Chapter 43: The Pig Stubbornly Refuses to Admit She's a Pig (Which Is Why She's a Pig)

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Translator: Xre

Good news, everyone! Thanks to Xre for archiving the missing chapters, I can finally finish this novel.

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“Who's that girl!? She's ugly!!”

The art room atelier, once brimming with the creative spirit of the art club members, had turned into a comedy stage thanks to the pig's arrival.

Are you seriously calling someone else ugly with that face? That pig-like mug practically leaks

bad personality. But society has decided that “Rua Takayashiki ” is a perfect beauty—great looks, great voice, great family, great personality. Not a single one of those things is true.

All the other club members were so intimidated by her reputation that they averted their eyes.

But of course, there are always dogs eager to wag their tails.

In a complete turnaround from his earlier rough attitude, Kouji Araki started speaking in a grossly eager voice.

“Rua-chan! Long time no see! Do you remember me?”

“Huh? Who?”

“C'mon, remember? We went to karaoke together! I told you I was a double scholarship student—Boxing Club and Art Club!”

“Oh, right, right. Arata, was it?”

“No, it's Araki, but if you say so, I'll change it to Arata starting tomorrow!!”

Have some respect for your ancestors, dude.

Ignoring “Arata,” the pig stomped her way straight toward Mashiro-senpai.

“Hey, ugly? Mind getting away from my Kazu? Rua-chan Distance—at least two meters, please. U-G-L-Y! Ugly ugly UGLY!”

She twirled theatrically as she said this, far too rhythmically for comfort.

I stepped in front of Mashiro-senpai, who was clearly terrified, shielding her.

“Get out. Right now.”

“Hey, Kazu, if you're going to draw, why don't I model for you?”

Oh god, stop shaking your butt.

“Sorry, I don't draw pigs.”

“Kazuuu, even if it's true, you shouldn't say it out loud. That's rude—to that ugly girl over there.”

She looked at Mashiro-senpai with mock pity.

“No, I was talking about you.”

“You? Is that someone's name?”

“…”

This girl…

“K-Kazuma-kun! Don't worry about me!”

Mashiro-senpai whispered. Even after being called “ugly” over and over, she was still that kind.

Standing at the back of the room, Rei Hikami, her personal bodyguard, was glaring at her with

her sharp eyes. Was he thinking the same thing he did with Ayukawa? I didn't plan on kissing

Mashiro-senpai, so it was probably a needless concern.

I sighed and tried to calm my anger.

“Fine. Whatever. Just go home already.”

“Fine! If you're gonna go that far, then let's settle this with a contest!”

She was completely out of touch. Clearly, human language was too advanced for her.

“If Kazu's gonna join the art club, then we'll settle this with art! Kazu will draw that ugly girl! And Arata will draw me! Then we'll have the art club members vote on which one is cuter!”

The pig grabbed Arata's arm and dragged him over. Arata was practically drooling with excitement. Being liked by the pig—that's a niche fetish if I've ever seen one.

Mashiro-senpai looked bewildered. She probably couldn't understand the pig's intentions. The other club members also looked stunned at this sudden turn of events.

But I understood.

I knew her too well.

Her intention was—basically—to make me admit: “I'm the cuter one, right!?”

She wanted me to draw Mashiro-senpai, then have the art club tear that drawing apart. Then she'd have Arata's drawing of her praised to high heaven.

“See? You should've drawn me, Kazu!!” That's what she wanted to say, basking in her so-called victory.

She hadn't considered the skill of the artist at all.

Normally, you'd think that would matter. But not this pig.

Even if the picture looked like a toddler's doodle, she believed it would be the best ever—just because she was the model. Her brain was practically marinated in honey.

Still, even if she had taken skill into account, the result would be the same.

A scholarship student in the art club like Arata and someone like me who hadn't even officially joined couldn't be compared—or so everyone would think.

And Arata seemed very enthusiastic about it.

“As expected of Rua-hime! Awesome idea! Perfect warm-up before the Teikousen. Don't chicken out, freshman! Mashiro, you're cool with it too, right?”

“I'm fine with it, but still…”

Mashiro-senpai glanced at me. I could tell she was worried. Not about herself being mocked—she was worried for me.

I didn't want anything to do with the pig. Normally, there would be zero reason to accept this challenge.

But this time, I'd make an exception.

Not just because the pig was trash-talking a kind upperclassman—but because of Arata's behavior toward her, too.

This whole “bullied by childhood friend” setup needed to be set straight.

“Fine. I'll accept your challenge.”

“It's on!!”

The pig grinned wickedly.

“One week from now, same time, we meet in this art room with our finished drawings! And if I win, Kazu, you're gonna cry and apologize and BEG to get back together! Got it!?”

“Whatever. Just go home already.”

“Kufufu, I can't wait for next week! Kazu, better start practicing your groveling now! ‘Rua-chan, I was wrong! I'm sorry! I'll change my ways, please take me back pleeeaaaase!!' And don't forget to rub your forehead into the floor while you do it! Shasha—cough!—guh—gah—COUGH COUGH!!”

The pig had laughed herself into a coughing fit.

God, she's annoying.

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After the pig left, still laughing maniacally—

“Sorry, Kazuma-kun. You got stuck drawing someone like me.”

Mashiro-senpai apologized with a troubled look.

The other art club members had already gone home. It was just the two of us now.

“Are you letting what that pig said get to you?”

“P-Pig… you mean Rua-san?”

“Who else would I mean?”

I had a similar exchange with Amane-chan before.

“You're way cuter than that pig.”

“Th-That's not true… Rua-hime is a super popular voice actress and… someone like me—anyone would say she's cuter…”

“It's not about what ‘anyone' says. I'm the one saying it.”

I looked straight into the eyes of the kind upperclassman.

“You're really cute. And if I lose, it just means I suck at drawing.”

Her snow-white cheeks turned bright red.

She nervously fiddled with her hands in front of her soft chest.

“…Thank you,” she murmured, her cherry-like lips trembling.

Yeah.

She really is cute.

“Actually, I should be the one apologizing—for dragging you into this mess.”

“No, I really don't mind. But… Kazuma-kun, are you good at drawing?”

“My art grades were always a solid 3 out of 5 since elementary school.”

“I see…” She sighed softly.

“Kou-chan's super talented, you know. He's good enough to be a scholarship student. Plus, his model is Rua-san. Honestly, it's gonna be tough to win.”

“We won't know until we try. I've never put my whole heart into drawing before. But this time, I'm fired up.”

“Because it's a contest with Rua-san?”

“Eh, no. She doesn't matter.”

I truly didn't care about her.

“I want to see how much of your cuteness I can capture in a drawing.”

“…Geez, Kazuma-kun… saying stuff like that with a straight face is cheating…”

She pouted shyly, blushing and flustered.

She was already more than cute like this—

But I knew…

She could become even cuter.