I, who advocate giving up, feel like a disqualified person

"Thank you for your hard work... Would you like a drink?" Ye Hui said as she started walking towards the kitchen. This was my second time at her house, and just like last time, no one else was home.

"OK, all right."

There's no need to be polite in this situation...that road was really difficult to walk on just now.

"By the way, have you thought of a story yet?" A can of drink just taken out of the refrigerator was placed in front of me.

"Hmm... maybe."

Actually, I haven't started to think about it yet... Even though I already know that I will face the pairing of Aaliyah and Jiumuting in this competition, I still can't feel nervous.

"Well, wait for me a moment." She said and ran to her room.

Even though it was a day off, Ye Hui was still dressed as elegantly as ever, and even waited for me downstairs... I didn't know how to express how touched I was.

"Hey, come and take a look at this." It didn't take long for Ye Hui to come out of his room, holding a sketchpad that looked somewhat familiar.

"This is?"

"Ah, I tried to draw the characters. I don't know the story yet, but after listening to your explanation, I will make some changes."

"This is the character design..." I said and took it with both hands.

Even the characters are ready, but the plot is still unclear... I always feel like it's been dragged out too much.

"How do you feel? Does it seem to meet those people's aesthetic standards?" she asked me a little worriedly, and then sat next to me.

"Yeah, very good."

There's no major problem with the art style. I just need to make the characters more distinctive, and how I do that depends on my story...

"That's good... In order to draw such a character, I bought a lot of comic books for reference." Ye Hui breathed a sigh of relief. "Well, let's relax and have some snacks first."

"Ah... well..." She hesitated, but didn't want to refuse, so she went into the kitchen again.

"What should I do..." I muttered to myself, opened the drink in front of me and took a big gulp.

It’s better to come up with a plot as soon as possible.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . .

The cookies baked by Ye Hui himself taste better than those sold on the market. I don’t know if it’s because I’m unconsciously giving them a thumbs up... Anyway, it feels pretty good.

"Speaking of which, Yehui, you've also consulted so many comics. What kind of plots do you prefer?"

Before explaining my own ideas, it would be better to ask Ye Hui's opinion.

"Well..." She lowered her head and thought for a moment, "I'm not sure what plot I like, but I don't like the ones with amnesia and misunderstandings. I feel very uncomfortable after seeing them."

Well, generally people with simple minds will hate these plots. After all, these are sad parts, and people with fragile hearts can't stand it.

“...I see...” Then just be careful when planning it.

"Speaking of which, why do comics have to be published issue by issue? I want to know what's going to happen next, but I have to wait a month for updates. I was just looking for reference, but I ended up being drawn into the plot."

...Is this what they call an unexpected success? Besides, some comics might not even be updated once a month.

"This shows that you're gradually understanding it... The more you understand, the better your paintings will be."

“Now that you mention it, it really is like that…”

I always feel like she is falling into the trap of comics... Is it a good thing or a bad thing?

"Although it's too early to ask now, but...what place do you think our work will get?" I suddenly asked her.

If I were given some encouragement at this time, maybe I would get some inspiration.

"Well, this may sound strange... but rankings aren't that important, are they?" She looked at me, her eyes seeking my opinion. "Do you think rankings are important?"

"...It's not... particularly important..."

"Yeah, rankings and such are not important at all. As long as we finish this work, it's fine."

"Well..."

Even so, the only way to prove that our efforts are not in vain is to get a good ranking. If our efforts are not rewarded, it would be too depressing.

At least it should be to the extent that you won't be eliminated.

"Well, actually, some of the people I know are entering this competition... and their goal is first place. Seeing their faces filled with hope and enthusiasm, I've been thinking, maybe I could set a goal like that... too."

"I see... Since setting a goal can motivate you, then set your goal to successfully qualify."

"what..."

This goal is really... quite high.

. . . . . . . . . . . .

Can it meet expectations?

"Sheji, do you know how this effect was created? And these neatly arranged dots... they couldn't be drawn by hand, right?"

Ye Hui became interested in the background of the comic book.

"Of course it's not manual...otherwise it would be amazing."

So based on my own experience, I explained to her the tools needed to draw comics, such as dots.

However...

"Dots? G-pen? Storyboard? Name...? What does the name mean?" I have to say, Ye Hui's puzzled expression is really cute.

...

Just like that, because Ye Hui didn't really understand how to express comics, and she didn't know how to use dots and various types of pens... I suddenly understood why she set her goal to be "shortlisted", because it seems that it is indeed very difficult now.

This means you know nothing.

So, in order to explain it to her better, I decided it would be better to let her prepare the necessary tools first and then explain it to her.

"Well, let's go shopping together and buy some materials for the comics. We can also go out for a meal or something."

It was just a casual invitation, and I definitely didn't think of it in any other way at the time.

"Oh...yes, and wouldn't it be possible to use this in a manga plot, too, a scene where the two of them go out together?"

...After hearing Ye Hui say this, my face suddenly turned red.

...This...this isn't really a date, well, but it could be good material, even if that's not my intention.

Can the second chapter meet expectations?

"I didn't expect it to be so troublesome... It seems that I thought it was too simple." Ye Hui said to me with a little apology.

"Well, since I've decided to help you, there's nothing to complain about. Besides, I'm already touched that you're willing to go out with me in such hot weather." Isn't there a saying... 'The person who accompanies you shopping on a hot day is either your enemy or the person who cares about you the most.'

That’s right, I made it up.

Although I was the one who proposed it...but for the time being, it was still Ye Hui's family. And even if our relationship is not close, it is not to the point of being enemies.

"Help..." She repeated the word as if she had some thoughts about what I just said.

"Huh? What's wrong?" Did I say something wrong?

"Well, I don't think this counts as helping, because anyone can help, but this matter cannot be done without you, Sheji... So, if you say you're helping, it seems like our relationship is not good..."

"...Well." I couldn't help but scratch my cheek.

Is this... is she trying to explain our relationship to me? Does she actually think our relationship is pretty good?

"Since... in that case, then you decide on the word... a replacement for 'help'."

"Oh... well." She tilted her head and thought for a moment, "Is it really better to use... 'Assistance'?"

"..."

In my opinion, these two words have similar meanings...

. . . . . . . . . . .

"You seem to be thinking about something."

After some careful selection, I had almost bought all the necessary materials for the painting, and I unconsciously fell into thought. Not about the plot of the comic, but... another important matter that I had not yet had time to deal with.

"Um..."

When I finally realized it, I found myself staring at a greeting card...Happy Birthday.

I suddenly remembered that June was the month she told me my birthday was.

"So, what's it about?"

"...about an important day... maybe." Was it really important to her? It must have been a very important matter to her sister, after all.

"So... have you found a solution?"

"Not yet." I sighed, looking away and looking at her, "But don't worry, I will take care of it."

"I know."

Yehui avoided my sight and walked towards the cashier with the painting materials I had selected.

"Because Sheji, you never let others down."

I don't think you and I know the same person.

..............

"People cannot understand each other."

This truth was not told to me by anyone, but was presented to me by what I have seen and heard since I can remember.

In this society made up of people, there are many people like me who are suffering from loneliness that they have nowhere to express.

Being alone should be the norm, because loneliness will make people full of thorns to defend against possible threats, and will also drive away so-called kindness.

However...most people choose to hug each other, endure the pain caused by the thorns, and put on smiles to each other, hoping to alleviate loneliness in this way.

That's impossible. The thorns don't disappear with intimacy, and blood ties don't prevent the damage they cause. No... blood ties are the most likely factor to cause damage.

Adults naively believe that their children will not be harmed by them, while siblings believe that with the protection of "family affection", the harm will definitely be reduced, or even impossible to occur.

Unfortunately, because of family ties, they are often closer to each other, and the deeper the thorns penetrate, the greater the damage.

So, everything was taken for granted. The closeness was taken for granted, and the outcome was decided on its own.

When you know that there will be harm between each other, isn't it natural to keep your distance? So, what's wrong with keeping your distance from others like Rinquanchuan... That's what I think.

However, when I saw the emotion that Rin Hanekawa inadvertently revealed, I suddenly realized... my assumption was based on knowing her. The truth is, I don't know her at all, so my assumption that I should keep my distance was just my assumption.

Perhaps she has decided to break her own thorns just to return to her previous close relationship with her sister.

As a bystander, what consequences will helping her bring? Is this really within my consideration?

................

If you are troubled, it will show in your expression.

Even though I have a blank expression most of the time, I can still clearly notice any abnormalities that need to be captured.

After spending two days at home, she wasn't exactly happy when she arrived at school, but she wasn't too unhappy either. But now it seemed Rinhanekawa hadn't been very happy at home, and she'd brought those feelings into the classroom... Judging by the furrowed brow, it was probably Rinhanekawa again.

For some reason, I could sense that something was wrong with her feelings, and I couldn't just sit back and watch.

"Well...it's almost the 14th." I said in a voice she could just hear.

He didn't look at her, pretending to be rummaging through the drawers, and his tone was nonchalant.

"..."

From the corner of my eye I could see that she had turned her head towards me, and I could feel the gaze on her.

"...I'll come out when the time comes." She responded.

Needless to say, this meant that she was leaving everything to me. And she didn't take her anger out on me, which meant... at least for now, she was in a relatively good mood.

"Then let's contact each other about the specific matters later."

I grabbed some books and stuffed them into my bag - this was to fool Lin Yi's surveillance.

"What about club activities?"