Knowing the Unseen - 8: The Path of an Artist

Outside the exhibit hall

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1

Staff Members

Congratulations, Mr. Shinonome.
The visitors seemed really enjoy your exhibit.

2

Staff Members

I'll be looking forward to seeing you again tomorrow!

3

Father

Likewise.

4

Ena

Thanks for letting me help today.

5

Staff Members

Thank you for being here!
I also wish you good luck moving forward!

6

Ena

Th-Thank you.

7

Father

...

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8

Ena

Hey, wait!

9

Ena

Ugh...

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10

Ena

(This is so awkward...)

11

Ena

(Besides, doesn't he have anything to say to me for helping out today? Sure, I came as part of a special lesson, but I at least deserve a thank you.)

12

Ena

*Sigh*
(Maybe trying to go home at the same time wasn't such a good idea...)

13

Ena

(Still...)

14

Ena

Hey, uh...

15

Father

...?

16

Ena

There's something I wanna ask you.

17

Father

What is it?

18

Ena

So...

19

Ena

Is it true that you thought about giving up on painting around the time I was born...?

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20

Father

...

21

Father

Yukihira told you?

22

Ena

He did, but...

23

Ena

I sorta got a feeling after seeing your paintings today...

24

Ena

I always thought you had a lot of confidence in your art. But the paintings I saw today seemed to be filled with pain and anguish...

25

Ena

Which is why...

26

Father

Confidence?

27

Father

I've never had any.

28

Ena

What?

29

Father

Back then, I ended up drawing things that people wanted to see because no one understood what I actually wanted them to see...

30

Father

I hated myself for appeasing them.
But I didn't give up. I clung to my brush and kept drawing what I wanted.

31

Father

Even then, no one understood... I felt despair...

32

Ena

Which is why you wanted to quit?

33

Father

No, not quite.

34

Ena

Huh?

35

Father

Back then, I wasn't trying to be an artist. I was just another human trying to make it to the next day...

36

Ena

Just another human being...?

37

Father

That's right.

38

Father

At that point in my life, I'd achieved nothing as neither a man nor an artist.

39

Father

I was a hopeless person who was just floating around aimlessly.

40

Father

And then, you were born...

41

Father

Before then, I felt like I was wandering around in the dark.

42

Father

But when I held you in my arms for the first time, I saw a glimmer of light...

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43

Father

It felt like I finally had something I needed to protect and cherish.

44

Father

The man who couldn't create or achieve anything felt compelled to keep you safe as your fellow human being.

45

Father

Which is why I decided to make one last painting before ending my career as an artist...

46

Ena

...

47

Ena

And you painted that peony?

48

Father

Yes.

49

Father

I still vividly remember what I saw while walking home from the hospital that night. That flower.

50

Father

It was so small and all by itself in the darkness. It felt like a newborn baby, just like the one I held only moments before.

51

Father

It felt right for me to turn it into my last painting. It was the small flicker of light that illuminated my miserable existence...

52

Father

And so, I put everything into that painting.

53

Ena

I didn't know...

54

Father

But after I finished painting it...

55

Father

I couldn't bring myself to break all of my brushes.

56

Father

I put everything I had into that painting...

57

Father

Everything I loved and hated about art. All the joy and pain I felt. That's what went into it.

58

Father

It made me think why was I so ready to give up on my art?

59

Father

Even though I knew I wouldn't be able to...

60

Father

That was when I finally realized...

61

Father

I can't escape it.

62

Father

I can't live without art in my life.

63

Ena

Without art in your life...

64

Father

That's right.

65

Father

And then it dawned on me.

66

Ena

Huh...?

67

Father

I realized that I wouldn't be able to live life without creating art. Which also meant that I wouldn't be able to protect what mattered most.

68

Father

So, I decided to keep on living without letting it go.

69

Father

That's when I was able to fully commit myself to my art...

70

Ena

Fully commit...

71

Ena

(What if I let go of my art...?)

72

Ena

(What happens to me then...?)

73

Ena

(I'd still be able to go shopping, take selfies, chat with everyone about stuff... I'd get to have fun while doing whatever. Maybe even drawing simple illustrations from time to time...)

74

Ena

(But...)

75

Ena

(Is that what I want my life to be?)

76

Ena

(No, I'd hate it...)

77

Ena

(I mean...)

78

Ena

(I wouldn't be me without my art.)

79

Ena

(I'd never forgive myself if I tossed it all aside...)

80

Ena

(So...)

81

Ena

Oh...

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82

Father

It made me think why was I so ready to give up on my art?

83

Father

Even though I knew I wouldn't be able to...

84

Ena

(I get it now...)

85

Ena

(I'm exactly the same...)

86

Ena

(No matter how much I think or suffer, I can't get myself to give up...)

87

Ena

(Commitment, huh...?)

88

Ena

Thanks.

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89

Father

Hm...?

90

Ena

I have my answer.

91

Ena

I know how I need to live my life now.

92

Father

How you need to live your life...?

93

Ena

Yeah.

94

Ena

I want to keep drawing.

95

Ena

I know I don't have talent.
Most of the things I draw aren't very good, and nothing's going to change at this rate.

96

Ena

But I can't see myself not drawing...

97

Ena

So, I'm going to draw and draw and keep drawing!

98

Ena

And one day... I will become an artist.

99

Father

...!

Father

Ena...

Father

But that means...

Ena

I know!
I don't stand a chance against the real geniuses out there by just working hard. Even if I do become an artist, I'm probably going to suffer a lot...!

Ena

I probably still don't fully understand what I'm up against... But I did learn something after seeing your paintings today...!

Ena

I learned that I can't quit doing art...

Ena

I don't know if it's because I'm your daughter or if it's because I've been surrounded by art my entire life... But I can't live without it!

Ena

So, at least give me this...

Ena

Let me take responsibility for my own life.

Father

...

Father

You're prepared to make that commitment...?

Ena

*Nod*

Father

Then, so be it.

Ena

Thanks.

Ena

(The road up ahead is probably gonna be really rough...)

Ena

(I'm going to suffer creating just like him...
No, I'd say even more...)

Ena

(But I can't run away from my art...)

Ena

(I have to keep moving forward.)

Ena

(I have to keep drawing.)

Ena

(Because that's the only path for me.)