"Utterly devastating cuteness!" Fans react to U-suke’s adorable illustration of Inori Yuitsuka squishing Iruka Okazaki’s cheeks from Medalist.

The official X account for the anime Medalist has released a stunning tribute illustration by artist U-suke, which is quickly becoming a hot topic online. This latest post was unveiled as the fifth installment of a special countdown project celebrating the upcoming second season, showcasing the main characters in a truly charming light.

The released illustration features Inori Yuitsuka (CV: Natsumi Haruse) and Iruka Okazaki (CV: Hibiku Yamamura). In a particularly charming touch, Iruka is shown squishing Inori’s cheeks with both hands, capturing Inori with wide, surprised eyes and an adorable expression.

The illustration features a handwritten message that reads, "Congratulations on Medalist Season 2!!" With its sense of dynamic energy and luminous, airy quality, the artwork perfectly ramps up the excitement for the upcoming second season.

In response to the post, fans showered the artwork with praise for its exceptional quality, leaving comments such as: "Inori-chan’s expression in this drawing has a devastating level of cuteness!" and "U-suke-sensei’s work is incredibly beautiful with such a stunning sense of transparency!"

In the original manga, the two have already bonded and share the close relationship seen in this illustration. However, since they still maintain some distance in the anime, many fans commented on their excitement for the future: "I can't wait to see this dynamic in the anime!" and "If they're going to get this close on screen, it'll probably be around Season 4, right?"

(C)つるまいかだ・講談社／メダリスト製作委員会