Kushida's First Modeling Experience

After parting ways with Katsuragi.

Tsukishima went to the Manga Club to continue studying. Only when the sky began to darken did he take his leave and head to a stationery store, where he bought a set of manga drawing supplies.

A sketchbook, pencils, an eraser, a utility knife, a drawing board, and clips.

The total cost was 3,000 points.

All of these were recommended by Yamada.

He said there was no need to get too good of equipment for a beginner; the focus should be on the drawing itself.

Passing by a dessert shop and a milk tea shop, he bought some on a whim.

Too bad he couldn't add computer accessories or pink flowers.

By the time Tsukishima returned to his dorm room, Kushida was already waiting at the door.

"Yo, you're early. Looks like you can't wait either."

Kushida kept the smile on her face and said cheerfully, "Yeah, yeah, this is my first time being a model too! Let me help you carry that!"

With that, she naturally took the desserts and milk tea, but didn't touch anything else.

Tsukishima rolled his eyes, opened the door, and went inside to start setting things up—though there wasn't much to arrange, just sorting and putting things away.

Kushida immediately followed him in, watching his movements and instantly starting to fawn, "Wow, that looks so impressive~"

"Cut the act. Be normal."

"Ehh~ How can you say that, Tsukishima-kun?"

Kushida complained with her words, but that syrupy tone at the end had already been put away.

She set the desserts and milk tea on the table, sat down on the edge of the bed, and let her gaze sweep over the pile of shabby equipment—a sketchbook, pencils, an eraser, a utility knife, and a drawing board that looked quite old.

"You're going to draw me with this stuff? How many hands has that board been through?"

"The shopkeeper said it was third-hand, but I think it's been through at least six."

The corner of Kushida's mouth twitched. "I didn't expect you to be not only a pervert, but also a cheapskate!"

Tsukishima clipped a sheet of paper onto the drawing board and sharpened his pencil. "I'll admit to being a pervert, but I won't admit to being cheap. I call this spending money where it counts."

"Alright, just strike any pose. I'm still in the learning phase, mainly trying to get a feel for human proportions. Remember to take off your jacket."

The smile on Kushida's face was barely held in place, like a virtuous woman being forced into something, tears practically welling up.

She bit her lip and slowly began unbuttoning her coat...

"Good expression. Save that for when I draw doujinshi later."

"Tch, cold-blooded pervert!"

Kushida spat out the words, then quickly took off her clothes. Her face once again wore that saintly smile as she sat on the bed in a seiza pose.

Curves in all the right places, full of flesh yet not looking bloated, paired with cute movements and expressions—well, what could you say? She really lived up to the title of Saintess.

The pencil in Tsukishima's hand scratched against the paper, and every now and then he held it upright to measure proportions.

"By the way, I didn't lend points to those two idiots today. How did they badmouth me?"

He asked casually.

"Just some complaints~"

Tsukishima kept drawing as he spoke offhandedly:

"There you go fawning again. I figure they must have slandered me pretty badly. Maybe even said I should contribute my points to the class. Tch, they wouldn't be stupid enough to suggest sharing all the points in the name of the class, would they? Those two morons don't have the brains for that."

Kushida curled her lip. "Of course those two brainless perverts wouldn't think of that. They're just borrowing points everywhere, even from me, the one who 'spent 200,000 on information.'"

Tsukishima hummed in acknowledgment. "Speaking of which, is Hirata the superman planning to hold a study session? Failing the midterms means expulsion. Sudo, that basketball meathead, is going to have a hard time passing. You've probably been invited too, right? Since you're Her Holiness the Saintess."

"Tch, why don't these disgusting pieces of shit just die! Besides wasting points, what use are they! They really deserve to die. Why the hell am I in the same class as you people!"

Maybe it was because she recalled the faces of those people in class, or maybe Tsukishima's nagging had gotten on her nerves, but the saintly smile on Kushida's face twisted into a scowl.

"The most disgusting one of all is you, you sick pervert. You know everything but do nothing. Right now, you're probably already imagining me pinned down on the bed doing this and that, aren't you? But you still play the aloof saint, you gutless, stingy, dead pervert!"

"Watching your classmates make fools of themselves must be fun, huh? Feel pretty powerful, pretty above it all, don't you? Why don't you just die!"

Tsukishima didn't respond, continuing his drawing, while Kushida's words came faster and faster. All kinds of venomous curses spilled from her little mouth, and her voice grew louder and louder.

"Have some milk tea. And keep your voice down—don't let outsiders hear."

Kushida suddenly calmed down. She lowered her head, hugged the milk tea, and took small sips.

Tsukishima, meanwhile, pinched his chin and looked at his own work. It was a very strange piece.

Every individual part looked pretty good on its own, so why did it come out so bizarre when put together?

Kushida adjusted her emotions, put her saintly smile back on, and walked over. "You drew really well..."

Tsukishima glanced at her. "Looks like you're not only mentally unstable, but your eyesight is bad too. If you like it, I'll give it to you. Take it home and treasure it."

"Frame it and hang it on the wall. Look at it every day."

Kushida rolled her eyes. "Are you sure you've actually studied drawing?"

Tsukishima nodded. "Yamada said I can try drawing people now..."

"Then he must be lying to you. What you drew doesn't look much like a person."

"I drew it based on you."

"..."

Their eyes met across the room, and Kushida eventually backed down.

"Fine. It's getting late, so I won't keep you for dinner."

Tsukishima put the drawing away, intending to keep it—after all, it was his work, with a bit of sentimental value.

"Tch. You pervy cheapskate."

Kushida grabbed her clothes to leave, but he caught her arm and pressed a bag into her hand.

"I bought the sweets for you too. I heard eating something sweet can improve your mood. Just remember to move around after you finish, don't go straight to sleep, or you'll get fat."

Tsukishima stretched and yawned. "Bye. I'll let you know next time I need a model."

Another heartless bastard who ditched as soon as he got what he wanted.

Kushida looked at the sweets in her hand, hummed in acknowledgment, put on her clothes, and left.

Tsukishima lay on his bed, staring at the drawing he'd hung on the wall. "Looks like I've still got a long way to go before I can draw doujins. Ah well, time to sleep!"

Early morning.

Tsukishima-sensei struggled to crawl out of the seal of his futon.

He washed up quickly, grabbed a sandwich, and munched on it as he headed toward the classroom.

"Good morning, Tsukishima-kun."

"Ah—have I finally died from overwork? Has the Great Archangel come to take me to heaven?"

The students around Ichinose burst into laughter. "Ichinose, I didn't know you'd evolved into a Great Archangel!"

"Wow, Lady Archangel."

"That really suits Ichinose-san, doesn't it~"

Ichinose covered her face, letting out a small animal-like whimper. "Stop it, this is so embarrassing!"

"Ah~ Seeing the radiance of the Great Archangel, This Humble One is full of energy for the whole day!"

Ichinose shot Tsukishima a glare, then was swept away by the Class B students surrounding her.