Full-time comic artist

Full of enthusiasm and energy.

Higashino nodded. Although he was a recent graduate, looking at this group of energetic students, he could still feel the youth and vitality of Shueisha.

"Editor Sasaki, I'm so sorry to bother you!"

A student came up to Sasaki and bowed.

“You are…” Sasaki hesitated. He hadn’t met these students today, but had only heard about them, yet they recognized him at a glance.

"Oh, I'm so sorry, I was being presumptuous."

The student had medium-length hair, a slender build, and a fashionable air about him, yet he was very polite and respectful.

"My name is Koji Yoshida, and my dream is to become an editor."

"I had heard about Editor Sasaki's achievements long ago. You joined Jump only six years ago and became the vice editor-in-chief of Jump. You were Mr. Tori Akino's editor and worked with him on works like 'Hikaru no Go' and 'Slam Dunk'. That's really amazing."

Chapter 222: Time is running out for Higashino Hibiki.

Koji Yoshida claims that he will graduate in two years and his dream is to become an editor at Jump.

With Yoshida studying at Tokyo Gakugei University, it's quite possible that she'll become an editor at Jump.

Cartoonists are sometimes like students, needing the care and guidance of teachers.

"Hmm." Sasaki nodded.

As the deputy editor-in-chief, and future editor-in-chief, having subordinates who are passionate about comic book editing is truly a wonderful thing.

He went through the same thing back then.

He admired Yoshida Koji, who, despite his excited expression, remained calm at this moment.

Just then, Sasaki suddenly heard Akino Tori ask Koji Yoshida, "Do you really like manga?"

Yoshida looked at Higashino Hibiki and seemed to recognize him for a moment.

Yoshida's fingers trembled slightly, but he remained calm and quickly replied, "I really like manga, and I also like soccer and basketball."

The atmosphere suddenly felt like a job interview.

"So, if—and I mean if," Higashino Hibiki asked, squinting, "what a manga artist wants to do conflicts with the interests of the editorial department, what would you choose?"

"After all, someone who likes comics is very likely to act on emotion."

Sasaki was surprised; he hadn't expected Higashino to start chatting with the young man in front of him.

Torino Mirai is not a troublemaker.

Koji Yoshida thought for a while; the question was indeed sharp.

Conflicts may arise between cartoonists and editorial staff. What should the editors do then?

“I will be the one to make the adjustment,” he said after a long pause. “It is the editor’s responsibility to prevent the cartoonists from seeing me as an enemy, and that is my first priority.”

"Sometimes, the creative party is easily swayed by emotions, and is also sensitive and fickle."

"So at that time, I will make my own judgment on the actual situation."

Make your own judgment? That means it will harm Jump's interests.

Sasaki was right beside him, yet he told the truth.

Koji Yoshida is very bold.

Sasaki remained silent, his face grim.

"So, one day, if you think the problem lies with the Jump editorial department, will you side with the manga artist?"

This is something even Kazuhiko Torishima couldn't achieve.

The end of Dragon Ball was delayed again and again because of him.

“That’s right,” Koji Yoshida nodded and smiled. “Of course, I’ll try to convince the manga artists first. I think the teachers are pretty easy to talk to, hahaha.”

Hibiki Higashino smiled and said, "I look forward to you becoming an editor at Jump."

This guy is quite interesting.

"Yes!" Yoshida said loudly, then realized that he was in a public area, looked around cautiously, and shrank back.

“Yoshida-kun,” Sasaki suddenly spoke up, “once a manga artist publishes their work in Jump, that manga no longer belongs to them alone. I hope you can remember that.”

His tone was cold and heavy.

Koji Yoshida grinned and replied softly, "Yes, I understand."

It was only then that he realized that Sasaki Takashi's words meant that he approved of him becoming an editor at Jump.

At this moment, with an excited heart and trembling hands, he really wanted to cheer loudly.

That's what Sasaki thought. In the editing profession, the most important thing is communication with the manga artist; it's the prerequisite for the job.

With a personality like Yoshida Koji's, it seems like he'll have no problem becoming a bridge between manga artists and the editorial department.

Jump doesn't need editors who stick to the rules; Sasaki Takashi is looking for someone with their own ideas and creativity.

However, after he graduates, Sasaki will still have to consider Yoshida Koji's abilities.

……

Hibiki Higashino was preparing to say goodbye to Koji Yoshida, and his companions were getting impatient.

"Tori Akino-sensei, you must be Tori Akino-sensei!"

After the conversation ended, Koji Yoshida became excited, stepped forward and grabbed Hibiki Higashino's clothes with an expression of admiration.

“It’s me, that’s right,” he seemed like a completely different person. Higashino Hibiki silently shook off his hand, took a step back, and nodded.

"I really like Slam Dunk!"

Unexpectedly, Koji Yoshida went a step further; he seemed to have lost his mind.

This person was just responding very politely, and now they've become a brainless fan.

"I started liking basketball because of 'Slam Dunk.' This manga brought me a lot of new experiences!"

"Calm down first," Higashino Hibiki coughed lightly.

"Hold... I'm sorry."

Koji Yoshida swept his hair back and became fully awake.

"I've been thinking, if I were your editor, in charge of 'Slam Dunk,' how far would I go?"

"In the end, I found that this work was very difficult. The character descriptions were consistently good, the plot was reasonable, and it also conveyed the spirit of youth, hard work, and struggle. It was full of passion and also had some thought-provoking aspects."

"It has no weaknesses and obvious strengths."

"From another perspective, I like Slam Dunk even more, and I also understand how great you are, teacher."

Koji Yoshida explained.

"So I'm not a die-hard fan."

He nodded.

Higashino believed him; after all, he spoke with such sincerity.

It has nothing to do with how seriously he praised it.

“You’re absolutely right,” Hibiki Higashino said. “I understand you now.”

Sasaki frowned.

He couldn't understand it, but he was deeply shocked.

Koji Yoshida touched his chest and said, "Actually, it's not just 'Slam Dunk,' I also really like 'Hikaru no Go.' The later plot really suited my taste."

"In short, I admire Mr. Tori Akino very much!"

He bowed deeply, so deeply that his hair covered his face when he stood up.

"Thank you," Hibiki Higashino said earnestly. "I hope to see you again in the future."

“Yes, that’s the sentence,” Koji Yoshida clapped his hands and took out the autographed copy. “Please sign this for me, teacher. Just write ‘See you again in the future!’”

Higashino Hibiki agreed.

Afterwards, he and Sasaki watched Yoshida Koji's departing figure, and he shrugged and said, "Yoshida-kun is very interesting."

Sasaki agreed.

"However, he's also a problem child."

They could still hear the teasing voices of Yoshida Koji's companions.

"Yoshida, you were being too humble just now."

"He even said, 'I really admire Mr. Toriakino!' Hahahaha."

"Stop nagging!"

Hibiki Higashino and Kanji Sasaki: "Youth is still beautiful."

……

Springtime has passed, and the peak season for cherry blossoms has ended.

A man stood at the subway entrance, glanced at his watch, and waited anxiously.

That day, editor Sasaki approached him and said, "Tori Akino Mirai-sensei is about to start serialization, and we hope you can be his assistant!"

He was overjoyed, quit his job at the convenience store, and came here immediately.

This is Tori Akino Mirai! I should be able to learn a lot from him.

He left his hometown at the age of twenty to work hard in Tokyo, hoping to become a manga artist. Now he is thirty years old, and this may be his last chance.

"I wonder what kind of person Tori Akino-sensei is?"

Not long after, someone found him.

"Hello, are you Mr. Omori?"

His tone was friendly, and he used a respectful term of address, so he seemed to be a good person.