Full-time comic artist

Although Shohoku High School only made it to the top 16 in the country and failed to achieve its dream of dominating the nation, it is recognized by everyone as the uncrowned king.

Omori said with distress, "I thought there would be a winter selection tournament, and a storyline where Sakuragi Hanamichi won the national championship in his second year."

"So why?!" he exclaimed in surprise, pressing Hibiki Higashino for an answer. "Why did you end Slam Dunk? It's the number one manga in the country!"

"Omori-san, don't be like this." Tanaka grasped Omori's shoulder, stopping the agitated Omori from further questioning Higashino Hibiki. "Tori Akino-sensei's feelings were fully conveyed yesterday, weren't they?"

Without a doubt, Shohoku's summer has come to an end.

“But, Tanaka-kun…” Omori turned around, “Why are you so calm? You should be more upset than me!”

He lost a well-paid job, but what about Tanaka? He considered the Tori Akino Studio his home, and now that Slam Dunk has ended, Tori Akino doesn't need an assistant for the time being.

In other words, Tanaka is leaving this house and getting used to being alone again.

Tanaka, who is emotionally fragile, is probably the most heartbroken person right now.

“I am indeed very sad,” Tanaka nodded, “but shouldn’t it be up to Mr. Tori Akino to decide what to do with his own work?”

Tanaka's words calmed Omori down.

After a long pause, he said, "I'm just unwilling to accept that such a good work has to end so easily?"

He felt that "Slam Dunk" had been ruined.

"Even you, Mr. Toriakino, might not be able to draw a great manga next time, right?"

Higashino Hibiki sighed. "Mr. Omori, this is not something you should be considering."

"It's not good that you drew conclusions about me because you don't know me."

Anyway, let's get back to work.

The final installment of "Slam Dunk" must maintain a high standard.

……

a.

Readers have seen the latest chapter of "Slam Dunk".

Because of the match against Sannoh, Shohoku lost to Aiwa Academy.

They finally believed that what Tori Akino Mirai said was true.

He was determined to finish the work.

Even Weekly Shonen Jump has a countdown to its end.

Not long after the magazine was released, the editorial department was ringing with phone calls.

Some inquired from readers, some reported it; some vented their frustrations, while others hoped the editors could convey their support for Tori Akino and their wish that, in the midst of this chaos, Tori Akino-sensei would not be overwhelmed by the pressure.

The voices supporting Higashino Hibiki were quickly conveyed to him by the editor.

"Tori Akino-sensei, I was very sad to hear that 'Slam Dunk' has ended, but I was really happy that you were able to connect with your readers during the live stream. I hope you will always be happy, and I look forward to your new works!"

"Tori Akino-sensei, I fully support your decision!"

"Actually, I had a premonition. The game between Shohoku and Sannoh was a miracle created by burning themselves out. Their summer was already over from the moment they met Sannoh. The artist's drawing is very realistic. I will never forget the feelings of Slam Dunk."

Sasaki conveyed these enthusiastic words, and for a calm person to speak with such emphasis felt really out of place.

Hibiki Higashino was touched. He understood that the readers' responses were the result of the editorial department's selection process, but having so many readers who supported him was enough.

"Thank you, Mr. Sasaki."

“Yes.” Sasaki nodded. “So, don’t let radicalism influence you.”

"Of course not." Hibiki Higashino was very confident about this; he was very resilient under pressure.

"That's good," Sasaki nodded, then tentatively asked, "So, do you have any ideas for your new manga?"

A talented young cartoonist cannot afford to be idle during the rising stage of his career.

Of course, the most important factor is related to the huge profits involved.

With "Hikaru no Go" and "Slam Dunk" as examples, if Akino Toriyama's next manga can maintain the quality of those two, it will be a good work.

Upon hearing Sasaki's words, Higashino Hibiki's smile froze.

“Mr. Sasaki…aren’t you in too much of a hurry…”

He was put to new work even before "Slam Dunk" had finished airing.

Sasaki paused for a moment, then explained, "It's good to have an idea; we can discuss it."

"Please give me some more time," Higashino Hibiki said sincerely, shaking his head.

Sasaki looked somewhat regretful, but still nodded.

After finishing his work for the day, he didn't leave and chatted with Higashino about everyday things.

……

Because of habit, Higashino Hibiki turned on the TV while they were chatting.

"I conducted a terrifying experiment today to demonstrate just how fragile humans are..."

"When the girl turned to me, I swung the hammer in my hand."

"I think I hit her several times."

"But I don't remember very clearly... because I was just too excited."

On the television, a voice that sent chills down Higashino Hibiki's spine twitched rang out.

This is a television program, and the host is reciting this very creepy statement.

"The Sake Rose Saint Seiya Incident..." Sasaki's expression turned grim; he recognized the line.

Higashino asked in surprise, "What is this?"

"Don't you know? It caused quite a stir back in 1997," Sasaki asked in surprise.

Higashino Hibiki said quietly and without a word, "Because we need to serialize 'Slam Dunk'..."

Sasaki was ashamed; what a petty-minded Akino Mirai.

I just asked him about his thoughts on the new serialization, and he kept making fun of himself during the conversation.

"The 'Sake Demon Rose Saint Seiya Incident' was a very heinous murder case back then," Sasaki recounted the information he had gathered.

On February 10, 1997, a junior high school student attacked two little girls with a rubber mallet, and one of the girls suffered a severe head injury.

The junior high school student's school refused to cooperate with the police investigation.

On March 16, a 10-year-old girl was struck on the head with a hammer and died in the hospital seven days later. The perpetrator stabbed a 9-year-old girl while fleeing.

5月24日，11岁的小男孩失踪。5月27日，他的脑袋被凶手放在了某中学的校门口。

There was also a provocative letter from the perpetrator to the police.

"The game of the Drunken Rose Saint Battle is about to begin."

Dull-witted police officers

Try to stop me.

I find killing extremely enjoyable.

I really want to see people die.

Let death punish the filthy vegetables.

Let bloodshed punish my years of resentment.

Sasaki calmly read the data; the victims were all children, and Higashino Hibiki deeply abhorred this criminal.

"Please just tell me the result." He couldn't listen anymore and interrupted Sasaki.

“Yes.” Sasaki nodded and said heavily, “The perpetrator is 14-year-old Shinichiro Higashi, a minor with antisocial personality disorder.”

Afterwards, he was sentenced by the court to be transferred to the Guandong Juvenile Reformatory for education.

In 2000, Japan lowered the minimum age of criminal responsibility from 16 to 14.

In 2001, a television program interviewed the Kanto Reformatory, in which the reformatory stated that Shinichiro Higashi's treatment was progressing smoothly and that preparations were underway to transfer him to a juvenile detention center.

“He’s clearly of sound mind and intelligence, yet he’s a bastard who gets pleasure from killing others,” Higashino sighed. “He hasn’t been punished much, simply because of the law.”

Sasaki also sighed.

Hibiki Higashino asked him, "Mr. Sasaki, you've been following the 'Sake Demon Rose Saint Seiya Incident' closely. How do you feel about it?"

“I…” Sasaki pondered for a moment, “I feel some grief and anger.”

“After Shinichiro Azuma was arrested, he did not apologize. His family’s apology letter was very perfunctory, and the content was exactly the same except for the victim’s name.”

"Shinichiro Azuma has thousands of erotic comics, which has caused Jump to suffer an undeserved disaster."

"Shinichiro Higashi's crimes have had a great impact on society."

He paused for a moment, then said, "I would prefer that Shinichiro Higashi receive a more severe punishment, and that his family also atone to the families of the victims."

Hibiki Higashino nodded. This was a thought that most people, apart from crime enthusiasts, would have.

“Regret, helplessness, anger,” he concluded, then added, “If someone could punish these criminals who have been pardoned by the law, would that person be considered a god?”

“How could there be such a person…” Sasaki instinctively retorted, then suddenly paused, “You have an idea for a new work?”

……

In the end, Hibiki Higashino never answered Sasaki's question.

But the next day, Sasaki brought over a large box filled with information about the heinous incident.

"Japan Tsuyama Massacre Incident"

Japan's Three Major Post-War Serial Killers

……

The Ayase Cement Murder Case

Hibiki Higashino was deeply moved when he saw Sasaki's dark circles.

“I will use it properly,” Hibiki Higashino said to Sasaki very seriously.