Full-time comic artist

He didn't care about Higashino Hibiki's bluntness, and after asking Higashino Hibiki for an autograph, he sat down quietly.

After a while, the stands were full of people, and the people on the second floor of Higashino's side leaned out to look down as if they were looking at a giant panda.

Chapter 160 Champion

Under the lights of the basketball court, Hibiki Higashino felt that he was more like the focus of attention than the players in the center of the stage.

The sight of so many people staring at him made his scalp tingle.

I'm really worried someone will throw a grenade from the second floor and kill him.

It was all an illusion; he hadn't done anything wrong, and everything was peaceful.

Before the game started, the participating players bowed to the special guests to greet them. Takehiko Orimo returned the bow expressionlessly, and Hibiki Higashino, watching the excited Tokai basketball team, also returned the bow.

The Donghai basketball team's opponent, the Meiji basketball team, also had bright eyes.

They didn't get a signed copy of "Slam Dunk" back then, but today they're full of fighting spirit, ready to get Hibiki Higashino's autograph after winning.

The competition was about to begin, but the organizers added a special guest speech segment.

Takehiko Orimo shared his journey, from entering the national top eight in high school to becoming the top scorer and the strongest high school player in the country.

After university, he led the team through numerous obstacles to win the national championship.

After becoming a professional basketball player, he was an absolute key player and fought his way to where he is today with many honors.

Although his words were plain and unassuming, they drew rounds of applause that lasted for a long time. This was because Orimoto Takehiko's story was itself a legend.

Basketball players also looked longingly at Takehiko Orimo, hoping to dominate the nation like him.

Takehiko Orimoto nodded in satisfaction, then handed the microphone to Hibiki Higashino, bowed, and sat down.

Before Hibiki Higashino could even speak after standing up, he was drowned out by the cheers of the entire audience.

Takehiko Orimoto smiled helplessly.

Higashino waited for half a minute until the noise subsided before speaking: "I am very honored to be able to watch the game up close today."

He mentioned that he played basketball in high school and had already come up with the idea for Slam Dunk before drawing Hikaru no Go. However, he was worried that his skills were insufficient and would affect the success of that work, so he drew Hikaru no Go first, which was easier to draw.

After honing my drawing skills for more than two years, I finally felt that I was capable of creating "Slam Dunk". I am grateful for the readers' love and am flattered by my influence.

The applause resounded through the sky.

"Wow, that's amazing, Akino-sensei!" Kikuchi Hidemi exclaimed happily to Yamamura Morimichi.

"He is indeed a person with very clear goals and works very hard," Yamamura Morimichi said with a complex expression.

After the scene quieted down.

"I hope the players of the Donghai Basketball Team and the Meiji Basketball Team can give full play to their strength and deliver a wonderful and unforgettable audio-visual feast. I'm sorry to have taken up your time."

He handed the microphone to a staff member, indicating that the next activity could begin.

"That's Mr. Toriakino!"

"He's so young and handsome! He looks to be only about 25 years old."

"You're only twenty years old, you fake fan."

"The teacher is just too overworked."

Discussions arose among the crowd, gradually shifting to the main topic of the day only after the competition officially began.

……

Higashino Hibiki went out to participate in an event, but his assistants still had to work.

Today's drawing is still the match between Shohoku and Shoyo. As Oda drew, he became more and more angry.

He was still thinking about Yamazaki Akira's evaluation.

"What kind of work is this for children!"

With this in mind, when he was drawing the background of "Slam Dunk", he suddenly had a flash of inspiration and drew a person very clearly in the audience, which was the protagonist of "Sailor Moon" - Sailor Moon.

He then smiled smugly, “Let me show you, a Go player who doesn’t understand current affairs, the influence of Sailor Moon.”

Unlike the Easter eggs I drew before, Sailor Moon is a work with the same influence as Slam Dunk. When readers see Sailor Moon in the audience, they will definitely have a lot of discussion about it.

It might become a hot topic of discussion.

"What's wrong, Oda-san?" Yoshii Yamahisa asked curiously.

“I remembered something happy,” Oda replied.

……

Takehiko Orimoto observed the scene, nodding occasionally.

"That drive is really impressive," he exclaimed. "Although their skills are lacking, their fighting spirit on the field is much stronger than that of many professional athletes."

“The basketball players during their school days worked hard because of their passion,” Hibiki Higashino chimed in.

Giving it his all, burning with youthful passion, Hibiki Higashino was no longer thinking about the outcome of the match; he simply wanted to watch this exciting game with utmost care.

He can accept being the champion no matter which side wins.

“This game is very similar to the friendly match between Shohoku and Ryonan,” Takehiko Orimo continued. “The score difference is very small, which can further motivate the basketball players.”

With 15 minutes left in the first half, Donghai was down by three points, just one three-pointer away from tying the score.

Both sides spared no effort, the sound of shoes rubbing against each other echoing throughout. When Meiji basketball team captain Toyonan rushed towards the Tokai basket, Kanda Takehito intercepted the ball in time and made a long pass to Tanakita.

"Back up and defend!" Fengnan shouted.

The situation reversed, and both teams' players quickly ran towards Meiji's basket.

With their combined efforts, Tianbei and Yagami kept passing the ball and broke through Meiji's defense.

Beyond the three-point line, facing tight pressure from Meiji players, Tian Bei passed the basketball to Yagami in time.

Yagami got the basketball and jumped high into the air.

"Don't even think about it!" Hirota jumped up and reached out his large hand.

"Bang!"

Goal!

At the crucial moment, Yagami jumped back to avoid Hirota's defense, tossing the ball high into the air and hitting it right in the center!

"profound!"

"East China Sea!"

"East China Sea!"

At the end of the first half, Donghai tied the score, and the two sides were back on equal footing.

Yagami breathed a sigh of relief; there was still a fight to be had.

……

"Future Society".

"The first three volumes of 'Gag Manga Biyori' have been completed, and the subsequent content is also progressing smoothly," Amano said to Ozawa expectantly. "It should be able to air on TV by now."

Ozawa nodded happily, "I think there's no problem."

He looked at the result, and even though the painting was flawed, it didn't deviate from the style of the work. In fact, he thought it would be better this way.

"Where's the president?" Amano asked. "It's time to report our results to him."

Ozawa's expression became subtle. "He's probably watching a basketball game."

"Huh?" Amano was dumbfounded.

Asahina listened to their conversation and looked thoughtful.

She actually has some connections in this area, so there's no need to bother Higashino Hibiki.

But she was worried that it would affect Higashino Hibiki's plans, so she didn't say anything.

……

The basketball game has reached its final five minutes.

The athletes were exhausted, each one sweating profusely and panting heavily.

"Go! Score another goal!"

Yagami dribbled the ball, then held up one finger to encourage his teammates.

"Yes!" the others echoed loudly.

The morale of the Donghai basketball team immediately soared.

in the audience.

"What a wonderful match!" exclaimed Yamamura Morimichi.

Besides the exceptional skill of both teams, their fighting spirit was even more admirable to Yamamura Morimichi.

It was hard for him, an energy-conscious person, to imagine that he would exert himself so physically.

"Yes, yes!" Kikuchi Hidemi nodded. "I haven't seen such a fierce match in a long time."

The time has come to the last thirty seconds.

Hibiki Higashino looked at the score: Tokai vs. Meiji, 87-86, and became even more engrossed.

"It has to go in!" Fengnan shoots a three-pointer!

His eyes were bloodshot as he stared intently at the basketball.

However, due to exhaustion, the ball hit the rim.

"Let me do it!" Hirota jumped up and grabbed the rebound!

But above him, the shadow of Hirota loomed over him. Hanayo, full of momentum, grabbed the rebound and brought the game to a close.

As the final whistle blew, Meiji remained one point behind, never managing to close the gap.

"East China Sea!"