Then Let's Draw a Photographer's Story (Continued)

Yes, that's right. With Shiina Mashiro clearly favoring Asakusa Toru as the person involved, his entry would only make the situation worse.

... That being said, to be treated like this by a student...

It feels... complicated.

However, on second thought, it seems that Asakusa Toru had the same attitude when facing the chairman back then.

So this guy wasn't targeting him personally; he treated everyone equally.

Thinking about this, Sakagami Kazuma felt much more at ease.

Back in the audience.

After Sakagami Kazuma's meddling, the atmosphere here actually eased quite a bit.

Shiina Mashiro's tears stopped, and after Shiina Hiyori and wiped the corners of her eyes, the tear stains faded considerably. If you weren't paying attention, you might not even be able to see the slight redness at the corners of her eyes.

Ultimately, her crying wasn't particularly heart-wrenching.

Just as her emotions calmed down, and Asakusa Toru seemed about to speak again...

A blond-haired guy, completely oblivious to the atmosphere, barged in.

"Oh, lovely lady, was it this disrespectful first-year student who made you cry?" Miyabi Nagumo raised her head and approached. "If possible, I'd like to know your name and, while I'm at it, teach this disrespectful first-year student a lesson."

Shiina Mashiro: "..."

The girl ignored his words and instead got up from her seat with some resistance. She then walked over to Asakusa Toru in a few steps. Since Ichinose Honami had taken up the empty seat on the side, she simply squatted down next to Asakusa Toru's legs and moved closer to him with small steps.

This seemed to actually give her a sense of security.

Miyabi Nagumo: "..."

Although she didn't say anything, Miyabi Nagumo was already starting to lose face.

"... I hope you can continue to be this at ease in the afternoon's match!"

He uttered this weak and unconvincing remark and stormed off.

After being interrupted twice, the previously tense atmosphere completely relaxed.

Looking at the Shiina Mashiro squatting beside him, Asakusa Toru sighed softly.

"I will not take back what I have said," he said.

He said this at first, but his words took a turn before Shiina Mashiro became dejected again.

"Anyway, did you bring a pen?" he asked, changing the subject.

In a panic, Shiina Mashiro pulled a pencil from her person and handed it directly to Asakusa Toru.

They didn't ask for a reason, they didn't ask for the cause.

"No, I don't want to." Asakusa Toru waved his hand and looked into the distance. "Take out your Diary. I know you use it as a draft book every day."

With the messages increasing roughly once a month, Asakusa Toru would regularly receive manga drafts that the girl in front of him had scribbled and drawn in her Diary every month.

Of course, without exception, he chose not to display them.

What's the point of showing anything? It's all just drafts, and it's meaningless. It has no purpose other than to express Shiina's innocence to everyone.

Obediently and compliantly, Shiina Mashiro pulled out her Diary.

Then, Asakusa Toru extended his index finger and pointed to a figure that was constantly moving in the distance.

"See that blonde bombshell?" he said. "Draw her."

"Yes, that blonde, blue-eyed, side ponytail-wearing, youthful and beautiful, with an unremarkable and indeed quite unremarkable chest, and a smiling, energetic face that hides a lifeless aura—'Miss Hasaka'."

Clearly, the person Asakusa Toru was pointing to was the remaining one of the two people he planned to meet.

Miss Hayasaka Ai.

She is an appendage of the Shinomiya Family, Shinomiya Kaguya's all-around maid, a double agent, a childhood friend, and a sister to her. She is hardworking, capable, and always ready to help.

Miss Hayasaka Ai.

It was quite surprising. Even though they hadn't received any message from Shinomiya Kaguya, her 'messenger' had uninvitedly entered the Advanced Nurturing during this Sports Festival.

They even made no attempt to hide their search for him.

Although she put on some disguise, to be honest, Hayasaka Ai herself had a slightly out-of-place quality in this Advanced Nurturing.

It's hard to say whether it's a mix of youthful energy and the weariness of a corporate slave, or simply the refined maid-like aura of the well-mannered Hayasaka Family.

Perhaps both.

In short, the few 'guests' not marked on the Mini-map will be easily identified by Asakusa Toru, who will at least make some distinctions before marking them.

He could easily confirm and locate Hayasaka Ai's existence.

The moment he finished speaking, without the slightest hesitation, Shiina Mashiro opened her eyes wide and took in her target, then quickly began to draw on the Diary in her hand.

Before long, the vivid and lifelike Hayasaka Ai appeared on the page.

Clearly, as long as a clear prototype exists, she can easily draw the 'spirituality' she wants to draw but has always struggled to achieve.

But characters alone cannot constitute a story.

Characters have never been a problem for Shiina Mashiro.

Although I don't know why it suddenly turned into drawing.

But drawing is good, drawing is good!

All I can do is draw.

If she were to try to prove something with words, Shiina Mashiro felt she couldn't do it; she lacked confidence in persuading him with words.

But as long as it's drawing.

--Then they are omnipotent.

"!!!" Shiina Mashiro blinked, flipping over the uncolored but perfectly painted artwork to show it off, hoping to receive praise.

Despite having already received countless accolades for her oil paintings, what she truly desired most at this moment was his approval.

"Alright, no model this time." But Asakusa Toru didn't praise her. Instead, while watching Hayasaka Ai move, he said, "Draw another ice beauty with long, straight black hair."

"Small breasts, long sideburns, a red headband with black trim that slightly ties up her long black hair, red eyes, a cool and aloof demeanor, and an air of elegance and nobility."

"Yes, that's right, it's the young lady. If we're talking about status, she's the young lady that the blonde bombshell from earlier should serve after becoming a maid."

Shinomiya Kaguya

There may be some discrepancies, but based on his memory, Asakusa Toru still managed to describe Shinomiya Kaguya's basic characteristics as best he could.

After a moment's thought and imagination, Shiina Mashiro hesitated and pondered, but still chose to put pen to paper.

A frame of reference is not necessary.

While having a reference point would obviously make things better and more realistic, even without one...

She can draw too.

Since he said he would draw, she would draw.

Thus, the resemblance to Shinomiya Kaguya leaped off the page.

Not only that, she also casually drew another picture of Hayasaka Ai as a maid.

Expectant gazes were once again cast toward Asakusa Toru.

'How about it?'

The girl's eyes seemed to convey these words.

Asakusa Toru: "..." That won't work.

Does the absence of models really diminish the essence of the film?

"Again." After a moment of silence, he said again, "Draw a natural black, energetic pink-haired character with bangs, a bow, and blue eyes."

I pick up my pen, then put it down.

They cast expectant glances once again.

"..." But she was destined to be disappointed.

Asakusa Toru tapped his knuckles repeatedly on the back of the seat in front of him. He pondered for a moment, sighed, and shook his head.

"No."

Once again, tears seemed to well up in Shiina Mashiro's eyes.

"Yes, but no," he said. "No, but perhaps yes."

The contradictory words were spoken in the next moment.

"Never mind, I can't expect too much from you." Asakusa Toru shook his head.

Shiina Mashiro was a genius in oil painting.

But oil painting is oil painting. While it's possible to draw parallels between different styles, the essence of an oil painting is still difficult to describe in simple words.

There's always something off about meeting the Mahito in person.

"I'll ask again," he said.

Do you really want to draw comics?

"Hmm." Perhaps realizing that no matter how hard she nodded, it wouldn't increase Asakusa Tetsu's trust in her by Asakusa Toru, Shiina Mashiro gripped the corner of the Diary tightly and nodded softly, "I really want to draw manga."

Unwavering.

"Then go ahead and draw." Asakusa Toru said casually, "Draw whatever you want, no one will stop you."

He had no right to stop Shiina Mashiro from drawing whatever she wanted.

"I want to draw the story you know." Shiina Mashiro said, looking directly at Asakusa Toru.

"Then draw it."

Asakusa Toru snapped his fingers lightly.

"I'll give you stories, you draw them, you become my pen, until the day you get tired of it."

He said.

"You won't get tired of it." Shiina Mashiro shook her head, then paused and corrected, "I'm not playing."

She was serious.

"Yes, I know."

He knew it too.

What to draw?

"Hmm..." Asakusa Toru pondered for a moment before speaking, "How about a story about someone who dreams of becoming a photographer?"

Shiina Mashiro asked, puzzled, "A photographer?"

She didn't understand, but Shiina Hiyori did.

"Shinomiya Kaguya?"

"Right."

"Is everything alright regarding the Shinomiya Family?"

The girl was slightly worried.

Although it's unclear who the young lady of the Shinomiya Family is, it's fine to just mention her in Diary. However, if her story is depicted in a manga, it will affect more than just the Diary's owner.

Shiina Hiyori wasn't too worried about Asakusa Toru.

What she was worried about was the illustrator Shiina Mashiro.

World-class geniuses have many privileges, but privileges do not mean they can do whatever they want.

"It's nothing... though I'd love to just say it directly." Asakusa Toru shrugged. "But who knows?"

Just before uttering the question, he said:

"So, would you be interested in visiting Shuchiin?"

Shuchiin a continuous education school from kindergarten to university.