Full-time cartoonist

Chapter 28
After the masterpiece is over, the process of admission and selection has also been completed.

Finally came the most critical moment.

The works that have not been selected for the tenth session...

"It's "Soul of Chess"!"

"A 17-year-old boy."

"It's really unimaginable, a genius who comes out once in a century."

The always calm crowd whispered.

The award-winning works have been excluded, and the only one left is "Soul of Chess".

"To witness history..."

Horie Nobuhiko looked at the crowd who were waiting intently below the stage, time was concentrated at this moment, his heart almost stopped beating.

Slowly lifting the notebook, he looked around for a week, and finally placed it on Higashino Hibiki.

"No.40 100th Tezuka Award, finally there is a selected work. Its author will receive Tezuka Cup, certificate, [-]w yen cash, and commemorative shield!

This author is Mirai Akino, who created "Soul of Chess"! "

This moment, this moment has finally come. Focusing on the light, Higashino's heart has never been so peaceful.

Surrounded by applause, he walked slowly onto the stage, and after shaking hands with Nobuhiko Horie, Nobuhiko Horie said: "I never thought that a 17-year-old boy would draw such a work as "Soul of Chess."

"Thank you." Higashino nodded, "Of course I can't do it alone. There are many people who have given me help."

Higashino looked at Kazuhiko Torishima, Akira Toriyama, Shang Sasaki and Akemi Akimiya.

Some of them smiled at the corners of their mouths, some looked at him appreciatively, and some were expressionless.

Some blushed, and their admiring gazes made Higashino very comfortable.

"When I was drawing comics, I felt the dedication and concentration of jump editors, felt the selfless guidance of senior teachers, and felt harmony and gentleness."

Higashino continued to express.

Indeed, there are no twists and turns, and all the people I meet on the road are good people.

Apart from……

Morimichi Yamamura stared at Higashino in disbelief, and murmured in a low voice, "He drew "Spirit of Go"? How is it possible? How could he draw "Soul of Go"? It's unbelievable!"

He likes this comic very much, it fits his literary aesthetics.

But it was drawn by someone who didn't like it.

Then listening to Higashino Hibiki's follow-up words, he felt unspeakable shame for the first time.

"My God, what the hell have I done!"

He turned to leave.

Mr. Arai was listening attentively. After all, it was too rare for a high school student to be selected for the Tezuka Award, which was unheard of and unheard of.

Noticing Shancun Shoudao's behavior, he asked strangely: "Is there something wrong with you?"

Shancun replied: "I'll go find a Vitex root and practice at home."

"Huh?" Arai was confused, not knowing what it meant.

"Niao Akino will definitely be serialized soon, and I have to pay my promise."

"This is not necessarily the case. There are many newcomers who have been selected, but they have been silent since then. After all, it is only a newcomer award. Some can't adapt to the weekly serialization, and some are just short-lived."

Yamamura Shoudao turned his head and took a deep look at Higashino Hibiki, "Niao Akino is different."

……

"High school students, really high school students!"

"How old was the youngest Tezuka Award author?"

"Can't remember, but also over 25 years old."

"It's really scary, the future will definitely be bright."

Higashino took the Astro Boy-style trophy, 100w bonus, showed it to the audience, and finally said:
"I have been learning to draw since I was a child. I tried my best to restrain myself when everyone was playing video games, and now it finally pays off."

After Higashino received the award and stepped down, he was surrounded by many people.

There are animation production companies, disc distributors, and employees of toy companies.

They enthusiastically handed their business cards to Higashihiro Higashino, because they saw a bright future in this high school student.

It's completely different from the snub at the beginning.

"I'm still only 17 years old, and it's very possible to draw popular comics. Now get in touch with it in advance and invest in the future." Many people think so.

Anyway, it doesn't take much energy.

Higashino talked with them with a smile, and Akemi Akimiya stood outside the crowd, looking at him with a smile on her face.

Akira Toriyama stood next to her and sighed, "It's amazing, isn't it?"

"Very powerful." Akemi Akimiya nodded.

"He said at the time that he would serialize it immediately, but I didn't quite believe it. I didn't expect to turn around and participate in the Tezuka Prize." Akira Toriyama shook his head, "Young people these days are really strong in action."

Back then, he was forced to draw comics because he had no money. It was quite different from this kind of person who had a clear goal and worked hard all the time.

"Sometimes I really don't feel that he is a high school student." Akira Toriyama murmured, "Ordinary students, either stick to their studies, fall in love, or play games."

Akimi couldn't help agreeing, "I sometimes think that he is just like my peers."

……

At night, Akira Toriyama's proposal for a second party was rejected, and the luxury car of Shueisha sent Hibiki Higashino and Akemi Akimiya back to "Yoshihara-so".

After thanking the driver, he watched the vehicle leave.

Holding a bunch of things in his arms, Higashino turned to Akemi Akimiya and said, "Can you walk around the neighborhood with me?"

"Of course." Akemi Akimiya looked at Higashino's trophy enviously and nodded.

This is the dormitory area of ​​the school, but there are very few students in the dormitory, it is empty, and there are not many people.

Under the moonlight, Higashino's eyes sparkled, he looked at Akemi Akimiya, "Miss Akimiya, we should thank you for winning the "Tezuka Prize". "

"I just worked as an assistant." Akemi Akimiya lowered her head and brushed the hair next to her ears. "I have been contributing to "Weekly Shonen Jump" since the first year of university. But I haven't even won the monthly reward How can a person like me help you?"

The juniors have all achieved something. Thinking about her own efforts, she felt a little depressed.

Higashino looked at her, his mind was extraordinarily calm in the cool breeze of the November night.

"This is for you." He pushed the Tezuka trophy into Akimi's arms.

Akimi held the trophy in her arms, not knowing why, "Huh?"

"The two of us drew "Soul of Chess" together," Dong Yexiang raised his head and looked at Lang Xing, "I don't want to give up the bonus, and I only have useless honor."

"I, I won't accept it!" Akemi Akimiya shook her head, "This is a major award for your manga, you can take it back."

"In the future, I will have many, many trophies, too many to let go," Higashino said, "Tezuka Award trophy, please."

Ignoring Akemi Akimi's reply, he looked straight ahead, "I think Ms. Akimiya is the kind of person who overcomes all difficulties and insists on drawing manga."

"One day, Ms. Qiu Gong will also be honored one day. At that time, please think of me under the night sky today."

(End of this chapter)