"I'd like to think about it, editor Hosokawa." Higashino Tsukasa groaned and didn't say yes.

Yes, he didn't say yes directly.

If there is only one reason, it is Chihaya Higashino.

If you go to Kumamoto Prefecture, Tsukasa Higashino will inevitably take Higashino Chihaya with you.

But Higashino Chihaya's mental state has always been very unstable, and although he has improved a lot recently, Higashino Tsukasa doesn't want to take risks so much.

After all, no matter how much money you make, it's not as important as your family - this is also one of Higashino's tenets.

There must be someone here who asks for a companion.

Please accompany you, this is what Higashino Tsukasa is most worried about.

There has always been a lot of abuse of patients by escort women in Japan... Tsukasa Higashino didn't want to hire a chaperone, and Chihaya Higashino's condition became more serious.

As for the rest? The rest is not much to worry about.

As long as the reason for going to Kumamoto Prefecture is clearly explained here, Higashino Tsukasa probably doesn't need him to speak, and Ryuichi Yoshimine will directly pick up the whip and drive him to Kumamoto Prefecture.

After all, the Kumamoto prefectural government invited him to create a prefectural mascot ... What a card thing is that?

The more famous Tsukasa Higashino is, the more benefits he brings to Kitagijuku.

At that time, Kita-Gijuku will pull a huge vertical banner down from the top floor of the school building - congratulations to our school's student Higashino Tsukasa for winning the invitation to create a mascot from Kumamoto Prefecture.

"Okay, then Higashino-sensei, think about it slowly... Still, I hope you'll give me a definite answer by tomorrow night. ”

Hosokawa Koharu answered, and then exchanged pleasantries with Tsukasa Higashino for a while, and then hung up the phone.

Tucking the phone back into his pocket, Higashino exhaled heavily.

He raised his head and thought for a while: "Let's go back and ask Chihaya." ”

After coming to his conclusion, Higashino also turned around and walked back to the classroom.

I haven't eaten lunch yet, I'm a little hungry...

Maybe it's because Higashino Tsukasa is hiding his thoughts, and the afternoon time flies quickly.

As soon as class ended, he left the school with his shoulder bag and quickly went home.

Just wait in the studio and give Yoshiko Okayno a call.

As long as it's not particularly excessive, Ryoko Okano will basically agree to the request of Higashino's protégé.

He walked into the house, and Higashino Chihaya immediately greeted him cheerfully:

"Ace! Are you back? ”

Looking at her happy expression, Higashino Tsukasa also smiled, and then reached out and touched Higashino Chihaya's head: "Well, I'm back, let's eat first." ”

He put his shoulder bag on the other side, went to the stove, and began to prepare dinner.

Looking at his appearance, Higashino Chihaya blinked in confusion.

How do you feel that today's Ace is a little absent-minded?

But soon she put this matter behind her, sat back at the table very obediently, took out her mobile phone to play with the snake, and waited for Higashino Tsukasa to cook by the way - this is the dining table that Higashino Tsukasa bought again, the previous small round table was too small, and it was a little narrow to surround Higashino Tsukasa and Higashino Chihaya.

About 20 minutes later, Tsukasa Higashino came out of the back of the stove with red oil and chives to decorate mapo tofu, and the hot aroma made Higashino Chihaya swallow his saliva.

Seeing this, Higashino Tsukasa also smiled happily and added food to her.

Today, he used the rice cooked in the casserole at home, and the browned and fragrant pot that was scraped off was soaked in the juice of mapo tofu...

Chihaya Higashino couldn't hold back any longer, and called 'Ace' several times in a row, and then took a big bite of the bowl and ate it.

"Sister Qianzao, come, I'll wipe it for you."

"Hmm." Higashino Chihaya raised her head and watched Higashino Tsukasa help him wipe the soup from his mouth, and asked strangely, "Why doesn't Aji eat it?" ”

"Hmm... No appetite for the time being. Higashino Tsukasa shook his head, and then asked her happily, "Sister Chihaya, do you want to go on a trip?" ”

While eating, Chihaya Higashino looked at Tsukasa Higashino strangely: "Travel? ”

She didn't know why Higashino Tsukasa suddenly asked her this, but since it was her brother's question, she still thought about it for a long time, and finally asked in a low voice: "Is there a commercial street square in Adachi Ward next to our house?" ”

"It's still farther than that shopping street, and I'm going to leave Tokyo."

Higashino replied with a smile.

"Huh...? Leaving Tokyo? It's so far away..."Higashino Chihaya suddenly couldn't sit still, she put down the porcelain spoon, and showed a little scared look: "Does Assi hate her sister and want to sell her sister elsewhere?" ”

"Where?" Higashino Tsukasa stood up with a smile, reached out and touched Higashino Chihaya's head: "If Chihaya doesn't want to go, forget it, we won't go." ”

After saying this, Tsukasa Higashino had already made up his mind.

Since Higashino Chihaya hates going out, forget it.

A mascot creation only.

Although there are some regrets, the family of Chihaya Higashino is the most important.

He stood up and planned to go and get the dishes and chopsticks to eat.

It's just that Higashino didn't notice that Higashino Chihaya had been secretly looking at his face all the time.

Her brother's expression of regret was captured by her.

Regretful...

Higashino Chihaya didn't know why Higashino Tsukasa wanted to go on a 'tour', but Ace actually showed such an expression...

Higashino Chihaya hesitated for a moment, but finally gritted his teeth, reached out and grabbed the corner of Higashino Tsukasa's clothes, and called him in a low voice: "Ace..."

She half-raised her head and looked at Higashino Tsukasa a little out of breath: "Sister thought about it, let's go on a trip." ”

At the end, she added worriedly: "But can Ace not sell my sister too far?" I want to come back and see Ace..."

She didn't want to see Higashino disappointed.

Although she was afraid that Higashino Tsukasa would sell her far away, she still agreed.

Chihaya Higashino lowered his head as he spoke, feeling apprehension.

Fear, uneasiness haunted me.

After about ten seconds, she finally heard Tsukasa Higashino's voice.

The other party seemed to let out a heavy 'ha', and then Higashino Chihaya felt that he was being hugged.

"How could I be willing to sell Sister Chihaya?"

Higashino's voice was still calm, but there were many mixed emotions in this calm.

Higashino Chihaya could detect it, but Higashino Chihaya couldn't understand it.

The only thing she understands is that Higashino is serious and not lying.

That's good...

Chihaya Higashino gently patted Tsukasa Higashino on the back.

Inexplicably, she always felt that this action... Seems familiar.

It's like, I seem to have done this to Tsukasa Higashino before.

......

"Kumamoto Prefectural Government invited Higashino-san to design the prefectural mascot?"

Ryuki Yoshimine listened to Ryoko Okano's report in front of him, and glanced at Tsukasa Higashino, who was standing next to her, with a strange expression.

County government mascot?

Inviting a high school student to design?

This level is a bit out of bounds, which makes Yoshimine Ryuichi a little unacceptable.

"That's right." Ryoko Okano also nodded a little incredulously.

To be honest, she didn't expect it at all.

But...

"This document is indeed an official document of Kumamoto Prefecture..."

Takashi Yoshimine glanced at the Kumamoto Prefecture mascot design invitation on the principal's desk, and reluctantly accepted the situation.

"Higashino-san wants to take a leave of absence to go to Kumamoto Prefecture, right?" Ryuichi Yoshimine asked.

"Well, they said they wanted me to go over to the site for a field trip, and then design the mascot, and someone would pick me up tomorrow." Tsukasa Higashino nodded in reply.

Higashino Chihaya has also agreed, and Higashino has no worries.

Even if the image of Kumamon is not taken by then, he will not panic, and it will be a big deal to really travel and take Higashino Chihaya everywhere.

After all, the psychiatrist has always asked Tsukasa Higashino to take Chihaya Higashino out for a walk, so that she can overcome the symptoms of shadows when she goes out.

"Okay, I've got it." Takashi Yoshimine nodded, and stamped Tsukasa Higashino's leave letter with a 'snap'.

"Trouble Principal Jifeng." Tsukasa Higashino thanked him.

"Haha... Higashino-san has always been the pride of our Hokugijuku. Ryuichi Yoshimine patted Higashino on the shoulder.

There was absolutely no reason for him not to agree to Tsukasa Higashino.

What if Tsukasa Higashino succeeds in taking down the Kumamoto Prefecture mascot?

He chattered a lot at Higashino Division, which was nothing more than official words like asking him to cheer.

Naturally, Higashino Tsukasa smiled and said yes again and again.

After a few words of greeting, Tsukasa Higashino and Yoshiko Okano left the principal's office.

"The formalities are complete... Now I'm waiting for the other party to pick up Higashino-san, right? Ryoko Okano asked sideways.

"Almost, it's also troublesome to Mr. Gangno." Tsukasa Higashino nodded.

Ryoko Gangno didn't take credit, just waved his hand and said, "I'll just help a little, but Higashino-san, I actually have something to tell you here." ”

She breathed a sigh of relief, and then explained: "Muto no Art University here sends a group of Hokugijuku students to exchange and study there at this time of year, I want to report your name, no problem, right?" ”

Oh... That's what happened.

Tsukasa Higashino suddenly.

This so-called exchange and learning is actually Mutono Art University's care for the Hokugijuku side.

It is said that it is an exchange study, which is nothing more than asking art students from Kitagijuku to go to Muto no Art University to see the life of a real art student.

This is good for Tsukasa Higashino, after all, he also wants to see what the situation of Muto no Art University, which was called the 'Imperial Three Schools' of Nippon Art University in his previous life.

“... Forehead... That's fine, but I'd like to ask when it will pass? ”

Higashino asked a little - he still has to go to Kumamoto Prefecture, don't worry about time.

"In three weeks."

"That's fine. Then it's troublesome for Mr. Gangno. ”

Higashino took note of this and nodded.

After saying this, Ryoko Okano also said hello to Higashino Tsukasa and left.

She seems to have all kinds of forms to fill out and apply, and she seems to be quite busy.

But—

"It's pretty much the same on my side." Tsukasa Higashino stretched, still looking forward to the next trip to Kumamoto Prefecture.

At the same time, Kumamoto Prefecture.

Fumi Kito is the leader of the Kumamoto Prefecture Mascot Innovation Design Project Team.

In other words, he is the person in charge of the design of the mascot in Kumamoto Prefecture.

Late Twilight Qiren is a middle-aged man who is very enthusiastic about his work, and is very trusted by newcomers in the government workplace.

But now he just feels that the project at hand is simply hot, and there is no way to move forward with the work.

"This mascot image is not good..."

Looking at the image of the skylark mascot standing up in the light brown that had been finalized, the people of the twilight only felt a deep powerlessness.

The lark is the county bird of Kumamoto Prefecture, but just using it as the mascot of Kumamoto Prefecture undoubtedly lacks something, and there is a feeling that the wind and horses and cows are out of touch.

Japan has always been an amazing country.

There are so many kendo schools, even if there are so many things, they are also very particular about things like county birds.

In Kumamoto Prefecture alone, there are prefectural trees, prefectural flowers, prefectural birds—and even prefectural fish.

There were also a few discarded manuscripts in front of his desk.

Most of them are derived from Kumamoto flowers and trees, and they are very unattractive.

"It's not going to attract tourists at all, doesn't Hayakawa-sensei have any other works? Or some other teachers? These images are not good mascots. ”

Twilight Qiren simply asked.

The people he just mentioned were all well-known painters and designers that the Kumamoto prefectural government spent money to find.

Although there is nothing to say about their work attitude, they obviously lack understanding of Kumamoto Prefecture, and the things they come up with are very same, so naturally they can't attract his attention.

"Not yet." The team member responsible for chasing the manuscript at the bottom looked up and answered.

“... I know. Twilight rubbed her temples, showing a very tired feeling.

His task was simple: to look at the mascots designed by these painters and designers, and to discuss with them how to change the details.

But it was such a simple job, but it made him physically and mentally exhausted.

Those teachers can't come up with results.

But he couldn't urge them yet, so he could only coax them to work.

Know that time is running out.

The county government has come down to the indicators, and the image of the mascot must be made out this year.

As for why the government is in such a hurry... This is because the Shinkansen that runs through the whole of Kyushu will open next year.

This means that visitors from the Kansai region, such as Osaka, can travel more easily.

Naturally, the Kumamoto Prefectural Government will not let go of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and of course it will have to think of some tricks to attract these tourists to get off the bus.

The idea of the mascot of the Kumamoto Prefectural Government was confirmed at that time.

"If only there was a teacher who could design a mascot for the image of Kumamoto Prefecture at this time... This progress... It is estimated that it will be a bit hanging until March next year. ”

Twilight thought helplessly.

The deadline given above is December 20, and there are still more than three months to go.

But at this pace, after more than three months, he is not expected to be able to produce any decent results.

Just as he was thinking this, a colleague next to him suddenly spoke:

"Twilight-san, there's a reply to the invitation you sent to Urashima Publishing House the day before yesterday."

"Huh? Is it? Turn around and let me see. ”

The people of the twilight came to their senses and said hurriedly.

Two days ago, he sent an invitation to Mr. Higashino, who was published at Urashima Press, but he didn't expect the other party to make a decision so quickly.

This determination made him look forward to it somewhat.