Full-time comic artist

"So he drew Sailor Moon. Oda-sensei is so mischievous, hahaha."

"So, Akino-sensei doesn't like Naoko Takeuchi?"

Many people realized that the gossip they were talking about was wrong.

Oda continued, "In 94, editor Sasaki contacted me and asked if I wanted to work as an assistant at Tori Akino Studio, and I agreed without hesitation."

"Why?" the host asked.

He was somewhat helpless; Oda was focused on his own topics, so he could only delve deeper into this story.

“Because Akino-sensei is Toriyama-sensei’s assistant,” Oda said happily. “Even if I can’t become Toriyama-sensei’s assistant, it would be great to be his assistant’s assistant.”

Chapter 197 Please say, I was wrong

Oda has revealed himself to be a die-hard fan of Akira Toriyama.

“When I was little, I loved Disney animation. But one time, I happened to see the second volume of Dragon Ball and was deeply impressed. It was just as good as Disney animation, and that's when I got the idea to become a comic artist.”

The host nodded, "Dragon Ball is a classic, and I especially loved it when I was a child. Akira Toriyama left many children with wonderful memories."

Many people can release the Kamehameha, and the combined movements always bring a knowing smile to everyone's face.

That's the charm of Dragon Ball.

“Right, right?” Oda was particularly excited. “Because of this, I joined Akino-sensei’s team.”

He talked about Hibiki Higashino's teachings, and the Easter egg about One Piece in Slam Dunk during his time as an assistant.

"Ah, the teacher is really kind, he doesn't mind at all." Oda said with a smile, resting his head on his hand.

"Wow! That's quite unexpected news!" the host exclaimed. "So, there's a connection between One Piece and Slam Dunk. One Piece fans of basketball games? That's really surprising!"

"Hahaha." The two of them laughed.

Not long after.

“That’s why,” Oda’s expression turned serious, “I really liked Sailor Moon for a while, so I drew it in the background of Slam Dunk.”

"I'm so sorry for causing the teacher so much trouble!"

He stood up and bowed, his expression very sincere.

After he explained it that way, the audience understood.

"So, it turns out that Ms. Tori Akino isn't a sister complex after all."

"We misunderstood."

Higashino Hibiki's reputation was restored.

but……

"I don't believe it! I don't believe it!"

"A Torino Akino-sensei who isn't a sister-complex isn't the real Torino Akino-sensei!"

It doesn't seem to be much better.

“Oda-sensei is so sincere, Hibiki Higashino-sensei must be very moved,” the host coughed twice and changed the subject, asking, “The first volume of One Piece has been on the market for a week, and sales have exceeded 30 copies, which is a remarkable number.”

"Yes." Oda nodded honestly.

The next part of the program promoted the One Piece manga, so Hibiki Higashino turned off the TV.

Akemi Akimiya blinked at him and said, "Congratulations on being exonerated."

"It's all because of you," Higashino Hibiki said speechlessly.

My sister complex and my liking for Naoko Takeuchi are all because of "The Garden of Words".

It's really strange that a young manga artist would suddenly start drawing romance manga.

There's no reason why I would rashly draw this.

"It's all because I like Ms. Akimiya too much," Higashino Hibiki sighed.

Akimiya Akemi's face turned red.

……

Sakuragi Hanamichi has always been resentful about losing to Hainan.

In the final moments, he passed the basketball to Kazuma Takasago of the Hainan team, which directly led to Shohoku's defeat, and Sakuragi was heartbroken.

He has a strong sense of self-esteem and a growing passion for basketball, so he can't get over that hurdle.

None of his teammates said anything to him, but that made him even more upset.

Mei Higashino stared wide-eyed at the latest chapter of the manga.

To punish himself and apologize, Sakuragi shaved his head, leaving only stubble, drastically changing his appearance.

Mitsui and Miyagi couldn't help but burst into laughter, and Sakuragi's gang also rushed over to mock them.

But amidst the ridicule of others, Sakuragi Hanamichi appeared increasingly composed.

This is a hilarious plot, but to Mei Higashino or other readers, it represents Sakuragi Hanamichi's transformation; starting with shaving his head, he became a true basketball player.

For a moment, reading it evoked a sense of emotion.

"The delinquent Sakuragi Hanamichi has now become the basketball player Sakuragi Hanamichi."

Just like when Sun Wukong came of age, the comic began to enter another dimension.

……

“Bald, huh?” Higashino Ichiro pondered for a moment, then nodded emphatically.

Higashino Shio smiled and said, "It's like something that child would do."

"Huh? What's wrong?" Higashino Mei asked, extremely curious.

She knew nothing about the past of Hibiki Higashino, the biker gang member, and Hibiki Higashino the bald.

The elder brother's imposing image was preserved.

Higashino Shio did not answer.

She glanced tenderly at Higashino Ichiro, "It really surprised me that Hibiki was so decisive back then."

“Yes,” Higashino Ichiro remarked, “He is, after all, a child of the Higashino family. Once he realizes his mistake, he will immediately correct it.”

Hibiki Higashino, a biker gang member, spent a month there; it felt like a dream, so unreal.

Mei Higashino urged, "Eh! What is it?"

She was very curious.

"The Chinese philosopher Yangming attained enlightenment in Longchang, and I suppose Higashino did the same thing," Higashino Ichiro concluded.

“Oh right,” Higashino suddenly remembered, “the calligraphy brushes I ordered are arriving soon, come with me to pick them up.”

"Hmm." Higashino Ichiro nodded.

The two of them stood up and walked towards the door.

Mei Higashino was furious, but dared not shout or scream; she could only rage inwardly.

"So what exactly happened! Why did you suddenly think of calligraphy brushes? I really don't understand!"

……

The year was 1998, and Hibiki Higashino spent the New Year in the midst of heavy snowfall.

"The weather is so bad, yet so many people still go to the temple to ring the bell." Higashino Hibiki watched the TV program, his hands and feet tucked into the kotatsu, somewhat unable to understand.

“After all, this only happens once a year,” Akemi Akemi said, carefully peeling off the white pith from the orange, leaving only the orange flesh, before putting it into her mouth.

"Mmm!" she groaned contentedly, a look of enjoyment on her face. "So delicious, sweet and sour!"

Snuggling up with your loved one under the kotatsu, watching TV, and eating delicious oranges is truly one of life's greatest pleasures.

But Hibiki Higashino had to get out of the kotatsu; it was almost time for him to attend the New Year's party.

"If it weren't for the fact that the editor would be punished if the writer didn't attend, I wouldn't bother going at all."

Higashino complained.

Akemi Akemi wrapped a brown scarf around his neck, smoothed out the wrinkles in his clothes, and nodded with satisfaction. "Go quickly, and come back soon."

“Yes,” Higashino Hibiki nodded.

A Toyota Crown was parked downstairs; it was the same model he bought for Higashino Ichiro.

The driver himself was standing outside the car, holding an umbrella and waiting.

Higashino glanced down the hallway and then hurried downstairs.

"Thank you."

"It's my duty," the driver said without changing his expression.

Forty minutes before the event was scheduled to begin, Higashino Hibiki arrived at the venue for the New Year's party.

Since 1993, the Shueisha New Year's party has always been held at the same hotel, so Hibiki Higashino is very familiar with it.

Having shed his initial awkwardness, Higashino Hibiki greeted the editors at the entrance and then entered the main hall.

A group of people surrounded Yoshihiro Togashi, teasing him.

"That's really bold!"

"This young man is really young," Hiroshi Motomiya said with a smile.

Togashi's face turned red, and he looked at a loss.

He usually stays in the background, and apart from achieving the goal of publishing a weekly magazine every month, he rarely becomes the focus of attention.

Everyone was pointing at Togashi's smiling face, which had a "relapse into his old illness" vibe.

Only Yamamura Morimichi looked at Togashi with admiration and longed for him.

Upon seeing Higashino Hibiki arrive, Togashi quickly squeezed out of the crowd and ran excitedly to him.

His enthusiasm flattered Hibiki Higashino. "Congratulations on finding your love."