"Mom... Mom?!!"
Iida Ayano stared at Griseo in shock, then turned to Mashiro Shiina.
She could not help rubbing her temples. How had Mashiro suddenly ended up with such a grown daughter? She was having trouble accepting it.
As her friend, Ayano had not heard even the slightest hint about this.
So her first thought was that it was impossible.
But looking at Griseo and Mashiro, she felt there might actually be some truth to it. Though they did not look alike, they were far too similar in other ways.
Griseo even gave off the feeling of surpassing her predecessor.
Similar personalities and temperaments; both were world-class painting masters, and both pursued the ultimate art style in manga. They could not be called identical, but they were cut from the same cloth!
If someone said they had no relationship at all, she would never believe it, not even if they beat her to death.
Their ages did not seem to add up, but Griseo being Mashiro's daughter somehow did seem faintly possible.
Compared to the people around them, Mashiro, the person in question, had far less of a reaction to Griseo calling her Mom.
Instead, she walked over to Griseo and hugged her.
Of course, it did not look like a mother embracing her child. Mashiro looked more like a clueless older child herself—how could she possibly have a motherly air about her?
So it was more like a big child hugging a little one.
"M-Mashiro, this little girl isn't really your daughter, is she? But clearly..."
Seeing Mashiro's reaction, Iida Ayano could no longer hold back. Though she more or less understood Mashiro's personality, she still could not help becoming suspicious.
"Ayano..."
Faced with Iida Ayano's shocked expression, Mashiro released Griseo, turned around, and looked at Ayano with her