Chapter 1

(…I bought the paints, without any issues.)

(Acidic Orange, Sweet Turquoise, Blossoming Pink, and Poisonous Lime.)

(I might have splurged a bit too much. But, today’s special…)

Kiro.

! Ryui… kun. And…

Hey hey~♪ Out shopping too, Kirokkuma? You look fired up ♪

That bag’s from the art store. Did you manage to get something nice?

Yes… There were, some paints… I’d wanted for a while. I was just about… to go back, to the dorm.

I see, good to hear. We’ll join—

…

(Nah, better check how things are going on-site first, just in case.)

…Had a feeling.

Hey. Kamina, Natsuyaki. Over here. Kiro, you just wait there a sec.

??? O-okay…

What is it? Do you want some paints too, Ryui?

No. …Alright, listen closely.

I checked with Toi. Decorating the venue is taking longer than we thought, so they aren’t done yet.

!!

We gotta buy time.

For how long?

About an hour.

Okey-dokey! That much is nothing♪

…Ah, um?

Kiroku. Meeting here must be fate. I want you to teach me some ways to make art.

Huh…

You taught me about crayons before¹, but I was thinking I’d like to take on some other utensils.

Should we head back to that store, then? Oughta be easier to explain with the real deal right there.

Yeah, yeah! May as well buy e~ven more paints while we’re there! We’ll foot the bill♪

Huh, that'd… make me feel, bad… Plus, getting more… would, be, excessive…

What do you mean, excessive? You’re always working hard, at least spoil yourself today.

And if you can’t, I’ll do it for you. C'mon.

Right, my thoughts exactly.

Then it’s decided! Let’s goooooo♪

Awa, wa, wa…

Phew…

(In the end… when I was talking with everyone, I found more colours I wanted, and ended up buying them.)

(And… while looking at the supplies, I noticed some new things. Things that probably, wouldn’t have occurred to me alone.)

(…I want to draw.)

(The things I just saw with Kamina-san and the others. The things we talked about. I want to draw… all of them…)

…Hey, I got a message. Looks like they’re ready.

Ooh! Isn’t our timing too perfect!?

Kiroku. Let’s head back now. We won’t make any detours this time.

Let’s go. We’ll take the shortest route back to Hama House.

Huh, huuuh…?

We’re, back…

Welcome ba~ck! We’ve been awaiting your arrival~ oh great protagonist~!!

Isn’t that more something a villain would say? …Well, it’s true that we were waiting for you. Welcome back, Kiroku.

Isotake… Nanamegi?

Thank you, Ani-sama. And thank you for helping out too, Chii-sama, Yukikaze-san!

Of course. We all want to congratulate Kiro too, after all.

…?

Come on, shouldn’t you get inside already? If you just stand there stupefied people are gonna start leaving offerings at your feet. Y'know, ‘cause you’re a Buddharupa.

Everyone put their heart and soul into decorating. I hope it’s to your liking.

Ah…!