Stick to Your Faith - 3: Until I'm Satisfied

Several years earlier

Elementary School - Classroom

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Teacher

Alright, everyone. Please choose whichever characters you like from this list of examples.

Teacher

Some of these kanji may be a little difficult since you haven't learned them yet, but please don't be afraid of a challenge...

Elementary School Shiho

Listen

(Those kanji do look hard...
But I think I'll give them a try.)

Elementary School Shiho

Listen

(I wanna make sure I draw something I'm happy with.)

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Elementary School Shiho

Listen

(And stop here...
Flick here and...)

Elementary School Shiho

Listen

(Oh no...!
The ink got a little smeared at the end...)

Elementary School Shiho

Listen

(One more time... From the beginning...!)

Teacher

Oh, Hinomori, I see you chose the character for “resonate”.

Elementary School Shiho

Listen

Yeah...

Teacher

You take calligraphy lessons outside of school, yes? You're quite talented.

Elementary School Shiho

Listen

No, I'm really not...
I need to redo this one again.

Teacher

Redo?! But...
I think it looks wonderful...

Elementary School Shiho

Listen

I'm having trouble getting the flick at the end to look nice, and it's unbalanced too.

Teacher

Oh, I see...
Hehe. Your work ethic is admirable, Hinomori.

Teacher

Then, please keep trying your best.

Elementary School Shiho

Listen

I will...

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Teacher

Okay, let's stop there for today.
Please come place your work on this table over here.

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Elementary School Shiho

Listen

(Oh, we're done with class.)

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Elementary School Shiho

Listen

(I drew so many, but none seem all that...)

Elementary School Shiho

Listen

Excuse me, I have a question.

Teacher

Oh, how can I help?

Elementary School Shiho

Listen

Would it be okay if I got a little more time to work on my calligraphy assignment?

Elementary School Shiho

Listen

I'm still not happy with what I have...

Teacher

I suppose I could give you a little more time...

Elementary School Shiho

Listen

Then, please...!

Teacher

Okay. Then, I'll give you until Friday to finish the character you were working on...

Teacher

I'll let the others know that they'll also have until Friday.

Elementary School Shiho

Listen

Thank you very much...!

A few days later

Recess

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Elementary School Shiho

Listen

(I'm supposed to turn in my calligraphy today...)

Elementary School Shiho

Listen

(But I'm still not happy with what I drew. That means I'm gonna have to stay after school to...)

Elementary School Shiho

Listen

(Oh, wait... Today's...)

Classmate A

Hey, remember what's happening today?
You promised you would!

Classmate B

Yeah, I remember.
Your birthday party, right?

Classmate B

I mean, I still can't believe you invited basically all the girls in class.

Classmate A

Hey, what's the problem? My mom said I could have as many friends over as I wanted!

Elementary School Shiho

Listen

Um, can we talk for a second?

Classmate A

Oh, Shiho, what's up?

Elementary School Shiho

Listen

About that party you were just talking about...

Elementary School Shiho

Listen

There's something I need to do today, so I'm not gonna be able to make it. I'm really sorry...

Classmate A

Oh, really...?
What is it you need to do?

Elementary School Shiho

Listen

I promised the teacher that I'd turn in my calligraphy assignment today, but I'm still not happy with what I have. I need to get it right.

Classmate A

I see...

Elementary School Shiho

Listen

Sorry for breaking our promise.

Classmate A

Oh, no...! Don't worry about that!

Elementary School Shiho

Listen

Thanks...
I hope you have a fun birthday party.

After school

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Elementary School Shiho

Listen

(Stop here and... Flick...)

Elementary School Shiho

Listen

(Okay, that looks good...)

Elementary School Shiho

Listen

(But it's sorta off to the left a bit.
I need to balance out the negative space better for my next one. Just be careful how big your brush strokes are and...)

Elementary School Shiho

Listen

(They're supposed to be in the teachers' office until five. I have to finish before then.)

Classmate A's Voice

This birthday party's gonna be so much fun.

Elementary School Shiho

Listen

...!

Elementary School Shiho

Listen

(Oh, they're all still here.
I guess they're in the corridor...)

Classmate C's Voice

How many people are coming today?
You invited basically every girl in our class, right?

Classmate A's Voice

Um, I wanna say fifteen.
Oh, but Shiho said she can't make it because of that calligraphy assignment.

Classmate C's Voice

Wait, she's still working on it?
I just drew whatever and handed that in.

Classmate B's Voice

I mean, she does take lessons outside of school. I kinda get why she's trying so hard.

Classmate C's Voice

Right...
But she promised ages ago that she'd come. Shouldn't this party take priority?

Classmate A's Voice

Yeah...
But if it didn't sound like she was gonna budge...

Elementary School Shiho

Listen

(Oh...)

Elementary School Shiho

Listen

(I...)

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Classmate C's Voice

Whoa, look at the time!
Everyone else is waiting by the school gate, right? Let's go!

Classmate A's Voice

Yeah, let's hurry!

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Elementary School Shiho

Listen

...

Elementary School Shiho

Listen

I need to finish this...

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Next Chapter: The Right Choice