The school day at Seihou High unfolded as it always did. Renji navigated the hallways between classes, his backpack slung casually over one shoulder, noting the absence of the usual tension that had plagued his days.

Surprisingly, his bullies—Kaito and the goons—had been uncharacteristically quiet. No shoves in the corridors, no whispered taunts during lectures, no ambushes by the lockers, no searching of his bag.

It was as if an invisible barrier had descended, keeping them at bay.

Did something happen at home? Renji couldn't tell, but he didn't especially care.

Maybe word had spread about his growing confidence, or perhaps they were plotting something bigger, but for now, he relished the peace.

Classes droned on, but without the distractions of harassment, he found the school day more enjoyable than usual.

During history class, Haruka had slipped a note to Renji, asking if everything was clear with Miss Katsura. Renji nodded at her when no one was looking.

Except Hitomi. She noticed.

Renji looked at her and she quickly looked away.

The bell for the study period rang, and he made his way to the art room.

Hitomi was already there, perched on a stool by a cluttered table. She looked up when he entered, her face lighting up with a bright smile that crinkled the corners of her eyes.

Once again, she was dressed more confidently than usual. She had shed her sweater, wearing just the fitted school blouse that hugged her slender frame, and her big breasts that awkwardly stood out.

Her skirt was shorter and her hair was done, two strands intentionally aligned to frame her face.

Renji wasn't really sure if he liked this version of Hitomi. She was visually appealing, sure. But there was something more likeable about the soft, more modest Hitomi.

He entered as she fidgeted with a pencil, clearly eager for their meeting.

"Hey, Renji!" she greeted, her voice warm and enthusiastic, standing up to wave him over. "I've been waiting. How's your day going?"

"Smooth," Renji replied, dropping his backpack by the table and pulling up a stool across from her. He leaned back casually, his eyes flicking over her outfit again but not lingering too obviously. "I don't know if you noticed but Kaito and his pals have been real quiet today."

Her eyes glistened. "Oh yeah. I did notice."

'Is he actually having a casual conversation with me?' Hitomi asked in her mind, her mind tingling with excitement.

Renji narrowed his eyes. "Would you happen to know why?"

'Oh,' her excitement vanished. 'He's just snooping for answers because I'm the Class President.'

She still smiled. "No. I'm as clueless as everyone else."

Renji shrugged. "Alright. Let's get into this art stuff."

Hitomi nodded eagerly, flipping open her clipboard with a flourish, her notes neatly organized in her precise handwriting.

"Right! So, updates on everything. First, the competition setup hasn't changed. It's still Seihou versus Nakada Academy, Oshimaru High, and Kengo Tech. That four-school tie from the qualifiers is holding strong. I double-checked with the organizers, and it's all set for next month."

Renji nodded, recalling their previous chat. "Yeah, you mentioned it was usually three. Good to know it's official now."

"Exactly," she said, clearing her throat. "They also don't think that the former relationship between the judge and the contestant will be any issues."

Renji made a face. "That's just stupid. But whatever. Are the supplies here?"

"Yup." She led him to the corner of the room where all his supplies were kept, provided by the school.

Fresh canvases, acrylic paints in vibrant hues, brushes of varying sizes, even some digital tools like a tablet for projections if needed.

After Renji's inspection, it was his turn to share.

He pulled out a sketchbook from his bag, flipping it open to a series of rough drawings he'd worked on the night before getting arrested.

He traced a finger over one of his sketches. It was a conceptual piece blending realistic urban decay with thematic overlays of futuristic hope, symbols layered in a way that screamed depth.

"So, my ideas: I'm thinking a triptych panel. Left side: realism technique for Professor Yamada. A detailed cityscape in decay, like crumbling Tokyo buildings. Middle: conceptual for Ms. Mori, abstract swirls representing societal chaos. Right: modern twist for Kenzo, with holographic elements projecting growth and renewal. Ties into the theme of 'Evolution' for the comp—creativity through integration."

Hitomi's eyes widened in awe, leaning in closer, her boobs spilling out of her blouse. He pretended not to see.

"Oh, Renji, that's brilliant! I love how it balances everything. They'll eat it up. The triptych format is so innovative; it could score huge on creativity. And the holographics? Genius tie-in to last year's winner without copying."

"Is it really that good?"

"Yes, absolutely! Go for it!"

Renji raised an eyebrow at her enthusiasm. "You sure? I could tweak the colors. Make the decay more muted for thematic depth."

She shook her head quickly, her hands clasping together. "No, no. Your vision is perfect. Muted colors would enhance the realism without overpowering."

She looked up at him and her eyes melted at his gaze. "Mhmm, but if you wanna do it go ahead, you know; you're the artist here."

She gave a playful, nervous smile.

Renji smiled back. "You're funny, Hitomi."

They delved deeper, discussing submission deadlines—two weeks for finals—and past winners' pitfalls, like over-relying on technique without theme.

Hitomi shared more animated stories, her hands gesturing expressively, her skirt swishing as she shifted. "Remember that Oshimaru entry last year? All flash, no substance. It got one of the lowest scores by a judge."

Renji chuckled. "Noted. I'll make sure I avoid that. Substance is as important as aesthetics."

"Perfect!" Hitomi exclaimed, then hesitated, biting her lip cutely, her cheeks pinkening. "Um, Renji... would you like to eat together at lunch? I mean, we could talk more about this over food. If you're not busy."

Renji thought about it for a moment, weighing her obvious flirtation against his packed agenda.

She was the principal's daughter, she had watched him fuck Haruka several times, and she wanted to be his girlfriend. He couldn't give her that, but hey, he had to let her get something at least.

So he shrugged her a yes. "Yeah, okay. Sounds good."

Her face lit up like the sun. "Great! I'll meet you by the cafeteria."

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