Chapter 56: Art Competition
With two days left until the school festival, the Art Club members, through their collective efforts, finally completed all the painting tasks assigned to them by the school.
After completion, Teacher Koyama, the advisor of the Art Club, Student Council President Kano Sumire, the principal, and the Grade Director all came to inspect it.
Teacher Koyama looked at the large promotional oil painting in front of him and smiled with satisfaction, "Although I've come to see it a few times before, the finished product is even better. You all worked hard this time. Principal, what do you think?"
Wearing glasses, the principal, who was over fifty, nodded repeatedly, "Hahaha, excellent. With such decorations, this school festival will definitely be a big surprise."
Even Student Council President Kano Sumire showed a surprised expression after seeing the paintings completed by the Art Club members.
She knew the Art Club president, a very lazy person. After the start of this semester, he was even the only one left in the Art Club. If not for the subsequent addition of four new members, the Art Club might not have existed during the club meeting at the beginning of the semester.
Considering the achievements of the Art Club now, Kano Sumire thought that perhaps they could participate in the city's painting competition later. If they achieved good results, they could also appropriately increase the Art Club's activity funds as a reward.
Although Toyogasaki Academy had some reputation in Tokyo, it was always overshadowed by the old-established Shuchiin. In various art and academic competitions over the years, it rarely managed to surpass its rival, at most winning some sports competitions.
If this suddenly emerging new Art Club could achieve some results, it would certainly be very beneficial for the school.
With the pre-school festival tasks completed, everyone bid farewell to the teachers and left the auditorium. The various huge promotional paintings placed there would later be arranged by the Student Council students, so they didn't have to worry about it.
"Members of the Student Council, please wait a moment."
Just as they were about to enter the teaching building, Kano Sumire's voice came from behind.
Everyone stopped and looked at the Student Council President, who had an excellent reputation in the school, all showing puzzled expressions.
The president, however, took the lead and said with a smile, "President, is it because we performed well this time that you're going to increase our activity funds?"
Upon hearing this, Usami immediately wanted to stop him, but to her surprise, Kano Sumire smiled and said, "Increasing activity funds is not impossible."
"...Huh?"
Everyone was surprised, especially Eriri. She had heard from some classmates that Toyosaki's Student Council was very strict about reviewing club activity funds.
Looking at the smiling Student Council President, Kaede thought for a moment and then asked, "President, are there any requirements?"
"That's right, but it's not a bad thing for you all."
Kano Sumire nodded and said, "In a month, around mid-June, there's an art competition in the city. I hope the members of your Art Club can participate and strive for good placings. This will be beneficial for both your personal academic records and the school's reputation. Originally, I hadn't considered it, but after seeing your works today, I think you can absolutely participate."
After hearing this, everyone looked at each other. The president looked calm, and Kaede and Uchimaki Subaru didn't seem very interested. Only Eriri and Usami seemed eager to try.
Usami looked at Kano Sumire curiously and asked, "President, do you have detailed information about that competition? I'd like to see it first!"
"You can."
Kano Sumire smiled and agreed, "Tomorrow afternoon during club activities, I will bring the relevant competition materials for you to see."
"Thank you, President!"
After Kano Sumire left, Usami Mizuki immediately became excited: "Everyone, an art competition! And it's representing the school! Let's all participate!"
The president was the first to turn and walk inside: "No, no, I'm not motivated."
Kaede and Uchimaki Subaru also nodded similarly, then followed the president's steps.
"Huh?"
Usami didn't expect all three of them to be uninterested, so she could only look at Eriri.
As for Eriri, although she was quite interested at first, after thinking carefully, she realized she simply didn't have that much time to prepare for the art competition painting.
Not to mention the subsequent series of collaborations with Utaha, just the doujinshi for the summer doujin convention and the manga she had started and planned to submit to Jump were enough to give Eriri a headache.
There was no other way. In the end, Eriri could only look at Usami apologetically: "Sorry, Mizuki, I probably don't have enough time to participate, but I'll cheer you on."
"Oh! How could this be!"
...Kaede definitely wouldn't participate in the art competition. Although he could draw, oil painting was really a beginner's entry point for him, and for a city-level competition like this, he was quite self-aware.
But for some reason, in the Art Club chat group the next day, Uchimaki Subaru suddenly announced that he had decided to participate in the art competition.
Kaede was extremely puzzled as to what reason prompted this guy to participate in the competition. Was he not going to draw his 2d waifu anymore?
He couldn't figure it out, and soon, Eriri in the group also asked, and Uchimaki Subaru directly gave his explanation.
Uchimaki Subaru: [Because Usami-san is absolutely right, if I participate in the competition, I can also show the cuteness of my 2d waifu to more people! Oil painting can also express many different feelings!]
Ah... this guy is hopeless. Is he really going to put Toyogasaki Academy's name on the signature of a beautiful girl oil painting?
And Usami, she really managed to motivate even Uchimaki Subaru to get people to participate in the competition. Why hadn't he noticed she had this ability before?
Kaede, who had finished his bento, looked at the chat group messages on his phone and showed a helpless expression.
Kitamura Yusaku, sitting opposite him, asked curiously, "Is there something interesting happening again?"
"Ah, it's about the city's art competition next month. Uchimaki and Usami from our club plan to participate."
"Those two?" Takasu Ryuji also asked with a smile, "Aren't you and Sawamura-san participating?"
"My oil painting isn't good enough, and Eriri doesn't have that much free time, so she chose not to participate." Kaede shrugged and said, "But looking at how serious they both are, they should be giving it their all for this month. After all, if they win, it will be displayed in an art museum."
"Oh! Isn't that amazing!"
Just then, some boys who had gone to the cafeteria for lunch returned to the classroom and came over to them, saying, "Something new and interesting has happened, want to hear it?"