Full-time comic artist

"Won't this bother you?" Yoshii Yamahisa said apologetically.

That's why he didn't say it aloud. He hoped to remain friends, unaffected by financial interests.

"Actually, it was a great help," Higashino Hibiki told him about Akira Toriyama's predicament. A weekly manga artist can't do without an assistant; one person would be exhausted from serializing a story alone.

"There's no one else but you, please!"

Yoshii Yamahisa was tempted and was about to agree when:

Minami Chiharu pushed open the door and entered. Hearing Higashino Hibiki's words, she asked curiously, "What is it that no one else but him can do?"

Higashino blinked at her, feeling like he'd been slapped in the face.

Minami Chiharu and Higashino Hibiki locked eyes for a moment, then she rolled up her sleeves, chuckled, and said, "If you need any help, just let me know!"

Higashino Hibiki was speechless and covered his face.

With Yoshii Yamahisa's consent, Minami Chiharu also learned about his current situation.

"Waaaaah, so pitiful... Wait," Nan Qianchun suppressed her pity and said with a stern face, "Think about it carefully, it's similar to my situation."

I work part-time to earn a living, and I also use some of that money to help support my family.

They braved wind and rain.

“I’m used to working part-time, so Yoshii-kun, you can be Higashino’s assistant,” Minami Chiharu said casually.

Yoshii Yamahisa was very conflicted.

"Don't let us down," Higashino Hibiki patted him on the shoulder, "We're counting on you."

“…Yes.” Yoshii Yamahisa’s eyes were filled with tears, and he sobbed uncontrollably.

……

The next day, Sunday, Sasaki arrived at "Yoshiwara-sou".

Higashino Hibiki thought he was there to deliver sample copies, but he didn't expect him to have so much to say.

"First, issue number 23 will have a color frontispiece for 'Hikaru no Go'." He picked up his notebook and read out the first item.

"The opening color page!" Higashino Hibiki exclaimed excitedly.

This is the cover of Jump magazine!

He had seen Kakarot, Yusuke Urameshi, Kankichi Ryotsu, Jotaro Kujo on the cover before...

Now, Hikaru Shindo can stand in that position too!

Anyone who sees Jump will immediately notice the cover model, which is quite a perk.

This also means that the "Works" have been approved by the editorial department.

In short, there are many benefits.

He has finally taken another step forward in the serialization of his comics.

"Thank you very much, Mr. Sasaki!"

Higashino Hibiki stood up and bowed.

“This is the editor-in-chief’s choice.” Sasaki gestured for him to sit down. “There’s a second point, regarding the anime adaptation of Hikaru no Go.”

"Huh?" Hibiki Higashino wondered if he had misheard.

It hasn't been that long. Dragon Ball started serialization in 1984 and wasn't adapted into an anime until 1986.

He's already planning to start the animation project once the comic is in its second half.

He never expected it to happen so quickly. Apart from Sailor Moon a few years later, there was nothing he knew that happened faster than Hikaru no Go.

"Why?" His first reaction was not surprise, but confusion.

Unbelievable.

"It was Pierrot who applied. They've collaborated with Jump many times; they were in charge of the Yu Yu Hakusho anime adaptation," Sasaki continued.

The anime "Yu Yu Hakusho" is excellent, above average, and has no problems.

Higashino nodded and listened to him continue.

"The editorial department was initially puzzled, but after inquiring, they learned that the Chess Academy had covered most of the expenses."

Chapter 50 Chasing Each Other, A Hymn to Courage

Higashino Hibiki understood. It turned out that the Go Association had allocated special funds for the anime adaptation of "Hikaru no Go" in order to increase the influence of Go.

Producing animations is expensive, but this amount of money is negligible for the Go Academy.

Large corporations such as Fujitsu and Toyota have projects that fund Go tournaments organized by Go associations to enhance their brand image.

After all, Go is an elegant game, and putting it in the same category as Go sounds very sophisticated.

The second is promotion and sales.

Enhancing the influence of Go would also benefit them.

The capitalists behind the scenes had already made the decisions without their knowledge.

At this point, Hibiki Higashino was needed to consider whether or not to adapt it into an anime.

"Of course I want it," Higashino Hibiki replied decisively.

This is a great thing.

Although he did not have a promise with the person he liked that they would get married after their work was adapted into an anime.

However, it is obvious that adapting a work into an anime helps increase its popularity.

It can increase the sales of individual volumes and enhance the value of the IP. In other words, it's like glittering gold!

"However, I need to discuss this with the supervisor first."

“Yes, of course,” Sasaki nodded. “I will let you know the specific time.”

Afterwards, Higashino Hibiki told Sasaki about adding an assistant. After Sasaki met with Yoshii Yamahisa, he assessed his abilities and then nodded in agreement.

……

"No matter who I play chess with, I will think of you."

In mid-April, Hikaru Shindo enters Yase Junior High School. Akira invites Hikaru to play Go at the Go club, and he now practices diligently every day, chasing after "Hikaru Shindo".

Hikaru refused, saying, "I want to work hard with Tsutsui-senpai from the Go club."

He drew the curtains and refused Xiao Liang's advances.

Because he understood that Akira Touya didn't want to defeat him, but rather Fujiwara no Sai, the spirit behind him.

Hikaru diligently studies Go, constantly playing against Tsutsui and Sai, waiting to catch up with Akira. At that time, Akira will finally acknowledge Hikaru as a person.

He no longer wanted to rely on Fujiwara Sai's skill level to play Go; he wanted to make his voice heard.

……

Nobuhiro Nishiwaki is 24 years old and previously worked as an assistant in a manga artist's studio. He currently reads Jump. Nishiwaki particularly enjoys the delicate emotions in the manga *Hikaru no Go*, something often lacking in action-packed manga.

The characters in "Hikaru no Go" are all vividly portrayed; they are not mere plot devices created by the author for the sake of the story.

They possess their own soul and pursuits.

He personally admires Akira Touya, who is a very strong-willed person who constantly strives for his goals.

In order to be able to play against Hikaru Shindo in the middle school Go tournament, Akira Touya joined the Go club at Kaiou Middle School.

He is already at a professional level, and some weaker second-dan players are likely no match for him.

Therefore, the members of the Go club raised questions and objections.

Akira Touya shouldn't participate in competitions at this level. It would be detrimental to the development of the Go club in every way.

Neither exclusion, targeting, nor heart-to-heart talks could change Akira Touya's mind.

Once he has a goal, he will resolutely carry it out.

Regardless, he cared about nothing in order to play against Hikaru Shindo.

In his conversation with Touya Kouhiro, Xiaoliang expressed his fear of Shindo Hikaru.

His opponent was his peer, but their chess skills were vastly different.

He faced Hikaru Shindo with unease, yet he was determined to make a firm decision.

Even if you're afraid, keep chasing; even if you're scared, keep challenging!

Nobuhiro Nishiwaki also fell in love with the character because of this.

He had been looking forward to it for a long time, and finally the second match in the comics arrived.

What kind of sparks will Hikaru Shindo and Akira Toya create?

He looked inside.

……

If Hikaru's school, Yase Junior High, advances to the second round, they will be able to face off against Kaiou Junior High.

Xiao Guang, ready to unleash his full potential, was wondering who his opponent would be when Xiao Liang walked over.

"I am one of the three generals of the Sea King! Shindo!"

Two people who both feared and pursued each other met.

"This is it!" Nobuhiro Nishiwaki shouted!

This is exactly what he wants to see!

In the first match, Yase Junior High won 3-0.

Hikaru Shindo, who had only been learning Go for a short time, won the game.

In a later conversation with Fujiwara no Sai, he said he would take it himself.

The person participating in the competition is himself, not Sai.

But at that moment, Hikaru overheard a conversation among the members of the Go club at Neptune Middle School.