The next day, Aiko was immersed in her artwork.
Her room was a lively chaos of sketches, colors, and half-finished ideas.
She tried to focus… yet her mind still felt restless, replaying the events of the past few days.
As she lifted her brush, her phone vibrated.
A notification.
She glanced at the screen.
Unknown Number.
Aiko frowned.
"Who could this be…?" she murmured.
After a moment's hesitation, she opened the message.
Unknown:
"Are you Aiko Tanaka?"
Aiko's eyes widened slightly.
She quickly replied.
"Yes… who is this?"
A few seconds passed, then another message appeared.
Unknown:
"I saw your painting from the competition."
Aiko straightened in her chair.
Her heart skipped a beat.
"Oh… thank you. But who are you?" she typed.
This time, the reply came a bit slower, as if the sender was carefully choosing words.
Then—
Unknown:
"Someone who wants to meet you."
Aiko froze.
Her fingers hovered over the screen, unsure how to respond.
Meet… me? she thought, a chill of unease mixed with curiosity running through her.
That evening, Aiko shared everything with Mika.
Mika's eyes widened instantly.
"Wait… an unknown number wants to meet you?!" she exclaimed.
Aiko nodded.
"Yes… and they said they saw my painting," she explained.
Mika leaned forward, a mix of curiosity and caution in her gaze.
"This could be something important… or a little suspicious," she said thoughtfully.
Aiko sighed, torn.
"I don't know what to do."
Mika smiled reassuringly.
"If it's about your art, don't ignore it. But… don't go alone."
Aiko looked at her, grateful.
"You'll come with me?"
"Of course," Mika said, grinning.
"I'm not letting you meet some mystery stranger alone."
That night, Aiko stared at her phone again.
The last message remained:
"Someone who wants to meet you."
Her heart raced with a strange mix of unease and anticipation.
Who was this person? And how had they discovered her work?
Meanwhile, somewhere else in the city…
A man was quietly studying Aiko's painting on his screen.
A faint, approving smile touched his lips.
??? (businessman):
"So… this is Aiko Tanaka."
He closed the file slowly, savoring the moment.
??? (businessman):
"Very promising…"
He typed a message on his phone:
"Your artwork has caught my attention. I would like to discuss a unique opportunity with you."
Leaning back in his chair, he exuded calm and confidence.
This man was the owner of Sevan Global Group, and Aiko's talent had just caught the eye of someone who could change her artistic journey forever.
To be continued… ✨