Full-time comic artist

After wandering around the neighborhood for a while, it was around ten o'clock.

Nanase came again, driving her car.

"Get in the car."

The destination is the heart of Mount Mano, the palace of the mini-kingdom.

We'll be there in about ten minutes.

After passing through the gate of "Mano Royal Palace", the Higashino couple saw the main body of the palace in an open area.

"Hmm, how should I put it?" Higashino Hibiki pondered, "It's very much like a kindergarten."

The superstructure looks like a monster, painted green, while the main building below is colorful and vibrant, making it very popular with children.

“I totally agree,” Nanase nodded as she parked her car and walked over. “But don’t tell Chairman Kadota, okay? This is one of his proudest creations.”

"Of course."

Many people entered the "palace" intermittently. Inside, there was a stage, tables and chairs, and a second-floor viewing platform, which was very professional.

"Oh, Mr. Higashino, you've arrived." The chairman was putting on his clothes at the door, including armor, a cotton robe, and a crown.

"Very handsome." Higashino Hibiki gave a thumbs up.

Chairman Kadota smiled. "Of course. The performance is about to start, so you can look around first."

"it is good."

There are many memories here, and on the wall, there are posters documenting the development of the Manoyama Mini Kingdom.

Starting with Chairman Kadota and a few others, the number of tourists exceeded 10 in a year.

"10? That's impressive. It must have been quite an achievement."

Akemi Akimiya was also looking at stills from the past.

Suddenly, she saw a familiar figure. It was her father, Mr. Akimiya.

"Huh?" Akemi Akemi exclaimed in surprise.

In one photograph, Mr. Akemi stands to the right of the throne, a gentle smile on his face. To his left is a woman who looks very much like Akemi Akemi, gazing tenderly at her.

The young girl sat on the throne, wearing a crown, and was very happy.

“I’ve been here before.”

She herself had no recollection of it. If Mr. Akimiya hadn't been there, she definitely wouldn't have recognized herself as the 3 or 4-year-old girl in the photo.

"Where? Where?" Higashino looked over. Akemi Akemi had chubby cheeks when she was little. "Miss Akemi, you were so cute when you were little, like a porcelain doll. But it's really hard to get used to seeing your father's smile from back then."

“What do you mean, ‘you’? It’s us.” Akemi Akemi rolled her eyes at Hibiki Higashino.

"And this person..."

“It’s my mother,” Miss Akimiya said with a nostalgic tone.

She stroked the photo, her gentle smile towards Akimiya's mother carrying a mixture of unfamiliarity and longing.

"As far back as I can remember, I have no impression of my mother, only her photos. My father always had a stern face."

Hibiki patted her shoulder, offering silent comfort.

Nanase looked over and said, "Is this Akemi-neechan? What a coincidence."

Not long after, the performance officially began.

"Citizens of the kingdom, never forget that once, this land was ravaged by demonic beasts, and only the legendary Holy Sword could defeat them. But no one could draw the Holy Sword..."

Chairman Kadota drew the holy sword and brandished it in a performance.

Despite the clichéd story, Akemi Akemi watched it very attentively, perhaps in an attempt to recapture childhood memories.

Kadota was completely absorbed in his performance; he drew his holy sword and slew the demons, one, two...

He became increasingly excited.

The townspeople in the audience began to whisper among themselves, clearly impatient.

They must have watched it many times already.

at last……

"Next, we will hold the coronation ceremony!" he said.

Higashino looked up and saw that the throne was empty.

I don't know where the new king is.

Chairman Kadota walked slowly towards Higashino Hibiki.

He looked at Nanase beside him with a puzzled expression.

“It’s to give the guests a performance opportunity,” Nanase explained.

Higashino nodded.

Akemi Akimiya is deep in thought.

Higashino took her fingertips, walked past Chairman Kadota, and led Akemi Akemi to sit on the throne, while he stood to the side, watching Chairman Kadota's surprised gaze.

"Huh?" Akemi Akemi exclaimed softly, "What's wrong?"

“It helps you recall your childhood memories,” Higashino Hibiki’s lips moved slightly, “It recreates the scenes.”

Chairman Kadota had no choice but to bite the bullet and perform.

He came to the throne and handed over the cotton robe and crown.

Higashino Hibiki draped a cotton robe over Akemi Akemi's shoulders and placed a crown on her head.

"I hereby bestow upon you this crown, which serves as proof of the kingdom!"

The performance ended amidst applause from the townspeople.

"Finally, there's a different storyline."

"I didn't fall asleep this time."

Higashino heard the complaints of the town's residents and saw Chairman Kadota's awkward smile.

Not long after, only Hibiki Higashino, Chairman Kadota, and Akemi Akemi remained in the palace.

Even Nanase was drawn to the curry rice being distributed by the tourism association at the entrance.

Chairman Kadota took off his armor and finally sat on the steps, taking off his boots.

He complained to Hibiki Higashino, "You're really something, messing around."

Akemi Akemi said, "It's all my fault."

Hibiki Higashino placed his hand on Akemi Akimiya's shoulder and walked over to Kadota's side. While looking at his slippers, he said, "Chairman Kadota, do you know my profession?"

Kadota paused.

"really."

Hibiki Higashino reminisced.

When they first arrived at the inn, Chairman Kadota was already waiting for them.

Although there are few tourists in Mt. Mano, it is because it is the off-season.

The total number of tourists throughout the year is over 1.

There's no need for me to come here specifically to investigate for myself and Akemi Akemi.

Not to mention the personal tour guides and performances that follow.

The curry distributed at the entrance is also an expense.

Chapter 238 The Influence of "Slam Dunk" on Kamakura

"We've been found out." Chairman Kadota sighed as he sat on the steps. "As expected, the more you do, the more mistakes you make."

Manoyama is his hometown and the place where he has worked all his life. He believes that the charm of Manoyama can attract Tori Akino in the future.

In the end, it was because he cared too much and wanted to leave a good impression on Akino Mirai, so he made special arrangements to promote Akino in his works, and now it has been discovered.

“Chairman Kadona,” Hibiki Higashino sat down next to him and asked curiously, “How did you recognize me?”

Cartoonists are not celebrities, just creators. Readers don't care about their lives; they simply enjoy the works they create.

Akira Toriyama and Oda are able to live like normal people.

Most of Higashino Hibiki's loyal readers don't know what he looks like.

Kadota was surprised, "You don't know your own influence..."

……

This is the Enoden train. Riko Kuraki sits on the train, enjoying the scenery outside the window as it sways.

This water, this blue sky, is her long-lost hometown.

It's late September now, the off-season for tourism.

To her surprise, there were many people on the Enoden, and most of them were young people.

They said, "We have to take the Enoshiro at least once."

"So this is the Enoden."

Hearing these words, Kuraki Riko felt confused. Was there something special about the Enoden?

She doesn't understand.

Upon arriving in Kamakura, many people hurriedly disembarked, while Kuraki Riko, who had been longing for her hometown, was the one left behind.

"A lot of people..."

When she arrived at the station, her mouth dropped open. When she returned to her hometown in 1997, there were only a small fraction of the people she saw today.

"What's going on? Is this a concert? How could this be?"

Kamakura is a small city with a permanent population of only 18. Even though it is a historical city, it is impossible to hold a large-scale concert in Kamakura.