Japanese TV is still quite famous in the Kanto region.

Therefore, even if Higashino didn't go out of his way to publicize it, many people saw it.

For example, Yumi Takahashi and Aoi Fujiwara.

They saw an interview with Tsukasa Higashino in the afternoon.

"Is it really Higashino-san?" Fujiwara Aoi came over with his potato chips in his arms, his face full of suspicion: "Don't lie to me." ”

Yumi Takahashi, a stupid person, often can't beat the game by himself, so he often tricks her into coming over to help.

Maybe it's her conspiracy again this time, and Fujiwara Aoi doesn't believe her!

"Am I the kind of person who lied to you?" Yumi Takahashi looked very unhappy, and reached out to grab her potato chips to eat, but was dodged by Aoi Fujiwara: "What are you doing?" ”

"Let me take a bite, huh, are you looking at the TV with Mr. Higashino?"

Well?

Fujiwara Aoi was attracted by Yumi Takahashi's second sentence, so she simply put the potato chips beside her and looked at the TV.

Tsukasa Higashino really appeared on the TV.

At this time, the other party was drawing a cartoon of "The Lonely Gourmet", and the Chinese snacks of Xiaolongbao looked very hungry.

Aoi Fujiwara felt hungry when she looked at it, and reached into the bag of potato chips to touch the potato chips.

And then—

Touched the void.

"Huh? Have you eaten them all? Fujiwara Aoi realized that she had been deceived, and her expression was full of incredulity as she looked at the empty bag of potato chips.

"I only took one bite." Yumi Takahashi was a little aggrieved.

She did only take one bite, but this one was a bit bigger.

"And I didn't lie to you, Mr. Higashino is on TV, right? Aoi, are you thinking too badly of me? ”

Am I thinking too badly?

"......" Aoi Fujiwara.

She didn't speak, just held out a hand and pointed to the door, her eyes staring

The meaning is clear.

Get out! Buy another pack of potato chips and come back!

In the end, Yumi Takahashi could only run out of the house in despair, and took out the money to buy potato chips for Aoi Fujiwara, and came back with some other snacks.

Also taking this move was Ryoka Konoe.

Staying at home alone, she has no other hobbies except cooking and watching TV.

"Ahh Higashino-san. Ryoka Konoe rested her chin on the panda pillow and sat on the sofa watching Tsukasa Higashino on TV and the host talking and laughing.

On the table next to her were a lot of snacks that she used to satisfy her cravings.

No way, she is also a fan of "Lonely Foodie" now, so in order to avoid being hungry at night, she bought a big bag of snacks.

"It's not that I want to eat, it's that Higashino-san's paintings are too delicious, so I buy snacks."

Konoe Lianghua comforted herself quietly, and then opened a pack of chocolate sandwich cookies.

She watched the show seriously while eating.

On the bookshelf next to the living room are "Aoba" and seven or eight copies of "Bad Cold".

Since the serialization of "Midnight Bell", she has all the issues...

There's even a new, unopened copy of Midnight Bells behind these comic books.

Although she doesn't read horror manga, Ryoka Konoe feels that she still needs to support Tsukasa Higashino.

But...

"If you don't look at it all the time..."Ryoka Konoe looked worriedly at her bookshelf.

It's a bit of a waste of money not to watch it all the time, and... She was actually a little curious.

What does "Midnight Bell" look like?

Ryoka Konoe thought for a moment, and after dropping the last chocolate sandwich cookie into her mouth, she put down the panda pillow and walked to the bookshelf.

Ten minutes later, Takahashi's house.

"Huh? Do you want to come to my house for the night? Cool flowers? Why so suddenly? ”

Yumi Takahashi had a strange expression.

It's a bit sudden.,Even though it's Sunday today.,But Konoe Ryoka isn't like the kind of person who runs into others without a plan.。

"Ahh Okay, okay, it's okay to stay overnight, you remember to bring pajamas and a change of clothes... Well, tomorrow we'll go to school together. ”

"What's wrong?"

Looking at Yumi Takahashi's strange expression after answering the phone, Aoi Fujiwara asked incomprehensibly.

"I don't know, Lianghua suddenly wants to come to my house for the night. And..."Yumi Takahashi touched her head.

"And what?"

And Lianghua's voice sounded a little scared. It was as if something was chasing her. It's weird. ”

Yumi Takahashi doesn't quite understand.

"What's the explanation?" Aoi Fujiwara doesn't quite understand either.

They know the family background of Ryoka Konoe, and of course they also understand that as long as the other party makes a phone call, there will be many bodyguards to help...

Afraid...? There's nothing to be afraid of, huh? Could it be that a ghost can jump out and eat Konoe Lianghua?

Aoi Fujiwara pinched her chin and thought for a while, but finally gave up.

Forget it, after all, it's a good thing that Lianghua wants to come over to play.

.......

Tsukasa Higashino's interview program quickly squeezed into the hot entertainment news section, as expected by Shun Matsui of the same day TV station.

The father of Kumamon, the author of "Midnight Bells" and "The Lonely Gourmet", and the winner of the Tokyo Youth Painting Awards... These things were suppressed, and the name Tsukasa Higashino spread to the ears of many people in Tokyo.

In order to attract attention, many news newspapers simply auctioned the title of "a genius painter who is rare in 3,000 years".

And the newspaper office here has seen you shoot for 3,000 years, then my side will be 5,000 years, and the other side will see you for 5,000 years, then I won't compete with you, I will be the strongest in this century...

Seeing this, Higashino couldn't help but shake his head.

He doesn't know about other countries, but every year in Japan, there are a few 'rare in 3,000 or 5,000 years', including 'the strongest in this century'... It's basically used pretty much the same.

Tsukasa Higashino's fans are now finally fully united.

After figuring out the situation, the atmosphere that had been killing in the dark before was gone, and it was the idea that everyone should live in peace.

Just like that, it came to Monday smoothly.,The study exchange meeting between Musashino Art University and Kita Gijuku-

"Lianghua, have you also obtained the qualification?" Higashino looked at Ryoka Konoe with a shoulder bag next to him, but he didn't expect to see each other here.

After all, Ryoka Konoe should have only recently learned some techniques of oil painting, and she got the qualification at once... Naturally, Tsukasa Higashino didn't expect it.

"Hmm..."Seeing Higashino Tsukasa ask himself, Konoe Ryoka also replied to him with a supple attitude: "There are many seniors who have participated in exchange and learning activities before, and there are some seniors who don't want to participate in this kind of activity, so I'll make up for it." ”

I see.

Tsukasa Higashino suddenly realized.

Not everyone at the Kita-Gijuku Studio wants to participate in the study exchange activities at Musashino Art University, and most high school students will probably only find this kind of activity troublesome, and if you study for a week, you will inevitably fall behind in the cultural classes of the Hokkaijuku area, so a small number of students will apply.

So Ryoko Gangno brought in Konoe Lianghua to make up the number.

After figuring this out, Higashino Tsukasa also nodded thoughtfully and didn't say anything more.

But with the addition of Konoe Lianghua, there are only more than ten people here, almost half of the studio of Kitayijuku.

About one o'clock in the afternoon, the bus rented by Kitagijuku came, and directly took more than ten people away with Ryoko Okano and headed for Musashino Art University-

"This is Musashino Art University...?" Looking at the buildings of different shapes in front of him, Higashino narrowed his eyes.

Musashino Art University is also known as Musashino Art University for short.

I have to say that the art atmosphere of this school is really strong.

Spacious area, built into a cube of ornamental bushes, different shapes, full of design and artistic sense of the building...

In one corner of the school, you can even see students who belong to the video department preparing for the filming of the campus movie.

They are all very young college students.

It's graduation season, and there are many people who are working hard to paint for their graduation exhibitions... The level of his painting is a level higher than that of the high school students of the Hokugijuku.

"It's pretty much the same as I've seen before," Higashino muttered softly.

In his previous life, when Tsukasa Higashino came to Japan to discuss cooperation, he happened to encounter the campus open day of Musashino Art University, and he did not miss this opportunity and took a quick visit to Musashino Art University.

This time, I revisited the old place and changed my perspective, and then I saw a different side of Musashi American University.

"This is the teacher in charge of your five-day exchange and study, the teacher on the first floor of Yamauchi... It's also an acquaintance of Higashino-san. ”

Ryoko Okano took Tsukasa Higashino and others to the teaching building of the Department of Oil Painting and stopped and introduced them.

It's really an acquaintance.

Tsukasa Higashino recognized the first floor of Yamauchi at a glance.

Isn't this the one who presented him with the award at the Tokyo Youth Painting Awards that day?

So he nodded, smiled and greeted politely: "Hello, Yamauchi-sensei, long time no see." ”

"Well, it's been a long time, Higashino-san. The design of Kumamon is very good. "The first floor of Yamauchi was very impressed by this young man who had drawn "Tokyo" and had recently become particularly famous in Tokyo.

In fact, it was because he heard that Tsukasa Higashino was coming over this time, so he took the initiative to take over the mess of exchange and learning - usually this kind of thing is not the turn of his own professor of oil painting.

Yamauchi and Ryoko Okano walked to the other side and started talking, probably to explain some content of exchange and learning and the transfer of rights.

After their exchange was over, Ryoko Okano also walked back and said to the students in the studio: "In the next five days of exchange and study, you will all follow this teacher on the first floor of Yamauchi... After that, there seems to be an event where the seniors of Musashino University will guide you to study... Remember to ask for advice with an open mind. ”

She turned her head again and focused on Tsukasa Higashino: "Higashino-san, you are the only boy in the studio, remember to pay attention to other classmates." ”

"I see, Mr. Okano." Tsukasa Higashino smiled and nodded.

She said two more words, and then turned to say goodbye to the first floor of Yamauchi and left.

Watching Ryoko Okano leave, the remaining students were naturally a little nervous.

After all, in the eyes of high school students, everything in college life is unknown.

The gleaming exhibition buildings that sit inside the Musashino Art University campus and the university students who are talking and laughing in their voices... These are all strange to them.

I even entered the oil painting department building and looked at the various student works hanging around me... They don't even know where to put their eyes – is this really what a student can draw?

Most of the students inexplicably felt as if they were lowering their heads, and they had taken out the works they had in the school and put them here... It's nothing.

"Students, please come with me, I will take you to familiarize yourself with the class first."

The first floor of Yamauchi didn't care what they thought, just said a simple word and took the initiative to walk in front.

"Don't panic, just treat this place as an ordinary university."

Higashino smiled and comforted the little girls, and then looked around curiously.

It's really good, it's kind of interesting.

Listening to Tsukasa Higashino's reassurance, I thought of the achievements he had achieved.

A sense of both glory and shame arises from my heart.

Indeed... There's nothing to be afraid of.

Higashino-san's here!

I also pressed the students of Musashino Art University before, and I got the double gold prize for the youth painting award.

In that case, what else do they have to fear?

So they followed Tsukasa Higashino to see here and there... A curious look on his face.

Seeing that they were finally relieved, Higashino Tsukasa also shook his head with a smile and stopped caring about them.

After walking for about two or three minutes, Yamauchi came to the inside of a studio with a group of students from the Kita-Juku studio.

"This is the 21st grade student of the oil painting department in my class... Generally speaking, you are four or five years older than you. But you don't have to be inhibited. Yamauchi introduced in a deep voice.

Tsukasa Higashino also took advantage of the situation to take a look inside.

And then...

And he saw acquaintances.

And more than one.

Leaning over in the corner and drawing an oil painting with glasses... Who is it if it's not Kuronomiya Mingsa?

As for the guy on the other side who pretends to draw, but is actually playing with his mobile phone... Isn't that Chimi Nagawa?

Looking at these two acquaintances, Higashino Tsukasa became a little interested.

He wanted to say hello, but he was embarrassed to open his mouth if the first floor of Yamauchi here didn't speak first.

Yamauchi walked into the studio on the first floor and coughed.

The students below also basically gave face to this big man in the oil painting department, and they all raised their heads.

And then... Then they saw the young man standing next to the first floor of the mountain.

Isn't that Tsukasa Higashino?!

As an art student, they have heard the name Higashino Tsukasa say it before, after all, Higashino Tsukasa is too young, and he won the double gold medal of the Youth Painting Award at this age, and it is definitely not a problem to say that the future can be expected.

In addition, everyone recently knows that he is also the author of "Midnight Bell" and "Lonely Gourmet", and even designed Kumamon, and even teachers and professors from several other majors frequently mention his name...

Now that they saw the real person, they were naturally very curious.

They knew that there would be students coming here to exchange and study, but they didn't expect it to be this great god who came.

So for a while, the quiet studio gradually had a sound...