In fact, the reason Mashiro had been able to make up her mind to learn how to draw manga really was just as Rita had said—it was because Rita had encouraged—egged her on.
As a beautiful young painter who had achieved tremendous success in art and had even been personally received by the royal family—when Mashiro said she wanted to draw manga, one could imagine the reactions of those around her:
"Are you joking?"
"What nonsense are you talking about?"
"Mashiro?"
No one supported such an absurdly foolish decision. She was so talented at art, yet she wanted to become a manga artist? Wasn't that ridiculous?
Only Rita had encouraged—egged her on—to pursue her dream at the time. To Mashiro, Rita had probably been a hero who always supported her.
But now, even that one hero who had supported her had betrayed her and wanted to take her back—Mashiro was actually afraid.
Yet Sogo Doma stepped forward...
Although Mashiro did not really understand some of the theories he talked about, she could feel Sogo's kindness and sincerity toward her. Well, despite looking blank and spaced-out, she was actually sharp as a tack. She could tell who treated her well, and someone like Sogo, who was so good to her—who respected her opinions—was someone she had encountered for the first time.
"Don't overthink it..." Sogo Doma had a massive headache too. "Do you even know what happiness is?"
"Sogo..."
Mashiro seemed a little annoyed by his attitude. "I'm not stupid."
"Stupid people usually say they're not stupid."
Sogo Doma lied with his eyes wide open. "Your heart only raced because my angry face scared you, yet you called it happiness..."
"But Sogo got angry because of me."
"..."
Was this really Mashiro? Sogo Doma wanted to complain.
"No, I got angry