Full-time cartoonist

December 25th, Christmas.

Hibiki Higashikata was in the living room of the dormitory.

Snowflakes were falling outside the window, but it was still very lively. Students loved celebrating Christmas the most, but Hibiki Higashi had no thoughts at all.

He looked up at the time, 6 o'clock in the afternoon, and felt even more restless.

Today is Jump’s serialization meeting to decide which works will be released and which works will be uploaded.

It stands to reason that the result has been known for a long time, but Sasaki still did not notify him, and his unusual behavior made Hibiya Hibiki feel nervous.

Akimiya Akemi was watching the rerun of Tokyo Love Story. After observing Hibiki Hibiki's abnormality, she turned off the TV.

She was actually very anxious, and she didn't even watch her favorite TV series.

Life or death depends on this moment.

She herself had no way to comfort Higashino Hibiki, because she knew too well the importance of this moment.

The empty living room was as quiet as water could be squeezed out. After turning off the TV, the only sound was the ticking of the wall clock.

"Hey, Higashino-kun, does Chiharu have to work even on Christmas?" she asked.

Higashino Hibiki forced a smile, knowing that she wanted to divert his attention, "The Christmas hourly wage is three times the usual amount, and she can't bear to pay such a large salary."

"She works very hard."

"Classmate Nan is a strong person, which makes me unable to feel pity."

"Yeah." Akimiya Akemi nodded.

The room became quiet again.

Higashino Hibiki brought the Go chess, raised his head and asked Akimiya Akemi, "Can you play Go?"

"My father taught me when I was young."

"How about a plate?"

"You have to let me."

"Well, I'll give you two bucks."

…

Weekly Shonen Jump editorial board meeting room.

Four team leaders, two deputy editors, and one editor, seven people gathered around the table and were discussing decisions that would determine the fate of cartoonists.

"The number of works that were cut in half was three, but four works were included." Deputy Editor-in-Chief Kondo, who presided over the meeting, bounced on the table in distress, making a difficult choice.

"'The Sun Murder' must stay, this is a collaboration with Bunge Chunqiu." Team leader Masatoshi Takahashi said.

This is a comic that his editor is responsible for. As a team leader, he must be responsible for the team members at this time.

He continued: "Moreover, Mr. Yamamura is partnered with Mr. Arai. He has been serializing on Jump for ten years. He is a very good painter and can completely draw the tense atmosphere of mystery novels."

Everyone lowered their heads, looked at the storyboards of "The Sun Murder Incident" again, and nodded in agreement.

"As expected of Mr. Arai, the storyboards are very good, and the works are sophisticated and full of tension."

"This comic really should be serialized."

Takahashi Masajun sat down proudly.

His team really needs a masterpiece.

The "Dark Destroyer" he was previously responsible for was replaced by Ogiwara Kazuo.

Now Togashi has become lazy, and even wants to be serialized using storyboards.

I don’t know how much longer I can carry it.

He sighed inwardly.

"The remaining two comics should not be rejected," said Watanabe, another team leader: "He is a veteran cartoonist, and his new works are the most effective type, so there is no reason for them to be rejected. "

This afternoon's serialization meeting was unexpectedly difficult. Every work has its advantages, and it would be unbearable to abandon any one.

So the discussion went back and forth, and the time had already reached seven o'clock.

Everyone couldn't help but focus on the last of the four parts.

A comic called "The Soul of Chess".

Sasaki Shang's heart sank and he spoke slowly: "The Soul of the Game is an inspirational boy manga that was selected for the Tezuka Prize. You may have doubts because the author is a sophomore in high school, but I want to explain that he can take care of both studies and serialization. of."

Kondo asked, "What's the evidence for you to say that?"

"In addition to the storyboards submitted to the serialization meeting, Mirai Tori Akino also drew the storyboards for 10 episodes of the serialization, and has already drawn the original manuscript for 8 episodes." Sasaki lowered his head, and his glasses reflected the light, making it difficult to see his expression clearly.

"What!" Takahashi was stunned, "Is it the same level as now?"

"No," Sasaki shook his head.

Watanabe was speechless, "Then there's nothing to brag about."

Sasaki said with a smile, "It's even more interesting and exciting than the beginning. I think the content after that is "The Soul of the Game"."

"Oh?" Horie Nobuhiko couldn't hold himself still, he raised his head, "Do you really think so?"

"Yes." Sasaki nodded.

The meeting couldn't help but buzz with discussions.

"That's awesome."

"Tori Akino may become Jump's future in the future."

""Soul of Chess" is no worse than the other three works. If it can be even more exciting...there is a need to serialize it."

Nobuhiko Horie knocked on the table, and the conference room became quiet.

"You don't need to choose the thorny road," said deputy editor-in-chief Kondo. "You can serialize it after college. If you are a high school student, some minor problems will arouse public opinion."

"Yeah." Takahashi Masajun nodded, "After all, I'm not an adult yet."

"I just won the Tezuka Prize and was selected," Watanabe hesitated. "When Yoshihiro Togashi was qualified for serialization, three years had passed since he won the masterpiece. Is Tori Akino too impatient?"

Sasaki felt irritated as he watched Horie Nobuhiko nod in approval.

"As long as comics are interesting, they can be serialized!" He said: "This is the idea I have always had, and this is how I practice it.

Akino Toriyama is a genius, and it is not impossible to rival Akira Toriyama in the future. I saw endless possibilities in my relationship with him.

If he was not allowed to serialize it, he would most likely go to another magazine. For the editorial department, it would probably be the biggest loss in the 1990s. "

Having said this, he looked around and said firmly: "Let him serialize it!"

The conference room fell silent.

They didn't expect that Sasaki would value Hibiki Higashino so much.

I think Hibiki Higashino will become a pillar of Jump.

Nobuhiko Horie looked at the subordinate wearing glasses in front of him and moved slightly.

He knew Sasaki, he had always been synonymous with reliability.

If it is as he said, then Tori Akino must not be let go in the future.

Even with an annual contract fee of tens of millions of yen, he cannot be allowed to serve Sunday and Magazine!

"Include it," Horie Nobuhiko said, "It's also a gimmick for high school students to start serializing. It can attract a lot of readers. Let's give it a try."

"Thank you, editor-in-chief." Sasaki breathed a sigh of relief.

He made a fist and finally passed.

"But..." Kondo said cautiously: "Only three works have been cut in half..."

"Then cut another work in half," Horie Nobuhiko said decisively: "Sasaki is right, interesting comics can be serialized, so let the mediocre go and the strong go. The more new works that can be serialized, the better. .”