Full-time comic artist

"Akemi-neechan really likes Manoyama." Nanase ran until her legs were about to break.

“Of course.” Akemi Akemi said enthusiastically, while Hibiki Higashino slumped to the side.

He really wants to go back to Nerima Ward right now. If WeChat steps counted, he's sure he'd be averaging over 50,000 steps a day.

This is much harder than drawing comics; at least it's your hands that get tired.

"Hey, Yui-chan," Akemi Akemi asked, looking at the camera, "Is there anything else unique to Manoyama?"

"Hmm..." Nanase Yui thought seriously, seemingly lost in thought, "Ah! There!"

She strode ahead, and Akemi Akemi followed.

"ring."

She turned around and called out to Higashino Hibiki.

"Yes, yes, I'm here." Higashino Hibiki mustered his spirits, used his willpower to control his limbs, and slowly caught up.

Fortunately, it wasn't far, and we arrived at our destination in ten minutes.

It is a small shrine, with a dusty shrine in the center.

Nanase explained, "Every year when the cherry blossoms bloom, the 'Dragon Girl Festival' is held at Mount Mano, which is very lively. However, with the decrease in tourists over the past ten years, the 'Dragon Girl Festival' hasn't been held much, so I didn't think of it at the moment."

She searched carefully, but the golden dragon statue and the jewel were gone.

"This is how our Manoyama has fallen into decline," Nanase said sadly.

Thinking about the current desolation and recalling the bustling "Dragon Girl Festival" in her memory, her words were full of regret as a resident of the town.

Looking at the dust-covered shrine, Higashino Hibiki repeatedly said, "What a pity."

Akemi Akemi didn't say anything, but took pictures with her camera.

Then she picked up the booklet and wrote down everything Nanase had said.

The next day, escorted by the tourism association, the Higashino couple boarded the train home.

“I want to draw a manga,” Akemi Akimiya said to Hibiki Higashino.

"It's probably a manga depicting the events of Manoyama," Hibiki Higashino guessed.

“Hmm,” Akemi Akemi looked back and saw Nanase still waving, “I’ve never felt this urgent before.”

"Aside from my first submission, this is the moment I'm most confident about. I think I can make it through serialization."

“Then draw it,” Hibiki Higashino encouraged. “I believe in you, Ms. Akimiya.”

Even if she lacks talent, Hibiki Higashino firmly believes that Akemi Akemi, who has been working hard for it, can be serialized.

There will come a moment when I will produce a work that is worthy of being serialized.

When the short story "Hikaru no Go" won the Tezuka Award, this was what Hibiki Higashino thought.

Nothing has changed.

Now, it's Akemi Akemi's time.

He said, "Please let me do my part."

Since their second year of high school, Akemi Akemi has always helped Hibiki Higashino, and now Hibiki can repay her.

“Okay,” Akemi Akemi smiled, “but first we need to finish the storyboard.”

"come on!"

……

After returning home, Higashino Hibiki collapsed to the ground, not wanting to move at all.

He was even more exhausted.

Akemi Akemi put down her luggage, tidied herself up briefly, and then went to her work desk, took out a piece of paper, and started drawing with a pencil.

She was very inspired and worried that she would forget.

"You're really working hard."

Higashino Hibiki struggled to his feet.

It's four o'clock now, almost six o'clock in the afternoon, and he needs to prepare dinner.

He became the man behind manga artist Akemi Akimiya.

He went to a nearby supermarket to buy groceries, and on his way home, he ran into Kyoko Akagi and Hana.

"How did you end up here?" Hibiki Higashino asked in surprise.

Kyoko Akagi replied, "Of course I came to see you."

This is Nerima Ward, and their home is in Shibuya, which is quite far away.

"Is there something you need?" Hibiki Higashino asked hurriedly.

Unless it's something important, Hua Chao won't bother her, especially since she's just gotten married.

Hua Chao shook her head.

“It’s nothing, I just wanted to give you a gift,” Kyoko Akagi said with a smile.

She took out a photo album from her backpack, which was labeled Kamakura.

"These are photos we took while traveling in Kamakura. They might be useful to you," she said.

"Thank you." Hibiki Higashino accepted it.

It's summer in Kamakura, and the photo is a gift from a female college student; there are many different angles of the scenery.

Chapter 239 Thank you for letting me know.

Higashino Hibiki stared at the photo, noticing countless readers taking commemorative photos at the gate of Kamakura High School. He was momentarily stunned.

"So it really turned out like this."

Young tourists can also be seen in other parts of Kamakura.

The influence of "Slam Dunk" on Kamakura has been astonishing.

"Thank you so much," Higashino Hibiki carefully put the photos away. "You've been a great help."

"You're too kind," Kyoko Akagi cheerfully patted Hibiki Higashino on the shoulder, "Just keep drawing Slam Dunk. Don't go on hiatus again, okay?"

When she said her last words, she leaned close to Higashino Hibiki with a dangerous expression.

Then he said kindly, "I've been waiting for ages."

Hua Chao nodded in agreement.

Hibiki Higashino: "..."

After exchanging a few more words about their current situation, Higashino waved goodbye to them.

On his way home, he remarked with emotion that his high school classmates were all on the right track now.

Some became teachers, some became zookeepers, some became lawyer trainees, and some achieved great success.

"It's so nice, right now."

……

In the evening, neither Hibiki Higashino nor Akemi Akemi had any appetite, so he simply made mung bean porridge and stir-fried shredded potatoes.

When Higashino woke up the next day, his whole body ached, but he didn't have time to relieve the pain. By eight o'clock in the morning, his assistant had come to work.

He and Akemi Akimiya quickly got up.

Higashino Hibiki had just brushed his teeth and washed his face when Omori arrived with breakfast.

"Teacher Toriakino, these are steamed buns that I queued up for a long time to buy. Eat them while they're hot, they're delicious."

Taking advantage of Higashino Hibiki's wedding and honeymoon, Omori rested well for 5 days and looked radiant and full of energy.

"it is good……"

Higashino Hibiki replied listlessly.

"Teacher, what are you doing?" Omori hesitated for a moment, then joked, "Even if you've just gotten married, you should still be careful to be moderate."

Higashino looked up and glared at him, then took out a steamed bun.

What kind of filling is this?

"Pork and scallions."

Higashino nodded; he never tired of this combination.

He hadn't eaten steamed buns in a long time, and he was looking forward to it.

However, after taking a bite, Hibiki Higashino didn't get any filling.

"This can happen with steamed buns too."

He comforted himself and took another big bite. He had only chewed twice when Higashino looked up.

He stared blankly at Omori, "..."

"What's wrong, teacher?" Omori asked with concern.

“It’s nothing…” Hibiki Higashino hesitated, looking at the steamed buns. “This one is pork and scallion, right?”

"Mm." Omori nodded.

Higashino Hibiki was speechless. "Then why is it sweet...?"

"It's sweet and delicious."

"Sigh." Higashino sighed, mentally prepared himself, and mustered up the courage to finish the bun in his hand. "Thank you, Omori."

"As long as the teacher likes it." Omori gave a thumbs up.

To Higashino Hibiki's surprise, Akemi Akemi was very receptive to the sweet pork and green onion buns, which may be due to regional differences.

Not long after, Tanaka arrived, bringing bread to relieve Higashino Hibiki's rumbling stomach.

“Hey…” Tanaka looked at Hibiki Hibari with longing eyes, “That’s my breakfast…”