"Rita really did insist so strongly on taking you, Mashiro, back because of painting—or rather, because she was preparing to give up painting..."
Hearing that, Mashiro's pupils unconsciously widened slightly. "So it really was because of me..."
"Of course not..." Sogo Doma interrupted. "If that were the case, I wouldn't have said you were only half right."
"Then why?"
"Mashiro..." Facing her confusion, Sogo Doma raised his index finger again as he spoke. "Even though you don't have any famous quotes, I'm guessing you must have wavered, right? Rita's sweet talk made you waver, didn't it?"
"..." Apparently having been hit right on the mark, Mashiro stayed silent for a while before saying, "I..."
"Idiot..." But the moment she opened her mouth, Sogo Doma said, "Have you considered how many people there are in this world? As the saying goes, there's always someone better. Without you, Mashiro, maybe someone called Mahkuro would pop up..."
"Mahkuro? Sogo, my pen name is Mahkuro..."
"..." Looking at Mashiro's utterly serious expression, Sogo Doma's head began to ache. Was that really the important part? Luckily, he had long since grown accustomed to Mashiro's airheadedness. Otherwise, he would have already turned into a full-time straight man. "It's a metaphor. Do you understand what a metaphor is? Even if not Mahkuro, then maybe Mahred, Mahpurple..."
"Oh."
"Good, as long as you understand..." Seeing this, Sogo Doma continued before Mashiro could speak again. "In my opinion, Rita and the others don't care who stands ahead of them. As long as they can't reach first place, they can use that as an excuse to give up painting."
"How could they..."
"Exactly..." Just as Mashiro spoke, Sogo Doma added, "How could anyone think that way? Even if you surpass the person in front of you, there'll still be a