"Sawamura-san, thank you. Without you, we would have spent a lot more time finishing this work."
Inside the art club of Shuchi'in Academy, fellow freshmen were thanking a golden-haired girl.
"It's nothing, really. Just a small matter, no problem, no problem."
Her exquisite face radiated the warmth of a Yamato Nadeshiko, almost like a healing angel. Smiling and telling the other club's members it was fine, Eriri actually quite enjoyed helping others.
After all, these members didn't have any intention of bullying her and they were simply grateful. Feeling thanked like this was pretty nice, wasn't it?
But...
'As for me... I'm really not suited for traditional painting, am I?'
Born with an absolute talent for painting, Eriri had been hailed as a prodigy artist since childhood. Upon entering university, she thought the school's art club might bring her surprises, but clearly, her genius had surpassed the university level.
Even a prestigious institution like Shuchi'in University couldn't fully meet her demands.
She always wanted her own style of painting. What she craved wasn't so much doujinshi art, but rather an unrestrained style where she could freely express her preferences without any limitations.
Once again eating lunch alone in the cafeteria, Eriri absentmindedly played with her chopsticks, as if manipulating her brush and canvas.
"I really want to paint a true picture, one that belongs only to me, to my own world."
A young maiden's heart is always unsettled at eighteen. Looking at her half-eaten lunch, Eriri lost her appetite.
Shaking her head to clear her tangled thoughts, as she prepared to leave the cafeteria, she saw a figure approaching.
"You are... Yukinoshita Yukino-san?"
Having heard of the school-famous Yukino, though not in the same faculty, Eriri could recognize her.
"Sawamura-san, could you come with me for a moment?"
Fully trusting Ryuya's judgment, although somewhat doubtful whether the school-famous Eriri would join her club, Yukino still sought her out.
Accompanying Yukino back to the small classroom Ryuya had found earlier, the two saw a man leaning against the window as soon as they entered.
"You are..."
In the empty classroom, sunlight streamed through the window. Sitting on the windowsill as if a figure from a painting, the black-haired boy didn't give off a pretentious vibe. Instead, Eriri felt he shone like someone not of this mortal world.
Not usually one to swoon, and having met many nobles and elites due to her father's work, compared to the young man before her, those people seemed as ordinary as bicycles on the street.
Staring dumbfounded at the sculpted, god-like Ryuya, Eriri had to admit he was practically the perfect male protagonist. She was already feeling somewhat dazzled.
Momentarily distracted, Eriri saw Yukino stride over to the young man in a few steps and grab his arm.
"Ryuya, this is the fourth floor! What if you accidentally fall?"
Her first reaction upon seeing Ryuya on the windowsill was worry. Yukino quickly pulled her precious older brother back.
"Hmm... Actually, it'd be fine if I fell."
Before he could finish, seeing Yukino's worried expression, Ryuya didn't continue. He just shifted his gaze to Eriri at the door, feeling both helpless and slightly surprised, "Yukino, you actually managed to bring her here."
…
"So, Yukinoshita-san, you want me to join your... currently unnamed club?"
Sitting politely on a chair, her posture and speech flawless, Eriri looked at the equally poised Yukino, then shifted her gaze to the man nearby.
"Don't look at me. I'm not participating. I'm just here to make up the numbers."
Waving his hand, Ryuya said.
"Sawamura-san, as you can see, this small classroom was found by Ryuya. Currently, it's not occupied by any other club. But as time passes, a place like this for free activities is clearly important."
"I want to claim this place, so forming a club is inevitable. I heard you enjoy painting alone, so I invited you to join my..."
As she spoke, Yukino suddenly remembered she hadn't decided on a club name yet.
Thinking this, she looked at Ryuya beside her, clearly subconsciously believing her brother was an all-purpose wishing machine.
"Oh, the club Yukino is forming aims to let each member freely do what they like, helping each other within their capabilities. It's the 'Mutual Aid Club'."
Feeling the sighs he'd expelled today rivaled a year's worth of work in Camelot, Ryuya was constantly handling minor details for his silly younger sister.
"Yes, the Mutual Aid Club."
Nodding, Yukino's first impression of Eriri was quite good, aside from the potential threat of this beautiful girl stealing her brother.
"The Mutual Aid Club?"
She truly wanted a place at school where she could paint freely. Although she could achieve a similar effect working alone at home, Eriri suffered from severe procrastination.
Working at home, she'd delay her projects due to various temptations. That's why she painted at school, as it gave her some sense of work atmosphere.
It's like how playing games at home lacks the vibe of a five-person LAN party at an internet cafe.
Recalling her laxness at home and the dullness of the art club, she thought joining such a free club might not be bad.
"If the requirements you mentioned, Yukinoshita-san, are only these, then I can join this 'Mutual Aid Club'."
Contrary to Yukino's expectations, Eriri agreed to her request so simply.
However...
"Finally, Yukinoshita-san, I have one more question I hope you can answer."
Looking into Eriri's sky-blue eyes, a bad premonition arose in Yukino's heart.
"Um, I'd like to ask, what is your relationship with Ryuya-san?"
Sure enough...
Hearing those words that felt like her home was being stolen, Yukino's mentality at this moment... shattered!