Track 5

…*sketches*

…*poses*

…Okay.

The sketch’s almost, done… so you can rest, for a bit…

Mm, okay.

Nanamegi… thank you, for being my, model…

No problem, but… was I really helpful?

Mm, yeah…

I see. That's good to hear.

…

Kiroku. Are you sure you want to draw the cover for the doujinshi?

…Huh?

It looks like you were just being dragged along by Akuta and Ushio yesterday. And even now, you still look unsure about drawing the cover.

Sorry if I’m just assuming things.

I-It's, okay…

…

(To be honest, I was happy that Kurama commissioned me to draw the cover…)

(Besides, drawing other people’s characters could also help me improve my drawing skills…)

I’ll be, alright…

…Mm, I see.

…

Ah, come in!

Is Golem here? I wanted to talk about the cover…

—And what exactly are you guys doing?

What do you mean? I was just modelling for Kiroku’s drawing.

M-Modelling!?

Yeah… It’s because Nanamegi… looks like Reito…

Huh, really?

E-Excuse me!? I-I-I-I think both of you need to get your eyes checked, ‘cause in what world does this idiot look like Reito!? This is literally the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard! Modelling is banned from now on!!

Uh, wha…

Hey, who are you calling an idiot?

Seriously, I’m just trying to help here, and then you have the nerve to barge in this room and start nitpicking me. What’s your problem?

It’s not really nitpicking when I’m literally speaking facts? You’re the one with the audacity to think you look anything like Reito?

What did you just say???

Did I stutter???

Oh no… Oh no no no…

Kaguya… please, stop them…

The two of you, cease this at once.

You know what, it’s because of your attitude that Kiroku always looks like he’s being held at gunpoint.

Sorry? Why don’t you look in a mirror first before you start going off about other people’s attitudes? Or do you think you’re so perfect of a human being that you have the right to be preaching like a hypocrite?

This is your last warning.

Ugh, you’re so annoying! You seriously never know when to stop yapping on and on and on about everything.

Yeah? Well you’re always constantly nagging about every little thing like blah blah blah blah blah.

Ah… ah…

…If you wish to keep this up, I will start tossing you until the both of you settle down.

!!

Th-That’s going…

A bit overboard…

Very well then.

Phew…

Now that we have regained ourselves, shall we start discussing the cover illustration that Kinugawa will be drawing?

Uh… so how will you, make the book… exactly…?

I’m gonna leave that to the publishing company. It’s my first time doing this, so we could bind them by hand too… but might as well go big or go home. The number of copies would depend on our reception.

Bind…? Recep, tion…?

Either way, there’s an extra fee for physical submissions, so I planned on scanning the cover and making it digital first before adding the title. I’ll ask Idiotake for help on that one.

To be honest, I also wanna get it foil stamped and laminated, but that might be too over the top for my very first work…

Foil stamp…? Laminate…?

Uu-chan, you’re losing Kinugawa.

Oh… they’re like options the publishing company gave me—

…But honestly, you really don’t have to remember this.

I’ll take care of the printing details, so you can just focus on the drawing. It’s not really something you need to concern yourself with.

…So, rry…

…I told you to stop apologizing for everything already.

…

…Erm…

(Now it really looks like I’m holding him at gunpoint.)

…Oh yeah, did you read the manga yet?

Ah, I finished, reading it… I forgot to, return it… to you…

No, it’s okay, you can keep holding onto it if you—

I-I’ll go, get it now…

…

…*sigh*

(I probably looked like I was running away from the conversation…)

Kinugawa. Wait.

Kaguya?

I was thinking of proposing that we turn our room into a specialized manuscript workspace for the two of you later…

But would it be better if you were not alone in the same space as Ushio?

…!

I’m grateful, that you’re letting me… use your room… but…

(There's a lot of times where it’s really hard to understand what Kurama is saying, and I’m worried that I'm just causing trouble for him since I don’t know how to respond properly…)

(And also—)

I plan on… writing… a… novel… about the character Reito… for the upcoming Winter Comic Paradise… ComiPara.

Kurama… I didn’t know you could, write a novel…

Never tried it before, actually. Is there a problem with that?

(Because this is Kurama’s first novel, it makes me even more nervous to work on it… Just thinking about me possibly ruining it scares me…)

Of course, I will not force you if you do not like the idea. However…

I apologize if I am overstepping, but could you find it in yourself to somehow cooperate with Ushio?

I know that he can be harsh with his words.

He is always looking for faults in others and often says unnecessary things, which leads to misunderstandings and people not wanting to interact with him.

…

Also, he has horrible sleeping habits and is always staying up late even though I’ve told him time and time again not to, yet despite that, he is very bad with horror for some reason…

K-Kaguya… I don’t think, that last part… was necessary…

Ushio may behave as such. However, this is the first time he has ever been proactive about wanting to accomplish something, even as far as to ask other people for help.

As his childhood friend, I wish to cheer him on in that regard.

…

Also… letting someone other than myself into our room is proof that he puts great trust in your abilities.

Trust… in my abilities….

He has a really hard time showing affection to others. However, that is also what makes Uu-chan unique.

I, see…

(Just like Kurama, I’m also bad at expressing myself…)

…Kaguya.

Please let me… work in your room.

! Which means…

I’ll do my best… to work together, with Kurama.