Full-time comic artist

Based on the original owner's abilities, it wasn't enough to make him devote himself wholeheartedly.

"Could it be?" He shook his head violently, trying to stop himself from overthinking.

Chapter 8 Akira Toriyama and Hibiki Higashino of Class 2-b

"Video Girl Ai" is a work by Masakazu Katsura.

Its distinctive feature is the precise and detailed description of the girl's figure and expression.

It's very exquisite. Although it has an old-fashioned art style, every smile and frown made Higashino Hibiki's heart flutter.

It's like seeing Rei Ayanami in "Evangelion".

"I heard that when Katsura Masakazu submitted his work, the genre was superhero," Akemi Akimiya remarked, looking at "Video Girl Ai." "And superhero stories need girls the least. It was editor Torishima who rejected it, and made Katsura Masakazu draw girls, which he was least good at."

I really don't know how he recognized Katsura Masakazu's talent.

Hibiki Higashino said, "That's what makes a famous editor unique."

……

There is a highway right outside Nagoya Airport that leads directly to Akira Toriyama's house.

This was built by the local government specifically for Akira Toriyama after they heard that he was planning to move because it was inconvenient for him to submit his manuscripts.

It is unique in Japan.

This reveals Akira Toriyama's status and the amount of tax he paid.

This also made things convenient for Hibiki Higashino and Akemi Akemi.

Akemi Akemi hailed a taxi and arrived at Akira Toriyama's house a little over half an hour later.

This is a rural area, flat and open, where you can see the distant horizon as far as the eye can see.

"Excuse me." Higashino Hibiki knocked on the door.

The person who greeted them was a woman in her thirties, Akira Toriyama's wife, Yumi Toriyama.

"Oh, welcome! You must be tired from your journey."

Akemi Akimiya bowed, "I'm really sorry."

“No, you guys coming here is a huge help,” Toriyama Yumi snatched Akemi Akemi’s suitcase, covered her mouth and laughed, “Without an assistant, I’ve been doing all the work, it’s been so tiring.”

Akira Toriyama's house is nothing special except for being larger.

You wouldn't guess he's a top author with an annual income of billions of yen.

However, as a result, there are many empty rooms.

"I've already cleaned it up, you can move in right away."

"Thank you very much."

On the second floor, Hibiki Higashino's room is next to Akemi Akimiya's, and the window overlooks Akira Toriyama's backyard.

It is a vast expanse of arable land.

Scenery unseen in the city can soothe the soul and broaden one's mind.

The air smelled sweet.

I took a deep breath. Hmm? Whose farmyard manure is this? It stinks.

Ignoring this detail, upon closer inspection, they spotted a middle-aged man in the field in the backyard.

He was wearing a beret and round-framed glasses, and he was painting with his easel set up.

Before him was a brightly colored chick, hopping around and pecking at grains.

"This must be Akira Toriyama, right?"

Filled with curiosity, Higashino Hibiki put down the package, went down the stairs, came to the backyard, and tiptoed behind Toriyama Akira.

"What is this?" Hibiki Higashino wondered to himself.

The chick's body has golden mane along its spine, long wingspan, and drooping tail feathers.

It seems ambiguous, strange yet unified.

Then I was startled again, but after a quick glance, I didn't think much of it.

Upon closer inspection, one can truly appreciate the masterful artistry of Akira Toriyama's paintings.

Simple yet detailed, the artist's hard work is evident in every aspect.

It was so lifelike that the bird's eyes seemed to be alive, staring intently at Higashino Hibiki.

“I often observe animals,” a voice came from beside him, “and sketch them—birds, donkeys, cows, and bats.”

Finally, without even realizing it, I started to conceive and draw animals that I couldn't decipher.

Higashino Hibiki was startled awake from the painting and quickly apologized, "I'm sorry, I disturbed you."

“No, no, don’t be shy,” Akira Toriyama shook his head, and said proudly, “How was my drawing?”

Hibiki Higashino gave a thumbs up, "Very good, the imagination is boundless, the picture is clean and comfortable. And the coloring is very good, bright but not glaring."

"Haha, that's how it is." He put down his paintbrush. "You must be Higashino-kun. You've had a tough month. You've been serializing this manga for over ten years and you still haven't gotten used to it. It must have been very hard."

In the summer of 1993, Dragon Ball was being serialized in the Majin Buu saga, and Hibiki Higashino was very much looking forward to it.

"It is my honor to be able to participate in such a great work."

Dragon Ball is a groundbreaking work.

During Hibiki Higashino's era, the total sales of the Dragon Ball manga reached over 360 million copies! Number one in the world, unmatched.

Its serialization platform, Weekly Shonen Jump, has grown from an average of 350 million copies sold during its serialization to 630 million copies sold today!

Originally on par with Weekly Shonen Magazine and Weekly Shonen Sunday, it has now surpassed them, with sales twice as much as theirs.

We've won completely!

While there are excellent works like Fist of the North Star, Dragon Ball is definitely the most important one!

After Dragon Ball ended in 1995, Weekly Shonen Jump's sales began to decline from a peak of 650 million copies, and even fell below 400 million copies in 1996.

This trend only slowed down in 1997 when a legendary manga, One Piece, began serialization.

Dragon Ball is the pinnacle of all manga, and Hibiki Higashino must be able to learn something from Akira Toriyama.

He firmly believed it.

Just like Luffy encountering Kaido, or Naruto receiving a power-up from the Sage of Six Paths.

Hibiki Higashino encountered an opportunity that could change his life.

The best comics are created by combining content and artistry.

"I'm so happy that you think my drawing skills are good." Akira Toriyama tilted his head back and smiled.

Higashino was puzzled. His praise, given that he was just a nobody, should be insignificant to a master like Akira Toriyama.

A person like him must have been flattered by countless people.

Akira Toriyama placed the painting in the sun to dry, adjusted his beret, and led Hibiki Higashino towards the living room.

“Ten years ago, when I was preparing to finish ‘Dr. Slump’,” he said as he walked, “a primary school invited me to visit their students’ art exhibition, and Mr. Torishima and I went together.”

Higashino followed behind him, somewhat bewildered.

"Children's drawings may lack technical skill, but what's valuable is that they retain imagination and fun."

Higashino nodded. He had heard of a painter who was originally of average reputation, but became popular with thousands of people after he started "plagiarizing" his young daughter's works.

He lacks the intelligence of a child.

"We walked and stopped, and we saw a painting. It was a painting of a child laughing and teasing birds. I saw in that child's infinite potential. Mr. Torishima also refused my plan to end Dr. Slump because of this."

"He said, 'This is a child's drawing. If you don't work hard, you'll be surpassed very soon.' So, I continued serializing it for another year before finally and forcefully ending 'Dr. Slump,' hahaha."

He stopped and turned around. "That elementary school is called 'Meguro First Elementary School'..."

Higashino Hibiki was stunned; this was the original owner's school.

"The artist is 7-year-old Hibiki Higashino, a student in Class 2-B."

Chapter 9 Life in the Countryside

It was as if a thunderclap exploded in Higashino Hibiki's ears, carving seven orifices into his soul amidst the chaos.

"It's me?" he pointed at himself incredulously.

“Hmm.” Akira Toriyama nodded. “I didn’t expect you to start drawing manga, Higashino-kun.”

Hibiki Higashino, a child prodigy whom I've known for a long time, though we've never met before.

For a while, Kazuhiko Torishima kept saying this name.

Hibiki Higashino, at the age of 7, was a genius.

Possessing unparalleled spirituality, the paintings in her hands radiate light.

This is also a point that Akira Toriyama acknowledged.

He is 17 years old now.

“I read your comic, it’s called ‘War Between Gods and Humans’, right? Hmm—” He stroked his chin, thinking as he organized his thoughts, “It’s more skillful, more refined, and doesn’t look like something a high school student would draw. But it lacks that natural spark.”

Hibiki Higashino spread his hands. "After all, I've grown up."

“He’s grown up.” Akira Toriyama sighed.

"I look forward to your future development," he concluded.

……

In the evening, sitting at his desk by the window with his history textbook open, Higashino Hibiki had no interest in studying.

"I see, I see..."

He understood why Torishima Kazuhiko was so concerned.