Full-time cartoonist

Over the weekend, Higashino Hibiki called Torishima Kazuhiko. When he heard that he was still working, he said he would visit Shueisha today and ask if he had any free time.

Torishima Kazuhiko was a little surprised. He postponed his work schedule for three hours and waited for Hibiki Higashino. He went to the lobby and asked the staff to call him.

So Higashino Hibiki took the manuscript of the first chapter of "The Garden of Words" and the storyboards of subsequent content, got on the subway, and rushed to Shueisha.

He has been to this building many times, and the girls at the front desk all know him.

"Teacher Tori Akino, what's happened recently? You look so ugly." The young lady asked with concern.

"Eh? Where?" Dongye Xiang covered his face with his hands.

She handed over the small mirror for makeup.

Dong Yexiang took it and looked at it.

The cheeks are thin, the eyes are bloodshot, and the dark circles are severe.

He worked really hard this week and only slept for three hours each day.

Drawing short comics during a long-term serialization period was a severe test for him, a novice.

"Thank you," Higashi Hibiki returned the mirror to her, "I just haven't had a good rest recently."

"Then make sure you get some rest. You're here to see Editor Sasaki again today, right?" She smiled and picked up the phone, "Have you contacted him in advance? I'll inform him."

Hibiki Higashino said: "This time I am looking for Mr. Torishima Kazuhiko, please."

The young lady was a little surprised, but she still called, and finally pointed to the waiting room No. 3.

Higashino Hibiki was already familiar with the road. He poured a cup of coffee aside and walked in alone.

When passing by Hall 2, I heard the conversation inside.

"Are you here to submit a manuscript for serialization?"

"Um."

"Still a high school student, right?"

"A second-year student at Kasugano High School."

"Sure enough, I told you, this kid, don't think that a high school student can serialize a story with a Tori Akino. For people like him, there will only be one jump after all. Do you understand?"

"..."

"I'm sorry, I can't accept the manuscript. Please submit it after you grow up."

"...Yes...I'm sorry for bothering you."

Higashikata watched him stumble away and sighed.

That's what comics are like, with more failures.

"Toriakino-kun, this has happened many times."

Behind Dong Yexiang, a voice said faintly.

Higashino turned around and saw Torishima Kazuhiko.

He changed his hairstyle at this time and combed his afro neatly, looking much more mature than before.

It is indeed the style of the editor-in-chief.

"Mr. Torishima, long time no see." Hibiki Higashino greeted.

"Long time no see." Torishima Kazuhiko nodded, pushed open the door of the waiting room No. 3, put his mouth in, then turned around and left, and came back with a cup of coffee.

"So, what's going on today?" he asked.

"Short story submission." Higashino Hibiki handed over "The Garden of Words."

"Why did you suddenly think of writing a short story? You look very ugly today."

Torishima Kazuhiko pulled out the manga manuscript and asked casually.

Hibiki Higashino, "Because I think about it and I really want to draw it."

"Eh? You've made me curious. Please wait a moment."

After reading the first episode, his pupils were shocked.

I haven’t seen this painter in a long time.

Different from the current painting style, which is more fashionable and old-fashioned, the background is all dotted.

The combination of the two was a feeling he had never seen before.

Moreover, this painting has a "Higashino Hibiki" flavor.

Works immersed in emotion and drawn from the heart.

"The 19-year-old Higashino Hibiki is much better than the 17-year-old."

After seeing the painting, he started to read the content.

A very simple story, a love affair between a teacher and a student, ending with an open ending.

The emotions are delicate, and the content of every frame cannot be missed. It is so rich that he watched it for a long time.

It usually takes five minutes to finish reading, but today he watched it for a quarter of an hour.

Finally he breathed a sigh of relief.

I can only say that the style is very different from Jump. It is obviously a work that is more popular among people over 17 years old.

"Are you planning to submit your article?" Torishima Kazuhiko asked again.

Dong Yexiang nodded.

"Sorry, I can't accept it." He pushed the manuscript back.

Higashino Hibiki was puzzled, "Why?"

"This is your hard work, right?" Torishima Kazuhiko said: "It would be too wasteful to put it in "VJUMP". The reader group of "VJUMP" is teenagers, and the consistency with "The Garden of Words" is very low."

He bluntly said that "The Garden of Words" is a very good work and he likes it very much. But even because of this, this work cannot be wasted.

Dong Yexiang pursed his lips, feeling a little moved inside.

He had the idea of ​​​​repaying Torishima Kazuhiko, but he did not expect that he would be so considerate of himself.

"Why don't you submit your article to "Weekly YOUNGJUMP"?" Torishima Kazuhiko suggested.

Hibiki Higashikata agreed.

"However," Torishima Kazuhiko said with a smile, "Let's publish the short story "The Soul of the Game" in "VJUMP". I think readers will be very interested in the story of Shusaku Honinbo. Now that "The Soul of the Game" is also on the air, it is the right time to publish it. Great time for short stories.”

"As long as I can help you," Higashikata Higashi said.

…

Torishima Kazuhiko told Hibiki Hibiki that Sasaki could contact the editor of "Weekly YOUNGJUMP", and he picked up the coffee and left leisurely.

Back to the "VJUMP" editorial room.

Old partner Toshicho Takahashi asked curiously: "What does your talented cartoonist want to see you for?"

Takahashi Toshimasa was once the editor of Tokihiro Yoshihiro, and the relationship between the two of them was like Toriyama Akira and Toriyama Kazuhiko.

After "Yu Yu Hakusho" ended, there was also a reason why Takahashi Toshimasa followed Torishima Kazuhiko and left the editorial department of "Weekly Shōnen Jump" to establish "VJUMP" together, so he could not continue to serve as editor of Yoshihiro Togashi.

If Takahashi Toshimasa had been there to communicate, "Yu Yu Hakusho" would not have ended so early.

"He wanted to contribute a short comic, but I refused." Torishima and Hiko took a sip of coffee, sighed comfortably, closed their eyes, and thought about it for a long time.

"Aren't comics interesting?" Toshicho Takahashi asked in surprise.

If you can serialize it in jump, there is no reason why you can't pass "vjump".

"On the contrary, it was very interesting," Torishima Kazuhiko said, "so I rejected him."

"Yeah," Takahashi Toshicho nodded.

He somewhat understood Torishima Kazuhiko's logic.

"Because it's very interesting, I use it to repay your kindness."

"That's the case, that's why I can't agree to him." Torishima Kazuhiko smiled slightly, "My favors are not so easily used."

Takahashi Toshichang said: "It seems that you really value him."

"He is a genius and will become more and more powerful in the future," Torishima Kazuhiko put down his coffee cup, pressed the roller blind on the window sill, and looked downstairs.

"Aki Toriyama has decided to finish "Dragon Ball" and no one can stop him."

"Nobuhiko Horie couldn't solve such a big problem. In the end, I was the only candidate for editor-in-chief."

"I have to prepare for a rainy day."