashino Hibiki breathed a sigh of relief.

Back in the courtyard, I passed a motorcycle. The light strips and other parts had been removed; it was just a normal motorcycle.

"I'm going to take a shower; I'm covered in sweat."

After saying goodbye to his sister, he went back to his bedroom to get a change of clothes.

He was stunned when he saw the long robe on the bed with the bright red words "Heaven and Earth! I am the only one who is supreme" printed on it.

"There's this thing too?"

Looking out the door and seeing no one else, I quickly picked it up and threw it under the bed.

After searching the house again, they found quite a few more things!

The white cloth strip with the word "Invincible" written on it was probably wrapped around the forehead;

A leather jacket with studs, exuding a strong sense of adolescent rebellion;

A red armband with the words "Tyrannosaurus Group" printed on it is the name of the biker gang that you join.

Quickly tidy them up and put them under the bed.

He was relieved.

……

There are two days left until school starts.

During these two days, Higashino Hibiki went to a Go club near the "pole pole" shop where he met with Torishima Kazuhiko.

Silently watching these amateur Go enthusiasts play.

When they see young people, the elderly will enthusiastically teach Higashino Hibiki how to play Go.

What is "qi"? What is "xing"? What is "jian"?

"Hey buddy, it's been a while since I've seen a young, unfamiliar person come to the Go club. Do you like playing Go?"

“No.” Hibiki Higashino shook his head honestly. “I want to draw a manga about Go.”

"Go comics!" The other idle elderly people became interested and surrounded Higashino Hibiki. "Go can be drawn into comics?"

“Of course, and it’s a very interesting manga,” Higashino Hibiki gave a thumbs up, “It might even inspire many young people to learn Go.”

"That's really good news." They nodded with their arms crossed. As people who love Go, watching Go slowly decline has always made them feel sad and melancholic.

……

"Was there a really exciting Go game going on over there? It looks so lively." A man in his thirties carrying a folding fan walked into the clubhouse.

He is Shinoda, the teacher at the Japan Go Association, who teaches the students how to play Go.

Because the chess academy was nearby, he would occasionally come to this Go club whenever he had free time.

After walking over, he found that the person in the middle of the crowd was a boy with a buzz cut, who looked to be 17 or 8 years old.

Aside from being handsome, I can't see anything else about him.

After all, some students become professional Go players around the age of 10.

In the world of Go, talent is highly valued, and 17-year-old professional Go players rarely stand out.

"Mr. Shinoda, it's been a long time." Someone saw him and raised their hand to greet him.

"Long time no see. The chess academy is organizing the 'Young Lions Tournament,' and I've only managed to squeeze in a break from my busy schedule," he asked curiously, "What's going on?"

"Everyone was surprised when the boy said he was going to draw comics about Go."

"Huh?" Shinoda was taken aback. How could the complex and profound game of Go be drawn into a manga? And could a teenager even have a manga serialized?

He squeezed through the crowd and asked, "Is it finished yet?"

……

Higashino looked over and replied without changing his expression, "The storyboard is already done."

Where do I submit my work?

Hibiki Higashino, “Weekly Shonen Jump”.

"Huh? That's impressive." Shinoda rummaged through his pockets, pulled out a business card, and asked curiously, "What were some of your previous serialized works?"

"It hasn't been serialized yet," Hibiki Higashino answered honestly.

Shinoda's outstretched hand froze.

Considering the young man's passion for Go, he said, "I am Shinoda, 4-dan. If you are going to participate in the serialization meeting, please contact me and I will offer my assistance."

Hibiki Higashino accepted the business card with both hands. "Sorry, I don't have a business card."

"It's ok."

Shinoda didn't think he could continue the story; he considered it just a minor episode and didn't ask for his business card.