School SEKAI
Ichika
Alright, let's take a quick break...
Honami
Okay. Nice work, everyone.
Honami
Oh, since we're going to take a break, mind if I take a space in the corner of the classroom...?
MEIKO
Yes, of course.
Hm? Is that a sketchbook...?
Hm? Is that a sketchbook...?
Honami
Yes.
I wanted to practice drawing for a bit...
I wanted to practice drawing for a bit...
Len
Drawing? What for...?
Honami
I'm supposed to go observe how teachers work at a kindergarten, and I'll be teaching the children how to paint.
Saki
Hona's been practicing a lot lately!
Even at school during breaks between classes!
Even at school during breaks between classes!
Honami
You saw me practicing...? That's a little embarrassing...
Shiho
There's nothing to be embarrassed about. You're just trying to make the most of what you were taught.
Ichika
You did say that you had someone teach you. How was that? Do you think you'll be able to draw some animals okay?
Honami
Oh, yes... I can do this much now...
Ichika, Saki & Shiho
Whoa...!
Saki
Hona, this is amazing!
Your cat, bear and fox look really good!
Your cat, bear and fox look really good!
Shiho
Yeah.
You've really captured their individual characteristics.
You've really captured their individual characteristics.
Ichika
You've come such a long way, Honami...!
Honami
Thank you all very much.
MEIKO
Hehe. Way to go, Honami.
Luka
But are you sure about practicing here? There are plenty of other classrooms available if you'd like to focus more...
Honami
Thank you, but I'd like to draw in front of as many of you as possible.
Miku
Really?
Wouldn't it be better to draw somewhere that's quieter...?
Wouldn't it be better to draw somewhere that's quieter...?
Honami
The person who taught me said that it'll be good practice to draw in the presence of others.
Honami
That person also helped me build confidence in my artistic skills. As a result, I feel far less shy about drawing when other people are around...
KAITO
That's nice...
Rin
Yeah, totally! Oh, I know...!
Rin
Since we're on the subject, why don't we all draw together?!
Honami
All of us together?
Rin
Yeah! We can all choose something to draw and show each other once we're done!
MEIKO
Something of our choosing...?
That sounds fun! Let's do it!
That sounds fun! Let's do it!
Len
I'll pass.
Drawing together sounds like something kids would...
Drawing together sounds like something kids would...
Luka
Oh? Art is for people of all ages, is it not?
Len
Yeah, I suppose so...
Rin
Then it's settled☆
Rin
Alright, everyone, let's do some drawing!!!
Honami
(Hehe. We're all drawing together. This is so nice.)
Honami
(Under normal circumstances, I would've had so much trouble drawing much of anything...)
Honami
(But thanks to Ena, I feel completely fine now.)
Honami
(Anyway, we're supposed to draw whatever we like...)
Honami
(So, I'll draw Shibao...!)
Miku
Wow, KAITO, the ice cream you drew looks so real...!
KAITO
Hm? It does...?
Saki
Your little birdie's also really good, Luka! It looks like something out of an art textbook!
Ichika
Miku, your cherry blossoms look beautiful. I might try copying you.
Shiho
I really like your drawing, MEIKO.
Especially how the drum's rims are shining.
Especially how the drum's rims are shining.
Honami
(I'm drawing a dog, so I'll do what Ena taught me. A circle for the face, ovals for the ears, fold them over a bit...)
Honami
Wait...
Honami
(Shibao's a Shiba Inu, so his ears don't droop or fold over... Then, I'll draw triangles instead...)
Honami
(Huh?
Now he's starting to look like a cat.)
Now he's starting to look like a cat.)
Honami
(What do I do...? Shibao's ears are a little rounder. But if I make them more circular, he's going to turn into a bear...)
Honami
(Th-The more I try to remember his features, the less my drawing resembles him...!)
Len
Is everything okay, Honami...?
Honami
Eep...!
Oh, Len, it's you...
Oh, Len, it's you...
Len
Are you having some trouble?
Honami
Oh, um... No, I'm fine.
Can I ask what you're drawing, Len?
Can I ask what you're drawing, Len?
Len
Me? I'm drawing my guitar.
Honami
Oh wow! That's incredible...!
You've done such a good job!
You've done such a good job!
Rin
Yeah, she's right! It looks so cool!
Huh...?
Huh...?
Rin
Hang on...
Your headstock doesn't taper that much, does it?
Your headstock doesn't taper that much, does it?
Len
No, not really...
Len
But we're allowed to draw whatever we want, so it doesn't have to be perfectly accurate, right?
Honami
What...?
Len
I really love how my guitar sounds and I thought that if I gave it a pointier headstock, it feels like it could produce an even cooler sound.
Honami
You're allowed to draw like that...?
Len
I mean, I don't know much about art and can't really say that I'm great at drawing like KAITO, but...
Len
I think you should just draw however you like. Isn't that what art's really all about?
Rin
Hmm... Yeah, you're right!
This sort of design suits you more, Len!
This sort of design suits you more, Len!
Len
Right?
I know I could count on you to get it, Rin!
I know I could count on you to get it, Rin!
Honami
(Just draw however I like...?)
Honami
(But if I do...
They won't be able to recognize what I've drawn...)
They won't be able to recognize what I've drawn...)
Ichika
How's it going, Honami? Are you finished?
Honami
Um, not quite! Just another moment...
Honami
(I have to make his ears rounder if I want him to look like a dog...)
Honami
(What do I do in this case...?)
Miyamasuzaka
Ena
*Sigh*
Futaba
Is everything okay, Ena?
It's like something's been on your mind all day...
It's like something's been on your mind all day...
Futaba
It's just... I feel like you haven't been able to focus on your art today...
Ena
That obvious, huh...?
Ena
Yeah, something is bugging me a bit. I spent some time the other day teaching somebody how to draw...
Ena
And I'm wondering if the way I taught them was actually okay...
Futaba
Oh, does that mean the person you were teaching couldn't quite improve...?
Ena
No, they improved...
But the thing is...
But the thing is...
Futaba
I see...
Futaba
In other words, Ena, you're worried that you may be suppressing the best qualities of her art, right?
Ena
Yeah...
Ena
I keep asking myself whether or not I taught her the right way...
Futaba
Don't say that...
Ena
Huh?
Futaba
Am I right in saying that you taught her in such a manner that she'll embrace drawing rather than pushing it away?
Futaba
Also, I have to think that you lending her a hand the way you did is going to do wonders for her.
Ena
Futaba...
Ena
Thanks...
Futaba
I really don't think I deserve to be thanked...
Futaba
But her story reminded me of what I went through way back when...
Ena
Way back when?
Futaba
There was a time when I copied how other people were creating their work in order to become a better artist.
Futaba
Like my favorite artists and people from art class... I tried copying everything that caught my attention.
Futaba
As time progressed, I got better, but began to lose interest in art... That was when Mr. Yukihira asked me...
Futaba
“Is this truly the art that you wished to make?”
Futaba
That was when I decided to take a hard look at what I was drawing, and it led to me changing to my current style.
Ena
I didn't know that...
Futaba
Yeah, and I think I mentioned this before. I also tried copying you, Ena. I wanted to make my art have the same feel as yours.
Futaba
But I couldn't figure out how...
Then, I realized how a person's art style belongs to them and them alone.
Then, I realized how a person's art style belongs to them and them alone.
Ena
So, me and me alone...?
Ena
(Yeah, she's right...
Only I can really draw in my style...)
Only I can really draw in my style...)
Ena
(And only Honami can draw the way she does.)
Ena
(Which means, I...)
Next Chapter: To The Kindergarten!