On This Blank Canvas, I Paint - 1: Fear of Getting Left Behind

Ena's Room

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1

Ena

No, this isn't right...

2

Ena

(It doesn't go with Kanade and Mafuyu's song at all.)

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3

Ena

(I think I chose too many bright colors.
Time to start over...)

4

Ena

...

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5

Ena

(I feel like I've been telling myself that I'm wrong a lot lately...)

6

Ena

(This might've started after Mafuyu learned how to write different lyrics compared to usual.)

7

Ena

(What is this...?
I've definitely felt this before...)

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8

Kanade

<Hello? Are you all here?>

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9

Mafuyu

<I'm here...>

10

Ena

Oh, it's time already?
And... Unmute.

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11

Ena

<Hey, I'm here too.>

12

Mizuki

<Alright, we're all here on time!>

13

Kanade

<Shall we get started?>

14

Ena

<Oh, can I say something before we do...?>

15

Kanade

<Yes, Enanan?>

16

Ena

<It's about my rough draft for our next song.
I'm kinda stuck. Mind taking a look at it for me?>

17

Mizuki

<Yeah, I'll take a peek!>

18

Kanade

<Me too.
Can you send it through Nightcord?>

19

Ena

<Alright, it's sent...>

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20

Mizuki

<Let's see...>

21

Ena

<How is it...?>

22

Kanade

<It isn't bad...>

23

Kanade

<You've captured the theme for this song and the colors seem right...>

24

Kanade

<However, it seems blurry for some reason...>

25

Mizuki

<Hmm... I think I know what you mean. It's like you're lost or not sure what to do, you know...?>

26

Ena

<I'm lost...?>

27

Kanade

<What do you think, Yuki?>

28

Mafuyu

<...>

29

Mafuyu

<It's okay...>

30

Mafuyu

<It matches what K's envisioning with her song, but...>

31

Ena

<But...?>

32

Mafuyu

<Is this really everything...?>

33

Ena

<Huh?>

34

Mafuyu

<It's as if you want to speak out, but don't know how...>

35

Mafuyu

<Is this really everything you're trying to say?>

36

Ena

<What I want to say...?>

37

Ena

(Is she talking about what I felt after hearing Kanade's song and seeing her lyrics...?)

38

Ena

(If that's the case, she's right. I haven't been able to express that at all...)

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39

???

Shinonome, as it stands, your current mindset will only hinder you from growing further as an artist.

40

Ena

...

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41

Kanade

<Is everything okay, Enanan?>

42

Ena

<Yeah, it's nothing...>

43

Kanade

<Are you sure...?>

44

Mizuki

<We still have time.
Let's keep thinking about it together.>

45

Mizuki

<I'll try coming up with a better storyboard too!>

46

Ena

<Okay, thank you.>

47

Ena

(That's it...)

48

Ena

(It's the same thing I felt back then.)

49

Ena

(Between Mafuyu's lyrics and Kanade's music, it's like everyone's finding new ways to express what they're feeling... While I get left behind...)

50

Ena

(If I actually do get left behind...)

51

Ena

(If I can't figure out a way to illustrate our group's music...)

52

Ena

(No, I don't want that to happen...)

53

Ena

(I have to keep drawing. I have to find a way...)

54

Ena

(Composition, colors, technique...
I have to study more and figure out how to turn our group's music into art.)

55

Ena

(But...)

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56

Ena

(I know it's easier said than done.
Because I spent so much time in that place...)

57

Ena

(There's no place in visual art for those who decide not to show up for two years...)

A few years ago

Art class

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58

Junior High School Ena

Alright, this looks good...

59

Junior High School Ena

(A pretty good drawing if I do say so myself. Mr. Yukihira won't have any choice but to praise me today.)

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60

Yukihira

Time's up. Bring your drawings forward and I'll begin reviewing your work.

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61

Yukihira

Let's start from that end.
Whose is this?

62

???

I-It's mine!
What do you think, Mr. Yukihira?

63

Yukihira

Ah, Futaba Natsuno.
Yes... It's rather appalling.

64

Futaba

!

65

Yukihira

It's as if you forgot that a third dimension exists. What were you looking at all this time?

66

Futaba

I... Um...!

67

Students

...

68

Yukihira

It's the most fundamental part of drawing sculptures. If you were looking for depth, you should've focused on...

69

Junior High School Ena

(As grouchy as ever, huh...?
Everyone's gone completely quiet too.)

70

Junior High School Ena

(But that's not going to be enough to discourage me.)

71

Yukihira

Alright, next.
Whose is this?

72

Junior High School Ena

It's mine! How is it?

73

Yukihira

Ah, Shinonome.
Let's take a look.

74

Yukihira

This composition isn't bad...
Your motif here appears well presented.

75

Junior High School Ena

*Gasp*
Thank you very much!

76

Junior High School Ena

(H-He praised me...!
Mr. Yukihira actually praised me...)

77

Yukihira

However, you get a zero for texture.
If anything, this looks more like a bronze statue.

78

Junior High School Ena

What...?

79

Yukihira

Focus on making better use of intermediate tones and value more next time. Anyway, who's next...?

80

Student

P-Please, have a look!

81

Junior High School Ena

...

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82

Yukihira

Alright, that's enough for today.
Good work, everyone.

83

Students

Thank you very much!

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84

Junior High School Ena

Ugh... Work on using intermediate tones...?! Does he not realize I've been coming here for five years now...?!

85

Junior High School Ena

(Dad did say that Mr. Yukihira's a pretty strict teacher, but it's almost as if he hates praising people...)

86

Junior High School Ena

(He has won a bunch of big awards though...
Plus, a lot of his students are trying to get into Tokyo Art University, so it is a pretty high-level class.)

87

Junior High School Ena

(But that sourpuss of a teacher actually praised me for once. He said, “This composition isn't bad.” He never tells anyone else that.)

88

Junior High School Ena

(I guess it's no wonder since I'm gonna be a famous artist just like my dad...)

Next Chapter: What I Wasn't Seeing