Tuesday afternoon.
"This classmate, do you want to join Art Club?"
Kitagawa Kai stood at the door, his eyes quickly scanning the activity room that was slightly messy but full of creative atmosphere.
His eyes paused slightly as they passed over the corner where Kamuro Masumi was, then turned to the senior sister in front of him and shook his head politely.
"No, thank you, senior sister, I'll come find her." He said, raising his chin towards the position of Kamuro.
The senior looked along Kitagawa Kai's line of sight, and when she saw it was Kamuro, her expression became a little subtle.
Kamuro Masumi is famously a loner among Club. Although her painting skills are solid and can even be said to be quite excellent, she rarely talks to others. It is indeed a bit unexpected that someone would come to see her.
"Oh, oh... I'm looking for Kamuro." The senior sister nodded and stepped aside, "She is over there, please come in."
On Club Orientation, Kamuro Masumi said that he was not interested in painting, but finally secretly joined Art Club alone.
From then on, as long as there was no special instruction from Sakayanagi Arisu, she would always carry her painting kit and stay in front of the canvas for the entire afternoon.
Kitagawa Kai didn't call her directly, he stepped lightly and quietly walked around diagonally behind her.
At this moment, Kamuro Masumi is in a rare state of concentration, breathing steadily, moving his arms at a steady rhythm, and only seeing the shapes and colors on the canvas.
"Kitten, the painting is very good."
"That's natural. I'm an elegant beauty."
Kamuro Masumi turned her face slightly to let the light outline the smooth lines from her jaw to her neck. She had specially practiced this angle and knew how to look elegant. "Unlike some people who only use their hands and feet."
"Masumi, did you laugh when you said this?"
"What's so funny? I'm no longer who I used to be." Kamuro Masumi stood up in a hurry, and when he turned around, his purple-pink hair drew a playful arc in the air.
She took advantage of the situation and gently pushed Kitagawa Kai's flank with her elbow. She said it was tough, but in fact, the force was controlled just right, and it was more like an intimate touch.
"It hurts so much."
Kitagawa Kai covered the area where she was attacked and took half a step back, grabbing her wrist before she could take it back.
"Masumi, look, you were the one who made the first move, right?"
"Come on! It's obvious that you were the one sneaking behind others, who are you trying to scare?" Kamuro Masumi wanted to pull his hand away, but didn't use too much force and let him hold it.
"How could I be sneaky?"
Kitagawa Kai smiled and moved closer, his breath almost brushing the tip of her ear, "I came to appreciate the painting of 'Elegant Beauty' in an open and honest manner."
He glanced at the canvas and then returned his gaze to her face, "But now it seems that there is a bit of a wild cat's claw hidden in the elegance of a certain beauty?"
"You are the wild cat!"
"What is that?" Kitagawa Kai lowered his voice and asked with a smile, "Domestic cat?"
"Yes..." Kamuro Masumi was speechless, staring at his smiling face so close to her, her heart beating a few beats inexplicably.
Kitagawa Kai raised his eyebrows, and suddenly pinched her earlobe with his other hand, "Kitten, why are her ears so red?"
"Kitagawa Kai!" Even her neck was dyed pink now, and she raised her hand to pat his rebellious hand.
"What's wrong with me? I just told the truth. My painting is really good."
"... you don't have to say it."
"Of course I said so." Kitagawa Kai stretched out his hand, tucked a strand of hair that had fallen behind her ear, and took her into his arms.
Kamuro Masumi was caught off guard and let out a low cry, leaning forward slightly, almost leaning into his arms. The two looked at each other, breathing could be heard, and the air was filled with an ambiguous atmosphere.
It was only then that Kamuro Masumi realized that the surroundings were too quiet.
The subtle sounds of conversation and the rustling of paintbrushes before have completely disappeared without knowing when.
An ominous premonition crept up my spine.
Stiffly and extremely slowly, she looked away from Kitagawa Kai's smiling eyes, turned her neck, and looked elsewhere in the activity room.
At some point, almost all the other team members who were painting, resting, or chatting in the room stopped what they were doing, and all their eyes focused on her and Kitagawa Kai.
They all showed their aunty smiles of "I got hit".
Kamuro Masumi's face was suddenly stained with crimson, from his cheeks to his ears, to his neck, and possibly even to his bones.
"What are you looking at! I've never seen anyone quarreling!" She tried to dispel the gazes with a fierce tone, but her voice was shaking badly and lacked any momentum, which made her look even more embarrassed.
"Wow... it turns out that Kamuro has such a side..."
"Who is that boy? So handsome! Are they together?"
"This is not a quarrel, this is clearly flirting, okay! It's so sweet to me!"
The culprit, Kitagawa Kai, still looked calm and unhurried. Instead, in full view of everyone, he casually smoothed away a non-existent stray hair from her forehead.
"I'm sorry for disturbing everyone's creation. I just made a little joke with Masumi. She is shy easily."
"Also, thank you for taking care of Masumi. I am Class 1-B Kitagawa Kai."
The activity room was quiet for a moment, as everyone seemed to be digesting the meaning of his words, and then the good-natured laughter sounded again.
"You're welcome, you're welcome!"
"Kamuro's painting is great. It is our Club's treasure."
"That's right, welcome to come often!"
Other members also laughed and agreed, and the atmosphere became relaxed and friendly.
When everyone stopped paying attention, Kamuro Masumi stretched out his index finger and poked Kitagawa Kai hard. "It's all your fault."
What the hell is this guy talking about!
Why did he use that tone?
It's as if they really have a special relationship!
"What's my fault?"
"If you say it's all your fault, others will definitely misunderstand it!"
Kitagawa Kai Looking at her shy and anxious look, I felt it was thousands of times more interesting than any vivid colors on the canvas.
"What is the misunderstanding, Masumi, you will be mine Kitten for the rest of your life, there is no misunderstanding."
Time seemed to be stretched infinitely at this moment.
"You... what are you talking nonsense..." Kamuro Masumi heard his own voice, dry and weak, as if coming from a far away place.
Kitagawa Kai said clearly in a relaxed tone as if nothing had happened just now:
"Okay, I won't tease you anymore, let me teach you how to draw."
What the heck, why did you suddenly say this when you looked like you were confessing affectionately just now?
!!!
"Kitagawa Kai, you better really know how to draw!!"
She wanted to curse, hit, and shove the palette in his face!
Kitten is so angry.
"No one in this school knows how to draw better than me." Kitagawa Kai waved his hands as if playing an organ.
"Isn't your painting finished yet? It's just right. I want to try it too. I'm a little itchy."
"... whatever you want."
"Humph."