While Hana Ren was looking for Aoi and Rin, Nanami also brought Mashiro to the art club.
As soon as they arrived at the entrance of the art club, before Nanami could speak, the art club members enthusiastically ran over.
"Aoyama-san and Shiina-san, welcome to visit! We heard Shiina-san is very good at drawing? Eriri-san is also here today!"
Aoi didn't boast that Mashiro was a world-class painter; she only said that the transfer student was very good at drawing, and she didn't reveal Mashiro's full name, only that her surname was Shiina. Originally, she had wanted to enjoy the feeling of playing dumb and surprising others when they discovered Mashiro's true identity… What a pity.
"Hello~" Nanami smiled and exchanged a brief greeting, while Mashiro merely nodded and walked into the art club's activity room. With delicate features, slightly mature phoenix eyes, and radiant golden hair over clear, fair skin, the exquisite girl, like a doll, quickly captured the attention of the art club members.
The art club's activity room wasn't large; the cleared classroom held over a dozen easels, and beside them were various colored paints, with white paint being the most abundant. Compared to sports clubs, the art club was quite niche and didn't have many members. Club activities mostly consisted of sketching or having someone pose as a model for drawing, and holding a small art exhibition during the school festival.
However, even in this small art club, there were masters. Aoi had mentioned it before, and Nanami knew it too, although they didn't pay much attention, they had vaguely heard that there was a genius painter in the art club who could hold an exhibition.
"Eriri's studio is next door, Shiina-san, you don't know, do you? Eriri is our art club's ace, come with me, I'll introduce you."
The art club members enthusiastically led the two to a small room next to the activity room, which had been converted from an instruction room. This was Eriri's exclusive studio.
"Eriri~ Shiina-san is here."
"Ah, coming, just a moment." A female voice came from the studio, and after a while, the studio door opened, and a golden figure appeared before Nanami and Mashiro.
What a cute girl! This was Nanami's first impression of Eriri. Her dazzling golden hair, like Mashiro's, was tied into twin tails with a black hairband. She was slender and petite, slightly shorter than Mashiro. She was wearing a uniform, so Nanami couldn't tell if she had a small bust or if she was the type who appeared more shapely once her clothes were off, like Mashiro.
But for some reason, there was a hint of guilt in her azure eyes.
"Aoi told me you were coming to visit. Aoyama-san and Shiina-san, right? My name is Sawamura Spencer Eriri, just call me Eriri like everyone else, please come in."
Entering the studio, apart from a desk with a laptop, the rest of the space was occupied by various drawing boards and easels. The other members of the art club also followed the two into the studio.
After entering the studio, Nanami introduced herself to Eriri. "We are Aoi's classmates. I'm Aoyama Nanami, and this is Shiina Mashiro."
Hearing Mashiro's name, Eriri froze, then completely blanked out. The scene Aoi most wanted to see had appeared, but unfortunately, she wasn't there.
OvO
After a few seconds of stunned, Eriri finally reacted.
"Eh eh eh eh eh!??? Shiina Mashiro? That Shiina Mashiro??? The genius oil painter Shiina Mashiro?"
"Mhm."
To the astonished Eriri, Mashiro merely nodded faintly, showing no other significant reaction. She simply walked to an easel and stared at Eriri's painting. The other club members who didn't know the name Shiina Mashiro immediately took out their phones to search when they saw Eriri's huge reaction. Although they were in the art club, most of them drew two-dimensional artworks, and few cared about oil painting.
After finding Mashiro's name online, the club members exclaimed in surprise, but Mashiro remained completely unmoved, simply staring intently at Eriri's painting in front of the easel, not saying a word.
Eriri, standing beside her, nervously swallowed. Soon after, Mashiro's tightly closed cherry lips parted. Just as Eriri thought Mashiro was about to offer some guidance, the words that came from Mashiro's mouth instantly made Eriri break out in a cold sweat.
"Egoistic-lily? Kashiwagi Eriri?"
"Kyaaaahhh!!! Kyaaaahhh!!!"
Eriri suddenly screamed, drawing everyone's attention to her. If the name Kashiwagi Eriri got out, it would be over, so… just make a loud noise to cover it up! But… why does she know my pen name in the adult industry is Kashiwagi Eriri?!!!! It's over, it's over, it's over, it's over, it's over!!!!!
Eriri was completely panicked, cold sweat plastered her bangs to her forehead, her wildly pounding heart made her cheeks burn, and her breathing became rapid. After taking two deep breaths, Eriri subconsciously held her breath. Under her gaze, Mashiro slowly spoke.
"Rin…"
"Ah ah ah ah ah!!!!!!"
"Ge…"
"Eek!!!!!!!!!!!!"
Under everyone's gaze, Eriri showed a smile uglier than crying. "C-can you… can you all step outside for a moment? I have something I want to say to Shiina-san."
"No problem, hehe We won't disturb the artists" After a mischievous tease, the art club members walked out of the studio. Nanami hesitated slightly before also leaving the studio.
After running to the door and confirming it was locked, Eriri's gaze fell on Mashiro.
"Shiina…-san, how do you know my pen name?"
From the club to the pen name to the name of the doujinshi, she recognized everything accurately. What was going on?! Wasn't she a world-class oil painter? Why would she know so much about doujinshi stuff!?
"I've read your doujinshi. I recognize your art."
"...?"
Is this the power of a world-class painter? Eriri's mouth twitched. She had specifically replaced all the paintings in her studio with proper, exhibitable works when she heard someone was coming to visit, putting away all the suggestive drawings that, while not exactly doujinshi, still showed underwear… yet she was still recognized. And… even though she used two different art styles for her proper paintings and her doujinshi, she was still able to recognize them.
But what the hell does "she's read my doujinshi" mean!? Why would a world-class genius painter read doujinshi!? And just happened to have read her doujinshi!?
Wait a minute… Next, she wouldn't say something like, "You don't want people to know you're Kashiwagi Eriri, do you?" would she?
Under Eriri's gaze, Mashiro's cherry lips parted slightly.
"You don't want people to know you're Kashiwagi Eriri, do you?"
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