Chapter 579

“Ah—it’s Ruri-chan’s brother!”

“Natsume-brother, hello!”

“H-hello… Natsume-senior.”

Natsume Chikage nodded politely to them, a faint, gentle smile on his face.

“Hello.”

The girls seemed even more excited, like a flock of chirping little birds.

“Natsume-brother, Ruri-club president’s paintings are so amazing, can you draw too?”

Natsume Chikage nodded, his tone calm.

“Yeah, I can.”

This affirmative answer made the girls even more excited, and they all made requests.

“Then… then can we see the paintings you draw, Natsume-brother?”

“I want to see too!”

Natsume Chikage didn’t answer immediately, but turned his head and looked at his sister Natsume Ruri as if asking.

“Ruri, drawing here, should be fine, right?”

If it were in the past, Natsume Ruri might have been a bit hesitant and reluctant.

After all, back then, she didn’t know that her brother had such amazing strength in painting.

But now, having witnessed her brother’s hidden talent, she naturally had no objections.

Because the more outstanding her brother was, the more glorious she, as a sister, felt.

Natsume Ruri smiled and nodded vigorously.

“Of course it’s fine, brother.”

“But… as for the model, who should we choose?”

Tsukishima Rin, standing to the side, felt her heart jump, feeling this was an excellent opportunity.

She coughed twice, hiding her inner shyness and anticipation, and volunteered:

“Um… how about, let me try?”

A happy smile immediately bloomed on Natsume Ruri’s face.

“Mm-hmm! Of course, that’s great!”

And Ando Chizuru, standing to the side, heard this decision and instantly felt as if she had been petrified, freezing in place.

She had originally… secretly hoped that perhaps she could have Natsume-brother help draw a portrait of her.

The other girls in the Art Club didn’t know the subtle interpersonal relationships between these few.

They only knew that Tsukishima Rin was a beauty with outstanding temperament and appearance.

Being able to have such a pretty “model,” they were naturally very happy to see it happen.

Thus, with the enthusiastic help of the girls, the easel was quickly set up, and the sketch paper and pencils were ready.

Natsume Chikage sat down in front of the easel, adjusted his posture, and cast his gaze toward Tsukishima Rin, who was sitting quietly on a chair by the window.

And although Tsukishima Rin had long been accustomed to being watched by hundreds or thousands of eyes due to countless violin performances and competitions.

Back then, she was focused, feeling that the people off-stage were no different from the stones and trees by the roadside.

But now, being stared at so intently by Natsume Chikage, she felt her heartbeat completely out of control, thumping wildly, and her cheeks felt slightly hot.

Natsume Ruri, Kaga Reisa, and the other Art Club members didn’t start drawing along with Natsume Chikage.

They all gathered behind Natsume Chikage with curiosity and a desire to observe, holding their breath as they carefully watched his painting process.

But soon, the curiosity on their faces was gradually replaced by shock.

Because Natsume Chikage’s painting process was simply like flowing water, without a second thought.

He didn’t make any rough drafts, and didn’t even use auxiliary lines for simple composition positioning.

The tip of the pencil touched the paper, and he began a smooth sketch that was almost like “printing.”

The lines were precise and certain, the pressure of the strokes was just right, and the character’s outline, expression, and light-and-shadow relationship appeared on the paper at a speed that made people gasp.

Almost without a trace of hesitation or pause.

You know, this group of students who could be selected for the Art Club were all elites in painting, often called “little geniuses” outside.

But even the best among them could absolutely not do what Natsume Chikage did, as if he had already engraved the complete picture in his mind.

Even Natsume Ruri, looking at her brother’s almost terrifying painting speed and perfect technique, couldn’t help but puff out her fair cheeks.

In her heart, she felt both proud and a little bit “unwilling.”

She just felt that her brother, like her, was truly a genius in painting… no, her brother might even be above her.

But thinking that her brother had been burying such amazing talent because he was addicted to playing games…

She couldn’t help but feel a bit angry.

Soon.

Natsume Chikage gently put down his pencil and said toward Tsukishima Rin’s direction:

“That’s it, Senior Tsukishima.”

Tsukishima Rin recovered from that subtle tension of being watched and looked up at the clock on the wall in surprise.

“Eh? It’s only been a few minutes… and you’re already done? So fast?”

Natsume Chikage nodded and took the drawing paper off the easel.

“Yeah, it’s finished.”

And Kaga Reisa and the other Art Club girls watching were already so surprised by the painting presented before them that they were speechless.

In the painting, Tsukishima Rin sat by the window softly shrouded in the afternoon sun, her expression calm and carrying a hint of imperceptible gentleness.

The light and shadow were handled exquisitely, the expression outlined by the lines was lifelike, and the whole painting was full of spirit and vitality.

The realm of painting they pursued was right there.

“Natsume-brother… this is too amazing…”

“Truly worthy of being Ruri-club president’s brother, too strong!”

“I… I wish I were that good.”

Listening to the exclamations and praises rising one after another, Tsukishima Rin couldn’t suppress her curiosity and walked over quickly.

“Let me see.”

The moment she saw herself in the painting, her eyes suddenly lit up, as if stars had fallen into them.

She in the painting was not only similar in shape, but also captured a certain indescribable charm, making her feel a beauty that was slightly unfamiliar yet moving.

“Natsume-kun… this painting is really great!”

She looked up, her eyes filled with undisguised love and anticipation.

“I… can I keep it?”

Natsume Chikage smiled and handed over the drawing paper.

“Of course. Consider it a thank-you gift for bringing me to watch the performance today.”

Tsukishima Rin carefully took the painting, as if holding some precious treasure, her face filled with bright joy.

“Mm-hmm! Thank you, Natsume-kun!”

After a while.

After the interlude of this simple “campus tour,” it was nearing its end.

Natsume Chikage checked the time on his phone, remembering that he had other arrangements—he needed to go to a shop specializing in repairing kitchenware to retrieve that special equipment called the “Oden Immortal’s Damaged Ladle.”

He didn’t know how the repair work was going and if it could be successfully restored.

But regardless, he had to go and see to know the result.

“It’s about time, I have other things to do, so I’ll be leaving first.”

Natsume Ruri, along with Kaga Reisa and Ando Chizuru, smiled and waved goodbye to Natsume Chikage.

“Mm-hmm, goodbye brother, take care on the way.”

“Goodbye… Chikage-brother.”

“Bye-bye, Natsume-brother!”

Tsukishima Rin actually wanted to take the opportunity to suggest walking a distance with Natsume Chikage.

But thinking about it, she felt it might not be appropriate to follow him when he specifically mentioned he “had things to do.”

Besides, from a strategic perspective, the most important “target” now was clearly Ruri-sister.

As long as she could successfully “conquer” Ruri-sister, she thought that “conquering” Natsume-kun in the future would also be twice as effective with half the effort.