Full-time cartoonist

Tetsuya Endo made a call to Hibiki Hibiki, who was waiting for first-hand information at TV Asahi.

"It's been a long time since a work like "Soul of Chess" has stimulated my creative desire so much." His teeth chattered. The winter night was very cold, but his voice was much more passionate. "What are the ratings? I can't wait to find out. Know."

Hibiki Higashino admires him wholeheartedly, Director Endo really loves his work.

"Then I'll beg you, I still have to draw comics, otherwise I will definitely be there."

Everyone has his own battlefield, and Higashino Hibiki’s battlefield is at the end of his writing.

"Hahaha, you're too polite!" Endo Tetsuya's voice was loud. He took a sip of instant noodles, sighed happily, and then ended the call.

Dong Yexiang looked at the phone and prayed in his heart, hoping to get a good result.

Under the same sky, many people cannot sleep.

Odagiri lay on the bed, his face rosy with excitement.

He gave up his winter vacation and played chess with some college students who were not home from other places.

Just today, I was recognized by Shinoda 4th Dan and officially joined the chess academy, taking another step closer to my dream of being a professional chess player.

Recalling his past self, he suddenly felt like he had become a different person after all the changes.

No matter how I thought about it in the past, I would never have imagined what I am like now.

"I want to become a professional chess player."

The moonlight was reflected by the snow, making the room extremely bright.

Odagiri stretched out his palm and looked at the ceiling with determined eyes.

Unfortunately, because I haven't played chess online for a long time, when I logged into "IGS" again, Mr. Hibiki Higashino, my opponent and teacher, was not online, so I couldn't share the good news with him.

Moreover, this afternoon, Teacher Shinoda brought rice cakes and soba noodles, which made the deserted chess court more lively for the New Year.

He took everyone to watch TV together, take a break, and change their brains.

That is the "Soul of Chess" animation.

In order to concentrate on studying chess, Odagiri had not paid attention to this work for a long time. He did not expect that the surprise came so suddenly, and there was already an animation work.

Watching the game between Fujiwara Sawei and Taya Ryo made him excited and empathetic.

In the past, he was just like Shindo Hikaru now, he couldn't understand the charm of Go at all.

But now, he also wants to play chess with Zuo Wei.

After the animation ended, Odagiri looked at his companions.

Everyone was very excited, clenched their fists, and their eyes seemed to light up.

"You too?" He asked in surprise.

"Uh-huh!"

""Soul of Chess" is so interesting!"

"I watch it occasionally in private."

They secretly glanced at Shinoda 4th Dan and whispered.

How could a college student who loves Go not like "Soul of Go"?

Shinoda is also very aware of this. In fact, even he himself keeps up with the updates every week.

He pretended to have a serious face, "You must concentrate on learning chess. If you want to become a professional chess player, you must first pass the professional chess player preliminaries among hundreds of people. Only after winning three games can you have the door to the professional chess player examination." tickets.”

"Even so, only two or three people can eventually become professional chess players."

"It's not easy. You gave up your professional studies. After several years of hard work, your parents gave up their jobs in their hometown and came to Tokyo to live with others in order to learn chess with you."

"Is being a loser what you want?"

"I'm sorry, teacher." Odagiri and the others knelt down together, bowing their heads and apologizing.

Shinoda was surprised. Seeing the disappointed and regretful expressions of the students, he felt that he had spoken too harshly.

He coughed and smiled, "You guys usually work hard enough. It's understandable that you relax occasionally. Just pay attention."

"yes."

"It just so happens that this weekend, there will be a book signing event for the single volume of "The Soul of the Game" near the Chess Academy. I will take you to participate." Shinoda also wanted to see the young man again.

A young man named Hibiki Higashino unexpectedly became a serial cartoonist. Now he has animated his works and sold single volumes.

On the road to success, he made a great contribution to the popularity of Go.

"Oh! Thank you! Teacher!"

The students jumped up and cheered.

Odagiri thought of this, with a smile on his face.

Mr. "Hibiki Higashino" who loves Go, will he also like "Soul of Go"? Will he also go to the book signing event?

Maybe you'll pass him by.

I wonder what he looks like. Can I meet him and let him see his growth?

He couldn't help but look forward to the weekend autograph session.

…

When Higashino woke up, he hadn't slept so comfortably for a long time.

He looked out the window and saw thick white snow covering the ground.

Qiugong and the others are building a snowman in the yard.

He shook his head and subconsciously looked at his phone. It was already nine o'clock, and there was a call record from Supervisor Tetsuya Endo.

Higashino Hibiki quickly dialed back, and after half a minute, Endo Tetsuya answered the call.

The voice on the other side was very noisy, and Dongye Xiang couldn't hear what he said clearly. It sounded like he was drinking.

"Sorry, I was at a party just now." Tetsuya Endo may have walked out of the private room, and his voice was much clearer.

"You haven't slept all night, are you still having dinner?" Higashikata was surprised.

But from what I mean, the ratings are pretty good.

"It's okay, it's okay," Tetsuya Endo said nonchalantly, "I'm used to staying up late anyway."

"Ha...ha..." Hibiki thought for a while. The animation industry was indeed hard work, and it was normal to work overtime and stay up late.

Some people even lay floors in the company and work against time.

"That's right!" Endo Tetsuya said excitedly: "You still don't know yesterday's ratings! 15.3%!"

Hibiki Higashino didn't know the level of the ratings, so he nodded in agreement and congratulated him dryly.

"It seems you don't understand how good this result is," he explained: "Yoshihiro Togashi's "Yu Yu Hakusho" has an average ratings of 17.6% after being animated. Excluding early works such as "Chibi Maruko-chan", "Yu Yu Hakusho" is definitely among the best and is a national-level masterpiece!"

Higashino Hibiki suddenly realized that if he understood it this way, the ratings of "Soul of the Chess" were very good, and the good ratings were a bit exaggerated.

"Why?" he was surprised and curious.

"It's not clear yet," Endo Tetsuya said, "But! We have to hold a banquet. Will Mr. Tori Akino come over? There will be a second party. Everyone really wants to see you as a hero."

Higashino Hibiki could only decline politely, "I still have to go home and there will be a book signing tomorrow. I'm really sorry."

"Yeah, I understand." He was hooked by the neck by his subordinate and walked towards the room. He quickly said to Hibiki Higashikata: "I'll hang up the phone first. I will give you feedback in time when there are results."

Listening to the busy tone on the phone, Higashino Hibiki is looking forward to the future of "Chess Soul" more and more.