How rude, we are pure love!

"You can do it."

Akane Benizaka spoke as if she was stating a fact, and every word she said was filled with unquestionable force.

"because……"

She grabbed a cowhide bag on the tatami mat, took out a picture album from it, and handed it to Eriri lazily.

"Your current painting skills are indeed mature and quite good, but they are far from amazing. You still have room for improvement."

Akane Benizaka's voice was like a devil, penetrating into people's hearts. Eriri swallowed nervously, picked up the album on the table, and slowly opened it.

"—"

It was the same painting as hers.

To be precise, it was a painting that used the same techniques as hers, light and shadow, color, and shape. At first glance, I thought I was looking at my own painting.

People say that painting is creation, not imitation, but that is art. At best, they are now just commercial creations, and no one cares so much about business. Even most players cannot tell the subtle difference. Skill alone is enough.

Eriri felt a hot sweat on her back. She knew she wasn't particularly outstanding in this field, but sometimes, really only sometimes, she would feel a little proud, thinking she was really amazing. If she put her all into it, maybe she could compete with geniuses of the same age. She knew it was just a fantasy, but...

But when the cruel reality was before her, her heart was still shaking and trembling violently.

This is what she considers to be her peak work.

Moreover, I have several years more time to practice than others and have never slacked off in practice.

Even so, she was easily imitated.

She did not feel angry about being imitated because she knew that Akane Benizaka would not use these paintings for commercial purposes. The other party was just using them to help her recognize herself.

Well, I have indeed recognized it. She is only at this level now.

She thought of Qingye. Would such a scene happen to Qingye in the future? Just thinking of that scene made her feel her blood freeze.

This is the only reason she absolutely doesn't want to lose.

Eriri gritted her teeth.

"Think about it carefully. If you want to make progress, be prepared to devote yourself wholeheartedly. If you can't do that, you will have to leave this cruel battlefield." Hongzaka Akane said lazily.

*

When I walked out of this luxury hotel, the sky was already dyed crimson, and the refreshing evening breeze slightly blew away some of the confusion in my heart.

Eriri and Kasumigaoka Utaha were walking casually by the river, feeling very strange.

The joy of being invited by a big company, the unhappiness of being looked down upon, the worry about one's own abilities, the confusion of not being able to see the way forward... these emotions mixed together, making the world in front of one's eyes seem different, the senses are clearer, and the world revolves around oneself.

This is what it feels like to face a major choice in life, they thought.

Although they are still students, both of them have entered the workplace in their own ways and earned money. In this respect, they are more mature than their peers.

Kasumigaoka Utaha walked with her long legs and stood by the river, looking at the tall buildings and sunset opposite, and reached out her hand to gently support her long black hair.

"Sawamura-kun, what do you think?"

They used to be rivals who quarreled and disliked each other, but at the same time they admired each other's work. Now, for some reason, Eriri no longer confronts her, and their relationship has inexplicably improved a lot.

"That woman is very annoying." The blonde girl leaned against the railing and snorted heavily.

That was indeed the case. It was rare for Kasumigaoka Utaha to share the same opinion as this loser. Although Akane Benizaka hadn't done anything excessive to them, her condescending attitude was infuriating.

"Besides, I don't think Kiyono will agree to her. You must not be fooled by the lies made up by such an unscrupulous producer." Eriri added.

"Not necessarily... What if Qingye-kun is willing to write a script for this game?"

Kasumigaoka Utaha noticed the hidden meaning in the girl's words and turned her head to look at her.

Ying Lili stared at the quietly flowing river and was silent for a while. The sound was as gorgeous as the sunset.

"That's 'Realm Wars', a game that's been incredibly popular in recent years. Even many people in our school have played it. We can actually participate in the creation of a new game..."

The most awesome game.

and favorite authors.

She wants to improve her painting skills.

and so.

"I want to join him."

The surface of the river reflected the shimmering light.

"I see. It's rare that you're not tsundere."

Kasumigaoka Utaha smiled slightly. In fact, her thoughts were the same as Eriri's. She couldn't deceive herself, but...

"If we quit, what will happen to Tomoya-kun's club?"

Akane Benizaka's requirement is to devote all her energy to this work and give up everything except her own necessary career, and Tomoya Aki's club is among them.

Kasumigaoka Utaha is a very rational girl. She knows very well what this choice means - the disappointment of liking the boy and the loss of time to spend with him.

Eriri lowered her head and gripped the guardrail tightly with one hand. Perhaps because she had experienced the same thing before, images of the past suddenly flashed through her mind.

How to do?

She thought many things had changed, but her mood now was so similar to that time.

In a trance, she once again stood at this fork in the road.

However, the situation this time was completely different. Their club wasn't officially established, it was just a playful one, so...

So, the two are different, she thought, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

But a lie will never become true even if it is told a thousand times. She also knew in her heart that if she told this to her childhood sweetheart, perhaps this long-standing relationship would really end in an irreversible way.

Eriri gave her own answer.

"His club just started not long ago, and the heroine hasn't even shown up yet... I'll do my best to help him finish the game."

Kasumigaoka Utaha stared quietly at the blonde girl who turned her head away, and sighed secretly. It seemed that she was unable to make this girl make the right choice.

"If you don't try to correct your habit of acting like an ostrich at critical moments, you'll definitely regret it later."

*

Under the soft light of the desk lamp, Qingye was holding a paintbrush, working hard to move towards his ideal direction stroke by stroke. On the blank drawing paper, a vivid and smiling girl gradually appeared.

"That's probably how it feels."

Qingye blew on the drawing paper, feeling satisfied. After two days of practice, he could clearly feel that his painting skills had improved again.

Work hard to become a great painter!

Then, while he was brushing up his painting experience bar, he received a call from his editor.

"What? You said there's a mature and sexy older sister who's interested in my beauty and wants to meet me privately?"

——In short, there were business talks with the publishing house, right?

He skillfully translated the editor's words.

Although he could basically refuse given his status and achievements, since the editor came to him, Qingye did not refuse. After all, the editor usually helped him solve many problems.

However, even though he was mentally prepared, the corners of his mouth still twitched when he saw the elder sister in person.

Qingye stood in front of the hotel. He raised his head and saw a woman appearing at the door. She had plump and slender thighs and a sharp temperament. It was Akane Hongsaka, whom he had met once.

This is indeed an older sister, but she is an alcoholic older sister.

Akane Benizaka let the young man look at her, then smiled, placed her right hand on her chest, and bowed slightly to him, her demeanor elegant.

"Teacher Qingye, I've been waiting for you for a long time."

——I wonder what the two girls who had just endured a blizzard of indifference would think when they saw this scene.

Qingye also didn't expect that this arrogant woman would come out to greet him in person, and he felt a little weird for a moment.

"Ms. Hongsaka, didn't we exchange contact information last time? Why do we have to look for the editor specifically?" Qingye followed her.

"Business cooperation always involves a publishing company." Akane Benizaka glanced back at him. "Also, my real name is Akane Kousaka, so just call me by my first name."

The two came to the Japanese-style house, and Akane Kousaka personally made him a cup of tea.

"Ms. Hongsaka, what can I do for you?" Qingye took a sip of tea and went straight to the point.

"I came here this time to ask the teacher to participate in the most powerful game I have conceived."

Akane Kousaka sat upright and got straight to the point in a decisive manner.

"As long as you're willing to write this story with me, I'll do whatever you want."

She handed over a stack of documents, her eyes etched with an almost obsessive focus. Her demeanor made one suspect that even if Qingye had said, "I want to start a harem in your company!", she would have replied without hesitation, "Do you need to confirm the standard reference chart for measurements for the sixteen to twenty age range now?"

"Ms. Kousaka is too heavy."

Qingye complained and opened the plan with interest.

After a long while, he gently put down the paper.

"What do you think, Mr. Kiyono?" Akane Benizaka stared at him.

"Classic Japanese fantasy, I really enjoy playing it." Qingye mused, "But I'm sorry, I may not have time to make games."

This kind of large-scale game that requires teamwork is not like personal creation. It has strict requirements in all aspects. He has no shortage of money or fame brought by the game. He might as well use this time to improve his painting skills.

"If you have any concerns, Mr. Kiyono, please feel free to raise them."

Akane Benizaka was not discouraged by the rejection, but she felt a little depressed - if Kiyono was just a light novel writer, she could be bolder, but the literary aura around him was too difficult to deal with.

If you go too far, those old guys will say a few words, and maybe the game company won't have any problems, but the person in charge of the game planning will definitely have to be replaced, and will have to apologize respectfully to the young man in front of him.

"Game production requires living in the company's dedicated studio. I don't want to be too far away from home. Secondly, the time span is too long, and it will take nearly a year." Qingye found a reason that was difficult to refuse.

"So, you think you can handle this script, right?"

The woman smiled and said without hesitation, "You don't have to go to the company. I will try my best to get others to cooperate with you. If you are willing to work hard, it will definitely not delay your literary and light novel creation."

Although the industry has a very bad evaluation of Akane Benizaka, she is indeed very courageous. As long as it is for the quality of her creation, she can give up everything.

She was totally serious.

Qingye raised his eyebrows and couldn't help asking:

"Why are you so obsessed with me, Ms. Kosaka? There must be other authors in the industry who have achieved better results than me."

"Because of 'talent'." Her pupils flashed with dazzling fire.

"Only your brushstrokes can be perfect, no, even exceed my expectations. If the producer is compared to a swordsman and the creator is the sword, then you are the sharpest sword of Ama Murakumo. I want you."

Akane Kousaka did not use famous swords such as Dojikiri and Muramasa to describe it, but used the legendary three sacred weapons, which shows her persistence.

-Don't use such a bad expression!

Qingye was speechless, feeling like he had met a pervert.

"Don't you want to see the complete form of Kashiwagi Eri after she grows up? Or do you want other painters? I have prepared several styles. As long as you ask, you can choose any painter in the industry. I can also find you a traditional painter from a famous art school." Akane Kousaka said the lines that would make Eriri wail.

Painter?

Qingye suddenly had an idea. For a national-level game like this, the artistic strength has always been strong. As a side quest 'secret realm', it should be able to gain a lot of experience. He had almost absorbed all of Eriri's experience.

He tried to re-plan his time and career arrangements and found that this secret world of painting could be explored a little.

After thinking quietly for a while, he had already made a decision in his heart.

"I still can't join Ms. Kosaka's project because I can't devote myself to writing the script. If I agree, it would be irresponsible. However, I can help write and guide the script outline. Of course, there are a few conditions."

"Do you want Sawamura Eriri or Kasumigaoka Utaha? I will create opportunities for you."

Akane Benizaka was not very satisfied, but there was not much she could do, so she could only smile helplessly.

"I need Ms. Kosaka to give me a temporary position, one that is not subject to any constraints and can go to get off work and come in at any time. This is the direction I want to work hard in recently!" Qingye changed his role.

"What is it?"

Akane Kousaka took a sip of wine nonchalantly. It was normal for young people to be interested in games. Usually, it would just be to dub a character or something like that, right?

Then, she saw the boy smile brightly.

"Original painting."