Full-time comic artist

It's wonderful to see young people continuing their manga careers and soaring through Jump.

“When we go out together, people will think we’re the same age,” Hibiki Higashino said earnestly.

These kinds of words are usually used to praise your girlfriend's mother and to please your mother-in-law.

But Hibiki Higashino truly felt that was exactly right.

"The suspense and mystery in Death Note is very well designed. Everyone says that the intellectual battles in JoJo are very exciting, but that actually sacrifices some of the plausibility," Araki said. "But Death Note is not like that. Its plot is very serious, and every step of the way is both unexpected and logical. I am not as good as you."

These are his thoughts and feelings after reading "Death Note". He was able to appreciate "Hikaru no Go", "Slam Dunk" and "JoJo" even though they were on different tracks.

But Death Note is different. What readers love most about JoJo is Araki's boundless imagination.

He used his Stand ability with unparalleled skill.

For example, Josuke Higashikata used Crazy Diamond to fuse Angelo with the rock, creating a unique symbol of Morioh.

This overlaps with Death Note.

Araki often compares these two manga, only to find that he had taken a shortcut, sacrificing rationality for the sake of plot. This one is fine, that's just how manga is.

But Death Note is different. Even with bizarre gadgets, Akino Mirai still keeps the rules very rigid.

Light Yagami's only place of action is that of a high school student who possesses the "Death Note".

The plot will not go beyond the established settings.

The plot unfolds very meticulously, and the comic remains very interesting, which further tests the author's skill in plot design.

“You are better than me in this respect,” Araki said frankly.

"Araki-sensei, I still have much to learn from you," Higashino said, bowing.

……

"Tori Akino-sensei, you're here." Yoshida Koji walked over excitedly when he saw Higashino Hibiki, which made Higashino Hibiki breathe a sigh of relief.

He felt somewhat awkward facing Araki.

Upon seeing Yoshida, Araki bid farewell and headed towards Osamu Akimoto.

"Yeah, I've been here for a while now. Didn't you tell me I had to come?" Hibiki Higashino replied.

"Thank you so much!" Yoshida exclaimed excitedly.

He was really worried that Higashino Hibiki wouldn't bother coming.

"I will keep my promise." Higashino Hibiki nodded.

He saw Sasaki walking towards him and greeted him, "Editor-in-Chief Sasaki, it's been a long time."

Hibiki Higashino felt nostalgic upon seeing his old partner.

Strangely, Sasaki's eyes were filled with anger, and he looked menacing.

It was as if someone had made him angry.

“Tori Akino-sensei,” Sasaki walked over quickly, taking a deep breath to calm himself down, “It’s been a long time.”

"How much longer can Death Note continue to be serialized?" he asked tentatively.

Higashino counted on his fingers, then laughed nonchalantly, "Probably another four or five months, it will end in October, hahaha."

Seeing his smile, Sasaki gritted his teeth!

"hateful!"

"what?"

“I mean,” Sasaki sighed, “do your best.”

"I will!" Hibiki Higashino raised his hands high. "Give Death Note a perfect ending!"

I can't stay here any longer, or I'll get high blood pressure!

Sasaki suppressed his anger, trying to calm himself down and not argue with a child.

"That's good then..." He turned around and walked towards Oda.

“Mr. Sasaki,” Hibiki Higashino unexpectedly tugged at his sleeve, “it’s going to be a really exciting ending!”

Chapter 299 Compared to Hibiki Higashino, I think...

Sasaki turned around, looked at Higashino Hibiki who was making a solemn vow, and was speechless with emotion.

He was never worried that the ending of Death Note would fall short of expectations.

However, Akino Mirai, the angry bird, always seems to have a promising manga that is about to end.

They don't know how to cherish what they have.

“Yeah, I know,” Sasaki said in a muffled voice.

He shook himself off Higashino Hibiki's hand and quickly left.

Hibiki Higashino watched Sasaki's retreating figure, swallowed hard, and realized he still had so much to say.

"Mr. Sasaki has really changed since he became the editor-in-chief; he's become so arrogant."

“That’s right,” Yoshida nodded in agreement.

This editor-in-chief, who rarely showed his emotions, put a lot of pressure on him, as he was always worried that he might accidentally say the wrong thing.

“Tori Akino-sensei,” Yoshida said, “the awards ceremony is still a while away, let’s discuss the next storyboard for Death Note.”

"Alright," Higashino Hibiki reluctantly agreed.

They walked to the rest area, sat down, and started brainstorming.

The event only stopped half an hour later when staff came to inform the two that the activity was about to begin.

Guided by staff, Higashino Hibiki sat down in the lobby.

Surrounding me were my fellow manga artists, and behind me were editors and employees from other departments of Shueisha. There were quite a few people present, probably over a hundred.

"Akira Toriyama isn't here."

Hibiki Higashino stood beside Oda, who quietly asked him a question.

“Teacher Toriyama rarely attends events like this,” Hibiki Higashino replied.

"What a pity," Oda sighed.

He was disappointed that he couldn't meet his idol.

Also feeling disappointed were Masashi Kishimoto and Kentaro Yabuki, who were standing nearby.

Hibiki Higashino couldn't help but admire him, saying that Akira Toriyama was indeed Japan's number one manga artist, and that the current generation of young people in Jump were all his fans.

I don't know when it started, but I've achieved this kind of success.

"Teacher Toriakino," the genius Mitsutoshi Shimabukuro said softly from the other end, "how did you adjust yourself?"

Hibiki Higashino recalled the time when he learned that Akemi Akemi was pregnant and he was not in the right state of mind to draw "Death Note".

"We can only wait," he replied.

"If life is always the same, like stagnant water, when will we ever see it again?" Mitsutoshi Shimabukuro said dejectedly.

His decadent state has lasted for a long time. "The Leader of the End of the Century" is a comedy manga, and his lack of passion in life has made the manga boring as well.

"I..." Higashino Hibiki was about to comfort him when Yoshihisa Heiji, the host, and Sasaki, the presenter, went on stage and had to stop.

……

After the opening remarks, the awards ceremony officially began.

The first person to appear was Osamu Akimoto, a veteran of Jump.

His manga "Kochikame" began serialization in 1976 and has weathered the ups and downs of Jump. So, basically, this old gentleman spearheaded every Jump event.

The second is Hirohiko Araki. He is 42 years old this year and is a senior figure in the manga artist community.

Higashino Hibiki sat in the center of the first row below the stage, smiling and clapping silently.

After that, Kentaro Yabuki, Morimichi Yamamura, Mitsutoshi Shimabukuro, Takeshi Konomi, Masashi Kishimoto, Kazuki Takahashi, and many others took the stage.

In the end, only Hibiki Higashino and Oda had not yet received their awards.

Torishima Kazuhiko, who was present at the scene and remained silent, noticed this and couldn't help but smile.

He turned to Toshiaki Takahashi beside him and asked, "Who do you think will be the next person to appear?"

Takahashi Toshiaki hesitated.

This is the difference between the final act and the main act.

Jump's current mainstay is One Piece, but before that, it was Slam Dunk.

Death Note, which is not a mainstream manga and was only serialized for eight months, can never surpass One Piece.

So now, whether to maintain Akino Tori's future position or let Oda gain glory depends on how Takashi Sasaki arranges things.

“Sasaki must be conflicted too. He trusts Akino’s future strength, but Oda also has a bright future. It’s hard to tell who’s better between the two right now.” After thinking for a long time, Takahashi Toshimasa said, “But in my opinion, let’s stick to the rules.”

“Oda is stronger right now, so let him be number one. Tori Akino-sensei is a very peaceful person and won’t be dissatisfied. Oda-kun is… well, very pure.”

Minister Torishima nodded, smiling as he looked at Sasaki, wondering how he would solve this problem. "Perhaps it's like this."

……

After taking photos, Kazuki Takahashi walked off the stage with the trophy.

Yoshihisa took a deep breath and looked at Oda and Hibiki Higashino below the stage.

He looked at Sasaki again with a questioning look in his eyes, and Sasaki nodded slightly, letting him continue.

Yoshihisa finally fixed his gaze on Hibiki Higashino and picked up the teleprompter.

"Next one..."

“I’ll do it.” Oda raised his hand and stood up. He said to Hibiki Higashino, “I’m sorry, Akino-sensei, I have something urgent to attend to, so I’ll have to go ahead with you.”

He stepped past Higashino Hibiki and strode onto the center of the stage.

……