Full-time comic artist

Chapter 23 Assistant

After hearing Hibiki Higashino's idea, Sasaki Hisashi reviewed the storyboard and nodded without changing his expression. "Draw it like this. First, submit your entry for the competition. After winning the 'Tezuka Award,' use 'Hikaru no Go' to participate in the serialization meeting."

Torishima Kazuhiko looked at him in surprise. "Sasaki, you like 'Hikaru no Go' that much?"

“Hmm,” Sasaki pushed up his glasses, “Even if it’s a board game manga, as long as it’s interesting, it can be serialized. I found some very interesting things in this manga.”

His expression was incredibly serious; he valued Higashino Hibiki even more than Torishima Kazuhiko.

He clenched his fist, feeling very fortunate to have met Higashino Hibiki today.

A high school student with excellent drawing skills and a great storyline.

Such a person probably only appears once every ten years.

Calling him a genius is perfectly justified.

Being able to edit him and discover such a person will greatly benefit his future career.

To change Weekly Shonen Jump.

and so……

"Higashino-kun, become a pillar of Jump!"

……

When Higashino Hibiki returned to the dormitory, it was already 6 p.m.

So he didn't go back to the classroom.

Pushing open the door, stepping into the entryway, and changing into slippers, Higashino Hibiki rubbed his tired eyes.

Several hours of brainstorming left him mentally strained and exhausted, as if he had run a half marathon.

Fortunately, the process went smoothly, and the serialization is just around the corner.

He heard the sound of stir-frying coming from the kitchen. His ears twitched. Was Nan Qianchun cooking?

So I opened the kitchen door and braced myself to help out.

Enhiko High School is one of the few high schools in Japan that has a cafeteria, but logically speaking, the food there is not very tasty.

Fortunately, the teachers and students of "Yoshiwara-sou" have a cook.

With a monthly meal allowance of 1.5 yen, you can enjoy a delicious, nutritious, and visually appealing dinner.

It's much happier than being in the cafeteria.

Therefore, Hibiki Higashino would occasionally offer his help.

He was stunned when he saw people busy in the kitchen.

"Teacher Akimiya?"

The person wearing an apron printed with the image of Chizuko Kamano, the female lead of "Attack No. 1," and skillfully flipping a wok, is someone you'll always unexpectedly run into again.

"Ah, it's Higashino-kun." Akemi Akemi turned around. "Wait a moment, the food will be ready soon."

"Why are you here?" The art class is nearby, and the Akimiya family should own property.

“I’m the homeroom teacher at Yoshiwara-sou,” Akemi Akemi said with a smile.

Today, she prepared rice as her main dish, along with beef stew with potatoes, hamburger patties, and miso soup.

The aroma of meat was irresistible, and Higashino Hibiki's appetite was whetted. Together with her, they set dinner on the table, and Hibiki asked regretfully, "Didn't you make fried fish?"

"Is my fried fish really that delicious?" Akemi Akemi said, hands on her hips, quite pleased with herself.

"Yes, someone once said that if you want to win a man's heart, you have to win his stomach first. Ms. Akimiya has already won my stomach."

“Who wants to hold your heart…” Akemi Akemi retorted softly, blushing.

……

"Welcome, Akimiya-sensei!"

"cheers!"

"Takagi-senpai, move your beer away!"

At the dinner table welcoming Akemi Akimiya, Kiko Takagi, in her smugness, even brought out beer, which greatly displeased Chiharu Minami.

"Okay." Senior Takagi put down the beer bottle in frustration, picked up a Sprite and gulped it down, treating it as if it were alcohol.

"It's so delicious!" Yoshii Yamahisa's eyes lit up, and he picked up another piece of beef with his chopsticks, savoring it carefully.

"Ah, really?" Nan Qianchun covered her face, her eyes glazed over. In her mind, she seemed to see cows running in the first rays of morning sunlight.

"It's so tender and springy. The juices are locked inside, and when you take a bite, the rich and mellow flavor explodes in your mouth. It's such a treat... I give up." Nan Qianchun said dejectedly.

As a cook, she found that her culinary skills were inferior to those of the Imperial Palace, and her professionalism was in crisis.

"Thank you for your compliments," Akimiya said happily.

At Yoshiwara-sou, she didn't see herself as a teacher, but as a friend.

It's just like being with Hibiki Higashino.

only……

She glanced at Higashino Hibiki, who was engrossed in eating, and swallowed.

"I'm done. You can continue."

Higashino stood up; he had no time to waste.

I have a month to complete a short story of at least 60 pages!

"Higashino, do you need any help?" Yoshii Yamahisa finished his rice in a few bites and looked at him sincerely. "You seem to have something on your mind."

“Not now,” Hibiki Higashino replied. “I will speak up when the time comes.”

Yoshii Yamahisa: "I'll be waiting."

Before leaving, Higashino Hibiki turned back and glanced at Akemi Akemi, giving her a look.

Akemi Akemi, who was enjoying her meal immensely, froze. She looked around, then finally pointed to herself.

Higashino nodded.

She thought for a while, then pretended to suddenly understand and gave Higashino Hibiki a thumbs up.

Did she understand?

Hibiki Higashino was still thinking about this problem after returning to his bedroom.

Only after the manuscript paper was laid out on the table did he calm his mind and, after recalling the "Hikaru no Go" anime in his mind, begin to draw the storyboard.

……

Twenty days passed in the blink of an eye.

Hibiki Higashino brought his short story "Hikaru no Go" to Shueisha.

Looking down at the tall building, he took a deep breath and went inside.

"Hello, I'm looking for Mr. Sasaki from the editorial department of Weekly Shonen Jump. I've already spoken to him by phone."

"Please fill out the visitor form, and I will notify him."

After communicating with the receptionist, Higashino Hibiki filled out the visitor form and was then led to Room 3 to wait.

After an unknown amount of time, Higashino Hibiki, who was resting with his eyes closed, smelled the rich aroma of coffee.

After opening his eyes, Sasaki Naoki placed two cups of coffee in front of the two of them and looked at him seriously.

"Your dark circles are quite severe. You need to take breaks when drawing comics."

"Yes, I will." Higashino nodded and handed him the short story "Hikaru no Go".

Sasaki took it, raising an eyebrow. "There are two styles. Did you find an assistant? No wonder it was so fast."

Higashino Hibiki's brow twitched; she hadn't come even in the dead of night. Growing impatient, he knocked on the door, only then realizing who she was.

"So you wanted me to help you, huh?" she said proudly. "Please, beg me."

Wearing a light gauze nightgown, Akemi Akemi puffed out her chest, her nose almost pointing to the sky.

Hibiki Higashino's experience as an assistant to Akira Toriyama allowed her and Akemi Akimiya to work together very well, and her strong drawing skills made their work even better.

So Hibiki Higashino could only plead, "Please, Akimiya-sensei~"

He pinched his tone, giving Akemi Akimiya goosebumps.

"Okay, okay, I promise you."

They met secretly every night, and Higashino Hibiki drained her dry so that he could complete 60% of the manuscript in 20 days, exceeding expectations.

After patiently reading through it, Sasaki Takashi patted the table and said, "This is the one! I'll submit it for you."

Chapter 24 Nomination

On October 8th, Takeda Fuyumon visited Toriyama Akira's home.

"Is it about the Tezuka Award?"

Akira Toriyama led him to the study and casually asked him a question.

He was a judge on the Tezuka Award judging committee and was responsible for scoring the awards.

His final evaluation is very important.

“Hmm,” Takeda nodded. He was Akira Toriyama’s editor, chubby, and the prototype for Fat Buu.

"However, I have some thoughts about Dragon Ball that I'd like to discuss with you first."

Compared to the "Tezuka Prize", the Dragon Balls are obviously more important.

It wasn't until half an hour later that Takeda was satisfied.

Akira Toriyama, however, had lost interest; his initial passion had been completely exhausted over the years of serialization.

Now it's out of necessity, and out of professionalism as a cartoonist, that I'm creating this for the readers.

He'd rather see newcomers' work than Dragon Ball.