Full-time comic artist

According to Xiaochun, it was much higher than what he considered to be a professional level 2.

Those around him nodded in approval upon hearing this, saying, "No wonder he's a cartoonist; he's truly talented."

"If you focus on Go," an elderly man asked Koharu curiously, "could Mr. Tori Akino become a professional Go player before he turns twenty?"

Xiaochun pondered. No one understood the gap between amateur and professional better than him. He had spent the first half of his life trying to bridge it, but unfortunately, he lacked talent.

"Brother Dongye, how many hours do you play Go every day?"

“I would spend three or four hours a week looking at game records, thinking about how to use them in ‘Hikaru no Go’,” Hibiki Higashino recalled.

"Such a short time..."

Xiaochun's pupils were shocked. When he was young, he spent 10 hours a day playing chess and studying. He couldn't understand how there could be such a big difference between humans.

“If it’s true, then…” Koharu smiled bitterly, “becoming a Honinbo or a celebrity isn’t impossible.”

"real!"

"Amazing!"

"Can our team produce even one national team player?!"

Neither the onlookers nor Hibino Hibiki were surprised that Koharu's evaluation was so high.

Hibiki Higashino usually works under Yamazaki and suffers a lot of setbacks.

Was that guy envious of my talent? Is that why he was so ruthless?

“Thank you,” Higashino Hibiki stood up, “but I don’t plan to go any deeper into Go.”

"I've found the path I want to take, and I don't have the time or energy to spend on anything else. Occasionally, I can have some fun. I'm sorry to have let everyone down."

Two hours later, Higashino Hibiki hadn't lost a single game of Go and went home happily.

Koharu watched Higashino Hibiki's departing figure, a complex mix of emotions and jealousy flashing in her eyes.

"I wish I had his talent."

Even when I was focused on Go, I couldn't pass the exam to become a professional Go player. Now I have a job to take my time with, and with my age, it's even less likely that I'll become a professional Go player.

What he had longed for was actually rejected.

"Sigh."

He patted his cheeks, focused his attention, and then looked at the latest chess score.

……

On April 5th, cherry blossoms were in full bloom, youthful energy was palpable, and students had been back at school for four days.

The graduation ceremony for the senior students was held in the school's auditorium.

Hibiki Higashino sat in his seat in the third-year art class A, waiting for the graduating students to give their speeches.

"Now, please welcome the graduate to give their acceptance speech. Graduate representative, Hirokazu Nakai."

Hibiki Higashino thought it would be senior Takagi, since she got into Tokyo University.

I never expected Nakai to be even better than Takagi.

Hibiki Higashino watched as Hirokazu Nakai walked confidently to the microphone and glanced around the classroom.

"On this beautiful spring day, we have successfully completed our graduation ceremony. Three years have passed in the blink of an eye, and I have benefited greatly from them."

I will always remember the help I received from my teachers and classmates.

At Yan Yan High School, I achieved excellent grades and actively participated in club activities, finding inner support along the way.

I founded a Go club, and the time we spent studying Go together was the happiest period of my three years of high school. Although the club almost disbanded.

The students burst into laughter. Higashino noticed that Nishimura was also laughing, but his eyes held a look of longing and reluctance.

Nakai looked around, finally fixing his gaze on Nishimura. "Nishimura-kun, thank you for joining the Go club at the last minute, saving the club from collapse, and allowing me to leave in peace. Thank you!"

He bowed at a 90-degree angle.

“Naka...Nakai-senpai…” Nishimura’s tears welled up and he could no longer hold back, sobbing with his head down.

"The Go club is now in your hands, Nishimura!"

"Yes!" Nishimura stood up, bowed in response, and tears fell to the ground.

"Well, that concludes my speech. Thank you all."

……

After the graduation ceremony, Nishimura was deeply moved. His seniors entrusted him with the future of the Go club, a scene that felt like something out of an anime.

This sense of excitement, a pillar of the community or an indispensable part of it, didn't end until school ended in the afternoon.

Nishimura realized what was happening and was in a dilemma. He didn't know what to do with the Go club, or what Nakai-senpai's request was.

What level does he hope the Go club will reach? To stay afloat? To participate in competitions? Or to become number one in Tokyo?

"It can't possibly be number one in Japan!"

He went berserk in front of Higashino Hibiki, "I'm sorry, I can't do it, Higashino!"

“If you can’t do it, then…” Higashino Hibiki pursed his lips and stopped.

He watched as Nakai Hiromi walked over with a heavy expression, looking preoccupied.

So he pushed Nishimura, who was about to hide behind him, forward and watched the show.

“I’ve thought about it carefully, Nishimura,” Nakai said. “Even if the Go club can survive for a while, you’re all seniors now. It will probably disappear in a year. I was too strict with you just now. Don’t take it to heart.”

He patted Nishimura on the shoulder and sighed.

Nishimura's expression turned strange. "So, Nakai-senpai just wants the Go club to stay afloat? Is that all?"

"That's all?" Nakai retorted, dissatisfied. "Nishimura, don't make it sound so easy. Although there's still a year left, Go is still a niche sport! Don't be so optimistic that we won't have any new players this year."

“Nakai-senpai attended the graduation ceremony, but he hasn’t been to the activity room yet, has he?” Nishimura didn’t argue, but took the lead, grabbed Higashino Hibiki, and walked towards the activity room.

Nakai followed behind, trying to figure out what kind of medicine he was trying to sell.

Higashino Hibiki was speechless. "...Why did you pull me?"

“Hehe,” Nishimura chuckled, “Let me show you my glory.”

Upon entering the Go activity room, the sounds of Go players could be heard.

The "da da da" sounds blended together, creating a very lively atmosphere.

Nishimura opened the clubhouse door, revealing a 50-square-meter space with 10 tables, where more than 20 people were playing chess, along with onlookers.

"See? I've achieved my goal!"

He said smugly to the stunned Nakai.

"How is this possible? How can there be so many members? Nishimura, how did you do that!"

“Of course it’s my unique charm,” Nishimura said, hands on his hips. “Just kidding, I fell in love with Go after watching Hikaru no Go.”

Chapter 48 is adapted into an anime.

Looking at the room full of Go club members, Nakai Hirokazu's eyes welled up with tears.

He still remembers when the Go club was first established, they posted recruitment posters in the notice area, but the basketball club members tore them down and put up their own notices instead.

After that, I could only stick it in a hidden corner, hoping that one day it would have an effect.

Today, the gloom has dissipated, and the Go Club can be considered a popular club.

The way these members were so focused on playing chess was exactly the scene he had been looking forward to!

Experience! Experience!

Today I finally got my reward; thankfully I didn't give up.

He rubbed his eyes vigorously until his eyelids turned red, and said with deep emotion, "Thank you so much, Mr. Torino! I absolutely adore him!"

Higashino Hibiki, standing to the side, shook his head violently upon hearing this.

……

Nobuhiko Horie is in his office.

He first checked Xiao Zheng's recent rankings.

Of the four works included in the serialization meeting last Christmas, only two—Hikaru no Go and The Sun Murder Case—were cancelled.

He frowned, then relaxed.

This is normal. Japan's top manga magazine has the confidence to produce a constant stream of good works. Even if a work is canceled, new works will quickly fill the gap.

Through this process of ups and downs, like gold being sifted from sand, popular comics are selected.

When he saw the results of "The Sun Murder Case", Nobuhiko Horie nodded in satisfaction.

"Sixth place, still has great potential, not bad."

Because of the work's excellent performance, it attracted many readers of popular literature.

The collaboration with Bungei Shunju has achieved initial success.

Then came "Hikaru no Go". I still remember Sasaki Takashi's comments back then, so I always pay special attention to it.

As Sasaki said, Tori Akino Mirai is a genius, and "Hikaru no Go" has achieved very good results.

It was in the first tier below Dragon Ball and Yu Yu Hakusho, and this time it's in fifth place.

Even though he's still a newcomer, Akino Mirai's potential is already becoming apparent.

Nobuhiko Horie nodded, looking very happy.

Discovering a new talent is like adding bricks and tiles to Jump.

He never cared about print magazines or merchandise development, and he remained impartial in the struggle between the former editor-in-chief and Kazuhiko Torishima.

As a middleman, all you need to do is your job.

This is also why he can remain so stable; the Shueisha leadership doesn't want an editor-in-chief who is involved in power struggles, but rather one who can bring them profits.

"It's time to give the first color page of 'Hikaru no Go'," he muttered to himself.