Full-time comic artist

"When I was little, I saw the anime 'Macross' on TV and was immediately captivated," Yuko Asahina said, completely shattering her image as someone who wasn't good at talking.

"It is full of fantasy and imagination. My mother told me that it is an art form created under the control of animation directors, so I also wanted to become a director. To this day, I still think so."

Tetsuya Endo nodded. He had seen many newcomers in this industry, and those who persevered were all driven by a passion for it.

He handed over his business card, which Asahina Yuko accepted with both hands.

“You can call me anytime if you have any questions,” he laughed, clutching the back of his head, “but it’s best not to call at night.”

"I am so grateful!" Asahina Yuko said, tears streaming down her face.

After Hibiki Higashino and Sasaki finished their first phase, Hibiki declined the invitation to a gathering, and they took their leave.

Chapter 52 Animation Festival

After the two people left, Higashino Hibiki put away the contract and didn't go back to continue drawing manga. Instead, he looked at Asahina Yuko, whose face was flushed.

Noticing Higashino Hibiki's gaze, she lowered her head in a fluster, not daring to look him in the eye.

“I think I understand now.” Hibiki Higashino walked to Yuko Asahina’s side and stared at the business card of Tetsuya Endo that she was clutching tightly in her hand with amusement.

"Asahina's attitude towards me changed after she learned that I was Tori Akino Mirai."

While circling around Asahina Yuko, Hibiki Higashino shared his conjecture.

"Whether it's bringing lunch or moving into 'Yoshiwara-so,' it's all because of my identity as an author, isn't it?"

Although it was a question, Higashino Hibiki was convinced of his guess, and sure enough, Asahina Yuko secretly nodded.

She glanced sideways at Higashino Hibiki and found him staring intently at her, so she quickly looked away.

“There’s just one thing I’m curious about,” Higashino Hibiki noticed her reaction and became even more interested. Like a detective incarnate, he unraveled the mystery bit by bit and asked, “It’s been a month since you moved into the dorm. Why haven’t you done anything?”

“I…” Asahina Yuko opened her mouth, then whispered, “Higashino-kun is very busy, I’m sorry to bother him. And…”

"And what?"

“I don’t know what to do,” Asahina Yuko looked up, brushing her long black hair from her chest behind her ear. “After being refused lunch by Higashino-kun, I felt like I had become a burden to him, and I was always thinking things over. I was struggling and hesitating, and just like that, May arrived in a daze.”

Higashino Hibiki almost laughed, looking at the aloof Asahina, who turned out to be just a socially awkward person.

"Then please speak plainly now."

“July 20th,” Asahina Yuko said, her words quickening, “I want to participate in the Tokyo Student Animation Festival. Please help me, Higashino-kun.”

On July 20th, at the "Tokyo Student Animation Festival," Hibiki Higashino had seen its poster in Nagoya before, and thanks to his strong memory, he didn't need Yuko Asahina to explain further.

It's an event held to discover animation talent.

What do you want me to do?

“I want a good story,” Yuko Asahina said quietly. “My animation is terrible, please wait.”

After saying that, without waiting for Higashino Hibiki to stop her, she lifted her white skirt and ran up to the second floor. A short while later, she came down with difficulty, carrying the LD laser disc player and laser discs.

Hibiki Higashino quickly went to meet him and hugged the DVD player to his chest.

I'm really worried she might accidentally break something so nice.

His family was poor when he was young, and he had never used such high-end equipment. At this moment, he was a little excited.

After studying it for a long time, I finally turned my attention to Asahina.

Higashino stepped forward and, under Asahina's bewildered gaze, snatched the disc, which was about the size of a vinyl record.

The device quickly connected to the TV, the disc was inserted, and it began reading.

A very simple tool, similar to VCD.

Higashino Hibiki's practiced ease led to a loss of interest.

The screen showed a 7-minute animated film.

The story of 7 heroes defeating the bad guys.

Ordinary and unoriginal, no wonder Asahina is disappointed; she's also a character with a weak plot.

"Using such a valuable tool to record this kind of animation is a real waste."

Upon hearing Higashino Hibiki's words, Asahina Yuko lowered her head in shame.

"However, the drawing is very good, and the camera work is also great," Higashino Hibiki thought, stroking his chin.

He asked, "When was this piece created?"

Yuko Asahina, "First year of high school".

Higashino Hibiki's eyes lit up as he looked at the reserved girl in front of him.

This guy might be a genius, a rising star in the animation industry.

In terms of storyboarding, it's better than mine, and the art direction and color are also excellent.

Participating in a talent-discovering event like the University Student Animation Festival should easily earn you a newcomer award.

He decided to help Yuko Asahina this time.

I haven't heard of her since, perhaps because the world is different, or perhaps because she gave up on this dream.

Hibiki Higashino didn't want to see this happen.

“No problem, I’ll produce a work.” Higashino nodded.

Yuko Asahina suddenly looked up, her eyes revealing immense excitement.

"Thank you, Higashino-kun!"

……

After finishing today's comic.

Hibiki Higashino returned to his bedroom and wrote a short story.

Hey—Come out!

This is a text that Hibiki Higashino studied in junior high school. It's a science fiction short story by Japanese author Shinichi Hoshi, and it couldn't be more fitting here.

The content is interesting, thought-provoking, and the ending is particularly meaningful.

It took more than half an hour for Higashino Hibiki to finish writing by hand.

He said a few words before handing the manuscript to Asahina.

"I need full copyright to the content of this work. Do you agree?"

Yuko Asahina nodded repeatedly; she simply wanted to participate in the competition.

Looking at Higashino Hibiki's manuscript, I felt an intense longing.

Higashino handed it over directly to her.

No need for a contract, just getting to know the person is enough.

Hibiki Higashino wanted to work with her for a long time.

Starting an animation company after graduating from university in the future would be a pretty good idea.

This kind of talent shouldn't be missed.

Higashino handed the manuscript to her, saying, "Let's each draw a storyboard, and we'll see whose is more suitable tomorrow."

"Mmm." Asahina Yuko nodded repeatedly as she looked at "Hey—Come Out!", her nostrils flaring with excitement. Higashino Hibiki had no idea whether she had actually heard her.

Looking at the dark sky outside, Higashino got up to say goodbye.

……

The next day, Higashino Hibiki met Asahina Yuko's storyboard.

In terms of animation, it's much better than mine.

Animation and comics are different after all. Comics require the reader's imagination and are static, with at most some trajectory lines added. Animation, on the other hand, needs to depict the state of motion.

"Use yours then," Higashino Hibiki sighed.

With 75 days to go until the Tokyo Student Animation Festival, Hibiki Higashino needs to draw manga and can't help, so Yuko Asahina creates her own work.

A 24-minute video could not be completed by one person without computer tools.

However, she still worked hard on the drawing, working frame by frame.

“That won’t do,” Higashino Hibiki stopped her.

"As a supervisor, you must make overall arrangements; you can't become a supervisor by working alone. You need to find someone to help you."

Yuko Asahina bit her lip and nodded.

Hibiki Higashino became curious. What was she going to do?

On Friday, Sasaki came to pick up the manuscript.

“I did receive it,” he said, after making some initial checks and finding no problems. He nodded and continued, “As for Xiaozheng, he came in second place in Hikaru no Go this time.”

"What!" Higashino Hibiki, who was drawing, was stunned. He looked up and exclaimed in shock, "Second place?"

Five months! I've been drawing this comic for five months, and this is the first time I've gotten second place since the first chapter!

Chapter 53 Monsters Appear Frequently

This is the peak of Weekly Shonen Jump.

Some time ago, Hibiki Higashino asked Sasaki about Jump magazine's sales, which reached a staggering 640 million copies, meaning 640 million copies were sold every week.

How many school-age teenagers are there in Japan?

This is a peak that has never been reached before, and will never be reached again after 1995.

It can be said that every work in the series is a masterpiece.

In this golden age surrounded by gods, Higashino Hibiki was already surprised and somewhat frightened to get second place in the junior class.

“I’m really happy right now, Mr. Sasaki.”

"Keep this mindset and keep going," Sasaki said. "I've always believed in you; you'll become a pillar of Jump."