'I'm better than them.'"

Higashino's voice was so low that no one else could hear it, but the naturalness in his words made Fukushima Madoka stunned for a moment.

Maybe it's a bonus that a confident boy is particularly handsome, or maybe it's because Tsukasa Higashino stood up to protect himself, and Fukushima Madoka covered his mouth after being stunned, and said 'um' with a red face.

Then she looked at Tsukasa Higashino's neck with a little curiosity, and asked incomprehensibly, "Higashino-san, why are you wearing a scarf... Is the air conditioning cold at the venue? ”

And this scarf is obviously very badly woven... It doesn't go well with a black and white dress.

"This is the best gift I've ever received this year." Higashino replied, "I wanted to share the honor of this award ceremony with the person who gave the gift, so I put it on." ”

"Really...? Was that person watching the awards ceremony on TV? Hearing this, Fukushima Madoka looked at the woolen fabric around Higashinoji's neck twice, and withdrew his gaze with some envy.

I don't know who the person who gave the scarf to Tsukasa Higashino is... It can't be a girlfriend, right?

I also want to share the honor of double gold award with that person... This naturally made her a little envious.

"She must be watching TV." Tsukasa Higashino replied.

As long as it's something related to himself, there's a high probability that Higashino Chihaya won't miss it.

"Really..."Madoka Fukushima was about to say something, but she soon saw a middle-aged man in a black dress walk up to the podium and quickly shut up.

Award Ceremony... It's about to begin.

......

At eight o'clock in the evening, Yumiya Takahashi.

"Look, look! Mr. Higashino has come up! Yumi Takahashi patted Aoi Fujiwara, who was wiping her glasses after taking a shower, and was very emotional.

Seeing that Aoi Fujiwara didn't reply to herself, she simply reached out again and patted the other party's back vigorously.

Fujiwara Aoi ate Yumi Takahashi for a while, and before she could come back in one breath, she ate Yumi Takahashi again, and coughed heavily.

Seeing this, Konoe Lianghua next to her walked over and gently stroked her back.

"Shorty, what's wrong with you? Mr. Higashino just showed his face, you don't need to be so excited, right? Yumi Takahashi looked at it and turned back to Aoi Fujiwara, who had just gasped for breath.

This made Fujiwara Aoi open her mouth, and then slapped Yumi Takahashi directly in anger and slapped it on the ass.

"What are you doing?"

Yumi Takahashi was in pain, covered her ass and looked at Aoi Fujiwara behind her with dissatisfaction.

"Hmph." Aoi Fujiwara snorted unhappily, ignored Yumi Takahashi, put on her glasses and looked at the TV.

In the TV, Tsukasa Higashino's table is in a very conspicuous place, especially Tsukasa Higashino, as long as he moves slightly, the audience in front of the camera can notice him.

In the huge venue, his place is considered the main position.

"It's really on TV... But why does he wear a scarf? Fujiwara Aoi looked at Tsukasa Higashino, who was not nervous in the picture, and muttered to himself incomprehensibly.

"Maybe it's because the air conditioner is too cold?" Yumi Takahashi relieved himself and analyzed.

“... I don't think so...," said Ryoka Konoe on the other side, whispering.

Recently, Tokyo has entered the end of summer, and the temperature continues to rise, and there is a feeling that the autumn tiger is heating up for a short time.

Wearing a dress in this weather is enough to make you sweat profusely, and tying a scarf can be said to torture yourself.

But Higashino-san, too, is not an unconventional person...

Konoe Ryoka was also a little incomprehensible.

"Anyway, it's good to be on TV." Yumi Takahashi looked at Tsukasa Higashino on TV: "Now he's really famous..."

Aoi Fujiwara next to him and Ryoka Konoe didn't speak.

After all, what Yumi Takahashi said was the truth, and Tsukasa Higashino did make a small name this time.

It is estimated that the circle of people in the vicinity of Kita-Yoshijuku will spread soon.

But unlike Aoi Fujiwara and Ryoka Konoe, they are... Hosokawa Koharu's reaction when he saw the familiar color of the scarf.

"Higashino-sensei?!"

Looking at the somewhat blurry young face on Asahi TV, Hosokawa Koharu reached out and wiped his eyes, wondering if he had seen it wrong, or was he hallucinating...?

But she wiped her eyes several times, and the circles around her eyes were red, and when she looked over again, Higashino Tsukasa's appearance was still on TV.

Although the camera is a little far away and the pixels are a little blurry, Hosokawa Koharu, who has dealt with Higashino several times, will never admit it - even if she does, she can't mistake the rough scarf.

"It's really Higashino-sensei..."

Hosokawa Koharu, who had just finished taking a shower, sat on the sofa and muttered to himself incredulously.

The person above is indeed Tsukasa Higashino, that's right.

Hosokawa Koharu originally turned on the TV that had been dusty for a long time due to "Midnight Bell" after taking a shower to watch the news, but he didn't expect to see Tsukasa Higashino as soon as he came up.

It's really...

Koharu Hosokawa glanced at the newspaper curtain at the bottom of the screen and explained that it was 'the scene of the award ceremony of the Tokyo Youth Painting Award of the Japan Art Education Association'.

"Higashino-sensei went to the Tokyo Youth Painting Awards?"

She scratched her hair, looking really confused.

Mr. Higashino still has this hand? Not just comics, but also oil paintings?

Hosokawa Koharu is no stranger to the Tokyo Youth Painting Awards, after all, the Japan Art Education Association and Urashima Publishing House are located in the same Chiyoda Ward, and they have a lot of publicity there, so she knows a little bit about it.

But—

Mr. Higashino, you're too versatile, aren't you?

Hosokawa Koharu couldn't help but think of her high school.

At that time, she studied seriously, and had an 'unforgettable' love, and then she has been single until now.

And then...? And then there was no then. After graduating from university, he joined Urado Publishing House directly... How can it compare to the colorful high school life of Tsukasa Higashino?

"I can't accept it..."Hosokawa Koharu looked at Tsukasa Higashino on the TV station, a little unacceptable.

It is said that there is a big gap between people... But it can really be put into reality... That's when you can find out that-

"The gap between people is bigger than the gap between people and dogs..."

Hosokawa Koharu, who originally wanted to jump off the stage to watch variety shows, didn't jump off the stage anymore, and simply watched the award ceremony of the Tokyo Youth Painting Awards.

I don't know what award Higashino-sensei can get.

"The gold prize in the student category should be fine, right?" Hosokawa Koharu muttered.

The painting skills of Tsukasa Higashino's "Midnight Bell" are placed there, and there should be no big problem with the gold reward in the student group.

"No, if it's Higashino-sensei, then maybe it's the gold prize for the adult group." Hosokawa Koharu shook his head to dispel his thoughts, and at the same time came up with an even bolder idea.

Gold Prize for Adults... That's not that easy to get.

But if it's Tsukasa Higashino...

"Maybe you got it."

Hosokawa Koharu muttered to himself and said with certainty.

That's right... That's Mr. Higashino, the author of "Midnight Bells".

Take the gold prize in the adult category... No problem!