Full-time comic artist

"Racing!"

"baseball!"

Whatever it is, they want to see it as soon as possible!

……

February arrived, and Hibiki Higashino came to the editorial department.

He had something he wanted to tell Sasaki.

His departure from Shonen Jump to serialize in Seinen Jump is not a big deal for Shueisha, since both are subordinate manga divisions.

Akino Tori's entry into Seijin Jump might even boost the magazine's circulation.

But for Sasaki, it was terrible.

Chapter 364 "Hanzawa Naoki"

"Editor-in-chief, I'm here."

Hibiki Higashino pushed open the door to the editorial department and immediately saw Sasaki. He waved and said with a hearty laugh.

The cardboard bag in Higashino Hibiki's hand immediately caught Sasaki's eye.

"Teacher!" Yoshida Koji shouted, and under the curious gazes of the others, he quickly ran to Higashino Hibiki. "What brings you here? This is..."

He looked at the documents in Higashino Hibiki's hand. "These are storyboards for the new work, right... Teacher, you should let me see them first. How can you just show them to the editor-in-chief? That's against the rules."

Hibiki Higashino looked at Yoshida and smiled apologetically: "This has nothing to do with Yoshida-kun."

He bypassed Yoshida Koji and walked towards Sasaki.

Koji Yoshida stood there dumbfounded. After regaining his senses, he turned around and looked at Hibiki Higashino's retreating figure in astonishment. "It has nothing to do with me... Why?"

Someone shouted, "Yoshida, your landline is ringing."

"Okay... I'll be right there."

……

Hibiki Higashino walked up to Sasaki, feeling somewhat guilty.

This feeling was inexplicable, but he was indeed a little embarrassed, and the words stuck in his throat.

“Tori Akino-kun,” Sasaki looked up at Higashino Hibiki with a smile, “is there something you need?”

"Editor-in-chief, take a look at this."

Higashino handed the file bag to Sasaki.

"Oh?" Sasaki was very curious, but still opened the file bag.

The file folder contained over 80 pages of storyboard drafts, with the title of the work on the first page.

“Hanzawa Naoki…” he murmured softly.

Sasaki's name doesn't reveal anything, so I turned to the second page.

……

"Working at an industrial central bank was my childhood dream."

"With so many banks, haven't you considered other options?"

"No, I'm only considering your bank."

Sasaki flipped through the storyboards, where the protagonist, Hanzawa Naoki, was telling his story.

Due to the economic crisis, the family company was on the verge of bankruptcy, and the father also passed away because he was too busy.

The local bank with which he had the most business dealings with recovered the loan, and it was the Central Industrial Bank that saved him from the crisis, so he came to repay a debt of gratitude.

"I see..." Sasaki, having seen this, roughly understood why Tori Akino had come to the editorial department.

This comic is aimed at adults, specifically those working-class individuals who have entered the workforce.

And Jump's readers are undoubtedly teenagers, even elementary school students.

If you can't understand "Hanzawa Naoki", you won't like this manga.

His mood turned somber.

The breadwinner of the family is about to run away.

Since "Hanzawa Naoki" could no longer be serialized in "Weekly Shonen Jump," Tori Akino was informing himself that he was going to submit his work to "Weekly Youth Jump."

Sasaki was overwhelmed with emotions and really wanted to shout it out.

"no!"

He eventually calmed down and watched the rest of the "Hanzawa Naoki" series attentively.

……

Sasaki was greatly amazed just by looking at the storyboard.

Bird Akino's cinematic language is becoming increasingly skillful.

In the initial scene, only Hanzawa Naoki is visible; the job applicants behind him are blurry, and even the interviewer's back is not shown.

The protagonist's image becomes the absolute focus; his every move, expression, and language leaves a deep impression on the reader.

After the interview process ended, the screen zoomed in, offering a bird's-eye view of the entire bank recruitment scene.

In hundreds of interview rooms, thousands of competitors hoping to enter the industrial central bank will immediately transform from small to large, creating a stunning contrast and a powerful impact.

The story that follows is also very good, starting with Hanzawa Naoki's goal of becoming a senior bank executive, and then moving on to the crisis he will face.

Once the persona was established, there were also urgent matters that needed to be addressed.

It gives the reader a sense of tension and anticipation.

Overall, the narrative logic is very good, making it a comic worth looking forward to.

It's better than the beginning of "Salaryman Kintaro".

If it were drawn by Akino Tori, it would become a wildly popular manga in the future, and if nothing unexpected happens, it would also be a classic work, worth revisiting.

It can bring huge profits to Shueisha.

"Hanzawa Naoki" is great in every way, it's just a pity...

It cannot be serialized in Weekly Shonen Jump.

Sasaki sighed, and Higashino Hibiki heard him and became embarrassed.

Sasaki's tolerance for him went beyond what an editor-in-chief should do for a manga artist, reaching a point of excessive indulgence.

Takeshi Obata and Tsugumi Ohba were unable to conclude Death Note with L's death, and Takehiko Inoue's decision to end Slam Dunk caused a conflict with Jump.

He easily accomplished what those others couldn't.

Therefore, Hibiki Higashino still feels guilty towards Sasaki.

It's almost to the point that if he were a Japanese businessman, he would hold a press conference, bow deeply, and say something like, "It would cause a sensation in Masai."

“Tori Akino-sensei,” Sasaki said, “Hanzawa Naoki is a very interesting manga, and I’m starting to look forward to what happens next.”

"Thank you." Higashino Hibiki bowed slightly.

“I roughly understand your thinking.” Sasaki didn’t beat around the bush. “This manga isn’t suitable for Weekly Shonen Jump, but it’s a masterpiece that we can’t give up, so… you’re going to serialize it in Weekly Shonen Jump, right?”

"Yes...that's how it is."

Tap... tap... tap...

Sasaki tapped the table, clearly in a bad mood.

He didn't want Higashino Hibiki to leave, but it was ultimately Higashino Hibiki's decision. He couldn't stop him, nor could he afford to break off relations.

Is an amicable parting the only option?

……

"Editor Yoshida, this is my submission."

Koji Yoshida was curious about Akino Mirai's intentions, and he felt a vague unease in his heart.

But the person who had arranged to submit his work was waiting for him in the reception room, so he had to come down.

"Yes." Yoshida nodded at the other person.

He was a 16-year-old high school student with fuzzy hair at the corners of his mouth and an unreliable appearance.

What kind of works will such a young person write?

Yoshida expressed his doubts.

But editing is a job that involves casting a wide net; you have to seize every opportunity.

It would be a shame to let a promising cartoonist slip through the cracks.

Yoshida looked down at it.

"This is incredible!"

Yoshida was taken aback.

Although this comic is somewhat immature and has some issues, they are all minor and overall it is very good.

His drawing skills are not a weakness either; for a 16-year-old boy, he already possesses outstanding abilities.

"Would you like some coffee?" he asked.

"Thank you." The other person nodded casually.

Koji Yoshida clenched his fist as he stepped outside; he had once again drawn an ace.

As Yoshida entered the meeting room with coffee in hand, he began to build rapport with the middle school student, Yashiro.

He asked, "Why did you submit your work to me, Mr. Yashiro?"

“Because Yoshida-san is Tori Akino-sensei’s editor,” Yashiro said, swaying back and forth in his chair. “I admire Tori Akino-sensei a lot. After seeing his manga when I was in elementary school, I dreamed of becoming a manga artist and have been working hard ever since.”

"Submitting to Yoshida-san is out of the question, as Sasaki-san is no longer accepting submissions. I have to settle for second best..."