EPWC CH 10

Chapter – 10

“Who would’ve thought we’d end up in the same class again after two years?”

“Yeah.”

“Still, first-years really do look so young. Was I like that just a year ago?”

“I don’t think so.”

“Why not?”

“Kazuki, you don’t have that fresh, new-student vibe.”

“I don’t want to hear that from you of all people.”

At the edge of the schoolyard, a group of first-year students were setting up a homemade piece of trick art. Looking at it now, they really had been an unusually eccentric bunch.

“About today’s recruitment—we’ve been told the Contemporary Art Club has to set up in the courtyard.”

“Huh? Aren’t all the cultural clubs supposed to be in the gym?”

“A tiny, insignificant club like ours isn’t getting prime real estate like the gym. The student council president ordered us to use a corner of the courtyard.”

“Figures.”

Once the entrance ceremony ended, club recruitment officially began. The school was buzzing with energy, almost like a festival.

The popular sports clubs didn’t even have to call out to people—new students flocked to them on their own. Mid-tier clubs desperately handed out flyers, trying to recruit as many freshmen as possible.

And the Contemporary Art Club?

“Iwasaki, go talk to some people.”

“No way. Why me?”

“Because you’ve got the loudest voice. Back when you played soccer, you were always yelling your head off.”

“You called me an idiot again! You’re the club president, so you do it yourself!”

Their assigned space happened to be in the shade, tucked away in a corner of the courtyard where most freshmen simply walked right past.

Now third-years, the two seniors were still bickering exactly as they always had. Instead of recruiting anyone, they just stood there insulting each other.

The problem was that they were both absurdly attractive.

As their argument grew louder, more and more freshmen stopped in front of the booth.

Shioi, with ink-black hair and cold, breathtakingly beautiful eyes.

Iwasaki, whose energetic, boyish charm was perfectly balanced by a graceful feminine elegance.

Watching two people that attractive scream at each other was impossible to ignore.

“S-Senpai, please calm down,” Kazuki pleaded. “Everyone’s watching.”

“If they’re going to watch, they should join. If they won’t join, then don’t watch.”

“Yeah! We’re not some sideshow! Move along!”

…Way to chase away the people who actually stopped.

Before the fleeing freshmen could escape, Kazuki hurried in front of them and spread her arms to block their path.

“Haha… sorry about my seniors. The Contemporary Art Club sounds intimidating, but you don’t actually have to understand art or anything. I’ve been here for a year, and I still don’t get it. Why not just try it out? You can even join on a trial basis.”

Kazuki had a very good reason for trying so hard.

If she managed to recruit enough members, Shioi had promised to reward her by modeling for her paintings.

It was a promise between the two of them, and Shioi had already kept it once.

Day after day after school, in the clubroom bathed in the evening sun, Shioi held the same pose while Kazuki painted.

At last, the painting was complete.

It was one of Kazuki’s favorites—a canvas that captured every ounce of Shioi’s beauty.

As Kazuki admired the finished work with satisfaction, Shioi casually reached for the buttons of her shirt.

One.

Then another.

As the buttons came undone, a black bra became visible beneath.

Kazuki’s eyes were immediately drawn to the glimpse of cleavage.

Then Shioi spoke.

“Is one painting really enough?”

Confused, Kazuki asked what she meant.

With a seductive smile, Shioi answered,

“If there’s something you want to paint, I’ll let you paint me however you wish. Even as a nude model. It’s art, after all. There’s nothing obscene about being naked. If you wanted something even more daring, I’d indulge whatever you asked.”

Then, as she slowly buttoned her shirt back up and stood,

“But in exchange…”

“Make sure this club doesn’t get shut down again next year.”

She smiled.

“Bring in plenty of new members. Let’s say… ten. If you can do that, then I’ll let you paint me in whatever form you desire.”

The freshmen were beginning to look at Kazuki with genuine fear.

An upperclassman was physically blocking their escape, determined not to let them leave.

It was only natural they’d be frightened.

But Kazuki couldn’t let them go.

The Contemporary Art Club itself meant nothing to her.

What mattered was obtaining Shioi—the perfect model.

She wanted to trap every bit of that beauty, that fleeting fragility, forever on canvas.

“U-um… what exactly is contemporary art?” one freshman timidly asked, raising a hand.

Perfect, Kazuki thought. I’ve got an opening.

“Well, for example…”

Then she realized something.

She had hardly taken any photos of Shioi’s artwork for records.

Scrolling through her phone in search of anything she could show…

She found one.

A photograph of a dead frog with a cigarette in its mouth.

“Like… this.”

The instant the freshmen saw the picture, they scattered in every direction like startled spiders.

It looked like recruiting members was going to be a long, difficult battle after all.