Full-time comic artist

Upon hearing this, Nishimura deftly placed his piece, pinching it between his index and middle fingers.

This is the game he has practiced the longest and put the most effort into in Go.

He glanced smugly at the art students, then looked at Asahina Yuko, only to find that she was just staring blankly at Higashino Hibiki, not even glancing at him.

"Damn you, Higashino! Watch me defeat you!"

"You lost," Hibiki Higashino said calmly.

“How could that be!” Nishimura retorted, but after carefully examining the chessboard, his lips trembled. “I lost…”

He had no way out.

"I was distracted..." Nishimura said dejectedly. "You have to concentrate when playing Go."

"Is it over already?" someone asked.

This dealt a further blow to Nishimura.

"It's just like the manga! Hikaru no Go is so well-drawn, realistic and fun. I want to try learning Go too."

Nakai was just about to comfort Nishimura when he heard this, and couldn't resist promoting the Go club and recruiting members.

……

Time passed slowly, and before we knew it, it was the end of February.

Yan Yan High School is on spring break.

The senior high school students have also begun a new journey.

Some people begin to enter society, where they are molded and experience the bitterness and hardship of life.

Those with good grades will be promoted to higher education institutions.

Hirokazu Nakai left the Go club he loved so much, sighing as he realized that in the end, he still couldn't make it a popular club.

I spent three youthful years here, and I really hate to leave.

"Nishimura-kun, I'm entrusting the Go club to you."

Chapter 45 The Progress of Hikaru no Go

Spring break is here, from the end of February to April 1st, when the cherry blossoms bloom, and school will not start again.

Hibiki Higashino called his parents because he had to work and couldn't go home for the time being. He asked them to take care of themselves and not to worry.

All of Yoshiwara-sou's roommates are still on campus, gathered together for hot pot to bid farewell to Takagi Kiko-senpai.

Hibiki Higashino presented Kiko Takagi with a signed manuscript of "Dr. Slump" by Akira Toriyama, which deeply moved her.

They said the level of affection had reached a point where it was appropriate to have sex with them.

Higashino Hibiki refused; saying such things in front of Akemi Akemi was clearly a joke.

Minami Chiharu's gift was miso she made, saying that even after she left, she could still taste the flavor of her own cooking.

It is quite simple and unadorned, yet it conveys a deep sense of reluctance to part.

"Chiharu!" Takagi Kiko hugged Minami Chiharu's leg and burst into tears, "I'll miss you so much!"

"Sweetie," Nan Qianchun stroked her head, then suddenly froze, "Hey! Don't wipe the soup, tears, and snot from the corner of your mouth all over my clothes!"

She was furious. She had saved up for a long time to buy this dress, and she cherished it very much.

Like catching a cat, she grabbed Takagi Kiko's waist and pulled her away, leaving only her hands still baring their claws.

"You absolutely have to come! See you at Tokyo University."

After having hot pot, Kiko Takagi reluctantly said goodbye.

“No,” Minami Chiharu replied decisively, “I want to go to Musashino Art University.”

"That's so mean, Chiharu."

Kiko Takagi was carrying her suitcase when Akemi Akimiya was waiting for her in the car to take her to the subway station.

Only Yoshii Yamahisa remained silent; his lips were pursed, and his eyes were red.

Hibiki Higashino gave him a push, and Kiko Takagi asked expectantly, "Yamahisa-kun, is there anything you want to say?"

“I…” Yoshii Yamahisa’s lips trembled, “Have a safe trip, Taka… Takagi-senpai.”

Kiko Takagi was disappointed, her eyes lowered, "Okay, I'm leaving."

She got into the car and drove off, leaving Yoshii Yamahisa standing there, tears streaming down her face.

Higashino Hibiki was surprised. He cautiously asked Minami Chiharu, "Aren't those two dating?"

“It was just ambiguous before,” Minami Chiharu said, seeing Higashino shake his head. This person didn’t understand people at all. “I don’t know why, but when the two of them were getting closer and closer, Yoshii-kun suddenly stopped.”

Hibiki Higashino shook his head. He couldn't even handle his own situation, and his manuscripts were running out. So he turned around and went back to drawing manga.

……

Spring break is almost over, but I haven't even started working on my drawing notebook yet.

The spring break was thirty days long, which meant he had to paint thirty pictures, making him extremely anxious.

He was an ordinary junior high school student who played video games, went out with friends, and read some shonen manga in his spare time.

Asking him to come up with thirty paintings now is really asking too much of a person.

"Snapped!"

I slapped my cheeks hard. There's not much time left before school starts, so I must make the most of this time and concentrate on completing my homework!

"I bought soy sauce for Mom yesterday, should I draw it?"

He racked his brains for something to draw, his head throbbing with pain, before he finally managed to complete three paintings.

Not long after, I saw the newly bought Jump and, as if possessed, reached out my hand.

"I'll just take a look, just once."

……

"Hahahaha!" Lying in the kotatsu with potato chips and a can of cola beside him, he laughed and slapped the tatami mat. "Kochikame is still as funny as ever!"

"Next is..."

Turning to the next manga, I thought, "Oh! It's Hikaru no Go! I can't miss this one."

In the manga, Hikaru Shindo accidentally lost to Tetsuo Kaga at the founding anniversary festival of Yase Junior High School, which forced him to team up with Tetsuo Kaga and Tsutsui to participate in the junior high school Go tournament team competition.

When I read this last month, Odagiri was quite surprised, not expecting that there were team competitions for Go at school.

His junior high school didn't have a Go club; it was a rare thing, and Odagiri always thought it was an elegant sport.

"Perhaps I could also start a Go club."

It's okay if you don't know anything about Go; you can learn it gradually.

In later manga chapters, he saw the shining qualities of the protagonist, Hikaru Shindo.

With an exceptionally strong memory, he managed to restore the game of chess after accidentally placing a piece on the board.

Hikaru was just a novice, yet he was able to do this much. Fujiwara Sai realized why he had possessed Hikaru's body.

This young man possesses immense potential.

In the first game of the match, Hikaru Shindo was still very inexperienced and easily lost to his opponent.

His strategy in the second game was quite interesting. He transformed the chess pieces into the shape of the universe, as if he had become a god in the chessboard universe.

At that moment, he was truly happy.

It's wonderful to be able to play Go.

However, Hikaru Shindo's two teammates have a win and a loss, so now it's all up to him.

If he loses, the game will end.

Overwhelmed by intense resentment, Xiao Guang finally spoke:

"Sai, you go down, I... I can't... I can't win... Sai."

Clenching his fists tightly, Xiao Guang realized that he couldn't win on his own. Tears welled up in his eyes as he experienced a profound sense of powerlessness.

This is probably how Akira Touya felt when he lost to him.

Under Sai's command, they finally made it to the finals.

The match against Neptune High School has begun.

Akira Touya was just about to enter Kaiou Middle School when, under the guidance of the principal, he witnessed this match.

And then there's Hikaru Shindo, who beat him.

Odagiri was deeply impressed by the manga "Hikaru no Go," which was different from the typical shonen manga in Jump, or works that focused on fanservice.

It is a work created purely out of deep passion.

When Odagiri saw Hikaru Shindo shedding tears of resentment, he understood that things couldn't continue like this.

Hikaru Shindo has awakened; he will develop his own style of Go.

From January 10th to the end of March, in just over two months, he witnessed Hikaru Shindo's progress and the true essence of "Hikaru no Go".

So he waited a long time, eager to see what would happen next.

……

Hikaru Shindo and Sai Fujiwara were of one mind, understanding Sai's playing style.

Time passed slowly, and Kaga finished his match. He noticed that everyone was focused on Hikaru Shindo's game.

Even his good friend from back then, Akira Toya, was the same.

This was a formidable opponent he could not defeat, and also his biggest worry.

"I'll lose to you on purpose."

This is what Akira Touya said to his father when he was scolded for only being second in Go.

Akira Touya never considered himself a rival, so why is he taking this so seriously now?