Ryoka Konoe took out her mobile phone and made a call, and then a high-end gray car drove out of the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum and picked her up.

This made Higashino Tsukasa sigh a little.

This is definitely a real rich woman.

There is a special car to pick up and drop off when you go out simply.

But forget it, Higashino still has business to do.

He took out his phone and glanced at the time, then walked in the direction of the station.

His destination was not to Adachi Ward, but to Chiyoda Ward.

After a bit of a turnaround and walking, Higashino stopped in front of a towering building.

According to the information obtained by asking Ryoko Okano, Tsukasa Higashino entered the building and went straight to the sixth floor.

The elevator quickly stopped, and Higashino slowly stepped out of the elevator while looking up.

On the white wall not far from his side are nailed three letters made up of three primary colors - AES.

These three letters are spelled out as a whole, which means Art Education Society of Japan.

That's right.

As the name suggests, it is an art association established to support the art education of students.

With more than 2,000 members, the Japan Art Education Association is one of the largest art associations in Tokyo.

The most important thing is that the recent Tokyo Youth Painting Award is a competition held by the Japan Education Art Association.

In other words, the entries of both the adult and student categories will be sent here, and then judged by several well-known painters in the industry.

The selection award is one gold prize, 500,000 yen and a certificate. Silver prize for two, 300,000 yen and a certificate of award. 4 bronze prizes, 200,000 yen, and a certificate and 1 special prize, 200,000 yen, no certificate.

Many people may think that the prize money given by the Japan Education Art Association is too small to even plug the gap between the teeth.

After all, it takes a lot of energy and material resources to create a work alone.

However, for traditional painters, participating in this kind of exhibition is not only to get that small prize money, but more importantly, to gain fame.

A gold award is worth more than 500,000 yen or even 1,000,000 yen!

Think about it, as a student of the art department, you have obtained the award certificate of the Japan Art Education Association, and when you enter the society, you will have an honor as the winner of the "Tokyo Youth Painting Award" on your resume, which will help raise your value and attract investment from Party A.

A qualified professional painter will not miss any opportunity to prove himself.

"Hello." Tsukasa Higashino smiled and said hello to the hostess in front of him.

"Hello, sir, is there anything I can help me with?"

The reception lady looked up professionally and asked politely.

"I would like to ask, can a 16-year-old artist submit to the adult group of the Tokyo Youth Painting Awards?"

Tsukasa Higashino simply laid out his purpose.

Yes, Tsukasa Higashino came to the Japan Art Education Association this time to ask if he could submit to the adult group of the Tokyo Youth Painting Awards.

Because Higashino Tsukasa feels that the weight of just the gold prize in the student group in front of Ryuichi Yoshimine is still a little insufficient, if you add the gold reward of the adult group, it is estimated that Higashino Chihaya can go to school normally.

"Ahh You want to ask about being able to submit to the adult group of the Tokyo Youth Painting Awards at the age of sixteen, right? ”

The reception lady was not surprised by Tsukasa Higashino's words, she just glanced at Tsukasa Higashino one more and confirmed it.

She's been a receptionist here for five or six years, and it's been commonplace for her to ask questions from Higashino Division. Basically, every year, a few underage high school students ask themselves the same thing, but these students basically end up taking advantage of the excitement and returning home.

After all, it's an adult group.

Not only some amateur painting enthusiasts, but even some students from the five major art academies in Tokyo submitted, and it is not an exaggeration to say that the competition is fierce and beats the high school student group.

After all, there is no shortage of gifted people in this world, especially in the arts.

"Yes, are there any specific requirements for submission?"

Tsukasa Higashino answered.

"The Tokyo Youth Painting Awards is an art competition to promote art education, and there is no age requirement, so as long as you are at the level of the adult or student category, you can submit your work anywhere."

The reception lady quickly replied to Tsukasa Higashino according to the formulaic dialogue - you can submit to the adult group, and there is no age limit.

After saying this, the reception lady lowered her head and continued to deal with the matter at hand.

"I see. In addition, I would like to ask if I can compete in both the adult and student categories. ”

Tsukasa Higashino asked again.

This made the reception lady a little unexpected.

She glanced at Tsukasa Higashino inexplicably, only to feel that the other party was making fun of herself.

It's not that I look down on Tsukasa Higashino.

It's just that most people are exhausted just by preparing for the oil painting of the adult competition, let alone participating in the student competition after participating in the adult competition.

However, the good professionalism still made the reception lady politely replied:

"Theoretically, it is possible to participate in the adult group and the student group at the same time, but the entries cannot be the same. I hope you can understand this. ”

"Okay, I see, then I want to ask where the submission channel is?"

Tsukasa Higashino smiled and nodded, and continued to ask.

"From here down the right hallway, there will be a special office where there will be people to receive you."

The reception lady replied.

"Thank you." Tsukasa Higashino politely thanked him.

He was not arrogant from beginning to end, and seemed calm.

But what he said made the reception lady couldn't help but look at him a few more times.

Don't worry about the entries in the student category, there will be Yoshiko Okano to help deliver them here, and the entries in the adult category will have to come here again by himself.

That's why he came over this time.

Now that the goal has been achieved, Higashino Tsukasa naturally won't stay longer, he smiled and nodded to the reception lady, and then turned around and prepared to leave.

Looking at the back of Tsukasa Higashino leaving, the reception lady hesitated for a while and then reminded: "Sir, it is very unrealistic to participate in the competition of the adult group and the student group at the same time, if you really have the strength, I still recommend that you focus on a piece of entry." ”

She didn't know why she had to say more.

Maybe it's because Higashino is okay, or maybe he feels the slightest arrogance from the other party, and he's very polite to others.

"Thank you, Miss, for your suggestion." Higashino stopped and thanked her, then thought for a moment before smiling and saying to her, "But I think I still have a chance." ”

This 'bar' should obviously be a questioning tone, but when it comes to Higashino's mouth, it seems so logical and natural.

He smiled again before leaving.

Looking at his back, the reception lady was stunned.

From the other party's words, she only heard a strong sense of confidence.

But where does this confidence come from...?

She had no idea.

It was as if she was overwhelmed by the other party's natural tone, and she couldn't say anything to refute it.

Therefore, the reception lady remembered Tsukasa Higashino's face, and there was an inexplicable illusion in her heart that this person might really get the gold reward.

.......