Full-time cartoonist.

Chapter 32

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

Fortunately, he is in the bedroom, otherwise I really don't know how to explain.

"Mr. Shinoda, who claims to be a fourth-dan professional, called the editorial department and asked about the situation of "Soul of Chess", and hoped that you could contact him."

"Mr. Shinoda? Oh, I know this person, I have seen him in the Go Club before." Higashino remembered the Go Academy teacher holding a folding fan, "But he doesn't have his business card with him now, please trouble Mr. Sasaki."

"Remember it."

Sasaki still read out a series of numbers, and Higashino picked up the discarded manuscript paper and recorded them down.

Higashino, "Well, it's all right."

Sasaki didn't hang up the phone, but said: "Since "Soul of Go" is mainly about Go, the knowledge about Go in it must be true and reliable. Shinoda Shidan said that if he needs help, he can visit at any time."

"I understand."

Higashino naturally understood, he was going to contact the Ki-in after the serialization, but Shinoda was already impatient.

In fact, this is what he doesn't understand.

Japanese Go was still brilliant in the 80s, with six super-class masters, unrivaled in the world.

But in the 90s, it was surpassed by China and South Korea.

Even in its 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 declined year after year, from a peak of 1200 million to the current 700 million.

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

And this situation is still getting worse and worse.

Especially this year's [-]nd Ing's Cup final, Dazhu Yingxiong lost in the final against South Korea's Seo Bong-soo, it is even more difficult to hide the reality of loneliness.

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

……

Shinoda Shidan was at home, reading an old newspaper, which had a section about "Soul of Chess".

Although it was only the size of a block of tofu, it also described the process in detail, and praised Hibiki Higashino, believing that he has the potential to become a popular cartoonist.

Shinoda couldn't help being 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 Sasaki from the editorial department, and Sasaki praised Higashi Hibiki, saying that it would be serialized one day.

This made him a little ashamed.

At first he was short-sighted.

"It would be nice if it was more enthusiastic."

Higashino Hibiki never contacted him, which made him a little anxious.

"Did he notice my contempt?"

As a teacher, he could feel the decline in the level of freshmen in the Chess Academy.

"I hope that "Soul of Chess" can be serialized to drive some children to fall in love with Go, 10,000+ is fine."

"I really want to do my best."

He recalled the hard days of learning chess in the chess academy when he was young.

Recite chess records every day and keep playing chess.

It is chess when eating, and chess when going to the bathroom.

The black and white sons kept fighting in their brains, almost bewildered.

The capable go up, the mediocre go down.

With patience, hard work, sadness, distress, and even despair, we are constantly climbing rocks, fighting for the one-in-a-thousandth probability.

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

"Because of this, I love Go deeply."

He looked at the cherry blossom trees outside the window. In the cold winter, they were full of dead branches. They had no aesthetic feeling, and only looked defeated and lonely.

"Go can't be a cherry blossom, he should be a pine and cypress."

Just thinking about it, the landline rang.

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

……

At noon on Monday, Higashino looked at Yuko Asahina who was holding a bento and sighed.

"Asahina-san, if you have anything to say, just speak up, you don't need to pay so much."

"Do I bother you?" She tilted her head and asked calmly.

"Yes," Higashino nodded, "Everyone is watching."

Even at the gate of the class, there was Nishimura who was about to cry, and Beiben who comforted him.

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

Except for weekends, every day non-stop, punctual like Dingding punch card.

Higashino Hibiki has the illusion, does she really like herself?

Asahina Yuko looked around, and then said: "Sorry, I'm a slow person, I just want to please you, I won't do it in the future."

She turned around and left with her lunch box.

Higashino 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 she is very unhappy."

"It's just that it's open, and I won't give bentos in the future," Higashino replied.

He changed the subject and asked the two people, "I haven't been to the cafeteria for a long time, so I don't know if there are any new dishes."

Kitamoto replied: "Strawberry mapo tofu, and cone ice cream ramen."

"Ah," Higashino's pace stopped, he looked at the two of them, "I don't know if it's too late to regret it now?"

……

So I could only eat the most famous chow mein bread at noon. 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 drawing very hard recently." Yoshii Sanjiu said in surprise.

This is the third time he has seen it.You can buy fifty copies each time.

The consumption is astonishingly large.

"Well, because of Teacher Qiugong."

I have Akemi Akimiya as an assistant, so I can draw so fast.

He is already drawing the sixth chapter of "Soul of Chess". For serialization, it is better to make some preparations earlier.

"Sure enough, Mr. Akimiya is teaching you how to draw." Yoshii Sanjiu suddenly realized that they really have a pure relationship.

It's all the fault of Takagi-senpai for making him think too much.

Yoshii didn't stay for long and went out.

He was always like this recently, he didn't know what he was busy with, and he disappeared after returning to the dormitory after school. When he came back, it was almost twelve o'clock.

Higashino usually returns to his bedroom to draw manga, but today he is waiting in the living room.

There is one person who will come to see him. It is the female professional second dan who is consulting for "Soul of Chess" after discussing with Shinoda fourth dan.

I heard it was Akira Yamazaki.

"Hi, I'm Yamazaki, I've made an appointment!"

In the ringtone, a lively and cheerful voice suddenly came.

She's already here, Higashino stood up and opened the door.

At the door is a girl about 1.5 meters tall. She looks average, but has a round face. Beige clothes and long straight hair look like a tall nut.

"I am Yamazaki [-]nd Dan, and you are Teacher Higashino Hibiki!"

"Just call me Higashino. I'm still a rookie. I don't know if I can be serialized, Yamazaki player."

"Then call me the second stage of Yamazaki's career."

Higashino was stunned.

She smiled and said, "I'm just joking, just call me Yamazaki."

Walking into the living room, looking at the empty dormitory, she asked curiously, "Are all the roommates here?"

　Thank you for the reward of 1000 points for the theory of love relativity
　　
　
(End of this chapter)