Just as Hiratsuka Ryosuke is about to speak, Eriri steps forward and presses her index finger to his lips. She smiles as if nothing is wrong. "Thanks for inviting me to the art exhibition today. I'm really happy. Will you walk with me to the end?"
Unknowingly, they have reached the second floor of the exhibition hall. Many people are gathered in front of a single oil painting. This painting is the highlight of the exhibition: Van Gogh's Sunflowers. He is a legend in the art world. He painted 11 versions of Sunflowers in his lifetime, and 10 of them still exist. One of the originals is in this exhibition hall in Tokyo and is considered its main treasure.
"Ryosuke, look. This is Van Gogh's Sunflowers, my favorite painting. Do you know why?" Eriri's eyes are sparkling as she looks at the painting with longing.
"Because the painting symbolizes sunflowers chasing the sun, and represents hope and a burning passion for life?" Ryosuke asks. He knows some basic facts about world-famous paintings.
Eriri smiles and shakes her head, a nostalgic look in her eyes. "The first time I saw Sunflowers was when my parents took me to London when I was a child."
"My mom smiled and said, 'Lili, isn't this painting beautiful? Sunflowers will always chase the sun no matter where they are. Mommy hopes that when you grow up, you'll be as bright and brave as a sunflower.'"
Lili? Is that her nickname? Ryosuke thinks. Sunflowers have many meanings. The most common is "bright and brave." It means hoping a child will be full of sunshine and bravely pursue their dreams. Another meaning is "silent love." Did she start painting then?
Eriri continues, "I didn't understand as a child. I just thought it was a pretty painting. So many people like it, so it must be special. From then on, I slowly started to learn how to draw."
Ryosuke has a vague idea of Eriri's past. Kashiwagi Eri is a secret otaku who hides her identity, while Eriri is the popular princess at school. The sunflower, a symbol of light in darkness, has become a source of hope and inspiration for Eriri.
"Sunflowers are always in the sun. They're amazing, right, Ryosuke?" Eriri says, smiling.
Ryosuke looks at her, feeling that something is off. He's right. The next thing Eriri says confirms his bad feeling.
"I'm the daughter of a British diplomat. I'm supposed to live in the sun," Eriri says, looking at the painting confidently.
Then her eyes dim. "I... don't want to be a gloomy otaku like Kashiwagi Eri anymore," she whispers.
Suddenly, Eriri feels a shadow fall over her. She looks up and sees Ryosuke standing in front of her, blocking her view. He takes a step towards her, and she nervously takes a step back until her back hits a cold pillar.
BAM!
Ryosuke places his hands on the pillar, trapping her. He looks into her panicked eyes. "Eriri, what are you afraid of? What about all those days and nights you spent drawing? All the sweat you shed?" Ryosuke's voice is calm and firm. "Life is a process of falling, getting hurt, and healing. If you don't go through that process, you'll lose to yourself."
"The beloved princess at school, Eriri, and the otaku at home, Kashiwagi Eri, are inseparable. The person they form together is Sawamura Spencer Eriri." He says softly, "And the Sawamura Spencer Eriri I know is not a girl who gives up easily."
Eriri turns her head away, not daring to look at him directly. Tears well up in her blue eyes. He's right. What am I afraid of? So many artists are better than me. Am I really just afraid of Yumeno Sakiko? No. I'm afraid of holding you back, so I want to let you go. I'm afraid that one day, you'll go so far away that you'll leave me behind. All my efforts feel hopeless. Our bond is just a partnership between an illustrator and a novelist. So why... why does it hurt so much? More than losing to Yumeno Sakiko, I'm afraid of being abandoned by you. It's better to let go than to be abandoned. Eriri, you're... you're a mess. I don't want this. I really don't.
Eriri clenches her fists, biting her lip so hard that blood flows out, but she doesn't feel it. Tears stream down her face, but she doesn't make a sound. Ryosuke gently turns her head to face him, holding her cheeks. His voice is firm. "I'll say it again. You're not alone. Don't always think you have to decide on your own. We're the perfect partners."
Tears blur her vision. Everything looks hazy. She can't see his face, but she can hear his voice. I'm sorry. I'm a little greedy. Ryosuke, I don't know when, but being your partner isn't enough anymore. She takes deep breaths, but no sound escapes her.
Scratch, scratch, scratch.
The sound of a pen on paper comes from nearby. They both turn to look at the source.
"Nozaki-senpai, what are you doing?" Ryosuke asks calmly, looking at the man crouching beside them.
"Ah, sorry. You two were just so... inspiring. I got a little closer without realizing it." Nozaki's appearance breaks the moment. He takes out a new pack of tissues and hands them to Ryosuke. Ryosuke opens the pack, takes a tissue, and gently wipes the tears from Eriri's face. The mood is ruined, and Eriri is no longer sad. She looks at Nozaki with a resentful expression.
Ryosuke clears his throat and introduces them. "Nozaki-senpai, this is my partner, Kashiwagi Eri."
"Eriri, this is Nozaki-senpai, the popular mangaka Yumeno Sakiko."
Nozaki is startled. Kashiwagi Eri is that young? That's amazing. "Nice to meet you. I'm Nozaki Umetaro."
Eriri is shocked. Her eyes are wide, and her mouth is open so wide you could fit an egg in it. Yumeno Sakiko... is a man?! She only snaps out of it when Ryosuke tugs on her sleeve. She quickly bows. "Nice to meet you, Nozaki-senpai. I'm Sawamura Spencer Eriri, Ryosuke's partner!"
For some reason, as soon as she finds out that Yumeno Sakiko is a man, the sadness in her heart disappears. Her mind becomes active. Ryosuke just did a wall-slam on me? And before that, he called me a princess. Ugh! How embarrassing! What were you doing, Eriri?! Her face is as red as a strawberry in April, and steam is coming out of her head. No, I have to go home and draw what just happened! Eriri is surprised to find that her hands aren't shaking anymore. A creative urge wells up in her.
"Hey, Ryosuke, let's go! I want to draw!" Eriri says to him, her face flushed but her voice firm.
Ryosuke and Nozaki exchange a look. "Then we'll be going, Nozaki-senpai."
"Go ahead," he says with a knowing smile. "That was a good story."
On the way to the station, Ryosuke is amazed by Nozaki. Is this the power of a popular shojo mangaka, the "Spokesperson for a Girl's Heart?" Eriri actually wants to draw after using Nozaki's method. The station is crowded. To make sure he doesn't lose her, he reaches out and grabs her soft, delicate hand. They walk into the station together.
"Um..." a soft voice says from behind him. Ryosuke turns around, surprised that it isn't Eriri's voice. He sees that it's another person he knows. "Kato?!" he says.
Ryosuke blurts out the common name, and Kato Megumi's calm eyes show a hint of surprise. She tilts her head. Huh. He still remembers my name after all this time? He really is a guardian knight. How amazing.
"Sorry, I grabbed the wrong person," Ryosuke says, letting go of her hand awkwardly.
"It's fine," Kato says.
Ryosuke looks around for Eriri. Her shiny blonde hair makes her stand out. He sees her standing outside the station. She had tried to grab his hand too, imagining them holding hands and walking home together. She was so embarrassed when he grabbed another girl's hand and walked into the station without her. She puffs out her cheeks, stamping her feet. Her twin tails sway back and forth. She walks up to Ryosuke and Kato. She first glares at Kato, like a golden retriever protecting its food, then turns to Ryosuke. She screams at the top of her lungs, letting out all her frustration.
"Ryosuke, you... you big idiot!"