The relationship blooming between Meredith and Noriko all happened by accident. I love when a story surprises me. Finding 3D assets of carving tools took forever. It almost derailed this story. I love how the dress in the first panel is "non-work clothes" unlike the outfits in the next two panels.
Looking at it now, I didn't leave enough debris on the floor. When did all the excess marble go? I hope the missing marble wasn't anything Stacy was fond of. Because it looks like Meredith just discarded it.
NOTE: I've updated Statue Rentals #4 to include a bonus image. It shows the panorama of the art studio without various stuff overlayed on top.
Transcript
Top Row – Stone block being carved into a statue of a woman
Panel 1 – carving begins
Meredith, thinking: I really should have changed into my work clothes but I’ve been dying to release the statue inside this stone block for months now. I hope Stacy isn’t upset when they find out what they’ve become.
Panel 2 – carving middles
Panel 3 – bulk carving ends
Bottom Row
Panel 4 – precision carving
Noriko: Are you doing that to drive her crazy?
Meredith: There was a rough spot.
Noriko: On her lips? You know that drives a statue crazy.
Meredith: You know far more about that than I do. When are you going to be my canvas again?
Noriko: My statue days are done. Why are you dressed like that?
Panel 5 – stepping back
Meredith: I've been wearing boring clothes all week. Once they pick the statue up, I'm putting on my heels and we're hitting the club.
Noriko: I had no idea Stacy was such a beautiful woman.
Meredith: Yeah. About that. I meant to tell you. Stacy was a man until I carved her.
Noriko: Why didn't you hire a new model for this contract?
Panel 6 – leaving
Meredith: That block has been in my studio for three months. A woman has been waiting inside it this entire time. I could felt it every day.
Noriko: Don’t get metaphysical with me. What if he sues you?
Meredith: She won’t.