Chapter 44: Smile

Reading Settings

Translator: Xre

---

Rua Takayashiki & Kouji Araki vs. Mashiro Watagi & Kazu Suzuki. A battle of art.

The moment this showdown was announced, it quickly spread through the school like wildfire, becoming the talk of the students.

“Hey, Kazu-nii, don't you think that's totally unfair?”

The one who said that was none other than the “genius of the stage,” Isami Shirasagi.

It was a bright, sunny lunch break.

Just the two of us, having lunch behind the school building in the flower garden. That's when she voiced her concern.

“Because they're going to use Rua as the model, right? No one in this school would dare criticize a painting of the most powerful girl on campus.”

Her round, expressive eyes peered into mine at close range. Whenever we were alone like this, she always sat so close. To an outsider, it might've looked like a romantic scene between two boys—but Isami was actually a cross-dressing girl. So technically, no problem… or maybe that's a different kind of problem.

“Yeah. It might not be a fair fight.”

“Come on! Don't say that like it doesn't concern you!”

As I bit into my sweet roll, Isami gave me a scolding glare.

“If you lose, you'll get back together with Rua… Is that true?”

So that's what she's really worried about. Maybe she's jealous. The way she pouted was, I hate to admit it, incredibly cute.

“If it ever came to that, I'd flee the country.”

“Th-Then I'm coming with you!!”

“That's not a good idea. What about your drama club?”

If I eloped with their star actor, the other girls in the club would probably hate me forever.

“Why did you even agree to the match? You could've just ignored it. That's not like you.”

“Yeah…”

Maybe it wasn't like me.

But I couldn't just stand by.

I couldn't turn a blind eye to how badly Mashiro-senpai was being treated by her childhood friend.

“If I were in the art club, I'd give all my hundred votes to you, Kazu-nii!”

“Haha, that'd be cheating.”

I appreciated the sentiment. But if I accepted that kind of support, I'd be no better than Rua.

Mashiro-senpai and I would face them fair and square.

---

After school.

In the underground archive room, I started sketching.

Mashiro-senpai sat on a folding chair while I began penciling the outline. The final piece would be a watercolor, but I had to start with the draft.

“Hehe… being a model is kind of nerve-wracking.”

She smiled shyly. That bashful look made her even harder to draw—but also terribly charming.

“Are you sure you want to do watercolor? Unlike oils, you can't repaint. It's one-shot.”

“I've never used oil paint before. But we learned watercolor in elementary school.”

Yeah. Total amateur move.

But that wasn't the real reason.

“Honestly, I want to use watercolor. The painting you showed me yesterday—it was stunning. It hit me hard. I want to make something like that.”

“…My painting really wasn't that special…”

She mumbled, averting her eyes.

Part of it was embarrassment. But there was something else—something like hesitation.

“Senpai. Can I ask you something?”

“Sure. What is it?”

“That guy Araki—sorry, Arata. He's your childhood friend, right?”

“…Yeah. Our houses are next door.”

Her expression darkened ever so slightly.

“I heard he's amazing. An Olympic-level boxer and an award-winning painter.”

“Yeah. Kou-chan is a genius.”

“Maybe in boxing. But in painting… I'm not so sure.”

She tilted her head, confused.

“What are you trying to say?”

“He's getting quite a bit of help from you on his paintings, isn't he?”

“Just a little. He's busy with boxing, so I only help out a little.”

“Really? Are you sure it's not you who's doing most of the work?”

She fell silent.

A heavy stillness filled the underground room.

Then came a long, quiet sigh.

“…Yeah. It's something the teachers and the other art club members all know.”

“So, it's an open secret. But why go along with it?”

“It's good PR.”

She smiled weakly.

“You know how this school operates, right? ‘The Academy of Geniuses.' Teikai Academy needs to show the world we have amazing talent. And for that, someone like me won't do. But Kou-chan? He's a genius in both martial arts and the arts. He draws attention. It's been decided between the boxing club and the school—he's the face.”

“I see.”

Exactly the kind of manufactured brilliance you'd expect from a school ruled by Rua.

They'd turned Arata—with his looks and boxing accolades—into a ‘genius painter' to attract media buzz.

But is that really the best choice?

“I think you'd be a better fit.”

“No way. Someone like me can't…”

“If the world found out the person who made that amazing painting was someone as cute as you—”

“No! Don't say that!!”

She suddenly shouted.

She looked surprised at her own voice, then cast her eyes down.

“…No good. A clumsy girl like me could never be enough. If only I were as pretty and charming as Rua-san… but I'm not. So, I'm no good.”

Quietly, I asked:

“Is that really your own opinion?”

“…”

“Or… have you been told that over and over since you were a kid? By ‘Kou-chan.' Told that you're worthless without him, just so he could keep control over you?”

That's how abusive parents and spouses often operate. They brainwash others to believe they're nothing on their own. “You're nothing without me.” “You can't do anything right.”

People do that. Sometimes on purpose. Sometimes unconsciously.

Humans can be ugly creatures.

But she wasn't.

“Kou-chan… he does have a kind side too.”

Her voice was barely a whisper.

“In first grade, when I was being left out at the park… he held my hand and brought me into the group. I was so happy. It made me really happy…”

“Besides that,… did he do anything kind for you?”

“There's more. Um, let me think…”

She kept repeating “Um…” for a while.

Nothing came.

She smiled weakly again.

“…Haha. I can't remember anything else…”

“I'm going to keep drawing.”

I resumed the sketch I'd paused for our conversation.

“So, Senpai… smile. Not that faint smile—give me the radiant one you showed me yesterday. That brilliant, adorable smile.”

That smile she gave when I praised her painting—that light filled the room.

That smile could outshine any beauty in the world.

“Honestly, Kazu-kun, you exaggerate too much.”

She sniffled softly.

“If you say things like that, I can't smile… I'll just start crying…”

---

Five days passed.

Every day after school, Mashiro-senpai gave me thirty minutes of her time. She had to train for the Teikousen too. Once the sketch was done, I didn't need her to sit for the whole time. I'd already started applying color.

The night before the showdown—Sunday night.

I was still working alone in the underground archive when someone came to see me.

Wearing a cherry-blossom-pink kimono.

She appeared without a sound, gliding into the room.

“Yahhoo~, Kazuuu-kun~”

That carefree voice.

My mentor and the top of the Ten Grates—Mira Takayashiki.

“Good evening, Master. What brings you here?”

“Oh, you know~ I just heard Rua-chan is entering an art contest with you~ Thought I'd come check it out~ Is that your piece?”

She approached the canvas in front of me.

“Lemme take a peek……………………………?!?!?!”

The moment she saw it, she was speechless.

She froze, entranced.

“…What's the title of this piece?”

“‘Smile.'”

“I see. You… you really are… just… just…”

She kept shaking her head in disbelief.

“Actually, I came here to warn you.”

“Huh.”

“Five mercenaries arrived from Switzerland yesterday. They brought some big surfboards. Oddly enough, customs didn't inspect a thing. Rua pulled strings to keep them under the radar.”

“They're not here to surf, are they?”

She nodded.

“You know Rua-chan's personality, right? She hates losing. And she'll do anything to win. This time, her relationship with you is at stake. She's aiming for a 100% guaranteed win.”

“And if she loses?”

“Then those ‘surfboards' are going to start breathing fire.”

I wouldn't put it past her.

“All five are elite professionals. This time, even you might not make it. You could survive if you run alone—but protecting the art club kids too? No way.”

“I won't know until I try.”

She sighed quietly.

“Yeah… I figured you'd say that.”

“Sorry to be such a lousy student.”

I apologized. I'd always been a handful for her.

“Don't tell Rua I came here, okay~?”

“I won't.”

“And I'm going to ‘forget' something here. That's a secret too~”

“…?”

With those strange words, she left.

All that remained in the underground room was the faint scent of cherry blossoms from her hair—and…

“…!”

A single sword.

A long white-wooden sword, propped beside the door.

I picked it up.

Heavier than it looked. Familiar.

It had saved me many times during my days as an active member of the Ten Greats.

Its name: Koro—the Lone Wolf.