Full-time comic artist

Spirited Away, released in 2001, was a groundbreaking animated film.

"What nonsense are you talking about?" Sasaki suspected the child had gone mad.

"I was just joking," Hibiki Higashino replied.

Higashino Hibiki is still in the mood to joke, which means he's fine.

Sasaki then hung up the phone.

"Your grades are terrible?" Akemi Akimiya asked.

"Yes," Higashino Hibiki nodded, "The preliminary results are third place."

Akemi Akemi understood; she had expected this.

"Millennium Actress" is a thankless and laborious work.

However, she did not stop it, because the work was indeed wonderful, and it would be a pity not to draw it.

A manga artist doesn't necessarily have to create works with a wide audience. Yoshihiro Togashi's "LEVEL E" is an example of this.

Before he knew it, Hibiki Higashino had reached the same level as Yoshihiro Togashi and Akira Toriyama.

……

Friday.

Under the blazing sun, 19-year-old Odagiri, wearing a suit, was riding his bicycle and was covered in sweat.

The annual Honinbo Tournament has begun. Last year, Odagiri entered the round-robin stage but ultimately lost to Cho Chikun 9-dan and failed to win the Honinbo title.

He's still working hard this year, and he just finished today's competition.

On his way home, while waiting at a traffic light, he saw two high school students wearing basketball uniforms and holding basketballs next to him.

"Slam Dunk is getting more and more interesting! I can't wait for the match between Shohoku and Sannoh!"

"Yeah! Sannoh is amazing! It's going to be a fantastic match!"

Odagiri smiled, but quickly suppressed it.

He was already nineteen years old, but still hadn't received the "Honinbo" title.

As someone who has followed in the footsteps of Hibiki Higashino in the world of Go, I must possess this supreme honor!

He broke down in tears after his final defeat last year.

It's painful to let a dream slip through your fingers.

Hibiki Higashino is also looking at his own failure.

The thought of this brought tears to his eyes.

"But Akino-sensei's 'Millennium Actress' is so boring."

"It's beautifully drawn, but I can't get into it."

The green light came on, and the high school students left, leaving Odagiri standing there, stunned.

"Millennium Actress..."

Is this a new work by Tori Akino? It seems to have been met with a lukewarm reception.

He rode his bicycle home quickly and found the Jump magazine he had bought on Monday.

"Ah, I knew it."

On the cover, he saw the name of Tori Akino Mirai.

Sitting on the sofa with a bottle of mineral water beside him, he quietly watched "Millennium Actress".

After a long pause, he was conflicted. "It's a good film, but I don't really like it."

It's not a Jump-style manga.

Just like how Natsume Soseki's "I Am a Cat" is highly praised and has great literary value, but Odagiri prefers to read Yamamura Morimichi's "The Sun Murder Case".

The latter is certainly not as good as the former, but for Odagiri, it is indeed more interesting to read.

So now, he can understand the value of "Millennium Actress", but he can't get into watching it.

I imagine most readers think the same way.

“What a pity,” Odagiri shook his head, “He has devoted himself to Go since he was 13 and has a low level of education. “I can’t understand the manga he draws with such care.”

"Tori Akino-sensei must be feeling terrible right now."

……

Higashino squinted and swallowed the watermelon that Akemi Akemi fed him with an "ah".

"So icy, so sweet."

This year's watermelons are exceptionally delicious, but they're so expensive.

"Can we make shaved ice?" Hibiki Higashino asked again with great interest.

When he was little, he often watched the anime "Chibi Maruko-chan".

In one episode, during the hot summer, Maruko's family gets an ice shaver, and they all make ice together.

He looked at it with great longing and wanted to try some too.

It's like when he watched "Doraemon," he really wanted to eat dorayaki.

Although the dorayaki tasted ordinary, he still wanted to try the shaved ice.

Paired with watermelon, it tastes absolutely amazing.

"Ugh, you're so annoying." Akemi Akemi was speechless. He always had demands. Marrying a young man was such a hassle.

"Okay, okay, I'll go buy an ice shaver tomorrow."

Seeing Higashino Hibiki's longing gaze, she said helplessly.

"Big sister, you're so kind," Higashino Hibiki said with a bow of gratitude.

Akemi Akemi shivered. She took a deep breath and asked in a trembling voice, "Have you sent out all the wedding invitations?"

"Of course I sent them out." Higashino Hibiki puffed out his chest and said very proudly, "I sent them all to my email after I finished writing the invitations on Monday. My friends in Tokyo should have received them by now, but those in other places will need a little longer."

Curious, he asked, "Why are you asking this?"

Akemi Akemi gritted her teeth, "Of course I regret it."

It's a pity it's too late.

……

After Hikaru no Go ended, Odagiri rarely read Weekly Shonen Jump anymore. However, he still maintained the habit of buying it.

He had just finished watching "Millennium Actress" and was feeling regretful when the doorbell rang.

"Hello, are you Mr. Odagiri?"

The other party was a postman.

“Yes.” Odagiri nodded.

"Here is your letter. Please sign for it."

With some doubt, Odagiri stamped the email with his own seal and received it.

"A letter from Hibiki Higashino? What could it be about?"

Aside from the occasional phone call, they haven't seen each other for a long time.

If it requires sending emails, then it must be very important.

Odagiri quickly opened the envelope and saw a wedding invitation.

"Hibiki Higashino is getting married on September 24th this year!"

"That's great news!"

A smile bloomed on his face, but it quickly faded, replaced by a determined expression.

"See you again, Hibiki Higashino, on September 24th! I'm determined to become the 'Honinbo'!"

At the same time, many people received invitations to Higashino Hibiki's wedding.

In Tokyo, Kitamoto began his internship, a demanding profession for lawyers. It wasn't just about legal texts; he also had to learn how to deal with people.

Learn to conduct investigations and visits.

After so many days, his feet had developed calluses.

Compared to all that, feeding the president's hamster is much easier.

He found a letter in his mailbox as soon as he got home.

"Higashino is getting married!"

"That's really unexpected, he actually has a girlfriend?"

"The woman is..."

"Akimiya Akemi-sensei!"

Kitamoto's eyes widened.

Hua Chao works as a physical education teacher at a high school.

His 195cm height, handsome appearance, and aloof personality have earned him a large following of female fans.

"Doesn't Ms. Hanacho laugh?"

"He never even smiled when he saw his girlfriend."

"I really want to see Ms. Hanacho's smile!"

Several young girls were on the second floor, resting their chins on their hands and peeking at Hua Chao, occasionally letting out silly laughter.

"So handsome."

A little while later, a school staff member delivered a letter to Hua Chao.

After he opened it...