After the masterpieces were completed, the prospective candidates also went through the process.
Finally the most critical moment has arrived.
There is no work that has been selected for the tenth session…
“It must be “The Soul of Chess”!”
“A seventeen-year-old boy.”
“It’s really unimaginable, a genius that only appears once in a century.”
The calm crowd began to whisper.
All the winning works have been excluded, and the only one left is “The Soul of Chess”.
“It’s time to witness history…”
Nobuhiko Horie looked at the people in the audience who were waiting intently. Time condensed at this moment, and his heartbeat almost stopped.
Slowly lifting the script, he looked around and finally focused on Hibiki Higashikata.
“The 44th Tezuka Prize finally has a selected work. Its author will receive the Tezuka Cup, a certificate, 1 million yen in cash, and a commemorative shield!
This author is Tori Akino Mirai who created “The Soul of the Game”! “
This moment, this moment finally came, focusing on the light, Hibiki Higashikata’s heart had never been so calm.
Surrounded by applause, he slowly walked onto the stage, and after shaking hands with Nobuhiko Horie, Nobuhiko Horie said: “I never thought that a seventeen-year-old boy could draw a work like “The Soul of the Game”.”
“Thank you.” Dongye Xiang nodded, “Of course I can’t do it alone. There are many people who help me.”
Higashino Hibiki looked at Toriyama Kazuhiko, Toriyama Akira, Sasaki Nao and Akimiya Akemi.
Some of them had smiles on their lips, some looked at him appreciatively, and some had expressionless faces.
Some of them blushed, and their admiring glances made Higashikata feel very comfortable.
“When I was drawing comics, I felt the dedication and concentration of Jump editors, the selfless guidance of senior teachers, and the harmony and gentleness.”
Higashino Hibiki continued to express his feelings.
It is true that there are no twists and turns, and all the people I meet on the road are good people.
Apart from……
Yamamura Morichi stared at Hibiki Hibiki in disbelief and murmured in a low voice, “Did he draw “The Soul of the Game”? How is that possible? How could he draw the “Soul of the Game”? It’s unbelievable!”
He likes this comic very much and it fits his literary aesthetic.
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.
“Oh my God, what have I done!”
He turned to leave.
Mr. Arai was listening attentively. After all, it was so rare. It was unheard of for a high school student to be selected for the Tezuka Prize. It was unheard of and never dreamed of.
Noticing Yamamura Shodo’s behavior, he asked strangely: “Is something wrong with you?”
Yamacun replied: “I’ll find a vitex tree and go home to practice.”
“Huh?” Arai was confused and had no idea what it meant.
“Tori Akino will definitely be able to serialize it soon, and I have to pay my promise.”
“This is not necessarily true. There are many newcomers who were selected, but then fell silent. After all, it is just a newcomer award. Some cannot adapt to weekly serialization, and some are just short-lived.”
Yamamura Morichi turned around and took a deep look at Hibiki Toya, “Tori Akino is different.”
…
“High school students, really high school students!”
“How old was the youngest author of the Tezuka Prize?”
“I don’t remember, but I am over 25 years old.”
“It’s really scary. I will definitely have a bright future in the future.”
Hibiki Higashino took the Astro Boy-style trophy and the 1 million bonus, showed it to the people in the audience, and finally said:
“I have been learning to draw since I was a child. I tried hard to restrain myself when everyone was playing video games, and now it finally pays off.”
After Hibiki Higashino stepped down from the stage after accepting the award, he was surrounded by many people.
There are animation production companies, disc distributors, and toy company employees.
They enthusiastically handed the business card to Hibiki Higashino because they saw a bright future in this high school student.
It was completely different from the initial snub.
“You are only seventeen years old. It is very possible to draw popular comics. Get in touch now and invest in the future.” Many people think so.
It doesn’t take much energy anyway.
Higashino Hibiki smiled and talked to them, Akimiya Akemi stood outside the crowd, looking at him with a smile.
Akira Toriyama stood next to her and sighed, “It’s amazing, isn’t it?”
“Very impressive.” Akimiya Akemi 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 Awards.” Akira Toriyama shook his head, “Today’s young people are really capable of action.”
Back then, he was forced to draw comics because he had no money. He was very different from this kind of person who had clear goals 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.”
Akimiya Akemi couldn’t help but agree, “I sometimes think that he is just like my peers.”
…
At night, after rejecting Toriyama Akira’s proposal for a second gathering, Shueisha’s luxury car took Hibiki Akimiya and Akimiya Akemi back to “Yoshiharaso”.
After thanking the driver, he watched the vehicle drive away.
Higashino Hibiki held a bunch of things in his arms, turned to Akimiya Akemi and said, “Can you walk around with me for a while?”
“Of course.” Akimiya Akemi looked at Higashino Hibiki’s trophy with envy and nodded.
This is the dormitory area of the school, but there are very few dormitory students. It is quite empty and there are not many people.
Under the moonlight, Higashino Hibiki’s eyes were shining. He looked at Akimiya Akemi and said, “Miss Akimiya, we should really thank you for receiving the “Tezuka Prize”. “
“I just did the job of an assistant,” Akimiya Akemi lowered her head and brushed her hair around her ears. “I have been submitting articles to “Weekly Shonen Jump” since my first year in college. But I haven’t even won the monthly award for outstanding works. . How can a person like me help you?”
The younger generations have all achieved success. Thinking about her own efforts, she feels a little depressed.
Hibiki Higashikata looked at her, his mind particularly calm in the cool breeze of the November night.
“This is for you.” He pushed the Tezuka trophy into Akimiya Akemi’s arms.
Akimiya Akemi held the trophy in her arms, not knowing why, “Huh?”
“The two of us drew “The Soul of Chess” together,” Higashino Hibiki raised his head and looked at Lang Xing, “I can’t bear to part with the bonus. There is only useless honor.”
“I, I won’t accept it!” Akimiya Akemi shook her head, “This is a major award for your comics, you can take it back.”
“I will have many, many trophies in the future, too many to put down,” Hibiki Higashino said, “Tezuka thanks you for the trophies.”
Ignoring Akimiya Akemi’s reply, he looked straight ahead, “I think Ms. Akimiya is the kind of person who overcomes all difficulties and insists on drawing comics.”
“One day, Miss Akimiya will also receive honors one day. Until then, please remember me under the night sky today.”
