<Zzz... Zzz...>

Oh, it's morning already...

No wonder I feel so sleepy...

Oh, you're right...

I'll open the curtains.

No, don't...!

It'll be too bright!

The light will help you wake up.

<Hm...? Is it morning already...?>

See? You woke Len up.

He was sleeping like a baby too.

<Morning, Len!>

<Mhm... Morning...>

<Also, today's been a lot of fun for some reason, and I got a ton of work done too!>

<Same...

It was nice to see you really enjoying yourself, Yuki.>

<Yeah, you haven't been able to log on much lately because you've been so busy.>

<Which made hanging out with you until the morning like this really nice!>

...

I haven't been able to work like this in so long...

If I were at home, I probably wouldn't have been able to. So... Enanan, thank you.

Huh? Oh, um... You're welcome.

I mean, it was nice to get away for a bit, right?

<Anyway, I've reached a good place to stop, so I'm gonna go to bed.>

<Me too. I'll put on the finishing touches after a quick nap.>

Okay.

Night, everyone.

<Night!>

<Good night.>

Alright, I think I'll get to work on my assignment.

Your assignment...?

Yeah, for art class.

I've got a good idea of what I wanna draw now.

All thanks to you.

Me...?

But I didn't do anything.

You don't have to understand.

But thanks anyways.

Okay...

<Good luck, Ena.>

Then, I'm going home.

I have cram school starting around noon, so I need to head back and get my things.

Oh, are you sure?

Shouldn't you sleep for a bit first?

I'm fine now...

Okay...

<Alright, I think I'll head back too...>

<Good luck to you both, Ena, Mafuyu.>

*Nod*

Thank you, Len...

Good night.

Len also seems to be feeling a lot better now.

And he really liked my portrait of you... Oh, I know.

Here, as a small token of my appreciation and since it turned out so well, you can have it.

Oh...

Thank you...

Anyway, I'll see you later on Nightcord.

Alright, time to get to work...

(I wasn't sure what to do when I heard that our theme was “incubation” since I'd never tried to draw something based on that before.)

(But I think I know what to do now...)

(I know you can't do much right now since you're still stuck inside your shell...)

(But...)

(One day... I want you to break out of it with your own power.)

(I want to see you driven by your own free will to see the wide world that's out there.)

(And...)

And live your life the way you like, Mafuyu.

I see.

So this is what came to mind when you heard “incubation”?

Yes, what do you think of it...?

Well...

First, your brushwork for the background leaves a lot to be desired. I can see that you were trying to depict daybreak, but I'm seeing blotches of colors here and there.

As for your figure, their joints don't seem fully connected, which gives them an unbalanced appearance. They seem so stiff that it's hard to tell what sort of pose they're trying to do.

Right...

But you've done a good job with the irises. I can see from there that they yearn to break free from their shell and soar into the sky.

And how the artist wishes to do the same.

...!

Th-Thank you very much.

(He got it...! I didn't say anything, but he got my message...)

Unfortunately, Shinonome, I cannot give you a pass since you failed to finish it in the time allotted. Nonetheless, well done.

I hope you'll work to fix your mistakes and look forward to doing better next time.

Y-Yes, I will...!

Thank you very much, Mr. Yukihira!

(Thank goodness...

I managed to accomplish my main goal...)

(She probably doesn't realize it, but I also ended up learning a few things from Mafuyu.)

(Still, I'm way behind the others.

I need to keep practicing for next time.)

(Someday, I'm gonna get really good, and draw something that properly illustrates the music Kanade and Mafuyu make.)