As I Know Anything About You, I'll Be The One To Your Girlfriend, Aren't I? - Volume 1 Chapter 1.3

Why Is It Bright Red? 3

Why, why? Why…

Why is it bright red?

I couldn’t understand the reason at all.

The same color as her name, a deep and vivid red like blood.

It’s a color that shouldn’t appear from a blunt, human-disliking classmate—a definitive sign of interest, the color of love and affection.

If my “eyes” aren’t mistaken, it means that I am liked by Kujo-san as a romantic interest.

…That’s supposed to be impossible. After all, we don’t even talk that much. It must be some mistake. Maybe my eyes are playing tricks on me.

And yet.

Even if, hypothetically, that color was true, I am—

“…Nah, let’s go.”

Shaking my head, I stood up from my seat.

◇◆◇

“Alright, there.”

I set up the canvas on the easel and prepared the rest of the tools. I’ve also changed into overalls that I don’t mind getting dirty.

The place is the art room. I’m the only one here.

After school, I spend most of my days here painting.

There’s no art club at the prefectural Itozumi High School I attend, but the school has given me special permission to use this room.

If I can’t produce results this year, I wonder if I’ll lose access to this place. If that happens, I guess I can’t help it.

In a corner of the art room, there’s a trophy on display. Engraved on its base are the words, “First Shinsei Sansen Prize, Grand Prize.”

This trophy was won by me last summer at a newly established national art competition meant to determine “Japan’s best high school artist,” in the oil painting category.

The reason I can use this art room is mainly due to this achievement.

Honestly, I’m surprised I won it as a first-year. It must have been mostly luck.

“…The painting for the competition, huh?”

I muttered to myself as I scratched my head.

It’s mid-June now. The deadline for the competition entries is the beginning of August. I should have started painting my entry by now.

I know, but… hmm…

The painting I’m currently focused on isn’t for the competition.

It’s another painting that I feel I must finish first, no matter what.

“…Yeah, no.”

I’ve decided to finish what I’m currently working on first. The competition painting can wait. No matter how much I agonize over it, I always come to the same conclusion.

After lightly slapping my cheeks with both hands, I gripped the paintbrush and held up the palette.

“…”

I started painting. Once I entered that state, my sense of time vanished.

“Hmm… and…”

As my consciousness returned from the world of painting to reality, I stretched out.

──Wow, I did quite a bit.

Checking the clock on the wall, about two hours had passed. The painting was nearing completion. Things were going smoothly.

“Hmm… huh? Oh no!”

While basking in a sense of satisfaction, I noticed a sound from outside the window.

Rushing to the window, I checked outside. Just as I thought, it was raining.

Opening the window and sticking my hand out, I found the rain wasn’t too heavy. On the opposite ground, the formidable baseball team was practicing as if to say, “This isn’t even considered rain.”

But rain is rain… I didn’t bring an umbrella!

It takes about twenty minutes to walk home from here. Even if it’s just a drizzle, I’ll be soaked by the time I get home.

While the painting is going well, this situation isn’t good.

“Ah… this isn’t good.”

Sadly, I’m not very confident in my physical condition. Even getting soaked on the way home might easily affect my health.

That would interfere with my painting.

My parents have been gone for years, and my grandparents live far away. Living alone, I don’t have family members who could come to pick me up.

“…What should I do?”

However, given the circumstances, my only option might be to make a break for it before the rain gets worse.

Just as I was about to resign myself to that fate…

“Kuuya, are you there~!? Can I come in~!?”

Konkonkonkon! With the energetic sound of knocking, such a voice could be heard.

“Oh? Yeah, I’m here. Come on in.”

“Ah, I’m glad you’re still here! Excuse me for intruding!”

The one who opened the door and entered was a female student.

Her wide-eyed gaze was full of energy, and her brightly colored hair accentuated that impression.

Though petite, her figure had curves in all the right places, exuding a healthy charm.

However, what captivated me the most was her always straight and neatly extended posture. It revealed a refinement and good upbringing that couldn’t be completely hidden by her vivaciousness.

Seeing what she was holding in her hand, my eyes widened in surprise.

“…Ah, that.”

“Yes! I’m so glad you haven’t left yet, Kuuya, I made it in time!”

The girl said, raising the umbrella she was holding.

“Let’s go home together! This umbrella is big enough for both of us!”

A brilliant smile bloomed, so bright it could be recognized from a hundred meters away. Even though it was rainy and gloomy outside, her surroundings seemed bright.

“That’s a lifesaver! Thank you, Suika!”

Ado Suika.

She’s a first-year student, one year junior to me, and my childhood friend.

“I’m sorry for making you hold the umbrella…”

“Let me do this much. I’m taller than you, after all.”

We changed our shoes at the entrance and walked under one umbrella through the rainy school grounds. The school premises were vast, so the school gate was a bit far.

“What were you doing until this time, Suika?”

“I was explaining the quiz to my classmates! Then, I went to help the girls’ basketball team, and in between, I had some student council work too.”

“As always, you’re being pulled in every direction. Being able to go home together with such a popular person, I feel unworthy. How lucky am I?”

“You don’t think that at all!”

“I do, I do. How grateful I am.”

“Ah, ah, ah-wwww! Stop it, Kuuya!”

When I put my hand on her head and ruffled her soft hair, she made a sulky face and glared at me with a “Enough!”

Suika’s expressions are always comically clear.

“It’s true that Suika is popular. A celebrity in the school.”

“That’s not… anything special…”

Despite her modesty, Suika is indeed well-known within the school, even as a first-year. She is beloved and admired.

Even without my bias as her childhood friend, I think it’s natural.

Bright and light-hearted, yet a serious hard worker and a top student across all subjects. Moreover, she’s good at any sport, attracting constant requests for help from sports clubs due to her athletic abilities.

Her communication skills are outstanding, making friends across classes and grades, well-liked and active. She was even scouted for the student council executive committee right after enrollment.

Thinking about it, it’s quite impressive.

Loving and loved by everyone, always at the center of attention. That’s the girl named Ado Suika.

Incidentally, her family background is also excellent. She’s the heir to the Ado family, renowned in this area.