While Karen was looking for Kaede and Suzu, Nanami brought Mashiro to the Art Club.
As soon as they arrived at the Art Club entrance, a member of the Art Club enthusiastically rushed over. "Aoyama-san and Shiina-san, welcome to the club! We heard Shiina-san is a great artist? Eri-chan is here today, too!"
Kaede hadn't bragged that Mashiro was a world-class painter; she had just said the transfer student was a very good artist and didn't mention Mashiro's full name, only her last name, Shiina. She had originally wanted to enjoy the feeling of a wolf in sheep's clothing when others discovered Mashiro's true identity... What a pity.
"Hello~" Nanami exchanged brief pleasantries with a smile, while Mashiro merely nodded and walked into the Art Club room.
The exquisite girl, with slightly mature phoenix eyes set on a delicate face, dazzling blonde hair, and transparent, fair skin, instantly attracted the attention of the Art Club members.
The Art Club classroom wasn't large. Over ten easels were set up in the cleared room, and various colors of paint were stacked nearby, with white paint being the most abundant. Compared to sports clubs, the Art Club was quite niche, with few members. Club activities mostly consisted of sketching or drawing someone as a model, and hosting a small art exhibition during the school festival. However, there was a master in this small Art Club. Kaede had mentioned it, and Nanami also knew that she had vaguely heard of a genius painter in the Art Club who could hold her own exhibitions.
"Eri-chan's studio is next door. Shiina-san, you didn't know? Eri-chan is our Art Club's ace! Come with me, I'll introduce you." The Art Club members enthusiastically led the two girls to a small room next to the club room, which had been converted from a guidance room. This was Eririi's exclusive studio.
"Eririi~ Shiina-san is here."
"Ah, you're here. Just wait a moment." A female voice came from the studio. After a while, the studio door opened, and a flash of blonde hair appeared before Nanami and Mashiro.
What a cute girl! This was Nanami's first impression of Eririi.
Her dazzling blonde hair, like Mashiro's, was tied into twin tails with black ribbons. Her figure was slender and petite, slightly shorter than Mashiro. She was wearing a uniform, so Nanami couldn't tell if she was flat-chested or if she was the type who looked more well-endowed once her clothes were off, like Mashiro. For some reason, there was a hint of guilt in her clear blue eyes.
"Kaede told me you were coming to visit. You're Aoyama-san and Shiina-san, right? My name is Eriri Spencer Sawamura. You can call me Eririi, like everyone else. Please come in."
Entering the studio, the room was occupied by various drawing boards and easels, except for a desk with a laptop. The other members of the Art Club followed the two girls into the studio. Once inside, Nanami introduced herself to Eririi.
"We are Kaede's classmates. I'm Nanami Aoyama, and this is Mashiro Shiina."
Hearing Mashiro's name, Eririi froze, then completely blanked out. The scene Kaede most wanted to see had arrived—too bad she wasn't here.
OvO
After a few seconds of stunned silence, Eririi finally reacted. "Eh!?!?!? Mashiro Shiina? That Mashiro Shiina??? The genius oil painter Mashiro Shiina?"
"Mm." Mashiro merely nodded faintly to the completely shocked Eririi, with no other major reaction. She simply walked over to the easel and stared at Eririi's painting.
The other club members, who didn't recognize the name Mashiro Shiina, quickly took out their phones to search when they saw Eririi's reaction. Although they were in the Art Club, most of them drew 2D works, and few cared about oil painting. After finding Mashiro's name online, the members gasped in surprise. However, Mashiro remained completely unmoved, just staring intently at Eririi's painting on the easel without saying a word.
Eririi nervously swallowed beside her. Before long, Mashiro's tightly closed cherry lips parted. Just when Eririi thought Mashiro was about to offer some pointers, the words that came out of Mashiro's mouth made a cold sweat immediately break out on Eririi.
"Egoistic-Lily? Kashiwagi Eri?"
"Aaaaaahhh!!! Waaahhh!!!!" Eririi suddenly shouted, drawing everyone's attention to her. If the name Kashiwagi Eri slips out, I'm done for! So... I just need to make a loud noise to cover it up! But... How does she know my pen name in the Underworld is Kashiwagi Eri!!!! I'm done, I'm done, I'm done, I'm done, I'm done!!!!!
Eririi was completely panicked. Cold sweat stuck her bangs to her forehead, her frantically beating heart made her cheeks burn, and her breathing became rapid. After taking two deep breaths, Eririi instinctively held her breath. Under her gaze, Mashiro slowly opened her mouth.
"Sexual a—"
"Aaaaaaaaaahhhhhhh!!!!!"
"—ggression."
"Eek!!!!!"
Under everyone's watchful eyes, Eririi managed a smile that was worse than crying. "C-can you all step outside for a moment? I have something I want to discuss with Shiina-san."
"No problem, hehe~ We won't disturb the artists~" The Art Club members walked out of the studio after a teasing remark. Nanami hesitated for a moment but also walked out of the studio.
After running to the door to confirm it was locked, Eririi fixed her gaze on Mashiro. "Shiina-san, how do you know my pen name?" From the club to the pen name, and even the doujinshi title, she recognized them all accurately. What's going on!? Isn't she a world-class oil painter? Why is she so knowledgeable about doujinshi stuff!?
"I've read your doujinshi. I recognize your drawing style."
"......?" Is this the level of a world-class painter?
Eririi's mouth twitched. She had deliberately replaced all the paintings in the studio with legitimate, exhibition-worthy works when she heard someone was coming to visit, putting away all the erotic drawings that, while not doujinshi, still showed panties... yet she was still recognized. Moreover... she used two completely different drawing styles for her legitimate work and her doujinshi, yet Mashiro could still recognize her.
And why has she read my doujinshi!? Why would a world-class genius painter read doujinshi!? And why did she happen to read mine!?
Wait a minute...
Is she going to say, "You wouldn't want people to know that you're Kashiwagi Eri, would you?" next?
Under Eririi's gaze, Mashiro slightly parted her lips.
"You wouldn't want people to know that you're Kashiwagi Eri, would you?"