Higashinoji didn't know what happened to the sketch he drew.

He just drew a random picture to cope with the club activities there.

As for whether he is interested in Konoe Ryoka...?

This is a joke.

That is to say, Konoe Ryoka was by his side and he just drew casually.

Rather than worrying about that, Higashinoji was more concerned about what he was going to eat tonight.

"I had chicken patties yesterday, let's eat pork natto today."

Tonoji took two lunch boxes from the quick-serve freezer, then walked to the counter and greeted the man in convenience store uniform with a smile: "Manager Ino, haven't you got off work yet?"

"Ah, it's Higashino-san, haha, as you can see, the replacement hasn't come yet, so I can't get off work yet."

Manager Ino took the bento from Tonoji and answered cheerfully.

He and Higashinoji are acquaintances.

To be more precise, in this area, the owner of the convenience store, the wife of the fruit stand, the manager of the fried meat pie shop, and the owner of the fish shop who sells fish all basically have a good relationship with this handsome, amiable young man.

Of course, in order to take care of these relationships, Toyoji also spent some money and time.

He often visited with some small gifts, and from time to time he would buy some things in their store, enjoy the air conditioning, and chat with the old man.

This makes people on this street feel good about him.

Seeing him at this time, Ino naturally seemed a little enthusiastic: "There have been a lot of homeless people around here recently. Remember to tell yours not to run around, it's very dangerous."

The one in your family...this refers to Chihaya Higashino.

In fact, Higashinoji visits the neighbors so frequently just for Higashino Chihaya, hoping that they can take care of Higashino Chihaya while he is away.

"Oh? Is there such a thing? I'm quite interested." Higashinoji smiled, took a bunch of oden from the oden stove next to him, paid the money, and handed it to Ino: "Manager Ino hasn't eaten yet, has he?"

Pad your belly, and I’ll listen to what’s going on.”

"Haha, they are actually the homeless people who lost their jobs a few years ago. Many of them haven't found a job yet and are so depressed that they get drunk and fall asleep wrapped up on the ground."

Ino was not polite and answered after taking a bite of dried tofu.

"Oh...that's it."

Higashino nodded thoughtfully.

In Tokyo in 2003, the number of homeless people was indeed huge, and Adachi City’s security was already at the bottom of Tokyo’s rankings.

Many cynical drunkards lie on the ground at night, smash trash cans and complain about the unfairness of the world when they have nothing to do. They look like criminals.

No wonder Ino reminded Higashinoji.

"Thank you, I understand, Manager Ino."

"Yes, you're welcome, Higashikata-san."

Higashinoji smiled and exchanged greetings with Ino before turning around and leaving.

But before he could take two steps, he was stopped by an old woman selling fruit next door.

This old woman's name is Chiyo, and everyone calls her Chiyo Granny.

When she was young, she was probably a beauty and spoke very sharply, so she was also known as the "Flower of the Lower Castle Town".

"Higashino-san, I saw that one from your house just now."

She spoke very hastily, and her face, known as the "Flower of the Past," turned red.

Seeing this, Higashinoji immediately walked to the side and asked the croquette's aunt for a glass of water. He handed it to Granny Chiyo and patted her stooped back: "Don't be anxious, Aunt Chiyo, please speak slowly."

No matter when a woman is said to be young, it is always a bonus. Higashinoji said she was a generation younger, which naturally made Chiyo's mother-in-law narrow her eyes happily:

"Okay, okay, I'll speak slowly."

It took her a while to catch her breath, then she held the water glass and said tremblingly:

"I saw Higashino-san walking forward in your house before. She was walking in a hurry. I don't know what she was doing."

"Really?" Higashino nodded after listening.

Although Chihaya Higashino is afraid of going out, it doesn't mean that she doesn't go out.

Higashino leaves her 500 yen as pocket money every day, and she also has a piggy-type piggy bank.

Sometimes she would go out and use the money in the piggy bank to buy some snacks she wanted to eat.

She cherishes the piggy bank very much, the money in it is equivalent to her lifeblood, the kind that even Tonoji cannot touch.

Her active area is this commercial street.

Everyone in this commercial street is acquainted, so Higashinoji is not particularly worried.

But why go out at this time?

Higashinoji was a little concerned, so he didn't waste time here. After a brief exchange of greetings, he left, asking people all the way to look for Higashino Chihaya.

Just like this, he walked and asked all the time. Ten minutes later, Higashinoji finally saw Higashino Chihaya at the fish stall.

At this time, she was talking to another boss with a white headscarf and an apron with the word "fishing" written on it.

The boss looked embarrassed and waved his hands and shook his head.

This makes Higashinoji feel a little strange. Why does Chihaya Higashino come to the fish stall?

"Boss Hirasaka, what's wrong?"

Higashinoji stepped forward and said hello to the fish shop owner.

Of course he knows the other person.

"Ah, Higashikata-san, you are finally here."

As soon as Hirasaka saw Higashinoji, he felt like he had seen a savior, his eyes were glowing green. He pulled Higashinoji close and immediately said:

"Your sister always said she wanted to buy bass from the Mariana Trench, and she said it was you who said it...but I don't have this thing here."

He was actually a little puzzled when he said this.

He also doesn't know if there are any bass from the Mariana Trench in the world.

Before Hirasaka could finish speaking, Chihaya Higashino who was standing next to her suddenly put her head over:

"Yes. As Si said he likes to eat, there must be some."

She was very serious and her tone was a little serious.

"Are you worried that I don't have money? But I have money. I have a lot of money."

As she spoke, she lowered her head stupidly and took out the banknotes from her pocket, as well as many bright five hundred yen coins.

Chihaya Higashino held a lot of coins with one hand. If she couldn't hold them with one hand, she would use two hands.

The coins clattered.

Only when he saw this did Higashino understand.

Chihaya Higashino came to the fish shop for her own sake.

It was for the ‘bass from the Mariana Trench’ that he had mentioned casually before, so he came here.

Where did that thing come from in the Mariana Trench?

He really wanted to say this to Higashino Chihaya.

But looking at her half-raised head, with a very serious expression on her face, Tonoji sighed heavily.

It's really heavy.

After sighing, Higashinoji turned his head and took out a thousand-yen bill from his wallet: "Boss Hirasaka, give me two slices of seabass from the Mariana Trench."

The boss said "Ah" after hearing this, with a look of disbelief on his face. He obviously didn't expect Higashinoji to ask him what kind of sea bass from the Mariana Trench he wanted.

Does this thing really exist?

He couldn't even understand it.

"An ordinary red goldeye snapper will do."

Higashinoji lowered his voice and spoke to his boss at a volume that Higashino Chihaya could not hear.

"Ah...ok."

Although he didn't know what Higashinoji was playing, the boss still understood what he said.

He quickly took two pieces of red goldeye snapper, packed them up and handed them to Higashinoji.

"Thank you boss, I will come to thank you next time."

"Haha...it's all small things."

The boss waved his hand nonchalantly.

After buying something, Higashinoji naturally took Higashino Chihaya with him.
To be continued...