Full-time comic artist

"That's great." The shop manager had a serious expression, like a lonely master. "I really like Akino Tori's 'Hikaru no Go,' could you sign it for me?"

“Of course.” Higashino Hibiki readily accepted.

After signing the autograph, Higashino Hibiki casually asked, "Boss, do you also play Go?"

The expression of a master.

"No, I was just watching the fun." The boss waved his hand.

"..." Higashino Hibiki was speechless.

"There's one more thing I'm wondering about. Why did you only ask me this when I was about to leave?"

The store manager said naturally, "Because you were customers before, we can't disturb the customers while they were drinking coffee."

Hibiki Higashino laughed and said, "That's very well said."

He said goodbye to the store manager and walked out the door with Sasaki.

"Wait, there's one more thing," the shop manager interrupted them. "Tori Akino-sensei, do you think you'll win the Shogakukan Manga Award? I think you're the only one who deserves it!"

Hibiki Higashino turned around and said, "This is not convenient to disclose."

The store manager seemed to understand something, and then he showed a knowing look.

"As expected of Mr. Tori Akino!"

……

As Sasaki stepped out of the coffee shop, he thought about what had just happened.

"Your readers all think you are the best candidate for the manga award. They really like Slam Dunk."

This work has reached a new peak since the Sannoh tournament.

Chapter 258 Award and Double Yolk

How many times do I have to give up?

On January 29th, Kazuya Takasugi was deeply moved while watching "Slam Dunk".

Despite the constant setbacks, Shohoku's five starting players fought tenaciously, and in the final two minutes, they finally saw a glimmer of hope for victory.

"At the start of the second half, we used a tight defensive strategy to keep the score 20 points behind, but Mitsui broke the deadlock with consecutive three-point shots."

"Sawakita's activity brought the gap back to 18 points, but Shohoku, centered around rookie Rukawa, narrowed the score to less than 10 points."

"Shohoku, how many times do you want to give up...!?" Coach Domoto was in awe of Shohoku's tenacity.

Another 30 seconds passed, and with two minutes left in the game, Shohoku was only five points behind.

They are really going to defeat that invincible, undefeated mountain king.

Kazuya Takasugi looked at Takenori Akagi's tears and was filled with emotion for him.

Before that, Mitsui Hisashi left Shohoku, leaving Akagi to carry the team alone. Even their dream of dominating the nation and defeating Sannoh Kogyo was ironic.

Even the players on the team thought it was wishful thinking.

How could Shohoku possibly be a match for Sannoh?

Today, Akagi may finally realize his dream from back then.

With trustworthy companions, they strive to climb towards becoming number one in the country.

"Damn, this is so exciting!" Kazuya Takasugi clenched his fist. "Slam Dunk is so good!"

He reread "Slam Dunk" and immersed himself in the excitement of Shohoku's explosive performance.

After a long while, he stared at the calendar on the wall with Mika Nakashima printed on it, muttering to himself.

"There are three more days. The results of the Shogakukan Manga Award will be out in three days."

……

Early February.

Coamix is ​​a manga company founded by Nobuhiko Horie in 2000, along with Tsukasa Hojo and Tetsuo Hara.

He has been busy recently launching the weekly magazine "Comic Bunch".

During his era, Weekly Shonen Jump achieved an all-time high of 653 million copies sold. However, Nobuhiko Horie felt that he had not yet achieved anything in terms of his vision for manga, so he founded a magazine where he could make his own decisions.

“There are more and more excellent works in Weekly Shonen Jump.” Hojo Tsukasa said to Nobuhiko Horie while looking at Slam Dunk, “One Piece and Naruto are also excellent manga.”

“Yes,” Nobuhiko Horie nodded, “Both of these manga are doing very well.”

However, he always felt that something was missing.

“The ‘dynamic expressiveness’ is still somewhat lacking…” Nobuhiko Horie organized his thoughts. “The plot is excellent, but their ‘action’ doesn’t quite match that of Slam Dunk. Manga needs to have continuity and lots of action; the visuals need to be ‘dynamic.’”

“Yes,” Hojo Tsukasa nodded, “that’s also a difference between Japanese and American comics.”

American comics are about storytelling; the drawings can be considered illustrations, and the dialogue is the main element.

But Japanese manga is different; the artwork is extremely important, sometimes even more so than the dialogue.

For example, Dragon Ball, and City Hunter.

"When Eiichiro Oda and Masashi Kishimoto have the same level of skill as Mirai Tori, that will be truly interesting," said Nobuhiko Horie.

Although he left Jump, he still has a lot of affection for Jump and hopes that Jump will be better off.

When the topic of Jump came up, he suddenly reminisced about the past.

“Torishima Kazuhiko really has a keen eye for talent,” Horie Nobuhiko tilted his head back and looked at the light above him. “He discovered Tori Akino Mirai, who was just a greenhorn back then. Sasaki’s appreciation for Tori Akino also surprised me. Compared to them, I am indeed still a bit lacking.”

Hojo Tsukasa glanced at him, looked at the Shogakukan notice, a smile playing on his lips, and said provocatively:

"Tori Akino won the Shogakukan Manga Award."

"Huh?" Horie Nobuhiko sat up in shock from his sickbed. "Damn it!"

……

Mirai Toriaki won the Shogakukan Manga Award – this was truly a bolt from the blue!

For most readers, appreciating Shogakukan manga is not important; what matters is Akino Miki.

"Tori Akino-sensei is really amazing!"

"awesome!"

Even Nishimura, who was far away in Hokkaido, made a special call to Higashino Hibiki to share the good news.

"Thank you," Hibiki Higashino asked with concern, "Aren't you planning to go back to Tokyo?"

"Hokkaido is where a man like me can truly roam," Nishimura laughed heartily in response to Hibiki Higashino.

What was that sound?

Higashino Hibiki's ears twitched. Amidst Nishimura's wild laughter, he seemed to hear a girl's voice, a suppressed laugh.

"The ranch owner's daughter is always pestering me," Nishimura said confidently, "She definitely wants to steal my techniques!"

Higashino Hibiki was speechless. He then heard the girl say sadly, "Idiot!"

Nishimura asked in confusion, "Natsumi—why did she run away? Was she ashamed after I saw through her trick?"

Hibiki Higashino took a deep breath. "Is it the girl who said she wanted to come to Tokyo with you?"

"Of course it's her. This place is deserted, and apart from Xia Mei, I'm surrounded by big men."

"You're such an idiot," Higashino Hibiki said angrily. "Don't you think she likes you?"

"Huh?" Nishimura was stunned.

"Like me? Is it possible for someone to like me?"

……

Hibiki Higashino looked at the notice for the Shogakukan Manga Award.

The winner for the children's category is Mitsutoshi Shimabukuro from "The End of the World Leader".

His talent, though hidden deep within, is now beginning to shine.

The girl didn't know him and simply ignored him.

The author of the novel is Naoki Urasawa, and Hibiki Higashino was filled with awe upon reading it.

This teacher's thinking is extraordinary. While his comics are bestsellers, they also reveal his deeper exploration of human nature and social phenomena.

He is a master worthy of respect.

"This year's Shogakukan Manga Award is truly exceptional."

After that, Hibiki Higashino looked at the shonen manga section.

He was immediately stunned. "Huh? What's going on?"

Sasaki told him that his manga had won an award, but didn't say which one. Higashino subconsciously thought it was "Slam Dunk".

but now……

"Will the two comics be awarded together?"

"Shonen (Young Adult) Category: Mirai Toriaki (Hikaru no Go) / Mirai Toriaki (Slam Dunk)!"

……

Kazuya Takasugi in a traditional Chinese painting class.

He listened to the lecture given by the gray-haired teacher in the classroom.

This man, who is said to be the famous Mr. Akimiya, holds a top position in the field of ukiyo-e.

The school went to great lengths to invite them.

"Very insightful indeed." He nodded.

While he was listening attentively to the lecture, Kazuya Takasugi's phone vibrated in his pocket. He picked it up and saw that it was a text message from a fellow enthusiast.

"Akino Tori won the Shogakukan Manga Award! And it was a double prize!"

Upon seeing the message, Kazuya Takasugi's eyes widened in surprise.