Full-time comic artist

After all, the legendary work "Chibi Maruko-chan" is being serialized above it.

“RIBON’s content and target audience are closer to adults. On the other hand, inspirational manga like Sakura Quest, which tells the story of achieving goals through hard work, is more relatable to adults because of its bittersweet success,” Sasaki explained.

In other words, the appeal points resonate with the target audience.

Akemi Akemi remained silent for a long time.

Higashino squeezed her palm, and she belatedly nodded, "Of... of course."

……

While not as prestigious as Jump, Ribon is still a major magazine, and having your work serialized there is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Akemi Akemi agreed, and she made up her mind to start working hard on the serialization.

Become a cartoonist through serialization meetings.

Everything is moving in a positive direction.

"May I ask a question?" someone suddenly spoke up. It was Omori, his eyes wide and his lips tightly pressed together.

Akemi Akemi immediately said, "Please speak."

Omori's lips trembled as he made up his mind and asked, "Is 'Sakura Quest'... really a work by Mrs. Higashino?"

He suspected that "Sakura Mission" was an outline given to Akemi Akimiya by Hibiki Higashino.

"What are you saying?!" Tanaka shouted angrily!

Akemi Akemi waved her hand and answered very seriously, "Yes."

“Sakura Quest is not a manga in the style of Tori Akino Mirai,” Sasaki continued. “Moreover, if it were an outline by Tori Akino Mirai, he could have come up with a more interesting manga, a manga more suitable for Jump.”

"Omori-kun, please don't make a hasty decision." Sasaki's tone became more serious.

Omori's legs felt weak, and he sat down in a chair. He lowered his head and said, "I'm really sorry, I was just running away from myself."

He wiped his face, revealing a tired expression.

"Because you want to give up, you say that others won't succeed either."

"I am truly despicable."

……

The next day, Omori shaved and arrived at the studio full of energy.

"Oh dear, I've gained ten pounds in this period of time, and my belly is all flabby."

He patted his belly, making a crisp sound.

Tanaka didn't want to pay attention to him, so he snorted and turned away.

“I won’t be like before,” Omori clenched his fist, full of energy. “From now on, I won’t eat fatty meat, I’ll shower every three days, shave every day, and use my rest time to come up with new comics! I’ll be a young man chasing his dreams.”

"Ah~" Tanaka's jaw dropped. "A 30-year-old youth..."

Hibiki Higashino and Akemi Akemi arrived at the studio. Upon seeing the new face, Omori, Hibiki Higashino remained silent, while Akemi Akemi smiled and nodded.

Well, she was furious at being accused of cheating, but then she thought about it again and realized that it might also be a testament to her abilities.

After calming herself down, Akemi Akimiya felt her anger subside.

Omori quickly walked over, bowed, and said, "I was a jerk the other day, I'm really sorry."

"It's okay, you've already apologized, don't take it to heart." Akemi Akemi generously forgave him.

Several people sat at the work table and had been working for a while when Akemi Akemi said quietly.

"Mr. Omori, if I wanted to draw Hibiki's manga, I could have done it a long time ago..."

I'm so sorry!

She still had some concerns.

……

In a square, lights were everywhere, and young people, dressed in down jackets, gloves and hats, were excitedly counting down.

“9、8、7、6……3、2、1！”

"Happy New Year!"

Happy Millennium!

Higashino Hibiki sat in the back seat of the car, glanced at his watch, and suddenly realized that the year 2000 had arrived.

The new century that I am more familiar with has arrived.

"Happy New Year!"

He said to Torishima Kazuhiko, who was standing next to him.

Torishima Kazuhiko smiled and nodded, "Happy New Year."

Half an hour later, Torishima Kazuhiko dropped him off at his doorstep.

"You're too kind. You even went out of your way to bring me back."

“That’s the editor’s responsibility,” Torishima Kazuhiko said.

Then he turned and left.

Hibiki Higashino unlocked the door and found the living room light on. Akemi Akemi was sitting at her desk, drawing the original manuscript for "Cherry Blossom Mission".

Although Sasaki has not yet informed her of the specifics, Akemi Akimiya is already making efforts.

Hearing the noise, Akemi Akemi looked up and saw Hibiki Higashino. She smiled with delight, "Hibiki, you're back."

Higashino nodded. "Yes, I'm back."

Akemi Akemi said, "The water temperature in the bathtub is just right."

Higashino Hibiki was both amused and exasperated. "I don't like taking baths, you don't need to go through all that trouble."

"It's the wife's responsibility."

"But that's such a waste."

“Hmm,” Akemi Akemi said with some distress, “Okay… alright.”

She got up, went to Higashino Hibiki, sniffed the air, and, finding no smell of alcohol, nodded in satisfaction.

Recently, we've been hearing a lot of news about drunk people collapsing on the roadside and freezing to death.

The situation is particularly severe in Tokyo.

“I’ve already said I’d quit drinking,” Hibiki Higashino said.

Today is the day before the New Year, and the Jump editorial department is having a small gathering. Kazuhiko Torishima invited Hibiki Higashino along.

Torishima Kazuhiko wouldn't be able to stay at Jump for more than two years, and Hibiki Higashino also had to cherish this time, so he went there again, which was quite unusual.

Akemi Akemi nodded slightly, her hair piled up at the back of her head, with wispy strands swaying on her forehead. "Hmm, not bad."

“And,” Hibiki Higashino continued, “we also need to start trying to conceive.”

He couldn't help but smile, which Akemi Akemi saw as cunning.

Akemi Akemi was speechless.

“So,” Hibiki Higashino added, “we need to hurry!”

He wanted to pick up Akemi Akemi.

"You should take a shower first."

"Oh, right."

The enchanting atmosphere vanished instantly.

Hibiki Higashino walked into the bathroom, and Akemi Akemi's heart pounded.

She clutched her chest, "I'm already married, why am I still so shy?"

Just then, the phone rang.

It's past midnight, and there are still people who have things to do.

"Happy New Year, Mingmei-neechan!"

The person making the call was Nanase Yui, and there was a lot of noise around her.

"Happy New Year." Akemi Akemi breathed a sigh of relief.

"I was planning to spend New Year's Eve with you," Nanase sighed, "but I forgot. The food at the tourism association's New Year's Eve party was so delicious!"

"It's alright," Akemi Akemi said, waving her hand with a wry smile.

"Yes, that's it." Nanase was about to hang up the phone.

"Wait a minute," Akemi Akemi called out to her, and after considering it carefully, told her what "Cherry Blossom Mission" had said.

Nanase's first reaction was, "What! The heroine is based on me! Hehe, hahahaha."

"What female lead!"

"Has Yui gone mad?"

"What? It's a manga drawn by Akemi-neechan, and I'm the female lead."

On the phone, different voices could not be heard.

"Hello, is this Mrs. Higashino?" After a while, Chairman Kadota's voice came.

"It's me, Chairman Kadona. Happy New Year."

Akemi Akemi then recounted the story of "Sakura Mission" again.

“There’s a possibility of serialization…” She wanted to get Chairman Kadada’s permission.

"Hahahaha!" Unexpectedly, a burst of loud laughter came through the phone. "My Manoyama, he truly is a legend! He could be serialized!"

"Well..." Akemi Akemi said weakly, "It's just a possibility!"

"It's definitely possible!" Chairman Kadona said firmly, "However..."

His voice trailed off again, "How much funding will our association need to contribute to the 'Cherry Blossom Mission' painting? To be honest, the tourism association doesn't have much money left in its accounts..."