Full-time comic artist

"Hey! Why?!"

Hibiki Higashino did not answer, and took his leave amidst their disbelief.

The animation festival will last for three more days, allowing the audience to see all the works before the awards are presented.

Hibiki Higashino is busy drawing manga and doesn't have that much time.

……

May 1th, 7 PM.

"So you weren't there when they won Best Animation and Best Screenplay?" Akemi Akimiya asked, smiling at him.

He's really patient; he can still focus on drawing comics at such a crucial moment.

"After all, my main job is drawing comics, so I can't put the cart before the horse," Higashino Hibiki replied.

He also wanted to be there in person to receive the award and hold the trophy for best script in his hands.

He looked at the astonished expressions of those in the audience who recognized him.

It's all because the weekly magazine has too much workload.

He turned on the TV and switched to the Asahi TV anime channel.

After the opening animation ended, today's episode aired as scheduled.

As the typhoon passed, apart from one temple being blown away, there were no other losses.

Only a large hole appeared beneath the temple, its depth unknown.

The curious young people nearby shouted into the hole, "Hey—come out!"

There was no response, so he threw in another stone.

……

“I never expected the Best Animation award to be broadcast on television,” Akemi Akimiya said.

“Yes,” Higashino Hibiki nodded.

TV Asahi initially planned to air it in the evening, but after seeing the quality of the final product, they moved it to a prime-time slot with more students.

The original contract was a buyout, and Hibiki Higashino was confident that it would be calculated based on viewership ratings.

TV Asahi agreed.

It did them no harm.

The main point is that the work has a great theme: environmental protection is timeless.

This might give parents a new understanding of animation.

It's not just for entertainment; it can also be an inspiring textbook.

So he agreed to Higashino Hibiki's request.

Another week has passed, and Hibiki Higashino has achieved a viewership rating of 12% and 1800 million yen.

Satisfied.

Chapter 61 Student Assessment

Matsushita was watching TV. He was a teacher in the Department of Fine Arts at Musashino Art University and also the instructor of the Animation Department.

In fact, "The Four Major Public Health Problems" was completed under his guidance.

So I'm a little curious, why did "The Four Major Public Health Problems" only win some minor awards?

Based on the standards of other schools, it shouldn't be this bad.

He heard that the anime that won the biggest prize today would be rebroadcast, so he decided to watch it again.

"Is it called 'Hey—Come Out'?"

He watched the 24-minute animated film intently from beginning to end, and only at the very last moment, after taking off his glasses, wiping the lenses with the corner of his clothes, and putting them back on, did he express his feelings.

"Although both are about environmental protection, 'The Four Major Pollution Diseases' uses relevant history and carries a heavy and angry sentiment, which is tantamount to taking a shortcut."

"But this animation? It's quite amazing. There are no long educational segments, no depiction of a destroyed environment. It subtly makes the audience think about the future after the environment is destroyed in order to develop the economy. It's truly ingenious."

"Hibiki Higashino's name is Higashino. I heard he's a high school student. I'm really curious."

……

January 1nd, the start of the school year.

As a senior high school student, academic studies should naturally be the priority.

Therefore, the school's arrangement is first and foremost...

School trip!

Let's have fun first so we can study better later.

When you're fully engaged, it's easier to get into a learning mindset; as the saying goes, "sharpening your axe won't delay your work."

Hibiki Higashino, who had watched anime in his previous life, was extremely envious and jealous of this kind of student benefit, so he immediately expressed his feelings.

"I'm not going."

Just kidding, I'm going to draw comics too.

The school trip lasted three days, to see wild birds and waterfalls at Mount Asama. Hibiki Higashino simply didn't have that much free time.

I could only politely decline, tears welling in my eyes.

As a teacher, Akemi Akemi has the important responsibility of looking after her students, and she and their homeroom teacher, Matsuzaki, have to go.

The general studies students and the art students both went to Asama Mountain for their trip, but the Northwest group abandoned Hibiki Higashino and went off to enjoy themselves.

"I want a pillow fight, and to peep into the women's bathroom!" Nishimura shouted loudly. He subsequently lost his last remaining right to choose a partner, though he hadn't before.

Yoshii Yamahisa said he wanted to earn money to save for university tuition and accompany Hibiki Higashino in creating manga.

Upon hearing that they were going to a place with many wild birds, Asahina Yuko took out her Polaroid camera, looking quite interested.

As for Minami Chiharu?

She waved her hand, gritting her teeth, "For now, I'll be your assistant. I need to make money! Make money! Make money!"

As a result, most of the students at Yoshiwara-sou secretly competed in their dormitories, astonishing everyone.

In the manga, Hikaru finally begins his life as a student at the academy.

The examiner was a professional Go player who gave Hikaru Shindo a three-stone handicap. Although Hikaru Shindo ultimately lost, considering that he had only studied Go for a year and had already reached his current level without a Go teacher, which was quite remarkable, he was allowed to pass.

Shinoda Shidan looked at the middle-aged man wearing glasses in the manga and felt that he looked somewhat similar to himself.

I couldn't help but chuckle. "Tori Akino-kun is really interesting. I wonder if I should ask him for some portrait fees?"

Two o'clock in the afternoon.

He was one of the examiners for the chess academy, and he was the examiner for the students.

Recalling the content he had just read in the manga, Shinoda Shidan began to look forward to whether the person who came would be a genius like Hikaru Shindo.

The child pushed open the door and came in; he looked to be only thirteen or fourteen years old.

His name is Odagiri.

He claims to have been learning Go for five months.

Shinoda shook his head. Only five months? It seems this child is going to be disappointed.

Odagiri handed over the game records he usually played, all of which were games he played with online friends on the computer.

“That gentleman would also teach me some skills from time to time, and I am very grateful to him,” Odagiri said.

Shinoda, a fourth-dan player, looked at the game record and thought to himself, "Just as I expected."

It's still very immature and lacks any real strategy, but that netizen is quite skilled and played very well.

I don't know if he's a professional Go player.

Shinoda said, "I'll give you a three-piece handicap. Let's play a game."

Odagiri was a little nervous, but he still finished the game very well. Although he lost badly, he felt that he had performed to the best of his ability.

“Your current skill level,” Shinoda shook his head, “is still far from that of an insei (a student in the academy).

Odagiri's face turned pale. He bit his lip, bowed, and prepared to fight again next year.

“However,” Shinoda looked at the game and realized the child’s talent. He had only studied for five months without any systematic instruction, yet he was already very strong.

If he were to teach for a year...

“I’ll give you the qualification to audit the class,” he said.

"If you can catch up to the level within three months, you can continue at the chess academy. If not... you'll have to leave. You'll also have to suspend your studies at the school. You need to think it over carefully."

"I promise, thank you, teacher!" Odagiri said decisively.

He has fallen in love with Go. If it doesn't work this year, he'll continue next year; if it doesn't work next year, he'll come back the year after.

This is already a very good opportunity.

"Hmm." Shinoda, a fourth-dan player, nodded and made a note of the child.

Odagiri bid farewell to Shinoda and, with the help of staff, went through the formalities with his parents.

Shinoda stood up, swaying slightly, in a good mood, and returned to his studio to look at his comic book.

"I've been influenced by you too, and I hope my 'Hikaru Shindo' will have a successful future."

……

Three days later, Akimiya and the others returned from their school trip.

The students were in high spirits and had a lot to say.

Yuko Asahina pulled out a bunch of photos, showing her snapshots of wild birds, some handsome and majestic, others small and exquisite, each with its own unique characteristics.

“These are all my animation materials,” Asahina said, handing them to Hibiki Higashino like treasures. She winked. “It’s a pity I didn’t get to film the green pheasant. Sigh.”

"It's already pretty good," Hibiki Higashino said, looking at the photos. His regret about not having a school trip had lessened considerably.