Full-time comic artist

"When will I be able to draw the kind of story that Akino-sensei conceives? I'm so envious of him!"

……

“Manga artists in the past all followed in Akira Toriyama’s footsteps. Perhaps in a decade or so, someone will follow in your footsteps and become a manga artist.”

Sasaki couldn't help but think as he looked at Weekly Shonen Jump.

In the letters that readers handed to Hibiki Higashino, many said that they had the idea of ​​becoming a manga artist after reading his works.

One reader left a deep impression on Hibiki Higashino, who then set a clear goal: influenced by "Hikaru no Go," he wanted to draw a manga on the theme of "shogi."

If he does get what he wants in the future, it will become a beautiful story.

"If it's passed down from generation to generation, then Jump can continue to exist forever," Sasaki couldn't help but think.

……

Hibiki Higashino has already drawn the storyboards for "Paprika".

Tanaka and Omori, the two assistants, were already working hard enough on "Death Note," so Hibiki Higashino decided to find another assistant.

Because of Hikaru Ibuki's appearance, Hibiki Higashino had to buy another set of work desks, which was beyond his expectations.

"This time we don't need a very capable assistant, we just need to find this person as soon as possible!"

Higashino Hibiki was traumatized by Yoshida's previous failure to find an assistant, and he spoke to Yoshida very seriously.

"Teacher, who do you think I am?" Yoshida retorted proudly.

"I am Yoshida Koji!"

"Before, when I first became an editor, I didn't have any resources. Now that I've been working for a year, it's been a breeze to find an excellent assistant for the teacher. Just you wait and see."

Yoshida has become trustworthy, and Hibiki Higashino is looking forward to it.

The new assistant arrived the next day. He was around 35 years old and a father of several children.

“This is my professional and experienced assistant, Mr. Koga,” Yoshida said.

"Hello everyone."

When Xiaohe asked about Higashino Hibiki's work scope and learned that he currently only had one assistant, Xiaohe frowned.

"Is there a problem?" Higashino asked him.

“Well…” Xiaohe explained, “Most of my abilities are used to arrange and execute work. If I’m the only assistant, then I can’t ask for a lot of compensation.”

Chapter 294 Kira's Live Murder

The new assistant, Mr. Xiaohe, is not only an excellent artist, but also exceptionally good at managing assistants.

Within the team, he is the coordinator, managing the comic artist's studio with remarkable efficiency.

Da Sen looked at Xiao He with displeasure. The newcomer had just joined the studio and already wanted to manage them. His tone was too arrogant. "Do you want to be a section chief or a department head or something?"

"You're joking, aren't you?" Xiaohe smiled kindly, looking around the studio. "The computer and printing press are the latest models, just right."

“It was bought by editor Yoshida,” Hibiki Higashino explained.

Koji Yoshida went beyond the duties of an editor, and Hibiki Higashino could sense his passion for the job.

"Mr. Xiaohe, what is your daily pay?" he asked.

"2 yen."

Higashino Hibiki nodded in agreement. "Then let's do it that way."

Fewer than Omori and Tanaka.

“Mr. Omori and Mr. Tanaka have been working with the teacher for many years, so I won’t overstep my bounds,” Koga said with a smile. “Then let me become the salary thief and relax a bit.”

……

As dusk fell, the assistants said their goodbyes.

Ibuki Hikaru and Koga were going the same way, so they chatted as they walked home.

"Has Mr. Xiaohe been working as an assistant all along?"

"Yes, I have a wife and kids to support, so I have to focus all my energy on my work as a cartoonist's assistant. I haven't even thought about becoming a cartoonist for many years. You have to face reality."

"What a shame," Ibuki Hikaru sighed.

It is a sad thing to give up your ideals because of life.

"Every time I come home and see the children, all my regrets disappear." Xiaohe said easily, a gentle look on his face.

"What kind of artwork do you want to draw, Ibuki-kun?"

“I can’t do it,” Hikaru Ibuki said, denying herself. “Working as an assistant is just to earn a living.”

"There are such things too."

"Yes."

The two looked at each other and smiled.

……

The original work of Paprika is "Dream Detective" by the famous Japanese science fiction writer Yasutaka Tsutsui. His representative works include "The Girl Who Leapt Through Time" and "All Outside Japan Sinks".

Hibiki Higashino obtained authorization from Yasutaka Tsutsui through Shueisha's channels.

Upon hearing that a commercial cartoonist wanted to draw his own "Dream Detective," Yasutaka Tsutsui couldn't help but feel suspicious.

This work, described as "a novel that could never be made into a movie," is composed of countless linked dreams, and its complexity and obscurity far surpass those of other science fiction novels.

So, for a young adult comic artist to draw "Dream Detective," whether he can understand it is one thing, but whether he can bring out the core and style of the work is another matter entirely.

“To be honest, although ‘Dream Detective’ is a science fiction novel, it is also a work that is too highbrow for the general public. Adapting it into a manga…” Tsutsui Yasutaka shook his head, “There is no guarantee of profitability. I would like to ask that Tori Akino Mirai-kun to choose a different work.”

He felt that, given the comprehension abilities of a young adult comic artist...

"I can't understand it at all!" is the only reasonable explanation.

Miki Toriaki's adaptation of "Dream Detective" may simply be a way for her to express her literary cultivation rather than be satisfied with her position as a commercial manga artist.

He will not use his work as a stepping stone for Akino Mirai.

However, when Koji Yoshida handed the storyboard of "Paprika" to Yasutaka Tsutsui, Tsutsui was momentarily stunned by Yoshida's explanation.

"There are some omissions, but the content remains unchanged. It's simpler and easier to understand than my 'Dream Detective'..."

"Today's teen magazine comic artists are just as good as those of the past."

He couldn't help but think of Osamu Tezuka.

"I agreed."

Yasutaka Tsutsui changed his mind.

……

Xiaohe was surprised when he heard the news; he hadn't expected that the work he was to draw would be a famous science fiction novel.

He read the original work, but didn't understand it very well.

At first, he could distinguish between dreams and reality in the novel, and after taking careful notes, he was able to understand the plot to some extent.

But as the novel progressed, dreams and reality became increasingly intertwined, almost becoming one world. The plot kept changing, with elements of science fiction, religion, dreams, reality, film, mythology, psychology, and more being inserted. Xiaohe became increasingly confused about what this science fiction novel was actually about.

After watching the storyboard of "Red Pepper" twice, Xiaohe seemed to understand a lot.

It is the story of the dream detective "Paprika," who, after healing patients and saving the world in her dreams, finally understands what she wants and bravely faces reality.

This is the main theme; the rest of the expression is even more important.

The illusory dream world reveals the problems of Japanese society.

Through "Red Pepper," Xiaohe suddenly understood "Dream Detective," a science fiction novel that satirizes profit-driven politicians, a morbid money-worshipping mentality, and so on.

“Tori Akino-sensei,” Kogawa asked in surprise, “Paprika is an excellent manga, but are you sure… you want to draw it?”

This is a losing proposition.

Children simply cannot understand it, they won't read it, so is it really necessary to spend months of effort drawing such a comic?

Xiaohe, struggling with his family's financial situation, couldn't understand Higashino Hibiki's actions.

Wouldn't it be more worthwhile to draw a "Slam Dunk" series a few years from now, or to focus one's energy on "Death Note"?

“Of course I’ll draw it,” Higashino Hibiki replied with a smile, “because it’s very interesting.”

Hibiki Higashino sometimes feels happy when he draws works that should have existed.

Especially considering that this work has rich content.

It would be such a shame if Paprika didn't exist.

……

The performance of "Death Note" has recently started to decline.

While it remains as tense and exciting as before, the focus on the clash of language makes it somewhat difficult for readers to understand.

Moreover, the large amount of text in the comic, without any intuitive sense of crisis, inevitably makes readers feel bored about the confrontation between Light and L.

"The whole thing is just text, it's giving me a headache."

"So the plot of the last few chapters of Death Note is just L constantly testing Light? It feels a bit boring."

"Tori Akino-sensei should just cut these scenes and gloss over them, wouldn't that be better?"

"I thought the meeting between Yue and L would be very exciting, but it turned out to be a bit boring."

"Yue's identity is hidden too well. I didn't sense the crisis he was about to face. Let's give him a little thrill."

Light Yagami has an exceptionally high IQ. Although he is walking a tightrope, he proceeds cautiously and leaves no trace.

There's no evidence for L, and even the assessment that Light is Kira is only 5%. It seems that Light Yagami can relax a bit now.

The tension in "Death Note" has eased, which makes readers accustomed to appreciating its suspense feel quite uncomfortable.

The ongoing battle between Yue and the police over the "Death Note" over the past four months has also caused readers to tire of the content. Without new changes, a decline in sales is likely unavoidable.

……