Full-time comic artist

"Is that really what you think?" Xiaohe asked hesitantly.

Is it possible that Akino Mirai is not a despicable person who draws depressing scenes to make children cry?

“That’s right, you see, Mami Tomoe doesn’t have much screen time,” Hibiki Higashino said frankly and seriously. “If you add it all up carefully, it’s only about two chapters. It’s really surprising that Mami Tomoe is so popular and that there’s such a lot of reader feedback in such a short story.”

"These were all accidents, accidents that I couldn't control."

Other works rarely become extraordinary or mediocre simply because of a small plot point.

Xiaohe thought for a moment and nodded, "Okay...it seems so..."

No one could have imagined that a comic that didn't initially attract much attention would generate such a huge response because of the death of a minor character.

“This is not what I originally intended,” Hibiki Higashino said softly, looking out the window. “Mami Tomoe is just a tool, a tool to show the dangers of the magical girl world.”

"I'm sorry, teacher," Xiaohe said, bowing her head in apology. "I misunderstood you."

"It's good that it's untied." Higashino Hibiki sat up straight and looked at Koga. "Let's get to work."

After Akemi Akemi took good care of Higashino Mirai, she entered the studio and saw Higashino Hibiki writing furiously without looking up, as well as Koga feeling guilty.

"Huh?" she asked, puzzled.

……

Friday arrived quickly.

Editorial Department of Weekly Shonen Jump.

Sasaki sat in the main seat, overseeing his subordinates' work. He was checking who was slacking off, going through the motions without putting in the effort.

Soichi Aida informs Akira Amano that the results of this season of "Katekyo Hitman Reborn!" are still not ideal, with Masashi Koichi ranking 12th.

The first volume has only sold 12 copies so far, and it is unlikely to sell 30 copies by the end of the year.

Kohei Onishi is angrily rebuking Hideaki Sorachi, telling him to tone it down and stop creating unexpected plot twists.

This week, the editorial department received a complaint from the PTA because of his comics.

"Things aren't looking good lately, you should lay low for a while."

“I understand, Da Xisan.”

"I understand, my foot! I said the same thing last week!"

Sasaki nodded as he looked at his furious subordinate.

It seems that Da Xi is working very hard.

Not bad, not bad.

Until he saw Koji Yoshida.

The man was staring blankly, his gaze unfocused, and he remained motionless.

"Are you thinking about getting off work?" Sasaki walked up to Yoshida, leaned close to his ear, and asked cautiously.

"Editor... Editor-in-Chief!" Yoshida was startled and immediately stood up.

He explained, trembling, "I was just wondering if this data was wrong?"

Chapter 335: The next issue will be closed

Koji Yoshida was in a daze, and Sasaki couldn't bear to see him like that, so he went over and woke him up.

“I was so surprised,” Yoshida explained. “The fact that Madoka Magica’s score this time surpassed One Piece and took first place is unbelievable.”

A magical girl manga, without any battle scenes, depicting the grief and reflection brought to its companions by the death of a character, actually surpassed "Bleach," "Naruto," and "One Piece" to reach the top, leaving Yoshida astonished and puzzled.

Sasaki nodded silently. It was indeed a miracle. He was stunned for a while when he saw the results.

“The data is not wrong,” Sasaki told Yoshida. “It’s due to the enormous influence of Professor Tori Akino.”

"Over the course of his ten-year serialization, he has created many excellent works, and he has a large number of readers who love his work, even comparable to Toriyama-sensei. Now, due to the rising popularity of 'Puella Magi Madoka Magica,' no fewer than 100,000 readers have returned to read this manga."

Of course, this is also inseparable from the wonderful plot and delicate emotions of "Puella Magi Madoka Magica".

Without compelling content, even if readers come, they won't stay.

They might watch it once, reminisce about their youth, and then let it go.

"I understand." Koji Yoshida said thoughtfully. If he weren't an editor, he would also be curious and buy Jump to check it out if he suddenly heard this news.

After all, it's an unconventional work by Tori Akino, a teacher he's admired for many years.

"Let's get back to work." Sasaki patted him on the shoulder and walked to the side.

"Yes, Editor-in-Chief." Koji Yoshida bowed respectfully.

After hanging up the call with Hideaki Sorachi, Kohei Onishi glanced at Koji Yoshida and then got back to work.

"You're so lucky, Yoshida-kun."

……

"Tori Akino-sensei is number one this time."

Oda was slightly surprised when he learned of the ranking of Kosei from editor Tsuchida.

"It's unbelievable."

He had thought that Tori Akino's final work would be very mediocre.

After all, a cartoonist who has let go of his skills will forget about technique and stop trying to please the readers. Even if the pace is slow and the plot is uninteresting, it doesn't matter.

They create whatever they want, and the final result may only be something they themselves like.

Thinking that he would never see Oda, who had poured his heart and soul into future works by Tori Akino, he even shed tears at that time.

Now he understood that Tori Akino was still restraining himself.

Puella Magi Madoka Magica is not a mediocre work in his own opinion; it is a pillar of Jump magazine that is on par with other manga.

"Full power!"

Oda is already conceiving the next storyline in his mind.

That was Water Seven, the turning point and birthplace of the Straw Hat Pirates.

……

Masashi Kishimoto is very pleased with himself now. Although he is not as popular as One Piece in Japan, Naruto is like Dragon Ball, leading Jump to conquer overseas markets.

This is an advantage that One Piece doesn't have.

Meanwhile, Naruto is becoming increasingly popular in Jump, and Kishimoto believes that he will eventually surpass Oda next year and become Jump's top manga.

"Ha ha ha ha."

Thinking of this, he couldn't help but laugh.

In the current Jump, Akira Toriyama has retired, Yoshihiro Togashi is barely alive, and Tite Kubo is still far from being a top talent. The only true heroes in the world are Oda and him.

If he can defeat Oda, he can carry on his teacher's legacy.

Huh? The teacher isn't dead yet? Then it's alright.

"Let's keep drawing manga." Kishimoto sat down and began working.

"Teacher, Editor Yahagi just came by," his assistant reminded him.

"Huh?"

"He saw you were daydreaming and assumed you were thinking about storyboards for Naruto, so he didn't disturb you. Teacher, have you come up with any interesting plot ideas?"

"No...that's right!" After hesitating for a moment, Kishimoto nodded confidently. "Mr. Yahagi, is there something you need?"

"As expected of a teacher," the assistant said, looking at him with admiration. "Today is Friday, and the results for Jump Junior are out. Naruto is in third place."

"Third place, huh?" Kishimoto was surprisingly dissatisfied. "Who are the other two works? There haven't been any new manga series recently, have there?"

"Oda-sensei's One Piece..."

"Tch, Oda's number one again, damn it." Kishimoto, the perennial runner-up, grumbled.

“No,” the assistant explained, “One Piece came in second place this time.”

"Then who is number one?" Kishimoto asked in surprise.

"It's Akino-sensei's 'Puella Magi Madoka Magica'."

"Huh?" Kishimoto was shocked, his mouth agape.

"Little Circle" is number one? How is that possible?

Just when everyone thought they had given up, the teacher caught up again, putting Kishimoto Masashi under immense pressure.

……

On Friday afternoon, Koji Yoshida came to Tori Akino's studio and took away the manuscript of the ninth chapter of "Puella Magi Madoka Magica".

Hibiki Higashino finally had some free time again.

For the next three days, his job was to draw the storyboard for episode 10 of "Puella Magi Madoka Magica".

This is not difficult for him; he can even take two days off to rest.

He finally caught up with the work efficiency of Jump civil servant Osamu Akimoto.

At six o'clock in the afternoon, the Higashino family sat together to eat. Higashino Mirai sat at the baby's table next to him, eating his tasteless complementary food.

"What has Mei been doing lately?" Hibiki Higashino finally remembered his sister.

She was the only one who wasn't home.

“Yes.” Higashino Shio blinked, looking at Higashino Ichiro. “What is Mei busy with?”

"I don't know," Higashino Ichiro said in a deep voice.

The three of them focused their attention on Akemi Akemi.

"I... I naturally don't know either." Akemi Akemi gave an awkward smile.

“Never mind, that’s not important,” Higashino Ichiro said, looking at the dining table. “Let’s eat.”

"Hmm." Higashino Hibiki picked up his rice bowl and began to eat.