Full-time cartoonist

Chapter 34 "Soul of Chess" serial meeting

December 12th, Christmas.

Higashino is in the living room of the dormitory.

Snowflakes were falling outside the window, and it was still very lively. The students liked to spend Christmas the most, but Higashino didn't think about it at all.

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

Today is Jump's serialization meeting, to decide which works to download and which works to upload.

It stands to reason that there has been a result a long time ago, but Sasaki still did not notify, and the abnormal behavior made Higashino nervous.

Akemi Akimiya was watching the rebroadcast of Tokyo Love Story, and after observing Higashino Hibiki's abnormality, she turned off the TV.

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

This is the moment of life and death.

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

The empty living room was so silent that water could be squeezed out. After turning off the TV, there was only the ticking of the wall clock.

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

Higashino forced a smile, knowing that she wanted to divert her attention, "The hourly salary at Christmas is three times that of the past, and she is reluctant to part with such a high salary."

"She's working hard."

"Student Nan is a strong person, I can't feel pity."

"Yes." Akemi Akimiya nodded.

The room fell silent again.

Higashino moved Go, raised his head and asked Akemi Akimiya, "Can you play Go?"

"My father taught me when I was a child."

"How about a plate?"

"You have to let me."

"Well, I'll let you two."

……

Weekly Shonen Jump editorial meeting room.

Four team leaders, two deputy editor-in-chiefs, and one editor-in-chief, seven people gathered around the table, discussing the decision to decide the fate of cartoonists.

"The number of works cut in half is three, but the number of works included is four." The deputy editor-in-chief Kondo, who presided over the meeting, flicked the table in distress, making it difficult to choose.

""The Murder of the Sun" must be kept, this is a cooperation with Bungeishunqiu." Team leader Masatoshi Takahashi said.

This is a comic that his editor is in charge of. As the team leader, he has to be responsible for the team members at this time.

He continued: "And the partner with Mr. Yamamura is Mr. Arai. He has been serializing on Jump for ten years. The painter is very strong, and he can completely paint the tense atmosphere of the mystery novel."

Everyone bowed their heads, looked at the storyboard of "The Murder by the Sun" again, and nodded in agreement.

"As expected of Mr. Arai, the storyboard is very good, and the works are old-fashioned and full of tension."

"This manga really should be serialized."

Masatoshi Takahashi sat down contentedly.

His group really needs a masterpiece.

The "Dark God of Destruction" he was in charge of before was overthrown by Ogihara Kazuchi.

Now Fu Jian has also become lazy, and even wants to use storyboards to get serialized.

I don't know how long I can carry it.

He sighed inwardly.

"The other two comics shouldn't be rejected," said Watanabe, another team leader, "They are veteran cartoonists, and the new works are the most acceptable type, so there is no reason for them to be rejected. "

The serialization meeting this afternoon was unexpectedly difficult. Every work has its advantages, and it is unbearable to abandon any one.

So the discussion went back and forth, and it was seven o'clock.

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

A manga titled "Soul of Chess".

Sasaki's heart sank, and he spoke slowly: ""Soul of Chess" is an inspirational juvenile manga that was selected for the Tezuka Award. You may have doubts because the author will be 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 your evidence for that?"

"In addition to the storyboards submitted to the serial meeting, Tori Akino Mirai also drew 10 episodes of the serialization, and has already drawn the original draft of 8 episodes." Sasaki lowered his head, his glasses reflected the light, and he couldn't see his expression clearly.

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

"No," Sasaki shook his head.

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

Sasaki smiled, "It's even more interesting than the beginning, and it's even more exciting. I think the content after that is "Soul of Chess."

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

"Yes." Sasaki nodded.

The meeting was involuntarily discussed.

"It's amazing."

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

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

Horie Nobuhiko knocked on the table, and the conference room fell silent.

"You don't need to choose the thorny path," Kondo, deputy editor-in-chief, "it can be serialized after college. If you are a high school student, if there are some minor problems, it will trigger public opinion in the society."

"Yeah." Takahashi Masatoshi nodded, "After all, he's not an adult yet."

"I just won the Tezuka Award," Watanabe hesitated. "When Yoshihiro Togashi was qualified for serialization, it was three years since he won the masterpiece. Is it too impatient for Tori Akino to future him?"

Sasaki looked at Horie Nobuhiko's nod of approval, and felt a little irritated.

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

Tori Akino is a genius, and it is not impossible to be comparable to Akira Toriyama in the future.When I get along with him, I see infinite possibilities.

If he is not allowed to serialize, it is very likely that he will go to other magazines. For the editorial department, it is likely to be the biggest loss in the 90s. "

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

The meeting room fell silent.

They didn't expect that Sasaki valued Higashi Higashi so much.

I think Higashino Hibiki will be the backbone of Jump.

Nobuhiko Horie looked at his subordinate with glasses in front of him, slightly moved.

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

If it is as he said, then Bird Akino Mirai must not be let go.

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

"Include it." Horie Nobuhiko said, "It's 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 heaved a sigh of relief.

He made a fist and finally passed.

"But..." Kondo said cautiously, "Only three works were cut in half..."

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

(End of this chapter)