Ayanokouji's Probe and Lesson

Tsukishima set down the towel and clipped the drawing paper to the board. "She still wanted to split points with me, since she's lent out quite a few of hers and even borrowed a bunch from other classes as a guarantor. She doesn't have many points left, you know."

In truth, she had plenty of points in her pocket. Back when she sold intel for 200,000 points, Tsukishima didn't take a single one—they were all hers.

But the others in the class were running low on points. To make ends meet, they had to borrow.

From whom? Naturally, from their class's Saint Kushida!

Could Saint Kushida refuse to lend? No way! Because she was a saint, and a saint's duty was to sacrifice herself to save others!

But could she reveal that she had a stash of points?

Of course not. Otherwise, setting aside the source of those points, the gods of Class D would turn her into an ATM!

So after lending out some, she declared she was broke too.

But who were the gods of Class D? They naturally begged Kushida to act as their guarantor to borrow points from other classes.

A saint sacrificing herself for others—wasn't that only right?

Horikita frowned. "So Hirata and Kushida are both your people?"

Kiyotaka turned his gaze to the window. Horikita, you really are too direct. Some things don't need to be said outright.

Tsukishima rolled his eyes. "Think whatever you want. Take the advisor role or don't—I don't care. Anyway, I've got painting to do, so I won't keep you for dinner."

Not that I have any food here.

With that, he stood up, spread his arms, and herded them toward the door.

Horikita snorted. "I'll take the advisor role, but don't think you can use me for anything!"

Kiyotaka had already reached the door in two steps.

Tsukishima waved dismissively. "Yeah, yeah, whatever you say. What bad intentions could I have? I just wanted to paint you as a succubus too. Alright, bye, good night. See you tomorrow—Saturday, so I won't."

Kiyotaka suddenly spoke up. "Tsukishima, I can draw too. Want to study together?"

Tsukishima narrowed his eyes and smiled. "Sure, come by whenever you have time. You're welcome."

Horikita frowned at Tsukishima's sudden grin, snorted, and said, "Let's go."

She pulled Kiyotaka out of Tsukishima's room.

Kiyotaka's room.

Horikita crossed her arms and scrutinized Kiyotaka.

She didn't speak, just kept staring.

Kiyotaka sat on the chair, expressionless.

"When did you two get so close? He's impatient with me but suddenly changes his tune for you?"

Kiyotaka turned his gaze to the window. "Maybe we share the same hobby."

Horikita said nothing, glaring at him, trying to pressure him with nonexistent tension.

"That guy's not someone you can handle. From now on, tell me everything you do or say with him."

"That doesn't seem right."

Horikita silently pulled out her Companion Spirit Tool—the Compass—the threat clear without words.

Kiyotaka glanced at the Compass and nodded in agreement.

The next day, Saturday, so Tsukishima planned to sleep in a bit.

Unfortunately, at 8 o'clock sharp, a knock came at the door.

"Damn! Who is it, starting shit this early in the morning? Ever heard of timing your harassment?"

Tsukishima sighed, opened the door with his hair a mess, and found Kiyotaka Ayanokouji standing there with a drawing board on his back. "Good morning."

"Fine, come in, come in. Let me clean up first."

He ducked into the bathroom, tidied up quickly, and returned to the room.

He asked casually, "Eaten yet?"

"Yeah."

Tsukishima nodded. "Alright, I'll grab a bite. By the way, what kind of painting do you do?"

"A bit of everything."

"Good. Then, as a condition for letting you observe up close, how about you teach me painting and studying?"

"...Yeah..."

"If you agree, you'd better teach properly—no slacking, got it? Or you can leave."

"Yeah."

Tsukishima rolled his eyes, pulled a sandwich from the cabinet, and stuffed it into his mouth.

Meanwhile, Kiyotaka openly began scanning his room.

"Want to flip the mattress and see if I've got any dirty magazines stashed? I know you're here to observe and test me, but this is a bit too blatant."

"Hmm..."

Right. So that's the only word he's got.

Tsukishima finished his sandwich in a few bites, picked up his drawing board and paper, and began asking: "What do you think needs improvement in this piece? Explain the flaws or mistakes in my technique and composition, and tell me which direction I should practice in. Use a guided teaching method, like Socrates' 'maieutics'—"

"If you spot a problem, ask for my thoughts. If my reasoning is correct, explain why I still can't draw it right."

"If my reasoning is off, tell me the correct approach and where I should focus my efforts. That's about it."

He planned to treat Ayanokouji like an AI—if he couldn't handle it, he could buzz off; if he could, then whatever, do your thing.

Ayanokouji was silent for a moment, took the drawing board, and looked at it for ten seconds.

"First, the lighting issue: where's the light source in this piece?"

"Front left. If converted to time, around evening."

He pointed at the face, chest, and legs: "At evening, what do you think the shadows on the face look like?"

Tsukishima rubbed his nose: "Most places should have no shadows, but there should be shadows at the nose wings, and they need to be brighter."

Ayanokouji nodded: "In the evening, the light angle is low, the light is soft, the bright areas aren't too bright, contrast is low, and shadows are softer."

"Finally, the face. You modified the details of Kushida's face, but the eyes are a bit off."

Ayanokouji's gaze shifted quietly from the painting to Tsukishima's face: "Kushida's eyes aren't like this."

Tsukishima nodded: "Of course Kushida's eyes aren't like this, but I'm drawing a Succubus—don't I get to do some artistic processing?"

Ayanokouji was silent for a moment, then nodded: "Continue..."

BYD, trying to test if I know Kushida's two-faced, huh? I'll have to warn Kushida, so she doesn't get caught by Ayanokouji.

Tsukishima rolled his eyes internally.

But he had to admit, Ayanokouji really could draw. How laughable that he'd thought he'd learned enough himself. Tch, what arrogance.

He did a quick self-critique and immersed himself back in Ayanokouji's teaching.