When Kito learned about Higashino at Urashima Publishing House, it was after he took over the mascot design job.

After all, comic cartoons and mascot design are similar.

He also flipped through a lot of comics for this purpose, hoping to get inspiration from some of the mascots in the comics.

Because of this, he knew about Urashima Publishing House, the author of the new Taiwan pillar comics.

So... The people of the twilight are actually looking forward to it.

He is not as old-fashioned as other people in charge, and thinks that to design the mascot, he has to find some well-known painters and designers to tinker with.

Isn't it the same with a cartoonist?

And most importantly -

"Whether it's "Midnight Bell" or "Lonely Gourmet", this character written by Mr. Higashino seems to come to life..."

Twilight nodded her head expectantly.

Yes! This is what he values most about this Higashino sensei.

The other party's ability to shape characters obviously left a big street behind other comic book authors, and the experience of Goro Inanotou in "The Lonely Gourmet" made him even feel empathy.

This kind of contagion, if it can be used in mascot shaping...

Therefore, he asked the team members to write an invitation to Urashima Press—the kind full of sincerity.

If the mascot image is adopted, Mr. Higashino will receive 2% of the mascot's merchandise sales fee.

As for the painters and designers of the day... They also enjoy this treatment... But honestly, the Twilight Qiren find it difficult for them to take it.

In the middle of the twilight, Qiren opened the reply letter from Urashima Publishing House and looked at it.

The other party simply agreed in the reply letter, and hoped that they would be able to have someone pick up Mr. Higashino to Kumamoto Prefecture.

Very good!

Twilight breathed a sigh of relief.

Although they were treated very generously, maybe the other party still wanted to open his mouth, so he was also ready to be disappointed.

But now it seems that there are no such concerns at all.

As for chauffeur-drive transfers? Needless to say, he has a lot of colleagues in Tokyo, so it's not much of a problem for them to help.

Dusk Qiren flipped through the reply letter, and then saw the identity and address of Mr. Higashino on the attached page of the Urashima Publishing House.

And then—

"Seventeen? High school student? Still in school...? ”

Looking at Tsukasa Higashino's photo on the profile, Twilight Qiren's mouth opened wide.

He rubbed his eyes in disbelief and looked over again...

The age of seventeen has not changed, and there has been no change in the photo of Tsukasa Higashino being too young.

"It's really—" Twilight Qiren looked suspicious.

His first reaction was whether Urashima Press was making fun of himself, and then he shook his head.

The reply letter is full of sincerity, no matter how you say it, it is impossible to joke about yourself, and it doesn't make much sense to make such jokes.

"Then that's true."

Twilight cinches her chin.

He is a very rational person, and he is not willing to judge a person's abilities only by their age.

But seventeen years old... That's too young...

Twilight thought and continued to look down.

It wasn't until he saw Tsukasa Higashino win the two gold medals at the Tokyo Youth Painting Awards that the real complexion of Twilight Qi became strange.

It's like seeing aliens.

He knows the Tokyo Youth Painting Awards.

After all, it is a very influential painting competition for young people in China, and many young people even go to Tokyo to live for a few days in order to participate in this competition.

Dusk Qiren turned to look at the photo again, and then he was impressed.

It is indeed Tsukasa Higashino, who showed his face on the Asahi Shimbun at the beginning.

"Is it really him?"

The people of the twilight muttered to themselves.

This time it wasn't worried or suspicious, his tone was a little happy.

Because now it's time to find a helper.

Whether it is in comics, oil painting, or traditional art, this Higashino Tsukasa teacher has a certain degree of attainment.

Isn't that exactly what their mascot design was designed to do?

As for being too young?

Isn't that better?

This shows that the other party is a genius, maybe he can make a mascot that is popular all over Japan?

Dusk Qiren gained confidence and made a direct phone call to prepare for tomorrow's pick-up and drop-off from Higashino Division.

......

The next day, Higashinoya.

"That's it."

Tsukasa Higashino stuffed his travel bag to the brim, and in his backpack there were a lot of manga drawing tools.

In Kumamoto Prefecture, he didn't plan to stop the serialization of "Lonely Gourmet" and "Midnight Bell", after all, the weekly "Bad Cold" monthly magazine "Aoba" on both sides of Higashino Tsukasa is still on the rise, and it is naturally impossible to stop updating.

He turned his head and looked at Chihaya Higashino.

Today's Higashino Chihaya didn't walk around in pajamas as usual.

Tsukasa Higashino asked her to change into a cool girly shirt, with a blue and white gradient, and the lower body made her wear jeans, which looked lively and natural.

Chihaya Higashino also seemed to be satisfied with this outfit, and talked to Higashino Tsukasa happily in a circle.

Seeing that Higashino Chihaya was in such a good mood, Higashino Tsukasa was also a lot more relaxed.

It was almost eleven o'clock in the morning, and someone called Tsukasa Higashino.

"Hello? Hello, is it Higashino-sensei? ”

The other party is very polite.

"Well, it's me."

"Could you please Mr. Higashino, please go downstairs and wait now? I'll be downstairs in about two minutes. ”

"Okay, let's go down right now."

Higashino answered, remembered the license plate number that the other party said, and took Higashino Chihaya downstairs.

In fact, he didn't wait at all, Higashino Tsukasa and Chihaya stood at the door of the apartment building for more than ten seconds when they saw a bright silver car driving towards him and stopped in front of him.

"Is it Higashino-sensei?" The other party asked.

"It's me."

Higashino Tsukasa nodded, and at the same time pulled out Higashino Chihaya: "This is my sister, Higashino Chihaya." ”

"Hmm. I said it on the phone before. The staff in charge of the pick-up and drop-off smiled kindly at Chihaya Higashino, "I hope Ms. Higashino can have a good travel experience in Kumamoto Prefecture." ”

But Higashino Chihaya didn't appreciate it, she shrank behind Higashino Division, only revealing the upper half of her small face, and secretly looked at this Kumamoto Prefecture staff.

"My sister is naturally a little shy about people, please don't care."

Tsukasa Higashino smiled and gave the other party a step down: "Let's go." ”

"Okay, Higashino-sensei, please get in the car."

The other party obviously didn't care, and stretched out his hand to ask Higashino Tsukasa and Higashino Chiba to get on the bus in the morning.

Just got into the car, and the other party quickly loaded Tsukasa Higashino and Chihaya Higashino into Haneda Airport.

Kumamoto Prefecture is quite far from Tokyo, so it is naturally more comfortable to fly.

Tsukasa Higashino didn't want to make Higashino Chihaya tired, so he agreed to the other party's arrangement.

After completing the registration procedures, the other party gave another phone number to Tsukasa Higashino and told him that it would be enough to call this number when he arrived in Kumamoto Prefecture.

Chihaya Higashino on the plane was a little elated.

She was by the window, so when the fuselage was in the air, she lowered her voice even more, and said to Higashino Tsukasa several times in an incredible way, "We're flying... Look! What a small house... Is this magic? ”

"Hmm... Maybe. ”

Higashino Shile looked at Higashino Chihaya.

She can be happy, and Tsukasa Higashino is also happy.

It seems that there was nothing wrong with going out this time...

Almost an hour later, Tsukasa Higashino disembarked at Kumamoto Airport.

After leaving the airport, he dialed the phone number given by the person in front of him.

"Higashino-sensei! Higashino-sensei! ”

Outside the airport gate, someone simply put up a sign and greeted him while waving it at Tsukasa Higashino.

"Hello Higashino-sensei, I'm a deep twilight Qiren." Twilight introduced herself, looking Tsukasa Higashino up and down.

The young man in front of him looked gentle, and his handsome and good-looking face always had a smile, giving people a sense of harmony.

Fortunately, I feel that this Higashino teacher is very easy to get along with.

Twilight Qiren was relieved - after all, the geniuses acting in the TV series had quirks, and he was worried that the living genius of Tsukasa Higashino was similar to some Japanese TV dramas, but it didn't seem to be the case now.

And when he looked at Tsukasa Higashino, Tsukasa Higashino was also looking at him.

The other party was a middle-aged man, who looked to be in his thirties and forties, with his short hair neatly combed, and he looked shrewd and capable.

"Hello, I'm Tsukasa Higashino. Next to me is my sister Chihaya Higashino. ”

Tsukasa Higashino shook hands with Dusk Kito.

Seeing that he seemed to want to say hello to Higashino Chihaya, he approached him again and told him the specific situation of Higashino Chihaya.

After hearing this, Dusk Qiren couldn't help but glance at Higashino Tsukasa more, and then nodded: "Please get in the car, and I'll take you two to the place where you live." ”

The place to live in the late twilight is a commercial hotel near Kumamoto Castle, a landmark historic building in Kumamoto Prefecture.

From here, you can enjoy the view of Kumamoto Castle directly.

This is also the method he came up with, hoping that painters and designers such as Tsukasa Higashino would draw design inspiration from Kumamoto Castle.

"This is the room for the two of you."

After learning about Higashino Chihaya's situation, Dusk Qiren didn't need to say anything about Higashino, he had already changed to a double bed room for him, and he also left a message.

Later, I will introduce other Kumamoto mascot designers to Higashino Tsukasa at the dinner table, and Higashino Tsukasa naturally agreed.

But...

"Sister Chihaya, do you want to rest?" Looking at Chihaya Higashino's obviously tired appearance, Higashino asked her.

"Hmm... Well. Chihaya Higashino replied strongly.

She never went out, she flew to Kumamoto Prefecture all of a sudden, and sat in a car for a while, so she naturally couldn't support it.

"Then you can rest first, I'll have a party later, and I'll bring you dinner when the party is over."

Tsukasa Higashino whispered.

"Hmm." Chihaya Higashino couldn't hold back any longer, nodded, and quickly fell asleep holding the pillow.

Higashino touched her head, then walked to the balcony of the hotel.

He hasn't been notified yet, so he might as well take a look at Kumamoto Castle, a landmark historical building in Kumamoto Prefecture.

"That's Kumamoto Castle..."

Higashino Tsukasa looked at Kumamoto Castle in the distance in front of him and muttered to himself.

Kumamoto Castle is a standard Japanese Hirayama Castle, with a ladder-like ground arching high into the city, and the entire castle looks a bit magnificent, reminiscent of the Ashina Castle that Higashino Tsukasa saw in a game called "Wolf" in his previous life.

However, its area is too small, only half a plate is held, and Higashino Division, a person who has admired the Forbidden City and the Great Wall, is a little childish.

"Kumamoto Castle... Kumamon..."

The main color of Kumamoto Castle is black...

Tsukasa Higashino reacted at this time.

Kumamoto Prefecture does not produce bears, and the reason why the main color of Kumamon in the previous life was black is precisely because Kumamoto Castle was black.

"I see." Higashino nodded thoughtfully, and as he withdrew his gaze, he lifted his phone and connected the call.

"Hello? Higashino-sensei? Are you available now? I've invited a few teachers, how about you meet at the dinner table? ”

Dusk's voice came from the other end of the phone.

Yes, Tsukasa Higashino has been in Kumamoto Prefecture for an hour or two, and it's time to go to dinner.

Japanese people still like to talk about things at the dinner table.

"I'll go downstairs."

Higashino responded with a sigh, thought about it, or left a note for Higashino Chihaya first, explaining the reason, and then leaving with confidence.

......

Tsukasa Higashino got out of the car at a high-end Japanese-style restaurant with Dusk Kito.

As soon as he saw the lantern hanging at the door, Tsukasa Higashino knew that this time he was eating a lavish feast - I just don't know if this was the case when he invited those painters or designers in the evening.

If not, then this party will inevitably smell a bit of gunpowder.

After all, why did the people of the twilight invite Higashino Tsukasa to a big meal, and the other painters and designers ate in a small restaurant... It doesn't make sense.

But this was arranged by the people of the deep twilight, and Higashino Tsukasa was not easy to speak, so he could only follow him and walk inside.

When Higashino Tsukasa walked to the entrance, the proprietress in a yukata helped to change her shoes, and the other party bowed and called 'Welcome' in a sweet voice.

The twilight Qiren next to her whispered a few words to her, and then a young maid came up to meet her, wiping her face, and taking her jacket.

This meticulous service made Higashino Tsukasa uncomfortable, he had never enjoyed this treatment in the Celestial Empire: "It's too expensive, Twilight-san." ”

"Is Higashino-sensei a little concerned?" Dusk Qiren looked back with a smile: "It's okay, this time it's a routine meeting, Higashino-sensei just enjoy it." ”

Regular meetings? That is, to eat and drink at public expense?

Higashino didn't speak, but sighed in his heart about the corruption of capitalism.

He followed the other man, and soon entered a small longhouse, in which there were already three people—all men.

Of course, this is also true, the patriarchal culture in Japan itself is serious, not to mention people in government agencies, who feel that people who don't have a little hair on their chins can't do big things.

"Ladies and gentlemen, this is a new Higashino-sensei, and I will be working on the creation of mascots in Kumamoto Prefecture in the future."

Dusk Kito smiled and introduced them to Tsukasa Higashino.

"I'm Tsukasa Higashino, teachers, please give me more advice in the future."

Tsukasa Higashino said hello to the others.

He was the youngest in the room, so being respectful was not much of a problem.

Merely...

After Tsukasa Higashino said hello, he found out that the atmosphere in the room... Doesn't seem right?