Apparently the Gal who Bullies me Likes me

Chapter 18

Visiting the Art Club

It is now in early August and summer vacation has already begun.

I have been leading a completely reversed day-night life, I slept during the day and work during the night.

Well, it is summer vacation, so such a lifestyle is acceptable.

I also don't have to meet Umezawa and her friends during the summer vacation.

I don't want to be treated as their slave anymore.

Besides, Tachibana is protecting me now, so I don't have to worry.

Today is the day that Tachibana and Ren will visit the art club to observe our club activities.

Well, even though they are just visiting, I think they have almost already decided to join the club.

During summer vacation, the art club opens its art room for two or three times a week for students to paint.

There are about 15 members in the art club in all year level.

Since it is a school of delinquents, not many people like to draw and most of them join the sports club.

In a sense the rules of the art club is very lax as there's not much restriction given to a member as long as they submit a work of art once a month also each club member can also draw or paint whatever they want.

We also have an advisor who knows a lot about painting so a member can ask anything they want to him.

Since there are only a few members in the club, everyone gets along well with each other, and since I was forced to go to the gym by Umezawa in the beginning of the year, by the time I went to the art club, there was already a close-knit group and I couldn't join them.

So while the other members of the club were having fun painting with their friends, I was working on my artwork alone.

The only person who talks to me is the club president. That's why I'm quite lonely in the club and it's the reason why I really want Tachibana and Ren to join the art club.

I'm currently waiting for Tachibana and Ren to arrive in the art room.

The art room is air-conditioned.

Only a few members attended the club today since it's really a beautiful day outside.

Many things can be find inside the art room, like wood, plaster statues, landscape paintings and many other things that you could find in a home improvement stores.

The desks and the chairs are located in the back of the room and those who want to use them can freely take them from there.

The floor and walls are colorfully stained with paints and other materials.

This place is really messy but I find it relaxing and I feel like I can paint more in a place like this.

Suddenly the door behind the room opens.

It's Tachibana, it looks like she is looking around to find me.

When she found me sitting at the very back of the art room, she came running towards me.

"Good Morning."

Tachibana makes a small voice like a whisper.

"Why are you whispering like that?"

"I thought maybe I should keep my voice low."

"It's fine you don't have to talk in a really small voice as everyone is also making a lot of noises."

Well the last time Tachibana went to the art room she was really loud when she said that she wanted to talk to me.

"I see."

Saying that, she sat down in the chair I had prepared for her.

Within a few seconds, the door in front of the art room opened with a bang this time.

It's Ren.

Unlike Tachibana, Ren barges in the art club room without a care in the world.

"Hoh, so this is what this room looks like..."

Ren looked around the room and said that to himself.

I raised my hand to call him and when he notices it he looks at me.

It's really interesting as I didn't realize that their behavior was completely opposite with each other.

It really shows their own personality.

I could see Tachibana's elegance and Ren's lack of delicacy in this moment.



Since the three of us got together for the first time in a while, we were having a conversation about what was going on with our daily lives, when the club president came over to us.

"Hello Kato-kun. Are those two have any experience in club activities?"

The president of the art club is Oozono Shiori.

She has a brown hair tied in a braided pigtails and she wears a round glasses.

Come to think of it I haven't seen her hair in any other style other than a braided pigtails.

She is a 2nd year student and one year older than us. She was appointed as the president of the club because she's really good at painting.

Incidentally, she's the only one who talks to me.

She's so good at painting that I think she won some kind of award, and her certificate is displayed in the art room.

Also the amazing thing about her is that she's able to completely erase her individuality* on her paintings.

She often shows me drawings of anime character. They were so well imitated that you would think they were official illustrations, also you can really see and feel that it's so close to the original artist's touch.

When I see someone like her, I'm reminded that I still have a long way to go.

"Yes, they have."

"Thank you for visiting our club today. I'm Oozono, the club president."

The club president then explains about the art club.

"We are a very loose-knit club so each of us can draw or paint whatever we like, also you don't have to be good at drawing or painting to join the club."

"You can also freely use any objects and material you can find inside the club room. But if you join the club you need to submit a work of art once a month, though it can be anything as long as it's a work of art."

Tachibana and Ren were quietly listening to her explanation.

"Also if you want, we can call a teacher outside so they can teach you how to paint."

"And... we also do nude drawings."

"Nude drawings?"

Tachibana and Ren said that at the same time then they looked at me.

"No, we aren't doing that."

"I'm just kidding. Since you're already here why not paint or draw before you go home?"

She's really dangerous as she can say a joke with a straight face.

To experience painting, Ren and Tachibana decided to draw a portrait of me.

I sit down then I became the focus of two people.

It's kind of embarrassing to be seen like this.

But it seems that they are both taking it seriously.

I can hear in the canvas of Tachibana a smooth shuffling sound and I can tell that she's drawing seriously.

In contrast, Ren is drawing freely, letting his momentum carry him along.

After 20 minutes they are done with their drawings.

It's Tachibana who showed me her drawing first.

"... I'm amazed you are really good."

She had captured the features of my face so well that I could tell at a glance that it was me.

I could tell from the picture that she really took a good look at me.

I usually don't draw but I can tell that she's really done a great job.

Next it was Ren's turn.

"...wait who's this? Is this me?"

Ren's drawing had a unique touch, and once you saw it, you would never forget it.

The layer of lines that he made gave the picture depth.

I was convinced that this was the work of an amazing artist.

"Is it not good?"

"...no, it's so unique."

Both drawings seemed to express their respective personalities.

After that I sat down next to Tachibana and taught her what to correct.

"You need to emphasize here more..."

"Also this part..."

I found myself instructing her at a fairly close distance.

After we started dating, the distance between me and Tachibana has been completely gone.

Ren saw this and said.

"Have you guys become closer than before?"

"Eh? Is that so."

I have kept the fact that I am dating Tachibana from Ren.

I'm not sure if it's a good idea to tell him, but I think it would make him feel uncomfortable if I told him about my relationship with Tachibana.

Well, I'm sure there will come a time when I will have to tell him about that.



When the sun was starting to set, we have decided to end today's club activities.

After that each member of the club has started to clean up the room.

As I was moving the desks around, Tachibana seemed to like the portrait I had drawn of her and carefully put it in a folder in her bag.

"I will never tear this, this time."

Tachibana said that in a jokingly manner.

The painting that Tachibana had torn in the gymnasium and then she picked up the scattered pictures and put them together.

I still have it at home.

I also decided to bring home the picture that Tachibana drew for me.

The thought that Tachibana and I had a portrait of each other in our respective houses made me litle happy.

I will keep this in a safe place.




Notes: 1. According to what I have read what she's doing is she's not putting her own style in the painting instead she is copying the style of the other painters. For example if she will paint the Mona Lisa she will do it exactly like how Leonardo Da Vinci painted it.