manga artist Kirito

Page 126

286

[NO.283 Give up, you can't beat me in terms of beauty (Part 4)]

Rita Eindsworth

Shiina Mashiro's roommate and friend in the UK.

She had been studying painting with Shiina Mashiro in her grandfather's studio since she was a child. There were many people studying painting in this studio, but because of Shiina Mashiro's overwhelming talent, they all left one after another, and she was the only one who stayed... However, it seems that she has now given up painting.

Tsk... how should I put it?

Oh! So she's a supporter of Shiina Mashiro's path to manga...?

That's quite interesting, Miss Rita... Let me guess, what brings you to see Shiina Mashiro this time?

Hmm, let's see how well she's doing in the comics field. Has she lived up to Rita's support?

No, more likely... they want Shiina Mashiro to continue being an art master, right?

…………

Familiar apartment building

Both Kiritani-san and Rita-san were soaked by now, shaking off the raindrops dripping from their umbrellas, feeling the crazy woman's hand reaching out to stroke her ponytail and squeeze the water out of it... Kiritani-san thought that this woman might actually be quite skilled with her hands, but it was a ponytail she was stroking.

"Have you had enough fun?"

"Almost done, hmm... Shido, could you help me with that too?"

"Please don't do that, I won't help people masturbate... oops, I mean I won't help you with your hair."

Kiritani-san carried the umbrella that couldn't cover the two of them at all, and then stepped into the already opened elevator. Rita followed closely behind with an elegant smile, even though her posture showed no trace of elegance.

"I always felt that Shido's thoughts were filthy."

Rita glanced down at her still-wet hands and casually wiped them on Kiritani-san's back. "That's not good, you know. At least I don't like boys like that."

...I always feel that this guy shares some similarities with Haruno.

And... do all women like to call themselves "older sister"?

"Young man, just masturbate... oh sorry, I forgot you didn't. Anyway, having this kind of desire is perfectly normal. And don't think I didn't see your little actions. Believe me, I'll throw you in the elevator."

I feel like I'm becoming more and more sadistic lately, is that just my imagination?

Rita pretended not to hear, looked up at the lit sign, and then took Kiritani-san's hand, seemingly in a hurry.

The elevator doors opened, and after stepping out and turning a corner, I arrived at the door of suite number 602.

Rita narrowed her eyes, and a calm smile gradually appeared on her lips. Compared to the fake expression she had initially seen, her smile now seemed very genuine.

"Is this here?"

"Yes... Oh, Hachiman, your banana."

Just as I was about to speak, the door next door opened, and Hachiman, with his dead fish eyes, walked out. When he saw Rita, who was mostly wet and standing next to Kiritani, his eyelids visibly lifted, but he didn't seem to have any particular thoughts. He slowly walked over, took the banana from Kiritani's hand, and calmly responded.

"Oh, right, Ms. Xiaojing said if you don't remove her number from the blacklist, she'll come looking for you tomorrow... Since you're not replying to emails, you might as well make her dinner tonight! -- That's all. Xiaomachi said she made cookies for you; you can come and pick them up when you have time."

Without any intention of inquiring about Rita's affairs, Hachiman returned home after saying these words.

I didn't say thank you... simply because, between friends, it's not necessary, right?

"This has nothing to do with me. It's probably because Yui finds her too annoying that she blocked me."

Kiritani-san shrugged. Shizuka is that kind of person. If you don't answer the phone, she'll keep calling until you answer. If you don't reply to emails, she'll keep sending them until you reply... At most, Kiritani-san once received more than 400 emails in a day... It's really too much trouble. I'd rather use this time to think about how to find a boyfriend.

"Do as you please, just remember to come over."

I'll be there in a bit.

Watching Hachiman close the door, Kiritani-san turned to look at Rita, whose expression was slightly subtle. "What? Never seen dead fish eyes before?"

Rita nodded. "...Yeah, it's pretty fresh."

...If they were fresh, they wouldn't be called dead fish eyes, right?

Kirigaya knocked on the door and said to Rita, "Shiina Mashiro lives in here... uh, that doesn't seem right... oh well, I guess."

To be precise, I should live in 601, since I spend the day in 602 but go back to that place to sleep at night.

"I'm here, but I forgot my key..."

The sound of the door opening revealed Asuna, dressed in casual home clothes, pulling the doorknob and holding a towel in her other hand. She had intended to wipe Kiritani-san's body, but upon seeing Rita beside her, her expression faltered slightly before she quickly closed the door...

"...!?"

"Don't look at me, I don't know..."

The moment the words left her lips, the door opened again, and Asuna, holding two towels, smiled at Kiritani-san, "Welcome home."

"Well, I'm back."

Nodding slightly, Kiritani-san felt... that Asuna's gaze just now seemed to be murderous.

"Who is this……?"

Asuna handed the towel to Rita and asked, her eyes slightly narrowed.

“Rita Eindsworth, you can just call me Rita.”

Smiling, Rita took the towel and turned to look at Kiritani-san. "Shido, you lied to me, didn't you? You used to live here, and you said you didn't know Mashiro."

"Shido...?"

Looking thoughtfully at Kiritani-san, Asuna nodded as if to say "So that's how it is," and then welcomed the two into the house.

Kiritani-san, on the other hand, was in a bit of a predicament. Asuna was, after all, a creator, and her imagination... well, she was the kind of person who could conjure up tens of thousands of words of plot from just a few clues. Even though it was just the name Shido, it was still very easy for her to imagine a smaller version of the plot.

Incidentally, when Asuna closed the door just now, Kiritani-san did consider that she might have gone back inside to get a wooden sword...

“Rita!!!”

With a slightly joyful shout, barefoot Shiina Mashiro jumped off the sofa and pounced on the wet Rita. Rita reached out to stop Shiina Mashiro from leaning against her, after all... she was wet.

"It's so good that you're doing well, Shiro."

"Rita too."

"Ah...it's Rita!"

Watching the interaction between the two, Asuna, who was still using a towel to dry Kiritani-san's wet hair, suddenly had a look of realization on her face. Now she finally remembered who Rita was.

Perhaps because they didn't interact much, Asuna didn't think of her immediately, but she still knew quite a bit about her, since Rita had always been the one taking care of Mashiro before.

"Asuna... be gentle, you're going to pull your hair out."

287

[NO.284 Give up, you can't beat me in terms of beauty (Part 5)]

There is an ancient tale about the bamboo plucker, in which Princess Kaguya returns to the moon on the day of the full moon.

Following the fairy tale of lies, it's almost midnight, and Cinderella's magic.

Rita Eindsworth's reason for coming was simple: to bring Shiina Mashiro back to England.

…………

"So, you came here to take Mashiro back... um, to continue being an art master, right?"

After changing his clothes, Kiritani-san lay lazily on the sofa and summarized Rita's previous words.

"Yes, we can't let Mashiro continue learning to draw manga like this."

Rita smiled slightly. "After all, it would be such a waste to waste the potential that Mashiro's fingertips has on manga."

"I said……"

"Asuna, it would be better to leave this kind of thing to Mashiro to decide."

Kiritani interrupted Asuna, who was about to continue, "...Although, it feels like manga is looked down upon."

"I don't mean to look down on manga, Shido! Manga can be considered art, it's just that it's aimed at the general public, but it also has the potential to be passed down through generations..."

"Ah, you certainly have high expectations for Mashiro! — Also, just call me Kirigaya, or Kazuto."

"Okay, Shidou."

"..."

Kiritani-san, with dead fish eyes, lay sprawled on Asuna's lap, having completely given up on Rita's matter.

Meanwhile, Shiina Mashiro, holding her sketchbook, stared blankly at Rita. After a moment of silence, she resolutely replied, "I won't go back."

"Mashiro, you need to be clear about your talents. Even if it's a masterpiece that goes down in history, as long as it's yours, there will be absolutely no problem. Right now... there are still many people looking forward to your new work! Please respond to that expectation!"

As if she had anticipated Shiina Mashiro's answer, Rita calmly delivered the prepared statement.

However, to Kiritani and Asuna, Rita's words sounded a bit like an editor urging a creator who didn't want to draw to finish their work...

To be honest, if Rita were to become an editor, receiving manuscripts on time would be a pipe dream.

That's too formulaic; that kind of rhetoric is... way too simplistic.

I think... she should learn from Jing Ke'ai or Xigua for a couple of days before coming over.

Anyway, both Kiritani-san and Asuna felt the same way—Rita, this manuscript can't be rushed.

Shiina Mashiro lowered her head, looking quite dejected. "Rita clearly supports my manga drawing."

"I only taught you how to use a computer; I never supported you."

Rita closed her eyes and sighed softly, "I really can't stand it anymore. You're wasting your time and talent like this, Mashiro, with me..."

Shiina Mashiro looked up indifferently, "Do you want to go outside and get caught in the rain?"

"..."

Rita opened her mouth slightly, but uttered no vulgar words.

"...Don't look at me, I never taught Mashiro to say such things."

Feeling Asuna's gaze, Kiritani rolled his eyes speechlessly. He hadn't expected Mashiro to be threatening people now... Ah, his daughter has really grown up and become sensible!

Pinching Kiritani-san's ear, Asuna said with great dissatisfaction, "If it's not you, then who else... you've corrupted them all!"

"Living is a waste of time; if you don't want to waste time, you have to find something to do."

With a blank expression, Shiina Mashiro looked at Rita and said in the same tone as Kiritani-san, "I'm very busy right now. If you dare to bother me, I'll shove you out the window, you golden retriever loser."

Rita was stunned and didn't know how to refute him.

...The "golden retriever loser" part doesn't need to be added above!

Kiritani-san not only covered his face, but also felt a chilling aura emanating from behind him.

Oh no! Asuna's angry... What should I do?

"You still say you didn't teach it?!"

Asuna glared at Kiritani-san and pulled his ear harder. "Yes, I do ask you to teach Mashiro how to deal with people and situations, but I didn't ask you to teach Mashiro this method!"

"Ouch—that hurts! But isn't this a good thing?"

"Isn't this an admission? You still say you didn't!"

"I really didn't. Mashiro was just mimicking what Sawamura said about her twin tails. I really didn't teach her that... Let go, my ears... they're turning into animal ears."

"Don't you know where you went wrong? Please disappear from my sight immediately with minimal friction."

"...I'm sorry, I taught you all of this. I'll commit seppuku right now!"

…………

Women are truly wondrous creatures; their moods can change faster than the weather outside, a fact that Kiritani-san is acutely aware of.

So, what should we do next?

Asuna is now convinced that I corrupted Mashiro, completely unaware that this might be Mashiro's true feeling...

Crouching in the corner of the study, Kiritani looked at the hundreds of emails and missed calls... The storm really came fiercely, catching me completely off guard.

With a worried expression, Kiritani replied to an email casually, then leaned back against the bookshelf, staring intently at the ceiling.

Kiritani-san had no intention of getting involved in Shiina Mashiro's affairs. After all, it was ultimately Shiina Mashiro's business, and it was her decision to make. Whether she wanted to draw manga or create a masterpiece that would go down in history... these were all decisions that Shiina Mashiro herself had to make.

Even though he always calls her his eldest daughter, Kiritani-san is actually not the kind of father who can make any decisions for Shiina Mashiro. Besides... there aren't many of those old-fashioned people anymore, are there?