Unfortunately, whether it was Yume, Akatsuki, or Reina, neither of them would become his partner.
Instead, his partner would be the friend of Yume and Akatsuki, Maki Sakamizu.
"Please take care of me, Irido-kun."
"Please take care of me, Sakamizu-san."
Maki was a tall, cool girl with short hair. It seemed like she had joined the volleyball club based on the conversation they had with Yume and Akatsuki.
Still, he had only mentioned that Maki was a friend of Yume and Akatsuki. What about Reina?
Frankly, Reina's relationships with the other three were only so-so, but it didn't mean that their relationship was bad as she still maintained a basic polite relationship on the outside, especially toward the girls. As for why she didn't try to get close to the others, she told them that she didn't want to waste her time. Her goal as a professional musician was clear, and she wished to spend most of her time practicing instead of playing with friends.
Either Mizuto, Yume, or Akatsuki also didn't really like to play, after all. Not only did it take money, but it also took time. Even though they had pocket money, it didn't mean that they wanted to squander them.
Still, while Mizuto could do it, the two probably wouldn't allow him to do so since they thought that it was better for him to save his money for the future.
Nevertheless, Reina didn't try to get close to anyone except for the three of them as she felt it was enough for her to have them, and any more than this would be a waste of time.
She was cold, yet Mizuto felt like it was normal since, unlike him, who could be anything as long as he wished to, everyone didn't have a system, and on their limited time, they could only focus on one thing and the rest was only an extra if they wanted to achieve what they wanted to do.
Nevertheless, Mizuto thought that he needed to focus on drawing this girl first. Sharpening the tip of his drawing pencil, he asked, "Sakamizu-san, how is your drawing skill?"
"Eh? Well... it probably isn't that bad."
"...I hope that you don't draw a Homo erectus from my face."
"I won't! It's impossible!"
This guy was so handsome!
How could she mistake him for a Homo erectus?
"By the way, how is your drawing skill, Irido-kun?" Maki asked shyly.
"Hmm... probably not bad."
"Not bad."
"I might be as good as Jack."
"Who is Jack?"
"The protagonist on the Titanic."
"Ah! Then, I am Rose?"
"You want to be one?"
"...pervert."
"I didn't say anything weird. Why did you say that?"
"I mean... Jack drew Rose naked, right?"
"But I am not! I just said that my drawing skill was about as good as Jack's."
"But... do you want to draw me... naked, Irido-kun?"
"...is that something that we should discuss here, Sakamizu-san."
"Then, if it's somewhere else?"
"How about we draw first, Sakamizu-san? It will be bad if we don't draw anything when the class ends."
"Ah, right!"
With those words, the two started to draw each other, but Yume narrowed her eyes in their direction.
"Irido-san! Irido-san!"
"Ah, yes!"
Yume pouted, feeling jealous, but she didn't say anything and just drew a Homo erectus for her sketch.
Nevertheless, as Mizuto drew, he started to talk with Maki so this girl wouldn't be nervous.
"So you join a volleyball club, Sakamizu-san?"
"Yes."
"That's amazing."
"It's not that great, though. It makes me appear boyish and only popular among the girls."
"Not boys?"
"I am not. Look at me! Do boys like tall girls like me?"
Mizuto looked at Maki and had to admit that she was tall, but she wasn't as tall as him. "That's not true, I think you are cute, Sakamizu-san?"
"Eh? Eh?"
"...why do you get so flustered?"
"I... I mean... it's my first time to have someone say that to me."
"Not even your parents?"
"I mean boys!"
"Oh, then I am the first?"
"Well..."
When Mizuto chuckled, Maki suddenly grew a bit nervous, and her heart tickled somehow. "Wh-Why did you laugh?"
"I think those boys are just nervous to praise you."
"Nervous?"
"Yeah, by the way, have you finished your drawing? Your hands stop, you know?"
"Ah, wait a moment! Pause! Pause!"
"There is no pause in real life."
Nevertheless, Maki saw Mizuto's hands never stopping, and he kept glancing at her from time to time, which made her think that his eyes weren't good for her heart. She was bashful and blushed, shyly looking at him from time to time while feeling regret that she couldn't capture his handsome face with her skill.
"By the way, have you finished your drawing, Irido-kun?"
"Not yet."
"Can I see it?"
"Be patient. Wait until I finish, okay?"
"But... I want to see it."
"You will see it when it is finished. I draw you cute."
"Eh? Eh?"
Nevertheless, there was no doubt that the pair of Maki and Mizuto were the most envious ones as everyone could see how warm and smooth their conversation and task were. Moreover, his drawing was so good!
Even though his drawing wasn't finished yet and he didn't intend to show it to anyone, those who sat behind him could catch a glimpse of the sketch drawn by him. It was also due to this reason that they were jealous of Maki.
Yume's lips twitched and almost snapped her pencil into two, but fortunately, her strength was too weak to do that.
Still, Akatsuki thought that she should ask him to draw her naked later, but Reina couldn't look away from him.
"Kousaka-san? Kousaka-san?"
Reina simply ignored the guy in front of her.
Still, when one had a good conversation, the time seemed to move faster.
"It's finished."
"Really? Can I see it?"
"Yes."
Maki didn't waste her time and quickly walked to Mizuto's side before she was stunned still. She had always been known as a tomboy, yet in this painting, she was so feminine; her smile was so gentle, as if she was talking with the one that she loved the most.
"What do you think, Sakamizu-san?"
Still, before Maki said anything, many surrounded him.
"Sakamizu... I am jealous of you!"
"Can someone make a time machine already? I want to redo the lottery now!"
"Do you want to become a painter, Irido-kun?"
While Mizuto was helpless, Maki, who couldn't look away from her painting, turned her gaze to her painter, and her eyes, lips, and expression were just like that in his painting.
"...."
Watching Maki's expression, Akatsuki and Yume were speechless, and somehow, they just wanted to lock Mizuto in the room so this guy wouldn't seduce anyone!
Still, for the art teacher, she nodded in satisfaction and gave him an A+ score.
"Irido-kun, have you thought about going to the Kyoto University of the Arts?"
"...."
Mizuto was speechless. "Sorry, Sensei, I plan to enter Kyoto University." Still, with this, he knew that he should be able to become an illustrator for his light novel, and with this, his goal was achieved. Moreover, he also thought of the title of his light novel.
"Your Saturn."
"What?"
"Nothing."
"By the way..."
"Hmm?"
"Can you draw me too?"
Mizuto looked at Yume, who was looking at him shyly. It was a rare chance for them to go home together like this, and he didn't plan to go out anyway, focusing on his novel, but he felt like he needed to get even better with his drawing skills.
"Can you wear a garter belt?"
"..." Yume let out a helpless sigh. "...what color?"
"Black."
"It can't be helped..."
Still hearing his answer, she knew that if Mizuto was Jack, she was the only one who could be his Rose.