Full-time comic artist

Masashi Kishimoto's talent came to the fore, defeating the genius Mitsutoshi Shimabukuro and the increasingly lazy Yoshihiro Togashi, becoming the third-place finisher in 2000.

"Naruto has the potential to become a mainstay; it's a truly surprising work," he told Bottle.

Bottle Yoshihisa nodded. "I heard that Kishimoto-kun also worked as an assistant to Tori Akino-sensei. How interesting."

The top three spots in Jump are now so closely related.

“Perhaps Toriaki saw the potential in Naruto,” Sasaki said.

He knew all too well how terrifying that man's eye for talent was.

Last year at Jump Festa, the most popular anime wasn't Slam Dunk, but Yu-Gi-Oh!

The revenue generated from the sale of merchandise related to this work is equivalent to that of "One Piece" and "Naruto" combined.

The three works that Tori Akino approved of all demonstrated remarkable success.

With such a deep understanding of readers' interests, Akino Mirai's new work is sure to be a hit.

With this in mind, Sasaki was no longer worried about Tori Akino's future third long-form serialization.

“I’m not just talking about that.”

Bottle Yoshihisa pointed to the short comic, "The Earring is the number one short comic, that's amazing."

"Earring is a spin-off of Slam Dunk, so this kind of success is to be expected," Sasaki said.

After Sasaki left, Yoshihisa shook his head silently, "He's really confident."

……

Time flies, and April arrives quickly.

With cherry blossoms in full bloom, the Japanese have begun their annual cherry blossom viewing season.

Enjoying delicious food by a cherry blossom tree while feeling the cherry blossom petals falling softly is truly a romantic experience.

Hibiki Higashino, however, has never participated; he simply doesn't have that much free time.

"I wish I could also be serialized in a monthly magazine."

Just now, "Sakura Quest" passed the serialization meeting, and editor Fukatsu excitedly informed Akemi Akimiya that "Sakura Quest" will begin serialization in early May.

Akemi Akemi held Hibiki Higashino in her arms, savoring the beauty of the moment.

There were faint tear tracks at the corners of her eyes.

Higashino Hibiki couldn't understand what kind of feeling this was.

All I can do is share her happiness.

"Congratulations on the start of serialization for 'Sakura Mission'."

He gently patted Akemi Akemi's back in a soft voice.

"Ok!"

Akemi Akemi exclaimed excitedly.

This outpouring of emotion seemed to make her even happier than when she got married.

It took Akemi Akemi a while to come back to her senses after experiencing this emotion.

She loosened her arms from around Higashino Hibiki's waist and hummed twice.

"We need to notify a lot of people," she said.

First, we need to inform the Manoyama Tourism Association of this good news.

Then I had to inform Mr. Akimiya that his daughter had started serialization.

Perhaps I should call Higashino Mei and tell her that her older sister Akemi has finally made something of herself.

Akemi Akemi got busy.

Hibiki Higashino shook his head, deciding not to disturb her.

He went to the living room and turned on the TV.

In April of this year, an anime adaptation of a manga was released.

The title is "Atashinchi".

The production company is "Mirai-sha".

This is also the first anime independently produced by Mirai-sha after Hibiki Higashino relinquished control.

I wonder what the effect will be?

Hibiki Higashino is very curious.

……

Near the Higashino family home lived a mischievous girl named Akane Nakajima, who was now in her second year of junior high school.

Akane Nakajima has been eagerly anticipating the release of Mirai-sha's new work.

Although Akino Mirai wasn't involved this time, it is, after all, the production company behind "Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day".

As time goes by, the fame of "Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day" has not disappeared. On the contrary, because it is so depressing, in the word-of-mouth of the viewers who have seen it, there are often "fools" who are tricked into watching "Anohana" by saying "It's so interesting and funny", and then they start to trick the next person.

This cycle continued, ensuring that "Mirai-sha" remained famous a year later.

Akane Nakajima didn't have to wait long. As soon as the commercial ended, an anime called "Atashinchi" came into view.

"Huh? It's this style of animation."

The two-headed chibi style, with the mother resembling a flounder, is a style typically found only in children's animation.

Akane Nakajima still prefers the art style of "Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day".

This work made her unhappy from the very beginning.

"Let's take a look."

……

Hibiki Higashino watched TV with a smile on his face.

What are you laughing at?

After Akemi Akemi finished her work, she came to the living room and asked Hibiki Higashino in surprise.

Hibiki Higashino chuckled and pointed to the television. "This anime is very realistic. It depicts everyday life and is extremely interesting."

Unlike the humorous short segments of "Gag Manga Biyori," "Atashinchi" is similar to "Chibi Maruko-chan," based on a family and telling a heartwarming story.

Hibiki Higashino seemed to see himself in her.

A nagging mother who takes care of the housework; a taciturn father who shoulders the burden of the family; a childish and immature high school daughter who likes to argue with her mother; and a quiet and shy middle school brother who likes to act cool.

Many viewers can feel a sense of familiarity from this animation.

"That's a really high compliment," Akemi Akemi said regretfully. "It's just that I didn't see it."

“I recorded it,” Hibiki Higashino said. “We can watch it together in a bit.”

“Okay.” Akemi Akemi nodded.

……

After the broadcast of "Atashinchi" ended, Akane Nakajima clicked her tongue and said, "So this is what other people's mothers are like."

She's long-winded and nitpicky, but if you think about it carefully, her mother is much better.

"But Atashiki is still quite interesting."

Chapter 250 of the Slam Dunk anime was cancelled.

"I heard that the Slam Dunk anime is going to be canceled."

"Huh? Why?"

"After all, the animation has caught up with the original work."

On April 7, 2000, the beloved anime series "Slam Dunk" was to be discontinued.

Readers who were used to watching "Slam Dunk" every week found it very difficult to adjust at first.

"I watch Slam Dunk every Tuesday afternoon."

"That's really heartbreaking."

Even Yoshii Yamahisa, who hadn't contacted Hibiki Higashino for a long time, came to the studio to inquire about the progress of "Slam Dunk".

He was wearing a suit, and he looked very different from the Yoshii Yamahisa that Higashino remembered.

Hibiki Higashino replied, "Director Inoue doesn't want to use retrospectives, summary episodes, or self-created daily routines to delay the anime's progress, so Slam Dunk will indeed be taking a break next week."

Speaking of this, Hibiki Higashino was deeply moved, never expecting that Director Kaede Inoue could withstand the pressure from higher-ups and give Slam Dunk a relatively perfect production before it was about to end.

“That makes sense,” Yoshii Yamahisa scratched his head and sighed, “It’s just a shame.”

"Why did you suddenly think of that?" Higashino asked with a smile. "When you were my assistant, you didn't show any interest in watching 'Slam Dunk'."

“Things are different now,” Yoshii Yamahisa stood up, looking at the studio in front of him with unfamiliarity. “The space is much larger now, the worktable has been changed, the chair has been changed, and even the tools we use are no longer the same ones we used before.”

Hibiki Higashino replied, "After all, it's just a consumable."

Omori wanted to point to himself and say that he was the new assistant who came after Yoshii Yamahisa left, but when he heard Higashino Hibiki say the word "consumable", he immediately shut his mouth.

Hibiki Higashino continued, "Things can never stay in the moment of parting forever. Even memories in our minds will fade with time. So, don't worry too much about it."

Yoshii Yamahisa remarked, "But I always think back to my time as an assistant. Although it was very busy, it was incredibly fulfilling."

Those were his years from high school to university, the most brilliant period of his life.

"I often read the Slam Dunk manga and wonder if I were still working as your assistant, Higashino-kun, would I be the one drawing this background and that original manuscript?"

"I've been watching the anime, and it feels like I've been transported back to the days when we got together."

Higashino patted him on the shoulder, "You really touch me, buddy."

It had been a while since we last met, and the usually reserved Yoshii Yamahisa had become so enthusiastic.

After a while, Yoshii Yamahisa's emotions calmed down, and he began to feel a little embarrassed.