Full-time comic artist

Although they are often immature, they have a sense of novelty.

Perhaps it can provide some inspiration.

“You’ll be very surprised,” Takeda chuckled. “This time, there’s a particularly brilliant comic that was created by a seventeen-year-old boy. It might just make the cut.”

Only one spot will be selected, which is equivalent to winning the championship.

Below that are preliminary selections and outstanding works, with the number of nominations varying.

For five consecutive years, across ten Tezuka Awards, no work has been selected.

"Seventeen? That makes me even more interested."

Akira Toriyama thought of someone.

"You'll see my work on Jump!"

I once said this after missing my assistant for a month.

"No, no, no, it won't be that fast, it'll only be a month!" He shook his head, incredulous.

"what?"

"It's nothing, just let me take a look."

Takeda handed him twelve photocopied manga volumes.

The editorial team selected outstanding entries from hundreds of submissions, which were then judged by the reviewers.

These twelve works were selected from the preliminary rounds and shortlisted entries, each with its own merits.

He first took out a manga called "Hayabusa" and patiently began to read it.

A dozen minutes later, he breathed a sigh of relief.

"These newcomers these days are really amazing."

After carefully considering his thoughts, he wrote his evaluation in the evaluation section of the file folder for "Hayabusa".

Artwork: 3.5/10. The movements and expressions are stiff, and the drawing style is more like sketching, failing to express the exaggeration and imagination of comics. It is recommended to study the comics of Hirohiko Araki and not be bound by common sense.

Plot: 4 points. The story is very interesting, with a beginning and an end that echo each other. The ending is even more unexpected. I look forward to the author's future works.

After Hayabusa, I didn't stop and continued to watch many other works.

There were also quite a few works that met the criteria for selection and were considered excellent, so it seems to be a fruitful year.

I haven't seen any of the selected works yet.

"Hikaru no Go..."

When Akira Toriyama received this manga, his heart skipped a beat.

"Yes, this is the comic!" The idea popped into his mind.

He took a deep breath, exhaled, and regained his composure. He calmly took out the comic book and looked at the first page. His pupils involuntarily contracted.

"This comic is!"

……

After school, Higashino Hibiki stood in the corridor, looking up at her exam results.

One month into the new semester, Yan Yan High School held a school-wide diagnostic test, and the results have now been released.

There are 124 students in the second grade.

There are 24 students in the art department and 100 students in the general department.

"Hey Higashino, how did you do? I came in 36th!" Nishimura said proudly, patting him on the shoulder from his right.

Hibiki Higashino, who is in art class, doesn't have much time to study. Although he tries his best, his grades are always in the 40th-50th place.

It's already considered a rare exception in the art department.

"Higashino, you're amazing!" Kitamoto, standing on the left, looked at the rankings and exclaimed in surprise, "You're only 26th! I didn't expect you to improve so much."

"Didn't you also go from being in the top 20 to seventh in the grade?" Higashino asked rhetorically.

Of the three, Kitamoto had the best results.

During summer vacation, Hibiki Higashino gained another soul, becoming a gifted test-taker in the small town.

My memory has greatly improved; I can memorize textbooks after reading them two or three times.

High school math problems are quite simple. Once he's familiar with them, he can solve them easily.

If it weren't for the fact that he hadn't focused on his studies because of drawing manga, Higashino Hibiki believed that getting into the top three this time would have been no problem.

But North Honda is strange.

"You two are too cunning! You must have studied hard during the summer vacation!"

Nishimura stared in disbelief at his two companions, realizing that he had unknowingly fallen behind.

"You're just too playful." Kitamoto said speechlessly.

"I don't care! I don't care!"

The two started arguing as usual, which Higashino Hibiki found annoying.

"If only it could stop."

Thinking this, my ears suddenly became quiet.

"Higashino-kun, you've made great progress, keep it up!" encouraged homeroom teacher Matsuzaki. "But don't forget art either."

It turned out to be the teacher.

"Yes."

After the teacher left, Nishimura shouted, "If someone improves to the top ten, quickly treat Higashino and me to ramen!"

“Yes…” Kitamoto lost interest.

He stared at Matsuzaki's retreating figure, lost in thought.

"Oh! Higashino, let's go get ramen after school. Kitamoto just said he's treating." Nishimura said, sounding like he'd won a victory.

Just as Higashino was about to agree, he saw Akemi Akemi beckoning to him from around the corner like a lucky cat.

Higashino burst out laughing.

"Excuse me, I have something to do this afternoon, I'll be going now."

"Then there's nothing we can do."

……

Rooftop.

There was no one else on the rooftop after school.

In front of the barbed wire fence, Higashino faced Akemi Akemi, whose face was flushed red.

She lowered her head, wanting to say something, but couldn't open her mouth.

"Dong... Dongye-kun... I have something to tell you, and you have to promise me you won't get excited."

"How could I not be excited!" Higashino Hibiki was very excited.

Miss Akimiya, has this happened? Have you developed feelings for each other over time?

Don't be shy, just say it.

What a genius-level brain battle for confession! It's utterly foolish!

"You know?" Akimiya raised his head. "Then I'll just say it directly."

"Mmm." Hibiki Higashino was very expectant.

"Hikaru no Go short story has been shortlisted for the Tezuka Award!" she shouted, eager to see Hibiki Higashino's excited reaction.

This must be an overwhelming emotion, as intense as a volcanic eruption.

Higashino Hibiki was stunned. "Huh? That's it?"

He felt disappointed and listlessly watched downstairs as his classmates left the school.

"You didn't understand?" Akemi Akimiya asked in surprise. "Akira Toriyama said that he saw 'Hikaru no Go' among the shortlisted works. You have a very good chance of getting an honorable mention or being shortlisted! This is a rare honor."

"Mmm." Higashino Hibiki nodded. "I know."

That's all, just making the shortlist.

"But isn't this just common sense?"

Chapter 25 Toriakino Mirai

on Monday.

On his way to school, Nishimura casually bought a copy of Weekly Shonen Jump.

After reading his favorite comics, he would spend his free time looking at other information.

Recently, we received notification of the shortlisted works for the "Tezuka Award," which includes comments from the judges, including his favorite manga artist, Akira Toriyama.

"It's a shame that Akira Toriyama isn't participating in the show."

Wanting to better understand the authors behind the works, he patiently looked at the works shortlisted for this year's "Tezuka Award".

"The Hummingbird and Info The Blue have both received very high ratings."

After looking through them one by one, he suddenly froze. "Hikaru no Go, author Toriaki Mirai, 17 years old, Tokyo..."

Rubbing my eyes, I exclaimed, "She really is only 17! I've never even heard of someone who's 20! It's unbelievable!"

He looked at the comments and said, "The entire judging panel gave it a high rating. The comic's content is coherent from beginning to end, with just the right amount of detail. The artistry is excellent, with a Dragon Ball style. The artwork is clean and pleasing to the eye."

"Wow, amazing!" Nishimura blinked. "Both the content and the artwork received high praise! It's even better than other works. Am I witnessing history again?!"

None of the authors selected for the Tezuka Award are under 25 years old, let alone 17.

"A genius! A genius that comes along only once in a century!"

"It's a pity that the work will not be published, it's such a shame."