Full-time comic artist

"Effortlessly? This is a color painting. Five weeks of color painting in a row, it's unimaginable, it sounds painful to me."

Yoshihiro Togashi grinned and nodded.

He couldn't even serialize "Hunter x Hunter" for five consecutive weeks, let alone draw colored illustrations. This is too arduous; there's practically no time to sleep.

He would only work so hard if he didn't want to live anymore.

Akira Toriyama: "There's nothing we can do about it. We were forced into this by that guy Kazuhiko Torishima."

"Sigh." Higashino Hibiki also sighed.

"You're not feeling well either."

"Yes."

When Torishima Kazuhiko was mentioned, the two men shuddered, and the atmosphere became tense.

The host couldn't help but ask, "What was the most enjoyable part of your comic drawing experience?"

Akira Toriyama replied, "Of course it was the third World Martial Arts Tournament. I was drawing the manga with great enthusiasm, thinking about finishing Dragon Ball."

Hibiki Higashino chimed in, "That part of the story was really exciting; I couldn't breathe while watching it. And then what?"

Akira Toriyama's expression turned bitter: "Piccolo Daimaō is my favorite character that I designed, so drawing him was a breeze. Those were happy times when I enjoyed drawing manga. Until Kazuhiko Torishima told me that I had to keep drawing."

He said, "Sun Wukong is invincible on Earth, and he can even draw aliens."

“Mr. Torishima is really going too far,” Higashino nodded. “But Frieza, the Emperor of the Universe, is also very well drawn, and the Super Saiyan is an ingenious concept.”

"The teacher used Goku's transformation under the full moon to make him a Saiyan. Everyone thought it was a logical and reasonable decision."

"If it were another comic artist who changed the basic settings, it would definitely make the readers very unhappy."

For example, replace the Gum-Gum Fruit with the Human-Human Fruit, Mythical Zoan type, Nika form.

"I'm talking about you."

Hibiki Higashino looked at Eiichiro Oda, who was standing in the audience looking like a clueless young man.

He sighed silently.

Chapter 243 Are you ready to end "Slam Dunk"?

There's nothing we can do about it.

Akira Toriyama sighed again.

He sighed when talking about Dragon Ball, so it seems that it really wasn't a happy time.

Hibiki Higashino agreed, saying, "Anyone would be exhausted if they drew a manga for too long."

Hearing him say that, Akira Toriyama looked up at Hibiki Higashino, his eyes gleaming.

He opened his mouth as if to ask something, but looking at the audience below, he pursed his lips again.

The host asked, "What part of 'Slam Dunk' did you enjoy most, Mr. Tori Akino?"

Higashino thought for a moment and replied, "It's about Mitsui Hisashi's story. I had a feeling that readers would really like his prodigal son's return, so I drew it with great enthusiasm."

Akira Toriyama nodded, "This is indeed a very exciting part of Slam Dunk, and it's the most smoothly plotted story I've seen in recent years."

"Thank you," Hibiki Higashino said.

"Coach, I want to play basketball!"

A cheer erupted from the audience, which was followed by rounds of applause.

"That's exactly the core of 'Slam Dunk'—striving, fighting, being positive, and keeping the passion alive within a limited time. That's why people, including myself, love it," Akira Toriyama said sincerely.

Higashino smiled shyly, "That's what I think too."

……

The meeting ended quickly, and although only two people were interviewed, the audience felt that it was not enough.

Backstage, Higashino got up, preparing to go find Akimiya and his daughter.

Akira Toriyama glanced around to make sure no one was beside him, and said quietly, "Are you planning to end 'Slam Dunk'?"

Higashino Hibiki was taken aback. He asked, "Why would you ask that, teacher?"

“Don’t answer questions with questions,” Akira Toriyama sighed. “Fine, I’ll just say it directly. I think you and I, who want to end Dragon Ball, have the same mindset right now.”

"I did my best to draw the manga to its fullest potential. The Sannoh storyline is where your drawing skills reached their peak, and the plot is also incredibly engaging, constantly highlighting the characters' strengths. It's just like when I drew the 'Third World Martial Arts Tournament'."

"Also, there's a hint of frustration in your tone about the long serialization. You've gotten this far, and now you don't want to continue drawing."

Hibiki Higashino nodded involuntarily, "Just as you said, I'm going to finish 'Slam Dunk'."

Akira Toriyama exclaimed, "You are indeed braver than me. You do what you want to do, that's you."

Due to various constraints, including those related to interests and emotions, he ended up drawing more and more plot points for Dragon Ball, making it increasingly resemble a scrambled foot.

Akira Toriyama was troubled for a long time by the fact that he could never draw what he wanted to draw, and it wasn't until 95 that he finally made up his mind to finish it.

Higashino Hibiki's ability to directly say no to the editorial department made him both gratified and ashamed of his own shortcomings.

Akira Toriyama looked at Hibiki Higashino with a smile, "You've always been like this, which I greatly admire. If I continue to serialize my manga in Jump, that admiration will turn into awe."

Not content with the status quo, they continue to climb even when they are at the top, never stopping.

"It was thinking of Akira Toriyama that made me decide to finish it," Hibiki Higashino said. "It was because of Akira Toriyama's example that I was able to move forward."

"Wouldn't it be great if we defeated Sannoh with all our might, only to be soundly defeated in the next match?" That's probably what you'd think, teacher.

Akira Toriyama nodded in agreement.

Hibiki Higashino continued, "So I made up my mind."

Akira Toriyama said, "I'm really looking forward to your next manga."

……

After saying goodbye to Akira Toriyama, Hibiki Higashino made a phone call and found Akimiya and his daughter.

"I'm sorry I'm late."

He apologized breathlessly.

“It’s okay, you’re doing this for work too.” Akemi Akimiya was very considerate.

Mr. Akimiya remained silent.

After a while, he said, "I should go home too."

"Won't you like to stroll around a bit more, Father?" Hibiki Higashino asked hastily.

Mr. Akimiya glared at him.

Akemi Akemi chimed in, "There are many more interesting places."

Mr. Akimiya looked at Akimiya Akemi, his expression softening: "No need, I'm out of touch, I don't appreciate these kinds of activities."

He refused Akemi Akemi's offer to take him home.

Hesitantly at the last moment, he said to Hibiki Higashino:

"Your painting is very good, I like it very much..."

After saying that, he disappeared swiftly, escorted by the person in charge.

Hibiki Higashino blinked. "Was I praised?"

He pointed to himself, realizing it only later.

“That’s right!” Akemi Akemi suppressed a laugh. “Your original manuscript won over my father.”

“The old gentleman is quite adorable,” Hibiki Higashino said.

……

Because he went on stage that morning, some people at the "Jump Festa" event got to know Hibiki Higashino.

In this venue filled with the atmosphere of Jump, Hibiki Higashino dared not move around freely, for fear of being recognized.

The scene was filled with Jump-style decorations, and even some of the amusement facilities had images of Luffy and Sakuragi on them.

The phrase "shoulder to shoulder, crowds of people" is an understatement.

Some people also gathered together to play Yu-Gi-Oh! cards.

This is a Nami cosplay, and over there are the Cat's Eye sisters in leather outfits.

Higashino Hibiki was itching to try it, but could only hide in a secluded place, unable to see the light of day.

Akemi Akemi said she would keep him company, but Hibiki Higashino told her to have fun.

While couples can certainly treat each other with respect, there's no need to be so overly polite.

Hibiki Higashino and the staff ate boxed lunches together. After 2 p.m., the book signing for "Earring" would begin.

After taking only a couple of bites, Sasaki answered the phone, adjusted his glasses, and said somewhat awkwardly to Higashino Hibiki, "We don't have enough time to arrange the signing ceremony; there are more people than we expected..."

"So?" Hibiki Higashino asked.

"Could you sign a portion of the collected volumes first?" he asked.

……

"Sister Mingmei."

Akemi Akemi stood under the large Blue-Eyes White Dragon model, in the most conspicuous spot in the venue, waiting for someone.

Not long after, someone patted her on the shoulder and called her name sweetly.

Akemi Akemi looked at her, "Yui, you've finally arrived."

"I'm sorry to have kept you waiting." Nanase Yui lowered her head.

“That’s not what I meant,” Akemi Akemi said. “If you had come any later, you would have missed the autograph session.”

"Luckily, I made it in time!" Nanase Yui raised her head, but quickly looked dejected again.

"I just missed the conversation between Akira Toriyama and Akino Toriyama, oh, what a pity!"

“That’s right,” Akemi Akimiya said with a smile, “It was a wonderful conversation that revealed a lot of interesting stories behind the manga.”