Full-time comic artist

"Tori Akino-sensei has a very strong heart."

……

Time flies, and before we knew it, it was April. Higashino Hibiki was in her third year of high school.

Higashino Hibiki is deep in thought as he walks through Musashino.

He has gradually developed this habit: when his mind is confused, he will take a walk to clear his mind.

The people you meet on the road, those brimming with youth and vitality, are naturally newcomers.

At the main gate of the school, there were clubs recruiting new members, and they became enthusiastic when they saw the beautiful new students.

"How about checking out the swimsuit wrestling club!"

"The Go club is recruiting new members."

"Join the basketball club and let's dominate the nation together!"

Even the boys were very welcome by all the clubs.

Hibiki Higashino hadn't seen such a lively scene in a long time. He was indeed lacking in social interaction, completely absorbed in his manga, and gradually, he had forgotten how to speak.

He seemed to disappear as he passed by club recruitment events, and no club tried to recruit him.

Higashino was indignant and wanted to question him, but then he heard someone ask.

"That handsome guy seems to have a lot of free time, why don't you ask him?"

"Look at his gloomy appearance, he's definitely not a freshman. It's a waste of time to talk to him."

"I see."

Upon hearing this, Higashino Hibiki couldn't hold back any longer.

The once sunny and cheerful young man has now become a gloomy and withdrawn shut-in.

Back in the studio, the assistants were still working hard, but Higashino Hibiki remained silent and sat at his workstation to draw.

This unusual behavior surprised Tanaka.

Normally, Higashino Hibiki would greet him and chat casually with him.

He looked up at Higashino Hibiki, whose brows were furrowed. Although he was working hard, it was obvious that his thoughts had already wandered off.

I don't know what I'm thinking, I'm in a really bad mood.

"Today I heard a lot of people talking about the plot of 'Slam Dunk'." Tanaka looked at the depressed Hibiki Higashino and started talking. "They all say it's very interesting, excitingly interesting."

He gestured with his eyes, and Yoshii Yamahisa understood, letting out an "Ah!" in amazement. He then took out a newspaper and exclaimed dramatically:

"That's right. The renowned critic, Mr. Furutayama, even wrote an article praising the chapter 'Mitsui, the Stormy Three-Pointer.' He said that the manga comprehensively and vividly portrays Mitsui Hisashi's emotional build-up, his low point, his return to his original aspirations, and finally his outburst. It's like enjoying the exhilarating feeling after running a full marathon."

This episode received very positive reviews and even replaced "The Great Revolution of Go" as the most talked-about topic.

Previously, people were criticizing Higashino Hibiki for being unrealistic, but now the news media are praising him.

The transition was seamless, as if nothing had happened.

But what worried Tanaka was that Higashino Hibiki, despite hearing so much praise, still looked gloomy and couldn't cheer up.

He was truly willing but unable to do anything more.

At four o'clock in the afternoon, Sasaki called Hibana to inform him that Masashi Hibiki was ranked number one in Slam Dunk.

Hibiki Higashino simply nodded.

This made Tanaka even more convinced that he was hurt by the comments and was in a bad mood.

Tanaka saw this and was very anxious.

At six o'clock in the afternoon, Higashino Hibiki stood up and announced that the week's work was over, and the next time they would meet would be next Tuesday.

After saying that, he said he was going out for a walk to clear his head, and then he left, leaving his assistants looking at each other in bewilderment.

"I knew it, Mr. Toriakino was in a bad mood, and it turned out he was right," Tanaka sighed.

Yoshii Yamahisa was disappointed.

Oda is baffled by this.

"Tori Akino-sensei has a very strong mind, how could she be so easily influenced?"

Akemi Akemi nodded. "Higashino-kun is very confident in his own judgment and doesn't take other people's opinions to heart. In the TV interview a while ago, he also downplayed it and remained calm."

Both of them knew Higashino Hibiki very well.

There's also the factor of personality; they have strong inner strength, so they rarely consider things from this perspective.

"Perhaps it's because he's so confident in his judgment?" Tanaka suddenly realized, and exclaimed, "The readers don't understand me, so the teacher is very sad!"

“From this perspective…” Oda hesitated.

Yoshii Yamahisa said, "Perhaps we should... take action."

……

After leaving the house, Hibiki Higashino went to the underground parking garage. He missed a certain place and was now going to visit it.

Driving his Mercedes in Tokyo at six in the afternoon, Hibiki Higashino didn't enjoy the thrill of speed; instead, he felt quite depressed.

"Why is there a traffic jam...?"

It was Friday afternoon at six o'clock, and Higashino Hibiki's anxious mood gradually cooled down in the luxury car.

Meanwhile, in Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo, at a Go club near the Shueisha building.

A burly man, yet exuding a scholarly air, looked up, filled with emotion.

"I'm back."

After saying that, he stepped inside.

……

What should have been an hour's drive turned into a nightmare when Higashino Hibiki arrived.

After finding a parking spot in a nearby parking lot, Higashino Hibiki walked into a Go club.

He studied here for a period of time, which was the first step in his Go enlightenment. Now he needs to relieve his frustration, so this is a good place for him to come.

It's quite enjoyable to beat up Go newbies.

This is an experience he learned from Akira Yamazaki.

As soon as he entered the door, he heard the woman's surprised voice.

That was the club's lobby manager. I hadn't seen her for almost two years. She was still the same as before. Although she was in her thirties, she still had youth and vitality.

Compared to her, Hibiki Higashino seemed lifeless.

"Long time no see, Mr. Torino Akino!"

Beside her was a folding fan with Hibiki Higashino's signature on it.

"Long time no see," Higashino Hibiki nodded in greeting.

"Did you arrange this?" the lobby manager asked. "You all arrived on the same day."

"Who?" Higashino asked in surprise.

"You'll see when you go in; it'll definitely be a surprise." She covered her mouth and chuckled.

It was already dark, and the chess hall was bustling with activity, as if everyone was meeting old friends they hadn't seen in a long time, chatting and laughing.

You've changed so much!

Higashino Hibiki heard someone say that.

Higashino Hibiki spotted someone very noticeable in the crowd.

That was Xiaochun, dressed neatly and cleanly, a far cry from her previous sloppy appearance.

Her once carefree movements have become more refined.

It seems that although he did not become a professional Go player, his life is still very exciting.

That's good enough.

Chapter 177 Friends Reunited

Higashino Hibiki quietly observed the members in the Go club, a smile playing on his lips.

Time flies, but this place remains the same.

"Tori Akino-sensei!" someone exclaimed.

Everyone looked over; they abandoned Koharu and surrounded Higashino.

"It's been a long time, everyone," Higashino Hibiki greeted with a smile.

"long time no see!"

"Haven't seen you in a long time! You've gotten so strong!"

"I watched the game where Mr. Tori Akino defeated the professional player; it was a brilliant game!"

The older men patted Higashino Hibiki on the shoulder and said happily.

Their timeline is still stuck in last year.

Higashino felt a sense of familiarity. "Yes, it was just a fluke. I'm no match for that Odagiri kid anymore."

“He was too careless in that game,” Xiaochun walked over and raised a hand to greet him. “If it weren’t for his mistake, he would definitely have won.”

"Yes……"

Before Hibiki Higashino could agree, he was interrupted.

"You brat."

"It was clearly a victory achieved through the tenacious struggle of Mr. Tori Akino, how can it be called a fluke?" said Mr. Kazuo angrily.

He tapped Xiaochun's calf with his cane.

"Ouch," Koharu said dramatically, rubbing her calf, before straightening up and nodding at Higashino. "Long time no see, wanna play a game of chess?"