After finishing breakfast, Mashiro returned to her room, and before she could sit down to continue drawing, someone followed her in.
"Chihiro?"
She turned her head.
"Mashiro, don't you want to become a manga artist? I think you could consider upgrading your equipment. After all, drawing on paper is more suited for traditional art."
Izumi Chihiro said.
"How do I do that?"
Mashiro's gaze was fixed on him.
Whenever a topic related to manga artists came up, the girl's emotions would fluctuate more than usual.
"By drawing with a graphics tablet."
He held up a finger and smiled slightly.
The scene shifted, and the three of them gathered in Sagiri's room.
"Sagiri, you show Mashiro how to operate it."
He gestured.
"Mashiro-neechan, watch how I do it…"
Sagiri began explaining how to draw on a computer with a graphics tablet. Seeing Mashiro's focused expression, she couldn't help but feel a bit proud.
It was probably similar to the feeling of, 'Look! That world-class genius artist is receiving my guidance!'
"It might take some getting used to at first, but once you're familiar with it, you'll feel the increase in efficiency, and you can also make corrections if you accidentally make a mistake."
Sagiri continued to explain.
"Mashiro-neechan, did you get that?"
Suddenly, she stopped.
"I got it."
Mashiro nodded seriously.
"Mashiro has near-photographic memory. As long as she's willing to remember, this level of difficulty is very easy for her."
Izumi Chihiro said nonchalantly.
"Photographic memory, huh…"
Sagiri secretly clicked her tongue.
If she had that ability, she wouldn't have to worry about failing classes anymore!
"Mashiro, why don't you give it a try?"
Izumi Chihiro looked at the girl beside him and suggested.
Sagiri moved aside, standing behind her brother, wanting to clearly see what would happen next.
The prefix 'world-class genius artist' always felt too distant, making it impossible to truly grasp. She wanted to clearly understand just how amazing this person's drawing truly was!
Mashiro was not at all confused at this moment. Following the planned steps, she opened the computer, launched the drawing software, and then manipulated the pen on the graphics tablet.
She moved her wrist slightly, noticing that the tactile sensation was different, but her innate talent combined with the artist's instinct honed through day and night allowed her to quickly grasp the feel and then begin drawing officially.
"Is this for real… She's already proficient so quickly. Besides photographic memory, could Mashiro-neechan also have an 'absolute touch' kind of super S-rank talent?"
Sagiri showed an expression of astonishment.
Besides the typical genius-level drawing talent, in terms of acquired skill sets, she only had one 'nude analysis' skill learned from her mother, which allowed her to depict the patterns of cute girls' underwear as if with X-ray vision, but comparatively, the effect was completely blown out of the water.
She still hadn't understood the 'Erotic Manga Ray' of the ultimate mystery.
She was convinced that if there were a personal status panel, Mashiro-neechan would probably have several rows of drawing-related skills.
Immediately after watching Mashiro's subsequent drawing, she understood even more clearly that even if she learned the ultimate mystery, she wouldn't be able to draw works of this caliber.
Previously, her mother's drawing skill was an unrivaled presence in her mind, but even that was inevitably shaken.
Yes, even though Mashiro's main focus was traditional painting like oil painting before, not long after she switched to manga, her skill already surpassed that of the original Eromanga-sensei.
Is that strange?
It doesn't seem strange.
After all, this is Shiina Mashiro!
"Just looking at her drawing ability, I probably won't be able to surpass Mashiro Onee-chan in my entire life."
Sagiri couldn't help but sincerely say in her heart, 'I'd call Mashiro Onee-chan the strongest!'
From now on, she was also a Mashiro fan.
"But even so, some things cannot be conceded...!"
She cheered herself on in her heart again.
As her proficiency increased, a manga-style drawing on the computer gradually took shape at an increasingly fast pace.
Mashiro was drawing a portrait, but it wasn't the realistic style she was used to before; instead, it had a strong 'two-dimensional' flavor, and the subject was 'not far away, but right before her eyes.'
In the drawing was a little boy about nine years old, his eyes sparkling, a faint smile on his lips, extending his right hand as if inviting someone.
And indeed, it was so.
Izumi Chihiro's mind recalled that memory from back then.
At the art studio back then, the overly powerful Mashiro was disliked by almost everyone, but the innocent girl had no idea why.
She was the only one who was alone.
Although Mashiro seemed emotionally detached, it didn't mean there were no emotions in her heart, especially when a child's natural desire for playmates hadn't been extinguished.
At that time, he reached out his hand.
"Want to come along?"
Mashiro looked up.
It was probably at that moment that Mashiro etched this scene into her memory forever.
The only regret was that he had wanted Eriri and Mashiro to become friends back then, but it still failed.
"This is... who? Why do I have such a familiar feeling... Yes, that's right! This feeling is Ni-san!"
Sagiri stared at the painting for a while, finally confirming it.
She didn't distinguish it by appearance, as it had been seven or eight years, and a manga-like style was used.
'It's the aura!'
Sagiri quickly understood, then became even more shocked.
'It's the aura!'
She really wanted to ask: Mashiro Onee-chan, are you cheating?
"It's very smooth."
After finishing the drawing, Mashiro stated.
"If I use this to draw manga..."
So, Izumi Chihiro immediately went out and bought the same set of equipment, allowing Mashiro to fully immerse herself in her interest in manga.
However, for the emotionally detached Mashiro, the path to becoming a manga artist was also a thorny one; she would experience unprecedented difficulties...
Just a few days later, the long-silent Eriri suddenly came to visit.
"Chihiro, open the door for me!"
The girl's voice had a sense of urgency.
"Why are you shouting so loudly!"
Izumi Chihiro pushed the door open and looked at the twin-tailed girl with a scrutinizing gaze.
He was a bit unsure of Eriri's intentions in coming at this time.
But, she must have come for Mashiro, right?
"What is it?"
He asked.
"Nothing, I was just about to go to the bookstore to buy some manga and light novels, so I just dropped by to say hello."
Eriri said, looking left and right.
'Do you really think I can't see your gaze?'
Izumi Chihiro pouted and moved away from the doorway.
"Come in."
"Alright, since you invited me, I'll come in and sit for a bit."
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💯 PS = 2 bonus chapter