Full-time comic artist

He was wearing a school uniform and looked like a high school student.

A bustling crowd walked past him; although it was still raining, the city's noise had not stopped.

Akizuki Takao entered a park. Although the tall building was still in the background, it felt like a completely different world.

Amidst the hazy mist, life and vitality abound, with trees forming forests, creating a peaceful and serene atmosphere.

He arrived at the park pavilion, and the first thing he saw was a pair of feet. They were wearing high heels, exposing the skin on the instep. The camera then panned to reveal a beautiful woman, the female lead, Yukino Yukari.

She sat with her legs crossed, drinking beer, with chocolate beside her, and glanced sideways at Takao.

He then stood up, moved aside, and made room for her.

Takao Akizuki sat down on the other side, the two of them quite far apart, very reserved. Takao took out his notebook and started writing and drawing.

There was no communication between the two.

The rain was still falling, and the river beside them flowed swiftly.

When the camera cuts back, Akemi Akemi realizes that he is drawing shoes.

However, she always turned her face to the other side, not daring to look at Yukino.

"Pfft," Akemi Akemi covered her mouth and laughed, "Is this liking her? Such innocent feelings."

Higashino nodded.

Because of the following plot, whether due to nervousness or lack of focus, he drew it wrong.

When I used the eraser, it slipped from my hand and bounced to the side.

Just then, Yukino caught the eraser and handed it to Takao, breaking the deadlock between the two.

"Excuse me, have we met somewhere before?" Takao asked.

"Huh?" Yukino asked in surprise. "No."

"I'm sorry, I mistook you for someone else." Takao lowered his head.

This kind of approach to striking up a conversation would have been considered quite outdated in 1995.

Akemi Akemi shook her head.

Lightning flashed and thunder roared in the sky, and the rain poured down even harder.

Yukino took a sip of beer, looked at the high school student in front of her, and suddenly noticed something, a smile appearing on her lips.

“Perhaps I really have,” she slung her backpack over her shoulder, stood up, and read aloud as lightning flashed behind her.

"A faint rumble of thunder, a gloomy sky, but I long for the wind and rain to come, so that you may stay here."

As she spoke, she picked up an umbrella, and under Xiaoxiong's gaze, the umbrella bloomed like a flower and disappeared from his sight.

“This is a tanka from the Manyoshu,” Akemi Akemi exclaimed in amazement. “No wonder she’s a top student.”

“Akimiya-sensei knows too,” Hibiki Higashino said in surprise.

“What? Don’t treat me like an idiot,” Akemi Akemi complained. “I’m a graduate student at Musashino University, after all.”

As she saw this, she grew increasingly surprised.

This work has a refreshing and delicate feel, and it's quite interesting despite its understated nature, which is why she was able to keep watching.

With a unique flavor, each frame seems to have a purpose, coherent and interactive, making the story flow smoothly and harmoniously.

Unlike serialized comics.

This technique is more like something out of a movie.

Akemi Akemi quickly finished reading the story and liked it very much. So she said to Hibiki Higashino, "If you complain that it's too hard halfway through, I won't forgive you."

“Yes!” Higashino Hibiki nodded. “As long as I’m with Ms. Akimiya, I won’t give up.”

“I feel like there’s something hidden in your words,” Akemi Akemi sighed, then rested her chin on her hand, her gaze full of interest.

"You and Akizuki Takao are similar yet somewhat different."

"where?"

“You and he are both very mature. He dreams of becoming a shoemaker and has been making all sorts of efforts. He usually does all the cooking and housework at home.” Akemi Akemi paused. “Higashino is equally precocious, knows what he is doing, and perseveres. You are both like adults.”

"What's different?"

“It’s about personality,” Akemi Akemi glanced at Hibiki Higashino. “Takao is shy, but you, Higashino-kun, are very thick-skinned.”

"So you really think of me that much..." Higashino sighed, looking out the window and said quietly, "Sometimes you have to be a little more shameless than shy."

"Only by disregarding worldly barriers can one attain happiness and a future."

"Huh?" Akemi Akemi didn't quite understand.

Higashino looked Akemi Akemi in the eye and said, "However, Ms. Akemi, you are wrong about one thing."

"what?"

“Takao is a child who aspires to become an adult and wants to be seen as an adult by others, and he is working hard to achieve that,” Hibiki Higashino said. “As for me, I am an adult.”

“In terms of social status, adults are clearly higher than children,” Hibiki Higashino continued, “so I don’t care at all that Ms. Akimiya is a teacher.”

“That’s just talking to yourself…” Akemi Akemi blushed and lowered her head.

……

Eiichiro Oda is feeling quite resentful lately, as Akino Tori only made him an assistant in "Hikaru no Go".

In another short story, despite her dark circles and gaunt face, she refused to let him touch her.

It would be as if it would desecrate the manga called "The Garden of Words".

Oda admits his drawing skills aren't great, but it's not that bad. He has no problem with making corrections and writing text.

“However,” Oda recalled the original manuscript, exclaiming, “it was drawn so well, it reminded me of the rainy season.”

Black and white comics, yet they depict the rhythm of life.

"You could never paint a picture like this in your entire life."

He clenched his fists, feeling extremely unwilling to accept defeat.

“We have to take another path,” Oda thought. “In terms of drawing skills, we can never surpass Akino Tori. The most important thing in manga is the plot.”

Lying in bed, he looked at the ceiling and thought, "One day, I will create a work that rivals Dragon Ball."

"Back then, when children saw it, they would be overjoyed, exclaiming, 'What an interesting manga!' and then they would write down my name: Eiichiro Oda."

Chapter 76 Short story submission

Over the weekend, Hibiki Higashino called Kazuhiko Torishima. Upon hearing that Torishima was still working, Hibiki said he would visit Shueisha that day and asked if Torishima had any free time.

Torishima Kazuhiko was somewhat surprised and postponed his work schedule from three hours later, waiting for Higashino Hibiki. He then told the staff to call him when they arrived at the lobby.

So Hibiki Higashino, carrying the manuscript of the first chapter of "The Garden of Words" and the storyboards for the following chapters, took the subway to Shueisha.

He's been to this building quite a few times; the receptionist all know him.

"Teacher Toriakino, what's wrong with you lately? You look terrible," the young lady asked with concern.

"Huh? Where?" Hibiki Higashino covered his face with his hands.

She handed me a small makeup mirror.

Higashino Hibiki took it and looked at it.

His cheeks were thin and dry, his eyes were bloodshot, and he had severe dark circles.

He really worked hard this week, only sleeping three hours a day.

Drawing short comics during the long serialization was a severe test for him as a novice.

"Thank you," Higashino Hibiki handed the mirror back to her, "I just haven't been getting enough rest lately."

"Then you should take care of yourself. You're here to see Editor Sasaki again today, right?" she said with a smile, picking up the landline. "Did you contact him beforehand? I'll let him know."

Hibiki Higashino said, "This time, I'm asking Mr. Kazuhiko Torishima."

The young woman was a little surprised, but she still dialed the number and finally pointed to waiting room number three.

Higashino Hibiki already knew the way well. He poured himself a cup of coffee and walked in alone.

As I passed by Hall 2, I overheard a conversation inside.

"Are you here to submit your serialized work?"

"Ah."

"Still a high school student, right?"

"A second-year student at Kasugano High School."

"As expected, I told you, kid, don't think that just because someone like Tori Akino exists, a high school student can get a serialized novel. There's only one person like him in Jump. Understand?"

"..."

"I'm sorry, I can't accept your submission. Please submit it again after you've grown more proficient."

"...I'm...sorry to bother you."

Higashino watched him stumble away and sighed.

That's just how comics are; they fail more often than they succeed.

"Tori Akino-kun, this has happened many times before."

Behind Higashino Hibiki, a voice spoke softly.

Higashino Hibiki turned around, and it was Torishima Kazuhiko.

He had changed his hairstyle, styling his afro neatly, and looked much more mature than before.

That's definitely the editor-in-chief's style.

"Mr. Torishima, it's been a long time," Higashino Hibiki greeted him.

"Long time no see." Torishima Kazuhiko nodded, pushed open the door of waiting room number three, gestured with his mouth towards the inside, then turned and left, returning with a cup of coffee.

"So, is there anything going on today?" he asked.