Chapter 1
Residential Area
Phew. Finally finished the emergency shopping… oh, what’s that?
There’s a huge line over there… Is something going on?
Woof!
Wait. That voice just now…
Woof! Woof!
Shumai!? What are you doing all the way out here… were you on a walk with someone?
Woof.
*running*
Ah, wait up…!
Park
Woof!
That's…!
Is it really no good? I’ve become so enamoured…
Ah… um…
Hey~ please, boy. I’d just love to have one of your…
Uh… um…
Kiroku-kun!
…! Ch-Chief…
What’s up with this crowd…!
Uuh… um… -
Ah, I know. Kiroku-kun, let’s use PeChat!
…! Got, it.
sorry i cant explain out loud
No worries, you’re good. What happened?
at first i was just sketching shumai by myself
then some people came up and said they wanted me to draw their dogs too
and i couldnt answer properly and now a bunch of people have gathered around and i dont know what to do
I see… so you’ve been getting portrait requests. What do you want to do?
Ah… I, want…
i like drawing animals so i want to do it if i can
theyre all so cute
and i think it could be good practice for giving hospitality by drawing portraits of tourists
Got it! Could I help out, then? That way you’ll be able to focus on the portraits.
…! …Thank, you…
Woof!
Shumai can help too. Alright, let’s get these customers lined up lickety-split!
Time Passes
*sketching*
Here… It's… done.
Waaah! Mummy, look! The Taro the man drew is super cute!
It certainly is. Come on now, what do we say?
Thanks mister!
…Y-yeah. You’re, wel… come…
Thank you very much! Kiroku-kun, want to take a break?
…I want to… keep going…
Alright, but make sure you don’t overdo it. Next in line please.
…
*sketching*
(Kiroku-kun looks earnest… It’s incredible how he’s managed to stay focused the whole time despite doing quite a lot.)
(He even gets the finer details done neatly, like the collar designs and ribbon frills. I’m sure the owners will be happy with them.)
Time Passes
This one's… the last…
Oh dearie me! You drew him so adorably, isn’t that wonderful Uu-chan?
Uu… chan…?
Grr… awoo~…!
(With those sharp eyes, and that name… doesn’t he resemble Ushio-kun a bit…?)
Awooo! Bark!
!!
Wait! Uu-chan, where are you going!
This is bad, after him!
Residential Area
*pant, pant*… Doesn’t look like he’s here either… How about it, Shumai? Can you smell him?
Woof… whimper…
I see… I wonder where he went…
Uuu, Uu-chan…
…-…
…I… shouldn’t have, drawn, that… portra…
Huh?
When I… handed it over… her grip, on the lead, loosened… so that she… could look at, it.
Which meant… Uu-chan, could… escape…
That’s not your fault. Don’t worry, I’m sure we’ll find—
Woof!
Ah, Shumai, don’t just suddenly take off…!
…! Did he, find… him?
There’s some people over there, let’s go ask!