What Konoe Ryoka didn't expect was that Higashinoji did not attend the art club's activities this afternoon.

So she could only stare blankly at the empty seat next to her all day, scratching her head from time to time, holding the painting tray and brush in a daze...

Of course Higashinoji will not show up in the studio today.

He had an agreement with Hosokawa Koharu to go to Urashima Publishing House to talk about "The Ring" today.

So he left the school right after class and headed to the Hitotsubashi area of ​​Chiyoda Ward.

Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo, has long been the political and economic center of Tokyo.

This Hitotsubashi area can also be regarded as a location where Tokyo News and publishing houses are concentrated.

Not only Urashima Publishing House, but also the equally famous Iwakaku Publishing House and Mozhu Bookstore - their headquarters are located in the Hitotsubashi area of ​​Chiyoda Ward.

Entering the first floor of Urashima Publishing House, in front of you is the receptionist with a smiling face.

Higashikata stepped forward and said simply:

"I am Higashino Tsukasa who has a reservation with editor Hosokawa Koharu of Urashima Publishing House."

"Please fill out this form." The lady in charge of the reception confirmed the itinerary and then took out a form.

Higashino took a quick look and saw that it was probably a very common visitor form, where you fill in your name and contact information.

"By the way, I still don't know what the lady's name is? I'm Higashinoji." Higashinoji asked with a smile while filling out the visitor form.

Well?

The receptionist lady was stunned. She didn't expect Higashinoji to ask herself such a question.

"Maybe I'll visit here more often in the future. It's always good to feel familiar."

Higashinoji smiled and handed the filled-in form to the other party, and added: "Besides, sister, you are so pretty, so it makes sense for me to ask for your name, right?"

Hearing these funny words, the receptionist also laughed cheerfully:

"Just call me Miss Uzaki, brother Higashino."

After another round of pleasantries, Higashinoji smiled and waved to Miss Uzaki, who was already half familiar with the situation, and the process was finally completed.

This can also be regarded as a type of interpersonal communication.

I might come here from time to time in the future. How troublesome would it be to fill out a form every time?

Higashino thinks that when he comes next time, he will bring some more fruit to Miss Uzaki so that it can be thoroughly cooked.

But I want to think back...

The most important thing now is to finalize all the follow-up matters for "Midnight Ring".

Entering the editorial office, Higashino revealed his identity and was then taken to a small cubicle for conversation.

There is a similar cubicle next to it, where some editors and authors are chatting.

Some of them are authors who are congratulating themselves for winning the Newcomer Award from the "Abominable" weekly magazine, while others are authors who are devastated because the popularity of their works has dropped.

What impressed Higashino the most was undoubtedly the middle-aged author and editor talking to him.

"Please, Editor Oshima, I really need this serial. I have two children at home waiting for me to get their tuition fees."

The middle-aged author suddenly stood up emotionally, his eyes were red, his nose was twitching, and his palms were squeezed to death.

The middle-aged author's eyes were shining, as if he wanted to tell the editor——

Give him one more chance, give him one more chance...he can change his destiny.

But in response to this, the male editor opened his mouth, but couldn't say a single word. He just pressed the other person's manuscript with his fingers and clenched it tightly.

He didn't speak.

The wordless silence allowed the originally excited author to calm down.

The beating fire in his eyes gradually extinguished, and his soul seemed to be pulled away, becoming nothing.

It's that kind of thing... You're obviously still the same person, but you don't look like that person anymore——

The middle-aged author sat down in a daze.

Only then did he realize that this was not a matter of whether the editor was willing to give himself a chance to change his fate.

But this world... doesn't care about his fate at all.

Yes.

Is reality as beautiful as comics, novels, and animations?

The world of adults.

It has nothing to do with dreams or destiny. Many people sell their dreams and exchange them for firewood, rice, oil and salt. This is normal.

This middle-aged author has never been the first person in this industry, nor will he be the second person in this industry.

At this moment, a voice came from next to Higashinoji.

"That's Mr. Tamura and Editor Oshima."

Higashikata turned around.

I saw a young female editor holding a stack of manga manuscripts and looking seriously at the editors Tamura and Oshima in front of me.

"I called Mr. Tamura here today to discuss with him the matter of being cut in half. His comics have been ranked fifth and sixth from the bottom three times in a row. And his comics are forced to be completed..."

The female editor looked at Higashinoji: "Teacher Higashino, your "Midnight Ring" has been serialized in the magazine."

When Hosokawa Koharu said this, she actually felt very strange in her heart.

She was a little surprised.

The Tonoji in front of him looked like he was in his teens, and he was still wearing his high school uniform.

A young man of this age drew "The Ring"?

For a moment, Hosokawa Koharu even thought that he had made something wrong.

"I'm Hosokawa Koharu, editor of "Abominable Chill" weekly."

She sat down, poured a cup of coffee for Higashinoji, and introduced herself.

"I'm Higashikata, hello."

The two shook hands and were considered to have met.

Looking at Higashinoji, Hosokawa Koharu then said: "Before we talk, I want to ask one thing first. Is "Midnight Ring" created by Higashino-sensei alone?"

To be able to draw such high-quality manuscripts, she never imagined that a teenager would have that kind of free time.

"I created it independently."

Higashinoji didn't know what Hosokawa Koharu was thinking, so he nodded and admitted.

"...A manuscript of that quality was created by Higashino-sensei alone?"

Hosokawa Koharu's heart is getting weirder and weirder.

"Yes." Higashikata nodded.

"Excuse me, Mr. Higashino, does he have any experience in drawing comics before?"

"No, this is the first time."

"Well..."

Seeing that Higashinoji was very calm and showed no signs of guilt, Hosokawa Koharu couldn't help but open his mouth.

It was my first time to draw comics, and I drew "Midnight Ring" without any previous experience...?

Is it possible that there really are geniuses in this world?

Hosokawa Koharu couldn't help but think about it, then took a sip of coffee and did not continue to ask.

Higashinoji is a new author, and she is a new editor. This can be regarded as a 'co-operation, complementing each other'.

"Well, I have already read the first episode of "The Ring". There are generally no problems. It has also passed the serialization meeting and will be officially serialized next week. The price we offer here is 10,000 yuan per manuscript.

One thousand yen, I wonder what Mr. Higashino wants to say?"

Hosokawa Koharu turned over the pages of "The Ring" and explained.

But after a long time, she didn't hear Higashinoji's reply, so she subconsciously raised her head.

It turned out that at some point, Tamura, who had just been cut in half in the comic, was already standing next to him.

Oops!

Hosokawa Koharu's heart skipped a beat.

You must know that it was Higashinoji who squeezed out the spot for Tamura's serialization.

If he had heard the conversation just now... would he attack Higashino in anger?
Chapter completed!