Full-time comic artist

"I'm not someone who's stuck in the past. I can like the culture that young people like too. Besides, the core of what makes 'Your Name' so touching is the spark of love that arises amidst a massive disaster that is beyond human control. This kind of thing has existed for a long time. There have been many similar films since the Great Kanto Earthquake."

Amidst immense threats, beautiful emotions like love begin to blossom, and young people, chasing after what they've lost, find their own sparks of brilliance.

"You're right." Higashino Hibiki nodded admiringly.

“So don’t underestimate me,” Principal Ota said proudly, then added with emotion, “This movie is very interesting, and I look forward to seeing your future works.”

He has watched "Hanzawa Naoki", "Paprika", "Bakuman" and "Your Name", and each work has touched him deeply.

These words silenced Higashino Hibiki.

"Oh right!" Ota realized that Higashino Hibiki might be retiring from writing. During their encounter at the soccer field, he said he wanted to accompany his children as they grew up.

“It’s actually better to focus on your own life,” Ota explained. “As the principal, I hope that my students can be happy, joyful, and enjoy life.”

His words were gentle, and his heart was full of love for children. Higashino Hibiki was over thirty years old, but in his eyes he was still a child.

“I will,” Hibiki Higashino said, deeply moved. “I will!”

……

"Tori Akino Mirai is a genius."

"Isn't this common sense? Everyone came to this conclusion ten years ago. You young people are really making a fuss over nothing."

"I'm just amazed that none of Akino Tori's works seem to be failures. Paprika won numerous awards, Hanzawa Naoki broke the record for TV drama ratings after the millennium, and now Your Name is even more remarkable, grossing 26 billion yen in just two weeks!"

Most of the One Piece movies are at this level.

It took only two weeks to equal the contribution of One Piece fans, which is truly admirable.

"Yes, even the worst-performing 'Bakuman' is now fourth in Jump's rankings."

Even the smallest achievement is a goal that countless people can only dream of.

"I wonder what kind of miracles he will create next!"

……

In May 2008, "Bakuman" was going to end.

Ashirogi Muto's masterpiece, created in an attempt to surpass Niizuma Eiji, is titled "RIVERSI".

The short story received two more votes than Niizuma's new work, "ZOMBIE GUN".

The story is about a battle between a black demon and a white demon.

Demons possess the ability to infect others with their thoughts. Two teenagers who have acquired demonic powers engage in battle due to their differing stances.

This immediately reminded readers of "Death Note," where the black and white demons are Light Yagami and L.

This greatly excited readers, who believed even more strongly that "Bakuman" contained a career summary written by Akino Miki for herself.

He projected his own experiences onto Eiji Niizuma and Muto Ashirogi.

Eiji Niizuma is a genius, just like Mirai Tori, who became number one as soon as the serialization started.

He then also requested to finish his comic.

Crow and Slam Dunk are both pillars of Weekly Shonen Jump, and Eiji Niizuma and Mirai Tori went to great lengths to gain the right to finish them.

Here, readers see Akino Mirai's determination to keep climbing new peaks, unwilling to stagnate.

The story of "RIVERSI" is similar to "Death Note". The plot of "Bakuman" about "RIVERSI" will of course include Akino Tori's own thoughts when he was serializing "Death Note", as well as the private events behind it.

"A satisfying and concise ending, without any unnecessary dragging!" is Mashiro's highest aspiration.

Mirai Toriyama did the same thing; when Death Note was doing very well, L and Light Yagami perished together.

Soma Satoru held the jumper, his heart filled with mixed emotions.

He is a manga artist, so he admires Akino Mirai, and he is also a reader, which annoys him.

"Satoru!" Eiichi Yamada called him. "Quick, turn on the TV! Kazuhiko Torishima is being interviewed! About Akino Torishino's future!"

Upon hearing this, Satoru Soma quickly turned on the TV and saw Kazuhiko Torishima speaking eloquently.

Chapter 414 Goodbye, Tori Akino

"I'm here mainly to clarify the negative public opinion surrounding Tori Akino Mirai."

Torishima Kazuhiko was distracted at the moment, barely managing to muster his energy to organize his thoughts.

Before the host could ask any questions, he blurted everything out.

"Before the serialization of 'Slam Dunk,' the manga he requested to be completed was indeed 'Slam Dunk.' At the time, I felt that he had the ability to do so, so the conditions were extremely demanding: to save Jump's continuously declining circulation and increase it to 500 million copies... but he accomplished them all."

Torishima Kazuhiko closed his eyes.

This is already widely considered the truth, and Torishima Kazuhiko's statement can be considered the final verdict.

"That's truly remarkable confidence and determination," the host remarked.

Torishima Kazuhiko pursed his lips and remained silent.

He was quiet and didn't want to talk, which left the host feeling helpless.

They originally expected to have 20 minutes to reveal the inside story little by little, arousing the audience's curiosity and increasing average viewership.

And now...

The host had to find another topic.

"I heard that 'Your Name' has already grossed 50 billion yen at the box office, and it's only been three weeks since it was released. Akino-sensei is a genius."

“He’s a genius,” Torishima Kazuhiko said, looking at the high beams of the studio, blinking with a complicated expression, “It’s a pity this genius…”

……

While at the television station, Torishima Kazuhiko excitedly contacted Hibiki Higashino.

"I made a mistake last time, so I'm here to clean up your mess this time."

Bakuman is still being serialized, and he can't reveal the truth, otherwise he would expose a major plot point in the later part of Bakuman.

There were no more exciting moments with Eiji Shinzaki.

"Mr. Torishima has been giving me a lot of trouble," Higashino Hibiki complained.

"Sorry, sorry," Torishima Kazuhiko laughed, looking up. He casually asked, "By the way, Torishino-kun, Bakuman is coming to an end, right? Have you thought about your next manga?"

That's his main reason.

Shueisha's top priority is, of course, Weekly Shonen Jump, and the pillar of Weekly Shonen Jump is Akino Mirai.

As long as Akino Tori is still around, his fans will continue to buy Jump.

Published by Bird Autumn Field, each book is a masterpiece, attracting a large number of new readers.

The comic book market is already saturated, and the Japanese market has reached its limits. With Japan's declining birth rate, attracting new talent is something all magazine publishers want to do.

Only by producing high-quality products can we have confidence.

He doesn't ask for much, just that it be of the quality of "Hanzawa Naoki".

Torishima Kazuhiko smiled, waiting for Higashino Hibiki's answer.

"Mr. Torishima, I'm sorry, I'm going to have to stop for now."

But what I got in return was this sentence.

Thinking of this, Torishima Kazuhiko let out a long sigh.

"What's wrong, Mr. Bird Island?" the host asked, puzzled.

"He's retiring from writing."

"Who?"

"The genius manga artist, the savior of Jump, the author of Slam Dunk, Mirai Tori, is going to take a break for a while."

Torishima Kazuhiko's expression was extremely complex, a mixture of worry, helplessness,感慨, and sadness...

"Ah!" The host stared in disbelief, his mouth agape. He hadn't expected such an unexpected surprise today.

He was visibly happy, then realized what he had done, pinched his thigh as if he was about to cry, "That's such a shame."

……

The black and white demons perish together, falling in the center of the crowd. "RIVERSI" is being adapted into an anime, with Miho Azuki lending her voice to the female lead. She and Mashiro's promise has been fulfilled. The two middle school students who once struggled together gave up their close relationship to focus on their dreams, and now they have finally achieved their ideals and are together.

Bakuman ends here, and Ichiro Soma is extremely satisfied. He has experienced the struggles of a manga artist and has gained a lot of insights and lessons.

That's what cartoonists should be like—always keeping their original passion for comics, with enthusiasm and love.

Bird Akino is such a person, creating day after day for ten years.

Soma Ichiro could see his seriousness about manga.

Therefore, the more he looked at Mashiro, the more he could see the figure of Tori Akino.

I am overjoyed and satisfied by this.

At that moment, the door to Soma Ichiro's studio was pushed open, and Soma Satoru walked in dejectedly.

"Satoru, Bakuman has ended. Have you read it?"

Soma Ichiro handed Jump to Soma Satoru, saying, "This kind of uneventful ending really suits Bakuman. Take a look."

Soma Satoru didn't even look up: "I've already seen it."

“I should have guessed. You’re a huge fan of Akino Tori, right? You love his manga the most, so you’d definitely read Jump as soon as it’s released,” Taro Kawaguchi said with a smile, stroking his stubble. “I really wonder what his next manga will be like.”

Soma Satoru raised his head, his eyes bloodshot, his voice hoarse: "Tori Akino-sensei... is retiring from the manga industry."

"Huh?" Soma Ichiro opened his mouth wide and remained silent for a long time.

……

"Mr. Yoshida! Editor Yoshida! Yoshida!"

After turning off the TV, Hoshino Katsura rushed to the window and, seeing editor Yoshida Koji slowly approaching, shouted loudly downstairs.

"Just call me Yoshida?" Yoshida frowned, feeling that Hoshino Katsura was getting cocky.

"Wait here, I'm coming to find you right now!"