Full-time comic artist

Hibiki Higashino learned about Toei's philosophy during a phone call with Kazuki Takahashi.

"We will create the animation from scratch, without making any major alterations."

Upon learning this, Hibiki Higashino became pessimistic about the anime again.

After all, the value of Yu-Gi-Oh! lies in its card game aspect, and Judai Muto's bluffing and card-playing was the initial charm of the series.

The mini-games at the beginning of the comic strip aren't very popular with readers.

Animation may not be popular and may become synonymous with mediocrity.

Meanwhile, amidst the intense production, Eiichiro Oda finally completed the storyboards for the first three chapters of One Piece.

Just as the Jump serialization meeting was about to take place, One Piece didn't have to wait long, and Oda was able to know the results immediately.

……

It was four o'clock in the afternoon, the clock was ticking, and Oda was also restless, pacing back and forth in his studio.

Higashino Hibiki was so confused by him that he couldn't even continue drawing the storyboard. He waved his hand and said with annoyance, "You don't need to work today. Go home and wait for the results."

"No," Oda refused decisively, "I'll get nervous if I'm alone! Please stay with me, Sensei!"

Higashino Hibiki shivered. "Stop, stop talking, let's just leave it at that!"

Meanwhile, at the serialization meeting.

“The next work,” Sasaki said seriously, looking at his colleagues at the meeting, “is Eiichiro Oda’s One Piece.”

When this work was mentioned, Kazuhiko Torishima's eyes twitched.

He has an impression of Eiichiro Oda.

This impression comes from Akino Mirai.

Before the serialization of "Slam Dunk" began, "Hikaru no Go" was still ongoing, and he had visited the Tori Akino Studio.

That was also the time when Dragon Ball ended, Jump's sales were declining, and its position was in jeopardy.

Akira Toriyama had an assistant named Eiichiro Oda, who was a loyal reader of Akira Toriyama, but there's nothing particularly noteworthy about that.

That was something he would never forget.

When discussing saving Jump, Akino Mirai said something.

"The person who can save Jump is my assistant, Eiichiro Oda! I have a feeling that he will become a great manga artist on par with Toriyama-sensei! The next era belongs to Oda!"

Such shocking words were unforgettable.

"So now, is Oda, whom Tori Akino values, finally starting to emerge?"

But when he thought about the storyboards he had seen, Torishima Kazuhiko's flame died down, and he frowned.

"Can this work really become a highly popular comic?"

He couldn't tell.

This work has a very unique style and has never appeared in Jump before.

He was eccentric; he never expected readers to like One Piece.

Chapter 185 Misjudgment and Sold-Out Jump

Torishima Kazuhiko was deep in thought, while Sasaki took a deep breath and slowly revealed the contents of "One Piece".

"One Piece is a work by Hisashima, written by Eiichiro Oda. It tells the story of Luffy, the protagonist who dreams of becoming the Pirate King, and his journey in pursuit of that dream. It incorporates the three elements of 'friendship, effort, and victory.'"

"As Akino Mirai's assistant, Oda's strength lies in his ability to touch people's hearts and inspire readers. His art style is bold, his writing is delicate, and there is a great sense of contrast."

"I have high hopes for this work."

After he finished speaking, he put down the storyboard of "One Piece" and waited for the others to discuss it.

“Mr. Sasaki really values ​​this work,” Yoshihisa Hei remarked, a situation he rarely witnessed.

However, with a skeptical spirit, Yoshihisa Ping frowned, "The setting of One Piece is very interesting, but the style is peculiar. The protagonist's ability is rubber, which makes it difficult for readers to connect with. The mainstream should use fire."

It's hard for readers to like a protagonist with the power of the Gum-Gum Fruit; it's just not cool.

“I don’t see it that way,” Masahiko Ibaraki retorted. “It is precisely because there are no repetitive settings that this work has a broader future. From what I see, Oda-kun has drawn something novel, which will give readers a refreshing feeling.”

The editors argued over One Piece, with some believing it had a bright future and others thinking it was a niche manga, quirky and only attracting a small number of readers.

Moreover, they find it difficult to acknowledge the abilities of Eiichiro Oda, a newcomer.

Torishima Kazuhiko, who had been silent until now, frowned and said, "The art style is not aesthetically pleasing, and the main character design is not very appealing. I can't figure out the future of this work."

Based on his assessment of Akino's future and his own experience, he ultimately chose to make his own judgment and decided to oppose it.

……

It was seven o'clock in the afternoon, and the meeting was still not over. In Hibiki Higashino's dormitory, amidst the noise from the basketball court not far away, Oda found it increasingly difficult to calm down.

"Ah!" he cried out, standing up. "Why is it taking so long?!"

Hibiki Higashino, who was drawing storyboards, was startled by the sudden sound.

"What are you yelling about? Be quiet!"

Oda angrily ruffled his hair, "I'm so upset!"

When Oda entered the serialization meeting for the first time, thinking about all the hard work, years of accumulation, and countless efforts he had put into creating "One Piece," he found it difficult to remain calm and his mind was in turmoil.

Hibiki Higashino raised an eyebrow and glanced at him. On Christmas Day, the day of the "Hikaru no Go" serialization meeting, he himself remained perfectly still.

He proudly gestured to Akemi Akemi that Oda was still a kid, while he was the mature man.

Akemi Akemi smiled and shook her head. She thought to herself, "Where is the maturity in you when you're bragging like this?"

However, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and she felt that Hibino Hibiki was indeed more composed than Oda.

“Don’t worry,” Higashino waved his hand. “With the quality of One Piece, getting it approved for serialization is not a problem.”

"Now that the teacher said that, I feel more confident." Oda touched his heart and let out a long sigh of relief.

Just then, his phone rang. The caller was his editor, Hisashima.

Hisashima taught him a lot during the creation of "Romance Down" and "One Piece," and Oda still respects this editor.

After all, he was the first editor to value him.

"Editor Kushima, are the results out yet?"

Hearing Oda's excited words, Kujima remained silent for a long time.

A minute later, Higashino Hibiki didn't even look up. "So? It's been included, right? I told you One Piece didn't pass the meeting..."

"Eliminate..."

"Huh?" Higashino Hibiki was extremely surprised. He looked up abruptly. "The result is?"

"Remove it!" Oda replied with a mournful face.

"This shouldn't be happening..." Hibiki Higashino couldn't believe that One Piece had such a bad start. Jump might lose its most successful work.

"I think so too." Oda was actually very confident. Although he was very nervous, he felt that it was a sure thing. But he didn't expect that it would be eliminated.

"One Piece was supposed to be a work that would usher in a new era. I wanted to draw content that readers would love, but I died before I even got started? Tch, it's all because the editor-in-chief had no vision!" He gritted his teeth.

If it were anyone else, Hibiki Higashino would have told him to look for the reason within himself, but since it was Oda, he could only give him a thumbs up and repeatedly say, "Yes, you're right."

Hibiki Higashino then asked, "So, what's the reason Mr. Torishima removed 'One Piece'?"

Oda lamented, "People say the style of One Piece is too strange, and the editors don't agree on it either, so they're asking me to revise it again."

"Is it okay to just modify it?" Higashino Hibiki nodded.

There are generally three possible outcomes when a work is rejected: one is that it is revised and submitted to the serialization meeting again; the second is that a short story is published to see the readers' feedback; and the third, which is quite unfortunate, is that it is rejected outright.

If One Piece is the first one to be eliminated, that's already pretty good; there's still hope for it to continue.

“Mr. Torishima has given you a second chance, so make the most of it. Back then, Akira Toriyama drew 400 original drafts and spent a year to complete ‘Dr. Slump’ and satisfy Mr. Torishima,” Hibiki Higashino encouraged him.

Hearing about his idol's plight fills Oda with strength.

"The editor-in-chief of Bird Island is really strict. This is a test, and I'll make him say 'I lost' himself!"

This young man is really young.

Full of fighting spirit and high morale, they went out with great strides.

"I've spoken with editor Hisashima."

"Bye-bye." Higashino Hibiki waved, then whispered to Akemi Akemi, "That annoying guy is finally gone."

He was getting annoyed to death by Oda, but today was Oda's big day, so he couldn't just kick him out.

……

Oda has actually suffered a major setback, something Hibiki Higashino didn't expect.

This incident taught him that even though he was a time traveler, there were still many things he couldn't understand.

Luckily, I didn't make any empty promises, otherwise I would have really been proven wrong.

Monday has arrived.

In the Slam Dunk manga, the story has been unfolding for half a month from the perspective of Takezono Oda.

Just like the main basketball team in a comic book, Wuyuan has undergone the mental trials of its players and is now rejuvenated and ready to fight again.

However, in the new chapter, the Takezono basketball team, which readers have drawn into the story, is experiencing a crushing defeat.

Kazuya Takasugi's eyes widened in disbelief.

The Hainan University Affiliated High School basketball team only fielded two key players: Jin Soichiro and Muto Masashi.

With the Wuyuan High School basketball team igniting their fighting spirit and giving their all in the game, the final score difference was a staggering 150:78!

This gap is almost double!

The High School Affiliated to Hainan University is truly outstanding.

While feeling sad for Takezono, Kazuya Takasugi was deeply shocked by Hainan's strength, which was like that of an invincible villain.

Shohoku's next opponent is the invincible champion, Hainan.