Tokyo: Earth Online Manga Artist.

However, Eri Aragaki's idea didn't last long...

because……

Masaya Sakurai walked over and said in a low voice, "Teacher Buchiri, it's time to start."

The Tezuka Award is a time-sensitive and demanding ceremony, but its main purpose is to promote new manga artists within the industry.

But how many people outside the industry are really paying attention to it...?

Not that.

After all, they are all new comic artists, and it's a matter of time before these award-winning new comic artists achieve success.

When you're still a newcomer, it's natural to think of yourself as "standing like a lackey at the awards ceremony that year."

Sure enough, a host walked to the front and picked up the microphone.

"Distinguished guests, the 73rd Tezuka Award ceremony is now beginning."

The host said, "First of all, please welcome Mr. Masahiko Ibaraki, editor-in-chief of Shueisha's Weekly Shonen Jump, to give a speech."

Ibaraki Masahiko stood up and walked behind the podium.

"Distinguished judges, award-winning manga artists, and guests, thank you all for coming to Shueisha today to attend the 73rd Tezuka Award ceremony."

He cleared his throat and said, "The Tezuka Award is a newcomer award established in memory of Osamu Tezuka, the god of manga. It has been held 73 times to date..."

And each time we see many talented newcomers. The selected work, "Attack on Titan," received extremely high praise from all twelve judges, which is very rare...

There are other shortlisted works and winners as well. We hope that all the winners will shine brightly in the comics industry in the future.

He bowed and returned to his seat.

"Now we will begin the awards ceremony."

The host announced, "First up is the Honorable Mention, for the award-winning works 'DEVIL MAGIC!' by Professor Daisuke Oikawa and 'ANSWER' by Professor Taro Matsukawa... Please come up to the stage to accept your awards and give your acceptance speeches."

Two young men stood up from their seats and walked to the front.

They received the certificates and trophies from Masahiko Ibaraki, bowed, gave brief acceptance speeches, and then returned to their seats...

After all, they didn't win the top prize; in fact, the "honorable work" award was more of a runner-up than a winner.

Their works couldn't even be serialized in Weekly Shonen Jump; the titles of their works and their authors' names could only be published in the magazine's supplementary pages and on their official website.

The host continued, "Next up is the runner-up award, for the winning work, 'HAMMER HEAD,' by Naotake Saito..."

A young man wearing glasses stood up and strode forward.

"Hello everyone, I am Naotake Saito..."

He accepted the trophy, his expression visibly excited. He bowed several times to the audience before giving his acceptance speech, saying, "I am very happy to receive this award..."

His acceptance speech was brief, lasting less than half a minute, and he returned to his seat amidst applause.

And next... naturally, comes the main event.

Although they are all newcomers, the Tezuka Award nominees still attract a lot of attention from industry professionals.

Moreover... the acceptance speeches for the previous awards have a time limit, but the acceptance speeches for the shortlisted awards do not have a clear time limit.

After all... being selected for an award is the most crucial closing ceremony of the awards ceremony.

The host returned to the stage, his tone and voice noticeably louder, and announced, "Finally, the highest award, the shortlisted award!"

"The winning entry... *Attack on Titan*, by author 'I Don't Eat Pears'! Please come to the stage to accept the award, 'I Don't Eat Pears'!"

Eri Aragaki took a deep breath and stood up.

She wore a pear-shaped headpiece and walked from the back row to the front.

All eyes were on her.

Some people were surprised to see that she was a girl.

Although the hood covered her face, it couldn't hide her figure.

At 1.72 meters tall, high-waisted jeans make her legs look very long.

Wearing a white T-shirt under a black knitted cardigan, her unusually slender figure was quite attractive.

The TV crew, carrying cameras, pointed their lenses at her.

Shueisha's photographers also raised their cameras.

However, at this time, no one was whispering or talking.

After all, this is an important occasion!

Although many people were surprised that Eri Aragaki was a female manga artist, as mentioned before, there are many female manga artists in the Japanese manga industry, and quite a few female manga artists who draw action-packed shonen manga.

Eri Aragaki walked to the front and saw Akira Toriyama stand up from his seat.

Akira Toriyama walked up to her, holding a trophy in his hand.

He smiled and said, "Congratulations, Mr. No Pears, your work is wonderful."

Eri Aragaki accepted the trophy and said, "Thank you, Toriyama-sensei."

She still greatly admires this last great master of Japanese manga, especially since this legendary master is like many other manga masters in Japan before him, such as Osamu Tezuka, Fujiko Fujio, and the now critically ill Fujio Akatsuka.

They were all true masters dedicated to anti-war sentiment, reflecting on past mistakes, and loving peace, making significant contributions to Sino-Japanese friendship and peace.

Akira Toriyama smiled and nodded at her, seemingly worried that she, a girl, might not be able to hold the trophy securely, so he was a little careful and waited until Eri Aragaki had a firm grip before letting go.

The trophy isn't heavy, but it feels very substantial in your hand.

Akira Toriyama extended his hand and shook hands with Eri Aragaki.

The stage lights flashed a few times, and cameras clicked away.

Akira Toriyama returned to his seat.

The host handed the microphone to Eri Aragaki and said, "Please give your acceptance speech, Ms. Eri Aragaki."

Eri Aragaki took the microphone and looked at the audience through the eye holes of the pear-shaped headpiece.

Everyone sitting in the audience was watching her.

There are editors-in-chief, editors, famous cartoonists, reporters, and photographers.

She cleared her throat and said, "First of all, thank you to Shueisha, and thank you to all the judges of the Tezuka Award..."

"Becoming a manga artist has always been my dream. I have loved reading and drawing manga since I was a child. I feel very honored to be standing here today and to receive the Tezuka Award nomination."

She paused for a moment, then continued, "In the future, I will work harder to bring you good works. At the same time, I also want to promote some things about myself in the comics, such as... justice and peace."

I think comics are not just for entertainment; they can also convey important messages.

For example, courage, hope, and the yearning for peace.

While Attack on Titan may seem brutal, what I wanted to express was humanity's spirit of never giving up in the face of despair and what true peace truly is... Anyway, please continue to look forward to my future works, thank you!

She bowed.

Applause erupted from the audience.