To be fair.
It actually was necessary.
Kitahara Ayano hoped to observe Kiyoharu in his natural state to refine the details of the body structure. After all, the male lead of Ultimate Masterpiece was modeled after Kiyoharu.
Feeling Kiyoharu's clear gaze, Ayano was unsure whether he was deliberately probing her or merely speaking casually.
"That's right." Going along with Kiyoharu's suggestion, Ayano extended an arm in indication. "Just sit over there and follow my instructions for the poses I need."
"Got it."
Kiyoharu walked over to the tall stool near the white wall. It felt like taking an ID photo, except Kitahara Ayano held not a camera, but a small sketchpad.
Kitahara Ayano was more accustomed to recording inspiration with electronic devices. However, when she needed to conceal things, she used a traditional drawing board; only when drawing her private manuscripts did she use a tablet. The boundaries were clear. This seemed to be a form of Mind Control too—like how you were supposed to use your phone to read those long, satisfying web novels, while that high-end-looking e-reader better suited serious literature.
Whatever. This was only to deal with Kiyoharu's probing, and besides, tracing Kiyoharu's outline on paper was a refreshing afternoon activity.
"Keep your expression relaxed. Don't purse your lips."
"I'm not pursing them."
"I know. I'm just giving you a heads-up in advance." Kitahara Ayano wore a mocking expression. "Whenever handsome guys think they look handsome, they always purse their lips dramatically, especially in photos."
"Good thing I'm not handsome."
Kiyoharu tossed out the retort casually and emptied his mind.
Honestly, being an art model was quite a novel experience, as long as Kitahara Ayano did not start touching him.
She had already stopped time today.
Totally safe!
Following Kitahara Ayano's instructions, Kiyoharu posed in several front-facing and side-profile positions.
When they paused for a break, Kiyoharu suddenly took out his phone and used the front camera to frame both himself and Ayano.
"What are you doing, Kiyoharu-kun?"
"Tell Airi quickly that I'm helping you gather reference material, or I'll tell her myself."
Seeing Kiyoharu editing a message and preparing to send it, Ayano sighed and had no choice but to notify Airi first.
Sure enough, this married man, so popular within the Chihaya Conglomerate, possessed methods far beyond those of some easily fooled youngster.
If Kiyoharu told Airi himself, Ayano would be suspected of hiding it from her best friend. Given Airi's personality, she would definitely feel uncomfortable.
Ayano was only a novice at stealing someone's boyfriend. She still preferred not to make Airi suspicious this early.
If she took the initiative to tell her and acted cute about it, the Young Lady would probably agree.
After all, Airi had already boasted that she would help with Ayano's creative work. If Ayano openly sent over photos taken on-site, Airi would not overthink it.
But in reality...
Chihaya Airi, who was resting with her eyes closed at Chihaya Conglomerate headquarters, drowsily glanced at the phone that had received a notification. Her sleepiness immediately vanished.
"So Kiyoharu still became Ayano's male model. Damn it..."
Rubbing her eyes, Airi studied the photo carefully, and the anger in her brow eased considerably.
In the photo, Ayano wore her usual gentle smile, while Kiyoharu in the background had his standard deadpan face.
Mm, then it was fine.
It seemed he was merely returning a favor.
Besides, what could a pure girl like Ayano possibly do to Kiyoharu?
Hey, being a model was one thing, but don't get any strange ideas. If Ayano comes crying to me that you bullied her, hmph hmph~ just wait for your death.
Upon receiving Airi's message, Kiyoharu immediately wore the expression of an old man staring at a phone on the subway.
I bullied her?
It'd already be a lucky day worth burning incense for if I could avoid being publicly humiliated by your best friend!
Kiyoharu sighed. Airi seemed to have been completely fooled by her scheming best friend. Of course, that was actually a good thing. If Airi truly learned the truth, that would be terrifying.
By the time Kiyoharu returned to his desk, lunch break was almost over.
Shimaura Hitomi took the neck pillow off her neck and groggily mumbled at Kiyoharu, "Senior... good afternoon."
"Good afternoon, Teacher Shimaura. Did you eat lunch properly today?"
"Mm-hm, I did."
"That's good. I wouldn't want to hear that you fainted from low blood sugar in class."
After teasing her, Kiyoharu picked up his lesson plan and textbook and headed to the next class early. There would be a quiz in this lesson, so he needed a few extra minutes to prepare.
Watching Kiyoharu clip the carbon pen into his shirt pocket without noticing anything unusual, Shimaura Hitomi secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
It seemed this pen was convincing enough to pass for the real thing.
Thank you, Chinese manufacturing!
Meanwhile, the "original" carbon pen Kiyoharu had used for half a month had already been placed in a clear bag and hidden in Shimaura Hitomi's backpack.
That backpack had also been a gift Kiyoharu gave her during college... Nominally, it had been a gift from Kiyoharu and Airi as a couple, but Shimaura Hitomi knew Kiyoharu had chosen the style, so she considered it a gift from her senior.
Female teachers often joked that Shimaura Hitomi carried a backpack to work every day. Combined with her youthful face, she looked just like a student who was not wearing a uniform.
But she did not mind. Her unfashionableness was not something a different bag could fix, while her senior's gift was worth cherishing.
As the final class of the afternoon ended, the campus immediately overflowed with a joyous atmosphere.
Even the so-called "social elites" attending Chihaya Academy could not escape the rule of desperately waiting for the weekend!
Even the teachers in the staff room were discussing which izakaya to visit after work.
Amid the lively atmosphere, Shimaura Hitomi quietly slipped away and boarded the train back to her rented apartment, planning to hurry home and enjoy her senior's original carbon pen.
The guilt of such perverse behavior instead gave her an inexplicable sense of anticipation.
However, before going upstairs, Shimaura Hitomi first bought a discounted boxed meal at the convenience store near her apartment for dinner.
She was afraid that after using her senior's pen, she would not have the strength to come out and buy food.
"That'll be 680 yen."
The middle-aged cashier at the convenience store was already familiar with Shimaura Hitomi, who lived nearby. Smiling, she asked, "Teacher Shimaura, it's rare to have such a relaxing weekend. Why not consider joining a mixer or something? I heard the mixer being organized near the apartment has handsome Keio University boys attending too~"
"I'll pass. I-I'd rather stay home. Though I am going shopping with my best friend this week."
"A best friend... How nice. Having a close friend even after graduating and starting work is truly a very happy thing."
Happy...?
Shimaura Hitomi was not sure whether being appointed as "Kiyoharu's Observer" by Airi all these years had brought her more happiness or more pain.
She only knew that she was an insignificant little existence, a fringe detail in the story. Aside from occasionally secretly savoring a long-coveted delicacy, she should usually play her supporting role and avoid giving herself extra scenes.
When she left the convenience store, a group of promoters was bustling down the street, apparently advertising a newly launched mobile app. Shimaura Hitomi was easily persuaded, and after being pestered and encouraged by one of the female promoters, she could not refuse and downloaded the app. She also accepted a souvenir.
Mm... chocolate candy. No, this was the perfect late-spring season for losing weight. She absolutely could not eat something so high in calories!
After returning home, Shimaura Hitomi decisively stuffed the bag of candy into the back of a cabinet. She had not thrown it away because she was frugal and generally did not waste food.
She could always eat it after successfully losing weight.
But when her gaze casually swept over her phone, she was drawn to the app she had just downloaded. Its mysterious, stylish icon looked nothing like the shoddy software designed by some startup.
"This app is called... Dream Wanderer?"
Before you continue