Full-time cartoonist - #55 - Chapter 55 Come on, Tori Akino

“What gift?” Yamazaki Akira was looking forward to it.

She looked at Higashi Hibiki curiously, her big head filled with doubts.

Hibiki Tono took out a long and thin package from the work table and handed it to Yamazaki Akira.

“I’m going to take it apart.”

“Please.”

Yamazaki Akira opened the package. Inside was a metal rod, about 10 centimeters, with a rubber wrapper at the tip.

“What is this?” She picked it up and waved it, because it was too short and felt bad in the hand.

“Pointer,” Higashino Hibiki asked for a metal rod. He pressed the button on the end of the handle and the metal rod immediately extended to 30 centimeters in length.

After shaking it twice, there was a “swish” sound.

He explained: “Wouldn’t it be more convenient to use this to point out on the chessboard on the show?”

“Indeed,” Akira Yamazaki nodded excitedly, “Thank you then, I’ll accept it!”

Then he couldn’t wait to take it back.

Higashikata looked at her, playing with the pointer, with a curious look in his eyes.

Press it out, squeeze it back, and shout “Poke you! Poke you! Poke you!” like a child.

Higashino Hibiki teased her with a smile, “Is it fun? You’ve never played it before, have you?”

“Ahem!” Yamazaki Akira’s face turned red, he put away the pointer and put it aside, “Good boy, you dare to make fun of me and play a game of Go?”

Higashikata nodded. It had been a long time since he had played chess with Yamazaki Akira.

Taking out the chessboard, Hibiki Kuroko goes first.

Twenty minutes later, Akira Yamazaki felt proud and touched his nose, “Huh, I better win!”

I really don’t know how she, a second-tier professional, could have the nerve to be so fussy with Hibiki Higashi, a newbie?

Higashino Hibiki looked at the chessboard, recalled the game, reviewed the game, understood his mistake, and then lowered his head.

“I lost.”

He lost two goals, but finally reached the end game and did not admit defeat at halftime.

Hibiki Higashino felt the charm of Go more and more, with precise calculations and concentration. After he started playing chess, he almost forgot about other things and only thought about the game.

This feeling of being fully immersed is very wonderful. After it was over, I felt a sense of loss.

Yamazaki Akira stopped his arrogant expression and began to be surprised by Hibiki Hibiki’s progress. In less than half a year, he was already as good as a second-rate student.

“Do you want another round?” she asked, then put her hands on her hips, “But don’t expect to win, you’re still far away.”

“No, I’m sorry to trouble you today.” Higashino Hibiki began to clean up the chessboard.

“Why?” Yamazaki Akira was extremely surprised. It could be seen that he loved Go, so how could he refuse?

After Hibiki put away the chessboard, he stood up and said, “A lot of time has been wasted. I still have to draw comics. That is my job.”

Tapping into hobbies should not interfere with serious matters.

Higashino Hibiki is a very self-disciplined person. After bidding farewell to Yamazaki Akira, he entered the state of drawing comics and forgot about things and me.

…

After dinner in the evening, Higashino Hibiki watched Asahina Yuko and Minami Chiharu occupy the other half of the living room and began to draw the animation manuscript.

As expected, Minami Chiharu, the most suitable laborer, was hired by Yuko Asahina with money.

In this way, I went to class during the day and came back to draw in the afternoon. The whole dormitory was immersed in the atmosphere of hard work.

The volume flies up.

On Friday, when Nao Sasaki came to pick up the manuscript of “The Soul of the Game”, he told Hibiki Higashino to pay attention to the interview program of TV Asahi at 7 p.m. on Saturday.

“You must see it.” He repeated at last.

Hibiki Higashino was very curious and stayed up until 7pm on Saturday, watching the show with anticipation.

Saturday, Sunday and Monday are the time for Hibiki to draw the storyboards for the next episode, and he does not need an assistant.

Yoshii Sankyu was short of money and worked part-time at a convenience store, while Akimiya Akemi was sitting next to Higashino Hibiki.

As the pre-show music ended, the female host came out, holding a script book in her hand and shouting with great momentum.

“The person we are interviewing today is Japan’s most powerful cartoonist, the author of “Dragon Ball”, Mr. Akira Toriyama!”

The audience burst into excited applause. Hibiki Hibiki and Akimiya Akemi looked at each other, their mouths wide open in surprise.

According to their understanding, Toriyama Akira doesn’t like to appear in public, so they didn’t expect to participate in the interview program this time.

The person who walked out from the backstage was indeed Toriyama Akira. With a reserved smile, he shook hands with the host, and finally the two of them sat down on the sofa.

“The strongest manga artist or something, it’s so embarrassing to say that he is so powerful.” Toriyama Akira rubbed the back of his head and complained.

“Haha, I’m sorry,” the hostess waved her hand, “But according to the data I have here, Mr. Akira Toriyama is indeed the most valuable cartoonist. Yes, the “Dragon Ball” you created is also widely popular. Something that readers will love.”

“Well, I have to thank my editors for this,” Akira Toriyama nodded, “and of course my assistant. Speaking of assistants, we have to talk about Mirai Toriyama.”

“Eh?” The female host looked at him in surprise, stared at the script book, and smiled awkwardly at a loss.

This was not rehearsed.

“He is really a genius. A high school student can serialize it.” Akira Toriyama continued to advocate, “I have been watching the “Spirit of the Game” he drew. The plot and artistry are very good.”

“It’s really amazing.” The female host couldn’t help it. I can only talk about it along the way.

“I feel like I will surpass me in the future,” Akira Toriyama nodded seriously, “Eh?”

He looked around and asked, “Shouldn’t this be said?”

Then he pointed at the camera, “Don’t get carried away, Tori Akino! I was just being polite.”

The audience burst into laughter, “Hahahahaha.”

Higashino Hibiki stood up immediately. Seeing Akira Toriyama, who was a bit shy, talking on the stage, he was moved.

“But your recent content is indeed very interesting,” Akira Toriyama said. “You put the rationality of the plot first, instead of giving up the core of the work just for the sake of performance.”

“Just keep going like this. Temporary results don’t mean anything. Come on! Tori Akino!”

Seeing that the time was getting longer and longer, the host quickly brought the topic back.

Higashino Hibiki couldn’t see what they said at all. He had already closed his eyes and was filled with emotions.

“Higashino-kun,” Akimiya Akemi patted him on the shoulder, “Teacher Toriyama Akira is encouraging you. I’m worried that you will become discouraged because of the temporary victory or defeat.”

Higashikata nodded heavily, “He underestimates me too much.”

No wonder Sasaki asked him to watch this show again and again. It turned out to be a teacher’s heart for his disciples.

Hibiki Higashikata was very moved in his heart.

“I’m going back to storyboarding.”

He stood up and returned to the bedroom.

In front of the desk, I spread out the drawings, suppressed my surging heart, and then calmly started drawing comics.