Chapter 14: 2.8

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

Translated by 64990022
Edited by Fen01lalune

 

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

 

Part 8

 

 

As expected, the Maiei High art club didn’t win any prizes. The director’s abstract comment “Let’s do better next year, carve with passion.” was the only thing we received. I asked Hiiragi-sensei to request for an instructor to give us technical guidance and help in increasing the participants. With that, the Snow festival came to an end. 

 

A few days later, on a day with heavy snowfall. I was alone in the art club room.

 

There were no activities today, but I specifically asked Hiiragi-sensei’s permission to use the room. The deadline for Kouji was the end of March. I had already finished the sketch and the priming coat last time. If I could finish defining the shapes today, then I could manage the rest without bothering Sugawara-senpai anymore. In the silence of the art room, I made preparations quietly.

[TN: Priming coat, the first layer of paint in oil painting]

 

The sketch alone was enough to tell me that Senpai was the pinnacle of modeling, too good for me, even. If I could capture her beauty properly, then the first prize would surely be mine.

 

I needed to use this fortuitous opportunity to create a significant result. While Yuri dallied, I will win this competition. With this victory, I might finally get the confidence I longed for, this victory would be my debut as a painter.

 

My ambitious thoughts must have drown out the knocking sound, for the next thing I know was–

 

“Sou, Suke. Phew~”

 

“Wahh!”

Senpai whispered my name then blew her breath into my ear. Upon seeing my reaction, Senpai bursted out laughing, her hands holding her sides.

 

“What a reaction.” She shook with laughter. “Yahoo, sorry I’m late–”

 

At this time of year, third-year students rarely come to school except for those preparing for the second round of public university exams. Senpai, who did not take the entrance exam, was a rare case in Maiei High, and with her prioritizing modeling before school, she hadn’t come to school since New Year. Therefore, she was doing me a favor by coming all the way to school today.

 

“No, I’m not waiting. Rather, I would like to thank you for giving me time despite your busy schedule,” I thanked her.

 

According to Seino, “You know how amazing it is for Kaede-chan to be your model?! If this were a cabaret, you’d have to pay at least ten thousand yen! Per hour! Can’t we switch places?!”. Well, I wasn’t planning to take everything for a fact, Seino could be exaggerating at times. But the fact that Senpai gave me time despite her busy schedule was still there. I needed to be more grateful.

 

“Hmm, you’re… cheerful today. By any chance, you’re happy to see me after a long while?”

 

“Well, it was fun to paint you, so I guess you weren’t wrong.” I replied.

 

“I see, I see…” she nodded, “So I’m indispensable, right? So you need me.”

 

“So you were steering the conversation that way again. Why are you so persistent in teasing me?…” More considerate, Sousuke, more considerate! “But you might be right. I’m glad you agreed to be my model for the painting.”

 

I wonder if it was the romantic, golden rays of the setting sun that urged my grateful self to say that. I had even said things I normally wouldn’t. I have never been drunk, but I guess this was what drunk people felt.

 

“I was just joking, but… fufu, you are so cute and honest. When you seem happy or when you agree with me… I somehow feel happy, you know? It was pleasant.” 

 

Despite the list of nice words, Senpai seemed gloomier than usual. When I looked closely, she seemed listless.

 

“Senpai… Are you okay? You seem tired.” The amount of her workload was already ridiculous, I didn’t want to force her on. Just as I tried to tell her that we could do this later, she just laughed it off.

 

“Haha… Nghh, I’m tired, yeah. Well… It was just the normal stuff. I was targeted by those keyboard crusaders. Their slanders are… just a bunch of offensive made up stuff, things that made me go ‘What?’. It’s a bit unpleasant. Maybe it was a normal thing for a popular model, heheh. I mean, if you weren’t popular, then no one would attack you, right? So maybe it was proof of my popularity…” Senpai smiled weakly. 

 

She said it as if it was  a matter of fact, but even some unrelated guy like me felt indignant. There was no way someone as passionate about her work as Senpai wouldn’t feel anything. No matter how confident she was, being exposed to such hostility could be obnoxious.

 

She was already working and earning wages like any adult would, but she was still a highschool girl, after all. She was just one year older than me, yet she already carried the burden of an adult.

 

“Yes, you are beautiful and popular. But I just can’t accept your logic. ‘I’m popular, so it can’t be helped’, really? Why do you have to put up with them. I’ll protect you from those scum.”

[TN:Umm, what ‘bout Utako?]

 

Yes, I was jealous of Yuri, but never had I thought of hurting her with that kind of unfounded foul words, especially to the public. 

 

But I could easily become one of them, had I taken even a single wrong turn somewhere in life. The thought terrified me.

 

And why I was thinking about Yuri again. Senpai came all the way here, and I couldn’t even give her my attention.

 

Then I noticed her staring at me. Shoot, did I do something wrong?

 

“Ah, I found just the right body pillow”

 

Senpai came closer as she said that. From the back of my chair, she clinged to me reassuringly. With her soft mounds pressed against me, and her fragrant strands of hair touching my cheeks, against my will, my heartbeat went wild.

 

“‘I’ll protect you’, but how?” she whispered.

 

“Specifically…not yet. But I’ll do everything in my power.”

 

 Then I immediately became embarrassed by my own naive declaration.

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“Thank you,” she muttered.

 

After a pause, Senpai continued, “Sousuke, you’re always affable. You know, I hate those sympathizers, consoling me like they understand me. But with you… Sousuke, strange enough, I don’t mind when it’s you. Was it because I see no ulterior motive, or was it because I believe that you would speak the truth? Or was it simply because my judgment was blinded?”

 

I felt my body becoming hotter every time her hot breath touched my ears. It was mind numbing. I already have Utako. I had to resist , otherwise I might do something I would regret. 

 

“T-that I have no ulterior might be an assumption on your part. So if you keep this on…”

 

“Shut up. Body pillows can’t talk”

 

“Ok…”

 

“Sousuke’s so genuine that he could love someone he hasn’t met for…” At the corner of my vision, Senpai counted with her fingers. “Five years? That faithfulness… Even if it isn’t for me, I instinctively want to spoil him… Was it Utako-chan? I’m so jealous of her.”

 

In this position, I couldn’t see her face, but her voice alone was enough to tell me that she was sullen. That was what I understood from spending time with her until now. 

 

And not just to understand, I believed that I knew her enough to do something about it.

 

Even people who seemed to be perfect, with flawless performances, can have unimaginable suffering and frustrations. That was why I needed to come to grips with being relied on, spoiling me, as she put it.

 

I tried to uncurl Senpai’s hands around my neck, then spoke in a soft voice.

 

“You don’t need to worry, you are attractive. And not just in appearance,” I reassured her.

 

Worried by the silence, I leaned my head back to check on Senpai, but she only tightened her embrace.

 

“Geh!” I yelped.

 

“Sousuke–, you sure are good at this. Was all that stuff about still being faithful with your first love was for me to let my guard down?” interrogated Senpai.

 

“Of course not. And it hurts, so please loosen up.”

 

Despite my plea, Senpai brought her lips even closer to my ear. Her breath leaked at every word. Caressed by the hot breaths, jolts of electricity ran through my body.

 

“‘Loosen up’? You didn’t ask me to let go, did you?”

 

With the thoughts I didn’t even notice myself thinking being easily read by Senpai, my ears burned red. Enjoying my reaction, Senpai poked her head forward, examining my face.

 

“I like you, Sousuke. Your kindness, your dedication, your serious face, I like them all. And not just the good points, you know? Your sleepy face, your obsequious expression when drawing, that sulking face you made when talking about Yuri, all of it. Your entire existence, I love you.”

 

The thumping of my heart was awfully loud. Would Senpai notice? The anxiety was nerve wracking. That was certainly something that shouldn’t be said in such close range, certainly not in this position. This was like a hypnotic spell.

 

“…Would that send your heart pounding if I said that?” she added.

 

So…that was just her teasing me, right?

 

“Didn’t I just say don’t tease me like that? I don’t think all that excitement would be good for my health, both physically and mentally.”

 

“Hahaha, I see. Well then, what a pity, guess I need to let you go.”

 

With a laugh, Senpai finally let go of me. She took a step back, then touched her bangs shyly, her face red.

 

“Well, I think that goes for both of us.” She turned her face away.

 

I kind of understood what she meant. I was sure there was another thumping from the chest pressed against my back.

 

“U-uh, let’s get started, shall we? Senpai, can you sit on that round chair?”

 

“Yes–, Komiya-sensei–!”

[TN: Sensei could also be used to show respect to someone who has achieved a certain level of mastery in an art form or some other skill, e.g., accomplished novelists, musicians, artists and martial artists.]

 

I said my thanks to Senpai who compliantly sat down, took a deep breath to reset my dazed mind while smearing the paint on the palette. After switching to painting mode I dabbed the thick brush, then divided the canvas with the intrinsic colors. To create shadows, I established the illumination and painted lighter areas. Over and over, layer and layer, I piled the colors. The canvas took shape, resembling Senpai in front of me more and more.

 

Unlike last time, Senpai did not talk to me. Senpai was very easy to draw and her perfect proportions made me want to draw her forever. Besides, her expression loosened, and somehow, became even more beautiful.

 

Better… More realistic, I told myself.

 

The feeling that I want to recreate her beauty on this canvas, I wondered if it was her charm as a model that made me feel like that.

 

“Sousuke, good luck with the competition.”

 

“Thank you. I will show my gratitude through the results. I’ll do my best.”

 

Just how fortunate I was, to be able to paint Senpai privately.

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