‘I am better than them’.

Higashinoji's voice was kept low so that no one else could hear him, but the matter-of-factness in his words made Fukushima Madoka stunned for a moment.

Perhaps it was the bonus that confident boys are particularly handsome, or perhaps it was because Higashinoji stood up to protect himself. After being stunned, Fukushima Madoka covered his mouth and said "hmm" with a red face.

Then she glanced at Higashinoji's neck with curiosity, and asked in confusion: "Higashino-san, why are you wearing a scarf... Is the air conditioning in the venue very cold?"

And this scarf is obviously very badly woven...it doesn't match the black and white dress.

"This is the best gift I received this year." Higashino answered cheerfully: "I wanted to share the honor of this award ceremony with the person who gave the gift, so I wore it."

"Really...? Is that person watching the award ceremony next to the TV?" After hearing this, Madoka Fukushima glanced at the woolen fabric around Higashino's neck twice, and withdrew his gaze with some envy.

I don’t know who gave Higashinoji the scarf... Could it be his girlfriend?

She also had to share the honor of a double gold reward with that person... This naturally made her a little envious.

"She should be watching TV." Higashino replied.

As long as it's something related to herself, Higashino Chihaya will most likely not miss it.

"Really..." Madoka Fukushima originally wanted to say something, but she quickly saw a middle-aged man in a black dress walking up to the stage and quickly shut up.

The award ceremony...is about to begin.

...

Eight o'clock in the evening, Takahashi Yumi's house.

"Look, look! Teacher Higashino shows up!" Yumi Takahashi patted Aoi Fujiwara, who was wiping her glasses after taking a shower next to her. She was very excited.

Seeing that Fujiwara Aoi didn't reply to her, she simply reached out and patted him on the back hard.

Fujiwara Aoi ate Yumi Takahashi once, and before she could even come back to breathe, she ate Yumi Takahashi again and started coughing heavily.

Konoe Ryoka, who was standing next to her, came over and gently stroked her back.

"Short, what's wrong with you? Even if Mr. Higashino showed his face, you don't need to be so excited, right?" Takahashi Yumi looked back and said to Fujiwara Aoi, who had just gasped.

This made Fujiwara Aoi open her mouth, and then she was so angry that she slapped Takahashi Yumi on the butt.

"What are you doing?"

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

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

On the TV, Higashinoji's table is in a very conspicuous place, especially Higashinoji. As long as he moves a little, the audience in front of the camera will notice him.

In such a large venue, his place was regarded as the main seat.

"It's really on TV...but why is he wearing a scarf?" Fujiwara Aoi looked at Higashino who was not nervous in the picture and muttered to herself in confusion.

"Maybe the air conditioner is too cold?" Yumi Takahashi calmed down and analyzed.

"...I think it might not be..." Konoe Ryoka on the other side said softly.

Recently, Tokyo has entered the end of summer, and the temperature continues to rise. It feels like autumn is experiencing a short-term resurgence in heat.

Wearing a dress in this weather is enough to make you sweat profusely, and wearing a scarf is simply torture.

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

Konoe Ryoka was also a little confused.

"No matter what, it's a good thing to be on TV." Yumi Takahashi looked at Higashino Tsukasa on the TV: "He's really famous now..."

Next to them, Fujiwara Aoi and Konoe Ryoka remained silent.

After all, what Yumi Takahashi said was true, and Higashinoji did make a small name for himself this time.

It is expected that word will soon spread among people around the North Yiyuan School.

But what was different from Fujiwara Aoi and Konoe Ryoka was... Hosokawa Koharu's reaction when she saw that familiar scarf color.

"Teacher Higashino?!"

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

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

Although the camera is a bit far away and the pixels are a bit blurry, Hosokawa Koharu, who has dealt with Higashinoji several times, will never admit the mistake - even if she did, she would not be able to remove the rough scarf

Admit your mistake.

"It's actually Mr. Higashino..."

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

The person above is indeed Higashinoji, you read that right.

After taking a bath, Hosokawa Koharu originally turned on the TV that had been dusted for a long time due to "The Ring" to watch the news, but unexpectedly, she saw Higashino Tsukasa as soon as she got up.

This is really...

Hosokawa Koharu glanced sideways at the announcement at the bottom of the screen and explained - 'Japan Art Education Association Tokyo Youth Art Award Award Ceremony'.

"Teacher Higashino went to participate in the Tokyo Youth Art Awards?"

She scratched her hair, looking really confused.

Teacher Higashino is also good at this? Not only comics, but also oil paintings?

Hosokawa Koharu is no stranger to the Tokyo Youth Art Prize. After all, the Japan Art Education Association and Urashima Publishing House are both located in Chiyoda Ward, and their promotion efforts there are very strong, so she knows more or less about it.

but--

Mr. Tono, you are too omnipotent, right?

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

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

And then...? Then there was no more. After graduating from college, I joined Urashima Publishing House directly... How could it compare to the colorful high school life of Higashinoji?

"I can't accept it..." Hosokawa Koharu looked at Higashino Tsukasa on the TV station and couldn't accept it.

It is said that the gap between people is huge...but when we really put it into reality...only then can we discover——

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

Hosokawa Koharu, who originally wanted to jump to the stage to watch a variety show, decided not to jump to the stage anymore, so she just watched the Tokyo Youth Art Award ceremony.

I don’t know what kind of award Mr. Higashino can win.

"The gold reward for the student group should be fine, right?" Hosokawa Koharu muttered.

Given Higashino Tsukasa's "Midnight Ring" painting skills, there shouldn't be much of a problem getting a gold medal in the student category.

"No, if it's Mr. Higashino, then maybe it's the adult category gold prize." Hosokawa Koharu shook his head to dismiss his idea, and at the same time proposed a more bold idea.

The adult category gold reward...that's not that easy to get.

But if it's Higashinoji...

"Maybe I'll actually get it."

Hosokawa Koharu murmured to himself and said with certainty.

Yes...that's Mr. Higashino, the author of "The Ring".
Chapter completed!