Chapter 78
Even though she had brought an umbrella, the downpour was too heavy. By the time Eriri entered the ward, her twin ponytails clung damply to her shoulders, her skirt and socks soaked through. She shivered as she put down her schoolbag, hugging herself tightly in a futile attempt to get warm.
Seeing her like that made Lucien D. Blackthorn's chest tighten with worry. "Eriri, didn't you bring an umbrella?"
"I did. It's in the hallway…" She sat down with a long exhale. "But it's too small. With rain like this, it hardly helps."
Lucien quickly handed her a pack of tissues. "If the weather's this bad, you should've gone straight home."
Eriri dabbed at her shoulders and arms, feeling a little better. "I couldn't. I was worried you'd be bored stuck in here all day. So…" She reached into her bag and pulled out a copy of Manga Jump along with a paper bag. "I brought you these."
Lucien accepted them gratefully. "Thank you. And this bag?"
"Dorayaki. I picked them up on the way."
He blinked. "You bought food for me? Isn't that too much?"
"Don't act like it's a big deal." She puffed her cheeks. "My mom already earned a commission from you before, and all the ad revenue from your account goes through me. Think of this as… taking the wool off the sheep."
Lucien chuckled. "So I'm a fat sheep waiting to be fleeced?"
"You're sick, so right now you're a weak sheep. Just eat, already. They're best while hot."
Lucien laughed softly, picked up one of the dorayaki, and took a bite. Sweet bean paste melted across his tongue — soft, delicate, delicious. "This is really good…"
He reached for another, but paused when he noticed Eriri pulling off her soaked over-the-knee socks. His eyes, against his better judgment, lingered on her pale legs.
Eriri froze mid-motion and caught his gaze. Her face turned scarlet. "What are you looking at? Turn around!"
"…Right, sorry." Lucien obediently turned his head away, though the image was burned into his mind.
Quickly, Eriri peeled off the second sock, shook out her hairband, and let her golden hair fall loose so it could dry faster. She took a breath, then cleared her throat. "Ahem. Okay. You can turn back now."
Lucien turned—and was stunned. With her hair down, Eriri looked completely different. Elegant. Mature. Beautiful in a way that made him forget to blink. Kawaii…
Feeling his eyes on her, Eriri tried to act casual. "What? Never seen me with my hair down?"
"I didn't expect it to suit you this much," he admitted after swallowing his bite. "You look really good."
The corner of her lips twitched upward. She grabbed her phone, snapped a quick selfie, and admired it with satisfaction. "Not bad… but I still prefer tying it up. It feels cooler."
"Twin tails have become your signature," Lucien said with a grin. "But have you tried other styles? A single ponytail, maybe? You'd look energetic. Fresh."
Eriri narrowed her eyes. "You think about girls' hairstyles too much. Sounds kind of perverted."
He raised his hands, helpless. "Hey, I was being serious."
"…Fine, I take it back." She smirked, then leaned forward. "By the way, guess who I ran into today?"
Lucien groaned. "Why do you always make me guess? Just tell me."
"It's more fun this way! …Alright, fine. I met Shiina Mashiro. You know, the author of "A Love Painted in the Sky"!"
Lucien's expression didn't change much. "Mashiro? Yeah. Iida-san mentioned her before. She's also with Manga Jump."
"You knew?" Eriri looked betrayed. "And here I was, so excited to tell you…"
He chuckled. "How did you meet her?"
Eriri recounted everything — bumping into Iida Ayano, Mizuki Usami, and Mashiro on the way, the café, the conversations. Her words tumbled over each other in excitement. "She's gorgeous, too. Honestly, I was shocked.
"And," Eriri added slyly, "Iida-san said she wants Mashiro to meet you. To… you know, talk. Maybe sparks will fly."
Lucien blinked. "…Sparks?"
"The spark of love, obviously!"
He nearly choked. "Why would I fall in love with someone I've just met?"
"Didn't you say stories about love are most real when the author has experienced them? You both draw manga, you're both talented, maybe you'll hit it off!"
"Eriri…" He sighed. "Do you really think I'm in any condition for romance? If I ever have a girlfriend, it should be when I'm healthy again."
Hearing that, Eriri's heart lifted in spite of herself. She hid the smile behind her hand. "Alright. Just saying…"
Lucien slid his sketchbook toward her. "Forget that. Want to read the last four chapters of Slam Dunk? Volume nine is complete."
Her eyes lit up. "Yes!"
She flipped open the pages eagerly. The story unfolded: Shohoku against Miuradai High, Akagi starting with a team of substitutes, the deficit widening before Sakuragi, Rukawa, Miyagi, and Mitsui were subbed in. The tide turned, Shohoku crushed their opponents, and advanced through the tournament. One victory after another — Kadono, Takata, Tsukubu — each win making them shine brighter.
Sakuragi's struggles, however, stood out: five fouls, ejections, and not a single point scored. His stubbornness clashed with Akagi's steady advice: there were no shortcuts in basketball. Hard work was the only path. Yet when he stormed off, still insisting on his "genius," he found Rukawa training alone, sweat pouring late into the night.
Eriri lowered the pages slowly, her heart beating fast. "Rukawa… is amazing. Sakuragi's ridiculous. He keeps messing up and looking for shortcuts, while Rukawa just works harder and harder."
She shook her head. "People always call me a genius. I hate it. They don't see the nights I stay up drawing, the failures, the mountains of paper I've thrown away. Talent is nothing without persistence. Even a genius like Sakuragi would fail without effort."
Her gaze softened, thoughtful. What about Lucien? How much pain and struggle has he gone through to create work this incredible?
She closed the sketchbook gently, still thinking. They chatted lightly after that, the rain outside easing as dusk fell.
Finally, Eriri stood, tucking the magazine into her bag. "It's late. I should head home."
Lucien smiled. "Tomorrow's Saturday. Do you have plans?"
She nodded. "Toyosaki's basketball team plays Seiryou High. Everyone thinks we'll lose, but…" She glanced back at him, her eyes bright with quiet certainty. "I believe in miracles."