At this time, in Class D of the year, the three of Konoe Ryoka were sitting and waiting for Tsukasa Higashino to come over.

"Hey, what do you think Higashino wants to do?" Aoi Fujiwara asked the two sworn friends.

After all, it was agreed with Tsukasa Higashino, so she didn't regret leaving.

It's just that she can't figure out why Higashino suddenly found the three of them.

"Huh? Isn't it just drawing a new comic? Yumi Takahashi didn't quite understand Aoi Fujiwara's words, and replied happily: "It's okay to have new manga to read, and you can eat and drink for nothing?" ”

"You know how to eat and drink!" Fujiwara Aoi reached out and patted Yumi Takahashi on the head: "I mean, why does Higashino suddenly want to draw a new manga... It's hard enough to just serialize it in a weekly magazine, right? Isn't it more difficult for him to double open? ”

"yes... It's weird indeed. Yumi Takahashi also showed an expression of incomprehension when she heard this.

As long as the serialization of "Midnight Bell" is maintained, Higashino Tsukasa should logically not worry about food and clothing, why should he continue to open a new comic?

You must know that there are many examples of comic book authors who fail to transform and collapse, because readers have already formed a 'stereotype' of the comics you have drawn before.

So when you transform, they just feel awkward.

"Lianghua, what do you think? Could it be that Mr. Higashino likes you, so he made an excuse casually, right? ”

Yumi Takahashi asked Ryoka Konoe unabashedly.

"Huh? Ay...? I, I don't think so. Konoe replied in a whisper, "And I'm surprised... Higashino-san, he painted two oil paintings that participated in the Youth Painting Awards, saying that he was participating in the adult group and the student group at the same time... Yesterday, I also promised President Kijo to do the calligraphy and sculpture exhibits of the Hokkugijuku Art Festival..."

She held her chin with her hand, thinking about it very deeply, and finally couldn't help muttering: "Why is he so powerful?" ”

"Huh? Painting two paintings at the same time? Do you want to help the student council with vertical banners and sculpture exhibits? ”

Yumi Takahashi and Aoi Fujiwara glanced at each other, and both of them were so surprised that they couldn't speak.

Although they don't know about oil painting, they still know that an oil painting can't be taken in ten days and half a month, and they have to take care of comics, and then they have to do sculpture and calligraphy research.

"Really talented."

Aoi Fujiwara bit her thumb and reluctantly admitted this fact after a long time.

"But why is he so tired and drawing new comics?" Yumi Takahashi still didn't understand it.

"I guess it's because Higashino-san's family is short of money... The one that has been passed on for some time ago... Higashino-san's family situation. Ryoka Konoe explained beside her.

Tsukasa Higashino's family status?

Fujiwara Aoi and the others then thought of the matter of Tsukasa Higashino, who had been spreading in the school before.

It seems that some accident has happened to his family, not only the death of his parents, but also the insanity of his own sister.

"......" Yumi Takahashi, Aoi Fujiwara.

It was rare that the two of them did not argue about one thing.

After all, if this kind of thing happened to them, they would probably have collapsed a long time ago, and it was still like Higashino Division, who was happy every day and remained optimistic.

Just when they were relatively speechless, Tsukasa Higashino's voice suddenly sounded: "Fujiwara-san, how are you preparing?" It's almost time to go. ”

"Uh... Yes... Ready, ready? Almost, this is good to go. ”

Fujiwara Aoi heard about Tsukasa Higashino, but he didn't expect the main owner to come so soon, so his actions seemed a little unnatural.

"Huh? What's wrong with you guys? Is there something inconvenient? ”

Tsukasa Higashino was keenly aware of the unnaturalness in the air and asked with a smile.

"No, nothing, let's go." Fujiwara Aoi thought that it would be better to treat Tsukasa Higashino as usual, after all, the other party shouldn't want to let others know about his family's affairs.

As a result, before she could finish thinking about it, Yumi Takahashi had already stood up and took out her wallet with a lost face to stuff it into Higashino's hand: "Mr. Higashino, you should be very short of money, come, my pocket money can be given to you, you must not force yourself." ”

This sudden move not only made Aoi Fujiwara open his mouth wide and cover his head, but even Tsukasa Higashino was stunned.

What's going on? Why did you suddenly treat me like a beggar?

The monk who was still his second brother was confused, but under Konoe Ryoka's explanation, he could understand what was going on.

"That's what happened."

Tsukasa Higashino, who walked out of Kitayojuku with Fujiwara Aoi and them, shook his head with a smile: "But thank you for your concern, my sister and I are living quite well now, and drawing new manga is not mainly for money... You can see it as a means to improve myself. ”

At the same time, he also sighed a little.

Sure enough, things gather like and people are divided into groups.

Ryoka Konoe is a very kind girl, so her friends around her are also quite kind.

From their eyes, Higashino did not feel the superiority and sympathy in the eyes of the other students, but only implied a faint concern.

That's enough.

Too much concern turns into sympathy, and too much sympathy only makes people more uncomfortable.

This feeling of not being heavy or light is just right.

"Instead of worrying about that kind of thing, you can recommend me your favorite street restaurant." Higashino Tsukasa waved his hand: "Of course, what I said before is still counting, I'm in for a treat." ”

"Huh...?" Hearing Higashino's words, Fujiwara Aoi coughed twice, and deliberately approached Higashino Tsukasa to lower his volume: "Higashino-san, I don't object to you having a treat... But I'll tell you something..."

"What's the matter?"

"Lianghua she... It's very tasty. ”

Aoi Fujiwara whispered as she glanced at Ryoka Konoe, who had been walking beside Yumi Takahashi without speaking.

Delicious?

Tsukasa Higashino thought to himself, how much more can Konoe Ryoka eat? A little girl, at this age, eat two or three bowls, right? Is it possible to eat two or three pots?

Not to mention anything else, Higashino Tsukasa feels that he has no problem raising a Konoe Ryoka at all.

So he replied to Fujiwara Aoi with a smile: "It's okay, I said that I have a treat, just order what you want to eat." ”

"It's not... Higashino-san, you don't understand the seriousness of the matter at all, you..."

"Don't worry, it's okay."

Higashino smiled and waved his hand, indicating that there was no big problem.

“... Is it? Fujiwara Aoi glanced worriedly at Ryoka Konoe and then stopped talking.

After all, it would be a bit of a smear to talk about it.

She shut up and followed Ryoka Konoe, who led the way.

After a few stops, Tsukasa Higashino and Aoi Fujiwara got off in Toshima Ward.

Then it's walking.

After walking for more than ten minutes, Konoe Ryoka took Tsukasa Higashino and them to a residential commercial street in Toshima Ward.

This place belongs to the old shopping street, and there are many old Japanese wooden coarse confectionery houses, and there are a few coarse confectionery houses with special retro model capsule toy machines next to them, the kind that twists once for 50 yen.

At the same time, there is a whole liquor house street inside...

It's a street that feels very retro and down-to-earth.

Worn signs on both sides, vintage navy blue curtains, erected telephone poles, intricate wires overhead.

There is no such extravagance as Tokyo, and everything here is full of the atmosphere of real life in Tokyo

Unlike the glossy restaurant chains in Japan, it seems that you can really taste the cuisine of Japanese residents...

"It's really delicious here."

Ryoka Konoe takes Tsukasa Higashino to stop at a restaurant called 'Washotei'.

I don't know why... Tsukasa Higashino seemed to vaguely feel that Ryoka Konoe's eyes were glowing a little...