Full-time comic artist

"Perhaps Lenalee would be more popular with short hair."

"I just can't do anything with you," Yoshida shook his head.

Hoshino Katsura is no longer a newcomer, and he can no longer control Hoshino Katsura's thoughts.

Ultimately, the outcome of a comic strip is still in the hands of the cartoonist.

Editors can only offer suggestions.

“You’ll regret it,” Yoshida said calmly. “You’ll change it back.”

"I want to try different styles."

“Hmm,” Yoshida shrugged, “then you give it a try.”

He put down the storyboard, feeling somewhat helpless.

Although it wasn't wrong of me to force Hoshino Katsura to draw "D.Gray-man," it planted an obsession in Hoshino Katsura's heart.

Let her decide for herself.

Although Hoshino Katsura is frail and delicate, she is stubborn and obstinate, and she won't give up until she tries.

"Hoshino-kun," Yoshida said, leaning forward and asking, "Which manga in the 100 Best Japanese Media Arts selections for the manga section did you choose?"

“Hikaru no Go.” Hoshino Katsura pointed to the wall and answered quickly without hesitation.

Following the gesture, Yoshida Koji looked over and saw a poster on the wall depicting Shindo Hikaru and Touya Akira playing a game of Go.

This manga influenced Katsura Hoshino's life, as she became a manga artist because of "Hikaru no Go".

The protagonists' spirit of striving for their dreams still inspires her to this day.

“Hikaru no Go…” Koji Yoshida felt slightly relieved, but he still questioned, “Hikaru no Go has no chance of making it into the top 100. Isn’t this a waste of votes?”

“Editor Yoshida, you’re taking this way too seriously,” Hoshino Katsura pouted. “You seem like a completely different person every time it comes to Tori Akino-sensei.”

The assistants nodded silently.

The aloof Koji Yoshida is just like a die-hard fan in front of Mirai Tori.

“Sometimes I’m quite jealous,” Hoshino Katsura said softly. “You’re my and Tori Akino-sensei’s editor, but you’re too biased towards Tori Akino-sensei.”

"No way!" Yoshida Koji retorted instinctively.

He handled matters related to "D.Gray-man" with seriousness and responsibility.

Its level of professionalism is unmatched by any other editor.

"So, which manga did Yoshida-san vote for?"

“Die…” Yoshida Koji paused.

“That’s right,” Hoshino Katsura spread her hands. “I also like Tori Akino-sensei, but I’m still jealous of her.”

She was able to serialize her work because of Koji Yoshida; Yoshida developed her potential and guided her to become a manga artist.

She had a certain longing for Yoshida.

Koji Yoshida never thought of "D.Gray-man" when it came to the "100 Best Japanese Media Arts".

Hoshino Katsura pursed her lips.

"I'm sorry." Koji Yoshida bowed slightly, beginning to reflect on his actions.

……

The results of the "100 Best Japanese Media Arts" were announced on June 3.

The prize money for this selection is not much, but it is indeed a super-large selection event that Japan has never had before.

To date, more than 30,000 people have actively participated, truly representing the voice of the masses.

To be among the top is truly an honor for a lifetime.

Hibiki Higashino heard that in the "CIAO" manga magazine, a manga artist was appealing to readers to vote for his work.

The author appealing to readers who like his comics is not inherently problematic, but this rash action indicates that the cartoonist is confused.

He aspires to be in the top 100, which is the top 25 in the comic book category.

They panicked when faced with enormous profits.

"The chances were extremely slim, but Mr. Nakamura still gave it a try."

Xiaohe spoke of this with a touch of melancholy.

Nakamura, the manga artist who serializes the series, bowed his head in the face of the "100 Best Japanese Media Arts".

"And what was the result?" Hibiki Higashino couldn't help but ask.

"Many of his readers wrote letters to criticize him."

"what?"

"Some say it's 'using any means necessary,' others say it's 'lacking self-awareness,' but readers still hope to win through merit, and they shouldn't let others dictate their freedom of vote."

“Everyone’s points are valid.” Higashino Hibiki nodded. “Voting for your favorite manga is the right thing to do.”

Some comics are more than just comics; they are guiding lights in life.

Works like "Ashita no Joe," "Touch," and "Akira" are far superior to serialized manga.

"After that, Nakamura-sensei's manga rankings plummeted, and many readers abandoned the book in anger. Nakamura-sensei hurriedly apologized to retain the remaining readers. After his lesson, manga artists all became terrified."

This selection process is truly remarkable; cartoonists are eager to participate, and readers are taking it very seriously.

"Does the teacher care?" Koga wondered, looking at Higashino.

Tori Akino Mirai seemed to remain completely unmoved and indifferent to the selection process.

"You can really sit still."

……

Will the teacher care?

The assistant looked at the ever-composed Hirohiko Araki and asked instinctively.

He hoped to see the same desire for honor in Araki.

"What do you care about?" Hirohiko Araki put down his pen and asked with a smile.

The assistant said, "It's the 'Top 100 Japanese Media' award presented by the Japan Media Arts Festival."

"JoJo's Bizarre Adventure has a chance to take first place."

JoJo's ranking in Jump is average, but he's very famous and has a great reputation.

The target audience for JoJo is 17 years and older, but this demographic makes up a small percentage of Shonen Jump's audience.

Many young people like "JoJo".

“Of course I care,” Araki nodded with a smile. “After all, it’s the number one manga, and everyone wants that honor.”

Although he remained calm and collected, he was secretly hoping to win the top spot in the comic book competition.

"But teacher, you're not in a hurry at all."

"These things should be left to nature. There's no use in rushing. Instead of getting upset about this, you should drink some milk, get a good night's sleep, and replenish your energy, hahaha."

"if I get it I am lucky, but if not, it is fate."

……

Hirohiko Araki, Akira Toriyama, Go Nagai, Gosho Aoyama, Mitsuru Adachi, Naoki Urasawa, and other veteran manga artists are all looking forward to this grand selection event.

The Japan Media Arts Festival, organized by the Agency for Cultural Affairs, commenced as scheduled.

They first announced the list of winners for this year's awards.

The theatrical anime film, "The Girl Who Leapt Through Time".

Following that are works from the comics, art, and entertainment departments.

This was the most tense and anticipated moment in the past, but now viewers in front of their TVs are hoping it will end quickly so they can see something more they crave.

Compared to the 100 selections, the regular art festival viewing is too ordinary.

Fortunately, not long after, it was time to announce the "100 Best Japanese Media Arts".

Hibiki Higashino turned on the TV to watch the live broadcast.

Akemi Akemi didn't draw any manga either, and waited anxiously with Hibiki Higashino.

"We received a total of 209284 votes from 33884 participants. Thank you all for your active participation. The top 100 has finally been selected!" the host announced loudly.

The audience erupted in applause.

Akemi Akemi stared at the television and asked Hibiki Higashino, "Didn't they invite you?"

“Yes,” Higashino nodded, “but I don’t think it’s necessary. You can watch it on TV just as well.”

There are too many winners in the top 100 selections, and not everyone will participate.

“It must be because of your comics that this happened!” Akemi Akemi said with certainty.

"Maybe," Higashino nodded.

The opening category is still the most popular animation department.

The 25th place goes to "Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam".

Even at the very end of the list of 100, it is already a remarkable masterpiece.

"How terrifying," Akemi Akimiya muttered.

Anime such as *The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya*, *Cardcaptor Sakura*, *Legend of the Galactic Heroes*, and *Porco Rosso* appeared one after another.

Higashino Hibiki clenched his fist nervously, staring intently at the television.

"Why are you so nervous?" Akemi Akimiya asked in surprise.

It's just the animation department right now, what does manga artist Hibiki Kanto have to do with it?

Only the top 15 are left, so there's no way "Paprika" or "Anohana" will be in the list.

Why is he anxious when his work doesn't win awards?