Full-time comic artist

Page 279

This was clearly her hometown, yet Kuraki Riko felt only a sense of wonder about it.

Pulling her suitcase, she hurried home.

After lunch, Kuraki Riko said to her mother, "I'm going to school!"

She was referring to Kamakura High School, of course.

She had missed her alma mater for a long time, and she always dreamed of the croquettes next to the school.

"Don't eat near the school..."

Before leaving, Kuraki Riko vaguely heard her mother say this. She didn't take it to heart and quickly skipped and hopped to Kamakura High School.

The croquette shop is still open, but the prices have doubled.

She bought a serving despite her heartache and ate it as she walked to the school gate.

"I really miss it," Kuraki Riko mumbled wistfully.

Especially at Kamakura High School Station, the sky is as blue as ever, the sea is as green as ever, and there is a clear boundary between the sea and the sky.

Nearby, the tram slowly pulled in, passed the pedestrian crossing, and then gradually disappeared into the distance.

"The scenery is still the same as before."

only……

"Why are there so many people?!"

Kuraki Riko took a bite of her crepe and stared blankly at the scene before her, where countless people were taking pictures, crowding the two-way street.

They kept saying "Amazing!" with smiles on their faces, as if they were on a pilgrimage.

Kuraki Riko asked in confusion, "Huh? What's going on?"

……

Hibiki Higashino looked at Chairman Kadona and asked in surprise, "My influence?"

“Yes,” Chairman Kadota nodded, “It can be called a legend in the tourism industry. One work has boosted the number of tourists.”

“Is that so…” Hibiki Higashino shook his head. “I draw sports manga.”

Chairman Kadota praised, "That's even more impressive."

……

What Chairman Kadota was referring to was Kamakura.

Kamakura already attracts many tourists, but most are history enthusiasts. Thanks to the popularity of the anime "Slam Dunk," young people have also become familiar with this small city.

"This is the gate where Sakuragi Hanamichi and Haruko waved goodbye during the opening theme of 'Slam Dunk'! Ah! I'm so excited!"

A beautiful woman jogged past Kuraki Riko toward the gate.

"Ah."

Then another deep voice rang out.

Kuraki Riko looked over and saw that the newcomer was over 190 cm tall, with strong muscles, fiery red hair, and especially the number 10 basketball jersey he was wearing.

"This is... Sakuragi Hanamichi!"

"The level of accuracy is really high!"

"So handsome!"

Good luck in the game!

The crowd cheered, and many people took out their cameras to ask for photos.

This place was originally just an ordinary intersection, but now it has become a carnival for Slam Dunk fans.

"Oh, I see." Kuraki Riko said in realization.

She also really enjoys watching "Slam Dunk," and the Ryonan basketball team is even modeled after Kamakura High School. She understands the fans' feelings, but...

"That's really amazing!"

The feeling of seeing a scene that I used to take for granted has become a holy place sought after by countless people. It's really hard to express.

"The people there."

Kuraki Riko heard someone speaking, seemingly to her.

She hesitated, then turned around and pointed to herself.

“That’s right!” The speaker was a high school student with an armband on his shoulder that read “Student Affairs Office.” “Please do not eat here.”

"Why?" Kuraki Riko stuffed the rest of the croquette into her mouth. "There wasn't this rule before, was there?"

In high school, after school, she and her friends would each take a croquette and eat it as they walked, sometimes exchanging flavors. That was her youth.

"Before?" The student's expression softened somewhat. "Are you a local?"

“It’s your senior.” Kuraki Riko crumpled the croquette wrapper into a ball, wrapped it in toilet paper, and then put it in her pocket.

"Oh, I'm sorry, senior!"

The junior bowed deeply and then explained, "Because the Slam Dunk anime is so popular, many people come to the school gate to visit, which is affecting our normal high school life. So the student council president asked us to maintain order."

“That makes perfect sense.” Kuraki Riko nodded as she took out her camera from her pocket and started taking pictures of the scene, as usual.

“This…” The junior’s expression turned strange.

“It’s a very memorable occasion,” said Riko Kuraki.

“The school has two rules,” the junior student scratched his head, “such as not eating while walking at the school gate; and it’s dangerous to gather and take pictures at the railway crossing, so don’t take pictures, etc…”

"Uh..." Kuraki Riko stammered, completely flustered.

The junior student tried to smooth things over for her, saying, "It's just a suggestion, not a prohibition or restriction..."

Kuraki Riko nodded quickly, exclaiming, "Slam Dunk has such a powerful influence!"

……

"I really don't know," Higashino Hibiki shook his head.

After Chairman Kadota said that, Higashino Hibiki quickly took out his phone and called Sasaki.

He recounted what happened.

Sasaki said, "I am aware of this matter, but it's nothing serious, so I didn't inform you."

"So, should we make a statement?" Higashino asked, "to remind readers to be mindful of their personal etiquette and not to cause any negative impact on the local area."

Sasaki replied, "I did try to persuade them in the June 1998 issue of Jump."

"Huh?" Hibiki Higashino asked, not paying attention.

"This is the editor's job. Toriakino-kun, you don't need to waste your energy on this. Just relax and enjoy your trip."

Sasaki was as reliable as ever.

"Thank you, Mr. Sasaki."

Hibiki Higashino hung up the phone.

Jump is indeed a professional.

Chairman Kadona stood up, dusted himself off, and asked, "Is it anything serious?"

This was a big deal for him; a comic book boosted tourism in an entire region.

The result was a minor matter for Jump and for the manga artist.

“Fine, I won’t interfere with your trip anymore,” Chairman Kadota realized. “I should let you see the real Manoyama, the Manoyama I’m so proud of.”

He walked toward the curry stall by the door. "It smells so good, I'm so hungry."

“Chairman Kadota,” Higashino called out to him.

"what's up?"

Thank you for your hospitality!

"I hope you feel at home." Chairman Kadota gave a thumbs up.

……

Akemi Akemi, wearing a crown, sat on the throne and remained silent for a long time.

Hibiki Higashino waited quietly.

After a while...

“I think I remember,” Akemi Akemi looked at Hibiki Higashino, her eyes glistening with tears. “When I was little, I came to Mount Mano with my parents. There were so many people there. I was chosen to be the king. I was so happy…”

"How could I forget? Such precious memories..."

Hibiki Higashino pulled her into his arms. "Congratulations, Akemi."

Ten minutes later, Nanase returned carrying two plates of curry.

There were curry marks on the corner of her mouth, and Higashino snapped his fingers.

"Where?" Nanase stuck out her tongue, explored her lips, and licked it into her mouth. "The curry is delicious! Akemi-neechan, come and eat!"

"Mm." Akemi Akemi took off her clothes and nodded.

……

After finishing their curry, Nanase took the Higashino couple for a stroll around Mount Mano.

There is a cherry blossom pond.

However, the cherry blossoms did not bloom because it was the wrong season.

There is a cliff overlooking the entire town.

There are windmills turning in the wind, and meadows full of wildflowers.