Artist's commentary
Rik**** University Sophomore Mio-chan, Age 22
2013/5/11 17:14 AzPainter2
Even after deigning to enroll at Tokisadame High, a school beneath her level, in pursuit of her beloved Sasahara-senpai, Mio-chan gets dumped by him and loses her sense of purpose. She kicks herself into high gear going into the exams, swearing that her true self won't let things end at such a third-rate school. She aims for a top-class national university as a ronin. However, Mio-chan has little potential as someone who plugged away earnestly at her homework and assignments every day, and the first year's attempt ends in heart-rending failure. Even charging into her second year as a ronin, the hurdles at the national level prove high. In the end, she enrolls at her safety school, Rik**** University. Mio-chan drags her pride along, clinging to the belief that "it only takes three months of study to get into MARCH schools," failing to take to her environs and ending up friendless. Yukko finds work after high school, living a busy but fulfilling everyday life. Mai-chan gets into one of the National Seven on her first try, and in just four months she receives an unofficial offer at a blue-chip company. And then there's Mio-chan herself, the failure at life. That feeling of being small and pitiful drives a wedge between her and her high school friends. She's alone in her apartment today as well, not going to her university. Puffing on a cigarette, Mio-chan mutters into the aether, "How did it come to this..." Also, I use this as my Twitter icon.