Full-time comic artist

The clothes never dry, and the whole room is almost full of damp clothes hanging there.

He also had to worry about the ink becoming damp. If a page of original drawing, which he had spent two or three hours creating, were accidentally ruined, he would feel like dying.

The most troublesome thing is dealing with mold, as the dormitories at Musashino Art University are made of wood.

These molds proliferated like American soldiers discovering oil.

It was everywhere in the room, and it all smelled fishy.

He can only handle it frequently.

At the end of June, having just finished cleaning up the mold, Higashino Hibiki was wearing an apron, his back aching.

Sasaki then came to the door.

He told Hibiki Higashino that if he agreed, the second season of Hikaru no Go could be produced immediately and aired in October of this year.

Upon hearing that it would be the same cast, Higashino Hibiki readily agreed.

Only a fool would refuse such a good opportunity.

It's July now, and Tokyo is really hot.

Fortunately, Hibiki Higashino always stayed in the dormitory, so he didn't have to work in the scorching sun.

He was really looking forward to this summer, finally he wouldn't have to face the dreaded plum rain season.

And gradually, summer vacation arrived.

Hibiki Higashino went home; he hadn't been home in a long time.

At the front door, Higashino was watering the plants when she saw him. Her hands were full of gifts, and she went up to greet him.

But remembering that he hadn't been home for more than half a year, she snorted, pretended not to see him, wiped her hands on her apron, and turned to walk towards the kitchen.

Higashino Hibiki quickly grabbed her and apologized, "I'm sorry, Mom, it's been a long time since I've come back to see you."

He didn't try to argue; being busy was one thing, not going home was another.

Higashino turned her head away and ignored him.

Higashino remarked that Higashino's mother was truly a very gentle person.

Touching her somewhat rough hands, Higashino handed her a gift bag containing skincare and makeup products recommended by Akemi Akemi. Each bag cost 38 yen, equivalent to the monthly income of an average person in Tokyo.

Touching Akimiya's smooth face, Higashino thought this thing should be very useful, so he bought one for his mother as well.

He also gave Higashino Ichiro his Daiginjo sake, showing no favoritism to anyone, and returned home.

“Oh,” Higashino finally spoke, glancing at the brand with delight, “Mrs. Kameno next door mentioned this skincare product, and said it’s very effective.”

"Then please try it." Dongye Xiang took off her apron and hung it on the hook on the wall.

Higashino Shio didn't stop him, and Higashino Hibiki took her hand and led her to sit down in the living room.

"Forget it, I'll look into it later."

Higashino put aside the dozen or so bottles and jars and didn't blame Higashino Hibiki anymore.

The fact that he brought gifts home proved that he still cared about them, and Higashino Shio was very satisfied.

"But isn't this cosmetic too expensive?" she said, touching her face with some concern.

Hibiki Higashino laughed and said, "To me, it's just a drop in the ocean."

With the release of the third volume of the "Hikaru no Go" manga, his earnings in the first half of this year have already exceeded 1 million yen.

My spending on cosmetics is really negligible.

Higashino looked at him with satisfaction.

She didn't care whether Higashino Hibiki was successful or not; she just hoped he could grow up healthy.

Higashino Shio is very happy to see Higashino Hibiki full of ambition.

"By the way, where's Dad?" Hibiki Higashino asked.

"I've gone out to work," Higashino Shio said.

"He's the kind of person who can't sit still. Even though he doesn't drive the night shift anymore, he still can't stand being supported by his son, so he goes back to driving a taxi during the day."

She covered her mouth and laughed.

Chapter 100 Toriya Akino's Father

Higashino Ichiro's taxi stopped under the shade of a tree next to the Go professional exam venue and began to rest.

Holding the bento box in my hand, I finished eating it in no time.

At that moment, a high school student walked out of the examination area, came to Higashino Ichiro's taxi, and opened the back door.

"Sorry, wait a little longer," Higashino Ichiro muttered.

The high school student didn't answer him, but stood quietly with his head down.

"Huh?" Higashino Ichiro quickly finished his bento, looked up in surprise at the high school student.

He remained standing still, the ground around him soaked with tears, looking utterly dejected.

Higashino Ichiro sighed; it seemed to be yet another loser.

"Come back next year and keep trying, there's still a chance," he encouraged.

His temper has become more and more mild.

“I,” the high school student looked up, his cheeks streaked with tears, and choked out, “I… am already eighteen years old.”

She squatted on the ground and started crying.

At eighteen, one has to leave the chess academy and face society and reality.

They can no longer get close to the world of professional Go players.

“These… all these years,” he sobbed, his voice trembling with grievance, “I’ve poured all my energy into playing Go, neglecting my studies and not knowing how to communicate with my peers… I…”

Tears streamed down her face again.

Higashino Ichiro wanted to reprimand him, but he held back the words.

He had been reading his son Hibiki Higashino's comics and understood the hardships faced by interns, so he silently handed him a tissue and waited for him to recover.

"I'm sorry..." The eighteen-year-old high school student wiped away his tears and got into the back seat of the car. "Please go to the nearest subway station."

“Okay,” Higashino Ichiro said, glancing in the rearview mirror and starting the car. “There’s no hurdle in life that you can’t overcome. In two years, when you look back on today, you’ll realize that it wasn’t actually that painful.”

“When I was young, I was only about 10 years old, the country started organizing students to go to the countryside to farm the land together.”

“Back then, we didn’t have enough to eat or wear, and we were always working. Compared to that, you are much happier.”

The high school student remained silent, feeling that the other person didn't understand him at all, or that there was a gap between them.

Higashino Ichiro had no choice but to change his approach. He asked, "Have you ever read 'Hikaru no Go'? Higashino... Akino Mirai's manga."

The high school student forced himself to stay awake. "Of course I've seen it. Most of us are fans of Hikaru no Go."

“That’s good,” Higashino Ichiro said. “Tori Akino was once just like you.”

"How could that be?" the high school student exclaimed in surprise. "He's a genius manga artist, and he even defeated professional Go player Akira Yamazaki, 2nd dan."

“No matter how talented someone is, there will be times when they are at their lowest point.” Higashino Ichiro’s eye twitched as he thought of his rebellious son, Mohikan Higashino Hibiki.

"At that time, he went completely astray. He donned a 'divine robe' that proclaimed 'I am the only one worthy of respect,' rode a motorcycle, and hung out with delinquents. Only later did he have a sudden awakening and grow into the manga artist, Toriaki Mirai."

"There's such a thing." The high school student's knot slowly loosened. "'I am the only one who matters in heaven and on earth,' so the old Mr. Toriaki was actually so... naive."

He pondered for a long time and finally came up with the word "naive".

“Well, so temporary success or failure doesn’t determine anything,” Higashino Ichiro glanced at the rearview mirror, changed lanes, and then comforted her, “As long as you have the will to not give up, your future will definitely be more successful than if you are depressed.”

When they reached the nearest subway station, Higashino Ichiro stopped the car.

"We've arrived, guest."

"Thank you, sir. Along the way, I've been asking myself the same question, and I know I can't give up Go. I'll keep working hard next year." The high school student in the back paid the bill, his furrowed brows relaxed, and he seemed much more relaxed.

"That's good, that's good." Higashino Ichiro was very pleased.

The high school student then asked, "By the way, Uncle, how did you know so much about Akino Mirai-sensei?"

Upon hearing the word "teacher," Higashino Ichiro felt a secret sense of satisfaction.

Only a respectable profession can be called a teacher.

Doctors, lawyers, and authors.

I never imagined that one day, or rather so soon, the word "teacher" would be added to the end of my son's name.

In response to the high school student's question, Ichiro Higashino replied:

"It's because, Tori Akino, is my son. Of course I know him very well."

Higashino Ichiro stepped on the gas, leaving the high school student with a mysterious and enigmatic silhouette.

"Huh?" The high school student looked up in disbelief. "Really?"

"Tori Akino Mirai's father?"

He pinched his cheek. "Ouch!"

"I'm not dreaming. I don't know if it's that uncle who's dreaming."

……

After leaving behind a silhouette that concealed his accomplishments, Higashino Ichiro was secretly pleased. He took out a news report about Higashino Hibiki from the glove compartment.

"This is from 'The Garden of Words,' and it sounds very beautiful."

"This is 'Hikaru no Go.' The report says that because of 'Hikaru no Go,' the number of Go players in Japan has increased by more than 100 million. It has such a huge social impact. No wonder he's my son."

He cut out all the news reports about Higashino Hibiki and would occasionally take them out to look at, only two or three times a day.

When he was driving a taxi, he often heard students discussing "Hikaru no Go".

He would nod along when he heard Higashino praised.

Several times I wanted to reveal my identity, but I held back each time.