Full-time comic artist

The reason he works so hard as a time traveler is because he knows that his efforts will definitely be rewarded.

If I can't put myself in your shoes, I won't say anything.

……

The date was January 20th.

In the dead of winter, with the wind biting cold, students still have to go to school.

Winter break usually runs from Christmas to the 8th, while spring break is at the end of March.

This arrangement seems to be intended to temper the students' minds and bodies during the cold winter.

maybe.

It snowed a couple of days ago, and there's some ice on the ground that's not easy to spot; it's smooth and slippery.

Satoru Soma moved carefully on the ice, while the students around him skated enthusiastically.

"Satoru," someone patted Soma Satoru on the shoulder, almost throwing him off his carefully maintained balance, "It's so cold today."

“It will be even colder after the snow,” Soma Satoru nodded in agreement.

Just as he was speaking, the elementary school student in front of him tripped and fell.

Then, like dominoes, many people fell down in unison.

"Hahaha." My friend couldn't help but burst into laughter.

Then, he fell down too.

……

My friend blushed and followed Soma Satoru for a while.

“There are still two and a half minutes left…” he suddenly muttered.

"Huh?" Soma Satoru turned around and asked, "What two and a half minutes?"

"I'm thinking about the plot of 'Slam Dunk'," my friend said seriously. "That way I'll forget about the embarrassing thing that just happened."

With only two and a half minutes left in the Sannoh match, Shohoku was trailing by 8 points.

Sakuragi and Akagi teamed up to block Sawakita's layup attempt for the first time.

"Gorilla, there's still a chance."

Sakuragi turned to Akagi and said smugly.

These words made Akagi fall into deep thought. In the previous two years, whenever Shohoku was behind in a game, it was he who said these words to encourage his teammates.

But it was to no avail.

But now, he is finally not fighting alone.

At this moment, Sannoh's coach, Domoto, had sweaty palms. He hadn't expected this match to be so difficult.

The substitutes from Shohoku all believed they had a chance to win.

Just when things seemed to be going very well, Fukatsu intercepted Miyagi's dribble, the ball hitting Miyagi's knee and flying off the court.

Nearby, Mitsui Hisashi gave it his all, sprinting towards the basketball.

But he was out of strength, and right in front of Mitsui, the ball was about to fall out of bounds.

Time is running out for Shohoku, and this is an extremely important offensive opportunity.

"Get away, you Indian!"

Sakuragi Hanamichi flew past Mitsui, disregarding the danger, and lunged towards the basketball.

And in front of him was the technical desk.

Watching Sakuragi Hanamichi's selfless act, Akagi Takenori couldn't help but recall Haruko's words from back then:

"Although he knows very little about basketball... maybe one day... he'll become the savior of the basketball team... Brother, that's Sakuragi-kun!"

To everyone's astonishment, Sakuragi Hanamichi touched the basketball and passed it to Mitsui, but he fell from the air and slammed his back heavily onto the scorer's table.

Cheers and shouts of encouragement for Xiangbei rang out one after another.

Sakuragi Hanamichi's fighting spirit touched everyone.

The same goes for readers.

"Sakuragi is so handsome, damn it!" My friend cried in the dead of winter.

Satoru Soma squinted and asked, "Did you hurt yourself too much when you fell?"

Chapter 257 You are the most likely person to surpass Toriakino Mirai!

“I’m just moved,” Soma Satoru’s friend stubbornly raised his head, his dark skin concealing his blushing embarrassment. “Look at how selfless Sakuragi is, don’t you feel moved?”

“Sakuragi has always been like this,” Soma Satoru said. “He’s a workaholic.”

This is how he was able to complete 2 mid-range shooting drills in a week.

"Tch," my friend muttered.

"Hey, Satoru," he asked, "The Shogakukan Manga Awards are coming out soon, do you think Slam Dunk will be in it?"

Soma Satoru pressed on, "You're changing the subject now, you're starting to change the subject."

The friend was furious, "You jerk, you're really awful."

“Okay, okay,” Soma Satoru spread his hands, pondering, “The Shogakukan Manga Award… this time there should be a manga by Tori Akino-sensei, right?”

"After all, both 'Hikaru no Go' and 'Slam Dunk' are award-winning works. They are positive and have a positive impact on society."

"But who knows until the very end?"

My friend nodded. "I still hope that Professor Tori Akino will win the award; he is the one everyone wants."

“Me too,” Soma Satoru said, walking ahead of his friend, then turning back with a smile. “But I think that Tori Akino-sensei doesn’t really care about that.”

He studied at Tori Akino's studio and found that the teacher was very friendly. He usually drew comics and was happy because of the letters from readers. He was also troubled because he drew the wrong content and did not have time to revise it before continuing the series.

However, there is very little expectation for comic book awards.

For him, readers' comments are more important than drawing good comics.

"Maybe so," my friend said, scratching his cheek.

In winter, two children walk side by side to school.

"By the way, Wu, your drawing skills have improved a lot."

"Thank you."

"Can you draw a color illustration for me?"

"Stay away from me."

"please!"

Only their playful noises echoed.

……

In a coffee shop.

Sasaki was patiently meditating with his eyes closed. He had been working a lot lately, and this was a moment of leisure he was taking.

Just then, he heard footsteps getting closer and closer. When he opened his eyes, he found it was the store manager.

"Hello, what kind of coffee would you like?"

"A cappuccino."

"Please wait a moment," the store manager replied, turning back to prepare.

“Wait,” Sasaki glanced at the time on the wall and held up his index finger, “another one…”

"Please give me a white coffee."

A gentle voice sounded from behind the shop manager, interrupting Sasaki.

“Teacher Akino,” Sasaki’s eyes lit up as he looked at the newcomer.

"Sorry I'm late." Higashino Hibiki walked past the shop manager and sat down opposite Sasaki.

Sasaki said, "The timing is just right."

Sasaki arranges to meet Hibiki Higashino at this coffee shop during the storyboard discussion for the next chapter of "Slam Dunk".

He said the coffee at this shop was very good, made with care.

"Okay." The store manager nodded, made a note of it, stared at Higashino Hibiki, and turned to leave. "Please wait a moment."

……

This cafe has very few customers because its decor is not trendy and it doesn't have any staff dressed as maids.

This made it easier for Sasaki and Hibiki Higashino to have a quiet discussion about work.

“I expect Slam Dunk to end after 10 chapters,” Hibiki Higashino told him, “probably in April.”

“Yes,” Sasaki nodded. Having accepted the fact that Slam Dunk had ended, he had his own vision: to bring this work to a perfect close.

"The longer it goes on, the heavier the burden feels to me." He shook his head.

The Sannoh tournament is nearing its end, and a spectacular finale is needed to bring the entire manga to a climax. Every little detail deserves to be explored at length.

Hibiki Higashino said gratefully, "Thank you for your help, Mr. Sasaki."

“This is my job,” Sasaki shook his head slightly, “and…”

He looked out the window. "This is the last thing I can do for you."

With the end of "Slam Dunk," he will be promoted to editor-in-chief and will no longer be able to serve as Hibiki Higashino's editor.

“Editor-in-Chief Sasaki,” Hibiki Higashino smiled, “I’ll be counting on you to look after Mr. Torishima after he leaves office.”

“Teacher Akino, you really are…” Sasaki said, both amused and exasperated, “you like to joke around.”

"It's the last chance," Higashino Hibiki sighed.