Full-time comic artist

"I understand, Editor-in-Chief Torishima." Sasaki nodded calmly.

The editorial department sets the rules, and if the rules are followed, the cartoonists have no complaints.

He needs to maintain a proper balance as the editor-in-chief of Jump.

……

"Death Note is an excellent work. Putting aside the protagonist Light Yagami's extreme ideas, its setting and unparalleled intellectual battles and reasoning plots are worthy of being serialized."

August 15th arrived quickly, and the editors sat in the conference room, resuming their discussions on the new serialized comic.

After Koji Yoshida finished speaking, his team leader, Yahagi, looked around at the expressions of the others.

This time, they were talking about a new work by Mirai Tori, a pillar of Jump. It was a big responsibility, and everyone looked very serious.

Yahagi glanced at the silent Sasaki again.

Ultimately, Sasaki's ability to stand out from the competition with Toshimasa Takahashi and become the editor-in-chief is inseparable from Akino Tori's future achievements.

What was he really thinking?

Yahagi was somewhat confused for a moment.

Yoshihisa adjusted his glasses with one hand in a nonchalant manner, grinned, picked up a storyboard from "Death Note," and said seriously, "Leaving aside the protagonist Light Yagami's radical ideas? That's the part that needs the most discussion."

He didn't deny the excellence of "Death Note," but started with the character design of Light Yagami and said with distress, "Tori Akino-sensei has caused a lot of trouble."

"Light Yagami is a genius, but also a madman. After acquiring special abilities, he began to recklessly reshape the world."

"He decides the life and death of death row inmates through news reports, which shows the complete lack of caution and seriousness of the law and his disregard for life. Especially in episodes 7 and 8, where Light Yagami devises a plan to eliminate the FBI agent Ray who was investigating him."

"This means he has completely gone to extremes."

"Could someone like that be the protagonist of Weekly Shonen Jump?"

Death Note completely departs from the themes of "friendship, effort, and victory," turning to extremes.

It's hard for me to accept that Death Note was actually written by Mirai Toriaki, the author of Slam Dunk.

The difference between these two comics is too great; this is schizophrenia.

One is a mainstream manga with a strong Jump vibe, while the other has become a work of unorthodox origin.

Yahagi raised his hand, "I have a different opinion on this. It is precisely because of the 7th and 8th chapters that I support Death Note even more."

The bottle said with great interest, "Oh? Please go on."

"Because Light Yagami became a complete villain. Akino-sensei bluntly tells readers that Light Yagami's actions were wrong and should not be imitated."

Yahagi paused for a moment, then continued, "So, *Death Note* is a commercial work; its core is a battle of wits, not some 'Light Yagami philosophy.' It's just one step in advancing the plot."

After Yahagi finished speaking, the bottle nodded in realization, "If that's the case, then that's certainly true."

Upon closer reflection, he had simply fallen into a preconceived, flawed idea.

The protagonist is not an extension of the cartoonist's ideas; he can also violate universal values.

“I have no more questions.” Bottle nodded.

Sasaki remained silent, waiting quietly, and the air fell into a cold stillness once more.

All the editors looked at each other, and no one spoke first.

Back then, at the serialization meetings for "Hikaru no Go" and "Slam Dunk," there wasn't the same pressure we face today.

No one knows how serious the consequences of "Death Note" might be.

Jump's deputy editor-in-chief, Masahiko Ibaraki, broke the silence with a laugh, "It's quite different from before that everyone is so troubled by Tori Akino's new work."

"In 1993, I saw his debut work, Hikaru no Go. In 1996, Slam Dunk surprised me with his growth. Now, in 2001, Akino Tori, who has grown up from high school to adulthood, has actually drawn a manga that is very different from Jump. It's amazing. It was only then that I realized that eight years have passed without me noticing."

With a nostalgic air, he raised his right hand and said, "I think it's acceptable."

"I second that," Yahagi immediately followed.

After thinking for a moment, Bottle also raised his hand, "I second that."

Of the seven people present, three have already agreed.

"Include it."

Just as Asada was about to raise his hand, Sasaki suddenly spoke up.

"As long as a comic is interesting, it can be serialized. It's that simple."

Sasaki made a decision.

……

Onishi Kohei glanced at the conference room. Five hours had passed since this serialization meeting started, whereas a normal serialization meeting would only last a little over two hours.

I wonder what they're discussing? Daishi is very troubled.

He was in agony every single moment of those five hours.

Will "Blind Soccer" be able to be serialized? Mr. Yamamura Morimichi is eagerly awaiting news.

If serialization is not possible, how can we comfort the grieving teacher in the mountain village?

"Really!"

Onishi rubbed his hair in frustration. "The next time a new author is in charge of a serialization meeting, I'll just tell them to wait with the mindset that 'they won't pass the serialization meeting'!"

If you don't have expectations, you won't be disappointed.

Other editors noticed Onishi's actions and shook their heads, as if they were seeing their former selves in him—it was truly unbearable to look at.

Fortunately, at that moment, the meeting room door opened, and the editorial team leaders called in their team members to begin a small meeting.

"Arai-sensei's manga was rejected. The editor-in-chief said the content was too old-fashioned and hoped that he could come up with an idea that would catch the readers' attention."

"How could this happen? Honestly."

Daishi heard his colleague sighing beside him, struggling with how to inform the responsible cartoonist of the bad news. He paced back and forth by the window, trying to find the right words to avoid upsetting the cartoonist.

"How pitiful." Onishi swallowed hard, bracing himself for his judgment.

"Daishi, Yamamura-sensei's 'Blind Soccer' has passed the serialization meeting!"

"Oh!"

The clamor in the Jump editorial department was silenced by Onishi's unrestrained cheers.

The sound was so loud it pierced the roof, causing the editors of Vjump on the third floor to frown.

Three seconds passed before they started working again.

"Daishi, the editor-in-chief's idea is that it would be best to find a manga artist with excellent drawing skills to partner with Mr. Yamamura. A serious and passionate sports manga needs excellent drawing skills."

……

The discussion continued. Yoshida Koji suppressed his inner joy, glanced at Onishi with disdain, and mocked his naiveté.

"I wouldn't do that."

He went to the window and, in the quietest place possible, called Higashino Hibiki.

The call was answered quickly.

"Tori Akino-sensei! Congratulations! Death Note has been officially published in the October/January issue of Weekly Shonen Jump! Congratulations again!"

The editorial office fell silent again.

The bottle turned around, its expression serious.

These days, newcomers seem to have way too much energy.

We need to find them something to do.

"What's all the noise downstairs!"

An angry voice came from the VJump editorial department: "Quiet down!"

Koji Yoshida poked his head out of the window and shouted loudly to the editorial department upstairs.

"I'm so sorry! I was just too excited!"

"Everyone, tell me to be quiet!"

……

Higashino frowned and moved his phone further away. He was used to the calm and collected Sasaki. He didn't know whether it was a good thing or a bad thing to have such an energetic guy like this.

Koji Yoshida's voice just now almost deafened him!

Even Akemi Akimiya, who was five meters away, raised an eyebrow.

"Xiang, congratulations."

"Received." Higashino Hibiki smiled slightly.

……

Through the serialization meetings for "Death Note," Yoshida had even more work.

Currently, Hibana Hibiki only has Tanaka as an assistant.

Higashino called his other assistant, Omori, many times, but no one answered.

Yoshida needs to find a new assistant.

"Teacher Akino, what do you think of Mr. Omori's abilities?" Yoshida had selected several assistants, but he hadn't let Higashino see them. He thought those people weren't capable enough and rejected them himself.

He was worried that it would affect the success of Death Note.

So he inquired about Omori.

Hibiki Higashino looked away from the manuscript and replied, "The skill of Omori-san's drawing is so good that few serialized manga artists can match it."

After all, it was honed through ten years of dedicated practice.

"He was a huge help in the serialization of Slam Dunk."

After speaking, Higashino Hibiki lowered his head again and sketched the student Yagami Light. He was focused on the manga and did not notice Yoshida Koji's thoughtful expression.

A minute passed before Yoshida Koji, who had been deep in thought, spoke up: "Do you know his address?"

Hibiki Higashino finally came to his senses. "Yoshida-kun, you're truly a responsible editor."