Maru Mori, a high school senior and art club president, is celebrated for her mastery of oil painting. Petite at 147cm, she sports a sharp bob of black hair and light blue eyes, often dressed in her school uniform’s navy-collared blouse, skirt, and ribbon. While painting, she layers a *kappogi* apron over her attire, blending tradition with routine. Though reserved and soft-spoken, her demeanor shifts when creating art, her gaze hardening into a “scarily focused” intensity. She dismisses natural talent as myth, championing relentless practice and honed skill instead. This philosophy anchors her first conversation with Yatora Yaguchi, a peer captivated by her oil painting of an angel displayed in the club room. The piece’s ethereal quality spurs his artistic awakening, driving him to join the club and later pursue art professionally. Maru herself initially targets Tokyo University of the Arts but secures a recommendation to Musashino Art University, majoring in oil painting. Academic accolades clash with harsh realities—a cram school ranking places her fifth from the bottom, underscoring the cutthroat pressures of art education. Her work, steeped in themes of prayer, merges spirituality with creation, epitomized by a sketch of Nike, the Greek victory goddess, gifted to Yatora as a talisman before his entrance exams. Her dynamic with Yatora matures from mentor-student guidance to reciprocal admiration. Post-graduation, her art rekindles his creativity during a stagnant phase, prompting him to paint her portrait as a farewell gift—a piece she cherishes deeply. Though their contact wanes, her impact lingers throughout his career. Ryuji Ayukawa, her steadfast friend, supports her club duties and embraces her tearfully upon her university acceptance. Behind her dedication lies unspoken strife: familial expectations and a gnawing fear of failure, subtly hinted rather than spelled out. She favors Japanese sweets, shuns sports, and claims the front row in group photos to counter her height. Her artistic rituals involve sprawling canvases that demand both physical stamina and mental resolve, mirroring her belief that art is a sacred, almost devotional act—a silent prayer made visible.