Full-time comic artist

Tanaka cannot resolve this problem in a short time.

It's terrifying to expect someone with social anxiety to find a girlfriend.

"Welcome home, Uncle!" the nephew waved and greeted him.

"Mm." Tanaka nodded, put down his backpack, and sat down in the living room to watch TV together.

With the end of "Slam Dunk," his assistant, who had worked diligently for five years, was filled with mixed feelings and felt quite bitter.

Tanaka's support for Tori Akino's future decision doesn't mean he isn't saddened.

“I’m telling you,” my nephew said, shaking his head as he looked at Slam Dunk, “Tori Akino Mirai is really selfish, isn’t she?”

The usually mild-mannered Tanaka's gaze sharpened, and he asked, "Why do you say that?"

My nephew said seriously, "The popularity of a comic is the result of the hard work of many people, including editors, assistants, comic artists, distribution companies, and publishers. In the end, the results were wiped out by Tori Akino."

"His effortless conclusion to the manga has rendered many people's efforts futile."

Hearing what he said, Tanaka remained silent for a long time.

This is a shared dissatisfaction among employees of companies such as Shueisha and Toei Animation.

Today, Slam Dunk is no longer just the work of Mirai Toriyama; countless people make a living from this manga.

He nodded and sighed, "Indeed, being Tori Akino Mirai's assistant is tough. There's hardly any time to rest, and he still gets the urge to draw short manga from time to time. '5 Centimeters Per Second', 'Millennium Actress'... these are all manga that require meticulous work. He has to draw as soon as he opens his eyes every day, and it's already dark by the time he gets off work. It's really exhausting!"

Tanaka tilted his head back and recalled that painful period of time.

But now, when he looks back, it's all a long and beautiful memory.

“You must be working so hard,” Tanaka’s mother looked at him with surprise and pity. “Then come back to work.”

“Mom,” Tanaka said with a smile, taking an envelope out of his backpack. “This is the bonus that Akino-sensei gave me for finishing the manga after completing Slam Dunk.”

Tanaka's mother took the envelope, gave a look, and when Tanaka nodded, she opened it and took the money.

“1、2、3……100张，100万円！”田中妈妈震惊不已。

This is their family's income for four months.

“Well, so,” Tanaka said to his nephew, “it was tough, but the pay was still good. It’s just over now.”

Without Akino Mirai, there would be no Slam Dunk. Many people have benefited from Slam Dunk: animation studios, toy companies, DVD distributors, publishers…

When this benefit ends, we should thank Tori Akino for his hard work over the long term, rather than complaining that he didn't persevere.

My nephew's mouth was agape, his face showing disbelief.

Tanaka, who rarely spoke at such a long time, nodded in satisfaction. It seemed that his words were very persuasive, and his nephew was impressed.

"Wait...wait a minute!" The nephew realized what was happening and looked at Tanaka with admiration. "Uncle, you're Mr. Tori Akino's manga assistant! That's amazing!"

Tanaka's smug face froze. "So this is what you care about."

“That’s right, I’ve been working at Toriakino Studio for five years.” Tanaka nodded.

My nephew exclaimed, "Then we can see Mr. Bird Akino all the time!"

Tanaka scratched his cheek. "He's not a celebrity, why do you need to care so much?"

“And his autographed paintings!” the nephew continued.

"There are some." Tanaka picked up his backpack and rummaged through it.

He took out a stack of manuscript papers, which contained storyboards from "Slam Dunk" and some original manuscripts that were worth commemorating.

"I'm so envious!" My nephew stared longingly at the manuscript. "My favorite manga is Slam Dunk! And my favorite manga artist is Mirai Toriyama!"

"And what about your attitude just now?" Tanaka asked, handing the manuscript to his nephew with a puzzled look.

My nephew quickly took it and excitedly started reading. He pouted and said, "I feel really uncomfortable that he finished Slam Dunk."

"Really." Tanaka shook his head as he sat cross-legged on the tatami mat.

……

April is the time when cherry blossoms are in full bloom, and it is also the time when the Mizuike Festival is held at Mount Mano.

A dozen or so middle-aged men carried a shrine weighing several hundred kilograms around the cherry blossom pond. The surrounding area was filled with residents and tourists from Jianye Mountain, who clapped excitedly and watched the scene with great enthusiasm.

Akemi Akemi raised her camera and kept taking pictures, but the police mistook her for a staff member of the Manoyama Tourism Association and made her stay in the middle of the road so that she could take as many pictures as she wanted from the front.

Higashino Hibiki stood to the side, utterly helpless.

Just two days ago, Nanase Yui called, saying that because "Sakura Quest" is so popular, many tourists have come to Mount Mano.

The tourism association communicated with the town's residents and decided to restart the long-abandoned Mizuike Festival, to make it a lively event in the spring, and invited Akemi Akemi to participate.

"I'll definitely be there!" she replied excitedly after being asked by Higashino.

This is crucial for gathering material for the future storyline of "Sakura Quest," so they came here.

Chapter 263 Unexpected Events and Petitions

"It must be Teacher Toriakino! It must be Teacher Toriakino!"

Higashino Hibiki was standing in the crowd watching the Mizuike Festival at Manoyama when a boy suddenly grabbed his arm and shouted!

Higashino was taken aback by these words. He had never imagined that he would be recognized in a crowd, after all, he wasn't a celebrity.

The moment the name Tori Akino Mirai appeared, it immediately attracted the attention of the tourists present.

"Tori Akino Mirai? The Tori Akino Mirai who drew 'Slam Dunk'?"

Where is he?

The scene immediately became noisy, and many people crowded towards the boy's voice.

Hibiki Higashino was still standing there, stunned, when the boy continued loudly, "Tori Akino-sensei! Please don't end Slam Dunk! I want to keep watching!"

In the past, readers would have wanted his autograph, but now this young man's first wish is for him to continue the legacy of "Slam Dunk".

At the Shogakukan Manga Award ceremony, Hibiki Higashino conveyed all his feelings, and in the final chapter of the manga, he wrote a page of several hundred words, explaining in detail the reasons for ending "Slam Dunk".

But the boy in front of him still insisted that he continue drawing, which meant that he did not agree with Higashino Hibiki's ideas, so it was useless to persuade him.

"Please let go," Hibiki Higashino said to him.

"Okay... okay."

Higashino Hibiki wanted to leave, but found that the crowd was so tightly packed that there wasn't even a little space left for him.

"Please make way," he said to the others.

but……

"It's Mr. Akino!"

"Can I get your autograph?"

"Please continue drawing 'Slam Dunk'!"

"I want to see Sakuragi Hanamichi in his complete form!"

"Can Sakuragi become the best high school basketball player in Japan?!"

"Shohoku hasn't even conquered the nation yet! How could you possibly end Slam Dunk, Akino?!"

"You've gone too far!"

The scene was noisy, and no one gave up their spot. Instead, as more people crowded in, the crowd became even tighter.

Many people spat on Higashino Hibiki's face; they were filled with righteous indignation.

Higashino Hibiki was bewildered; he had never experienced this scene before.

Why did readers react so strongly when "Slam Dunk" ended normally?

The author of Attack on Titan messed things up and came up with the worst ending ever, but the readers were quite easygoing, saying that the crime didn't deserve to be punished with death.

Isayama's hot spring shop is also fine.

"Please continue updating Slam Dunk!"

"That's right!"

Akemi Akimiya, who was taking photos, heard the commotion and stopped what she was doing. She then realized that Akino Mirai was surrounded by people.

She tried to rush in, but was blocked by people, with no gaps at all.

Fortunately, Chairman Kadota noticed this and quickly led the tourism association staff to push through the crowd and rescue Higashino Hibiki.

"Tori Akino Mirai!"

"do not go!"

The crowd shouted from behind, but were stopped by staff from the tourism association.

Hibiki Higashino met Akemi Akimiya.

“I’m sorry…” Akemi Akemi lowered her head, her face pale. “It’s all my fault… that’s why I ended up at Mount Mano…”

"Why should I apologize?" Higashino Hibiki scratched his head helplessly. "I came here of my own accord, and I underestimated the readers' resentment."

……

The tourism association was busy, but Chairman Kadota apologized for a long time, saying that he had not made proper arrangements for Higashino Hibiki's security.

It was none of his business, and it took a lot of persuasion from Higashino Hibiki to get Chairman Kadota out of his guilt.

The Higashino couple stayed at the Anzai Inn, in the same room as last time, but now Mount Keno was no longer as tranquil as before, and was full of tourists.

Akemi Akemi didn't leave Higashino Hibiki's side either, staying close to him.

"It was just a small accident, it's okay," Higashino Hibiki comforted her for a long time.

Akemi Akemi simply nodded.

Soon, evening arrived.

Nanase once said that the evening is the most lively time of the Mizuike Festival, when people fold paper boats, carry small candles, and let them float on the pond.

A stage is set up beside the pool, where festivals are held at night.

Similar to the dance performed by the folklore club at Musashino Art University, which adapted the legend of Ama-Iwato, the stage performance at the Zuike Festival tells the story of a dragon girl emerging from a cave and connecting with people.