Chapter 53: My Idol, God Painter-sama!


TL: Akabane


***


I was idly looking out the bus window. This year's circle training camp will be held at the training center of the University of Poseidon, located near Lake Hamana in Shizuoka. Well, although it has the name of a training camp, it is just a four-day and three-night outing to just enjoy tennis, futsal, BBQ, hot springs, drinking, and sightseeing in Shizuoka. It was supposed to be a nice trip just to take it easy and beat up the culprit, Kuzu Blue, but.... Igarashi and Mashiba, who were sitting in the front seat, were chatting happily. Even for Mashiba, it was a mystery.


"I'm sure her name wasn't on the list of participants either. Why is it there?"


Mashiba's name was not on the list of participants for this circle trip, which Kekai-senpai had diverted to us. And yet here she is today. There is no doubt that she got in at the last minute through connections or something. I don't know the purpose. If Hagiri sent her after reading my actions, it was definitely a mistake to select her. So this possibility is not possible. She calls herself a "savvy" type, but she has been bothering and irritating me both in the past and in the present. Well, let's put her on the back burner. Let's just assume that there are more people to take care of Igarashi.


"Um, you know. You've been making a difficult face since a while ago... are you sick or something? Are you okay?"


The thin, handsome boy-like guy sitting next to me looks into my face with concern. This is the first conversation we've had since I left Tokyo. To be frank, I'm exhausted today, and I didn't want to talk to anyone, so I pretended to be a nihilistic man.


"Oh, it's okay, it's okay. Here. I'm kind of nervous because I've never done anything like this before."


"Yeah. I understand. I'm also nervous because I don't know anyone here. I'm the only one from my university, so I'm a bit nervous."


"Oh, really? That's tough. Where did you come from? I'm from the Imperial Capital University."


The Imperial Capital University brand is a bit on the nose at times like this, so you have to be careful. However, in the sense that it can be mounted quickly, it was very useful when I was working in the previous world and I was very grateful for it.


"Oh, the Imperial Capital University? That's great. I'm at the Imperial Capital University of Arts. Would I be cheeky if I said we're the same when we take out the arts? Fufufu."


The moment I heard the name of that university, my body seriously froze. I had applied to and failed all the art universities. After that, I moved to Sapporo and got a job as a construction worker. That is the very thing I longed for. Or rather, it is a complex itself.


"Heh heh. Art university? Awesome. Hahaha. Awesome. Seriously, awesome. Eh? Really? Are you serious? Eh? Art university? Eh?! Art university?! Fuaa!"


"Why are you so surprised? Do you think Art university is weird? It's true that there are a lot of weirdos, and they do a lot of things that don't make sense, but I'm normal."


The handsome boy-like man smiles at me. If I were a girl, I'd fall in love with him with this smile! He declares, "I'm a normal guy."


"I see. Sounds like fun at art university! Yes, yes! Looks like a lot of fun! Haha! Ahahaha! Art is a blast! Hahaha! Ahahaha!"


"No, your tension is weird! You're definitely acting weird! Well, I haven't introduced myself yet. I'm Mikamo Tsukasa, a first-year student in the Painting Department of the Faculty of Fine Arts."


"And you're in the painting department? What? I mean...? What? Tsukasa...? I'm sure he won an honorable mention in last year's World High School Oil Painting Competition? The painter of that god-awful painting?"


I always check out the winning works of famous awards and competitions. I remember Mikamo's paintings well. It was a divine painting, full of talent. Even more so, this man. In the future, he will be one of the most famous artists in Japan. I was a fan of his work. I had all the photo books of his works and bought all the works within the reach of common people. But I was surprised. The future Mikamo had a crazy look, with rainbow-colored hair, a beard, and a lot of fancy makeup. I didn't think that the man in front of me now was the man he was in his youth days.


"Huh? Have you seen that painting before? Wow, I'm so happy. I won an award for that painting, but there were a lot of people who slagged it off."


"That was a great painting. That was a great picture. People seem to think it's a cheerful picture, but I understood. It was about the sadness of loss..."


"You get it? Yes! I definitely painted that message! I wanted to tell people that even in a world that seems so bright, there are people who are grieving loss! I see! That's good. I can believe that my paintings have the power to convey a message, can't I? I'm glad. Ufufu..."


Mikamo's smile looked precious. This man is my idol. But in the world before, as soon as I started living with Igarashi, Igarashi threw away all the photo albums of Mikamo's work and other goods I owned. I was pissed. I was so serious. I don't want to see her again! I was so upset. After that, I remember that there was a delicate atmosphere between us when I found out that Mikamo was one of Igarashi's ex-boyfriends in the previous world. My idol was my wife's ex-boyfriend! I hate such subtle misfortune. But the work is innocent. Mikamo is a divine painter. Also, among Igarashi's ex-boyfriends, he is the one who didn't bother me, which is rare. It is also exquisitely subtle. Well, I can't say for sure, since I never met him in person in my previous world. Anyway, I'd like to introduce myself to my idol.


"My name is Kanahisa Tokiwa. I define myself as an artist of architecture. I'll be happy to meet you from now on, Mikamo. You can call me Kanata."


"Yes! Nice to meet you, Kanata! You can call me Tsukasa! I wasn't expecting this trip at all, but I'm so glad to see someone who understands me! It's going to be a fun trip!"


And so we continued our heated conversation about art until we arrived in Shizuoka.








I arrived at my destination, Shizuoka, and got off the bus. The training center near Lake Hamana was a very nice place with a big and beautiful view of Mt. Fuji. As expected of a prestigious private university. They have money The building is also very beautiful.


"Fuji-san! It's so nice!"


"""Yoooo!!!!!!!!!!!""


That's why, there was a lone idiot shouting at Mt. Fuji. She was Igarashi. Naturally, she had a good face, so no matter how much it hurt, she was safe. If anything, the boys were shouting along with her. Haha! This idiotic groove! They really are college students. I'm not going to join them. Because I've already found an important friend.


"There are many painters who draw Mt. Fuji, but if you dare to take a motif, how about drawing its shadow instead of Mt. Fuji?"


"That's a good idea. That's quintessential Tsukasa. The goddess of beauty loves you. Fufu."


The time I spend talking about painting with my favorite artist is emo and precious. But at the same time, I was wary of this Mikamo. His name was not on the list of participants. In other words, this man had joined at the last minute. I don't know why. I didn't get the impression from our earlier conversation that he was enjoying the trip itself. Rather, he seemed to be smiling and enjoying himself since he was with me. What is the purpose of this trip?


"Tokiwa! That's amazing! Mt. Fuji! It's getting bigger! I wonder how long it's been growing! Isn't it amazing!"


Igarashi came to my side after he finished shouting. Of course, Mt. Fuji looks bigger when you are in Shizuoka. Fuji is very close from here. You're a stupid kid, aren't you?


"That's right. It's amazing that it looks so big when it usually looks smaller than a pea. Yeah."


"Right! I love Mt. Fuji! It's so beautiful after all! Fufufu. Hmm? Huh? Did you make a friend, Tokiwa?"


Igarashi, noticing Mikamo's presence beside me, smiles happily. I felt a little uneasy. In case you didn't know, these two have been together once in the future.


"Good for you! Tokiwa, who always has only girls next to him, finally has a male friend! I'm so happy for you as a mom! Fufufu."


"Who's my mom, you b*stard! It's not that I don't have any male friends. It's just that I only hang out with them in college."


"You're right, you only hang out with the blondes, Milan, and the math kids. You know? I heard that recently there are people who call Tokiwa and the others the 'disorderly' members of the public morals committee."


"What's a 'disorderly public morals committee'? Does it smell like an anti-social organization?


"Hahaha! Anti-social is no good, right? See you later! Tokiwa, after this..."


"Igarashi. May I have a word?"


There was a man and woman holding a box beside us as we were talking. I know the man well. He is Houjou Hinata aka Kuzu Blue. He is my target this time. The woman, I had her picture and name on the list Kekai-senpai gave me.


"Ah. Tsumugi! Hi! I haven't seen you since the graduation ceremony!"


Her name is Tsumugi Usui. She is Igarashi's classmate from high school. She is currently attending the Faculty of Literature at the University of Chugi.


"Yeah! Long time no see, Riri. I didn't expect to see you here! I didn't think you would come because this circle is centered on private universities and national universities other than the Imperial Capital, so I didn't think you would come. But aren't he with us, Hagiri?"


Usui tilted her head. Hagiri and Igarashi are a set. I guess that's the common perception of people from the same high school.


"Haha. Well, look! That's how it happens! Ahaha!"


Igarashi, probably too lazy to explain, made a suitably wry smile and fooled around with it.


"I see, he didn't come. Too bad. Then draw this. It's the lottery for today's tennis groupings. Girls draw this one."


"Draw lots? What? Grouping?"


"Yes. We want people to spend as much time as possible with other people they don't know and get to know each other, so we ask them to divide fairly. That's why we ask people to be divided fairly by lot."


"I see...I guess I have no choice then..."


Igarashi looks a little disappointed as she looks at the lottery box. But zhe soon looks up and becomes terribly serious.


"Agetin Tokiwa! Summon!"


"Stop, don't call me by that name!!!"


As usual, Igarashi takes the amulet, takes the 500 yen coin from Naga, and puts it on my forehead.


"Kanata. What's that? An agetin?"


Tsukasa is donkey-dogged by Igarashi's odd behavior. He looked at her as if he was looking at a poor person.


"Tsukasa. There are people with strange cultures in this world. Please leave them alone."


"Uh-huh. I understand... haha."


Igarashi then drew lots. The number that came out was the first.


"First prize! I got it! Agetin nice!"


Igarashi struck a gut-punch with both hands.


"No, it's a group thing. There's no product."


Now for the tricky part. Kuzu Blue. I see you've won the biggest raffle. I'm sure he's going to rig the raffle and get mixed up with Igarashi in the same group. I had to be the first one to win the lottery. But that would be impossible. I would have to leave it to the heavens. But somehow, I have a feeling that I will be the first.


"Igarashi. Excuse me."


I lightly pointed at her forehead with my index finger. I also gave her a slight bump on the forehead.


"Kya! What are you doing? Oh my God!"


"I got my luck back. I also got stabbed in the cheek earlier, so I'm going to pay you back for that."


"Ew. I'm so depressed! I'll let bygones be bygones!"


Igarashi is getting a little angry. Her cheeks are flushed a little red, which looks adorable.


"I'm sorry, but I can't forget anything you did to me. So I'll pay you back. Anything."


"I can't forget... I see. .... Well, then, it can't be helped."


Igarashi smiles. Then I reached into the lottery box and drew. The number was brilliantly the best.


"What? Does it really work? Am I really an agetin...?"


I'm afraid of my luck...! Well, even if it didn't work, I was going to prepare a way to protect Igarashi and keep an eye on Kuzu Blue. I suddenly looked at him and saw that he had a blatantly disgusted look on his face. He's jealous of me being so close to Igarashi. And in a bad mood, he raised his voice a little.


"Hey, Mikamo! Pull the damn thing out, you normies...!"


Tsukasa's body shook a little. Then he drew the lots.


"Oh, I'm first too? No way! Don't tell me my luck is contagious?"


Tsukasa looked at me with astonished eyes. At the same time, Igarashi gets angry.


"What? No way! No, you can't! Even if I'm Tokiwa's friend, the power of the agetin spell is mine and mine alone!"


"Don't call me Agetin, seriously."


My luck is too scary...? I wonder if I'm seriously agetin. I don't have anyone to test it on! I'm so sad!


"Hooo.... Oh well... rather convenient..."


Kuzu Blue was muttering this in a voice so small that only I could hear it. It's disturbing, but I guess it's fortuitous for me to have all my surveillance targets in one place. Hell, I'm off to a good start. I think so.



PREV | NEXT