Chapter 2

A, mazing… the living room is, overflowing, with colour.

Feels like we’ve coloured the whole world, yeah~~!? We actually invited you and Muneuji’s little sisters as special guests to help us set up!

Ah… is that, why… you had us, go back to… the art store?

Yes, it’s because we weren’t ready yet. I bought time by taking the opportunity to learn about art supplies from you.

Let’s get this started then. —Shout from the stomach, you lot.

But of course!

Here we go~… one, two!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

Th… ank, you, all.

Happy birthday, Kiroku. I got you some hand cream as your present.

You use your hands pretty often, y'know? So you gotta take care of 'em.

I’ll keep looking forward to seeing what works of art you make with them from now on. Let’s have fun with it. Together.

Y, eah…

I got you an amulet. It’s to keep any kind of misfortune or sorrow away from you. Toi put a prayer on it, too.

Let’s stay close as always, Kiro-chan!

Of… course. We’ll always, be friends.

Chii got you a TuRyStA handkerchief towel♪ Here ya go!

It’s, so… cute. Stakichi and, Turysuke, are… holding, hands.

Right, right? Let’s all join together like that and hype up Hama-T♪

…Right. I’ll do, my best.

And now, entering with a bang, created by Kuram-iron U-chef-io¹! And produced by Isotake Akuta—

The “Avant-Garde Hue ☆ Spraying Colour with No Limits is a Dream, Right? Cake is an Explosion! Your Eyes will be Stuffed Too~ Hurry Up and Bon Appetit!” Cake~!

Seriously, you can tell an idiot came up with that one.

It’s a wonderful name bursting with energy and spirit.

…It’s a, colourful, cake.

It was made with your art in mind.

But but, that’s not all there is to it, y'hear?

Why don'tcha cut it? It’s got a surprise that’ll make you go WOAH, so take a gamble².

Don’t you mean “take a gander”? Why the fuck would it be a gamble?

Ah… small, cookies… and, chocolates, came, out… Even, the inside, is colourful.

Incidentally, the treats inside were also made by Uu-chan.

I mean, I’d just LOVE to meet the kind of person who’d go this far only to put store bought items inside.

Wahooo!! I already knew, but seeing it now it looks good at hell!!! Hey, hey, can I dig in yet!?

…Mhm. I’ll cut it, now.

Thankies!

Hey, just what are you making our protagonist do? Kiroku, you don’t have to spoil him.

It’s what, I always do, so… Here, Nanamegi… your piece. I’ll also cut, pieces for the others—

…What am I gonna do with you.

Nom nom. Aaaaa~h, sooooo good… your cakes sure are great, Ushio! The BEST!!

Oh, looks like the parchy’s in full swing!

Nishizono, san… welcome, back. Good job… with, work, today.

Heh, I’m used to 4 A.M. photo shoots by now. I’m a celebrity that can wake up early.

Ah, but enough about that. I brought a present for you!

I really had no idea what to get for your “random present”, but—

As fellow members of the origami club, I got you this!

Woah… it’s so… hea, vy.

It’s the “Aim High! Origami Master Guide Book”, along with a set of a hundred origami papers I chose myself. It’s a special edition with gold, silver, and even sparkling aurora versions!

Happy birthday. Let’s make it a good year.

Y, es. Thank you… very, much.

Ah… this book, is amazing… It’s got, all sorts of, designs.

…I wonder, how you make, this one…?

Oh! Wanna try it out now? Even if it’s a bit difficult, we can probably do it if we put our heads together!

Yeah… …Um, first… halve it. Then…

Fold a third of it, right? Then open it up, and…

……

Oh, what are Kiro-chan and Renga-san doing?

Origami?

Wooow, when’d this place become a kindergarten?

WOAH! Is that a single-headed Cerberus!? That’s our Great Master for ya, you can even make something like this out of origami!

No, if it’s only got one head then it’s just a regular dog.

Looks like this book has instructions for a lot of animals. Cats, chickens, kappa…

Alright, I’ll fold a kappa.

Hell yeah, I’ll join in too!

I shall as well, then.

Don’t forget Chii~!

I’m sure even this difficult looking owl will be a cinch for you to fold, Ani-sama.

I’ll have it done in seconds.

…Owo? All I’m doing is straight folds, but it’s so hard…!

Fold here… huh? The hell’s happened to it.

I mean, what’d you expect when you decided to jump straight into making something as difficult as a Buddharupa?

How about you shut up and fold a panda or something?

Ma~n… this stuff is too complicated… Origami’s as deep as the universe, huh, Kiroku?

Y, eah… that’s what, makes it fun…

I know, right!

……

………

Sorry I’m late! I brought some refreshments as an apolo—

Wait, what’s with the silence?

Oh my. They appear to be holding a Hama Tours Origami Convention.

Huh!?

W-when’d we get so caught up in it…!

Wow… we made, so, many. You can't… see the table.

They’re all lovely, though. You’d be able to hold an exhibition with them!

Yeah… I want to show… my sister, too.

Yeah, I’m sure she’d love that. Want to take some home, then? Just let me know if you need a bag or anything!

…Thank, you. Chief…

(There’s so much colourful origami, that I can’t hold them all.)

(So many colours, spreading into, my world.)

(…It’s, beautiful.)