Full-time cartoonist - #32 - Chapter 32 Lonely

The next day, the weekend, Hibiki Higashino had just returned home when he received a call from Sasaki.

Fortunately, he was in the bedroom, otherwise I wouldn’t have known how to explain it.

“Mr. Shinoda, who claims to be a fourth-dan professional, called the editorial office and inquired about “Soul of the Game” and hoped that you could contact him.”

“Mr. Shinoda? Oh, I know this man. I met him at the Go club once.” Hibiki thought of the chess teacher holding a folding fan. “But his business card is not with me now. Please excuse me Mr. Sasaki.”

“Just remember it.”

Sasaki Nao read out a string of numbers, and Higashino Hibiki picked up the discarded manuscript paper and wrote it down.

Higashikata Hibiki said, “Well, that’s it.”

Sasaki did not hang up the phone, but said: “Since “Go Soul” is mainly about Go, the knowledge about Go in it must be true and reliable. Shinoda Fourth Dan said that if anyone needs help, he can visit at any time.”

“I understand.”

Hibiki Higashino naturally understood. He had planned to contact the Chess Academy after passing the serialization, but he didn’t expect Shinoda to be impatient.

In fact, this is something he doesn’t understand.

Japanese Go was still very prosperous in the 1980s, with six super-class masters who were unparalleled in the world.

But by the 1990s, it was surpassed by China and South Korea.

Even in our own country, the status of Go is constantly being eroded by Shogi.

With the bursting of the economic bubble, the number of Go players has dropped year after year, from the peak of 12 million people to the current 7 million people.

The most serious thing is the loss of young people, mostly middle-aged and elderly people.

And this situation is still getting worse and worse.

Especially in this year’s second Ying’s Cup final, Da Zhu Hero lost in the final against South Korea’s Seo Bong-soo, making it even harder to hide the reality of loneliness.

After losing to South Korea and losing to China, no one loses next.

…

Shinoda Fourth Dan was at home, looking at an old newspaper, which had a section about “Soul of the Game”.

Although it was only the size of a piece of tofu, it described the story in detail and praised Hibiki Hibiki, believing that he has the potential to become a popular manga artist.

Shinoda couldn’t help but be surprised. He didn’t expect that the young man he met more than two months ago was so talented.

About to be on the stage of serialization.

He just had a phone call with Nao Sasaki from the editorial department. Sasaki praised Hibiki Hibiki and said that it would be serialized one day.

This made him feel a little ashamed.

He was short-sighted at the beginning.

“It would be nice if it was more enthusiastic.”

Higashikata Hibiki has not contacted him, which makes him a little anxious.

“Did he notice my arrogance?”

As a teacher, he can feel the decline in the standards of the new students in the chess academy.

“I hope that “Soul of Chess” can be serialized and lead some children to fall in love with Go. It can cost as much as hundreds of thousands.”

“I really want to do my best.”

He recalled the hard days of learning chess at the chess academy when he was a child.

Memorize chess records every day and play chess constantly.

It’s chess when you’re eating, and it’s chess when you’re going to the toilet.

Black and white were constantly fighting in their brains, as if they were in a daze.

The capable ones go up, the mediocre ones go down.

With patience, hard work, sadness, anguish, and even despair, we continue to climb the rock and compete for the one-thousandth chance.

Fortunately, after three disappointments, he finally passed the professional Go exam for the fourth time.

“That’s why I love Go so much.”

He looked at the cherry blossom trees outside the window. They were all dead branches in the cold winter. They had no sense of beauty and only looked defeated and lonely.

“Go cannot be cherry blossoms, he should be pine and cypress.”

Just as he was thinking this, the landline phone rang.

His eyes lit up, he stood up immediately and walked steadily over.

…

At noon on Monday, Higashino Hibiki looked at Yuko Asahina holding a lunch box and sighed.

“Asahina-kun, if you have any questions, just tell me directly. You don’t have to go to such lengths.”

“Am I bothering you?” She tilted her head and asked calmly.

“Yes,” Higashikata nodded, “Everyone is watching.”

Even at the door of the class, there was Nishimura who was about to cry, and Kitamoto who was comforting him.

It has been half a month since Asahina Yuko fed him.

Except for weekends, I work non-stop every day and clock in on time just like DingTalk.

Hibiki Higashikata has a delusion. Does she really like him?

Asahina Yuko looked around and then said: “Sorry, I’m a slow person. I just want to please you, and I won’t do it anymore.”

She turned around and left with her lunch box.

Higashino Hibiki breathed a sigh of relief, then stood up and went to the school cafeteria with Nishimura Kitamoto.

“Did you reject Yuko?” Nishimura asked, “I feel like she was very unhappy.”

“I just said that I won’t send lunch boxes anymore,” Higashino replied.

He changed the topic and asked the two of them, “I haven’t been to the cafeteria for a long time. I don’t know what new dishes there are.”

Kitamoto replied: “Strawberry mapo tofu, and ice cream ramen.”

“Ah,” Higashino Hibiki stopped and looked at the two of them, “I wonder if it’s too late to regret it now?”

…

So I could only eat the most famous fried noodles bread for lunch. Although it was strange, it was still acceptable.

After school, Higashino bought a stack of manuscript paper and returned to the dormitory.

“I’ve been practicing painting very hard recently.” Yoshii Sanjiu said in surprise.

This is the third time he has seen it. I can buy fifty sheets every time.

The consumption is surprisingly large.

“Well, because of Akimiya-sensei.”

Akimiya Akemi is her assistant, so she can draw so fast.

He is already drawing the sixth chapter of “The Soul of Chess”. It would be better to make some preparations in advance for serialization.

“As expected, Mr. Akimiya is teaching you how to draw.” Yoshii Sankyu suddenly realized that they had a pure relationship.

It’s all Takagi-senpai’s fault for making him think too much.

Yoshii didn’t stay long before he went out.

He has always been like this recently. He doesn’t know what he is busy with. He disappears after returning to the dormitory after school. When he comes back, it is almost twelve o’clock.

Hibiki usually goes back to the bedroom to draw comics, but today he is waiting in the living room.

There is a person who will come to see him. He is a female professional second-dan who has negotiated with Shinoda’s fourth-dan to consult for “Soul of the Game”.

I heard his name is Akira Yamazaki.

“Hello, I’m Yamazaki, I’ve already made an appointment!”

A lively and cheerful voice suddenly came from the ringtone.

She has arrived. Dongye Hing stood up and opened the door.

At the door is a girl who is about 1.55 meters tall. She has an average appearance, but has a round face. She looks like a tall nut in beige clothes and long straight hair.

“I am Yamazaki 2nd Dan, and you must be Mr. Hibiki Higashino!”

“Just call me Higashino. I’m just a newcomer. I don’t know if I can be serialized yet, Yamazaki Player.”

“Then call me Yamazaki Professional 2nd Dan.”

Dong Yexiang was stunned.

She smiled and said, “I’m just kidding, just call me Yamazaki.”

Walking into the living room and looking at the empty dormitory, she asked curiously: “Are all the roommates here?”

Thanks to Love Theory of Relativity for the 1000 point coin reward