Chapter 11: 2.5

Chapter 2: Great things are not done by impulse, but a series of small things brought together.

 

Part 5

 

 

“Now, let’s get started. What kind of poses should I do? Could I just pose like how I would when modeling?” She changed the topic.

 

“Poses for photo shooting are usually to capture the beauty of that moment, but a portrait model is expected to hold the same pose for hours. You can go through poses that you are comfortable with, I will tell you to stop when I find the pose I want to draw.” 

 

“What–, that’s pretty insulting. I don’t get tired that easily! Don’t you dare look down on me!”

 

It seemed that my taunt had worked on her, as Senpai appeared to be in full model mode. To admit, whatever pose Senpai took, it was eye snatching. After some troubled stops, I decided on a left-facing pose, irreverently similar to Johannes Vemeer’s “Girl with a Pearl Earring”.

[TN: I’m not sure how Sousuke’s instructions were insulting to Senpai, the intricacies of Japanese culture, I think.]

 

After taking a deep breath, I ran my pencil across the canvas. In a normal one-on-one drawing of a person, the artist should have been the one to determine the painting, but when I let my guard down, perhaps it was because of her striking appearance, I found myself being led on by her. 

 

Her beauty was beyond any expression. If I hadn’t steeled my resolve, I would have been drawn in by that alluring atmosphere of hers. But this is my painting, I won’t let her determine my work, nor would I let her dilute my style in this painting.

 

Draw. That was what I concentrated on.

 

I fell into a trance. My hand and pencil as one. At this pace, I was sure that the result will be–

 

“Ah, I’m bored already.”

 

Wha–?

 

At the word, my focus wavered. Then I realized that I was lost in my thoughts, it could have been a long time already. 

 

However, it was only five minutes when I checked the time.

 

“Eh? Already? I’m sorry,… but could you please bear with it a little longer? We’ll take a break after finishing this part.”

 

Painting modeling could be demanding work; that was why I was planning to have a break every twenty minutes to avoid Senpai becoming stiff. I was also going to play some music from the artist she had told me she liked. It was ignorant of me to be unaware of this possibility. Though Senpai might be a model, she was not experienced in model painting, after all.

 

“Sorry, I think I’m the one who underestimated this… Can I at least chat with you?” She apologized.

 

“Fine with me. But I don’t want to stop drawing, my replies might be terse.”

 

“Ok. Do you have a girlfriend, Sousuke?” She queried.

[TN:What a great way to start a convo.]

 

“Not yet.” My relationship with Utako was…special.

 

“How about a girl you like?”

 

“There is. Utako Kashii is her name. She moved away at the end of the fifth grade.”

 

I was already tired of denying when Senpai asked about my relationship with Yuri, this was the chance of coming clean about everything.

 

“Ehh?… There are many people who try to appeal to me by lying that they have no wife or girlfriend or whatsoever. You’re different. Quite high points you got with that answer.” Her expression seemed to soften.

 

For my part, I was simply stating a fact, but for some reason, she found that commendable.

 

“…But why though. Why do I feel a bit queasy? Is it because you talked fondly of another woman in front of me?” she murmured.

 

“You said you hate losing, right? And you also have the pride of a  popular model, so I can see why… Or do you like me?” I quickly joked in hope of lightening the mood. 

 

Maybe that wasn’t a good choice. Senpai tensed, then shot me a seducing glance. 

 

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“I don’t know…” She shrugged. “Which do you think it was?”

 

“Please don’t expect some advanced romantic tactic from someone who is still in love with his first love.” I brushed her off, turning my face away from her.

 

Senpai’s laughter at my pathetic attempt of resistance reached my ears.

 

***

 

[I hadn’t done well on English mock exams, I’ll do better next time! You too, Yu-chan, good work with the exam. Is Yuri okay?] 

 

When our conversation came this way, about tests and studying, Utako usually asked about Yuri. Reminded of how Yuri had been playing around the whole test period, I sighed as I typed.

 

[If she tries to, she can do it. But you know that she hardly does that. Her score was just enough to pass.]

 

Even though she was admitted by a recommendation for her talent in arts, she had the potential to become Maiei’s top students if she studies hard enough. However, Yuri’s present state…Sleeping in classes, skipping school, and turning in assignments late. In other words, barely scraping by. By being constantly put on edge by her behavior, Yuri’s parents had the most sincere of my respect.

 

A few hours after the rankings for the second semester final exam were posted. I strengthen my resolve to do my best to not only draw but also to study too. 

 

Then the troublemaker girl sat down next to me.

 

“I hear you are quite popular lately,” Yuri started sprouting her usual nonsense, pointing the straw of her beloved strawberry au lait at me. “‘Yuri, have you forgotten our promise?’ wasn’t it. I thought you were madly in love with Utako? Now you are just enjoying being seduced by Sugawara Kaede, forgetting about Utako, aren’t you?”

 

My anger flared. Not because of her accusation, but rather because of how upsetting it was for someone like Yuri, who had seen how much I love Utako from up close, saying that.

 

“I still love her. How could I even forget her?” I hadn’t done anything wrong, so instead of cowering, I looked straight into her eyes.

 

But Yuri, who was looking at me with her judging cat-like eyes, lifted the corner of her mouth and snickered. “Hmm. But Utako’s not here, right? I’m sure she wouldn’t know if you dally with other women for a bit. For an unattractive guy like you, I’m sure you’re cherishing your days with the popular model Sugawara Kaede. No?”

 

I trembled. “…What’s with you? What’s your point!?”

 

This wasn’t her usual teasing. It was more provocative, more aggressive, she was pushing me. She was aiming for the kill.

 

Depending on her next statement, I might just as well grant her wish.

 

“You’re aiming for me, aren’t you? That was the point of your cooperation, wasn’t it?”

 

‘Who do you think you are, don’t be presumptuous,’ I bit my lip… I couldn’t. What she said was true. Owning no argument, I kept silent.

 

“Sousuke, can’t you keep your eyes on me?” She stared at me with those keen eyes of hers.

 

“That’s quite a self-centered order. I’m not your property,” I snorted.

 

Her statement earlier wasn’t out of jealousy, but rather something similar to a child being upset because her toy was taken. While I understood why she acted like that, our classmates didn’t, and a murmur had already spread through the room.

 

“Hey, you two! Fishermen are coming to the Maimori Snow Festival! Wanna go see them?” 

 

From nowhere, Seino chimed in.

 

Was it because she was looking at her phone the whole time? Or was it because she knew us well? Seino appeared to be oblivious of the tension between us as she broke the news with a twinkle in her eye.

 

With her interjection, I could finally catch a break. My anger towards Yuri receded, and I regained my composure.

 

“What? The TV’s coming? Of course I’ll go! I want to be on screennn!” beamed Yuri.

 

Happiness, joy, boredom, irritation. Under her tyranny, her every emotion was vented on me.

 

Me getting along with Sugawara-senpai, she could whip out insults just with something like that. For now, she went full force on me, but the day she changed her target to someone else was bound to come.

 

Her boyfriend or her husband in the future, I could already feel sorry for them.

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