Full-time comic artist

On Wednesday, Akira Yamazaki arrived at Yoshiwara-so, bringing with him the game record that Hibiki Higashino wanted.

I heard it was decided in consultation with the teachers at the chess academy.

Higashino took a look and found it to be much more reasonable than the chess manual he had found.

After expressing his sincere gratitude, he lost three more games, allowing Yamazaki Akira to leave happily and triumphantly.

If you let her participate in a Go competition at this time, she will definitely be full of confidence and then suffer a crushing defeat of 2-16.

After all, it's understandable that one's skill level would decline after playing so many games with a terrible player like Higashino Hibiki.

Afterwards, Hibiki Higashino contacted Sasaki and revised his original drawing.

Sasaki was curious, "The readers don't understand it either, so why take it so seriously?"

"I hope that more than ten years from now, when people think of 'Hikaru no Go,' they won't say that 'Hikaru no Go' was just serious nonsense." Hibiki Higashino recalled an anime he loved as a child—"Go Master."

Heaven and earth are in perfect harmony, and the celestial demons are transformed.

It sounds incredibly powerful and awesome, making people's blood boil and unable to contain their excitement.

When I grew up, I realized that it was all fake, with special effects added.

That's not how you play real Go at all.

I immediately felt a little frustrated; it seemed that my childhood wasn't as wonderful as I had imagined.

"I hope that after readers learn about Go through 'Hikaru no Go,' they will still love the works they like."

"If Hikaru no Go were to continue serialization, it would only be canceled, not altered."

Sasaki looked at him with a complicated expression.

"That's wonderful, Higashino-kun. Remember this feeling, and never forget it."

Chapter 34: Meeting on the Serialization of "Hikaru no Go"

December 25th, Christmas Day.

Hibiki Higashino was in the dormitory living room.

Snowflakes were falling outside the window, and the atmosphere was still lively. Students loved celebrating Christmas the most, but Higashino Hibiki had no interest in it at all.

He looked up at the time; it was 6 p.m., and he became even more restless.

Today is Jump's serialization meeting, where they will decide which series will be discontinued and which will be continued.

Logically, there should have been a result by now, but Sasaki still hasn't informed them. This unusual behavior makes Higashino Hibiki nervous.

Akemi Akemi was watching a rerun of Tokyo Love Story when she noticed Hibiki Higashino's unusual behavior and turned off the TV.

She was actually quite anxious, and couldn't even get into her favorite TV series.

Life or death hangs in the balance at this moment.

She herself had no way to comfort Higashino Hibiki, because she understood all too well the importance of this moment.

The empty living room was so silent it seemed like you could wring water out of it; with the TV off, the only sound was the ticking of the wall clock.

"Hey, Higashino-kun, does Chiharu have to work on Christmas?" she asked.

Higashino forced a smile, knowing she was trying to distract him. "The hourly wage is three times the usual rate on Christmas Day, she can't bear to give up so much of her salary."

"She's working so hard."

"Nan is a strong person, which makes it impossible for me to feel pity for her."

“Yes.” Akemi Akemi nodded.

The room fell silent again.

Hibiki Higashino brought over a Go set and looked up to Akemi Akimiya, asking, "Do you know how to play Go?"

"My father taught me this when I was a child."

"Want one?"

"You have to let me have my way."

"Okay, I'll give you two coins."

……

The meeting room of the editorial department of Weekly Shonen Jump.

Four group leaders, two deputy editors-in-chief, and one editor-in-chief—seven people in total—are gathered around a table, discussing a resolution that will determine the fate of the cartoonist.

"Three works were cancelled, but four have been included." Deputy Editor-in-Chief Kondo, who was chairing the meeting, tapped the table in frustration, struggling with the decision.

“The Sun Murder Case must be kept; this is a collaboration with Bungei Shunju,” said team leader Masatoshi Takahashi.

This is a comic series that his editors are in charge of. As the team leader, he is responsible for his team members at this time.

He continued, "And the artist partnering with Yamamura is Arai, who has been serializing in Jump for ten years. His drawing skills are excellent, and he can perfectly capture the tension of a mystery novel."

Everyone lowered their heads, looked at the storyboard of "The Sun Murder Case" again, and nodded in agreement.

"As expected of Arai-sensei, his storyboards are excellent, and his work is mature and full of tension."

"This comic should definitely be serialized."

Masatoshi Takahashi sat down smugly.

His team definitely needs a masterpiece.

The Diablo series, which he was previously in charge of, was cancelled by Kazuhito Ogiwara.

Togashi has become lazy these days, and even wants to get published in a serialization just by using storyboards.

I don't know how much longer we can hold on.

He sighed inwardly.

“The other two comics shouldn’t have been rejected either,” said Watanabe, another team leader. “They are veteran comic artists, and their new works are the most presentable type of works. There’s no reason for them to be rejected.”

This afternoon's serialization meeting was unexpectedly difficult. Every work has its advantages, and it would be hard to abandon any of them.

So the discussion went on and on, and it was already seven o'clock.

Everyone's attention naturally turned to the last of the four parts.

A manga titled "Hikaru no Go".

Sasaki's heart sank, and he slowly said, "Hikaru no Go is an inspirational shonen manga that won the Tezuka Award. You may have some doubts because the author is a second-year high school student, but I want to clarify that he can balance his studies and serialization."

Kondo asked, "What evidence do you have to support your claim?"

"In addition to the storyboards submitted to the serialization meeting, Tori Akino Mirai also drew 10 chapters of serialization storyboards and has already completed the original manuscripts for 8 chapters." Sasaki lowered his head, and the light reflected off his glasses, making it impossible to see his expression.

"What!" Takahashi exclaimed in surprise, "Is it the same level as now?"

“No,” Sasaki shook his head.

Watanabe remained silent. "Then there's nothing to brag about."

Sasaki smiled and said, "It's even more interesting and exciting than the beginning. I think the later parts are what make 'Hikaru no Go' truly special."

"Oh?" Horie Nobuhiko couldn't hold back any longer. He looked up. "Do you really think so?"

“Yes.” Sasaki nodded.

The meeting was immediately filled with discussion.

"That's really amazing."

"Tori Akino Mirai may become the future of Jump."

"Hikaru no Go is just as good as the other three works. If it can be even more exciting... there is a need for it to be serialized."

Nobuhiko Horie tapped the table, and the conference room fell silent.

“There’s no need to choose the thorny path,” said Deputy Editor-in-Chief Kondo. “It can be serialized after college. If it’s a high school student, even small problems will cause public outcry.”

“Yes.” Masatoshi Takahashi nodded. “After all, he’s not an adult yet.”

“He just received the Tezuka Award nomination,” Watanabe hesitated. “When Yoshihiro Togashi was selected for serialization, three years had passed since he received an honorable mention. Isn’t it too hasty for Toriakino to not come after him?”

Sasaki felt a surge of irritation as he watched Horie Nobuhiko nod in approval.

"As long as a comic is interesting, it can be serialized!" he said. "This has always been my idea, and this is what I have put into practice."

Akino Toriyama is a genius, and it's not impossible for him to rival Toriyama Akira in the future. In my interactions with him, I've seen endless possibilities.

If we don't let him continue his serialization, he'll very likely go to another magazine, which would be the biggest loss for the editorial department in the 1990s.

At this point, he looked around, his tone firm: "Let him continue the series!"

The meeting room fell silent.

They never expected that Sasaki would value Hibiki Higashino so much.

They believe that Hibiki Higashino will become a pillar of Jump.

Horie Nobuhiko looked at his bespectacled subordinate and was slightly moved.

He knew Sasaki; he was always synonymous with reliability.

If what he said is true, then Tori Akino Mirai absolutely cannot be let go.

Even a ten million yen annual contract wouldn't be enough to get him to work for Sunday and Magazine!

“Let’s include it,” Nobuhiko Horie said. “Starting a serialization with high school students is a gimmick that can attract a lot of readers. Let’s give it a try.”

"Thank you, Editor-in-Chief." Sasaki breathed a sigh of relief.

He clenched his fist; he had finally passed.

"But..." Kondo said cautiously, "Only three works were canceled..."

“Then let’s cancel another work,” Nobuhiko Horie said resolutely. “Sasaki is right. If an interesting manga can be serialized, then let the mediocre be eliminated and the strong be promoted. The more new works that can be serialized, the better.”

Chapter 35 Signing the Contract

"Congratulations, Mr. Higashino."