Chapter Fifty-Five: After Dinner Conversation, Confirming the Objective!

A dinner like this left Anhe feeling comfortable both physically and spiritually. Yet, there was a touch of disappointment—Sayu Amamiya had started something but left it unfinished, leaving Anhe in a state of suspense.

After the meal, Yui Serizawa volunteered to take on the task of washing the dishes, fleeing the living room as if escaping. The reason was simple: just moments ago, Nadeshiko Kurorai had remarked, “Rena fed Sayu, then fed Yui. Does that count as an indirect kiss?” The Serizawa sisters’ faces flushed crimson in response.

The rest of them tidied up the table with minimal effort, then returned to the warmth of the kotatsu. Rena Serizawa hurried back to her previous spot, eager to continue her unfinished drawing.

As for Nadeshiko Kurorai, this time she didn’t sit beside Rena, but instead took the seat where Yui had been before.

“All right,” Anhe said, seeing Sayu Amamiya also settle down. He cleared his throat softly, then handed Nadeshiko Kurorai the manuscript detailing the early plot and overall story outline for “Attack on Titan.”

“Take a look,” he said.

She took it, immediately lowering her gaze to read.

Up to now, Nadeshiko only knew that Anhe wanted her to draw a manga, but the specifics remained a mystery. At first, seeing the medieval costumes of characters like Mikasa and Eren, she assumed the story would be another traditional hero fantasy.

Yet, she was taken aback—the opening struck her with force. Humanity, protected by three fifty-meter walls like livestock; a colossal titan taller than the walls; bizarre special titans; the Armored Titan covered in steel; terms like the Training Corps and Survey Corps—all these unfamiliar words drew arcs through her mind, painting a vivid war between giants and humans.

Though she’d spent seven years drawing frivolous comics, Nadeshiko never forgot her true ambitions, nor the girl who once chased dreams in Tokyo’s strongest manga studio. Simply reading the outline, she was convinced: if this work could be drawn, in a time when all manga were about heroes and demon kings, it would stir up a storm!

“So, what he said yesterday wasn’t just to cheer me up?” Nadeshiko recalled Anhe’s words from the previous day, and a warm current surged in her heart.

“That’s enough,” Anhe said, unaware of Nadeshiko’s thoughts. Seeing she’d finished reading, he propped his chin on his hand, watching her with a smiling gaze. “What do you think?”

“Incredible!”

Nadeshiko Kurorai lavished praise without hesitation. After speaking, she looked to Anhe with an excited tone, “Are you really willing to let me draw this work?”

“Of course,” Anhe nodded with certainty, then gestured with his chin toward Rena Serizawa, who was absorbed in her drawing. “You two will work on it together. And let me tell you, Rena is very skilled at backgrounds.”

“Is that so?” Nadeshiko glanced curiously at Rena’s drawing, then asked, “Is Sayu drawing a special titan?”

The sound of a snapping pen echoed, and Rena raised her head, fixing Nadeshiko with a resentful stare, enunciating each word: “I’m drawing Mikasa.”

Hearing this, Nadeshiko was surprised. Her gaze darted between Rena’s sketch and Anhe’s character design of Mikasa, making her judgment.

One glance was enough: two different species.

Nadeshiko cleared her throat. She’d intended to state her verdict outright, but when Rena’s big, blinking eyes turned toward her, she swallowed her words, instead offering encouragement, “There’s a lot of similarities, really.”

Yet, in her heart, she added, “At least they both have two arms, two legs, and a head.”

“Enough, don’t comfort her,” Anhe said, unmoved by Rena’s threatening glare and revealing her inability to draw people.

Nadeshiko, stunned, blurted out, “Isn’t drawing people just about having hands?”

Realizing her slip, she quickly apologized to Rena, who turned away, pouting in silence.

Seeing this, Anhe stopped Nadeshiko from offering more consolation, handing her a sheet of paper with a light laugh, “Since Rena wants to learn how to draw people, why don’t you make a sketch for her to see?”

Good idea!

Nadeshiko didn’t refuse, picking up the pen. Familiarity flooded through her, and inspiration flowed as she drew. In less than ten minutes, her work was finished.

Rena, curious, leaned in for a look.

As soon as she saw the short-haired girl wrapped in a red scarf on the paper, Rena recognized her at once.

Mikasa Ackerman!

“But why does this Mikasa feel a bit off?” Rena wrote her doubts and held them up to her chest. Seeing this, Anhe took a closer look at Nadeshiko’s Mikasa.

Finally, he found the discord.

Nadeshiko’s Mikasa seemed a bit risqué!

Is this the path every artist must tread when transitioning from their old ways?

Anhe thought of his own first attempt after making the switch, and couldn’t help but chuckle as he explained, “That’s because Mikasa doesn’t have her weapons yet!”

Is that so? Rena felt something was not quite right, but could only accept his explanation.

Then, a striking scene unfolded.

Nadeshiko sat in the chair where Anhe had once given drawing lessons. Rena, meanwhile, sat right on Nadeshiko’s lap. The two maintained this posture as they began drawing together.

Soon, Yui Serizawa emerged from the kitchen. She was surprised by Nadeshiko and Rena’s seating arrangement, but didn’t disturb her sister. Instead, she sat across from Anhe.

Yet, whenever she looked at Anhe, especially remembering the events during dinner, Yui’s cheeks flushed again.

Time slipped by slowly. No one knew how long it had been before Nadeshiko and Rena finally finished their lesson. Both rose from the chair exhausted, Nadeshiko especially; being sat on for so long had left her legs numb, and she nearly stumbled as she stood.

Anhe checked the time—eleven o’clock at night. He suggested Nadeshiko stay the night.

Rena welcomed the idea enthusiastically, and Nadeshiko didn’t mind either. If Anhe had to drive her home this late, she’d surely be late for school tomorrow.

After carrying the already sleeping Yui Serizawa into the bedroom and tucking her in, Anhe returned to the living room, picked up the half-asleep, half-awake Sayu Amamiya, and left the Serizawa house.