Full-time comic artist

School leaders spoke first, followed by teachers.

Higashino Hibiki was surprised; it wasn't their homeroom teacher, Matsuzaki.

Instead, he was a teacher in a general course and a homeroom teacher at the North Campus.

Even if you have the best grades at Taipei University, you can still get into the law department of the University of Tokyo.

Even the homeroom teacher at Kitamoto University didn't have Matsuzaki-sensei's outstanding teaching performance.

"If Ms. Matsuzaki hadn't resigned, it would have been her. What a pity."

"I actually miss her a little."

Hibiki Higashino only realized what was going on when his classmates whispered among themselves.

After the teachers spoke, student representatives spoke.

Hibiki Higashino straightened his clothes and asked Asahina.

She gave a thumbs-up without any expression, telling Higashino Hibiki that there was absolutely no problem.

Not long after:

"Please welcome outstanding graduate Hibiki Higashino to the stage to speak."

Hibiki Higashino then stood up and, under the gaze of everyone present, steadily walked to the podium.

Last year, it was Nakai Hirokazu, the head of the Go club, who was here. This year, it's Hibiki Higashino's turn.

"Dear teachers, dear classmates and younger generations, in this season of vibrant life and flourishing growth, we..."

He started with the standard pleasantries. Higashino Hibiki's gaze swept across everyone; their eyes shone with anticipation, waiting for him to utter those words—

"With the help of my teacher, I finally got into the university of my dreams and realized my dream of becoming a cartoonist."

Higashino Hibiki took a deep breath and spoke slowly and deliberately:

"That's right, I'm currently serializing a work in Weekly Shonen Jump, and the Hikaru no Go anime is also airing right now. I'm Tori Akino Mirai."

The audience erupted in cheers.

"As expected, the school legend is true! Higashino/Higashino-senpai is Toriaki Mirai!"

"I love Hikaru no Go so much!"

"Senior, I like you."

At the graduation ceremony, members of the Go club sat together.

They were surprised, "Minister, is what you're saying true?!"

Nishimura crossed his arms smugly. "I told you, Higashino is Tori Akino. What kind of relationship do I have with him? Why would I lie to you!"

"I just can't believe it, because I decided to learn Go after watching 'Hikaru no Go'."

"Tori Akino-sensei is my idol. I never expected to be so close to him."

Seeing the room in chaos, the teachers didn't say anything and waited for it to quiet down before Hibiki Higashino continued, "Throughout my three years of high school, I felt the same way as everyone else—I was very happy."

"We made many friends, learned a lot of knowledge, and finally, we ushered in a perfect moment."

That concludes my reflections.

Higashino bowed and stepped down from the stage.

The school song of Yan Yan High School resounded throughout the sky.

Many people had tears in their eyes as they bid farewell to their alma mater.

……

After saying goodbye to his friends and signing autographs for readers of "Hikaru no Go," Hibiki Higashino finally had some free time an hour after the graduation ceremony ended.

Holding his graduation certificate, Hibiki Higashino saw Nishimura and Kitamoto waiting for him under the cherry blossom tree.

"Nishimura, you bastard!"

Upon seeing him, Higashino Hibiki became very angry. "What nonsense are you spouting in your letter! You almost ruined my important plans!"

Nishimura was very excited. "Higashino, you saw my letter! It was all my heartfelt feelings. After seeing the foot you drew, I actually...bokied."

"Ugh," Higashino Hibiki waved his hand dismissively, "Don't talk to me."

“Really!” Nishimura took a step forward. “Could you give me a copy of the original manuscript? Yukino Tsubasa’s original manuscript.”

"Of course not!" Hibiki Higashino refused. "My works are not for you to vent your lust."

He firmly rejected Nishimura's persistent advances.

At this moment, Kitamoto spoke softly, "So you knew all along, Higashino."

Higashino Hibiki was puzzled, but nodded.

“It was Ms. Akimiya who told you,” Kitamoto looked up at the sky. “She really saw it during the senior year school trip.”

"Huh! What? What?" Nishimura asked curiously.

Kitamoto had long since learned to ignore Nishimura.

“Thank you so much, Higashino, for drawing ‘The Garden of Words’ for me.” Kitamoto said gratefully, “Because of you, I am finally with her.”

Nishimura: "Hey! Kitamoto, do you have a girlfriend? That's so sneaky!"

As Higashino listened, he gradually understood.

I see……

“I should thank you too, Kitamoto,” Hibiki Higashino said, something Kitamoto couldn’t understand.

Because of you, Ms. Akimiya understands that age is not a barrier.

However, Higashino looked at Kitamoto strangely, wondering why he would fall for a 30-year-old woman.

You're really impressive.

Chapter 84 The Hardships of Go

Last September, Enhiko High School had an academic trip to Asama Mountain.

Hibiki Higashino didn't go because he was busy serializing "Hikaru no Go".

After Akemi Akemi returned to Yoshiwara-so from Asama-yama, she became sensitive, which puzzled Hibiki Higashino at the time.

Looking back now, I realize that it was during that trip that I witnessed Kitamoto and Matsuzaki-sensei's intimate behavior.

"Can teachers and students really be together?" She must have had this thought in her mind.

If they had struck while the iron was hot back then, there might not have been a need for "The Garden of Words".

However, because of the serialization of "The Garden of Words," Matsuzaki-sensei and Kitamoto's relationship must have gotten closer, which is why she chose to resign, which is not a bad thing.

Higashino Hibiki has figured everything out.

……

After graduating, Nishimura went to his ideal university, majoring in agriculture and animal husbandry.

“The pigs I raise will definitely be amazing,” he said, giving a thumbs-up with pride. “I’ll share them with you all then, and remember to thank me!”

Hibiki Higashino never expected that Nishimura's dream would be farming and animal husbandry.

The work in this industry is dirty and tiring, but even the loud and boisterous man has found a down-to-earth direction.

Kitamoto congratulated Nishimura, saying that three years had passed in the blink of an eye, and he was filled with emotion.

"Higashino went to Musashino Art University, and I went to the University of Tokyo. Although we've parted ways, we're not too far apart and can still get together from time to time. But Nishimura, you're going to Hokkaido. I wonder when and where we'll be able to meet again like we are today."

Nishimura is very optimistic, saying, "As long as our hearts are still together, we will meet again."

Higashino nodded.

……

Inside the Go club.

Xiaochun plays chess against someone with exceptional skill.

He's in great shape lately; he's unbeatable in this club.

"They've beaten Mr. Honda again!" The onlookers exclaimed in admiration.

"Xiaochun is 30 years old this year, and she can still take the Go exam."

"He might become a professional Go player."

"A master has appeared in our club as well."

Hearing their words, Xiaochun covered his head and laughed heartily, as if he could already see what it would be like for others to call him Xiaochun, the first dan.

“In the story of Hikaru no Go,” an older man holding a manga magazine said, “Hikaru Shindo has become a professional Go player, but it’s very difficult for him to pass the exam.”

Of the 28 top players, only three can become professional Go players and gain widespread attention.

Many people have given up a lot for Go, but in the end they can only suffer a regretful defeat and leave the world where they make a living by Go with a heart full of resentment.

"The character named Tsubaki in the manga, was he drawn by Higashino based on you, Koharu? He said he gave up his job to play Go..."

He murmured to himself, his expression complicated, “Some people, like him, choose to resign; some come from other places and have to pay for transportation and rent; students who play Go cannot concentrate on their studies and can only go to diploma mills if they don’t become professional Go players.”

"Everyone is passionate about Go, their hearts are set on Go, they play with immense pressure, and they're determined to succeed, so..." the uncle asked, "Is it really possible to become a professional Go player?"

After saying that, he realized his mistake and waved his hands repeatedly, saying, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to."

Xiaochun paused for a moment, then said, "It's okay, I went to take the professional exam with the same mindset."

He recalled that in the manga, Tsubaki ultimately failed the professional exam, losing to Hikaru Shindo and others.

"From the preliminary rounds to the official exam, a month has passed; and from the official exam to now, a month and a half has gone by! You've been constantly growing during this time! But I haven't improved at all. That's the difference between us!"

These are the words Tsubaki said to Hikaru Shindo.

But in Xiaochun's mind, it was more like she was saying it to herself.

That's right, after leaving the chess academy at the age of 18, he stopped improving. Even with diligent study, he kept losing to those who came after him.

For the past twelve years, he has remained stagnant, sending off batch after batch of students and looking up at those geniuses who have become professional Go players.