Higashinoji looked at Konoe Ryoka from behind for a while, gave some pointers, and then packed up his things and left.

It's useless for him to stay here.

It will take at least a day for the canvas base to dry before you can paint anything on it.

The oil painting painted by Higashinoji has a thin foundation. It is summer recently, so it should be dry tomorrow.

After Higashinoji left, Konoe Ryoka's side became empty.

She instinctively felt a little at ease, but inexplicably felt a little uncomfortable without Higashinoji scolding her next to her, so she would occasionally look back at his empty seat subconsciously.

"The relationship between Higashino-san and Konoe-san is really good."

Madoka Fukushima walked over, first glanced at Higashinoji's empty seat, and then glanced at Konoe Ryoka, with a sour feeling in his words.

"Why?"

After hearing this, Konoe Ryoka waved her hands hurriedly: "No, I..."

"Why not?" Fukushima sighed and asked with a somewhat aggressive feeling.

"I..."

She was not good at words, but when she heard Madoka Fukushima's sour rhetorical question, she was so weak that she couldn't even speak.

"How does it feel to sit next to Higashino-san?"

Madoka Fukushima did not continue to embarrass Konoe Ryoka.

She knew Konoe Ryoka's temper. She was a bit taciturn, but she was still a very nice person, so she could only say a few sour words at most, and it wouldn't rise to the level of a school bully.

"Ah...? Sitting next to Mr. Higashino... Oh oh... Mr. Higashino is very good, and his paintings are particularly beautiful..."

Konoe Ryoka lowered her head, not daring to look at Madoka Fukushima: "I learned a lot of skills from Higashino-san."

This is true, she did learn a lot from Higashinoji, including many painting techniques.

After all, Higashinoji is a former professional painter, and he came here in 2020. Many of his understandings of painting are beyond the era of 2003.

So every time Konoe Ryoka hears him explaining next to her, she always feels like "the door to a new world has opened."

"Really? I learned a lot of useful skills..."

Madoka Fukushima looked at Konoe Ryoka's drawing board and found that her level was indeed much higher than before, so she became more and more bitter.

My mouth felt like I had eaten a dozen lemons, with only a sour taste.

Gudu...

Konoe Ryoka didn't dare to continue talking.

She is not a fool, so she can naturally hear the sourness in Fukushima's dialect.

"That's right." Madoka Fukushima shook his head to get rid of the sourness in his mouth, and asked curiously: "Has Higashino-kun commented on the paintings we painted?"

As soon as she said this, all the girls looked here and there curiously, and quietly raised their ears, wanting to hear Higashinoji's evaluation.

After all, Higashinoji and they are both of the same age, and with comments from their peers, he can better understand their level.

All kinds of looks came over me.

Curiosity, doubt.

This made Konoe Ryoka not even know what to say.

Of course she still remembers Higashinoji’s comments about their paintings——

'Rubbish'.

Even Fukushima-senpai, who is the best at drawing, is rated as 'at the level of an average high school student'.

You can't really say these words, can you?

Higashinoji had been standing behind him teaching him how to draw...Konoe Ryoka couldn't do this kind of thing like stabbing him in the back.

"Well... Higashino-kun said he can win the gold medal of this Tokyo Youth Art Award."

Konoe Ryoka tried to look around and talk about other things.

But she is so stupid that she can't speak clearly.

If Higashinoji were around, he probably wouldn't be able to help but touch her head and ask her, 'Why are you so stupid?'

"Ah? Really? Higashino-kun is indeed talented, and it's normal to be so confident, but that's not what I'm asking about." Madoka Fukushima frowned, not really understanding what Konoe Ryoka was talking about.

"I, my lunch box was made by myself...it's delicious."

Konoe Ryoka whispered again.

The bull's head is wrong.

"...???Uh...Lianghua, I just want to ask, Higashino-san, what do you think of our paintings?"

Woo...

Konoe Ryoka couldn't continue knitting, so she could only say with a guilty conscience: "He said that the senior sisters are all very good at drawing, quite good."

After saying this, she felt her conscience aching.

But Madoka Fukushima and the other girls didn't care whether what she said was true or false.

After everyone heard this, they all laughed happily.

They are all very well drawn.

It turns out that this is how Higashinoji sees them.

It’s okay. Higashinoji has a very high emotional intelligence. He doesn’t look down on the paintings of his seniors because he thinks he is good at painting.

The atmosphere immediately became relaxed.

And when they feel relaxed, it is easy for the girls to continue talking about the topic just now.

"By the way, have you heard that the situation at Higashino-san's family is not optimistic? Some time ago, there were rumors that Higashino-san's parents were killed by a murderer, right?"

The girl next to me started to have a small discussion.

"Huh?" Konoe Ryoka couldn't help but widen her beautiful eyes when she heard this.

She didn't expect that Higashinoji, who had been smiling cheerfully next to her, actually had this kind of worry in his heart.

Konoe Ryoka cautiously turned her head, holding a pen in her hand, pretending to draw, and eavesdropped on the conversation.

"I also know about this matter. I heard that Higashino-san's sister also went crazy because of this matter..."

"Is it so miserable?"

"Hey, what a pity. Are you jealous of talented people?" Fukushima-senpai also joined the discussion, and everyone sighed while talking.

Konoe Ryoka also felt that the eyes of these seniors had changed.

Looking at Higashinoji's position, his eyes changed from respect at the beginning to sympathy - and even an inexplicable sense of superiority over the disadvantaged.

Konoe Ryoka pursed her lips.

She didn't know why, but feeling their gazes made her feel particularly uncomfortable.

In her eyes, Toyoji is really powerful.

It's just the misfortune of the family, why should we look down on Higashino-san?

She wanted to say this, but she couldn't say it, so she could only hold it in her throat and sit there sulking.

Konoe Ryoka didn't know why she was sulking.

But I just couldn't help it...

...

The day's work ended quickly.

Konoe Ryoka was the last one to leave every day. She put away her drawing board, then closed the door and walked downstairs.

With her head lowered and her waist hunched forward, her beautiful face and figure were covered up, and no one noticed this gloomy and rustic girl.

She just walked all the way north, where there was a commercial street, where she usually bought cooking materials.

And there is also her favorite pancake shop there, which is especially delicious when dipped in strawberry jam or chocolate sauce.

She goes there and buys one almost every day.

But after just two steps, she saw Higashinoji standing in line next to her favorite pizza shop.

The latter obviously saw her, so he smiled and waved to her, gesturing for her to come over.
Chapter completed!