Full-time comic artist

Although he was already familiar with the style of the work, Kazuya Takasugi was still amazed by the unconventional and imaginative plot.

Basho showed Zeng Liang something "embarrassing" before he allowed him to stay.

So he took out his umbilical cord, a treasure he had kept for a long time and which his parents had never seen.

"So what do you want to say, Basho-san?" Zeng Liang said expressionlessly, closing the box and forcefully knocking away Matsuo Basho's umbilical cord.

He remained impassive.

The shy and hesitant Matsuo Bashō exclaimed in surprise.

"Wow!"

Then he explained, "Actually, the reason I asked you to come here is to invite Zeng Liangjun to travel with me..."

At the same time, the box containing the umbilical cord kept bouncing back and finally hit him on the forehead.

Matsuo Bashō's defenses have been breached.

"But let's forget about it..."

Covering her bleeding forehead with a handkerchief, Basho's eyes were filled with tears; she felt extremely wronged.

"Judging from how reluctant you are to come today, and how you even slapped open your master's umbilical cord with a blank expression, I'm sure you won't agree to this..."

Zeng Liang said seriously, "How would you know if you didn't ask? Please don't make decisions for me on your own!"

Basho's eyes lit up instantly. "So...you're coming with me?"

"That's out of the question."

Zeng Liang sipped his tea and said indifferently.

"Pfft, hahahaha!" Kazuya Takasugi couldn't help but burst into laughter.

The noise seemed particularly loud in the empty living room.

He immediately covered his mouth, eventually becoming engrossed in the story.

He didn't notice the sound of his parents turning on the bedroom light.

"You beast!" Basho exclaimed angrily.

Tears welled in his eyes: "It's better this way. This time I'm going to the Northeast, all alone and helpless, the journey will be arduous and full of hardships. Maybe it's the right thing to not go..."

"Huh? What did you say?" Zeng Liang was taken aback. "Many hardships?"

In his mind, he saw horrific scenes such as Basho being hit by a shuriken, stepping into a trap, and having his head bitten by a crocodile. So Zeng Liang said, "I'd better go with you."

Kazuya Takasugi was relieved. Despite his constant verbal abuse, Sora still cared about his master, Matsuo Bashō.

but……

"There are some things I want to witness with my own eyes," Zeng Liang said.

"Hmm, I see." Takasugi Kazuya said expressionlessly, "So you wanted to see Basho's miserable state live! Sora, are you that cunning?!"

He picked up the instant noodle cup and started eating it in big mouthfuls.

The instant noodles hadn't been touched much before the animation ended.

"This work is really interesting. It's called 'Gag Manga Biyori,' right? I haven't seen such a funny anime in a long time."

Takasugi Kazuya thought.

Moreover, watching cartoons secretly at night was really exciting, and he couldn't help but want to do it a few more times.

"Slurp, slurp, slurp." The living room was filled with the sound of him slurping instant noodles.

Just then, the lights in the dark living room suddenly came on.

With instant noodles still hanging from his lips, like a tuft of beard, Kazuya Takasugi looked up blankly, trying to force a smile, "Mom."

"Quiet! And go to sleep!"

Mrs. Takasugi's reprimand caused the motion-sensor lights in the building across the street to turn on.

In an instant, the quiet night became lively.

……

In the morning, Hibiki Higashino arrived at the classroom after his morning exercise.

He had just put down his book when he was startled by Takasugi Kazuya behind him.

"What are you doing?" Higashino asked hesitantly, "Did you go out to cheat on someone last night?"

The other person's eyes were bloodshot and had dark circles, making it look like they hadn't slept all night.

“Of course not,” Kazuya Takasugi shook his head firmly.

“Higashino-san,” he asked excitedly, “is ‘Gag Manga Biyori’ your work?”

"You knew?" Higashino raised an eyebrow, then replied, "I was indeed involved."

"It was really fun! I watched the 'Oku no Hosomichi' episode, it was very... well, unconventional. But it was very refreshing!" Kazuya Takasugi gave a thumbs up. "If you release a DVD in the future, please be sure to sign it for me!"

“Of course, no problem,” Hibiki Higashino replied, carefully observing Kazuya Takasugi’s dark circles. “So, you’re having trouble sleeping because of *Nichiyori*…?”

"...That's part of it..." Kazuya Takasugi chuckled awkwardly.

……

Musashino Animation Studio.

President Yuko Asahina sat expressionlessly in the main seat, with members of "Mirai-sha" sitting on either side, waiting attentively for her to speak.

To Asahina's left is Minami Chiharu, and to her right is Ozawa Hibiki.

The two of them held reports, looking every bit the corporate elite.

“As the popularity of ‘Hiyori’ spread, more and more viewers became aware of it,” Chiharu Minami said, “leading to an increase in viewership ratings.”

She drew a table on the blackboard, and with a swish, the line rose upwards, based on a 0.1% viewership rating.

"It's clear that the viewership ratings for each episode are higher than the previous one, and the 'Oku no Hosomichi' episode even surpassed 11%, which is quite remarkable."

After she finished speaking, the audience erupted in applause.

"It went really smoothly."

"I thought I was going to go through some hardships."

"It became a hot topic naturally and effortlessly!"

The staff cheered.

“But now there’s a problem,” Ozawa said, raising his index finger. “We lack staff to handle administrative duties.”

He glanced at Amano, Takayuki, and the rest of the group. In the animation club, everyone was a technical talent, but there was no manager to deal with.

“A DVD distributor contacted us,” Ozawa said, “to discuss a collaboration on releasing ‘Gag Manga Biyori’ on DVD, and who thinks they can handle the negotiation.”

Immediately, everyone looked at each other in silence, and the room fell silent.

Xiao Ze thought to himself, "Just as I expected."

He was the one who orchestrated the collaboration with the agricultural cooperative; no one in the animation club could help him, and in the end, they messed it up.

This must not be allowed to happen again.

He looked at Minami Chiharu, "What did Teacher Tori Akino say?"

Minami Chiharu shrugged, "Higashino-kun said to leave it to us to handle..."

“However,” she gritted her teeth, “I will find a manager! I have suitable candidates here.”

Ozawa breathed a sigh of relief; finally, he wasn't the only one struggling.

After the matter was resolved, Asahina slammed her hand on the table and stood up. Amidst the expectant gazes of everyone, she said:

Meeting adjourned.

……

"So 'Gag Manga Biyori' is the work of Tori Akino-sensei!" Tada Banri exclaimed. "It's my favorite anime lately."

Hibiki Higashino and Kazuya Takasugi's conversation drew the attention of others.

"Hiyori? You mean that really funny anime? I've been watching it lately! It's hilarious."

"A work by Tori Akino-sensei? I'll definitely watch it!"

A group of people surrounded Higashino Hibiki.

Higashino Hibiki became distressed.

Today's classes finally ended, and Hibiki Higashino and Akemi Akemi walked side by side toward the teachers' dormitory.

“It’s been really tough lately,” Akemi Akimiya said, rubbing her shoulders.

In addition to handling the work on "Slam Dunk", he is now also in charge of "The Great Revolution of Go".

In her spare time, she also has to create comic storyboards.

One person wishes they could be split into two.

Higashino raised his hands and looked around; there were just too many people around.

Suppressing the urge to massage her shoulders, Higashino Hibiki lowered his hands.

When I got back to the dormitory, my assistants hadn't arrived yet.

They only managed to get a break when Higashino was teaching, and Higashino didn't urge them on.

He walked to the balcony, looked at the students and teachers scattered outside the window, and drew the curtains.

After taking off her shoes, Akemi Akemi sat on the sofa, smelled her feet, and immediately turned her face away in disgust.

"Wearing stockings really affects breathability," she remarked.

Just then, Akemi Akemi noticed that Higashino Hibiki had drawn the curtains and complained, "The sun is shining brightly today, why are you drawing the curtains? Besides, we're about to start work."

Higashino walked to her side and pressed her shoulders with both hands. "Don't worry about work. Let me give you a massage. You've worked hard these past few days."

"Thank you," Akemi Akemi said, closing her eyes and feeling Hibiki Higashino's strong hands.

"Yes, this is it, ah~ so comfortable."