Chapter 72: The Sun (Part 2)
Erika slowly took off her outer coat and draped it over Isana's shoulders.
"I was passing by here after buying meat buns and happened to see you. I didn’t expect you to have an exhibitionist kink, Isana."
"I don’t..."
Isana’s delicate hands tightly gripped the steaming kraft paper, her cheeks flushing red.
"Just kidding."
Seeing Isana so unusually shy, Erika, still holding her big meat bun, sat down across from her and turned her gaze to the rainy scene outside the window.
"Go ahead and eat. Food cools down quickly in this kind of weather."
Still, Isana didn’t take a bite. She simply held the kraft paper in her hands.
Because to her, this meat bun was no ordinary food—it was the only ray of sunshine in her otherwise dark life.
Isana just stared blankly at Erika, as if mesmerized by this angelic girl before her.
Even though she was only covered by a single coat, she suddenly didn’t feel cold at all.
In the snack shop, Erika turned her eyes again to the silent Isana clutching the meat bun, paused, and pulled out another bun from her pack.
“Hmm? Not enough for you?”
“I’m not hungry.”
Isana shook her head, pressed her lips together, and revealed a faint smile. A blush spread across her cheeks.
“Thank you, Erika. You’re so kind.”
“Aw…”
Since Isana didn’t want to eat, Erika stuffed the meat bun into her mouth in a few bites. “So today’s your dramatic runaway from home, huh?”
“I…”
“Alright, no need to explain. I was just saying.”
Erika cut her off with a laugh. “Wearing that kind of outfit—I can tell.”
“Ugh… I fought with my dad.”
Isana still answered honestly. She adjusted her damp silver hair. “Erika, aren’t you going to the academy today?”
“Aren’t you skipping too?”
“I don’t feel like going…”
Looks like this girl was planning to skip class...
“Then I won’t rush either. I’ll sit here with you for a bit.”
Muttering softly, Erika turned her gaze back outside the window.
In truth, she had already skipped two days of classes. Aside from the day she had her period, she’d also stayed home an extra day to rest after fighting in her half-dragon form.
“Erika… Can I ask you a question?” Isana suddenly asked softly.
“Ask away.”
“Then you can’t laugh at me…”
“Don’t worry, we’re friends, right? No matter how funny it is, I won’t laugh,” Erika said, patting her flat chest.
“In your eyes… is my hobby… normal?”
As she spoke, Isana’s face turned crimson. Her head dropped so low she couldn’t even look Erika in the eye.
She’d been scolded by her father today, but she didn’t care about that. What she truly wanted now was Erika’s approval.
“You mean… nude oil painting?”
“Mm…”
“Pfft! Haha, I can’t believe you even asked that.”
Erika chuckled. “Isn’t that obvious? Who in their right mind has a hobby of painting people naked? Sometimes I seriously wonder just how much of a pervert you are to be into something like that.”
“You’re laughing at me! You just said you wouldn’t!”
“But you’re so silly, Isana! Why would you even ask something like that?”
This time, surprisingly, Isana didn’t argue back. She felt a little hurt inside.
So it was true… In everyone’s eyes, this hobby of hers really was just too abnormal…
It was embarrassing to admit, but she remembered how two years ago, after Otilia locked herself away, no one was left to play with her.
She had tried to find fun on her own—singing, dancing, hunting… but all those group activities meant nothing without her sister. They just weren’t enjoyable.
Then one day, she picked up a paintbrush and imagined drawing a companion who could keep her company.
From then on, she immersed herself in creation. To suit her interests, all her oil paintings were of girls around her age.
One piece after another, the characters in her paintings wore less and less clothing, because in her eyes, nudity was honesty. The girls in her paintings all had pure hearts.
After falling in love with painting, she couldn't stop. To find inspiration, she would often force girls she liked to serve as her models.
Every time she finished a piece, she felt a small sense of accomplishment as if she had created a new soul. This became her longstanding passion.
Even though no one appreciated it, and she was often laughed at, she continued to persevere.
Since coming to the Imperial Capital from the southern region, Isana had very few friends—none she could truly open her heart to. Only her paintings kept her company.
Then she met Erika at Wode Academy. At first sight, she was taken with this girl of similar age and resolved to paint her nude!
Now her hobby had been rejected by her father and scorned by her sister. That was fine. What she truly wanted was Erika’s recognition.
But… it seemed Erika didn’t like this strange hobby either. Maybe… it had always been her one-sided, childish stubbornness.
…
“But I really admire you, Isana.”
At that moment, Erika spoke. She didn’t reject her like the Duke of Daylight, nor scorn her like Otilia. She just gave her a warm, sweet smile.
“You know it yourself, right? That your hobby isn’t well-received, that people won’t like it.
But even so, you still persist in doing what you love.
I admire that.”
For the first time…
For the very first time, someone praised her for her oil painting—even though it sounded a bit odd.
Isana’s eyes widened slightly as she stared blankly at the girl in front of her, her expression dazed.
“I’m not like you.”
Erika lowered her head slightly in melancholy. “I don’t have that kind of courage. I’m chasing something too, but when I’m about to find a clue, I start hesitating—wondering if I should face it.
I don’t know what to do next…
Should I stick to my original belief… even if it’ll bring me trouble…”
“Erika!”
Suddenly, Isana released the kraft paper and gripped Erika’s hands tightly, her bright eyes shimmering like stars.
“W-what is it?”
“You can do it!”
That face, once clouded with sadness, now showed a sincere smile.
“In my eyes, Erika is the best! Always the best!”
“You don’t even know what I’m talking about…”
“I don’t need to.”
Isana held Erika’s hands even tighter. “Because you’re amazing—I could tell from the first time I saw you at Wode Academy. No matter what it is, I know you’ll handle it.
Because you’re my sun!
The blazing sun that melts snow, warms everything, and shines brilliantly!”
Faced with Isana’s sudden emotional change, Erika was a little helpless.
“What’s gotten into you…”
“I’m just really happy.”
Giggling softly, Isana returned to her usual cheerfulness. “I was so upset after being scolded by my dad today… but meeting you here, I’m not sad anymore. Thank you, Erika.”
“As long as you’re happy…”
Not quite understanding what had just happened—and suspecting Isana might’ve eaten something weird—Erika gave a few awkward chuckles.