Not every weekend is a clear, sunny day. Hiratsuka Ryosuke stands outside the exhibition hall. As far as the eye can see, there's a sea of people. He never imagined that a traditional classical art exhibition would attract so many people. He doesn't see Eriri, but he sees a 190 cm tall man. With his height, he stands out in the crowd.
"Nozaki-senpai, are you here for the exhibition too?" Ryosuke greets him warmly. He has a good impression of this kind senior.
Nozaki Umetaro nods. "Hiratsuka, I knew you'd come. Good." He holds up his index and middle fingers. "First, there's an original Van Gogh exhibition today. I couldn't miss it." He puts down his middle finger and points his index finger at Ryosuke. "Second, I want to see the ending of your story." Nozaki is an expert at observing people and adapting real-life situations into his manga. He wouldn't miss a chance to observe a real-life shojo manga couple.
"You want to help Kashiwagi Eri regain her confidence, right?" Nozaki asks with a serious expression.
Ryosuke nods emphatically.
"Then the most important thing is to inspire her creativity and desire to draw. I'll teach you a method you can try," Nozaki says, walking closer to Ryosuke and whispering to him. Ryosuke listens intently at first, but the suggestions get more and more absurd. He looks at Nozaki with a doubtful expression, his face full of questions.
After a while, Nozaki says sincerely, "These are my secret methods for inspiring creativity as a bestselling shojo mangaka. Use them well." He pats Ryosuke on the shoulder and walks away.
Ryosuke looks at his back and thinks about his reputation. With nowhere else to turn, he decides to trust this senior. Soon after Nozaki leaves, a clear voice rings out from a distance. "Ryosuke~"
Ryosuke looks in the direction of the voice. Eriri is standing there, waving. She's not her usual bouncy self today. She's wearing the same red dress that makes her white skin look even more delicate. She walks slowly towards him, her red loafers softly tapping the ground. She looks like a medieval European princess, every movement elegant and noble.
Ryosuke is about to greet her as usual, but then he remembers Nozaki's determined gaze and his sincere advice. "Hiratsuka, every girl has a shojo heart. The first thing you need to do is to awaken it, and then make her want to draw what's happening. The artist has to want to draw.""When Kashiwagi Eri comes, you can't just say hello. You have to compliment her. If you don't know how, you've read my manga, right?"
When Eriri gets to Ryosuke, she tilts her head and looks at him. Her blue eyes seem to hold a big question mark. Ryosuke remembers a classic scene from Moe Love. He decides to go all in and replicate Nozaki's suggestion. He takes a step forward, holds Eriri's delicate, porcelain chin with his right hand, and looks into her clear eyes. He says in a deep, serious voice, "Princess, you look exceptionally charming today."
Eriri is startled, and a flush instantly appears on her face, spreading to her ears. She jumps back as if she's been electrocuted, her hands flailing in the air. Her eyes are wide, and a faint white steam seems to rise from her head. She yells incoherently, "You... you idiot! What are you doing?!"
Eriri's reaction surprises Ryosuke. Did I awaken her shojo heart?Nozaki-senpai is a genius! He easily came up with something I would have never thought of!
Inside Eriri's head, it feels like she's been hit with a sledgehammer. Her heart is pounding like a drum. Ryosuke, you big idiot! You're so strange today.
Ryosuke sees that the scene worked perfectly and remembers another of Nozaki's suggestions. "As a princess, she needs a prince to protect her. The exhibition is crowded. You should hold her hand and lead the way. If you can, talk about the paintings and show off your knowledge. This will also move a girl's heart."
Ryosuke acts like a charming gentleman and offers his right hand to Eriri, palm up. Eriri's eyes widen, and her lower lip trembles. Her mind is blank. She slowly reaches out her delicate, smooth hand. She hesitantly places her fingertips on Ryosuke's hand. Ryosuke doesn't push it. He just holds her soft fingertips. "Let's go, Eriri," he whispers.
Eriri doesn't resist. She just bites her lip and walks with her head down, her face flushed. Ryosuke holds her hand, leading the way with his chest out, while she follows him with her head down and shoulders hunched. They walk towards the exhibition hall entrance.
On the first floor, as soon as they enter, they are surrounded by the atmosphere of classical art. Every piece is full of culture and depth. "This painting is Monet's Water Lilies. He suffered from an eye disease and couldn't accurately draw objects, but with his years of experience and sensitivity to light, he could still create works that showed the romantic beauty and mystery of water. He's an amazing person."
"This painting is Da Vinci's Mona Lisa. My dad took me to the Louvre once, and I saw the original."
"And this one..."
The person talking is Eriri. As soon as she enters the hall, she starts talking nonstop, like a child who wants to share their favorite toy. Ryosuke and Eriri have switched roles. Eriri is now pulling Ryosuke along, showing off her vast knowledge of art. Ryosuke knows a little about classical art but not much. He chooses to listen to the more knowledgeable Eriri rather than show off his limited knowledge.
Even though it's not what Nozaki suggested, Ryosuke thinks this is good. I guess I've completed the second step.
As for the third step. "Hiratsuka, listen carefully. No girl can resist a wall-slam. It's the ultimate move to awaken a girl's heart. Even I would feel the urge to draw on the spot if I saw it. So use it last. After all of this, Kashiwagi Eri will definitely want to pick up her pen as soon as she gets home."
A wall-slam? It's too sudden and rude. He doesn't want to do it unless he absolutely has to. He thinks it will probably scare Eriri.
While Ryosuke is still thinking, Eriri suddenly stops. She turns around, a hint of sadness in her eyes. "Ryosuke, you've met Yumeno Sakiko, right? What kind of person is she?" she asks in a low voice.
Ryosuke thinks about Nozaki's help—all his advice and the tickets. He clears his mind and answers Eriri seriously, "Yumeno Sakiko is a kind, gentle, and reliable senior."
Eriri is startled, but then she relaxes. She reluctantly lets go of his hand and puts her trembling hands behind her back. Eriri's eyes fall, and she doesn't dare to look at Ryosuke. She forces a smile, her voice shaking.
"I'm sorry, Ryosuke... I haven't been drawing for a long time." The forced smile disappears from her face, and her voice starts to choke. "I mean... Kashiwagi Eri doesn't know how to draw anymore. Yumeno Sakiko-sensei is probably a better fit for you."