Full-time comic artist

"No, it's the people at Toei Animation who are more anxious."

"Did Akino Tori regain the anime rights to 'Slam Dunk'?"

As a mystery comic book author, his brain was working at lightning speed.

"This must be big news!"

……

Kazuhiko Torishima persuaded the Toei executives to leave, preventing them from influencing Hibiki Higashino.

Sasaki approached Hibiki Higashino and said, "Mr. Torishima has sacrificed a lot."

“I know,” Higashino Hibiki nodded.

The end of a flagship comic book is always accompanied by turbulent events.

Sasaki silently patted Hibiki Higashino on the shoulder.

After a long pause, Sasaki remarked, "The old Mr. Torishima would never have done this. He has really changed a lot as he's gotten older."

However, the most important factor was the timing of Hibiki Higashino's serialization of "Slam Dunk".

That was after Dragon Ball ended, when Jump's sales plummeted and it was about to be overtaken by Weekly Shonen Magazine, a very dangerous time.

Shueisha needs a savior, and Kazuhiko Torishima needs a pillar.

Therefore, he was able to agree to the stringent conditions.

Now, Jump has "One Piece", "Hunter x Hunter", "Leader of the Century", and "Naruto", making it its most luxurious moment.

The end of "Slam Dunk" will reduce its impact.

Hibiki Higashino's conclusion of "Slam Dunk" was the result of perfect timing, favorable circumstances, and harmonious relationships.

After a while, the tension gradually subsided, and Higashino Hibiki was no longer the focus of attention.

He noticed that Ichiro Soma was standing alone, so he went over to him.

"Mr. Soma, why are you all alone?" Hibiki Higashino smiled kindly. "Are you not comfortable here?"

Soma Ichiro looked at Higashino Hibiki with an inquisitive gaze; he was also very curious about what had just happened.

Realizing he was being impolite, he tilted his head slightly, adjusted his glasses, and gave Higashino Hibiki a gentle smile. He said, "It's not like that. I was thinking about how to develop the manga I'm about to draw."

He had just talked for a long time with other cartoonist teachers and had some ideas.

"You're really working hard. Well then, I won't bother you any longer."

“It’s okay, I’m also a little lost and confused,” Soma Ichiro said. “Many of the teachers I knew back then didn’t attend the New Year’s party. Things have really changed.”

"I see. Jump is like that."

Jump is too cruel. Apart from a few evergreen players, no one can guarantee that they will always be eligible to continue serializing.

There are always old people leaving, and new people arriving.

"Actually, I didn't want to attend the New Year's party today because I haven't produced any results yet," Soma said with a smile. "But editor Sasaki said that if I bury myself in drawing manga, my brain will get rusty, so I might as well come out and chat with others, maybe I'll get some inspiration."

"There's really nothing I can do." He shook his head helplessly, but the smile on his lips remained.

Hibiki Higashino said, "Mr. Sasaki cares about you a lot."

“Yes,” Soma Ichiro nodded solemnly, “we’ve been friends for 10 years.”

"This time I'm determined to serialize it!"

……

time flies.

Before we knew it, it was February.

After drawing the manga, Hibiki Higashino asked his assistants if they had any single volumes of "Space Railway Heroes".

These comic books aren't sold in comic book stores now; you'd have to go to a used bookstore to buy them, which is quite inconvenient.

“I’ll bring the ‘Space Railway Heroes’ manga next time,” Omori said, raising his hand.

"Thank you."

“You’re welcome,” Omori said with emotion. “I have a deep impression of this manga and have read it carefully many times.”

Higashino asked curiously, "Why?"

Omori explained, "To be honest, Soma-sensei's drawing skills are quite poor; they're the kind of drawing that even a high school student with some basic skills could produce. But thanks to the excellent storyline, his manga was serialized, and later it was even adapted into an anime."

"My drawing skills were very poor at the time, and I was working on improving them. 'Space Railway Heroes' gave me a lot of confidence, and I realized that I could also serialize my own work!"

Hibiki Higashino: "That's really good."

“But as my drawing skills improved, the feeling that ‘Space Railway Hero’ brought me gradually changed and turned into despair,” Omori confessed. “The plot of a manga is far more important than drawing skills. I can hone my drawing skills, but I can’t become a plot-driven manga artist like Ichiro Soma.”

"How pathetic."

His drawing skills were very strong, but he couldn't get serialization. Soma Ichiro's drawings were very poor, but he was able to get serialization rights with his excellent storylines. Omori's motivation was greatly reduced.

The comics that once inspired me have become an insurmountable barrier.

Omori asked, "Tori Akino-sensei, why did you suddenly want to watch 'Space Railroad Hero'?"

Hibiki Higashino then started talking about the New Year's party.

Omori listened with surprise, "Soma-sensei is still drawing manga? I thought he gave up a long time ago. After all, we haven't seen any of his works since 'Space Railway Heroes' was canceled."

Hibiki Higashino said, "Editor Sasaki said that Mr. Soma has been working hard to draw new works and submit them, and he is still working hard now."

Omori shook his head. "Soma-san's manga is outdated..."

……

A while later, Sasaki arrived at the door.

Akemi Akemi opened the door, eagerly welcoming him in.

They invited him to sit on the sofa and then served him tea and snacks.

If Hibiki Higashino hadn't known that Akemi Akemi was still hung up on "Sakura Quest," he would have been jealous.

“Mrs. Higashino,” Sasaki said directly, “I’ve contacted an editor at Ribon. She’s very interested in your manga. Here is her business card.”

"Thank you very much!" Akemi Akemi bowed.

Sasaki said, "It's my duty."

Akemi Akemi's matter went smoothly, and Hibiki Higashino thanked Sasaki and invited him to stay for dinner.

"There's no rush to eat; there's still work to be done."

Sasaki Kanji took out three documents and handed them to Higashino Hibiki.

Higashino looked through the pages and said, "It's time to sign the contract deposit again. I'd completely forgotten."

He was very familiar with this contract, having signed it many times before, and the amount had long since reached the maximum limit, so there was nothing to argue about, and he signed his name directly.

Sasaki put away the two contracts, stood up, and said, "Then I'll take my leave."

Why are you in such a hurry?

“I still have work to do,” Sasaki’s expression turned serious, with a hint of hesitation, “It’s about the contract fee for Soma-sensei.”

"We can't delay, I'll see you off." Dongye stood up.

“It’s not a contract,” Sasaki sighed, a hint of weariness in his eyes. After hesitating for a moment, he said, “Mr. Soma’s contract fee cannot be renewed.”

"Huh?" Higashino Hibiki exclaimed in surprise, "Why?"

Sasaki replied, "Soma hasn't had a serialization in a long time, has he?"

In 1993, Jump's contract bonus was halved, but it remained at 2000, which was already quite good for Jump.

Even the most ordinary cartoonist's annual contract fee is equivalent to a baseball player's annual salary.

It's over several million yen.

Hibiki Higashino initially received 2000 million yen.

He didn't know the amount of Soma Ichiro's annual contract fee, but over the years it had added up to a considerable sum.

Jump, which prioritizes profit, has done everything it could, and Hibiki Higashino has no reason to object.

He was very concerned about one thing, and asked with a serious expression, "Can't Mr. Soma's new work pass the serialization meeting?"

Sasaki nodded.

Chapter 247 No one knows Slam Dunk better than me

Soma Ichiro's new work still cannot be serialized, and he has lost his contract fee with Weekly Shonen Jump, and Jump has issued an "outside the battle force notice".

What does this mean? It goes without saying.

Shueisha no longer recognizes his abilities as a manga artist.

Hibiki Higashino visited Ichiro Soma the next day.

He was drawing comics at his desk. He looked exhausted, and his stubble covered his mouth.

Compared to the New Year's party, it was much more chaotic.

"Teacher Toriakino".

Soma Ichiro's eyes showed disappointment, but he still managed a forced smile. "You've heard about what happened to me, haven't you?"

Hibiki Higashino nodded and put down the snacks he had brought. "I heard about it from Editor Sasaki."

Soma Ichiro's expression showed he had expected this. He put down his paintbrush and said regretfully, "Sasaki's words were very tactful, but ultimately, he meant 'Jump doesn't need you anymore,' and then he terminated his contract with me."

Higashino opened his mouth, realizing that Sasaki had told him about it hoping he could comfort Soma as a colleague.

"No need, Mr. Tori Akino, thank you for comforting me, but it's alright." Soma Ichiro raised his head, and Higashino Hibiki saw what he had drawn; it was the original manuscript.

"It's not Jump's fault, but rather my failure to produce any good works for the next seven years."

"I feel relieved and can start over as a newcomer, starting from the point of self-recommendation."

"As long as a comic is interesting, it can be serialized."