Full-time comic artist

What is he looking at?

Are Hikaru Shindo's games really that amazing?

Chapter 46 Changes in the Go Club

After the game of Go ended, the opponent burst into tears.

Hikaru Shindo was still engrossed in the game when he looked up in a daze and noticed Akira Touya standing next to him.

“That was a beautiful game,” Akira Touya said, looking at Hikaru Shindo with a sense of relief. “I’m so upset. Why wasn’t I the one playing against you?”

Kaga was stunned, and the entire room fell silent.

It's surprising that Akira Toya, a renowned genius on par with professional Go players, would say such a thing.

Akira Toya admitted that he was currently weaker and that he would catch up with Hikaru Shindo.

After the match, Hikaru wasn't happy at all; he recalled Akira Touya's unwavering gaze.

Akira Toya was not searching for himself, but for Fujiwara no Sai behind him!

Hikaru Shindo became excited and decided to take his first step in Go, aiming to catch up with Akira Toya.

By the end, Odagiri saw the manga conclude within a large framework.

Against the dark background, there are only three points of light.

Akira Touya stared at Sai Fujiwara, while Hikaru behind him also kept a close eye on him, taking his first step.

……

Odagiri closed the comic book with awe, his blood boiling and his heart pounding.

Just like when I watched "Ashita no Joe" and saw Joe Yabuki fighting with all his might, like a lit candle burning itself out to fight, I was overwhelmed with emotion.

"I won't just puff and puff like those guys over there. Even if it's just for a fleeting moment, I'll burn bright red and dazzling... and then all that's left is pure white ash."

"This is such a great comic! A really great comic!"

He murmured to himself, closing his eyes to feel the trembling of his heartstrings.

until……

"Odagiri," came a knock on the door, and Mom called out loudly, "Have you finished your homework?"

He quickly realized, "It's being done!"

"You better behave yourself, do you hear me?"

"I've been doing my homework, Mom, please don't bother me!"

I quickly sat up, opened my diary, and checked the time. Two hours had passed since I picked up Jump.

"Oh, really!"

He began to write furiously.

……

Because of the competition, 2-dan Yamazaki Akira hasn't visited for a long time.

I don't know if it's because they don't have time, or if they're worried that playing Go with Higashino Hibiki will affect their skills.

Unable to suppress his passion for Go, Hibiki Higashino finally returned to his old haunt, the Go club in Chiyoda Ward.

After entering the door, he prepared to pay a fee of 500 yen.

But when the receptionist saw it was him, her eyes lit up, and she refused the 500 yen.

"How could I possibly take your money?" she said with a smile. "Because of the influence of 'Hikaru no Go,' many new people have recently come to our club."

Hibiki Higashino asked curiously, "Are there many? What age group are they roughly in?"

“Hmm,” the young woman thought for a moment, “most of them are between 10 and 18 years old, and there are seven or eight familiar faces. That’s already a lot.”

Higashino nodded, surprised by how well it worked.

Even before it was adapted into an anime, it attracted many readers to start learning Go.

He put away the 500 yen and prepared to go inside.

"Wait, could you sign my autograph first?"

She took out a blank folding fan and handed it to Higashino Hibiki expectantly.

"Row."

Higashino nodded, wishing him great success in business and a bright future for Tori Akino.

……

Upon entering the clubhouse, it was packed with people playing chess.

Just as the receptionist said, there were indeed quite a few young people there.

They were stroking their chins in thought, their brows furrowed; they looked like newcomers.

Hearing footsteps approaching, the bystander glanced over.

"That person..."

"Yes, that was around that time!"

"The kid who said he wanted to serialize a comic book!"

"The author of Hikaru no Go!"

Those playing chess or watching all stood up and quickly walked to Higashino Hibiki, surrounding him completely.

The other young people were puzzled by this scene, thinking that some important person had arrived.

Upon hearing about the author of "Hikaru no Go," I couldn't sit still any longer and quickly joined in.

Higashino Hibiki was startled and didn't know what was going on.

He has not yet adapted to his identity and influence in the world of Go.

This Go club witnessed his legendary beginnings and looks forward to his future. Therefore, it is his solid foundation.

Even without reading the comics, I still keep following it.

I hope that I might see him again at the club next time.

"You did it!"

"It's really being serialized!"

Seeing the flushed faces of this group of middle-aged and elderly people, Higashino Hibiki worried that an accident might happen.

“After a lot of hardship,” Higashino nodded, “I overcame countless trials and tribulations, and broke through layers of disappointment, frustration and despair, and I fulfilled the promise I made back then.”

"Oh!" The whole audience cheered.

It was only a little over six months ago, but he made it sound like it happened several years ago.

However, everyone was so excited that they didn't think about that.

"That's impressive, you really do what you say!"

"Because of you, young people have started to pay attention to Go."

They chattered on and on, and Higashino Hibiki was initially very happy, but before it had even ended, he felt dizzy and lightheaded.

"Teacher Akino, please sign your autograph!"

A junior high school student handed over a jump, with Hibiki Higashino's signature on it.

After that, there was a steady stream of people, but thankfully there were only about twenty people in the room, and it ended not long after.

He suddenly realized that, in certain situations, he, a newcomer to the comic book industry, was also a celebrity.

"Brother Higashino! Are you here today?" Koharu said with surprise.

He was studying a chess score with a focused expression when he noticed everyone gathered together. Curious, he squeezed into the crowd and discovered it was Higashino Hibiki.

Koharu walked up to Higashino Hibiki, wearing only a thin coat despite it being the dead of winter, but she looked incredibly warm and enthusiastic.

"Uncle Koharu, it's been a long time! I'm itching to play," Higashino Hibiki raised an eyebrow. "Want to play a round?"

Higashino felt he had a chance of winning, after all, he had studied with professional players for a long time and his methods were orthodox, not unorthodox.

He suffered a crushing defeat at this Go club. Everyone treated him like a goblin to gain experience, and he was utterly defeated and his performance was appalling.

Now it's time to come back and get revenge.

“You want to play chess with me?” Xiaochun pointed to an empty seat. “I’m not as good as you at drawing comics, but I’m definitely better at chess.”

The crowd dispersed spontaneously, allowing the two people to walk onto the path in front of the chessboard.

"Why did you have to ask Xiaochun of all people?"

"Tori Akino Mirai-sensei, you didn't know anything when you first came here, right?"

"I'll definitely get completely humiliated."

They spoke in hushed tones, trying not to disturb the two chess players.

Higashino Hibiki didn't listen to the sidelines. He was focused on the game and didn't start his own strategy until two minutes later, after Koharu made the first move.

Xiaochun initially didn't care and was preparing to play a few instructional games. In the end, she won by one or two points, leaving the Go promoter with some face.

But the more he played chess, the more alarmed he became, and he couldn't hold back at all. In fact, he was much more serious than when playing chess with others.

Chapter 47 School Opening

Fifteen minutes later, Xiaochun let out a long sigh of relief and smiled. He hadn't played such a wonderful game of chess in a long time.

"I lost." Higashino Hibiki lowered his head, feeling extremely disappointed.

"You're really amazing, Higashino-kun," Koharu praised. "Back in late September last year, you were just a beginner in Go, right? Now you're almost at the level required for academy students."

Higashino Hibiki was very surprised; it was the first time he had ever known his own strength.

After all, after studying Go for a while, he knew that the highest level of Go players was a professional 2-dan, and the lowest level was a complete novice.