Full-time comic artist

Yoichi Takahashi from "Captain Tsubasa: World Youth Edition"

And then there's the last evergreen tree, Osamu Akimoto.

Weekly Shonen Jump remains teeming with talent, a veritable constellation of strong individuals.

Today's event, with the participation of countless people and the flashing spotlight, shows that Jump is still the same Jump as before!

……

By the second week...

Sasaki passed by a supermarket on his way to work.

Several high school students walked over beside me.

One of the children said, "Let's buy a Jump magazine while we're at it."

His friend waved his hand, "Forget it, Dragon Ball has already ended."

"Yeah, it doesn't feel interesting anymore."

They didn't stop, and walked towards the school laughing and joking.

Sasaki stopped, his expression serious.

"This……"

He was already mentally prepared, but now it seems to be more serious than he had imagined!

Dragon Ball, which began serialization in 84, has become a weekly reading habit for many people.

They bought Jump specifically for Dragon Ball.

But now, Dragon Ball has ended.

Jump is in grave danger! It's about to happen!

This is not a work that is currently being serialized and cannot be replaced!

……

"The only person who can save Jump is Yoshihiro Togashi!"

On Wednesday, Sasaki heard those words as soon as he pushed open the door to Jump.

His subordinates handed him a report, which contained a rough estimate of Monday's sales.

Sasaki's gaze sharpened, incredulous.

"Sales volume decreased by 10!"

This is only one day!

The losses were so severe.

If things continue like this, sales of 650 million units could be halved!

No, or rather, it will drop below 300 million!

“Japan’s population is aging more and more seriously, and there are fewer and fewer newborns,” he muttered to himself. “So, the fresh blood of Jump simply cannot make up for the loss.”

"The reason why it has remained strong in recent years is because of Dragon Ball, which has kept readers from abandoning Jump."

"And now, the great catastrophe has arrived!"

He looked at his bewildered colleagues, who probably hadn't yet anticipated the grim future ahead.

……

Nobuhiko Horie couldn't sit still any longer; he paced back and forth in the editorial department.

My mind is about to explode; I can imagine the accountability measures that will be taken against me by the higher-ups at Shueisha.

He experienced Jump's peak, but he still couldn't escape the deadlock.

Not long after, the phone on the desk rang.

It was his superior, Torishima Kazuhiko, who attacked.

“Please come to the chairman’s office,” Torishima Kazuhiko said gravely. “Please hurry.”

Chapter 95: One update per month, Togashi-sensei (First subscription: 1510)

Hikaru Shindo, just like his name suggests, began to shine.

During the match between Sai and Touya Kouyo, he saw a crucial move that could allow Touya Kouyo to turn the tide and win.

Sai looked at Hikaru, who was gazing at him expectantly, and saw the shining light of a new era.

"Now I understand."

"God... extended my lifespan by a thousand years so that Xiaoguang could witness this."

As Yoshihiro Togashi read the latest chapter of "Hikaru no Go," he suddenly felt a lump in his throat.

"Tori Akino-kun... what do you want to do..."

He foresaw the future of "Hikaru no Go," and that Sai would exist for a thousand years.

Now that he understands his mission, does it mean he's about to disappear?

The level of "divine move" has been passed on to the next player, and Sai's existence has no longer served any purpose.

He turned the page again, not delving deeper into the topic, but instead went to visit Touya Kouyo.

Kouhiro Touya saw Hikaru and hoped to play another game with Sai.

It doesn't matter if it's online, and it doesn't matter if we don't know Sai's real identity.

As long as... I can play another game with him.

In the past, this would have made Sai incredibly happy.

But the subsequent plot unfolded exactly as Yoshihiro Togashi had predicted.

Sai is running out of time; the hourglass within him, which had stopped, is now silently beginning to run again.

"That's quite a bold move, Toriya Akino."

To kill off such a popular character, who was also a college student, was braver than many authors.

He was growing to appreciate the newcomer more and more.

I checked the time; it was 10 a.m.

The person who said they would come to visit is almost here.

Togashi looked around at the furnishings and tidied up a bit.

Not long after, the doorbell rang.

He rubbed his lower back, stood up, and went to open the door.

The visitors were Nobuhiko Horie and his best partner and close friend, Toshimasa Takahashi, the first editor of Yu Yu Hakusho.

Nobuhiko Horie carried the gifts in his hands, a smile plastered on his face.

"Oh, Mr. Takahashi, it's been a long time!"

Togashi ignored Horie Nobuhiko and turned to greet Takahashi Toshimasa.

This editor had helped him a lot, and even when he proposed ending Yu Yu Hakusho, he sided with him in the tug-of-war with Jump.

"Long time no see, you've accomplished a lot at home," Toshimasa Takahashi said with a smile. "I heard you've been having a great time lately, playing mahjong until very late and even finishing Ninja Gaiden 3."

"It sounds a bit sour," Togashi said with a smile, "but it's true. It's so much easier now that I don't have to draw manga anymore. It's like taking off the weights after a weighted marathon, feeling light and airy."

Only then did he say to the uncomfortable Horie Nobuhiko, "Editor-in-Chief Horie, please come in."

He led the two to the living room and brought them two cups of tea, as well as fruit and snacks.

Looking at the two of them, Togashi was actually already prepared.

Upon learning that Akira Toriyama had ended Dragon Ball, he secretly groaned, for that day had indeed come.

It's to ask you to start a new serialization.

He had made up his mind that even if he starved to death, died outside, or jumped off a building, he would never agree to paint again.

I'm fed up with bending over and drawing for more than ten hours every day, being constantly urged, being assigned content I don't like to draw, and not being able to draw comics as I please.

Seeing Yoshihiro Togashi's resolute expression and his earlier unwelcoming manner, Nobuhiko Horie's heart sank.

He understood that Togashi was beyond his control.

From the moment they approached the customer with a humble attitude, they were already at a disadvantage.

In the power struggle between the two sides, the initiative was ceded to the other.

There was nothing they could do; Jump's sales were declining every day, and he had been severely criticized by the chairman a few days ago.

If he doesn't come up with a solution soon, he'll have to step down.

Unlike Togashi, he couldn't afford to drag things out; time was on Togashi's side.

Nobuhiko Horie glanced at Toshimasa Takahashi and shook his head.

This guy is known for protecting authors; judging from what just happened, it's good enough if he doesn't cause any trouble.

There's no other way but to make more promises.

"I..." He thought for a long time, opened his mouth, but saw Togashi's impatient look.

At this point, only strong medicine can help!

So he said...

"As long as you're willing to start serializing your work immediately, I'll give you the authority to only serialize one chapter per month for your subsequent works!"

Yoshihiro Togashi was incredulous. After a few breaths, his eyes lit up, and he gripped Nobuhiko Horie's hands tightly: "Deal!"

……

It's now the end of November.

The anime "Hikaru no Go" has aired its 20th episode, which has reached the point where Hikaru becomes an insei (a student in the academy).