Insatiable Pale Color - 3: Mediocrity

Diner

BGM: --:-- / --:-- Play

1

Mizuki

Great job on the new song, everyone!

2

Mizuki

It's already getting a lot of buzz too!
It has 200,000 views after just one day♪

3

Ena

Yeah, and a lot of comments too...

4

Comment

<It really is interesting.>

5

Ena

(Oh, it's that person from before.
Wow, they already saw it...?)

6

Comment

<You can look at this art from so many different angles, so it's fun to see every time.>

7

Ena

Hehe...

8

Mizuki

You have that look on your face, Ena.
Did you find a comment you like?

9

Ena

I did♪

10

Kanade

Oh, Ena. Have you finished your contest submission?

11

Mafuyu

Contest?

12

Ena

Yeah, an art contest.
A pretty serious one too.

13

Mizuki

No way! You actually want to submit your work, Ena?!

14

Ena

I am an artist, aren't I? It only seems natural to try to have my work be seen and recognized more.

15

Ena

I submitted my entry a week ago, so I think it'll be a little while until the results are announced.

16

Kanade

I hope things go well.

17

Ena

Thanks. Me too.

A few days later

Shinonome Household - Living Room

BGM: --:-- / --:-- Play

18

Ena

I'm home.
*Sigh*... School was so exhausting...

19

Ena

I need to get changed and start working on our next song.

20

Mom

Welcome home.
Oh, a letter came for you.
It's from the Shibuya Art Contest.

21

Ena

What...?!

22

Dad

Shibuya Art Contest?
You submitted something...?

23

Ena

Mom, give me that!
I'll open it in my room!!

Sound Effect: Play

Ena's Room

24

Ena

The results...!
They're finally here!

25

Ena

(I'm sure it went well...
I drew that thing over and over again.
The one I submitted was my best one.)

26

Ena

I'm sure that...

27

Screening Result Form

<Thank you for submitting your piece into the Shibuya Art Contest.>

28

Screening Result Form

<We have completed our careful selection process and we regret to inform you that your piece will not be considered for any prizes.>

29

Ena

What...?

30

Ena

(No. It's not being considered for anything...?)

BGM: --:-- / --:-- Play

31

Ena

(Then... That really means...)

32

Ena

(No, that can't be true...!
I won't accept what he said!)

33

Ena

(Some people out there do like my art. Our N25 videos get so many comments saying so...)

Sound Effect: Play

34

Comment

<The illustration really matches the chorus...>

35

Ena

(See, even this person...!)

36

Comment

<Hey, who do you think makes the art for these videos?>

37

Comment

<Dunno. N25 doesn't post credits or anything so...>

38

Comment

<Honestly, the art isn't what draws me here, so I couldn't really care less.>

39

Ena

Huh...?

40

Comment

<Yeah, this person's style is kind of peculiar too.>

41

Comment

<Exactly. It's really N25's music that does it for me.>

42

Ena

Wait, what...

43

Ena

So my art... Means nothing to them...?

BGM: --:-- / --:-- Play

44

Ena

Without the music, my art is...

Sound Effect: Play

45

Dad

Ena...

Sound Effect: Play

46

Ena

Hey...! Don't just barge in like...!

47

Dad

The contest results came, didn't they?
How did it go?

48

Ena

What? That has nothing to do with you...!

49

Ena

Or did you just come to gloat?

50

Ena

You said that I don't stand a chance, and you were right!

51

Ena

But I submitted an entry anyways...

52

Dad

And you didn't win anything...

53

Ena

So what if I didn't...! Am I supposed to quit drawing now or something?!

54

Dad

You're free to do as your please. Keep drawing if that's what you want to do.

55

Dad

But if you're serious about becoming a professional, you'll keep facing what you are now time and time again.

56

Dad

The difference between those with talent and those without is that those without have to work much harder to be on the same level. More than you can imagine...

57

Dad

Just keep that in mind...

Sound Effect: Play

Sound Effect: Play

58

Ena

More than I can imagine...?

59

Ena

You...!

60

Ena

You don't have to tell me that!
I already know how hard it is!!

61

Ena

No matter how hard I try, no one sees my art...! Even if some do, they end up feeling nothing...!

62

Ena

I know just how hard it is!!
Way more than YOU do!!

63

Ena

I mean, look at me... I don't have anything...

64

Ena

No talent... Nothing... Not like you...

Next Chapter: A Lonely SEKAI