Full-time comic artist

"This must be Akemi Akemi-sensei," Tanaka asked.

His responsibility this time was to pick up and drop off the two teachers.

"Yes, it's me." Akemi Akemi pursed her lips, suppressing her excitement.

This was an answer she had thought about for a long time.

Since 1994, Hibiki Higashino has watched her leave every time she went to the Shueisha New Year's party. Now, she is finally going to ride in that car herself.

"Mr. Akimiya, please get in the car." Tanaka bowed slightly and opened the back door.

On the way to the Shueisha New Year Party Hotel.

Tanaka looked ahead and asked, "Tori Akino-sensei, Akimiya-sensei, what time should we arrive?"

Akemi Akemi looked at the scenery outside the window, feeling uneasy.

Hibiki Higashino said to Tanaka, "Just arrive at the usual time."

"Received." Tanaka nodded.

Hibiki Higashino closed his eyes, preparing to rest. Suddenly, he felt a tingling sensation on one side of his body.

He opened his eyes, turned his head, and discovered—

"Ha~" Akemi Akemi blinked her starry eyes and looked at Hibiki Higashino with admiration.

"W-what's wrong?" Hibiki Higashino asked, puzzled.

"You handled it so professionally!" Akemi Akemi leaned close to Higashino Hibiki's ear and whispered.

"..." Akemi Akemi's breath hit Higashino Hibiki's ear, making him feel itchy inside.

"Xi...I'm used to it."

"It's still quite remarkable."

Higashino Hibiki felt comfortable with his wife's adoration, but it would be even better if it wasn't something as trivial as this.

Higashino Hibiki looked at her outfit and couldn't help but say, "You're still wearing this."

“Let’s be more formal,” Akemi Akemi said, sitting upright and nodding.

She turned slightly to the side, took out a piece of paper, on which was written.

"Nice to meet you. I'm Akemi Akemi, who started serializing 'Sakura Quest' in May. Nice to meet you..."

Higashino Hibiki's eyes widened in surprise.

She's so serious, I'm so moved I could cry.

"Nice to meet you..." Akemi Akemi read aloud earnestly in a low voice.

Higashino noticed that Mr. Tanaka in the driver's seat was smiling gently with the corners of his mouth turned up.

"It's really... a little embarrassing," Higashino Hibiki couldn't help but sigh.

……

On New Year's Eve, there were few cars on the road, and the Higashino couple arrived at the New Year's party venue about 40 minutes later.

The area is filled with black vehicles, and the roadsides are lined with dazzling lights, creating an atmosphere of extravagance and decadence.

Akemi Akemi, however, got off the bus with remarkable composure and without a care in the world.

After saying goodbye to Tanaka, Hibiki Higashino led Akemi Akemi into the hotel with practiced ease.

"Tori Akino-sensei, Akimiya-sensei."

At the main entrance, Editor Yahagi nodded in greeting.

“Mr. Yahagi.” Higashino nodded.

"Nice to meet you, I am..." Akemi Akemi blurted out the combo without thinking.

Higashino patted her on the back, and she snapped out of her daze. "Editor Yahagi, it's been a long time."

……

As she entered the hall, seeing the bustling crowds and industry professionals chatting everywhere, Akemi Akimiya's eyes widened. "Wow, so cool!"

Many renowned cartoonists in the industry caused her to lose her ability to speak for a time.

"Tori Akino-sensei!"

After Hibiki Higashino appeared, many people gathered around.

"Slam Dunk is really well drawn. It gets me all fired up. Even though I'm over 40, I still want to play a couple of games of basketball."

"Mr. Tori Akino, do you have any ideas about selling the game's copyright? Slam Dunk would be perfect for making a basketball game."

"Mr. Akino Tori, our company is producing a game and would like to invite you to draw the main character design artwork. Do you have time?"

Akemi Akemi stared at the scene in astonishment.

Hibiki Higashino immediately became the center of attention after he appeared.

The manga artists she admired were also watching Hibiki Higashino.

"So this is what Hibiki will be like in the New Year."

In an instant, all her previous tension and anxiety vanished.

"Who is this?" someone asked, noticing Akemi Akemi.

Hibiki Higashino replied, "This is Akemi Akemi, the author of 'Sakura Quest,' which started serialization in May. She is also my wife."

He put Akemi Akimiya's identity as a manga artist first, and the person asking the question would knowingly say, "Hello, Akemi Akimiya-sensei."

Akemi Akemi smiled and said, "Hello."

……

"You've worked so hard."

After Higashino Hibiki finished her socializing, she and Akemi Akimiya came to Osamu Akimoto's side. Osamu Akimoto looked at Higashino Hibiki with a sense of sympathy.

“Yes,” Higashino responded, “It’s even harder than drawing comics.”

“That’s enough.” Akimoto Osamu shook his head.

In 2001, "The Mischievous Police Station" was still being serialized steadily.

"Drawing comics is still quite scary," said Osamu Akimoto, a civil servant specializing in comics.

"By the way, who is this?" he asked, looking at Akemi Akemi.

Hibiki Higashino answered again.

"It's really beautiful. Compared to you, Torino Akino..."

"We are a perfect match, a handsome man and a beautiful woman."

"hehe."

Hibiki Higashino and Osamu Akimoto chatted and laughed.

Akemi Akemi couldn't help but say, "Hello, Mr. Osamu Akimoto. I've been reading your manga since I was a child. I'm so happy to meet you."

In 1976, Osamu Akimoto began serializing "Kochikame," a manga that is also a childhood memory for many Japanese people.

"Hello, Ms. Akemi Akemi." Osamu Akimoto greeted Akemi Akemi earnestly, without any airs of a top manga artist.

“You’re drawing the manga ‘Sakura Quest’.” He pondered. “I haven’t read it, but I’ve heard it’s very popular among girls. You can continue drawing it like this.”

"Thank you, Professor Akimoto." Akemi Akimiya bowed in gratitude.

Next, Hibiki Higashino introduced Akemi Akemi to many people.

Yoshihiro Togashi, Hirohiko Araki, and others are all veteran manga artists.

Yoshihiro Togashi was somewhat reserved and didn't say much.

As a senior, Hirohiko Araki carefully taught Akemi Akimiya a great deal.

Tonight, Akemi Akimiya's dream came true.

She attended Jump's New Year's party and, as a manga artist, met many senior artists.

My long-cherished dream has finally come true.

In a corner of the crowd, a chubby young man wearing sunglasses watched the scene indifferently.

"That must be Mr. Tori Akino, he must be very busy."

At this time-

"Hey? Kubo-kun, wearing sunglasses even at night?" Editor Asada asked with concern as she passed by, "Why are you sitting here all alone? Aren't you going to say hello to your senior?"

"No need," Kubo replied.

Chapter 256 Torishima Kazuhiko; Manga Appreciation

Unbeknownst to Hibiki Higashino, while he was socializing with Akemi Akimiya and basking in the envious glances of other manga artists, someone was silently watching his retreating figure.

"That's... Mr. Tori Akino?" Asada followed Kubo Tite's gaze and suddenly realized, "You want to get to know Mr. Tori Akino? Are you shy now?"

He thought about it carefully. Kubo Tite was born in 77, a year younger than Tori Akino Mirai. Even though he was usually a maverick, he still had some naivety about him.

“Oda has always told me,” Asada said, “that he learned a lot from Tori Akino-sensei and is still benefiting from it.”

“Come with me, I’ll introduce you to him,” Asada said with a smile. “Although Mr. Toriakino became famous at a young age, he is gentle and easy to get along with. Your short story ‘BLEACH’ is very popular, and Xiaozheng’s grades are among the top. Perhaps it can be serialized. Before you start serializing it, you can consult Mr. Toriakino. Kishimoto, who drew ‘Naruto,’ also worked as Mr. Toriakino’s assistant for a period of time. ‘Naruto’ did quite well.”

He was going on and on, and Kubo was getting increasingly impatient.

"Editor Asada, no need, I don't want to greet my seniors."

He seemed very unconventional; when he encountered teachers who shared his favorite comics, he would avoid them at all costs.

"This is really awkward." Asada paused, then patted Kubo on the shoulder. "You'll regret this in the future."

However, this is a mindset that only young people have.

Kubo, who is both a painter and a poet, has maintained this sharp edge, which is quite commendable.

Thinking of this, Editor Asada shook his head and left, leaving Kubo Tite alone huddled in a corner.