Chapter 933

"Ah—it's Ruri-chan's brother!"

"Hello, Natsume-niisan!"

"H-hello... Natsume-senpai."

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

"Hello."

The girls appeared even more excited, like a flock of happy little birds.

"Natsume-niisan, Ruri-bucho's painting is so amazing, can you paint too?"

Natsume Chikage nodded, his tone calm.

"Mm, I can."

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

"Then... can we see the painting you painted, Natsume-niisan?"

"I want to see it too!"

Natsume Chikage did not answer immediately, but turned his head and looked at his sister Natsume Ruri as if asking with his eyes.

"Ruri, painting here, should be no problem, 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, after witnessing 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 no problem, Brother."

"However... as for the model, who should we choose?"

Rin Tsukishima, listening from the side, felt her heart jump, feeling that this was an excellent opportunity.

She coughed lightly twice to cover up the shyness and anticipation in her heart, and took the initiative to recommend herself:

"That... how about, let me try?"

Natsume Ruri immediately bloomed with a happy smile on her face.

"Mm-hmm! Of course that's great!"

And Chizuru Ando, standing to the side, hearing this decision, instantly seemed to be petrified, frozen in place.

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

The other girls in the Art Club did not know the subtle interpersonal relationships between these people.

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

Being able to have such a beautiful "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 Rin Tsukishima, who was sitting quietly in the chair by the window.

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

But at that time, 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 only felt that her heartbeat was completely out of control, thumping and accelerating wildly, and her cheeks were also heating up slightly.

Natsume Ruri, Reisa Kaga, and the other members of the Art Club did not follow Natsume Chikage to start painting.

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

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

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

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

The tip of the pen touched the paper, and he began a fluent sketch that was almost like "printing".

The lines were precise and affirmative, the brushstrokes were just right in weight and speed, and the character's outline, expression, and light-and-shadow relationship were presented on the paper at a speed that made people stare in astonishment.

Almost without a trace of hesitation or pause.

One must know that this group of students who could be selected into the Art Club were all elites in painting, and were often called "little geniuses" outside.

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

Even Natsume Ruri, watching her brother's terrifying painting speed and perfect technique, couldn't help but puff out her fair cheeks.

Feeling both proud and a little bit of "unwillingness" in her heart.

Only feeling that her brother, like her, was truly a genius in painting... no, her brother might even be above her.

But thinking back that her brother had actually buried such amazing talent all along 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 Rin Tsukishima's direction:

"It's done, Tsukishima-senpai."

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

"Eh? Only a few minutes passed... and it's already finished? So fast?"

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

"Mm, it's done."

And the girls from the Art Club, including Reisa Kaga, who were watching, were already so surprised by the painting presented before them that they were somewhat speechless.

In the painting, Rin Tsukishima was sitting by the window softly shrouded in the afternoon sun, her expression calm with a hint of imperceptible gentleness.

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

The kind of painting realm they were pursuing was right there.

"Natsume-niisan... the painting is too amazing..."

"Truly worthy of being Ruri-bucho's brother, too strong!"

"I... if only I were that amazing."

Listening to the exclamations and praises rising one after another, Rin Tsukishima also 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.

In the painting, she was not only similar in form, but it also captured a certain indescribable charm, making her feel a hint of strange and moving beauty herself.

"Natsume-kun... this painting, it's really drawn so well!"

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

"Can... can I keep it?"

Natsume Chikage smiled and handed the drawing paper over.

"Of course you can. Just take it as a thank-you gift for bringing me to watch the performance today."

Rin Tsukishima 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 also nearing its end.

Natsume Chikage checked the time on his phone, remembering that he had other arrangements next—he needed to go to a shop specializing in repairing kitchenware to retrieve that special equipment called "The Broken Ladle of the Oden Immortal".

He didn't know how the repair work was going, or if it could be successfully restored.

But no matter what, he had to go over and see to know the result.

"Time is about up, I have something to do next, so I'll be going first."

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

"Mm-hmm, goodbye Brother, take care on the road."

"Goodbye... Chikage-niisan."

"Bye-bye, Natsume-niisan!"

Rin Tsukishima actually really wanted to take the opportunity to suggest walking a part of the way with Natsume Chikage.

But thinking about it, she felt that since he specifically mentioned "having something to do", it probably wouldn't be appropriate for her to follow rashly.

Moreover, from a strategic perspective, the most important "target" right now was clearly Ruri-chan.

As long as she could successfully "conquer" Ruri-chan, she thought that "conquering" Natsume-kun in the future would also be twice the result with half the effort.