Full-time comic artist

Hibiki Higashino contacted Yasutaka Tsutsui immediately to express his gratitude.

"It's nothing, I'm just telling the truth because I like 'Hanzawa Naoki'."

"actually……"

Tsutsui Yasutaka hesitated for a moment before speaking:

Thank you, Tori Akino.

"Hey! Why?"

Higashino Hibiki was quite taken aback; he should be the one thanking him, not the other way around.

"You adapted 'Paprika' into 'Paprika,' which made this science fiction novel a movie and fulfilled my long-cherished wish."

"For someone who has drawn 'Slam Dunk,' 'Paprika' is just a burden. The reward for all your hard work in drawing it is less than one-hundredth of that for 'Slam Dunk.'"

"It was a thankless task, but I appreciate your efforts."

Yasutaka Tsutsui's voice was calm and powerful as he spoke his true feelings, word by word.

Hibiki Higashino replied, "Teacher, you flatter me. As for why I adapted 'Dream Detective', it's simply because I like it, just like you said."

Tsutsui Yasutaka couldn't help but burst into laughter, "Hahahaha, that's how it is."

See you at the preview screening next Monday.

After he finished speaking, he hung up the phone.

The phone went dead. Higashino Hibiki shook his head slightly, a smile playing on his lips. "Tsutsui Yasutaka-sensei is just shy."

He stood at the doorway and looked at the sky outside. The sky was clear and blue.

"What a beautiful day!"

"Teacher!" came the assistant's hurried voice from the studio, "Stop slacking off, hurry up and draw your comics, or you won't be able to leave on time again today! I don't want to walk home alone at night!"

"Coming right now!"

Higashino shouted and walked into the studio.

……

Like a detective, Hanzawa Naoki constantly searches for compelling evidence.

The 5000 yen savings passbook that Higashida transferred to Asano Tadashi through Fujisawa Miki, as well as the 10 billion yen that Higashida had deposited in the New York Harbor Trust Bank, were discovered one by one.

The plot is reaching its brightest moment, like the dawn before sunrise.

But at this time, the decision to transfer Hanzawa Naoki to another post had already been made at the bank's board meeting.

Asano Tadashi, seeking connections, found the faction leader, Managing Director Owada. Upon hearing the good news from Owada, he was overjoyed.

He's been driven crazy by Hanzawa Naoki these past two days.

Asano Tadashi bowed, turned around, and took his leave.

Owada called out to him.

“I remember now, something similar has happened before.”

"Since entering the industry, this person has always been on the elite path, achieving outstanding performance at the head office. Unfortunately, he lacked front-line experience, so he applied to become the branch manager of a large branch. After three years of hard work, he finally made his branch the best branch."

Looking at Owada's expression in the manga, Minami Kuriyama realized that this managing director, who admired Hanzawa Naoki, possessed an extraordinary charm.

His every move exudes the charisma of a powerful figure.

Despite appearing only two or three times in the comics, she has already gained considerable popularity.

Owada looked directly at Asano Tadashi, his words carrying a hidden meaning, "But life is full of variables."

"He faced a life crisis simply because he failed to detect financial statement manipulation during a financing incident. Do you know what he did?"

Asano Tadashi shook his head nervously: "I don't know..."

"He actually shifted all the blame onto a subordinate who opposed the loan, completely absolving himself of any responsibility."

Asano Kyo became increasingly uneasy.

Owada stared intently, his movements forceful.

"The subordinate's credit goes to the superior, and the subordinate takes the blame for the superior's mistakes!"

"He meticulously implemented this famous saying that is widely circulated in the bank."

In the manga, Owada waves his arms, his movements full of tension.

Minami Kuriyama was captivated. "What amazing visuals! Akino-sensei's drawing skills are simply terrifying, like those of a god of manga!"

The charm of Owada is vividly displayed in just two pages of comics.

He was so oppressive; though he didn't scold or yell, he looked down on Asano Tadashi and readers like himself from a high place.

"Owada is avenging Hanzawa Naoki!"

Kitou popped out, looking at the comic and exclaiming, "That was so satisfying! Those barbed words made Asano tremble like a leaf. I admire Owada now. No wonder he's a high-ranking banker. He's much better than a bad guy like Asano."

Kuriyama Minami nodded in agreement, "Mm."

“You say,” Kito’s eyes lit up, “Owada admires Hanzawa Naoki. If Hanzawa could join his faction and get Owada’s support, that would be wonderful. He could rise rapidly to a high position, and that would no longer be a dream.”

Owada became Hanzawa's mentor, and the two left behind a beautiful story. Kito made this vision.

Kuriyama Minami felt uncomfortable listening to this.

If Hanzawa Naoki follows Ōwada and becomes a cold-blooded person like Ōwada, then is he still... Hanzawa Naoki?

The rebellious spirit in this comic is completely gone.

A comic about a dragon slayer who ends up becoming the dragon himself.

It's so pathetic it's almost like...

It's the same as reality.

Minami Kuriyama gritted her teeth, "If it really develops like this, I'm not going to watch... 'Hanzawa Naoki' anymore!"

"Eh?"

……

Kuriyama Minami ignored Kito and the two continued reading the comics.

Hanzawa Naoki comes to Fujisawa Miki and asks Fujisawa to borrow money from a bank to fulfill his dream.

"If this works, why should I get close to someone like Dongtian? He's such a scoundrel!"

Under the light, Fujisawa Miki's eyes welled up with tears.

Kuriyama Minami felt a mix of emotions. Following Fujisawa Miki's advice, she tried many avenues, but none of them worked.

Ultimately, all they could do was give up on themselves.

Even she herself despises herself for abandoning her dignity.

Hanzawa Naoki took out a document from the file bag; it contained the conditions required for the loan.

He proposed a startup support loan, and Fujisawa Miki put up 500 million yen as a deposit for review, with a maximum loan amount of 1500 million yen.

"If you really want to open a shop and have a real dream, you shouldn't rely on someone like Dongtian. Just take out a loan from a bank honestly and squarely! That's what banks exist for."

Fujisawa Miki's lips trembled, tears welled up in her eyes, and in a corner of the city's bright lights, she squatted down, hugging the railing, and sobbed uncontrollably.

……

"This is the real Hanzawa Naoki." Kuriyama Minami was overwhelmed with emotion as he watched Fujisawa Miki agree to cooperate with Hanzawa, who had won her over with his sincerity.

"Believing in the value of people and maintaining relationships between people, he gave Fujisawa Miki unprecedented respect and with a heart full of enthusiasm to help those in need, which led Fujisawa Miki to see the error of her ways."

Gui Tou remained silent for a long time.

"I understand."

This is Hanzawa Naoki's original intention: banks should serve people.

He was able to turn misfortune into good fortune along the way because of this original aspiration.

There are countless people who dislike banks. President Takeshita, Komura, and Fujisawa Miki are all examples of people who have either been deceived by banks or had their legitimate demands rejected. It was because Hanzawa was different from other bankers that he gained their approval and their help in his continued struggle.

It was only because of Hanzawa's genuine performance that his subordinates did not abandon him and worked hard to offer him advice and strategies.

There is a scene in the manga where Asano Tadashi angrily shouts.

"This is ridiculous! His subordinates are all idiots!"

He threatened to win over Hanzawa's subordinates and have them monitor Hanzawa, but they refused.

The other person said, "You probably don't have a subordinate as stupid as that, do you?"

It's rare to find a leader who doesn't create problems for his subordinates, let alone someone like Hanzawa who always puts his subordinates first.

Those who follow the right path receive much help, while those who stray from it receive little help; that's all there is to it.

"This kind of plot is really..." Kito said, looking at Kuriyama Minami, "It's so exciting!"

It's much better than becoming a superior person like Hanzawa Naoki.

……

"Isn't it too early to release a single volume without resolving the issues between Higashida and Asano Tadashi?"

Higashino Hibiki finished drawing the cover art for the single volume and asked about the village.

The township proposed a separate book last month, and he started drawing it.

The cover features Hanzawa Naoki looking spirited, loosening his tie.

"We had no choice but to release it," Xiang explained. "Readers were eagerly anticipating the single volume, and their emotions were at their peak. If we didn't release it, we would miss a rare opportunity."

"But the most exciting part is yet to come."

There are three more episodes, and this storyline will end.

This is the most climactic part of the early part of "Hanzawa Naoki".

The first episode of the TV series in its previous life had an average viewership rating of 19.4% in the Kanto region, and the fifth episode had a viewership rating as high as 29%. It's not perfect to release a standalone book now.

“Tori Akino-sensei,” Go said, “there’s no need to strive for perfection.”