Chapter 46: Chapter 43: Helping Misaki Saki Find Inspiration
At night,
the world seemed to plunge into an eerie silence, especially within the residential neighborhoods, which were terrifyingly quiet.
Primarily because in the Island Country, there was a group that was noticeably absent—the lively aunts of the square dance.
Bustle only existed in izakayas and karaoke bars, unrelated to the quiet streets and parks at night.
All the villas had turned off their lights; the only room that still had illumination was tightly covered by curtains with only traces of light seeping through the gaps.
"Ah!!"
At the desk, Misaki Saki, wearing a pair of black-framed glasses, scratched her hair in irritation and ultimately crumpled the drawing in front of her into a ball, tossing it onto the floor.
The crumpled paper rolled twice before coming to a stop against its companions, forced to brake.
A messy desk, a cluttered floor, paper balls scattered everywhere.
Misaki Saki picked up her pencil again and began to doodle on a new sheet of paper. Why not use a tablet?
When inspiration struck, it didn't matter; without inspiration, she feared she might smash the tablet in frustration.
As a full-time artist,
her first hate was poor performance of her own works.
Her second hate was the state of being without inspiration, and if there was one more thing to add, the deadline approaching, then the second could easily ascend to first place.
Now, that was exactly how Misaki Saki felt.
No inspiration! It was severe!
The things she drew lacked any soul whatsoever.
Or rather, these were things she drew based on her own understanding and thinking, without experience or firsthand views, which made it impossible to really bring out in her drawings.
Ultimately, Misaki Saki threw her pencil aside and collapsed onto the chair, feeling utterly dejected.
Why had she moved? It was because she thought changing locations might spark some inspiration. But alas...
Her gaze vacantly fell upon the ceiling, feeling as though the path to becoming a deity was growing further and further away...
She felt like crying...
Suddenly, Misaki Saki felt incredibly challenged.
Would it be better to have a man look at her work and offer some opinions on the side?
No sooner said than done, the young girl rose from her chair, gathered the draft sketches by her side, and with her short little legs, she ran out of the bedroom.
The hallway was pitch-black, the villa enshrouded in a strange silence. Without time to be frightened, as if searching for a savior, Misaki Saki ran straight to Haruka's room with her drafts in hand.
"Knock knock knock."
She knocked on the door gently, and after a short wait, the room was opened, revealing Haruka Yuzan, bare-chested and wearing only a pair of boxer shorts.
The handsome young man yawned, sleepy-eyed, looked at the girl before him, and asked with a listless tone,
"What do you need me for?"
After speaking, he yawned three times in succession. This time of night, he was ready to fall asleep. The boy had just been about to go to bed.
Misaki Saki couldn't help but swallow, tempted to reach out and touch the abs of the boy so close to her, but his voice snapped her back to reality.
It was then that the girl regained her senses and looked up at the boy with a pitiful expression,
"Haruka..."
Her voice sounded so pitiful, infused with a touch of grievance.
......
"So, you want me to look at your drafts?"
The bedroom light cast a soft glow throughout the room.
The fat cat was still lying in its little hammock, undisturbed by the noise from outside.
Haruka Yuzan sat on a chair, holding a stack of drawings, looking curiously at the girl before him.
"Mhm mhm!"
Misaki Saki nodded vigorously, looking at the boy with hopeful eyes,
"I want to know more readers' suggestions."
"Okay, I'll take a look."
Haruka Yuzan found it odd as he looked at the drawings in his hands.
To be viewing a comic in the presence of a beautiful girl was one thing, but the outrage was that the girl was the author of the comic, asking for his help with suggestions for revisions?
A whole new version, a brand-new experience.
Haruka Yuzan was extremely attentive.
When it came to someone's request, the kind and upright Mr. Haruka always did his utmost to fulfill it!
Including seriously reviewing comics.
One page, two pages, three pages...
Every line and word, Haruka Yuzan studied carefully, sometimes even going back for a second look.
Finally, after the last drawing, Haruka Yuzan gathered up the drafts.
Misaki Saki's big eyes shone with anticipation,
"How is it?"
Like a little girl hoping for praise from a parent, her expression was strikingly similar to that of Rika Onodera earlier, or maybe the two naturally resembled one another, the main difference probably being their age. One was legal, the other...
"Well..."
Haruka Yuzan pondered for a moment.
Misaki Saki's face was now even closer, seemingly eager to hear good news from the boy.
Seeing the girl's desire for encouragement, Haruka Yuzan felt a bit troubled, but decided to throw the question back at Misaki Saki,
"Do you want the truth, or something more comforting?"
"Eh?"
Misaki Saki was startled by Haruka's question, but after coming to her senses, she naturally responded,
"The truth, of course, right?"
"Well... alright then."
The girl had made her own choice, so Haruka no longer felt burdened, cleared his throat, and began speaking slowly,
"I'll go point by point. First, your draftsmanship is very good. Having read comics for over a decade, it's rare to see workmanship this refined. Even though these are just drafts, it's still evident."
Indeed, although it was just a draft, Misaki Saki's portrayal of the beautiful young protagonist's image and attire was spot on and beautiful to behold.
"Of course! I've been studying for several years!!"
Upon hearing the praise, Misaki Saki proudly lifted her little head and said.
"Well, just listen to me until I finish."
Haruka Yuzan cautioned the girl not to get too pleased too soon and continued with his seasoned anime fan's critique,
"Though the art style is good and very much to my taste, the plot and sense of scene are really bad, with no feeling at all, very stiff. I can't immerse myself, and what you've drawn doesn't resemble the character at all!"
As happy as she had been just moments before, now she was equally disheartened, her whole being seeming to fall from heaven to earth in an instant,
"Really, not even a little bit of feeling?"
Misaki Saki extended her finger, tentatively asking, "Could it be because you're too tired?"
For a great painter, the inability to arouse the reader's interest was undoubtedly indicative of a complete failure.
"I'm very awake right now, and do I look like I have any desires?"
Haruka Yuzan said blandly,
Having just been subdued by the madam in the living room, Haruka now resembled a grand Buddha, radiating a holy glow all around,
"I'm more interested in you than in it."
At that moment, Misaki Saki was wearing a small white tank top, with her delicate and fair skin exposed, and below, a pair of bear-covered shorts similar to the ones from her mission rewards?
It seemed the girl had a liking for this style.
"Is it that bad?" Misaki Saki seemed somewhat taken aback.
Just then, Haruka Yuzan also remembered there was one wish on today's wish list he hadn't fulfilled yet—helping Misaki Saki find inspiration?
"Cough cough, actually, I think you could use more experience and common knowledge."
"Experience?" Misaki Saki sighed, "I'm just lacking inspiration right now; I can't think of anything else."
She knew her own work was poor, otherwise she wouldn't have come to Haruka Yuzan.
Just as Haruka was about to pull out his private collection to give to the girl for her to study on her own late into the night,
suddenly, Misaki Saki muttered something irritably,
"Ugh, so annoying!"
Then, to his surprise, she threw herself into the boy's arms,
"Haruka, can you help me out?"
She lifted her little head, batting her big eyes pleadingly.
"Help you?"
Haruka Yuzan pondered for a moment, then nodded,
"Okay, let me find something..."
Helping the girl find inspiration would not only fulfill the daily wish list but also enable Misaki Saki to create a good work, from which he could also earn some money.
A win-win-win situation! Why not do it?
Only poor his treasured collection—you hope it still remembers what it looks like when it returns from Misaki Saki's hands.
"Hehe, I knew Haruka you were the best to me!"
Upon hearing the boy agree, Misaki Saki revealed a very happy smile, but instead of letting Haruka go fetch something, she continued while clinging to his neck,
"Then, let me take a look?!"
"Good... Good my ass!"
Haruka Yuzan recoiled, are you not only after my treasures but also after me??
And aren't our roles reversed?
How did that come from your mouth?
I am the landlord; you are a fragile girl. Shouldn't it be me who wants to see yours?
???
Something must have gone wrong.
The body of the girl in his arms was very gentle, her every inch of skin keenly felt, yet Haruka remained unmoved,
"No way, is that proper? How come you're looking at mine?"
"Just help me out; I haven't seen it before! Please, I really need inspiration right now."
Misaki Saki nestled in the boy's arms, rubbing her little body against him and pleading in a soft voice,
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"Haruka, you're the best person!"
Haruka Yuzan felt a warmth rising from below; being petite had its advantages, not to mention someone like Misaki Saki with her innocent face.
"What if I get uncomfortable after you've seen it, what then?"
Misaki Saki seemed to consider this and finally hesitated,
"Then, then I'll help you out in the end!"
As she spoke, her cheeks turned red, "I do have a lot of theoretical experience! Don't underestimate a great painter!!!"
Hearing the girl say so, Haruka Yuzan hesitated and eventually nodded in agreement,
"Fine! If you create a good work, remember I helped too!"
It was as if the boy had thrown caution to the winds; he stood up and lay spread-eagled on the large bed,
Dedicated to art, Haruka!!!
"Come on! Find your inspiration!"
Hearing these words, and seeing the handsome young man at her mercy on the bed, Misaki Saki swallowed hard,
took small steps forward,
"Then, then I'm coming over?"
With a mix of nervousness, curiosity, and excitement in her bright eyes?
The girl half-kneeled on the bed, extending her little hand toward the boy.
"Huh? Hey, you're looking in the wrong place."
As if sensing something, Haruka Yuzan said, quite speechlessly.
"Oh, right."
Misaki Saki made a sound of realization, retracting her hand that she had placed on the boy's abs.