Full-time comic artist

Readers are discussing it extensively.

On Monday, Weekly Shonen Jump was released.

Ashirogi Muto's highly anticipated new work, "This World Only Has KTM," failed to pass the serialization meeting despite readers' great expectations.

They completed the task in one go, full of confidence, and everything seemed to be going well, but the result was a huge disappointment.

National-level manga artist Yoshihiro Togashi commented on this: "The premise of 'This World Only Has KTM' is that there's a ranking system based on intelligence and appearance, with higher rankings receiving better treatment. Intelligence and appearance can be exchanged, and this element creates a thought-provoking plot—it seems like a great idea. But…"

"This is just a copy of Ashirogi Muto's 'This World Relies on Money and Wisdom.' Relying solely on old methods, how could it possibly defeat Niizuma Eiji?"

"What a pity."

"I still hope to see creative works."

Unable to succeed with unorthodox comics, Ashirogi Muto began experimenting with mainstream fantasy, but this time, he didn't even qualify for a serialization meeting.

They seem to have lost their composure.

……

“Manga artists always experience this, right?” Hoshino Katsura nodded as she looked at the manga. She asked Yoshida Koji, who was sitting next to her, “Tori Akino-sensei seems to have some feelings about this.”

"For reasons I can't say out loud, I don't lack inspiration; I can create any kind of work I want to." Koji Yoshida said slowly, legs crossed. "Teacher Akino once told me that."

Katsura Hoshino asked in confusion, "Why can't you say it out loud?"

“I think that Akino-sensei is a genius, and geniuses cannot be understood, so he cannot say it out loud,” Yoshida Koji said. “What he means is that he can’t keep up with the speed at which ideas are generated in his brain when he draws manga.”

“I see,” Hoshino Katsura said thoughtfully. “That’s why the teacher finished a manga so quickly… He was so eager to start a new work.”

Everything seems to have a reason now.

“That’s right.” Koji Yoshida nodded. “Actually, many editors share this view. The editor-in-chief’s tolerance in allowing teachers to act recklessly is probably the one who most agrees with this reason.”

That's why he allowed Death Note and Puella Magi Madoka Magica to end so quickly.

Hoshino Katsura, who had been listening intently, suddenly covered her mouth and laughed, "Haha."

Yoshida asked, "What's wrong?"

"I was thinking, if we let Akino-sensei draw One Piece, he'd be so anxious."

“Not bad,” Yoshida laughed. There are many manga artists who have been working on a project for ten years, but if this manga artist is Tori Akino Mirai, it’s simply unimaginable.

He must be someone who can't stand being alone.

"So... is Bakuman about to end?"

When asked by Katsura Hoshino, Koji Yoshida blinked, snapping out of his daze, "Right! Right!"

Bakuman has been serialized for two years, making it the longest serialization record besides Slam Dunk.

“Although Professor Toriaki didn’t tell me,” Yoshida stood up, his expression uncertain, “it should be soon…”

……

To Yoshida Koji's surprise, three months later, Tori Akino was still "diligently" drawing "Bakuman".

Under the guidance of veteran editor Hattori Tetsu, Ashirogi Muto began serializing "Perfect Crime Party PCP".

The premise of this comic is quite interesting: it features three elementary school students engaging in pranks that they won't get caught.

It sounds childish, but it is precisely this childishness that brings a serious sense of humor to the reader.

Elementary school students, like criminals, carefully devise strategies, facing the danger and challenge of being discovered, all for the sake of playing a small prank.

Doing childish things seriously is just right for a shonen manga.

Readers were deeply moved by this concept.

"Yagi Muto has finally found the direction they should take."

"It's really amazing, I'm completely hooked. It's serious and earnest, yet it's also hilarious."

"It reminds me of the secret hideouts I used to make when I was little, and it feels like I've gone back to my childhood."

"I once followed a girl I liked to find out her home address. That's a secret crime, haha."

This is a manga that resonates with readers. Whether you're a reader of "Bakuman" or someone who reads "Bakuman," everyone gives it high praise.

Xiao Zheng from PCP is far ahead in the rankings, exceeding the second place by more than 150 votes, making him number one.

Real-world readers have also been clamoring for Jump to begin serializing "PCP".

"Many manga in Jump are not as interesting as PCP."

"Actually, you could serialize PCP in Vjump."

"Tori Akino-sensei draws the storyboards, and other manga artists do the artwork."

Higashino Hibiki declined the offer.

He's becoming increasingly reluctant to move around, spending his days lazily lying in the yard, enjoying the gradually warming season.

"If you continue like this, it will be difficult for you to create new works."

Akemi Akemi stood beside Higashino Hibiki with her arms crossed, shaking her head helplessly.

Higashino Hibiki removed his blindfold, squinted at Akemi Akemi, stretched lazily on the recliner, and said languidly, "Then I won't draw it."

"Really?" Akemi Akemi was extremely surprised.

She always felt that Higashino Hibiki was brewing something.

“Really.” Hibiki Higashino sat up. “The future soccer matches are about to begin, right? We should head out.”

"Ah." Akemi Akemi nodded in a daze.

As she watched Higashino Hibiki's retreating figure, she seemed to understand something.

……

Many parents attended the soccer match organized by Meguro Elementary School, bringing their cameras to capture their children's outstanding performances.

Five-year-old Higashino Mirai is one of the second-grade students who appears in the show.

His companions all waved excitedly to their parents.

"Where will your parents be in the future?" one of the companions asked.

“They’re too busy, they probably won’t come,” said Higashino Mirai.

"Hey! How could this happen... Isn't that such a shame?"

"It's okay, I'm here to participate in the football match, it doesn't matter whether they're here or not."

Even so, he still felt a pang of sadness.

Regarding the competition, Higashino Mirai only mentioned it briefly to Higashino Hibiki, and never expected the Higashino couple to appear from the beginning.

He understood that his parents were very busy, and sometimes the lights in their studio wouldn't be turned off even at night.

Even my father, who usually has a leisurely life, has a regular job. Occasionally, when there's a need for color pages for a single-volume book, he works so hard that he only gets four or five hours of sleep a day.

So he...

"It's okay."

I'm a very sensible child; I understand my parents' difficulties.

It's already very difficult for them to earn money to support their families.

Our family could only live in a house where no one else lived; we couldn't join everyone else in living in an apartment.

Such a big building, yet there's no place for my own home.

Higashino Mirai felt that her family was too poor.

His parents are working hard to create a better future, so he must be strong.

Higashino Mirai looks up.

"what!"

What did he see?

"Go for it, future!"

Higashino Hibiki waved to him from the stands.

"Hey, hey," he nudged Akemi Akemi with his elbow, "why is our son crying?"

“Isn’t that just too wonderful?” Akemi Akemi said.

"Yes, he's very lucky to have me as his father," Higashino said proudly, puffing out his chest.

Higashino Mirai waved while tears streamed down her face.

He wiped his nose with his sleeve and gave Akemi Akemi a big smile.

Akemi Akemi looked very upset; she wanted to throw that dress away.

Higashino Mirai thought to herself, "Mom, don't worry about me, just get ready to see my amazing performance!"

……

"Ah, how can a five-year-old play soccer with a ten-year-old?" Higashino leaned against the railing of the stands, watching his son run desperately with his short legs, but he couldn't catch up with the older boy who was 30 centimeters taller than him.

"Principal, how did you come up with this kind of competition format?"

Principal Ota chuckled, "I hope that every graduating class can participate."

Students from grades one to six participate, and everyone feels involved.

Inferior horse against inferior horse, superior horse against superior horse.

The idea was good, but now Higashino Mirai, a lower-class horse, is being utterly defeated by a superior opponent, so badly that it's unbearable to watch.

"The rules still need to be refined a bit more, haha."

Principal Ota smiled, completely unconcerned.

He looked down at the football field and said, "No matter the result, the kids are happy right now, and that's enough."

“Yes,” Higashino Hibiki nodded in deep agreement.

The children treated it as a game, and the adults joined in the fun too.