This Repetition Will Eventually End

Oof... I ate like a Demon Boar...

Hm? Where'd Fujimaru run off to?

Master went back to work. We don't have any time to waste, after all.

Hmm. Is making picture scrolls really that much fun? Wouldn't he rather be out here swimming?

Hard to say. Perhaps Benkei could speak to whether it's fun or not, but I can't.

But I can understand the desire to create something permanent.

I imagine it's much the same for everyone else.

...You've improved so much...

Who died and made you my art teacher!?

Can't you learn how to take a compliment!?

I mean, when you take a step back, it's amazing, no matter how you slice it.

If you can improve this much in only five days, it won't be long before the rest of us are out of a job, so to speak...

Oh. Well...

？！

...That said, I couldn't help but notice something.

The more pages I draw, the more aware I become of my limits.

Yeah...

At this point, I can kinda tell how interesting it's gonna end up...

...and how well it's gonna be received.

Though I still don't know if that's a good thing, or a bad thing.

That's the trap so many passionate fans fall into.

Like birds trying to reach the far-off pastures of our ideals, only to fly smack into the window of reality.

Limits aren't things others set for us. They're things we discover on our own.

I remember Hokusai said something about them too.

"You oughta see how crazed my Toto-sama is. It's ridiculous."

"He's always tellin' me to imagine how he feels, still not able to draw a decent cat after all these years."

So you see? We could spend our whole lives improving, and still find something more we can do.

That's very true.

Even artists as masterful as they are feel ashamed of their immaturity, and continue to strive for better.

So there's no reason we can't try a little harder ourselves.

Hmph, I knew you'd say something sappy like that. Makes me want to smash your face. Also smash your sales record.

Though I'll admit, that second one's easier said than done...

At times like that, the best thing to do is go back to the fundamentals.

...Come to think of it, what made you want to try your hand at doujin in the first place?

A book she drew.

Something I drew?

That's right.

It was a real cutesy story about a princess and a monster.

(...That's weird. I can't seem to remember it clearly.)

Hmm... I'm pretty sure I've never drawn a story about a princess and a monster.

...Bullshit.

Think about it. Marie's a princess herself.

Do you really think I would have the nerve to draw a story about a princess in front of an actual princess?

...All right, I guess you've got a point.

Then I guess it wasn't your story that moved...impacted me so much.

Well, I can't be certain without reading it myself...but no, it probably wasn't.

...Eh, whatever. Whoever drew that book, it's still the standard I'm trying to surpass.

So I'll just have to keep going until I succeed!

...That's the spirit! Good luck! Look, Reece is rooting for you too.

Could you keep the floating dolphin away from me? It's creepy enough without it getting closer.

Aww.

How's it going?

...Eh.

Gotcha.

...Are you sure nothing's bothering you? You were pretty quiet during the barbecue.

Oh yeah? And what if I do? You gonna be my sparring opponent and help me blow off steam?

Hmm... Yeah, okay, I guess I could do that.

Well, well. You're not usually up for that sort of thing.

Hontrue! I guess Luluhawa's put me in a good mood too.

Come on, Master, you wake up too.

Hold it. I'll wake him up.

You really do have a strong possessive streak, don't you...

Who asked you? All right Master, wakey wakey. 'Cause if you don't...

...I'll kill you.

？！

Theeere you are. Now come on, me and Batty here are gonna have a little one-on-one.

You've got forty seconds.

？！

How the hell'd you actually pull that off!?

That was like watching a ninja in action. Almost as if Kotarou had taught you himself... He did, didn't he!?

...All right, now that we've had a fun little show as the opening act, what do you say we step outside and get to the main event?

Okay, there's not many humans and plenty of Servants here. Let's get to it.

Uhh.

...Um, I think my willingness to go through with this has gone down faster than our trip on the elevator...

Too late to back out now. Come on, let's do this thing!

'K-kaaay... I'll do the best I can...

You fight pretty hardcore for someone who wasn't feeling up to it...

(Gasp, gasp) Oh...I'm shindead... So this is what...digging your own grave...feels like...

Hey! I'm complimenting you here!

Phew. Well, at least that seemed to help relax my stiff shoulders. All right, back to the grindstone! It's the homestretch!

See you later, you two!

...Hmm. It really is unusual for me to still be so motivated...

I wonder why that is. Maybe Luluhawa is rubbing off on me?

...Or maybe because I read something inspiring recently?

Hmm... I can't think of anything like that, oh well. Not gonna look a motivation gift uma in the mouth!

Oh yes, this is great. Tremendously great.

Gah! It's you!

That's right. It's me♡

Now come on, Batty. We only have one day left to go.

And I'm not going to let your declaration that this would be your "Best! Manga! Ever!" go to waste!

C-come on, can't a girl change her mind!?