Full-time comic artist

The film has a wider reach, which can enhance the reputation of Weekly Shonen Jump and increase its international recognition.

In short, there are many benefits.

Hibiki Higashino inquired with the production company and, upon learning it was Madhouse, immediately agreed.

Only a crazy house that doesn't care about costs could have made Paprika so perfect.

……

It's now mid-September.

When Hibiki Higashino focused his energy on Death Note.

The production plan for the film "Paprika" has already been announced.

Many readers are eagerly anticipating it.

One member of parliament was very unhappy, feeling that Paprika was a satire of him.

During his election speech that year, he publicly promised to alleviate the appalling phenomenon of female students openly engaging in prostitution.

The release of "Paprika" put him in an awkward situation, and when he appeared in public, he was questioned by a group of reporters.

The fact that Paprika is now being made into a movie will be a stain on his reputation for life.

Chapter 312 Death Appears

The release of Paprika has greatly displeased a Tokyo lawmaker, who has been overwhelmed dealing with his political opponents these past few days.

I was thinking of giving Shueisha a piece of my mind, but then something else happened.

Mitsutoshi Shimabukuro, the author of "The Last Leader of the Century" and a manga artist on par with Eiichiro Oda, was arrested by the police for engaging in compensated dating with underage girls.

……

"Mitsutoshi Shimabukuro is really unlucky."

"Once you're caught, there's nothing you can do."

"It's such a shame that 'The Leaders of the End of the Century' is going to be canceled..."

This is the opinion of most people.

In Japan, teenage girls engaging in compensated dating is a social problem and is clearly a legal no-go zone, but because so many people are doing it, nobody cares anymore.

It can only be described as a collapse of social order and morality.

However, with Paprika currently enjoying immense popularity, the issue of Mitsutoshi Shimabukuro has suddenly ignited public opinion and become a topic of discussion throughout Japan.

"Teacher Toriakino was right."

"We need to reflect on how Japan has become like this!"

"It's not America yet!"

"Shh, this is a topic that shouldn't be discussed."

The questioning and opposition he faced grew even stronger, so he began to reduce his public appearances and activities, becoming increasingly withdrawn, making it even less likely that he would pursue the Shueisha case.

Oda went to the police detention center and felt a pang of sorrow when he saw the dejected Mitsutoshi Shimabukuro.

Mitsutoshi Shimabukuro was both his rival and his friend, and he regarded Shimabukuro as someone more talented than himself.

Now he is digging his own grave, failing to cherish the talent bestowed upon him by heaven.

Why would you do something like this?

Mitsutoshi Shimabukuro was dejected. He never expected that a single instance of compensated dating would lead to his arrest, and now his career was ruined and his reputation was completely destroyed.

“I…” his lips trembled, “I just wanted to find something new and…inspiration…”

Mitsutoshi Shimabukuro recalled the Jump awards ceremony, where he failed to get advice from Mirai Tori, and from then on, he went astray.

perhaps……

There's no more "maybe".

“I see,” Oda said, looking at him. “Shimabukuro, please don’t give up drawing manga! You absolutely mustn’t.”

Mitsutoshi Shimabukuro looked dejected and simply nodded.

"I will."

But his hard work, "Leaders at the End of the Century," was beyond saving.

Oda walked out of the detention center and let out a long sigh of relief.

"I absolutely cannot make the same mistake as Mitsutoshi Shimabukuro. One Piece cannot be canceled."

He looked back again, hoping for Mitsutoshi Shimabukuro's return.

……

“Mitsutoshi Shimabukuro of Taizan Comics has been arrested.” Yoshihiro Togashi felt sorry. He thought Shimabukuro was very talented and had amazing skills, even surpassing him in drawing. But now, it’s all over.

"Hopefully he can mend his ways."

Togashi sighed.

……

Mitsutoshi Shimabukuro was arrested, and the top-ranked manga on Jump, "The Last Leader of the Century," was canceled.

Higashino Hibiki was taken aback when he heard the news.

It's quite strange that someone you know is arrested for committing a crime.

The end of an interesting comic is also a pity.

But if you go astray, you will fall into the abyss.

Higashino learned about the situation of compensated dating in Japan when he was drawing Paprika. It can be said that having this idea can help you find a suitable target, or that even without this idea, you can be influenced by temptation.

Japanese junior and high school girls will stop you and ask for your contact information, asking if you need a partner for compensated dating. As long as you pay, it's fine.

Two hundred thousand yen is fine, but as little as ten or twenty thousand yen, or even a few thousand yen.

It's normal for a naive cartoonist to go astray.

"I wonder what the high school girl who does compensated dating with Shimabukuro-sensei looks like?" Omori rested his chin on his hand, lost in thought.

My mouth is watering.

Higashino looked at him strangely, "You can't do anything bad."

“Of course!” Omori said seriously, his expression turning serious. “I have a girlfriend.”

Tanaka couldn't help but say to him, "He's just an online dating partner. He might even be a man."

"Don't talk nonsense!" Da Sen said angrily. "Xiao Tian is careful and attentive, she must be a girl. If she were a man, why would she date me? She didn't cheat me out of money."

"Then why has he been refusing to meet with you?" Tanaka asked.

"It must be because I'm not sincere!" Omori declared firmly; he was completely swayed.

"Once my comic is serialized, I will confess my feelings to Xiaotian through the comic."

Omori started thinking about creating a character for the manga.

Her name is Morita, and she has a few skills. If you read the skills diagonally, it sounds like "sweet, I love you".

"Hehe, hehe." Omori chuckled foolishly.

Tanaka shook his head. "He's hopeless."

Higashino Hibiki remained noncommittal about their conversation.

Regardless of Xiaotian's identity or purpose, he saved Dasen.

Having successfully lost weight, filled with dreams and hope, and made a lot of money, Da Sen is now much better than he was before.

that's enough.

“It’s such a pity that Professor Mitsutoshi Shimabukuro…” Hibiki Higashino rested his chin on his hand, watching his two assistants playfully bickering.

……

A few days later, the University of Tokyo released some data.

Their survey in different regions of Japan found that as many as 8.6% of female high school students had engaged in compensated dating.

This figure is a staggering 2.4% higher than in 2000.

In other words, the phenomenon of compensated dating has not been suppressed, but has instead intensified.

They also summarized the reasons: firstly, the development of the Internet and the fact that almost everyone has a mobile phone promoted the development of channels.

Secondly, there are more and more love hotels.

Thirdly, there is the sluggish economic development.

"It's truly shocking." Hibiki Higashino looked at the newspaper; he could understand Director Satoshi Kon's feelings.

He made an urgent appeal through animation art in response to the decline of social morality in Japan.

Unfortunately, it was of no use.

Higashino Hibiki put down the newspaper after reading it.

The controversy sparked by "Paprika" will eventually subside. Society will remain the same, nothing will change. Let's just end it here.

……

"Death Note is still the best." Ken Miyano felt very satisfied reading Jump. "This is what shonen manga should be like."

It's late September now, and the plot of Death Note is getting more and more interesting.

Light and L work together to deduce the location of the third Kira.

He's becoming more and more like L, and he always manages to think of plans before L does.

“In that case, even if I die, Yue can inherit L’s name,” L said to Yue.

His words were a test of Yue; L still hadn't let his guard down around Yue, trusting his own judgment.

Based on their long time together, L guessed that Yue had voluntarily relinquished her abilities to avoid suspicion during a dangerous situation.