Because of the letter Kotomi wrote to her, Yukino Yukinoshita found herself daydreaming frequently, her mind wandering to Kotomi's snow-white, stunning figure. She couldn't help but think of the words Kotomi had written to her in the letter.
She wanted to ask.
Even though they were in the classroom now.
Even though gumi Kato, Yui Yuigahama, and Mashiro Shiina were all here.
Yukino still wanted to ask Kotomi directly, what kind of emotions did she have when she wrote the letter?
Yukino took a deep breath, psyching herself up. As soone who rarely initiated conversation, asking Kotomi this question felt like a significant challenge.
Despite that, she felt she had to take this step. If she couldn't even ask this simple question, their relationship would remain stagnant. She had co a long way since the beginning of the school year, and now she and Kotomi were much closer. But for so reason, the Ice Queen, Yukino, had started feeling dissatisfied with their current relationship. She wanted it to be even closer.
There was an unexplainable feeling within her, but she simply felt the urge to do it.
Yukino had always prided herself on being able to control her emotions. But now, she was starting to question whether that was truly the case.
"Kotomi..." Yukino whispered.
But just as she was about to ask, gumi Kato, who appeared to be reading but was secretly listening in on their conversation, caught every word.
Hearing Yukino call Kotomi's na so openly, gumi leaned forward slightly, a sense of unease bubbling up inside her. It felt like there was another potential rival trying to get closer to Kotomi. The thought made her wish she could turn back ti to an hour ago. She'd have been the first to arrive at the classroom, sneaked a recording device under Yukino's desk, and then been able to hear every word Yukino and Kotomi exchanged.
Too bad there was no magic to turn back ti. Every passing minute was irreversible.
gumi did her best to act natural, leaning forward to eavesdrop on the conversation between Kotomi and Yukino.
Yukino had wanted to talk to Kotomi about the gifts and letter she received from Kyoto. But just as she was about to speak, Kotomi's head turned red as danger signs appeared above her, and it seed like they were about to crash and burn. Just then, Seiko Kirigiri, who had missed yesterday's class, walked into the classroom.
Upon seeing Kotomi, Seiko ca over to greet her enthusiastically:
"Good morning, Kotomi! I heard everything from my sister about what happened in Kyoto. It sounds so interesting! I almost regret not learning to paint. If I had, maybe I could have gone to Kyoto with you all for the first exhibition."
Seiko Kirigiri had successfully saved the situation!
"Heh, if you can get permission from your sister and get a ticket, you can join us for the second exhibition in Musashino City," Kotomi replied half-jokingly.
Seiko looked a bit surprised, "I've seen my sister's paintings. Do you really think she can make it to the second exhibition? I heard the national art exhibition is full of legendary figures, almost like the Eight Immortals crossing the sea! I never would've guessed the paintings were created by middle school students. My sister said she felt more and more inferior, and now she wonders if humanity secretly evolved without her!"
This was actually true. Hibiki Naegi had a slim chance of making it to the second exhibition, given the high standards for each round of the national art exhibition. Although the first exhibition already had fewer paintings, in the eyes of the organizers, it was still too many and didn't showcase the exhibition's prestige enough.
With this push, the elimination process before the second exhibition selection was bound to be full of blood and tears. It was very likely that the number of paintings would be reduced by half, or perhaps even three-quarters, as they selected the entries for the second round of the exhibition.
If the number were to be revealed, it would likely shatter the dreams of countless art students who aspired to win the National Art Prize. They would feel like salted fish, their hopes crushed in an instant.
They have pride, but most aren't so arrogant as to believe there's nothing beyond their own abilities. It's rare to et soone who truly believes they are untouchable.
Most students have a realistic understanding of their own skill level. When faced with such brutal elimination numbers, many aspiring art students who once dread of the National Art Prize would probably see their ambitions disappear.
Hibiki Naegi's painting for this exhibition, though a true reflection of her highest skill and technique, would likely pale in comparison to the works of those legendary artists participating in the event. Even those artists themselves might not have the confidence that their work would be chosen.
Hibiki's talent was diocre at best, and she had likely already reached the limits of her artistic abilities. It was highly probable that her work would be eliminated before making it to the second exhibition.
Her painting might not even make it in front of the public.
It would be like those discarded "paintings" that were eliminated before the first exhibition.
The National Art Prize was both beautiful and brutal. It offered students, regardless of their background, the chance to hold their own solo exhibition at the Tokyo National Museum, get accepted into prestigious universities, and earn a sizable prize.
It was an opportunity no student could resist. Even Kotomi had set her sights on the opportunity to be accepted directly into a prestigious university. If she got it, her high school life would be much easier than she had imagined.
Such an enticing opportunity ca with a brutal competition that could only be described as a sea of blood and corpses. Even if you were the most talented artist in your high school's art club, at the National Art Prize, you could still end up being eliminated.
Only those who had the true strength to have their work featured in the final exhibition were the ones who truly earned recognition.
Under the National Art Prize, everyone else was like ants.
Kotomi was well aware that the likelihood of Hibiki Naegi making it to the second exhibition was slim. She wasn't foolish enough to say this in front of her younger sister, Seiko. Hibiki had been kind to her, so Kotomi felt it was her duty to support her.
"Hibiki-senpai still has a good chance of making it in. Maybe she's just being humble with you. No one can say for sure at this point. Who knows what kind of harsh selection process the judges will apply?"
Kotomi said this ambiguously, choosing not to focus on the hard facts. She smoothly redirected the conversation without making it obvious.
"Until the second exhibition list cos out, don't worry about it too much."
"I hope my sister can make it to the third round of the exhibition. She worked so hard preparing that piece for the competition, staying up late every night. I don't expect her to win the National Art Prize, but I just want the results to reflect her effort," Seiko Kirigiri said softly.
It was because many people had poured so much effort into their work only to find that the outco didn't match the effort they put in that so many artists ended up breaking down. This situation was all too common...
Kotomi thought to herself after hearing Seiko's words. It wasn't about having a bad mindset; they had all been strong at one point.
A person's breakdown often happens quietly, but quickly, without anyone noticing.
Kotomi couldn't say much in response. She could only wish that Hibiki Naegi would achieve results that satisfied her.
After exchanging pleasantries, Seiko's expression remained as calm and composed as ever, showing no sign of any change. Kotomi didn't know that Seiko had been in a bad state ever since Hibiki left, and had even skipped class the previous day.
"By the way, Kotomi, can I ask you sothing?"
Seiko suddenly changed the subject, asking with a mysterious tone.
"As long as I know, I can answer. What do you want to ask?"
Before asking her question, Seiko instinctively glanced around, almost as if she was worried her sister might appear at any mont.
"Well, I want to ask you about soone: Eiren Kanagawa. Do you know this person?" Seiko asked in a hushed voice, as if not wanting too many people to hear.
Kanagawa-sensei?
How did Seiko know about Kanagawa-sensei?
Could Hibiki have told her?
Kotomi felt a pang of confusion, but after thinking for a mont, she answered, "Kanagawa-sensei? Of course, I know her. She probably likes because I'm good at painting. She's always been concerned about , even tried to get to apply to Kyoto University's art departnt."
Kotomi's answer wasn't a lie, but it was a bit vague.
The reason she chose to avoid the more sensitive details might be because she had a strong feeling that Seiko wouldn't ask about Kanagawa-sensei unless Hibiki had left out so details about her interactions with Kanagawa.
Kotomi didn't know why Hibiki had kept certain things from Seiko. She didn't understand why Hibiki wouldn't want her sister to know more about her ti spent with Kanagawa.
But Hibiki was, after all, her senior. Kotomi didn't want to interfere too much, so she focused on what she knew—Kanagawa-sensei's interest in bringing her into Kyoto University's art departnt—and avoided other details.
"Hibiki-senpai still has a good chance of making it in. Maybe she's just being modest with you. No one can say for sure right now. Who knows what kind of selection standards the judges will use?"
Kotomi deliberately kept her answer vague and shifted the focus of the conversation.
"Just wait until the second exhibition list cos out. Until then, there's no point in worrying too much."
"The voice on the phone was very mature and gentle, just like my sister's."
"How strange, I didn't even know when my sister got acquainted with such a woman?"
"Just as I was about to ask more about the relationship between my sister and this woman, my sister ca out of the bathroom after drying her hair. When she saw holding her phone, she asked who had called."
"I told her the truth, and to my surprise, her face instantly changed. She quickly snatched the phone from my hand, wrapped in a towel and still in her pajamas, rushing upstairs to answer the call. I really want to know what they talked about during that call last night."
After hearing this, Kotomi understood the situation. Hibiki Naegi was still too young to realize that when two people et like this, they shouldn't rush. They needed to remain calm at all tis. Impulsiveness could easily lead to mistakes.
In the heat of the mont, one wrong move could lead to a thousand wrong moves.
For example, snatching the phone away like that was a move that could easily make soone suspicious. Even if they hadn't thought much of it at first, just that action alone could make soone suspect that the person on the other end of the phone was a lover.
Never underestimate how a woman's mind works when it cos to relationships.
But then Kotomi realized sothing didn't quite add up. After all, Hibiki Naegi and Seiko Kirigiri weren't in a romantic relationship. At least, that's what Kotomi thought.
"Maybe it's because of the art competition. Kanagawa-sensei is also one of the teachers in charge of the National Art Prize. She's a professor at Kyoto University's art departnt. With that status, there's no reason for the National Art Prize, co-hosted by the University of Tokyo and Kyoto University, not to invite her," Kotomi explained, trying to help Hibiki out.
I'm such a good person.
I hope good people get their due rewards.
"I see..." Seiko nodded, said a few more words, and then left.
It seed like she didn't completely believe Kotomi's explanation, but there was nothing Kotomi could do about it.
After seeing Seiko off, Kotomi returned to her seat. As she was about to leave, she inadvertently glanced at Yukino Yukinoshita. Yukino looked at her, opening her mouth as if she wanted to say sothing, but by the ti Kotomi sat down, Yukino had remained silent.
Kotomi didn't feel the need to ask. She simply took out her textbook, pretending to study, acting as if she knew nothing. There was no need to force things. If Yukino had sothing to say, she would co to Kotomi when she was ready. Since Yukino hadn't said anything, it might an she wasn't prepared to talk yet. If Kotomi pressed her, it might make the situation awkward.
The morning self-study ti passed quickly, and the first class of the day was Japanese with Shizuka Hiratsuka.
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