"'pixiv'?" Shouko tilted her head slightly.
"It's nothing. Just ignore me—Skeb's a good choice too."
Akira waved it off, smiling faintly as he saw her puzzled look.
Skeb and pixiv were similar in concept, but Skeb focused more on anonymous commissions—a system where users could pay creators directly for custom works while keeping both sides' privacy protected.
"Why'd you suddenly think of this?" Akira asked, curious before she could question him further.
"This afternoon in the art club, Snow-senpai mentioned it," Shouko said, shifting closer until their shoulders nearly brushed. The faint scent of her shampoo mixed softly with the air.
"She said she started taking character art commissions on Skeb, so I thought… maybe I could do the same. Earn a little pocket money—to help Mom out."
Her smile was gentle, but something about it made Akira pause. For a moment, he couldn't look away.
"Akira, are you even listening?" Shouko puffed her cheeks and bumped her head lightly against his.
"Yes, yes, I'm listening…" he said quickly, rubbing the spot she'd nudged.
He thought for a moment, then added, "But if you're really going to do it, why not register on pixiv instead? You can even apply for official Futaba Publishing certification."
"Eh? That sounds… complicated." Shouko blinked.
"It's not. Just tell Funo-san," Akira said casually. "Once you've registered, upload some of your Anohana illustrations there. That's it."
"That easy?"
"Yep. This way, everyone will know you're the official illustrator for Anohana, and you'll get more commissions without needing to build a reputation from scratch."
Shouko hesitated only a second longer before nodding eagerly. "Alright, I'll do it!"
She immediately grabbed her phone and, under Akira's amused gaze, began registering an account. When she reached the verification step, she hopped up and ran downstairs to ask Shizuka Miyamura for help.
Moments later, she returned, phone in hand.
"Akira, what next?" she asked expectantly, showing him the screen.
"Next?" He pretended to think deeply. "Next, don't bite off more than you can chew, Shouko. You still haven't finished the commission I gave you."
He reached out and ruffled her hair gently.
"...You're mean," she muttered, cheeks puffed again.
"I've already told Funo-san about your account," Akira said, laughing softly. "Just send her your ID later—she'll walk you through the certification process."
When she didn't resist, he grew a little bolder and pinched her cheeks lightly. She swatted his hand away with a flustered glare.
"Oh, and when you post your Anohana art," Akira added, "avoid uploading anything that's already in the printed editions—especially the unreleased lower volume."
"Got it! Don't worry, Akira, I know what I'm doing."
She looked up suddenly. "Then what about my Your Lie in April practice illustrations?"
"Those are fine," Akira replied with a shrug.
They continued chatting until a message from Funo Jun popped up on Shouko's screen, pulling her attention away.
As Akira turned back to his own work, Shouko began adjusting her new profile and uploading her artwork, following Jun's guidance step by step.
She had a quiet feeling that this account might stay with her for a very long time…
That night, the fluorescent lights outside the convenience store glowed like stars along the darkened street.
A few cans of coffee clinked as Yaeko Nishimiya bought them from a vending machine, the soft ding-dong blending with the distant train announcements.
The night breeze carried a chill as the izakaya curtains swayed. Nishikata, wrapped in a light jacket, shivered slightly as he walked past.
By three in the morning, the streets were empty except for the rhythmic hum of a laundromat's spinning dryers.
Yuzuru Nishimiya, half-asleep, kicked off her blanket and murmured "Hachiko…" in her dreams. The small dog opened one eye before curling back into sleep.
At six-thirty, the crows on the utility poles announced morning.
Akira, out on his usual jog, stepped through the dew-covered stone path of the park.
At the convenience store, Ayumi yawned as she bought freshly steamed rice balls, the fogged glass glowing with the white mist from the bun steamer.
By noon, sunlight baked the asphalt roads.
Elementary students in yellow hats lined up on the pedestrian bridge, while Shizuka Miyamura and Tsuki Uzaki walked by carrying grocery bags from the supermarket.
In the school's bento area, the microwave's "ding" echoed one after another.
A sudden flutter of pigeons scattered in front of the shrine, breaking the lazy calm of the midday air.
"I want to take commissions on pixiv too!!!" Ayumi suddenly blurted out during lunch.
No one at the table even looked up—her outbursts had long become part of daily life.
"Just thinking about it—" Akira started to tease, but Shouko lightly slapped his arm before he could continue.
"Ayumi-chan, if you study hard for another three years, I'm sure you could take commissions too," Shouko said with a giggle.
"Three years…?" Ayumi's shoulders slumped instantly. "Forget it."
Laughing, Shouko began sharing her own three years of illustration practice from middle school.
Listening, Ayumi soon realized her burst of motivation wouldn't last that long and quickly changed the subject.
"Oh right! Shouko-chan, do you guys have any plans for summer vacation?"
"Drawing at home," Shouko replied promptly.
"Reading manga at home," Akira added, "or watching Shouko draw."
"What about you?" he asked, glancing at Ayumi.
"I was thinking of inviting everyone to my grandpa's place!" Ayumi announced proudly, holding up seven fingers. "Seven days—just seven!"
"In Toyama City, Toyama Prefecture?" Akira asked, remembering.
"Exactly!" Ayumi grinned. "It's right by the sea. We can go to the beach—and my grandpa's watermelons are ripe! You can eat as much as you want!"
"…" Akira blinked. "Is this about watermelons or a trip?"
Before Shouko could gently refuse, Ayumi's expression fell.
"But… it'll probably be fine," she quickly added, forcing a smile. "Akira and I don't have any plans, right?"
"Sure," Shouko said kindly. "If nothing comes up, we'll go."
"Great! I'll book the tickets, then! My treat for the round-trip." Ayumi beamed. "What about you, Takagi-chan? Nishikata-kun?"
"No problem," Takagi said with a shrug. "We'll pay for our own travel expenses since we're staying at your house."
"I'm fine with it too," Nishikata added. "When do we leave?"
"Second or third day of summer vacation."
"Then count me in," Nishikata said with a grin—already imagining Takagi in a swimsuit.
"There's still two months," Akira muttered softly, closing his bento box. "Who knows what'll happen by then…"
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