Full-time comic artist

After drying Hibiki Higashino's hair with a hairdryer, Akemi Akemi felt drowsy. She yawned and prepared to go to bed.

Higashino Hibiki lost all interest in sleeping and lay down beside her, smiling as he watched her sleeping face. Not long after, he also fell asleep.

……

The next morning, the newspapers published articles about friendly exchanges between China and Japan. Higashino Hibiki also saw an article written by a stranger he knew, Mr. Akimiya.

He highly praised this point and encouraged Sino-Japanese exchanges.

It is said that the two countries used to be close neighbors separated only by a strip of water, but due to issues with Japan, they ended up in discord.

Japan should take the initiative to admit its mistakes and compensate China, etc.

In Japan, literary creators are more often left-leaning, including novelists and manga artists.

Within this circle, there's nothing wrong with Mr. Akimiya holding this attitude.

Higashino Hibiki had an even better impression of his father-in-law.

With graduation approaching, meeting my father-in-law has become an unavoidable event.

Seeing Mr. Akimiya's position, Higashino Hibiki felt a little relieved.

……

After reading the newspaper, Higashino Hibiki's phone rang, the impatient ringtone urging him on.

"Tori Akino-sensei! Did you go to the New Year's party? Did Toriyama-sensei go to the New Year's party? Oh dear, I was busy drawing manga and didn't have time to go. Damn it!"

As soon as the call connected, a barrage of urgent questions followed.

Before Hibiki Higashino could speak, Oda continued, "I'm so damn stupid, can't I just put the manga on hold for a bit?"

A groundhog's roar came from the other side.

Hibiki Higashino didn't say a word.

He placed his phone on the table and waited quietly for Oda to finish venting.

Three minutes passed before the phone finally went silent.

"Are you done talking?"

“Hmm,” Oda said pitifully.

"Teacher Toriyama did come and was even planning to ask you for an autograph, but unfortunately you weren't there, so he was a little disappointed."

The sound of collapse came from the other end of the line, and it seemed to be getting worse. Higashino Hibiki quickly hung up the phone.

"You little brat, huh? You're making me bother you so early in the morning," Higashino said, squinting.

He hadn't been gloating for long...

“Your graduation project is too slow. Hurry up, hurry up,” Akemi Akemi urged.

There are only two months left until graduation from university, including spring break.

Higashino Hibiki doesn't have enough time.

She didn't want the person she spent every day with to not even be able to graduate.

“I’m going to change the subject of a Ukiyo-e print,” Hibiki Higashino suddenly said.

He thought about it and realized that the ukiyo-e print about change couldn't represent his current feelings.

"Huh?" Akemi Akemi was surprised. "Change it now? It's too late. You told me not to worry about it so much."

As a traditional Chinese painting teacher, she was worried about Higashino Hibiki's academic progress.

"You've already submitted your resignation, so stop lecturing me like a teacher," Higashino Hibiki said helplessly.

“I am still your teacher.” Akemi Akemi said earnestly.

“Okay,” Hibiki Higashino said, expressing his opinion.

The new painting he wanted to create depicted a group of soldiers marching to the right, with a progressive young man in white crossing to the left.

“No problem,” Akemi Akemi said supportively, “This is it.”

So afterwards, Higashino Hibiki was drawing manga during the day, and Yoshii Yamahisa and Akemi Akemi were both busy with graduation, leaving only Higashino Hibiki and Tanakai working.

At night, he would also paint that "Intertwined" ukiyo-e print.

The progress of "Millennium Actress" had to be paused.

By February, this hectic period of rushing to meet deadlines had finally come to an end.

"It's all because you're too demanding, Mr. Akimiya." Higashino Hibiki shook his head. He had a traditional Chinese painting teacher by his side, who was also the daughter of a master of ukiyo-e. She couldn't stand the flaws in Higashino Hibiki's paintings and made him make constant revisions.

"Isn't it great now?" Akemi Akemi looked at the painting with satisfaction.

She also painted one, and she especially liked it.

Chapter 213 My dream is to make your dream come true

Hibiki Higashino successfully graduated, and his ukiyo-e work, titled "Interlacing," was recognized by his mentors.

"It's a very well-finished work."

They were actually a little surprised, thinking that as long as they completed the task seriously, they would get Higashino Hibiki approved.

Unexpectedly, this busy cartoonist actually took a lot of time to draw his graduation project.

Seeing his dark circles, the teachers couldn't help but smile.

After it was over, a 63-year-old professor named Chunping came over.

He always taught with a stern face at school, and even at the art school, he still strictly required attendance.

"Tori Akino-kun, there's something I'd like to ask you."

Upon hearing his title, Higashino Hibiki understood that it was related to his identity in the manga industry.

"Teacher, you're too kind. Please go on."

“That’s actually the case,” the elderly professor said somewhat embarrassedly, “My grandson really loves Slam Dunk and always asks for your autograph…”

Higashino readily agreed.

Professor Chunping is a very old-fashioned person. The reason he asked his students for autographs was for his most precious grandson.

Back in the dorm, upon hearing Higashino Hibiki's description, Akemi Akemi gasped in surprise: "I really want to see what happened back then, it's unimaginable."

“Grandpas always love their grandchildren, it’s the grandparents’ love for their grandchildren,” Higashino Hibiki had a sudden inspiration. “If Mr. Akimiya doesn’t agree to you marrying me, then let’s get married because you’re pregnant.”

"What nonsense are you talking about?" Akemi Akemi angrily punched Higashino Hibiki.

"Pfft." Higashino Hibiki almost spat out a mouthful of blood.

"I was just joking," Higashino Hibiki said in a muffled voice, rubbing his chest.

"I'm sorry, it was just a subconscious reaction." Akemi Akemi moved closer to Higashino Hibiki's chest, her soft hand touching his, and asked carefully, "Are you feeling unwell?"

"Of course I'm fine," Higashino Hibiki said, hugging her tightly.

Just then, the living room door opened and Yoshii Yamahisa walked in. He looked up and saw Akemi Akemi leaning against Higashino Hibiki, her face flushed, stroking Higashino Hibiki's chest.

At first glance, it looks like a couple enjoying each other's company.

"I'm sorry, I've come at the wrong time," Yoshii Yamahisa said awkwardly.

He turned and left the living room.

Akemi Akemi separated from Hibiki Higashino as if she had been electrocuted, her earrings turning bright red.

Higashino complained, "Honestly, this kid hasn't come to work for days, and he comes in and bothers me as soon as he does."

“Yoshii-kun seems to have something on his mind,” Akemi Akemi said to Higashino Hibiki after a moment of calm. “He’s about to graduate, I wonder if he’s decided on a job yet.”

Higashino suddenly realized, "Yes, they've already graduated."

Yoshii Yamahisa started drawing manga for himself when he was a senior in high school, but five years have passed, and now that he is no longer a student, he has to go his own way.

Hibiki Higashino walked out of the living room and then out the front door, where he saw Yamahisa Yoshii leaning against the railing in the corridor.

The other person had their head down, seemingly lost in thought.

"Yoshii-kun, are you free?"

Yoshii Yamahisa was startled. He looked up abruptly and asked, "Higashino-kun, what are you doing out here?"

"I'd like to talk to you."

Higashino was filled with emotion.

Yoshii Yamahisa has always referred to himself as "Higashino," and rather than as "Tori Akino Mirai," he is on good terms with "Higashino Hibiki."

Serving as his assistant was his way of helping as a friend and thanking himself when his father went bankrupt.

He is indeed a very good friend.

But how to say it?

It's time to say goodbye.

"Thinking back on it, we've known each other since our first year of high school, and now we're about to graduate from university. Time really flies," Higashino Hibiki remarked.

“Yes,” Yoshii Yamahisa smiled, “When I entered Yoshiwara-sou in my first year of high school, I wanted to become good friends with Higashino-kun.”

"The friendly, humble, and gentle Higashino-kun is the Higashino-kun that everyone likes."

That was the original owner's Hibiki Hibari, a beauty from all directions, who was friends with many people, interacting with them cautiously and carefully trying to guess their feelings.

Being friends with someone like that is truly like basking in a spring breeze.

Yoshii Yamahisa continued, "Although your personality is different now, I still admire Higashino-kun for his hard work in pursuing his dreams."

That afternoon, Yoshii Yamahisa opened up, revealing words he had suppressed for a long time.

"Among the people around me, Ms. Asahina's dream is to become a director, Mr. Nishimura went to Hokkaido to study agriculture, Mr. Kitamoto studied law at the University of Tokyo, and Mr. Higashino, needless to say, became a manga artist."

"Only I followed the path my father had chosen for me, pursuing advanced studies in the field of fine arts."

"I don't dislike art, but I wouldn't say I like it either. As for finding a profession I truly love, there isn't one."

"So I have no dreams."