Full-time comic artist

Higashino stood at the door, listening quietly.

He wasn't feeling sad or disappointed; he wanted to know more about the situation and how these two familiar yet unfamiliar people viewed their child.

Higashino Ichiro grew angrier as they talked, exclaiming angrily, "I drive a taxi on the night shift every day, working day and night, all in the hope that he can make something of himself! But now... he really doesn't have the spirit of the Higashino family!"

Higashino patted his hand, "Keep your voice down, don't let the child hear."

She then sighed, "Xiang has always worked very hard, unlike other children. Since elementary school, he's acted like an adult. He knows what he should do: work hard, strive for improvement, and make more friends. So now, he's just reverting to his childlike nature. Give him some patience, and he will change."

Higashino Ichiro was silent for a moment, then nodded. "Hmph, if that's the case, it's a good thing."

They calmed down, and the only sound in the living room was the "rustling" of making plastic flowers.

Higashino Hibiki walked in, and Higashino Shiori looked up and saw him. Her eyes widened as she stared at Higashino Hibiki's bald head, her mouth agape in surprise.

Chapter 2 Manga and Torishima Kazuhiko

Higashino Ichiro stood with his back to the door, head bowed, sticking flower petals to the ground.

Since the economic bubble burst, the taxi business has become increasingly difficult. In order to support Higashino Hibiki's art studies, he had to switch to the more lucrative night shift. After waking up during the day, he would help Higashino Shio make some handicrafts to supplement their income.

He reached for the flower stem, when suddenly a hand with ink on its fingertips took the stem away first.

How do I do this?

Higashino Hibiki sat down on the ground and turned to ask.

“You shouldn’t have done this.” Higashino Ichiro shook his head, then turned to look at Higashino Hibiki’s bald head, whose lips twitched.

"Why shouldn't I have done it?" Higashino Hibiki picked up a part of the bouquet and looked at Higashino Ushio.

His mother was very supportive, smiling and giving him pointers.

Seeing the harmonious scene, Higashino Ichiro wanted to nod with satisfaction, but he suppressed this feeling. He coughed and forced himself to remain calm, "You should go and paint."

While comparing her own plastic flower creations with her parents', Hibiki Higashino noticed that they weren't very good and wondered how to rework them. She replied casually, "There's no contradiction between the two."

"You!" Higashino Ichiro exclaimed, his beard bristling and eyes wide. "Can't you just listen to me properly!"

Just then, the phone rang in the entryway hallway.

"I'll answer the phone." Higashino stood up, ignoring the awkward Higashino Ichiro.

"If a customer is booking a taxi, tell him that I start work at six in the afternoon."

"Yes."

I got up, walked out of the living room, and followed the corridor to the entrance hall.

The landline phone, which I hadn't seen in a long time, started ringing.

"Hello, I'm Kazuhiko Torishima from the editorial department of Weekly Shonen Jump. Are you Hibiki Higashino, the author of 'The Battle of Gods and Men'?"

……

In the living room, Higashino Ichiro suddenly burst out laughing.

Higashino looked at him in surprise, feeling completely bewildered.

“Hibiki didn’t give up on art,” Ichiro Higashino sighed. “I misunderstood him.”

"Hey! Do you think Hibiki joined the biker gang for inspiration?!" His eyes lit up as he spoke, convinced he had spoken the truth.

Higashino was speechless. "What are you talking about..."

“I just saw traces of ink on his fingertips,” Higashino Ichiro chuckled. “That kid has the makings of an artist. Aren’t all artists a bit eccentric?”

"You still say I spoil you..." Dongye tide stood up helplessly and pounded her back. "You're the one who's gone mad."

……

Hibiki Higashino asked in surprise, "The War Between Gods and Humans?"

"Did I dial the wrong number?"

"Wait, I remember now, it's me." Hibiki Higashino covered his head and recalled that before becoming a biker gang member, young Hibiki Higashino had started drawing manga and had submitted his work to the "Monthly Prize" of Weekly Shonen Jump this summer.

"Yeah, I knew it."

"Is there anything I can help you with?"

"Regarding manga, I'd like to discuss something with you. I looked at your address; it's in Meguro Ward, Tokyo, very close to Shueisha. If you'd like to take your manga career a step further, please come to Pole Pole."

Afterwards, Torishima Kazuhiko gave the specific address, which was near Shueisha.

Chiyoda Ward is quite close to Meguro Ward. Higashino checked the time; it was 4 PM, so he had enough time.

"You absolutely have to come! I'm waiting for you."

After the other end of the phone hung up, Higashino Hibiki prepared to return to his room on the second floor. As he passed the living room, he looked inside and saw Higashino Ichiro with his back to him, not saying a word. Higashino Shio smiled and nodded.

"I'm going out for a bit," Higashino Hibiki said.

"Have a safe trip," said Higashino Shio.

"Don't stay out too late," Higashino Ichiro said in a deep, muffled voice.

Higashino paused for a moment, then nodded. "I'll be back before 9 o'clock."

He closed the sliding door, somewhat surprised. Higashino Ichiro was usually not this easy to talk to.

Although he agreed to go even though Higashino Hibiki didn't, thankfully, they didn't fall out.

Walking back to the room, I felt completely unfamiliar.

When he first arrived from another world, Higashino Hibiki was completely bewildered and didn't observe carefully.

This is a Japanese style very similar to Nobita Nobi's bedroom.

The desk faces the door, there are tatami mats on the floor, and a cabinet next to it.

The difference was that there was a bed, which relieved Higashino Hibiki.

I am not used to sleeping on the floor.

In his original home, the furniture was as minimal as possible, with only the bed being slightly expensive.

The mattress, in particular, is the perfect firmness and is very comfortable to sleep on.

After all, for someone like him who frequently suffers from hangovers, not having a good bed would be too uncomfortable.

After expressing his feelings, he walked to his desk, where there was a half-finished comic book draft.

The boy wearing protective glasses and grinning foolishly is Kurata Isai, the protagonist of "The War of Gods and Humans".

The outline has been drawn, but it hasn't been colored yet.

Even so, you can tell that it's a very good painting.

Compared to the average person who proudly draws a chibi-style, big-eyed cute girl, Hibiki Higashino's drawings are exceptionally good.

The body is not twisted or deformed and conforms to human anatomy.

It also has the demeanor of a manga protagonist, exuding a sense of hard work and positivity.

Especially the eyes, they are very bright and expressive.

Hibiki Higashino and Isabella Kurata exchanged glances, and without thinking, they grabbed the ink-stained G-pen and began to scribble carefully.

When he came to his senses, he didn't know how much time had passed.

He was stunned when he saw the results.

I never thought I could draw such a good picture.

In my past life, I always envied classmates who were good at drawing. I never imagined that one day I would become a comic book master myself.

This picture alone must cost at least 1000 yen.

If you add more detail and exquisite coloring, charging 3000 yen wouldn't be unreasonable.

"Oh no, it's 4:30! We have to get going!"

After changing his clothes and putting on a short-sleeved jacket, he hurriedly set off.

After changing my shoes in the entryway, I went to the front yard.

Under the roof beam, he saw a "ghost fire" (a type of firework).

The car has light strips and neon lights at the front, so you can imagine how dazzling it is at night.

A flag was stuck at the back of the car; it was white with red lettering that read "Yoru-Shinobi".

"Huh." The thought of possibly riding this bike sent a chill down his spine.

Let's take the tram instead.

Chapter 3 Go and Discussion

The afternoon sun was so intense that Higashino Hibiki's scalp ached, so after walking only a few steps, he went home and put on a hat, not because he was embarrassed by his bald head.

Absolutely not.

After taking the tram for more than an hour, we arrived at the drop-off point that Torishima Kazuhiko had mentioned.

But a stranger in a foreign land, even with a handwritten address, is still completely lost.

Higashino looked around and surprisingly saw very few passersby.

It was deserted, and when someone occasionally passed by, they walked quickly, raising their hand to refuse Higashino Hibiki's advances.

On a summer afternoon, the streets of Japan are completely lifeless and indifferent.

"Squeak."

A motorcycle was parked next to Higashino Hibiki. The rider was a large, intimidating man wearing a white vest, with a thick beard and hairy arms.

"Is there any difficulty?" he asked.

"Excuse me, how do I get to 'pole pole'?" Higashino Hibiki wasn't scared at all; he calmly took out a piece of paper and showed it to the other person.

"Hmm..." The other person stroked their chin thoughtfully, then raised their head, "Sit on."

"Ok?"