Full-time comic artist

“Thank you,” Higashino Hibiki looked at him with satisfaction. “Odagiri, no, Odagiri Honinbo, it’s a pleasure to meet you.”

“Teacher,” Odagiri looked up, “you can just call me Odagiri.”

Higashino Hibiki shook his head. "You have fulfilled my dream, and I am very grateful to you. To achieve the highest honor in Japanese Go at the age of 19, you must have worked very hard. You have truly endured a lot."

That was the path of Go that he himself had given up. With Odagiri able to become the "Honinbo," Higashino Hibiki has no regrets.

After all, the person in front of him was Odagiri, who was influenced and inspired by him.

“Teacher, Higashino Hibiki-sensei…” Odagiri’s eyes were slightly red.

Just then, someone patted him on the head and said, "Really, what's there to cry about in such a lively time?"

He is Xiaochun.

There was another person beside him, his wife.

"You're one to criticize him? Didn't you also shed tears of joy when you saw Odagiri become the 'Honinbo'?"

Xiaochun, enraged and embarrassed, retorted, "You woman, what nonsense are you spouting?"

The atmosphere became much more lively as soon as he appeared.

Hibiki Higashino was delighted. "Uncle Koharu, it's been a long time. Thank you for coming all this way to my wedding."

Koharu glared at Higashino Hibiki, "Don't be so formal. I'll definitely come to your wedding."

"Yes, I'm sorry."

After chatting for a while, Higashino Hibiki walked towards the others with a smile.

There is Shinoda, a 4th dan; Yamazaki, a 2nd dan; and Director Endo Tetsuya.

There is Asahina Yuko, Minami Chiharu, and Hanacho, among others.

There's Yahagi, there's Sasaki Hisashi, and there's Torishima Kazuhiko.

It features Morimichi Yamamura, Eiichiro Oda, and Akira Toriyama...

“Teacher Toriyama,” Hibiki Higashino walked over.

……

Akira Toriyama felt uneasy facing Oda's intensely aggressive gaze.

When Higashino Hibiki walked over, he felt a great weight lifted off his shoulders and quickly went to greet him.

"Oh, it feels like just yesterday that you and Akimiya were my assistants."

“Toriyama-sensei, it’s been a long time,” Higashino Hibiki said, shaking his hand with excitement. “I have so much to say to you.”

The longer it gets, the more he wants to confide in someone.

“Then let’s wait until after your wedding, otherwise it will delay your wedding.” Akira Toriyama smiled. “Actually, I also want to talk to you about Slam Dunk and Millennium Actress, especially Millennium Actress.”

When he watched "Millennium Actress", he was shocked by Hibiki Higashino's growth.

Only someone with a wealth of life experience can create such a comic.

Torino Mirai is only 23 years old, so where did he get these feelings from?

But upon further reflection, Akino Mirai has been drawing manga for six years.

These are all valuable experiences.

With a genius like him, it's possible that he could have drawn something like "Millennium Actress" when he was drawing inspiration.

"Let's talk later, we'll get together again." Akira Toriyama slipped past Hibiki Higashino and sat down at the editor's table.

Seeing this, Oda thumped his hand in disappointment.

Higashino Hibiki couldn't help but smile.

This fanatical fan of Oda scared his idol.

Masashi Kishimoto was much more honest and only asked for an autograph.

but……

"Will there be another gathering?" Hibiki Higashino asked doubtfully. "Is Toriyama-sensei planning to attend next year's New Year's party?"

He didn't think about it much; the wedding was about to begin.

Higashino Hibiki expressed his gratitude to his friends and family present and then prepared to return backstage.

Just then, someone stopped him.

"Teacher Toriakino".

It's Kaede Inoue, the director of "Slam Dunk".

Hibiki Higashino smiled broadly. "It's Director Inoue! You must be tired from your work. The latest anime is really interesting. Is there anything I can help you with?"

Inoue Kaede wanted to ask Hibiki Higashino about the end of "Slam Dunk," but when she saw the smile on Hibiki's face, she was taken aback and murmured, "Happy wedding."

Hibiki Higashino replied, "Thank you."

Watching Higashino Hibiki's departing figure, Inoue Kaede felt a great sense of relief.

……

What did you just say?

Hibiki Higashino and Akemi Akimiya sat in the center of the stage, with flower baskets in front of them.

Akemi Akemi was able to ask in a low voice.

She wore a pure white wedding dress, symbolizing a once-in-a-lifetime commitment to fidelity.

She was beautiful enough on her own, but with her exquisite makeup, sacred wedding dress, and hair pulled back with white butterfly hair accessories, she became even more radiant and captivating under the lights.

Akemi Akemi was tilting her head and whispering to Hibiki Higashino under the blessing gazes of everyone.

"Yes, they're all people I haven't seen in a long time." Higashino Hibiki turned to the side, his lips moving slightly. "I'm quite emotional right now."

“Well,” Akemi Akemi wanted to say.

Higashino Hibiki shook his head slightly.

Kazuhiko Torishima walked up to the microphone.

"I am honored to officiate this wedding."

"Higashino-kun, Akemi-san, congratulations on your marriage!"

Applause erupted from the audience.

Masashi Kishimoto muttered under his breath, "Mr. Torishima officiating the wedding, how enviable."

He didn't encounter Oda's situation and had great admiration for Torishima Kazuhiko, who had discovered Akira Toriyama's work.

"I want to be like that from now on!"

Chapter 235 Embarrassment and Manoyama

"In the summer of 1993, I unexpectedly saw a shortlisted work in the Weekly Shonen Jump Manga Awards, titled 'The War of Gods and Humans'."

"Ugh, it's really a very ordinary work. The plot is nonsensical, the paneling is terrible, and I can't connect it to any specific battle scenes. The battle ends after just one shot. Also, there's a lot of text, which is very annoying to read. The character close-ups are awful and all the same. You could say that apart from the good artwork, 'War of Gods and Humans' is a completely worthless comic."

Torishima Kazuhiko kept talking, spitting everywhere, getting more and more excited, while Higashino Hibiki's face grew darker and darker.

My embarrassing past was told in public, and I couldn't stop it. I really wanted to dig a hole and crawl into it.

Akira Toriyama grinned from the audience. He had seen "The Battle of Gods and Men," and thought it was much worse than his debut film, "Rayjack."

This disciple grew stronger and stronger, and gained status, so it was rare to see him in distress anymore.

Yamamura Morimichi pricked up his ears and listened very attentively.

The editor-in-chief of Bird Island suddenly brought this up; could the author of "The War Between Gods and Men" be...?

He suddenly felt an urge to laugh out loud.

“That’s right, just as everyone thought,” Torishima Kazuhiko said with a smile, “The author of ‘The War Between Gods and Humans’ is none other than Torishino Mirai.”

"Huh?" Everyone exclaimed in surprise.

This is Akino Mirai.

Feeling questioned, Torishima Kazuhiko stubbornly insisted, "The War of Gods and Men is Torishima Akino's debut work."

He took out a file folder, pulled out a manuscript, and read it aloud.

"No..." Higashino Hibiki instinctively reached out a hand, trying to stop him.

Akemi Akemi pressed down on Higashino Hibiki's arm to quiet him down, while simultaneously pricking up her ears to listen curiously.

She didn't even know about this comic.

Torishima Kazuhiko began in a tone as if reciting poetry, "Kurata Issei, you are the savior of mankind. The destiny to defeat the gods rests in your hands. Heaven and earth bear witness, I..."

Higashino felt a chill run down his spine. He covered his ears and buried his head in the flowers.

"Pfft." Akemi Akemi covered her mouth, unable to suppress her laughter.

The guests in the audience also chuckled quietly in a friendly manner.

The atmosphere at the scene was joyful.

Eiichiro Oda gaped, "So even Akino-sensei has mediocre works?"

Masashi Kishimoto clenched his fists, seemingly lost in thought.

"Hahaha." Yamamura Morimichi laughed heartily.

The sound was so loud that it reached Higashino Hibiki's ears.

Higashino looked over angrily and realized that Yamamura Morimichi was doing it on purpose; he was venting his frustration.

Who knows the suffering of the mountain village?

He had been suppressed by Tori Akino Mirai ever since he started drawing manga, and he couldn't see any hope of winning.

"Hikaru no Go" and "Slam Dunk" are works that he can only dream of, and the recently concluded "Millennium Actress" completely surpasses him in terms of artistry.

Yamamura Morimichi wanted to let out a long sigh.