Chapter 162: Mock-up!

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Translator: Soafp

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On the second day of work, Ginji and Sora gathered at the factory in the afternoon, checking the assembly of the parts in the workshop. Once they weld, there's no turning back. The two exchanged serious opinions without fear of conflict.

“…Isn't this angle hard to see? Can you check it for me?”

“It's easier to see if tilted, but we can't make it so obvious what shape it is right away. The theme is about raising questions and then connecting to understanding! To be specific, the bubbles that appear gradually turn into hearts. There's a message like realizing your feelings for the first time when light shines from the water surface underwater.”

“But it's not in a place where people will really look closely. Clarity matters too.”

“I get that. We'll thoroughly adjust what we can about balance.”

“Right. We know the rough position. We have to do this part carefully.”

They attached the stainless steel parts, which gradually changed from circles to hearts, to the supports according to the design and marked them with a pen. How to show it, how they want it to be seen — those two things clashed. Just a few degrees of difference changed the impression completely. Some parts couldn't be done exactly as designed due to welding constraints, and time quickly slipped away as they made corrections.

In the end, that day was spent adjusting angles and visibility.

After dinner at Momoi's house, their discussions continued. Both had their faces buried in sketches. Meanwhile, Tetsuya, perhaps trying to give them space, studied quietly in his room.

“Can we add a few more contact points here? I'm worried about the strength.”

“In that case, why not create spots where the hearts connect?”

“No, I like this soft feeling… Okay, let's switch to spot welding here.”

“Leave it to me. I've gotten a feel for the parts today, so I want to fine-tune the adjustments.”

“Then I'll practice spot welding until we meet tomorrow, and you do that. Tomorrow evening we finish marking the parts, and the day after, welding. We should make it in time for painting.”

“Yeah, schedule-wise we have enough time. We just need to make it to the rental paint booth.”

After finalizing their plans, Sora happily put away her sketches. Although the day's progress hadn't gone very well, she was pleased.

“You seem happy, even though parts didn't go as planned.”

Taking Ginji's slightly displeased comment, Sora looked momentarily puzzled, then smiled weakly as if relaxing.

“It's just… I've been told what to do or given instructions before, but I've never made something together like this. It's kind of… refreshing and fun to speak honestly without holding back. Saying what you want to do, listening to the other person, and working out ideas together — it makes my heart race.”

Patting Sora's head affectionately, Ginji scratched his cheek with a shy smile.

“Is that so? Then from tomorrow we'll go all out. Don't hesitate to speak up.”

“Deal!”

The two bumped fists.

The next day, Ginji went to the factory to practice welding, while Sora spent the early morning at her art school, shaping wire and paper clay. The art school had all the tools needed for mock-ups (prototype models) made with materials like paper clay.

Wearing an apron and adjusting the lighting, Sora worked with knives and spatulas to build her mock-ups. She'd make one, walk around it, memorize it, then break it down and start a new one. Once the form was clear in her mind, she'd sketch it before returning to make another mock-up.

While Sora quietly worked, three female students aiming for art college appeared at the entrance.

“Whoa, that genius girl is really here. What's she doing…?”

“I thought she wasn't coming lately, but looks like she's making models… She'd make a great model herself.”

“Hey, wanna try talking to her?”

They were three repeat-year students. Sora occasionally came and critiqued their work, often ranking first, and combined with her looks, was called “the genius girl.” The three had come to use the art school until their class started and spotted her. Now that class wasn't in session, they felt they could approach her.

“Um…”

“!” Sora flinched and looked around.

“Well, we see you in Shige-sensei's class sometimes. I was kinda curious — you always get top critiques, right? You're a high schooler?”

Sora glared silently at the three girls.

The girls had very colorful hair with highlights—an unusual style for high schoolers, making them more like adult “gyaru”. To Sora, they were a level above her usual acquaintances.

Scared of the gyaru, Sora's expression stiffened and she glared silently, frozen with anxiety. The girls, mistaking her glare for aloofness, whispered among themselves.

“Looks like she's not interested in us at all.”

“Well, she's that good, no wonder. Doing oil painting's so old school and serious, she's definitely mad.”

“You're aiming for the Western painting department too, right?”

A voice came from behind the three girls.

“Um…”

They turned to see Sora, apron on, staring intently while mumbling in a small voice.

“…Good morning…”

The three girls internally noted that she'd “stumbled” over her greeting, as a thunderbolt seemed to strike behind them.

Embarrassed and blushing bright red from the slip, Sora sat back down and returned to making her mock-ups. The three exchanged looks. They realized she wasn't angry — just the type who finds communication difficult, common in their scene. Encouraged, they tried to get closer.

“So, you usually do sketches, watercolors, or oil paintings, right? Mind if we ask why you're playing with clay?”

“Well, this girl here actually uses 3D printers and knows about this kind of stuff.”

“…I'm just average.”

Sora glanced sideways at the three girls.

“…It's a mock-up for my piece…”

The three nodded to each other, relieved that she was the type to respond properly. Their interest in the mysterious genius girl deepened—they wanted to get closer.

“Hey, it looks abstract, but what's the motif?”

“….”

Sora gave them a sharp glare (or so the three felt), causing them to hesitate. After a long pause, she murmured something.

“…First love.”

She repeated it quietly once more.

“!!!”

The three were stunned by the force of Sora's whisper, her face red to the ears. But their understanding was a bit different. Though not professionals, they shared a creator's pride. The fact that Sora blushed yet didn't run away and instead declared her theme meant that as an artist who shows work to others, no matter how embarrassing, you have to say what you truly want to convey.

They might be laughed at; they themselves had been mocked by heartless gallery visitors many times.

Still, they kept creating and expressing, believing there was something only they could express. They were not ashamed even if embarrassed. They had to face their work honestly.

They realized Sora was the same. The three nodded in agreement.

“Let us help.”

Hearing their earnest and sincere offer, Sora quietly nodded.

By the way, afterward…

“Working with your boyfriend!?”

“…B-boyfriend? First love…! Waaah!”

“First year of high school… youth… wait, what was I doing in the art room all this time? Is this… tears?”

The three art college repeaters suffered a serious emotional blow after having lunch with Sora.