Full-time comic artist

"There's a party going on, want to join?"

Togashi was also feeling bored, so he readily agreed.

With his long hair, Togashi stepped out of his house and, under the scorching sun, arrived at the meeting place that Kazutoshi Tsubara had mentioned.

Most of the people here are manga artists, but Togashi didn't know many of them. He sat in a corner and watched quietly.

Just then, he spotted a familiar face: the mature-beyond-his-years Akino Mirai.

"He actually came too."

Togashi was secretly delighted; finally, he could find someone to chat with.

Just as he was about to speak with Higashino Hibiki, he saw a woman who had found Higashino Hibiki ahead of him.

The shy Togashi stopped and didn't go over to talk to them, but he kept watching intently.

"It's so beautiful," he thought.

She's his type.

They are about the same age, in their thirties, but still maintain a youthful appearance.

Watching the other person and Higashino Hibiki talk so confidently, while he felt like a coward and didn't dare to say a word, he secretly hated his own introverted nature.

……

"Teacher Takeuchi, it's been a long time."

This woman is Naoko Takeuchi. Hibiki Higashino only came because he heard that she would be there.

"Congratulations, the Sailor Moon anime is a hit."

This anime, airing during prime time, still managed to achieve an 8% viewership rating, making it virtually unbeatable in the world of shoujo manga.

Logically and emotionally, Higashino Hibiki should come and offer his congratulations upon learning of this.

“Thank you,” Naoko Takeuchi replied with a smile, covering her mouth. “I also congratulate you in advance on the impressive viewership ratings of the Slam Dunk anime.”

She felt an itch on her back, turned around, and saw a disheveled, somewhat dejected man who seemed to be staring at her.

Hibiki Higashino followed the gaze and introduced, "It's Togashi-sensei, the author of Yu Yu Hakusho and Level E."

“He looks a bit like my mother,” Naoko Takeuchi said with a smile.

Higashino understood immediately.

So that's why they're such an enviable couple in the comic book world.

Thanks to Togashi's long hair.

Hibiki Higashino asked, "Should we invite him over for a chat?"

“Let’s forget it,” Naoko Takeuchi waved her hand. “I think he’s a bit reserved and doesn’t like being disturbed.”

Actually, she came here today with a purpose.

Well, the purpose is...

Please update soon!

"After The Garden of Words ended, did Tori Akino-kun not have any new inspiration?"

Naoko Takeuchi wasn't very interested in "Slam Dunk".

She also wants to see sweet and sour romance comics.

"Huh?" Higashino Hibiki was startled. This guy had no sportsmanship and was actually urging for updates offline. He reluctantly replied, "I'm just too busy right now, um."

"That means I've got inspiration! I'm really looking forward to it!"

Naoko Takeuchi continued talking to herself.

"Ha..." Higashino regretted it; he shouldn't have come today.

Even I, who work so diligently, am being pressured to update my content. Can this world ever get any better?

The ladies at the party gathered together to chat, and Hibiki Higashino, having been abandoned by Naoko Takeuchi, breathed a sigh of relief.

He'd rather face the editor than the readers' pressure.

Just as he was sitting on the sofa and breathed a sigh of relief, Yoshihiro Togashi approached him.

"Who is that?" he asked, his eyes shining.

Hibiki Higashino smiled slightly, "Hehehe."

"Tell me quickly," Togashi urged.

"Do you remember when you teased me about Sailor Moon in Slam Dunk?"

"Could it be..." Togashi sensed something was wrong.

"You were just watching the show back then, now you're dumbfounded." Hibiki Higashino took a sip of coffee. "That's Naoko Takeuchi, the author of Sailor Moon."

Yoshihiro Togashi regretted it. He grabbed Hibiki Higashino's arm and asked, "Are you two really not seeing each other?!"

“I’m not going to explain anything,” Higashino Hibiki joked, “but you don’t believe me, do you?”

Togashi shouted, "I believe it! I believe it!"

Others cast surprised glances at them.

Togashi pursed his lips, giving an innocent look.

Hibiki Higashino had hoped to see him take some action.

After all, it was love at first sight, and he told him that Naoko Takeuchi had a good first impression of him.

Unexpectedly, Togashi remained seated in the corner, displaying remarkable patience.

Until the party ended and Higashino headed home, no more gossip came up.

……

"Was the party fun?" Akemi Akimiya asked curiously.

Hibiki Higashino was conflicted. "To be honest, it was quite interesting. We gathered a lot of information and also saw Yoshihiro Togashi's predicament."

"To be honest, it was a bit boring, since we didn't see how things would develop."

"Hey! Tell me quickly what happened?" Akemi Akemi became even more interested and walked up to Higashino Hibiki, asking excitedly.

No one asked him to keep it a secret, and Higashino Hibiki was eager to confide in them, so he told them everything.

"Love at first sight! How romantic!"

"Where did you get love at first sight? It's lust at first sight!" Higashino Hibiki retorted.

"Oh! So you like me because you were attracted to my looks!"

Chapter 190 Setting Sail

"I usually just think of him as an arrogant, taciturn, repulsive, conceited, unsociable, and annoying brat, but this guy is really something else!" Mitsui Hisashi thought to himself.

At halftime, thanks to Rukawa's performance, the score between Shohoku and Hainan is tied at 49:49!

Rukawa Kaede, who had just graduated from junior high school, actually controlled the game, scoring 25 points in the first half. He is a true superstar with a bright future.

At the end of August, summer vacation will soon be over.

It was only at this point that Hibiki Higashino learned that Nishimura had returned to Tokyo.

They arranged to meet near Yan Yan High School.

It was almost time, and Higashino Hibiki waited under the shade of a tree at the school gate.

Unexpectedly, some students have already returned to school. They should be art students living in the dormitory.

"Tori Akino-sensei!"

Higashino Hibiki, in his drowsy state, heard a very excited voice.

He was dazed and didn't react for a moment.

The other person then said, "Senior Higashino!"

Higashino looked up and saw a girl with a round face who looked very cute.

"Hello," Higashino Hibiki stood up straight, straightened his disheveled clothes, and almost fell asleep.

“I’m a student from Yoshiwara-sou! Thank you so much for the drawing you left behind,” the girl said excitedly.

"A drawing?" Higashino Hibiki realized that it was a junior from his former dormitory. "Did I forget something? I'm so sorry."

His things are hard to organize, and there's a chance something might be left behind.

"It's just a few paintings," the girl waved her hand, "and it's a surprise! A big surprise!"

"I'm glad you like it," Higashino Hibiki replied with a smile.

“Your paintings are really good. I didn’t expect that your original works were already so outstanding back in high school.” She held her hands to her chest, her eyes sparkling.

That was the original manuscript of "The Garden of Words," which was much more detailed than the one she had seen in Seinen Jump.

The composition of the comic background, the use of pavilions, pillars, and tree trunks are all unique and full of detail.

Moreover, the brushstrokes fully reveal the shyness of the young Yukino.

Upon seeing it, she felt the beauty of youth and was deeply moved by the painting.

"As expected of Higashino-senpai, a legend of Yan Yan High School."

……

When Nishimura and Kitamoto arrived, they saw Higashino chatting with a female high school student from afar.

The girl's admiring gaze filled Nishimura with intense jealousy. "That damned Higashino! He's so popular with girls..."

"As expected of Higashino," Kitamoto remarked.

After getting the autograph, the girl waved and ran off happily.

The two then stepped forward.

Nishimura, feeling jealous, questioned them, but before he could finish talking to the two of them, he had already hooked up with the cute JK girl.