It's not that Higashino can't see that Hosokawa Koharu is a little reluctant to let him try.

But even if he saw it, Tsukasa Higashino had no intention of changing his mind.

After all, "The Lonely Gourmet" can indeed be drawn.

So in the end, he smiled and agreed to Hosokawa Koharu's request to deliver the manuscript within a month, and then turned around and left.

Hosokawa Koharu looked at the figure of Tsukasa Higashino turning away, and then glanced at the draft of the second episode of "Midnight Bell" in his hand, thinking about what Tsukasa Higashino said... I couldn't help but sigh.

Mr. Higashino has to not only complete the delivery task of "Midnight Bell", but even draw food comics.

What can I do?

"What's wrong? Hosokawa editor? How is Higashino-sensei's condition? ”

Just as she was secretly sighing and having a headache, the voice of the editor-in-chief of Urashima came from the side.

He still looked very sure, and before Hosokawa Koharu could answer, he had an expression of 'I've already guessed':

"Did Higashino-sensei discover the difficulty of creating on his own, so he started turning to you for help? Right? I'm right, right? ”

"......" Hosokawa Koharu.

Where is Tsukasa Higashino discovering the difficulty of creating independently?! He didn't need an assistant to complete the second episode of "Midnight Bell"! I even have to draw an extra comic strip.

But the editor-in-chief of Urashima didn't know it yet, and he looked bitter: "For an author like Mr. Higashino, editor Hosokawa has to guide him and make him understand that he still has to be down-to-earth, and he can't just fly with his wings..."

"But the editor-in-chief of Urashima... Mr. Higashino not only completed the second episode of "Midnight Bell" according to the quality, but even wanted to draw the second serialized work in the monthly magazine..."

Hosokawa Koharu raised his hand and muttered something in a low voice, his face was really confused.

She didn't know how to evaluate Tsukasa Higashino's behavior, anyway, she was very confused and doubtful about life.

On the other hand, after hearing Hosokawa Koharu's words, the editor-in-chief of Urashima just talked about it abruptly ended in an instant, and was replaced by a face full of doubt and confusion:

"It's... What the...? That's not right... It shouldn't be like this. ”

The two of them looked at each other, and their minds were full of only one thing.

Could it be that there are really people in this world who are born with wings and don't even have to walk on the ground?

......

Of course, Tsukasa Higashino didn't know what Hosokawa Koharu and Urashima were thinking.

In fact, even if he knew, he probably would just smile happily and pass.

It's not that he hasn't walked through the ground, but he has worked hard to learn to draw in his previous life, if he can't study how to draw comics...

Then he, a former professional painter, is inevitably too wasteful.

He said hello to Miss Uzaki downstairs, and was just about to leave Urashima Publishing House when he heard a familiar voice behind him and thanked him repeatedly:

"Thank you, thank you very much, then tomorrow I will go to your house to help."

Higashino followed the prestige and saw a middle-aged man thanking the male editor in front of him.

The other party's round face was half-pale and thin.

But even so, Tsukasa Higashino saw at a glance who the other party was.

Isn't this the Tamura-sensei who was squeezed down by him?

It seems that he has found a job as an assistant, and his expression looks much more relaxed.

"Higashino-sensei?"

When Higashino Tsukasa looked at the other party, Tamura obviously noticed Higashino Tsukasa as well, and he said a few words to the editor next to him, and then strode over to Higashino Tsukasa:

"Higashino-sensei, it's been a long time."

"Well, long time no see, Mr. Tamura."

The other party had no malicious intentions, but was very enthusiastic, and Higashino Tsukasa naturally did not lag behind, and said hello with a smile.

It's almost a week gone.

"Mr. Higashino, congratulations on your "Midnight Bell" for winning the second best score in readers' praise, it's really a good work."

"It's a really good result, and I'm really satisfied." Tsukasa Higashino smiled and nodded.

This is his true thoughts, and the second highest praise rate from readers is already very good, after all, Urashima Publishing House has already filled the promotional resources of "Between Dolls" before, and it is only a dozen votes for him.

"Hehe, Mr. Higashino should have come to deliver the original manuscript of "Midnight Bell" today, right? I don't know if Mr. Higashino has eaten it? I know there's a nice izakaya. ”

I'm inviting myself to dinner...

Higashino pondered for a while, but nodded in agreement.

After all, it was he who squeezed the other party's serial position, otherwise Tamura actually had a few observation periods, so it was reasonable, and his request, Higashino Tsukasa felt that he couldn't refuse.

"But I'm just sixteen, I'm underage, and I can't drink alcohol, so please forgive me Mr. Tamura."

When he arrived at the place and entered the izakaya, Higashino still gave him a vaccination.

After all, this body is still in the development stage, and he doesn't want to eat and drink to spoil his body.

As for whether minors can enter an izakaya?

That's not much of a problem. In fact, as long as you don't order alcoholic beverages, an izakaya store is actually an ordinary restaurant, and the owner can't sweep customers out of the house because of this kind of thing.

"Really?" Tamura was taken aback, he thought that Higashino Tsukasa just looked young, and his actual age was estimated to be in his twenties.

So when he heard that he was only sixteen years old, Tamura couldn't help but sigh a little:

"Mr. Higashino is really young, but at this age, he created the rare work of "Midnight Bell".

He poured a glass of wine, then ordered four skewers of yakiniku and asked for a few salmon grilled rice balls, chatting with Tsukasa Higashino and eating and drinking.

Men may be like this for the most part, and it is easy to get on the hook when they drink.

And as soon as you get up, you will vomit bitterness.

Tsukasa Higashino also learned about his current family situation from Tamura, who was depressed in front of him.

His wife divorced him last week and left Tokyo with other men.

Before leaving, his wife took several children with her.

Originally, Tamura tried his best to stop it, and even desperately refused to compromise.

But in the end, he relented.

The reasons are realistic.

He can't feed his children.

Drinking, drinking...

Finally check out and go out.

"Higashino-san, in Tokyo, you only have everything if your wallet is bulging... Otherwise, you're really nothing. ”

The drunk Tamura exhaled and leaned on the still sober Tsukasa Higashino, who looked depressed, like a loser in life who had lost his dog bones.

"But this is Tokyo. That's life. Man, live in this world, what shape do you live... It's up to you to decide. ”

Tamura couldn't help but laugh as he looked at the glittering night view of Tokyo on the street and the crowds of people coming and going.

While laughing, he cried again, tears falling from his eyes rather decadently, and finally he cried out like a breakdown:

"Why did I draw comics back then?! For! Miscellaneous! Whatever! Want to draw this bullshit comic?! ”

Tamura roared emotionally.

Outside, the neon lights of Tokyo look bustling and bustling.

But Tamura next to Tsukasa Higashino is just an outlier, there is no bustle around him, there is no prosperity, only indescribable bitterness and the tiredness of struggling to live in Tokyo.

After Tamura finished yelling, he leaned on the telephone pole and cried, while crying, he also tried to hold back his tears with his hands in embarrassment:

"I'm sorry, Higashino-sensei, I'm sorry... I, I don't want to say that. I was just... It's just really hard for me to live! ”

It may be that he is sorry for Tsukasa Higashino, or it may be that he gave up his previous dream of becoming a manga author.

He cried, but the crying of a man in his thirties did not attract onlookers.

Yes, no one paid attention to Tamura, and no one paid attention to Tsukasa Higashino.

Because in the eyes of these Tokyoites, there are so many people who are drunk and crazy – there are too many to count.

Tsukasa Higashino looked at all this, and he didn't try to comfort Tamura, because he knew that poor comfort would only make people's mood more depressed.

So he could only watch it all, patting Tamura's shoulder from time to time, and raising his head from time to time to look at the surrounding scenery.

Tokyo is still as prosperous as ever, but it is not compatible with the depressed Tamura.

Those at the bottom of the society who mix in the flow of people, and those who come and go in the upper class...

The contrast of colors on their bodies is so strong, as rich as the most ironic oil painting.

But this is Tokyo...

This is Tokyo.