"Uh... Hmm..."

Chihaya Higashino looked at the "Bad Cold" in his hand seriously, and then looked at the posters, figures and other things of the comics on the other side with a cardboard box, and fell into a long silence.

It is indeed the name of Tsukasa Higashino.

After a while, Chihaya Higashino asked in disbelief, "Didn't Asa really go to rob the bank?" ”

Hearing Higashino Chihaya say this, Higashino Tsukasa couldn't cry or laugh.

Even if my sister is back to normal, she still feels a little natural as always-this thing doesn't seem to have changed much from before or now.

I feel that if I let her go out to live, I may be deceived by a man.

Thinking of this, Higashino Tsukasa just smiled and replied, "Sister Chihaya, do I have the impression that I am the kind of person who can rob a bank?" ”

Was the original owner so violent?

And he thinks that drawing comics is better than robbing a bank.

"It's really not..."Chihaya Higashino nodded his head.

She had the impression that Higashino Tsukasa was very well-behaved, and he listened to her very much, but when he was in high school, he entered the rebellious period and scolded her several times.

At that time, Chihaya Higashino secretly cried several times.

After all, although she is the daughter of the Higashino family, she is also a girl.

In short, the former Higashino Tsukasa was a young boy who had entered a rebellious period.

And then look at the current Tsukasa Higashino...

It is said that the eighteen changes of the female college... But Higashino Chihaya didn't expect that Higashino Tsukasa would change so much.

Especially when he looked at his gaze with pleasure... This made Higashino Chihaya a little unhappy - how did he feel that his younger brother's gaze was like a child's doting gaze?

You know, it was my sister who loved you the most before...

Why do you feel that your position has suddenly changed, and the little bit of insignificant majesty you have as a sister is gone?

It can't be like this!

Thinking of this, Higashino Chihaya suddenly raised his head and said to Higashino Division: "Ace, my sister wants to discuss something with you." ”

"You say." Higashino Chihaya finally didn't bother with the matter of 'robbing the bank', and Higashino Tsukasa also replied with a smile.

"My sister wants to go to work, what does Ace think?" Chihaya Higashino took it seriously and said his thoughts seriously.

"Uhh

My sister's way of thinking is really whimsical.

It's just that how did the other party come up with the idea of working part-time?

"I want to ask, if Sister Chihaya is going to work, what should the school do? And the reason why you want to go to work..."Higashino asked in a thoughtful tone.

"It's okay at school, didn't Ace say I've taken a leave of absence?" Chihaya Higashino seriously analyzed: "The reason for part-time work is also very simple... The family also needs money..."

Before she could finish speaking, her big eyes lifted up, wanting to see the look in Higashino's eyes.

But before she could see it clearly, her little head was flicked vigorously by Tsukasa Higashino.

was suddenly hit hard, and Higashino Chihaya could only scream in pain and cover his head:

"What are you doing here? And the bullet head ... My sister will be angry. ”

As she spoke, she raised her head again, just in time to see Tsukasa Higashino's doting expression as if she were looking at a child.

This made Higashino Chihaya unacceptable at once.

What about my majesty as an older sister?

She simply glared at Higashino Division, and said angrily: "Ace don't treat my sister as a child, it doesn't hurt at all." ”

As he spoke, Higashino Chihaya gently rubbed his forehead, which was a little reddened.

Regarding her sentence 'it doesn't hurt at all', Higashino didn't comment too much.

He just laughed happily and said, "Sister Qianzao, you better tell the truth... What do you want to do in your part-time job? ”

"It's all said that it's to subsidize the family... Yes! ”

Halfway through the words, Higashino Chizao saw Higashino Tsukasa stretch out his fingers, and leaned directly against the back of the sofa, for fear that Higashino Tsukasa would bounce firmly on his forehead this time.

But she soon realized that this evasive behavior was a bit humiliating, so she snorted and chirped twice, sat up straight, and glared at her disobedient brother with those big eyes.

Feeling Higashino Chihaya's gaze, Higashino Tsukasa shook his head:

"Sister Chihaya, when you lie, your eyes will always look up unconsciously, and your eyebrows will shake and shake, and you can see it at a glance, I want to hear you tell the truth."

Listening to Tsukasa Higashino's summary of the rules, Higashino Chihaya couldn't help but rub the corners of his eyes and eyebrows, and subconsciously muttered to himself:

"Is it that obvious...?"

"No, I lied to you, but judging by Sister Chihaya's reaction, it seems that she is indeed lying."

Uh-

When Higashino Chihaya heard this, he couldn't help but open his mouth wide, and finally lowered his head a little dejectedly, and his voice was a little complaining.

"Ace, a boy who is too flamboyant will not be liked."

"Sister Chihaya, do you think I'm good-looking?"

"Of course it's pretty, my brother must be the best... Belch. ”

Higashino Chihaya replied subconsciously, and then immediately realized that he had said the wrong thing, and said stiffly: "If you look good, no one may like it." ”

My brother is really bad now! You know how to lie to yourself!

Tsukasa Higashino didn't care about this, he poured a glass of water for Higashino Chihaya: "Let's not talk about these yet... Sister Qianzao, just explain it honestly, why did you suddenly think of working part-time? ”

Seeing that Higashino Tsukasa was going to ask anyway, Higashino Chihaya was no longer stubborn, hesitated for a while, and said the reason.

The reason is simple.

When Chihaya Higashino was watching "Bad Cold" and confirming Tsukasa Higashino's manga works just now, he listened to Tsukasa Higashino explain what had happened in the past two years.

This includes the fact that after the death of his parents, he could not accept it and became ill for nearly two years.

Similarly, there are also cases of Tsukasa Higashino drawing comics outside to earn money to support his family.

You must know that my brother was only sixteen years old two years ago... Even if you count this year, you'll be eighteen years old...

How old is this?

At the age of sixteen, you have to earn money to support your family... And it's two years of raising...

Higashino Chihaya can almost imagine such a picture-

In order to draw manga skills, Tsukasa Higashino picked up the lamp to learn to draw.

But just drawing skills are not enough, comics also need plots.

So she thought about Tsukasa Higashino losing her hair for the plot of the manga... The situation where the editor shot countless manuscripts before finally earning a steady income.

Comics in this industry.... There are countless practitioners throughout Japan.

But how many people can really make money from comics?

What did Tsukasa Higashino go through to get to this point?

Although he spoke lightly, Chihaya Higashino understood that things could not be so simple.

After all, reality can't be, you can become famous by hooking your fingers, and you can achieve a generation of masterpieces by painting casually.

And Tsukasa Higashino also gave up his vacation days in order to take care of himself...

Maybe I haven't even found a girlfriend until now.

This made Higashino Chihaya feel very sorry for Higashino Tsukasa.

Yes.

I'm really sorry Tsukasa Higashino.

Some time ago, it was popular that 'eighteen-year-old boys haven't found a girlfriend yet, have no experience in falling in love, and will not be productive when they grow up in the future!' 'This kind of values.

And Higashino Chihaya is more or less convinced.

She was a little worried that Tsukasa Higashino would really become that type of boy, so she thought of working to subsidize the family by herself, so that Tsukasa Higashino could free up time to enjoy her youth.

This can be regarded as her compensation to Tsukasa Higashino.

Chihaya Higashino knew that he didn't have much ability, and he couldn't be like Tsukasa Higashino... But only her brother's life, she doesn't want to mess with it.

When Higashino Chihaya said these words, her eyes were shining with tears, and she didn't dare to look at her brother with her head down.

Half ashamed, half moved.

"Sister Chihaya originally wanted to compensate me."

After listening to what Higashino Chihaya said, Higashino couldn't help but laugh.

This sudden laughter made Higashino Chihaya, who was still moved over there, turn red all of a sudden.

She was a little annoyed: "My sister knows that she doesn't make much money without Assi... But that's what my sister wants. Assi always treats his sister like a child now, and I'm not happy anymore! ”

Higashino Chihaya turned around suddenly, and didn't look at Higashino Tsukasa anymore, it seemed that he was really angry enough.

Seeing her like this, Higashino Tsukasa just smiled and persuaded: "No, I didn't laugh because I thought Sister Chihaya was childish when she spoke... Well, there may be a part, but definitely not the main reason. ”

"......" Higashino Chihaya's face turned red.

She originally thought that Tsukasa Higashino wanted to say good things.

As a result, he didn't expect this sentence to suddenly come out again, so he was so angry that he couldn't say anything, and he was panting heavily.

"In fact, it's not like Sister Chihaya thinks, it's not difficult for me to make money now, and I actually have a girlfriend a long time ago. You don't have to worry about that. ”

"Already have a girlfriend?" Hearing this, Higashino Chihaya immediately turned around, his face full of curiosity: "Really... Belch. ”

Again, she was only halfway through the conversation.

I'm too coaxed, right? It's just that when I heard that my brother had found a girlfriend, I immediately didn't get angry?

Higashino Chihaya really couldn't help his soft temper, but he still barely kept a straight face: "Who is it?" Is it the girls who came over today? ”

The curiosity in her words couldn't be suppressed at all, but she still had a straight face to see that Higashino Tsukasa wanted to laugh a little.

Chihaya Higashino, whether it was a little mentally problematic in the past, or now... This slightly childish feeling still hasn't changed much.

Those big peach blossom eyes obviously couldn't stop looking this way, and their eyebrows were picked one by one, but they still had to pretend.

But this time, Higashino Tsukasa directly controlled his smile and explained to her, "It's one of them... That one has a very big breast. ”

"It turned out to be her." Chihaya Higashino suddenly thought of the girl who was particularly close to Tsukasa Higashino.

"Well, her name is Ryoka Konoe, and I've actually met you many times."

“... Is it..."An embarrassed expression appeared on Higashino Chihaya's pretty face: "I didn't remember anything when I first woke up, and I was in a trance... I see. ”

Ace is not like before, and has found a girlfriend.

Everything around has changed more or less.

This made Higashino Chihaya naturally a little dazed.

She could barely remember some of the events that had happened in the past two years, but they all had a bit of a fragment of memory, and occasionally an impression flashed.

That's why she pretended not to know anything when she came to her senses today, and she didn't explain everything until she was alone with Tsukasa Higashino...

"Two years... It's a long span. ”

In the past, Higashino Chihaya had also watched some TV series, in which the heroine suffered a car accident at every turn and had to lie down for a year or two.

But when it really happened to her, she only had some feelings of confusion.

The most important thing is -

"Ace... Shall we go and see my father and my mother? ”

Chihaya Higashino asked in a whisper.

Because if you look at the time, she hasn't been to the cemetery to pay respects to her parents for two years.

This is a reasonable request, and it is naturally impossible for Higashino to refuse.

He agreed, and then waited outside for Higashino Chihaya to tidy up his clothes, and the two went out together.

In Japan, cemeteries are often located next to monks' temples, and they are not usually called cemeteries, but rather "spiritual gardens".

The spiritual garden that the original owner and Chihaya Higashino chose for Higashino's parents is next to a temple in Adachi Ward.

In this kind of world, where people may not even have money for burial when they die, the original owner and Higashino Chihaya spent a lot of money to buy such a small cemetery.

There is a tight relationship between the tombstones, and many of the tombstones can be seen next to the erection of the bhara (a kind of wooden board on which the name of a person's ordination is written).

If you are willing to spend money, you will get a piece of this thing, which is said to be something used to pray for the return of the deceased to heaven.

Although the original owner and Higashino Chihaya were not believers in Buddhism, they still paid for the abbot here to help get a piece of it.

Otherwise, how can it be said that Japanese monks are particularly profitable?

Placing the sacrificial supplies that Higashino Chihaya needed next to her, Higashino Tsukasa took two steps back slightly and calmly watched her light the long incense.

For the parents who have never met, Higashino still gives high respect.

In the past two years, he often came here alone to worship, and gave the abbot some money so that he should not forget to take care of this cemetery.

This can be regarded as fulfilling the filial piety of the original owner.

As for other things... He didn't really do anything.

After all, there is no point in praying for someone who has been lost, just pure spiritual comfort.

Thinking so, Tsukasa Higashino looked at Chihaya Higashino, who was already half-squatting down in front of him, with his hands folded.

She had words in her mouth, as if she were whispering something in her voice, and her expression was reverent and solemn.

It's as if what she says and what she says to her deceased parents now will really be heard by them.

Looking at Chihaya Higashino's appearance, Tsukasa Higashino couldn't help but shake his head.

And of course.

During the two-year memory window, she will feel uneasy, and even pray for her deceased parents to bless her with a smooth life for the rest of her life.

Higashino didn't comment on this, but just took a step forward with the sacrificial bouquet.

And then.

Tsukasa Higashino heard Chihaya's whispering voice.

"Mom, Dad, I hope you can bless Asi... Hopefully something good will happen to him... I hope he can spend every day happily..."

Tsukasa Higashino's footsteps stopped.

It turned out that the object of Higashino Chihaya's blessing was Tsukasa Higashino, not herself.

Even if she's still in a bit of a mess.

Chihaya Higashino's soft voice continued to sound.

The expression is still as pious as ever.

Even Higashino Tsukasa had already come to her side, and she didn't notice it at all.

It's like I'm throwing my whole heart into it.

It seems that this simple spiritual comfort can really bring happiness to his younger brother...

But...

This time.

Tsukasa Higashino seems to understand, too.

Why do people always pray to the deceased.

This turned out to be more than just spiritual comfort.

It also contains the wish of the person who prays for a better life for the people around him.

Moreover...

Higashino Chihaya is really still the Higashino Chihaya he is familiar with.

It never seems to have changed.