No idea how many late nights it's been now... Counting was pointless; better to hurry up, finish the work, and get some sleep.
Unlike Yatouji Ryou—who valued story more than characters—Matsubara Takashi loved Selesia deeply, loved every character he created.
Selesia fought bravely on the battlefield, suffered injuries, and was hospitalized after being utterly defeated by Alicetaria. Matsubara was extremely angry… angry at himself for being unable to help Selesia, angry at himself for not making Selesia's abilities stronger from the start.
When Meteora described their relationship as something like "father and daughter," Matsubara reacted angrily, but deep down, he indeed cared immensely for Selesia.
Now, a perfect opportunity lay right before him, and he had racked his brain for it, as he had countless sleepless nights before.
He would absolutely love to set Selesia as an invincible existence who could effortlessly trample Alicetaria, Altair, and anyone else into the dirt at first sight, forcing them to lick her shoes—but unfortunately, readers would definitely reject it. Matsubara dearly wanted to shove mountains of rejected drafts into their faces and shout, "The world's about to be destroyed, so stop nitpicking already and hurry up and recognize my settings!" Sadly, this was only possible in his imagination.
After prolonged high-intensity thinking and irritation, Matsubara felt his head growing heavier and heavier. He decided to go for a short walk and brew himself some coffee to refresh his mind… but on his way back, he ran into Van Gogh.
"Th-then… Van Gogh will help. Van Gogh can definitely help. Please let Van Gogh help... ehehe…"
"You… help me?"
His head was getting heavier. He had just drunk coffee, so why was he feeling even worse? He had to use all his strength just to maintain the ability to think, like having a high fever…
"...Ah, sorry. I didn't mean to doubt Van Gogh-sensei's abilities. I just wanted to ask—"
"Oh, Van Gogh, here you are."
Shimazaki Yuna appeared suddenly, seemingly searching for Van Gogh. That would surely be everyone's first thought, as Shimazaki Yuna and Van Gogh were inseparable.
If Van Gogh went missing, Shimazaki Yuna would undoubtedly be extremely anxious.
"Honestly, I thought you were drawing in your room. Why did you wander out alone? Do you know how worried I was— Matsubara-san? Why are you here?"
Only after she hurried over and grabbed Van Gogh's hand did Shimazaki Yuna notice Matsubara Takashi's presence, her expression turning surprised.
The moment Shimazaki Yuna appeared, Matsubara felt his head clearing slightly. Scratching his cheek awkwardly, he took the initiative to explain:
"It's like this… Van Gogh-sensei saw me struggling too hard and volunteered to help share some of my workload."
Shimazaki Yuna was momentarily stunned and turned toward Van Gogh.
"Is that true, Van Gogh?"
"Mm-hmm."
Van Gogh nodded, a bitter smile spreading across her delicate features.
"I'm sorry… Van Gogh just wanted… to be useful."
"The food here is very tasty, and the bed is soft and comfortable… Everyone here is so kind to Van Gogh… but… everyone seems burdened by something heavy, everyone is moving forward in their own way… Everyone is so dazzling, and it feels so far away from Van Gogh…"
"Van Gogh is happy… but also uneasy… Accepting everyone's kindness, yet unable to do anything for them… ehehe, ehe… Always being worthless, useless, spiraling downward and sinking… Van Gogh doesn't want that. Even someone as worthless and useless as Van Gogh still wants… to do something for everyone. To earn something through work… instead of charity… with the determination to shatter into pieces… ehehe. Even literal shattering would be fine—no, more than fine… aaah… sorry, sorry, forget what I just said. That was… Van Gogh's joke… ehehe…"
Her fragmented, contradictory speech made it abundantly clear there was something deeply wrong with her mental state.
Matsubara frowned deeply, never having imagined that their kindness would instead impose such immense psychological pressure upon Van Gogh.
"Sorry for disturbing you, Matsubara-san. I'll take Van Gogh back now."
Politely apologizing, Shimazaki Yuna prepared to leave with Van Gogh.
At this moment, Matsubara ended his contemplation and called out to stop them.
"Shimazaki-san, perhaps… we should hear Van Gogh-sensei out?"
"...That might not be a good idea, Matsubara-san."
Shimazaki Yuna's brows knitted slightly, her expression turning grave.
"Van Gogh-sensei is a far superior mangaka compared to me. I think some of her suggestions could greatly help me. Though it pains me to admit… my abilities are limited."
Matsubara Takashi never underestimated Van Gogh due to her age or occasional quirks. Precisely because he had seen her works, he deeply respected her, always positioning himself as a student in front of her.
Moreover, even if the advice or help came from someone like Mizushino Souta or anyone else, he would still listen. A single casual remark from an ordinary person could transform into extraordinary inspiration. Only those who listened carefully to others could produce truly good works.
Also… Van Gogh clearly had psychological issues. Matsubara felt obligated to help relieve some of Van Gogh's stress. If Van Gogh wanted to help, then he'd let her help. He understood her feelings quite well. Being on the receiving end of kindness constantly was torture for one's conscience—but if conscience could be cast aside, it would become genuine enjoyment.
Naturally, he couldn't ask Van Gogh to abandon her conscience, so he had to make her feel like she was truly "helping someone."
But Matsubara didn't understand why Shimazaki Yuna refused. Could she not see Van Gogh's problems? Why show such an expression?
Night had grown deep. As more people drifted into sleep, darkness steadily encroached upon territories previously lit by candlelight.
The surrounding shadows seemed deeper, quieter; Matsubara's head grew heavier again, and only the bitter taste of coffee lingered in his mouth…
Shimazaki Yuna remained unmoved by Matsubara's words, her brows still knitted tightly. Just as she was about to say something, Van Gogh tugged her gently.
"Yuna… Van Gogh really, really wants… to repay everyone's kindness… to release the gratitude overflowing inside my chest… ehehe. Van Gogh will work ve~ry, very hard—like a horse, harder than a slave robbed of freedom… heheh ehehe… Van Gogh's joke."
Shimazaki Yuna turned her head, staring wordlessly into Van Gogh's eyes for a long time.
She seemed hesitant, conflicted. Shimazaki Yuna obviously had her own thoughts, her own worries, hiding something only she knew.
"…Fine. Since you insist this much, we'll do it your way."
Slowly lowering her gaze, Shimazaki Yuna compromised.
Van Gogh's pink eyes rippled softly, and she began smiling. A somewhat eerie laugh escaped her lips, echoing faintly and stirring the deep shadows around them.
"Ehehe… As expected, Yuna is the kindest to Van Gogh… Van Gogh is so happy…"
She reached out and clasped Shimazaki Yuna's hand firmly.
"Van Gogh… likes Yuna, so… I must hold this hand tightly… and never let go."
Seeing Shimazaki Yuna's compromise, Matsubara secretly sighed in relief.
He'd actually been extremely worried earlier, fearful that Shimazaki Yuna and Van Gogh's relationship might fracture.
Matsubara believed Van Gogh needed a way to vent the stress inside her heart. But he was even clearer about Shimazaki Yuna's importance to Van Gogh—she was Van Gogh's pillar, just as the West could not do without Jerusalem. Anyone could clearly see Shimazaki Yuna's presence was more useful to Van Gogh than any psychologist.
If their intimate relationship fractured, the impact on Van Gogh would be devastating.
And that wasn't something Matsubara wished to see. Although they hadn't spent much time together, everyone had genuinely grown fond of this eerie, laughing little girl.
Their kindness contained not the slightest falsehood and required no justification.
"So, Van Gogh-sensei, how do you plan to help me?"
Matsubara stroked his chin curiously.
"Ehehe… Matsubara-san, you're troubled because of Charon-san's sudden appearance, right?"
Van Gogh's words were spot-on. Matsubara's current immense stress was precisely because, aside from Selesia, another Created had appeared under his responsibility, inevitably disrupting his previous plans.
"In that case, leave Charon-san to Van Gogh. Matsubara-san only needs to pretend Charon-san doesn't exist and continue your original work."
"…Van Gogh-sensei, it's not something I can ignore. Next, we have to design scenarios, interactions, connections between Created. Ignoring one character would cause serious issues."
Van Gogh anxiously stamped her feet, wanting to explain clearly but hesitating, restrained by concerns.
"Anxious, anxious… singing at the flowerbed's end; after closing the curtains, the sun hides away sobbing under the covers; the moon takes over but earns no pay… Mad stars speak gibberish yet bloom great flowers…"
Van Gogh clutched Shimazaki Yuna's hand tightly, holding on to avoid losing herself.
"Tomorrow, there'll be results… So, please trust Van Gogh."
Smiling softly at Matsubara, Van Gogh whispered quietly:
"Don't rush. Van Gogh only draws… I love work… so… just wait until tomorrow. Van Gogh will complete everything tomorrow—working diligently, coughing her lungs out… So, please wait with hope! Ehehe… Sorry, couldn't help it. Van Gogh will pay royalties…"
…
"So, what should I do?"
Inside the room, only five people remained:
Charon, Selesia, Matsubara, Shimazaki Yuna, and Van Gogh.
Then Shimazaki Yuna finally spoke:
"Sorry, Matsubara-san, Selesia-san. Van Gogh and Charon-san need some uninterrupted space."
"So, please wait outside for a moment."
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