Full-time comic artist

"Are you going to wear leather shoes?" Higashino Hibiki was taken aback.

Wearing leather shoes is uncomfortable. Akemi Akimiya wears slippers when drawing manga at home, and sneakers or boots when going out.

Even high heels, Hibiki Higashino has never seen Akemi Akemi wear.

“Hmm,” Akemi Akemi nodded gently, “Doesn’t it look very professional this way?”

“No need,” Higashino Hibiki waved his hand. “Just do whatever makes you comfortable. Shueisha’s New Year’s party is just for everyone to have fun in the New Year, not for giving a report.”

That's right, in just a few days, Akemi Akimiya will be attending Shueisha's New Year's party as a manga artist!

Chapter 255 Dream Fulfilled

Akemi Akimiya is going to attend Shueisha's New Year's party!

Evening, at the Higashino family home.

She was wearing a beige padded-shoulder suit and square-toed leather shoes.

Higashino advised her to dress more casually, that plain clothes would be fine, but Akemi Akemi wouldn't listen.

"This is my dream of ten years!"

After reading comics, you might want to become a comic artist.

Like most people, Akemi Akimiya began to aspire to work in this industry.

The more unattainable something is, the more precious it becomes.

Hibiki Higashino, someone who easily succeeded by simply doing hard work, couldn't understand Akemi Akemi's current feelings.

"Oh, right." Higashino raised his head and recalled, "Most of the female guests at Shueisha's New Year's party wore evening gowns."

The women were all very elegant and sophisticated.

"An evening gown?" Akemi Akimiya repeated, then hesitated before turning and walking into the bedroom.

"You have an evening gown?" Higashino Hibiki was taken aback; he had never seen Akemi Akemi in an evening gown before.

“There should be something in the closet…” Akemi Akemi’s voice came from the bedroom. A moment later, she exclaimed with delight, “I found it!”

The sound of her rustling as she changed clothes came from the room, and Higashino Hibiki couldn't help but let his mind wander.

“How am I supposed to wear this… I haven’t worn this in so long…” Akemi Akemi said awkwardly in the bedroom.

Hibiki Higashino asked, "Do you need my help?"

“No.” Akemi Akemi refused decisively. “Wait for me.”

"Ok."

Higashino Hibiki sat obediently on the sofa, his legs shaking.

"Is this my chest? It's so tight, I need to take off my bra."

"My lower abdomen feels tight too, have I gained weight?"

"My back feels cold, I'm so embarrassed."

Higashino Hibiki, panting, stood up uneasily and took a few steps to the left and right.

"Do you need my help?" he couldn't help but ask again.

“No need,” Akemi Akemi’s voice grew closer, “It’s already healed.”

She walked out of the room.

The living room lights were so bright that Higashino felt dizzy.

Ah, not really.

Akemi Akimiya wore a pink evening gown with a red lining skirt peeking out from the bottom; it was simple yet elegant.

Her delicate collarbones were exposed, her hair was styled in a bun, and her slender neck was on full display.

"How is it?" Akemi Akemi asked Higashino Hibiki, waving her skirt from side to side.

"Very good." Higashino Hibiki gave a thumbs up.

The evening gown was particularly tight, clinging to her abdomen and highlighting her curvaceous figure.

Similar to Fubuki from One-Punch Man, she possesses a voluptuous beauty.

"But isn't it too tight?" Higashino asked.

“Yes,” Akemi Akemi swayed slightly, but her chest was very tight. “My butt is very uncomfortable. It took me a lot of effort to get it on.”

Hibiki Higashino stared intently, making Akemi Akemi blush. "What's wrong?"

"Don't move," Higashino Hibiki said seriously.

"Mmm." Akemi Akemi nodded gently, then lowered her head shyly.

Hibiki Higashino walked around behind Akemi Akimiya and, looking at her smooth, white back, couldn't resist touching it.

Akemi Akemi trembled slightly, her body turning a pale pink. "Don't touch me."

Higashino Hibiki said with a smile, "You really don't feel comfortable wearing it. You shouldn't wear it."

Akemi Akemi breathed a sigh of relief. "Yes, I haven't worn an evening gown since high school."

She went back to her bedroom, changed out of the suit, and put her back on the women's suit.

She tucked her hair behind her ear, walked over to Higashino Hibiki, and let out a long sigh of relief. "I feel much better now."

That evening gown was a gift from Mr. Akimiya when Akimiya was in high school, for attending an art world banquet.

Akemi Akemi participated twice, and then never went again.

She shared her thoughts, saying, "It's a waste of time, and it's also a bit boring."

People at the banquet don't speak their minds; they speak while wearing masks, and everyone is just going through the motions.

“I really didn’t like it, so my father stopped letting me participate.”

As she recalled the past, she suddenly realized that although Mr. Akimiya always had a stern face and seemed unapproachable, he would never have any heart-to-heart talks with her.

However, he always fulfills his own requests.

"You really can't express yourself," Akemi Akemi said with a smile, shaking her head. "It's so awkward."

"Who are you talking about? Dad?" Hibiki Higashino nodded in agreement. "When we met at Toriyama-sensei's doorstep, I thought he was a strict person, but after getting to know him better, I realized he was just a father who was at a loss when faced with his daughter pursuing a future he didn't understand."

“Yes,” Akemi Akemi said, “Now I understand my father.”

“But you,” Akemi Akemi glared at Hibiki Higashino, “didn’t I look good just now?”

"She's very beautiful, like a goddess."

"Then why are you completely unmoved?"

"The thought of you wearing something like that to the banquet makes me jealous, so I'm not in the mood to appreciate it at all," Higashino confessed. "The evening gown is so revealing, you could practically give a cupping treatment without even taking it off. I don't want anyone else to see it."

"Oh, I see. Then I forgive you." Akemi Akemi said with a happy smile, "I won't wear evening gowns anymore."

“You can still wear it,” Higashino coughed twice. “It’s something we can wear privately. I recently learned a new dance…”

Under the lights, the two people lingered, and then the lights went out.

……

December 2001, 1.

The sky was dark.

After a busy day, Hibiki Higashino finally finished her work for the day.

"Thank you all for your help," Hibiki Higashino said to Omori and Tanaka. "This is my salary for this month."

Both of them earn 32 yen a day, including daily wages and transportation expenses.

Hibiki Higashino always gave it to him in advance; he didn't want to dwell on it.

"Thank you for your hard work, teacher," Tanaka said with a slight bow, taking the money and putting it into the wallet.

"Thank you, Mr. Toriakino." Omori beamed with joy, looking especially happy. "Finally, the rent for this month is covered."

He counted them once, found no problems, and then put them in his pocket.

“Omori-san,” Higashino Hibiki frowned, “don’t you have any savings?”

Working 12 days a month, he earns 32 yen, which is almost the same as a white-collar worker.

In his spare time, he can also do odd jobs, earning more than most people in Tokyo.

But he was still penniless.

“It used to be, but now, hehe.” He chuckled to himself.

Without explanation, Omori and Hibiki Higashino said goodbye and left the room.

Hibiki Higashino looked at Tanaka with a puzzled expression. "What's wrong with him?"

"I don't know either." Tanaka shook his head.

Seeing his sullen expression, Higashino waved his hand, and Tanaka, unconcerned, left.

Only Akemi Akemi and Hibiki Higashino were in the studio.

The Shueisha shuttle car that was supposed to pick them up was also about to arrive.

Higashino Hibiki didn't think about it too much. Omori was a middle-aged man, and he knew how to weigh the pros and cons.

Half an hour later, the driver, Tanaka, called Higashino Hibiki directly into his cell phone.

"Tori Akino-sensei, I'm already downstairs."

"Tanaka-san, thank you for your help again this year."

"It's my job, haha."

Hibiki Higashino has participated in every New Year's party since signing with Jump, and the driver who picks him up has always been the same person.

Over time, Higashino Hibiki and he became familiar with each other.

Akemi Akemi, wearing a padded-shoulder suit, took the elevator downstairs with Hibiki Higashino and met Tanaka.