Full-time comic artist

He was overwhelmed with ecstasy.

"Great!"

In the silence that followed only the master's speech, Kazuya Takasugi stood up and exclaimed excitedly, "Teacher Akino has won the award!"

All eyes turned to him, and only then did Kazuya Takasugi realize that the occasion was inappropriate.

His body was stiff and his lips were trembling.

"Who did you say won the award?"

Someone broke the silence, and Kazuya Takasugi looked over to find Master Akimiya staring at him with a terrifying expression.

"I'm...I'm sorry!" He bowed at a 90-degree angle.

……

Eiichiro Oda Studio.

Oda stared wide-eyed at Shogakukan's announcement about the "Shogakukan Manga Award".

"As expected of Akino-sensei, he won two manga awards at once."

He looked at the contents and muttered to himself:

"It turns out it's related to Professor Tori Akino's age. There's never been a case of a college student winning the award before. The editorial team has been discussing this for a while now, so they decided to announce it together with Professor Tori Akino after he graduates."

"How scary!"

……

"Future Society".

Yuko Asahina finished her work for the day early.

"Our Family" is too simple. Over the course of a year, everyone has become very familiar with the animation. She felt that even without her as the director, others could easily complete a week's work.

In short, she's incredibly bored right now.

"I really want to make challenging animations."

Just then, Kiko Takagi pushed open the door and entered, handing the script to Asahina, saying, "This, please."

Asahina's eyes lit up, her face filled with anticipation, "What is this?"

Kiko Takagi remained expressionless. "Outsourcing by Toei."

Asahina Yuko's gaze dimmed. "My happiest time was definitely during my high school years when I was making 'Hey—Come Out!' with Higashino-kun."

Kiko Takagi pouted helplessly and nudged Yuko Asahina's head. "Be serious."

“Yes, yes.” Asahina Yuko nodded and wriggled.

Kiko Takagi could only tempt her by whispering, "Higashino won the Shogakukan Manga Award, maybe he'll be happy and come up with an interesting script."

Yuko Asahina's hair twitched. "A manga award? That's amazing. But for Higashino-kun, it's more of an honor to win a manga award."

While she was happy for Higashino Hibiki, she still looked listless and weak.

“Really,” Kiko Takagi shook her head, “You just focus on your work, and I’ll apply to him for it.”

As soon as Kiko Takagi finished speaking, Yuko Asahina immediately sat up straight. "Yes!"

……

Higashino Hibiki stood on the balcony, enjoying the cool breeze, and replied to each of his friends' congratulations.

"It's just a comic book appreciation, don't get arrogant. You should learn from me and be a down-to-earth person."

Hibiki Higashino couldn't understand the only phone call he received from Yoshihiro Togashi.

When Kiko Takagi called to congratulate him, she also brought up the matter of the animation script. Hibiki Higashino thought about it for a while and said he would consider it.

Akira Toriyama did not contact Hibiki Higashino, probably because he considered it a trivial matter.

Hibiki Higashino became increasingly indifferent to the situation.

"ring."

Akemi Akemi called his name and came over.

"What's wrong?" Hibiki Higashino asked, turning around.

“It was a call from your father,” Akemi Akemi waved her phone, her eyes crinkling with laughter. “He asked me to congratulate you on winning the Shogakukan Manga Award and to remind you to stay humble and not get complacent.”

Higashino Hibiki was taken aback. "How...how did Dad know? Did you tell him?"

Akemi Akemi shook her head. "I haven't had a chance yet."

Higashino nodded. "I wonder who this kind person is."

Hibiki Higashino's influence may have increased somewhat under the strict guidance of Mr. Akimiya, and congratulating himself on that is perhaps a good step.

……

Akemi Akemi went back to drawing manga, but Hibiki Higashino did not leave.

In the winter of February, he endured the cold, and his mind became increasingly clear.

"That's fine then," Higashino Hibiki murmured to himself.

He made up his mind, took out his phone, and dialed Sasaki Takashi's number.

Sasaki answered quickly, "Tori Akino-sensei? What's up?"

Hibiki Higashino licked his dry lips and asked, "Will the Shogakukan Manga Award ceremony be broadcast live on television?"

Sasaki was somewhat taken aback when he heard this. Why would Tori Akino Mirai ask about this?

"Yes, but not many people watch it."

“That’s enough.” Higashino Hibiki nodded, then asked, “Approximately when?”

"A month from now..." Sasaki asked疑惑地, "Tori Akino-sensei, what do you want to do?"

Hibiki Higashino whispered, "One month later... the Sannoh match will just end."

“Mr. Sasaki, I have an idea.”

……

Two weeks later.

Mamoru Yamamura was reading "Slam Dunk" and absorbing the essence of this sports manga.

"Sports-themed comics must have lofty goals and team members with different personalities who grow through constant practice and collaboration."

Sakuragi Hanamichi is the protagonist of "Slam Dunk", and he especially revisited Sakuragi Hanamichi's basketball journey.

From a petty hoodlum to an athlete who sees basketball as his life.

When Sakuragi saved the ball out of bounds, his back hit the basketball scorer's table.

This caused the seemingly indestructible Sakuragi to experience severe back pain, forcing him to be substituted off the field.

Ayako said that a back injury is a matter of life and death for a player.

Sakuragi Hanamichi was gripped by immense terror.

"A player's life... Could it be... could it be that my life as a player has come to an end?"

"Does this mean I can never play basketball again?"

Sakuragi Hanamichi's face scrunched up in a grimace; he had never shown this expression before.

This fear, panic, and helplessness.

"The tension in Akino Mirai's artwork... it's terrifying." Yamamura Morimichi was stunned.

"This is what comics should be like..."

The meaning conveyed by the visuals is even more profound than the narration.

It struck right into the heart of the mountain village chief.

Sakuragi Hanamichi has grown rapidly in these four months, learning all sorts of techniques.

If he spends time on treatment and rehabilitation, he will be unable to play for a period of time, and then he might...

Everything I had learned vanished into thin air.

Sakuragi Hanamichi lay on the ground, recalling the emotions that basketball had brought him.

The prayers and expectations of his substitutes, Coach Anzai's instructions, his first rebound in the national tournament, Akagi's recognition, his heroics in the Ryonan game, and his 20,000 joyful mid-range shooting drills...

In just four months, he gained everyone's recognition and enjoyed the emotions that basketball brought him.

Do you like...playing basketball?

That was the question she asked when she first met Haruko Akagi.

Thinking of this, Sakuragi stood up, grasped Haruko's arm, and said sincerely, "I love it! I won't lie this time!"

Haruko Akagi blushed.

Chapter 259: Mo Bai, Xiangbei wins, the curtain falls.

Sakuragi Hanamichi had a back injury, and his face was contorted in pain. He was no longer the spirited player he used to be, but he still went to the scorer's table and told the referee that he wanted to play and finish the game against Sannoh.

Ayako kept yelling at Sakuragi, knowing that he was betting his future on the game.

Coach Anzai also confessed to Sakuragi: "Sakuragi-kun... to be honest, your changes have deeply attracted me. Therefore, I have never let you leave the field, nor do I want you to leave the field..."

"Because I really want to keep watching you... keep improving."

"I am an incompetent coach, and I was just a hair's breadth away from making a mistake that I would regret for the rest of my life..."

Sakuragi is a genius who surpasses Tanizawa, and he doesn't want Sakuragi to lose his future like Tanizawa.

He never wanted to experience the pain of a genius dying young again.

The game was still going on, and the cheers from the crowd were endless. Sakuragi listened to all of this and was absolutely certain of his choice.

"Old man, when was your most glorious moment?"

"Will you be representing Japan in the competition?"