Full-time comic artist

Hibiki Higashino got an A during summer vacation.

"Good morning, Higashino-kun. Summer vacation in the countryside is so much fun!"

"Good morning."

Someone walked past Hibiki Higashino, and the scent of gardenias made Hibiki Higashino subconsciously respond.

He looked up and saw a wisp of black hair drift past his eyes.

This person is—Yuko Asahina!

It's true what they say, speak of the devil and he appears.

She didn't stop, and left immediately.

"Higashino!" Nishimura's voice was loud, then he shrank back, glanced ahead, and only after seeing that Asahina Yuko had indeed disappeared did he whisper, "Why were you spending your summer vacation with Asahina-san?"

"I don't remember her..." Higashino Hibiki shook his head blankly, he really didn't remember her.

He must remember those beautiful long, black hairs.

You're lying!

Kitamoto mocked, "Nishimura, you're a disgrace. You don't dare to speak up when someone's right in front of you, but now you're questioning Higashino-kun."

“I care too much,” Nishimura said smugly.

"cut!"

After parting ways with the two people, Higashino Hibiki arrived at Class 2-A of the Art Department.

His seat was in the second-to-last row from the very back, and he could see the playground outside through the glass window.

This is a great viewpoint when there's a PE class. Unfortunately, the swimming pool isn't visible, which Higashino Hibiki expressed his disappointment.

He greeted his classmates and expressed his understanding of Yoshii Yamahisa, who had left early and made a flustered explanation.

Higashino glanced at the quiet Asahina Yuko diagonally in front of him, then took out his math textbook and began a quick review.

After working for seven years after graduation, he reached a point where he could no longer recognize the math problems in the textbooks.

Fortunately, the original owner was a good student. After a quick review, coupled with her strong memory, she was able to master it quickly.

He didn't know how much time had passed when he heard "Class begins."

He then subconsciously stood up and called out "Stand up" and "Salute." Only after hearing "Please sit down" did he sit down.

It was homeroom teacher Matsuzaki who arrived.

She is 30 years old this year, wears oval glasses, and is slightly sarcastic, perhaps because she is not married.

Today, however, I noticed that she was wearing light makeup and had changed her glasses to a round, non-aggressive style.

His gaze softened, and he seemed to have changed completely.

"Is this the magic of summer vacation?" he wondered to himself.

"I hope everyone had a great summer vacation," she advised earnestly. "But now that school has started, it's time to get back into the swing of things. As art students, you should also put in the same effort in your other courses. It would be such a shame if you got into your dream university, passed your portfolio, but failed the exam, wouldn't it?"

The faces of all the students in Class 2-A were contorted in shock. Even Yuko Asahina trembled slightly in astonishment.

"Has Matsuzaki-sensei finished menopause?"

"Because of Mr. Matsushita's retirement," after the homeroom teacher Matsuzaki finished his persuasion, he began his work, "we have a new teacher, Mr. Akimiya. Please come in."

She clapped her hands.

The students joined in with applause.

Higashino Hibiki's eyes widened.

Autumn Palace?

Hibiki Higashino suddenly remembered that at Akira Toriyama's house, there was a woman who called herself his teacher.

Could it be that what she said back then was true?!

The person outside walked in. She had an oval face, fair skin, and a charming smile, just like when they used to meet. This person was indeed Miss Akimiya!

Seeing Higashino Hibiki's surprised look, she winked her left eye triumphantly before bowing and saying, "I am Akemi Akemi, the new sketching teacher. Please take care of me from now on!"

"Oh! Ms. Akimiya is so beautiful!"

"I'm so happy!"

"Thank God, thank you Mr. Matsushita!"

The 12 students in Class A, including 8 boys, were making a lot of noise.

Hibiki Higashino even heard Shinonome Otoko, who sat at the table in front of him, excitedly clutching his chest, "Did Akimiya-sensei just wink at me? Does she like me?"

Mr. Matsuzaki quickly stopped the restless students.

After the introductions, Akemi Akimiya left.

The students began to sigh.

Higashino Hibiki picked up the textbook and began to study it intently.

After the bell rang, Higashino walked out of the classroom. Someone nudged him on the shoulder, and he smiled smugly.

Like a fox that has tricked a crow out of its meat.

"You didn't expect that, did you? It's me."

“I didn’t expect this,” Higashino Hibiki said with a smile. “It’s great to see you again, Ms. Akimiya.”

She instinctively took a half step back, but then straightened her back and said, "You should call me teacher."

"Calling him 'teacher' would be even more exciting."

Chapter 20 Cooperation or Rejection

Kazuhiko Torishima was not elected editor-in-chief of Jump, but he was not as sad or upset as Akira Toriyama and Hibiki Higashino thought.

The third-generation editor-in-chief, Shigeo Nishimura, and the fourth-generation editor-in-chief, Hiroki Goto, held the mindset of publishers from the old era, valuing print magazines and not recognizing the commercial models of manga radio dramas, anime adaptations, and copyrighted merchandise.

In fact, in the 7s and 80s, Jump's characters were misused by other companies, but the editorial department did not react.

It wasn't until Kazuhiko Torishima, an unconventional individual who disliked manga magazines, used the power of "Dragon Ball" to negotiate with animation and toy companies that everything changed.

This is also why Goto Hiroki dislikes Torishima Kazuhiko.

However, the upper echelons of Shueisha could see the importance of Kazuhiko Torishima.

His ideas are more likely to make money!

Under pressure from his predecessors, Nobuhiko Horie became the editor-in-chief.

On the other hand, at the company-wide level, the upper management promoted Torishima and Hiko in a subtle way, making them Horie Nobuhiko's direct superiors.

Therefore, Kazuhiko Torishima still retains the power to speak.

When he heard that Bungei Shunju and Weekly Shonen Jump were collaborating to serialize last year's Naoki Prize-winning manga, The Sun Murder Case, in Jump manga, he immediately became interested.

Bungei Shunju was his ideal, and the first company he wanted to work for after graduation was Bungei Shunju!

He has loved reading since childhood and does not dislike popular literature.

"The Sun Murder Case" is an interesting work that features victims being killed in unexpected ways.

When he first read the part about unraveling the mystery, he exclaimed how thrilling it was, saying that this was what true mystery literature should be.

I have to go join in the fun.

……

"You...you shouldn't talk nonsense." Akemi Akemi looked around and said softly.

Hibiki Higashino nodded, becoming serious. "Akimiya-sensei, is there something you need?"

"It's the editor from Torishima looking for you." Akemi Akemi handed Hibiki Higashino a cell phone.

The mobile phone in 1993 was the Motorola MicroTAC, which cost $2500.

It is neither aesthetically pleasing nor compact.

However, it's much better than the mobile phones in Hong Kong movies; you can carry it with you.

Hibiki Higashino was envious; even though it was inconvenient, it was already very good.

He took the phone, glanced at the business card once, and remembered Torishima Kazuhiko's phone number. He dialed it, and the other end answered immediately.

"I am Hibiki Higashino."

"I finally got in touch with you. It was so difficult."

This is a characteristic of the times; Hibiki Higashino is not the kind of goddess who doesn't reply to WeChat messages for half a day.

Torishima Kazuhiko wasn't a sycophant; he was Higashino Hibiki's mentor.

"Sorry, I'm at school right now."

"It's hard to explain over the phone, shall we meet at our usual place?"

"What time is it?"

"The sooner the better."

Higashino looked at Akemi Akemi, and seeing her nod, replied, "See you in two hours."

After hanging up the phone, Higashino Hibiki returned the phone to Akemi Akemi and asked for her number.

"The usual place?" Akemi Akimiya asked curiously.

“A family restaurant,” Higashino waved his hand. “I’m leaving my leave of absence to you, Akimiya-sensei.”

……

When we arrived at the "Pole Pole" restaurant, it was noon. Torishima Kazuhiko was already there, and a young man was sitting next to him.

Fluffy hair, thin build.

The two engaged in a lively conversation, feeling as if they had known each other for a long time.

"Mr. Torishima, it's been a long time." He was holding a storyboard for "Hikaru no Go," which was also an opportunity. It was much better than submitting it to the editorial department alone.