Full-time comic artist

He bowed and handed over his business card.

"It's a pleasure to meet you." Higashino nodded and exchanged business cards with him.

At this moment, another group of people came over and surrounded Higashino Hibiki.

As the conversation progressed, Higashino Hibiki learned the purpose of their visit.

His works, such as "The Garden of Words" and "5 Centimeters Per Second," are popular short comics with the potential to become hits after being adapted into movies.

By showing my face in front of him, I might be able to take charge of the operation and distribution of the animated film after it's made.

In short, I'm not losing money.

Higashino Hibiki couldn't be cold to him, so he laughed it off and politely took his leave. Immediately, no one bothered him anymore.

"Teacher Tsutsui, let me take you home."

He walked up to Yasutaka Tsutsui.

“No need to trouble you,” Tsutsui Yasutaka said, showing his car keys. “I can get home by myself.”

……

Higashino checked the time; he still had some free time to spare.

He simply drove to "Future Society".

With the undeniable success of "Paprika," he also had to keep an eye on the production progress of "Your Name."

This time, he called Takagi Kiko in advance, not wanting to repeat the situation where he was stopped from entering last time.

On the road, perhaps due to the aftereffects of watching "Paprika," he always felt that if he lifted the steering wheel, the car would fly.

Feeling dizzy the whole way, Higashino Hibiki finally arrived at his destination.

After being notified by the front desk, Hibiki Higashino was promptly brought to the studio.

"Ah...ah, is it because your conscience is bothering you?"

Kiko Takagi, holding her workbook, saw Hibiki Higashino and jokingly said something.

"Of course not!" Higashino Hibiki denied categorically.

He wasn't Osamu Tezuka; he didn't have the energy to juggle both roles, so he had to choose between being the president of an animation company and a manga artist.

"I'm an outsider, and I just didn't want to disrupt your work schedule."

"We should be thanking you?"

"Of course!" Higashino Hibiki replied confidently.

"But when are you planning to marry Yoshii-kun, Takagi-senpai? You're almost 30, aren't you?"

Kiko Takagi's face became terrifying.

"Absolutely! Never discuss a girl's age!"

Hibiki Higashino shuddered. "I...I'm sorry..."

Kiko Takagi turned around and led Hibiki Higashino to Yuko Asahina's office, with Hibiki Higashino following silently.

"As for marriage, Koyama Hisashi and I are already husband and wife."

"Huh? How come I didn't know?"

"We haven't disclosed this to the outside world."

Kiko Takagi's statement was perfectly reasonable.

In Japan, it is customary for wives to become housewives after marriage; this is considered the mark of a virtuous wife and loving mother.

Continuing to work hard will invite gossip, especially from wealthy families like the Yoshii family.

Not announcing their marriage is probably a way of protecting Kiko Takagi.

Congratulations!

"Does the president want a red envelope?"

"Here you go! Give me a big one! I also want to thank Yoshii-kun for his selfless help in supervising 'Hanzawa Naoki'."

"Thank you."

Upon arriving at Asahina Yuko's office, Higashino saw through the glass that Asahina Yuko was engrossed in drawing.

Kiko Takagi knocked on the door. Yuko Asahina looked up in confusion, blinked, and then came back to reality.

"Please come in."

Kiko Takagi pushed open the door and entered.

"Takagi-senpai, what's up?"

"Look who's here!"

Kiko Takagi waved, and Hibiki Higashino entered the studio, smiling sheepishly, "Long time no see, Director Asahina."

"Higashino-kun!"

Asahina stood up in shock, rubbing her eyes. "It really is Higashino-kun! That's amazing!"

Higashino sighed helplessly, his conscience deeply troubled.

"Then I'll head out," Kiko Takagi said with a smile. "You two chat."

"No!" Hibiki Higashino stopped her. "I'm a married man. If I'm alone in a room with Asahina, people might misunderstand."

"How embarrassing," Kiko Takagi shook her head. "Alright then."

……

"Higashino-kun, is there something you need?"

Hibiki Higashino and Yuko Asahina sat facing each other on the office sofa.

Yuko Asahina tilted her head and asked in confusion.

“I wanted to check on things,” Higashino Hibiki said, looking around the office. “A while ago, Nishimura returned to Tokyo and specifically mentioned you.”

"Nishimura?" Asahina Yuko was even more puzzled. "Who is that?"

Higashino Hibiki hesitated for a long time, then said, "That's not important anymore..."

"Oh, by the way, I just watched the animated film 'Paprika,' and it was really amazing. The storyboarding and transitions were incredibly smooth. Madhouse really went all out; the production budget was explosive."

He finally said what he had been wanting to say, gesturing excitedly with his hands.

"A budget explosion?" Asahina Yuko couldn't understand anything Hibiki Higashino said.

"Madhouse animators are paid around 20 yen. Is that an exploding budget?"

"Huh? 20 yen!"

In Tokyo, that's just a little over half the average wage.

Animators' salaries are barely enough to make ends meet.

Kiko Takagi said, "The salaries of animators at Madhouse are already quite high. They are among the highest-paid animators in the industry. Some even earn 10 yen a month."

"10 million?"

Hibiki Higashino was shocked once again.

With this salary, it's impossible to live on without a side job.

"Yes, the base salary is around 5 yen, plus 4 to 5 yen for piecework. The average salary for an animator in their 20s is around 110 million yen per year."

Hibiki Higashino glanced out the window at the busy employees of Mirai-sha, thinking, "They're really working for love."

The animation company has some of the longest working hours, and yet the benefits are still poor.

Without passion and enthusiasm, it's hard to keep going.

These people are all working hard with dreams in their hearts.

“Hey, why are you making such a fuss?” Kiko Takagi asked, “Did you even look at the report I sent you?”

Wasn't she wasting all her time?

Higashino Hibiki didn't know what to say, so he just smiled awkwardly at him.

He used to watch animation and when he saw scenes with high frame rates, he would praise them to his online friends, saying that the animation company had an explosive budget.

So all of this is achieved by exploiting animators.

Japan has too many talented animators, and the competition is fierce. Compensation is steadily declining.

"This is infuriating!"

Kiko Takagi crossed her arms, looking sullen.

But she still had to send reports to Higashino Hibiki; that was her job.

"And what about here?" Higashino asked.

Kiko Takagi shrugged. "We're in a better position, but we can't invest too much money to compete with our peers."

Yuko Asahina said, "Back in 97, when the students from Musashino Art University formed the Mirai-sha, they were working hard on meager salaries..."

With the qualifications of a graduate from Musashino Art University, one can expect a good salary and benefits wherever they work.

It's at least three to five times more.

They persevered, and after becoming concept artists, their salaries increased significantly, with many earning 50 yuan a month.

Therefore, we cannot make exceptions.

Hibiki Higashino reluctantly realized that he had also become a capitalist who deserved to be angrily confronted by Naoki Hanzawa.

"Then let's give out more bonuses regularly, within the company's budget."

"Understood." Kiko Takagi gave an OK sign.

Hibiki Higashino stood up. "Let me see the production progress of 'Your Name'."

He needs to change the subject.

……