Y/N, Hōzuki, and Enma stood in front of the castle walls, observing a faded mural. Hōzuki felt the surface and some of the dried paint flaked off. Enma pouted,

"This mural's awfully worn down, too."

"It's a beautiful piece we had painted 200 years ago."

"...Hey, don't wipe your hands on my clothes nonchalantly."

As the men were talking, Y/N's eyes were sparkling at the details as she recognized the brushstrokes of the artist. Thanks to her art degree that she earned back in her human life, she knew exactly who painted it.

"H-Hokusai, right?!"

"How did you know?"

"How can you not know one of Japan's most famous painters?! The painter of The Great Wave!"

"Hmm... Even if he is known as one of the greatest, I'd like to have this wall be painted over with something with more impact. Something that really jumps out at you."

"Hold up a second. Hōzuki, why is he in Hell?"

"... That is confidential."

He totally ignored her questions as to why an artist was in Hell. As they walked, he noticed Nasubi holding a sketch pad as he looked towards the mountains.

"Nasubi. Are you sketching?"

"Yeah!"

Hōzuki took his drawing and was clearly taken back by the surrealist approach.

"How did you come up with this while checking for the perspective of the scenery?"

"It just came to me."

"It's a surrealist Hell painting that acts as a warning towards modern-day mammonism with satirical themes of lust mixed in."

"What tremendous self-deception."

Karauri crazes about Nasubi's skills, stating that he likes his paintings and sculptures, even mentioning that he had won some awards.

"If it's alright, can we have a look at your works? Ah- I forgot. Do you live with your parents?"

"Nah, we live in a dorm. It's right over there!"

"May we come over, then?"

"Yaaay! Hōzuki-sama's coming over to play!"

Y/N giggled as their interaction looked like a younger brother wanting to play with his older brother, holding hands, and fidgeting around. The studio was like a dream of Y/N's, full of canvases and the smell of dried paint. Palettes, brushes, strange concussions, were all left sprawled on the floor.

"This certainly is impressive."

Hōzuki's breath hitched when Y/N pinched onto his skin, looking into the direction that took her breath away. It was a sculpture of goldfish.

"What's this!"

"Hmm... Oh, this?"

"Incredible. It looks as though it could cry out at any moment! The emotion... It's as if the goldfish are entrapped in some sort of curse that they aren't able to cry out. So close to each other, the feeling of suffocation and suffering can be felt... This is a great work of art!"

"Ah! Y/N! You can have it if you want!"

"I-I can't! It's a valuable work of art!"

"No! I insist! If you like it very much, as the artist, I will be overjoyed if you took care of it. You've shown us such kindness that I am very grateful for! Please accept this."

"I-If you insist..."

Y/N hugged the precious sculpture, taking a peek at Hōzuki eyeing it. It was clear he also wanted it but did not want to be a big meanie.

"Hōzuki, could we put this in your office? It needs a bit of decorating and this piece of work is perfect!"

"Sure. If you wish to do so."

Nasubi went on a rant about his items in his studio, pulling out a black jar that was making creepy sounds.

"I tried using rock from black rope hell... But it didn't really work well."

Hōzuki, somewhat interested in the grotesque substance,

"...May I have this paint?"

"Sure. It's creepy anyway."

What is going to do with that?!

"Do you like Japanese art, Nasubi?"

"Yeah! I'm a huge fan of Hokusai!"

"Ahh... Katsushika Hokusai is famous in hell, as well."

"Oh, but I like Picasso too! Salvador Dali! Ahhh! I like all art! It's neat!"

"I must say, your art certainly is interesting, Nasubi."

Hōzuki picks up a small canvas with a design on it.

"This is a nice piece."

"That? It's one of my favorites, 'Iron Amaterasu'."

"Nasubi! I'd like to commission an important job from you, using this design!"

Just like that, Nasubi was chosen to pain the castle walls. It was extremely striking, the colors and emotions that he was trying to bring out.

"I call it, 'vegetables and fresh seafood mingling in the ebon depths of Hell's..'"

Karauri jumps in,

"Too long! Plus it sounds like you're listing ramen ingredients!"

Hōzuki however, nods his head in satisfaction.

"I like it. Very avant-garde. I'm glad to have been a part in it."

Karauri sweatdrops,

"Personally, I liked the 'Pincushion mountain and inferno' that was up there before... Who painted that, anyway?"

"Ahh... Katsushika Hokusai."

...

...

...

"ISN'T THAT AN S-RANK NATIONAL TREASURE?!"

"All creation is transient. Everything is vanity."

"YOU PAINTED OVER HOKUSAI WITH THAT DIMWIT NASUBI!"

"Young talent must be nurtured."

"IS THE JAPAN CULTURAL- I MEAN, AFTERLIFE ART ASSOCIATION GOING TO SUE US OVER THIS?! IF HOKUSAI WERE TO FIND OUT..."

"No need to worry. He's going to debut in midnight manga this summer, so he's probably far too busy working on his manuscript at the moment."

Y/N beamed,

"A Hokusai Manga?! I need a copy!"

Nasubi was overjoyed,

"I think I did a good job. It looks like it could move at any..."

WHIRL

"...Huh?"

"Oh, yeah. Didn't you prepare the paints, Hōzuki-sama?"

That was when the realization hit her,

"Hōzuki, don't tell me that you put in the strange paint into normal paints..."

"Let's make this a new hell attraction. We can sell it as 'The mouth of truth that really bites your hand off.'"

"What on actual Hell Hōzuki?!"

Sometimes I wonder what goes through his mind.

Back in Hōzuki's office, Y/N sets the sculpture on a plinth, highlighting the features of the piece of work. While he goes back to sign some documents, she sat on a chair with a small sketchbook. Thanks to Nasubi, who had given her a spare drawing set and sketchbook, she was able to spend her time drawing while her boyfriend did the boring signing.

"Y/N, are you just going to draw?"

"Yes, unless you have something for me to do, I will continue to sketch you."

"Me? Why do you want to sketch me?"

"Should I go find someone else to model? Oh~ A nude model sounds-"

"Just sketch me. If I have something for you to do, I'll tell you. But for now, stay here and draw."

I made him jealous~ Oh~ Maybe I can ask him to be my nude model!

"Say, Hōzuki, after work, could you be my nude model?"