Chapter 138: Too Much Emotions…

Akira headed to the art room after his last class, expecting to find Aoi working alone on the festival backdrop. Instead, he found both Aoi and Rina there, deep in conversation.

“No, see, you need to blend the colors more here,” Rina was saying, pointing at a section of the massive canvas. “The transition from light to shadow is too harsh.”

“I know, but I’m trying to create contrast…” Aoi paused mid-sentence when she noticed Akira in the doorway. Her face lit up. “Akira-kun! Perfect timing. Come tell Rina she’s wrong.”

“I’m not wrong,” Rina protested, grinning. “I’m just saying it could be softer.”

Akira walked over, studying the painting. It had grown significantly since the last time he’d seen it: the mystical forest now covered nearly the entire backdrop, trees reaching toward an ethereal sky painted in shades of purple and gold.

“It’s incredible,” he said honestly. “Both of you are right, though. The harsh contrast works for some areas, but others need that softer blend.”

“See?” Both girls said simultaneously, then laughed.

Akira couldn’t help but smile. It was strange seeing Rina here, integrated into this part of his life so naturally. The Soul Seed incident from earlier felt like a lifetime ago, though it had only been a few hours.

“Speaking of which,” Aoi said, dipping her brush in paint, “how are you feeling, Rina? Akira said you had some kind of episode during gym.”

“I’m fine now,” Rina said quickly. “Just… low blood sugar or something. Hit me really hard.”

“That’s what I told Coach when I took her to the clinic,” Akira added, maintaining the cover story. “The nurse gave her some juice and crackers, monitored her for a bit. Said she should be fine but to take it easy for the rest of the day.”

“Which is why I’m here instead of at cheerleading practice,” Rina finished. “Figured I’d help Aoi instead of sitting in at home, going crazy with boredom.”

Aoi nodded, accepting the explanation easily. “Well, I’m glad you’re okay. And honestly, having another set of eyes on this painting is helpful. I’ve been staring at it so long I can’t tell what’s working and what’s not anymore.”

She stepped back, surveying her work with a critical eye. “The festival is in less than a week. This needs to be perfect.”

“It already is perfect,” Rina said. “You’re just being a perfectionist.”

“Art is supposed to be perfect.”

“Art is supposed to be felt,” Rina corrected. “And this? This makes me feel something. Like I could step into it and disappear into another world.”

Akira studied the painting more closely, and as he did, something caught his attention. A faint vibration, barely perceptible but definitely there. The canvas seemed to pulse with a rhythm that matched his heartbeat.

“Ai, are you seeing this?”

“Already scanning, darling. Give me a moment.”

He reached out, his hand hovering inches from the painted surface. The air around the canvas felt thick, heavy with something he couldn’t quite name.

[SYSTEM ALERT: ANOMALOUS OBJECT DETECTED]

[OBJECT: “THE HOLLOW WOODS”]

[RANK: EVOLVING – GRADE D APPROACHING GRADE C]

[ANALYSIS: Excessive emotional investment from creator has imbued artwork with supernatural resonance. Object is becoming a beacon for entities attracted to strong emotion and creative energy.]

[ADDITIONAL FACTOR: Recent exposure to demonic essence (Rina Kurogane) has accelerated evolution. Painting is absorbing ambient lust energy and transforming it into a gateway potential.]

[WARNING: If evolution continues, object may become a gate within 72 hours.]

Akira’s blood ran cold. “Aoi, how long have we been working on this painting?”

“Since the festival was announced. About three weeks?” She tilted her head. “Why?”

“And since we started, you’ve been here every day? For hours?”

“Pretty much. Sometimes I lose track of time completely. I’ll think it’s been an hour and it’s actually been four.” She laughed softly. “Everyone thinks I’m obsessed.”

“They might be right,” Akira muttered.

“What was that?”

“Nothing. Just… you’ve put a lot of yourself into this.”

“That’s what art is,” Aoi said, her voice taking on an almost dreamy quality. “You pour your soul into the canvas. Give it life. Make it breathe.”

“Darling, she’s not entirely wrong,” Ai observed. “She literally is pouring her soul into it. And Rina’s presence is corrupting that energy, turning it into something else entirely.”

“Can we stop it?”

“Maybe. But if we interrupt the process now, there could be backlash. The painting has already absorbed too much to simply… turn off.”

Before Akira could respond, the art room door opened again.

Ayame Shinomiya walked in, her eyes immediately locking onto the painting. Even from across the room, Akira could see her expression shift: recognition, suspicion, alarm.

“Sorry to interrupt,” Ayame said, her voice carefully neutral. “I was looking for… Saito-san, actually. I wanted to ask about the Cultural Festival decorations.”

“Oh! Of course.” Aoi brightened immediately. “What did you want to know?”

But Ayame wasn’t looking at Aoi. Her gaze had shifted to Rina, who stood casually beside the painting, one hand resting on the canvas’s edge.

Akira saw it click in Ayame’s mind: the demonic energy signature, the corrupted artwork, Rina’s proximity. She was drawing exactly the wrong conclusion.

“Actually,” Ayame said, her hand moving subtly toward something in her pocket, “I was wondering if I could speak with Kurogane-san for a moment. About the cheerleading performance?”

“I’m not doing the performance,” Rina said flatly. “I told Coach I’m sitting this festival out.”

“Still, I’d like to discuss it. Please?” Ayame’s smile didn’t reach her eyes. “It’ll only take a minute.”

Rina looked at Akira, a question in her violet-tinged eyes. He gave a subtle nod.

“Fine,” Rina said. “But just a minute. I want to help Aoi finish this section before I leave.”

“Of course.”

They moved toward the door, but Akira intercepted them. “Actually, Shinomiya-san, can I talk to you first? Just for a second?”

Ayame’s eyes narrowed slightly. “About what?”

“About why you’re always hanging around me, Akira replied quietly, but in a firm voice.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep