Full-time comic artist

"Work?" Akemi Akimiya asked, puzzled.

"Yes." Hibiki Higashino walked into the living room, sat down on the sofa, and placed the used towel on the coffee table.

"Director Araki put so much effort into it; I talked with him for a long time about 'Rebellion Story'."

"At the banquet?"

"At the banquet."

Akemi Akemi believed her. She rested her chin on her hand and said, "That's really dedicated and responsible. It seems that the theatrical version of 'Puella Magi Madoka Magica' is worth looking forward to."

Hibiki Higashino said, "The scheduled release date is August next year. Let's go see it together with Mirai then."

By August of next year, "Hanzawa Naoki" will be over, leaving only "Bakuman," giving him and Akemi Akimiya plenty of time.

“Okay.” Akemi Akemi stood up, stretched, and took a towel into the bathroom.

"The water temperature is just right now, take a bath and then go to sleep." After a while, she came out of the bathroom and said to Higashino Hibiki, "It's getting late."

"Ah."

……

The first heavy snowfall of 2006 reached a depth of 70 millimeters, but kindergartens still had to hold classes.

"Bye-Bye."

Like a little adult, Higashino Mirai said goodbye to his parents, wrapped in a scarf, and stumbled onto the school bus.

"Bye-bye." Higashino waved his right hand, smiling as he watched the school bus drive away.

“He’ll be starting primary school in April. I hope he can be as carefree as he was in kindergarten.”

Akemi Akimiya said, "Yes, my son has always been very strong."

Before he knew it, Hibiki Higashino, who was once a young man, had entered middle age.

He didn't have to work as hard as Hiroshi Nohara, but he still felt the responsibility of a middle-aged man.

The couple stood at the door, lost in thought, their emotions running high; the school bus was no longer in sight.

"Hurry up and bring out the desserts you made. The future is gone forever," Higashino Hibiki rubbed his hands together impatiently. "I can already smell the sweetness."

He barely ate breakfast, and the toast and fried eggs were becoming increasingly tasteless.

"Okay!" Akemi Akemi went into the kitchen, and soon after, a fragrant and delicious meal was placed in front of Hibiki Higashino.

"It smells so good!" Higashino Hibiki's mouth watered.

Akemi Akemi put her hands on her hips and said, "Now I can only eat it secretly. That child in the future eats too much and has an overdose of nutrients. I'm really worried that he will become a little fat boy."

So they could only hide from Higashino Mirai and secretly make some high-energy food.

"Yes! That's how it should be!" Higashino Hibiki gave a thumbs up, then stuffed the whole cookie into his mouth.

"I'm so happy to be able to eat fragrant cookies first thing in the morning."

……

On the school bus.

Are you very hungry?

Higashino Mirai asked his companion.

"Well, Mom says I need to lose weight." The chubby little boy, Yamauchi, looked troubled.

"Will you have good food where you are in the future?"

"No!" Higashino Mirai clutched her backpack. "Mom made me lots of delicious food, and Dad gave me his share too, so I'm full and didn't bring any snacks."

"Really? Your dad is so good to you."

Chapter 394 Hanzawa Naoki's Determination

"Wow, your dad really loves you so much!" Yamauchi exclaimed enviously. Thinking about all the delicious breakfasts he could imagine, he couldn't help but swallow hard.

Higashino Mirai reminisced about the moments he spent with his elderly father, and thinking of the anime "Puella Magi Madoka Magica," he couldn't help but sigh. He felt utterly exhausted and disillusioned. "Sigh, maybe so."

When the teacher asked the children what kind of person they wanted to be in kindergarten, some said they wanted to be an idol star, some said they wanted to be an American, and some said they wanted to be a happy bride. Only Higashino Mirai said, "I want to be an editor."

The teacher asked in surprise, "Why?"

Such a clear answer seems a bit strange to kindergarten students.

Moreover, editors... are very far removed from the lives of children.

Higashino Mirai raised her right hand high, "Editors can manage manga artists!"

The teacher suddenly realized, "Oh, so Mirai-chan does have a favorite manga."

“No,” Higashino Mirai shook her head seriously, “Being a son is too hard, I want to be an editor!”

"what?"

The teacher, baffled by the logic, clapped awkwardly, "What an interesting dream! Good luck!"

"Ok!"

……

There's more and more good news about Paprika.

The animated film grossed 8 million yen in 40 days after its release, and many viewers were reluctant to see it go until it was taken off the screens.

Disc sales are expected to be a great success.

"8 million yen, that's still a bit short of the box office of 'Death Note,' but it's already very good."

This kind of movie still can't be compared to the theatrical versions of "One Piece" and "Detective Conan"; "Paprika" has too narrow an audience.

While the box office results were being released, Sony also brought good news: "Paprika" passed US censorship and will be released in the United States.

Sony Pictures has already started promoting it.

Madhouse is going to throw another celebration party, they just throw one whenever they find an excuse. This time, Higashino Hibiki politely declined.

He's usually quite busy.

During the tense and exciting period of "Hanzawa Naoki", he had to stay focused.

……

After Hanzawa and Owada had a falling out, Hanzawa met Kurosaki again.

Kurosaki was in charge of the on-site inspection of the Tokyo Central Bank, and he focused on questioning the 120 billion yen loss suffered by the Isejima Grand Hotel.

Kurosaki's words were fierce, his movements powerful, and his sword aimed straight for Hanzawa's weak spot.

Hanzawa outlined his plan to save Ise Island, including targeting the Asian market, establishing partnerships with travel agencies in Singapore and Shanghai, and importing information technology equipment. For this purpose, they approached Nelson Information Technology Co., Ltd., the fifth-largest IT company in Japan.

Kurosaki remained noncommittal; he needed Hanzawa to come up with a feasible solution to cover the 120 billion yen shortfall.

If this cannot be achieved during the next on-site inspection, Isejima will be deemed a de facto bankrupt company by him. Kurosaki closed his eyes, flicked his fingers in the air, and then snapped his fingers, and everything was settled.

"I would then need your bank to set aside approximately 152.086 billion yen as reserves."

Kurosaki showed no mercy, and Hanzawa was driven to the brink of despair.

However, he learned that the Isejima Grand Hotel had a sacred place: the collection of paintings owned by the former president, who is now the chairman, and real estate that he had bought to build an art museum.

If we sell all of these, we can obtain more than 100 billion in working capital.

Together with other industries on Ise Island, it is enough to fill the gap.

The current president, Yuasa, hesitated. The art museum was his father's dream, and he didn't want to ruin that relationship.

Hanzawa Naoki persuaded President Yuasa to change his mind by arguing that he could break free from the constraints imposed on the hotel's development by the previous president.

During this time, Kurosaki did not let Hanzawa off the hook, but with the cooperation of Hanzawa Hana and Hanzawa's subordinate Shinnosuke and others, he barely passed the test.

Before the readers could even breathe a sigh of relief...

On the other hand, President Yuasa's venture has hit a snag. Under the influence of Executive Director Hane, the previous president refused to sell the art collection and real estate.

"If he doesn't agree to sell the paintings, then we'll have to strip him of his chairmanship!"

Even if other directors disagree, they use their personnel authority to threaten staff into passing the appointment.

"If you really want to completely eradicate the bad habits left by the former president, you'll have to take over the entire Isejima Grand Hotel from your father yourself!"

Hanzawa is like a major villain, using words to bewitch President Yuasa.

Under his sharp and unwavering gaze, President Yuasa resolved to launch a counterattack against his father.

The 120 billion yuan loss was thus made up.

"It's like riding a roller coaster, reaching the peak and then plummeting into the valley." Hiroyuki Yatsu read the manga. "One chapter is a crisis, the next is a solution. Hanzawa has the heart of a bodhisattva and the methods of a thunderbolt, decisively handling one problem after another, and then new problems arise."

"This kind of comic is perfect for a TV series adaptation. And it's bound to be a hit!"

"It's wonderful! Adapting a comic into a screenplay is simply a pleasure."

He couldn't help but applaud halfway through episode 23 of "Hanzawa Naoki".

In his mind, as someone who's only half in the industry, "Hanzawa Naoki" has become an invincible manga.

"Of all the TV dramas this year, none of them have a storyline that can compare to 'Hanzawa Naoki.' 'Lawyer Star' is a clichéd love triangle wrapped in the dignified appearance of a lawyer; 'The Woman Next Door' is about a housewife breaking free from constraints and living for herself, but it doesn't penetrate to the bone like 'Hanzawa Naoki.'"

"Hanzawa Naoki is the only work that has social significance, an unbeatable pace, and delivers pure enjoyment. If this manga were adapted into a TV series, it would definitely be a national sensation!"

"I wonder if the higher-ups have made a decision yet? Are they determined to acquire the copyright at any cost? I'm really anxious and distressed."

Hiroyuki Yatsu shook his head, his fingers gripping the comic book tightly until they turned white.

He was deeply disturbed, even though a faint mark remained on the comic.

……

As part of the revitalization plan for Ise Island, there is a proposal to establish an information system.

However, Nelson Information Technology, the company they were partnering with, was about to go bankrupt.

This is a crucial part of the revitalization plan; without it, the plan will absolutely fail.

"The fifth-largest company in the country! Do you really think it'll go bankrupt so easily?!"