Full-time cartoonist

The rankings of the "Akatsuka Prize" were announced soon. The comics that were the final candidates could only occupy one corner of the page, and simply announced the name of the comic and the name of the cartoonist.

“The final candidate for the Akatsuka Prize is really good. "Souma Ichiro looked at Jump and praised his nephew greatly, "I can't do it even if I'm shortlisted. "

"I'm still far behind." Sōma Satoru shook his head, "It's too difficult to serialize."

According to Hattori's editor's arrangement, they will be serialized at least until after college.

He used to be proud of being the nephew of a cartoonist, but now he can finally understand the hardships of this line of work after hitting a wall.

"Don't worry too much about your grades," Soma Ichiro said. "On Jump, the only mangaka who could serialize comics in high school is Mirai Tori Akino, not to mention you are only a junior high school student. Don't be discouraged by defeat and keep working hard."

Souma Satoru cheered up, "I realized that the difficulty of serialization is that it is difficult to succeed despite all the hard work and sweat. Talent, hard work, patience, and despair can only be seen after experiencing rounds of blows. Hope. Even so, I will never be defeated."

"Having this perseverance is half the battle." Soma Ichiro nodded with satisfaction, "He is indeed my nephew."

"By the way, I have something to tell you."

"What?"

"My new work has passed the serialization meeting!"

"Ah!!!" Soma Satoru opened his mouth wide.

I just said it was so difficult, you told me that it was going to be serialized!

I really don’t want to bless him.

It's hard to be happy for him in this situation.

"Hmm." Sōma Satoru's cheeks were bulging with anger.

…

In August, at Jin Shikai Law Firm, Bei Ben's long-busy work finally came to an end.

He picked up the water glass and drank the water contentedly.

"Are you happy?"

"Hosaka-senpai!"

Beimoto stood up quickly and saluted slightly.

Hosaka was his senior at university and took good care of him after joining the same firm.

"No, you don't have to be so polite. You are really, always so serious."

Hosaka quickly asked him to sit down, and he glanced at the power of attorney on Beimoto's work table, "Is it still the lighting rights protection case?"

"Yes."

Hosaka flipped through the information, "Let me tell you, it's only a consultation fee, why are you so serious?"

"Oh, I even took the trouble to do 3D modeling, but the reward is far less than the effort, it's true."

Kitamoto said: "The situation at my mother-in-law's house is not good, and I usually have nothing to do. I regard it as gaining experience."

"In the lawyer profession, it's not okay to be too kind."

"Just doing the best I can."

Hosaka looked at his appearance and shook his head helplessly.

He saw the water glass on Kitamoto's table, ""Humans can't work like machines, and they have to care about the relationship between people," right? "

Kitamoto picked up the water glass and asked in surprise, "Senior, have you also seen "Naoki Hansawa"?"

The rubber pad of the water cup is printed with a pattern of Hanzawa wearing a suit and respectfully handing out a business card. It is the recently released peripheral product of "Hanzawa Naoki" and sells for 1,130 yen.

"Of course, it's a manga written by Tori Akino-sensei after all." Hosaka raised his head, "I really like "Puella Magi Madoka Magica"."

"Compared with this peripheral, I prefer another set, with a yellow dialog box on a black background, which says "Ten times the return!!!" That fits Naoki Hansawa's style of doing things. "

Asano Kuang and Higashikata are classmates. The 500 million loan incident was a conspiracy between the two, and Banzawa was the scapegoat.

As the branch president, Asano Kuang betrayed the bank's interests, which made Banze deeply disdainful.

"Ten times the return!" This line appears here. It is a famous scene in the comic, and the peripheral products have also been urgently released.

“That one is so hard to buy.”

"is it hard?"

Kitamoto said sincerely: "There are many people queuing up to buy."

Hosaka asked: "Hoho, can that be compared with Madoka peripherals?"

"I guess so."

Hosaka proudly said: "The total sales of peripheral products of "Madoka" are more than 10 billion yen, while the sales of "Naoki Hansawa" are less than 100 million yen. How can this be compared? It's too far behind, haha .”

"Does Hosaka-senpai care about this?"

"Of course not!"

Kitamoto pursed his lips and smiled.

"Hosaka-senpai is really a senior two-dimensional otaku."

He said: "As long as you are happy."

…

The editorial office of "Weekly Shōnen Jump".

After a month, Higashino Hibiki returned here again.

"The sales of "Puella Magi Madoka Magica" DVD discs exceeded 800,000, and the surrounding items were sold out. It is worthy of being a manga by Tori Akino-sensei," Madhouse's producer flattered Higashino Hibiki, and then revealed the purpose, ""Puella Magi Madoka Magica" "Yuan" has a huge market, and its potential has not yet been fully tapped."

He proposed a movie version of "Madoka Magica".

"Teacher, please look."

Hibiki Higashino looked at the data he showed. According to the audience's willingness survey, the proportion of people who want to watch the theatrical version and those who have decided to watch it is actually as high as 82%, which is shockingly high.

"These are all the achievements of Supervisor Araki." Hibiki Higashino put down the information and said modestly.

The basis of the questionnaire is the audience of the animated version of "Puella Magi Madoka Magica". Because the animation is well-made, they are willing to spend money for the theatrical version.

There are many wonderful cartoons where the animation caused the crotch to stretch, resulting in sudden death in grades.

"The original work is so wonderful."

Producer Watanabe said politely.

"Mr. Watanabe," Hibiki Higashino said, "I have no objection to the theatrical version, so what do you need me to do?"

Watanabe rubbed his hands, "I'll leave it to Tori Akino-sensei for the script."

…

In several subsequent contacts, the cooperation for the theatrical version was finalized, and Hibiki Higashino will come up with the script by the end of the year.

Sasaki, on the editorial side, was always present.

The movie version of "Puella Magi Madoka Magica" is a major event for the Jump editorial department in the second half of the year.

The "One Piece" theatrical version is released every year, and the average box office of the five films is about 2 billion yen.

"Madoka" may not be as good as "One Piece", but it's not that far behind.

Maintaining the popularity of a work is also crucial, and this deserves Sasaki's serious attention.

"How did you think about the plot of the theatrical version?"

After Watanabe left, Sasaki asked Hibiki Higashikata.

"I have an idea," Hibiki Higashino said, "It's probably a story in another world."

Sasaki nodded thoughtfully, "Oh, that's it. I'm looking forward to it."

Hibiki Higashikata is also preparing to go home, having saved a lot from work.

Unexpectedly, Sasaki's next words made him stop.

"Sōma-sensei's manga is going to be serialized, did you know?"

"Hey! Serialization!"

This is really an old tree blooming.

Hibiki Higashino was very interested in this matter. He quickly returned to Sasaki and asked without blinking, "What kind of manga is it?"

"Romance comics."

"What!" Hibiki Higashino was shocked again, "Can a virgin in his thirties without a girlfriend also write romance comics?"

"You are so rude." Sasaki felt sorry for Soma Ichiro, "People who have never been in love can write more attractive love comics."

Because I haven’t been exposed to it, I can expand my thinking.

Most people think that love stories that go beyond science fiction are conceived by ignorant unknowns.

Unbridled imagination blossoms without restraint.

"It seems that the content is very exciting," Hibiki Higashino said. "Sōma-sensei's poor drawing skills make it difficult to attract people with his drawings. The editors who know this have recognized his work, so the plot must be worth looking forward to."

"Yes, that's true." Sasaki nodded.

"This is the fantasy of an older virgin. It has accumulated over thirty years of experience. Can you handle it?"

…

Watanabe returned to madhouse happily.

Masao Maruyama looked at him with a smile on his face, "Did you get what I asked you to pass on?"

"What?" Watanabe wondered, "Oh, by the way! The preview of "Paprika"!"

"Paprika", which has been in production for three years, is finally almost complete.

Masao Maruyama is preparing to hold a preview screening to finalize cooperation matters with relevant parties.

Akino Miku, the original character, also appears.

"I forgot..." Watanabe was extremely frustrated.

"That's it," Maruyama Masao still smiled, "Just let me know next time, don't feel pressure."

He values ​​this more than the "Madoka" theatrical version.

According to Masao Maruyama, "Paprika" has higher artistic value and is more difficult to produce. Madhouse, which has abundant staff, took more than three years to complete this animated film.

All aspects such as dubbing, art, and storyboarding have reached the point of excellence.

As the founder of madhouse, Masao Maruyama has a higher pursuit, which goes beyond monetary interests and is about spiritual enjoyment.

He couldn't wait to show the world that "Red Hot Chili Peppers" was coming.

At this critical moment, Watanabe slipped up, and Maruyama Masao smiled and forgave him.

Watanabe shuddered, "I...I'm going to find Mr. Tori Akino right now!"

…

Higashikata returned home.

"I'm back."

"Welcome home."

Higashino Mirai greeted his old father at the door.

"You are so sensible, Mirai." Higashikata rubbed his face.

"Dad," Higashino Rai looked up, "Isn't there anything delicious?"

"Ah, sorry, I forgot this time."

"snort."

The child ran away wearing slippers.

"It's really a reality, the future." Higashi Hibiki shook his head, "Look what this is!"

He took out some rough snacks bought on the roadside from his pocket, "They're popping candies."

"Wow." Mirai Higashino's eyes sparkled, "Thank you, dad."

Higashino Hibiki put the popping candy in his hand and said, "You are a mother if you have breasts."

Akimiya Akemi couldn't help frowning when she heard this sentence, "It's really vulgar."

"This is Chinese slang." Hibiki Higashi said, "You are really uneducated."

The couple blamed each other.

Only then did he have time to take off his coat, hang it at the door, enjoy the air conditioning, and take a long breath.

"Finally alive."

Busy work in the summer is really not something people do.

He walked to the living room with heavy steps and sat down quietly next to Akimiya Akemi.

A TV series produced by TBS was playing on the TV, "Is this interesting?"

"It's just average," Akimiya Akemi said. "It's not on the hit list. I'm just passing the time."

I usually work hard, but on the weekends I don’t know what to do.

Dong Yexiang looked at it for a while and gradually understood.

It's probably a cliche love triangle.

Because they don't understand each other, the male and female protagonists are disturbed, unable to love each other, entangled and distressed, and can always be in trouble.

Even for him, who was watching halfway, there was no obstacle to understanding.

"TBS is really lonely." Akimiya Akemi said, "It's been a long time since TV series like "Friday's Wives", "Salaryman Kintaro", and "Life Is Beautiful" have appeared."

"Is "Salaryman Kintaro" good to watch?"

I'm ashamed to say that Hibiki Higashino hasn't watched this TV series yet.

TV series from 1993, the picture quality is so bad.

And he doesn't have time.

"The average viewership rating of "Salaryman Kintaro" is as high as 19%."

12% is considered high.

This TV series adapted from the comic is placed in TBS's Toshiba Sunday Theater, which is considered extremely high.

"Sensei Motomiya is so secretive," Hibiki Higashino marveled. "He praised me so vigorously. It turns out that the TV series adapted from his own comics is also so great."

Akimiya Akemi shook her head, "My teacher is the pillar of youth Jump, and you are the only one who doesn't take his achievements to heart."

Because my grades are so good, I feel confident in communicating with anyone.

The second-rate cartoonist Akimiya Akemi is envious and jealous of this.

"It's not Hibiki's fault." Hibiki Higashino said in a pretentious manner.

Dongye Mirai suddenly appeared, staring at his parents with dead fish eyes.

"They are really my mother-in-law's two parents-in-law."

He opened the popping candy and put it all in his mouth.

"Well."

Then enjoy the refreshing feeling of the candy particles splashing.

Akimiya Akemi was worried, "Would it be bad to give this to my children?"

Higashino reassured her, "It's okay to eat occasionally."

Popping candies don't need to be used on "Desert Storm" and there will be no ill effects.

"Then don't buy it for the future in the short term."

"Well, let me buy jelly."

Akimiya Akemi turned off the TV and asked Hibiki Higashino in surprise, "Are you going out again soon?"

"It shouldn't be necessary." Dongye clasped his cheek, "I'm also a cartoonist after all. What do I look like running around outside all day long?"

If I don’t draw comics at home, my character will be ruined.

"That's good." The wife Akimiya Akemi wanted to spend more time with her husband.

"I won't go out. This is a man's promise."

As soon as he finished speaking, his cell phone rang.

Dong Yexiang looked down at the caller ID and couldn't help but feel depressed.

"Men's promises are unreliable."

Watanabe, the pusher, contacted him again.

…

After the call ends.

The sulky Akimiya Akemi asked, "What happened this time?"

"'Paprika' is about to be screened," Hibiki Higashino told her, "Mr. Maruyama is truly a professional."

"Your Name", which was developed earlier than "Red Hot Chili Peppers", is still in intensive production.

Not even half of the progress has been completed.

After all, "Future Society" is still too young and has no experience in making movies.

I can only learn and make at the same time.

Fortunately, most of the staff at "Future Club" are top students with strong learning abilities.

Under the leadership of Asahina Yuko, they will achieve good results.

"It turns out to be "Paprika"," Akimiya Akemi said unexpectedly, "Is it going to be released soon? It's so soon."