Chapter 45: The plot of the comic.
Nozaki Umetarou enjoys observing the people and things around him; everything can become a source of inspiration for him.
Because without a prototype, all the characters he drew would end up with his favorite face, the so-called Suzuki face, making it impossible to distinguish one character from another in the comic. This point was mentioned by Nozaki Umetarou and Sakura Chiyo.
So when she learned that the young lady had a prototype, Sakura Chiyo almost thought that Nozaki Umetarou liked that type—the mature young lady and her loli-type self were two extremes. However, after learning that the prototype of the young lady was male, just like Mikoshiba Mikoto (the prototype of the comic female protagonist Mamiko), Sakura Chiyo did have some expectations about the other person's personality.
But this encounter left Sakura Chiyo completely petrified. The next day, when she ran into Morofushi Sora'a at school, Sakura Chiyo instinctively avoided him.
Mikoshiba Mikoto noticed Sakura Chiyo hiding around the corner and asked, somewhat puzzled, "Isn't that Sakura? What are you doing here?"
Mikoshiba Mikoto is a tall, handsome red-haired man who even appears quite frivolous.
Sakura Chiyo immediately pulled Mikoshiba Mikoto over and made a shushing gesture in front of her mouth: "Shh!"
Although Mikoshiba Mikoto was a little confused, she still hid, just like Sakura Chiyo: "Huh? What happened?"
However, following Sakura Chiyo's gaze, Mikoshiba Mikoto paused: "Ah, it's him?"
"Eh? Does Mikorin know Morofushi-kun too?"
"Yeah, I've met him a few times, but I only know his name. I heard he dropped out of school..." Mikoshiba Mikoto was still a little confused. "Why are you staring at him?"
"Because... I want to find the same aspect in Morofushi-kun that is the same as that person (the young lady)!" Sakura Chiyo clenched her fist, as if a scene of struggle on a beach at sunset appeared behind her.
Mikoshiba Mikoto stared in shock at Sakura Chiyo's retreating figure, and the answer came to her own conclusion: "...A...a substitute?!"
However, the ringing of the school bell forced Sakura Chiyo to temporarily abandon her observation plan and return to her own class for regular lessons.
Looking at Sakura Chiyo's regretful figure, Mikoshiba Mikoto felt that her friend was about to step into the abyss of crime (?). In order to avoid this, Mikoshiba Mikoto decided to isolate Morofushi Sora'aki and Sakura Chiyo in the near future.
However, luck seemed to always favor Sakura Chiyo. While sitting in the classroom, she noticed through the window that Class 2B's class was physical education.
From her perspective, she could see the entire class. Sakura Chiyo's eyes lit up. She didn't notice the teacher's expression on the podium and stared intently in Nozaki Umetarou's direction, completely forgetting her original intention.
No, no, she should be observing Morofushi-kun right now... No—she simply can't take her eyes off Nozaki-kun!!
Nozaki Umetarou suddenly sneezed, and Morofushi Sora'aki glanced at him: "You've caught a cold again?"
"Probably not..." Before Nozaki Umetarou could finish speaking, Morofushi Sora'aki raised his hand: "Nozaki isn't feeling well, I'll take him to the infirmary."
The PE teacher was taken aback: "Ah... Is Nozaki not feeling well? Then Morofushi, why don't you take him there?"
Just as Nozaki Umetarou was about to retort, Morofushi Sora'aki said to him, "The infirmary is also material that can appear in comic."
Nozaki Umetarou's eyes immediately sharpened. He dramatically clutched his heart and steadily collapsed onto Morofushi Sora'aki, uttering in a monotone voice, "Ah, my heart isn't doing well. I have to go to the school clinic—"
"..." The PE teacher's smile froze slightly: "You're the one faking it now, aren't you?"
After the teacher reacted, Morofushi Sora'aki decisively carried the 190cm tall Nozaki Umetarou away from the scene.
Sakura Chiyo, who watched the whole thing: Ahhh! Is Nozaki-kun not feeling well?! Damn it, why aren't we in the same class?! If I were there, I would have wanted to help Nozaki-kun too…
Sakura Chiyo subconsciously imagined that scene for a moment, then immediately realized the difference in reality. She compared their heights, imagined herself being completely flattened by Nozaki, and couldn't help but clench her fists in indignation: "Is it really better to be taller?!"
The teacher standing on the podium snapped the piece of chalk in her hand and said sternly, "Sakura! You answer this question!"
Sakura Chiyo hurriedly came to her senses, her face turning red as she looked at the question on the blackboard that she hadn't heard at all.
On the other side, Nozaki Umetarou belatedly realized: "You hate PE class?"
"Because it's so hot." replied Morofushi Sora'aki, walking beside Nozaki Umetarou.
"Well, I rarely go to the school clinic either, so it's definitely possible to set up a scenario where Mamiko or Suzuki gets sick… Do you have any suggestions?" Nozaki Umetarou asked.
"Mamiko is carrying Suzuki to the school clinic?" Morofushi Sora'aki asked.
Nozaki Umetarou's eyes lit up: "Oh! Is this what happened just now? As expected of you, Morofushi!"
Morofushi Sora'aki was a little happy.
There was no one in the school clinic. Nozaki Umetarou observed the details of the clinic to prepare for setting the plot later.
Nozaki Umetarou originally wanted to ask Morofushi Sora'aki to help simulate the possible dialogue between the male and female protagonists, but Morofushi Sora'aki went to bed and covered himself with a blanket to sleep. So Nozaki Umetarou gave up on this plan, lowered his voice, and continued to observe the environment of the school clinic.
Meanwhile, Sakura Chiyo's observation trip was not going smoothly either, because they were not in the same class. Morofushi Sora'aki rarely left the classroom, and if she went out, she would see Nozaki most of the time.
Once she was in the same frame as Nozaki, Sakura Chiyo found it hard to take her attention away from Nozaki Umetarou. She didn't give up her observation until school was over: "Well... after all, a young lady is a young lady, and Morofushi-kun is Morofushi-kun. Even if they are the original versions, they are completely different individuals."
Having figured this out, Sakura Chiyo patted her cheeks, becoming lively and energetic again, and gave Nozaki Umetarou and Mikoshiba Mikoto a big smile as they walked towards her.
"Let's go to the stationery store first today, my ink is almost gone." Nozaki Umetarou suggested, and the other two did not refuse.
However, perhaps it was an unexpected turn of events, as the trio unexpectedly encountered Morofushi Sora'aki on their way to the stationery store.
Morofushi Sora'aki was standing still, with an orange cat around his feet. The cat seemed to be very friendly to him, and kept trying to get close to his feet.
Morofushi Sora'aki seemed unaware of the three people behind him, and crouched down to stare at the orange cat.
Sakura Chiyo was stunned when she saw this scene. She recalled seeing a similar plot in the draft.
The young lady is a very lonely character. When she is in a relationship, she hopes that someone can see her true self. However, her proud personality makes her instinctively reject everything around her. But the young lady has a weakness, which is that she loves fluffy things!
Seeing Morofushi Sora'aki extend his hand, Sakura Chiyo's heart suddenly started racing! Although he appears aloof and speaks with a sharp tongue, he's actually very kind-hearted and loves fluffy things—Morofushi-kun is definitely the original owner of the young lady...
Then Sakura Chiyo saw Morofushi Sora'aki lift the orange cat by the scruff of its neck. He stood up, took out his phone, made a call, and said, "Hello? Is this the pet hospital? I'd like to schedule a neutering surgery for a stray cat."
Sakura Chiyo: "..."
Sakura Chiyo's image has been shattered once again.
Sakura Chiyo asked Nozaki Umetarou in a panic, "So what exactly did you refer to about Morofushi-kun, Nozaki-kun?!"
Nozaki Umetarou thought deeply for a moment and then gave an answer: "Face."
Sakura Chiyo fell silent. She suddenly remembered that the young lady who was the female protagonist in the comic did indeed have a pair of very beautiful upturned cat eyes.
The commotion caught the attention of Morofushi Sora'aki. The stray orange cat he was holding was completely unaware of its future and was trying hard to get close to Morofushi Sora'aki.
"Speaking of neutering stray cats, I've encountered a few before. I remember stray cats can be taken to shelters, right?" Nozaki Umetarou, a comic artist, pondered, "What if I arranged a plot where Mamiko and Suzuki encounter stray cats..."
Sakura Chiyo subconsciously imagined a scene of the male and female protagonists feeding cats on campus, but before she could even begin to anticipate it, Morofushi Sora'aki coldly and ruthlessly shattered that expectation.
"Feeding stray cats without permission will result in a fine." said Morofushi Sora'aki.
Nozaki Umetarou frowned as he pondered, organizing the romantic scenarios in his mind. Finally, he said, "So, it really is still necessary for Mamiko and Suzuki to take the stray cats to be spayed/neutered, and then take care of the cats still recovering..."
Sakura Chiyo and Mikoshiba Mikoto both refused in unison: "Absolutely not!! This plot is not romantic at all!!"
Nozaki Umetarou then abandoned his plan.
As Morofushi Sora'aki was about to leave with the cat, he suddenly noticed the red earring on Mikoshiba Mikoto's ear. Mikoshiba Mikoto noticed the gaze and took a step back warily: "Why are you looking at me?!"
Morofushi Sora'aki stared at his ears for a while before looking away: "It's nothing."
After Morofushi Sora'aki left, the three of them safely finished buying their art supplies and returned to the Nozaki's home.
Nozaki Umetarou seemed to have a lot of inspiration. After returning home, he kept drawing. After finishing several sketches, Nozaki Umetarou eagerly handed the drafts to his two assistants: "What do you think of this plot?"
Sakura Chiyo was also looking forward to it. She and Mikoshiba Mikoto huddled together looking at the comic drawn by Nozaki Umetarou.
Then, the two watched as Suzuki suddenly fell ill, and a group of people scrambled to take him to the infirmary. Sakura Chiyo and Mikoshiba Mikoto exchanged a glance, reluctantly accepting the situation, and then watched as Mamiko swept aside her rivals, suddenly transforming into a muscular beauty and carrying Suzuki to the infirmary, after which Mamiko herself fell fast asleep on the hospital bed.
A long silence fell between them. Looking at the expectant look on Nozaki Umetarou's face, they couldn't utter a single word of praise, leaving only six dots: "..."