Video
Transcript
Fear of Getting Left Behind
Characters
Transcript
Ena's Room 
Ena
No, this isn't right...
Ena
(It doesn't go with Kanade and Mafuyu's song at all.)
*Pencil Scratching*
Ena
(I think I chose too many bright colors. Time to start over...)
Ena
...
*Pencil Scratching*
Ena
(I feel like I've been telling myself that I'm wrong a lot lately...)
Ena
(This might've started after Mafuyu learned how to write different lyrics compared to usual.)
Ena
(What is this...? I've definitely felt this before...)
*Nightcord Notification*
Kanade
<Hello? Are you all here?>
Mafuyu
<I'm here...>
Ena
Oh, it's time already? And... Unmute.
*Clicking*
Ena
<Hey, I'm here too.>
Mizuki
<Alright, we're all here on time!>
Kanade
<Shall we get started?>
Ena
<Oh, can I say something before we do...?>
Kanade
<Yes, Enanan?>
Ena
<It's about my rough draft for our next song. I'm kinda stuck. Mind taking a look at it for me?>
Mizuki
<Yeah, I'll take a peek!>
Kanade
<Me too. Can you send it through Nightcord?>
Ena
<Alright, it's sent...>
*Nightcord Sent Sound*
Mizuki
<Let's see...>
Ena
<How is it...?>
Kanade
<It isn't bad...>
Kanade
<You've captured the theme for this song and the colors seem right...>
Kanade
<However, it seems blurry for some reason...>
Mizuki
<Hmm... I think I know what you mean. It's like you're lost or not sure what to do, you know...?>
Ena
<I'm lost...?>
Kanade
<What do you think, Yuki?>
Mafuyu
<..>
Mafuyu
<It's okay...>
Mafuyu
<It matches what K's envisioning with her song, but...>
Ena
<But...?>
Mafuyu
<Is this really everything...?>
Ena
<Huh?>
Mafuyu
<It's as if you want to speak out, but don't know how...>
Mafuyu
<Is this really everything you're trying to say?>
Ena
<What I want to say...?>
Ena
(Is she talking about what I felt after hearing Kanade's song and seeing her lyrics...?)
Ena
(If that's the case, she's right. I haven't been able to express that at all...)
???
Shinonome, as it stands, your current mindset will only hinder you from growing further as an artist.
???: Shinonome, as it stands, your current mindset will only hinder you from growing further as an artist.Ena
...
Kanade
<Is everything okay, Enanan?>
Ena
<Yeah, it's nothing...>
Kanade
<Are you sure...?>
Mizuki
<We still have time. Let's keep thinking about it together.>
Mizuki
<I'll try coming up with a better storyboard too!>
Ena
<Okay, thank you.>
Ena
(That's it...)
Ena
(It's the same thing I felt back then.)
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...)
Ena
(If I actually do get left behind...)
Ena
(If I can't figure out a way to illustrate our group's music...)
Ena
(No, I don't want that to happen...)
Ena
(I have to keep drawing. I have to find a way...)
Ena
(Composition, colors, technique... I have to study more and figure out how to turn our group's music into art.)
Ena
(But...)
Ena
(I know it's easier said than done. Because I spent so much time in that place...)
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
*Pencil Scratching*
Junior High School Ena
Alright, this looks good...
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.)
*Pencil Scratching*
Yukihira
Time's up. Bring your drawings forward and I'll begin reviewing your work.
Yukihira
Let's start from that end. Whose is this?
???
I-It's mine! What do you think, Mr. Yukihira?
Yukihira
Ah, Futaba Natsuno. Yes... It's rather appalling.
Futaba
!
Yukihira
It's as if you forgot that a third dimension exists. What were you looking at all this time?
Futaba
I... Um...!
Students
...
Yukihira
It's the most fundamental part of drawing sculptures. If you were looking for depth, you should've focused on...
Junior High School Ena
(As grouchy as ever, huh...? Everyone's gone completely quiet too.)
Junior High School Ena
(But that's not going to be enough to discourage me.)
Yukihira
Alright, next. Whose is this?
Junior High School Ena
It's mine! How is it?
Yukihira
Ah, Shinonome. Let's take a look.
Yukihira
This composition isn't bad... Your motif here appears well presented.
Junior High School Ena
*Gasp* Thank you very much!
Junior High School Ena
(H-He praised me...! Mr. Yukihira actually praised me...)
Yukihira
However, you get a zero for texture. If anything, this looks more like a bronze statue.
Junior High School Ena
What...?
Yukihira
Focus on making better use of intermediate tones and value more next time. Anyway, who's next...?
Student
P-Please, have a look!
Junior High School Ena
...
Yukihira
Alright, that's enough for today. Good work, everyone.
Students
Thank you very much!
*School Bell*
Junior High School Ena
Ugh... Work on using intermediate tones...?! Does he not realize I've been coming here for five years now...?!
Junior High School Ena
(Dad did say that Mr. Yukihira's is a pretty strict teacher, but it's almost as if he hates praising people...)
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.)
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.)
Junior High School Ena
(I guess it's no wonder since I'm gonna be a famous artist just like my dad...)
What I Wasn't Seeing
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Transcript
A few days later Art class Yukihira
You'll be drawing flowers today. Do not forget about depth and texture as you work...
Yukihira
This won't do. The colors you've chosen for this motif aren't doing their job. It's as if your small brush strokes are making everything blend together into a single substance.
Student
I see...
Junior High School Ena
So it's better to lay down colors in a way that makes each of them stand out...
Yukihira
Start over. See, feel and draw. Sense it with your entire body.
Junior High School Ena
See and feel...?
After class ???
Wow...! Ena, yours is so amazing...! I can learn a lot from the way you used values.
Junior High School Ena
Hehe. Isn't it? How does yours look, Futaba?
Futaba
Nowhere near as good as yours. We started attending this class at the same time, but you've made so much more progress than me...
Junior High School Ena
I wouldn't worry about that too much. Yeah, you need to have talent to draw, but you still have to work hard to actually see improvement.
Futaba
Hehe. You're right!
Futaba
Speaking of which, entrance exams are coming up. Do you know where you want to go, Ena...?
Junior High School Ena
Yup! I'm gonna go to a high school that'll really let me focus on my art.
Junior High School Ena
I still haven't picked where, but I'm planning on asking my dad more about that.
Futaba
That's right, you can ask him directly... I should start thinking about those things too if I'm going to take art seriously.
Junior High School Ena
Yeah, I'd also recommend that. You only live once, so you should go through life doing what you love.
A few days later Shinonome Household - Living Room Junior High School Ena
Hey, Dad.
Junior High School Ena
I want to go to a school with a fine arts program but can't decide between these two. They both sound really great but...
Ena's Father
Fine arts?
Junior High School Ena
Yeah. I want to be an artist so...
Junior High School Ena
I thought I should learn as much as I can right now...
Ena's Father
I wouldn't bother.
Junior High School Ena
Huh?
Ena's Father
You don't have the talent to become an artist.
Junior High School Ena
Wh-What are you saying?! You're joking, right? That's not funny, you know?
Ena's Father
I'm not joking. You don't have any talent.
Junior High School Ena
But there's no way that's true. I've been drawing since I was little and even got special prizes in middle school for my art...
Ena's Father
Yes, I know. But there are countless others hoping to do the same thing.
Ena's Father
Unless you can win the grand prize at a big contest, then no one will recognize you.
Junior High School Ena
Why...?
Junior High School Ena
Why are you saying this now? You never did until this point.
Junior High School Ena
I'm serious about this, but you just...!
Ena's Father
Ena...
Ena's Father
You won't be able to become the kind of artist you're envisioning.
Ena's Father
If you had talent with the resolve to match, then things may be different...
Junior High School Ena
Wh-What do you mean...?
Junior High School Ena
Was everything I did until now just a complete waste of time?!
Junior High School Ena
I don't have any talent, so it doesn't matter how hard I work?!
Ena's Father
Yes... The world I live in works just as you say.
Ena's Father
No doors will open for you as you are now.
Junior High School Ena
...!
Junior High School Ena
You have no right to decide that...!
Junior High School Ena
It's my future, so stay out of it!!
The next day Futaba
That's strange... Where's Ena? It's almost time for class. Did something happen to her...?
Futaba
Ena, there you are! Huh...?
Junior High School Ena
(I don't have any talent...?)
Junior High School Ena
(No, that's not possible. I've been drawing for as long as I can remember... Mr. Yukihira even praised my drawing...)
Yukihira
Thank you for your patience. Starting today, we'll have some students visiting our class, so please join me in welcoming them.
Junior High School Ena
(I have talent... I know I do...!)
*Pencil Scratching*
Yukihira
I'll start looking at what you've drawn. Starting with this one.
Junior High School Ena
Yes, please!
Junior High School Ena
(I feel like this one turned out well... I'm sure Mr. Yukihira will...)
Yukihira
Ah, a trail through a forest. Hmm...
Junior High School Ena
...
Yukihira
My eyes are confused... The viewer's eyes aren't being drawn towards the trees in the back as they should.
Yukihira
A zero for composition.
Junior High School Ena
What...?
Junior High School Ena
B-But you praised my composition last time... I made sure to include the same nuances from that drawing in this one!
Junior High School Ena
On top of that, I feel like this is drawn better overall...!
Yukihira
That was then, this is now. You're comparing apples to oranges. Unless you learn to understand that, your layout process will continue to suffer.
Yukihira
You're patting yourself on the back after receiving one positive comment. You should instead be finding other ways to improve your drawing techniques, no?
Junior High School Ena
I... I know that...! But...!
Yukihira
Yes, I see. I have no other choice but to be more direct with you.
Yukihira
Shinonome, you're blowing your own skills out of proportion.
Junior High School Ena
...!!
Yukihira
If praise is all that you seek, then there is no point in you coming to this class.
Yukihira
Shinonome, as it stands, your current mindset will only hinder you from growing further as an artist.
Junior High School Ena
Wh-What...?
Junior High School Ena
(No... What is this...? Why's everyone so quiet...?)
Futaba
E-Ena...
Yukihira
Anyway, who's next?
Yukihira
The point of focus for this is too ambiguous. You may benefit from drawing in a way that allows the viewer to see the entire picture even when they're squinting. However...
Yukihira
Overall, this is drawn rather well.
Junior High School Ena
...!
Junior High School Ena
(He praised them...? Why? He never praises anyone...)
Junior High School Ena
(Is it because other students are visiting...?)
Yukihira
Next... Ah, Natsuno.
Futaba
Y-Yes!
Yukihira
Hmm...
Futaba
...
Yukihira
Well done... You've done a marvelous job illustrating how the apple warps when seen through glass.
Yukihira
You even improved upon your use of depth as I mentioned last time. This piece has much more breadth to it.
Futaba
...!
Futaba
Thank you very much!!
Junior High School Ena
Oh...
Junior High School Ena
(He isn't just praising everyone willy-nilly...)
Junior High School Ena
(That last piece, and Futaba's... They're so good... The way they're designed, their use of color... They're so much better than me...)
Junior High School Ena
(While my drawing... It's so...)
Junior High School Ena
(This means I really...)
A few days later Junior High School Ena
...
Yukihira
For our final free theme, you'll be drawing... "Yourselves." Please draw using whatever you like.
Junior High School Ena
("Ourselves"...?)
Junior High School Ena
(Ourselves... Me? Like, "Who am I?")
Junior High School Ena
(I'm the daughter of an artist... I've been drawing for as long as I can remember and others have always praised my work...)
Yukihira
Shinonome, as it stands, your current mindset will only hinder you from growing further as an artist.
Ena's Father
You don't have the talent to become an artist.
Junior High School Ena
(I...)
Yukihira
Let's start looking at what you've drawn.
Junior High School Ena
(I couldn't do anything...)
Junior High School Ena
(Was Futaba always this good...? Her drawing feels so powerful and alive...)
Junior High School Ena
(When did she learn to draw like this...?)
Junior High School Ena
(No, it's me... I just wasn't looking... It's not just Futaba either. It's as if everybody here is...)
Yukihira
First... Ah, Shinonome, this must be yours.
Junior High School Ena
(No, please...)
Junior High School Ena
(Don't look at it.)
Junior High School Ena
(Even if you say that I don't have any talent... That I shouldn't bother... I...)
Yukihira
I...
Yukihira
I have nothing to say to you, Shinonome...
Junior High School Ena
Oh...
Futaba
Ena? Ena...?
Futaba
Ena, are you okay...?
Junior High School Ena
Huh? Yes...?
Futaba
We're all done...
Junior High School Ena
Oh, okay... Sorry, I think I spaced out.
Junior High School Ena
I'll be going home now...
*Footsteps*
Futaba
W-Wait! Ena!
*Door Closing*
Yukihira
...
What I Felt That Time
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Transcript
Ena's Room Ena
(That was the last time I went to that class...)
Ena
(Mom got so mad at me after she found out that I quit without really saying anything.)
Yukihira
I have nothing to say to you, Shinonome...
Ena
...
Ena
(No, I'm not his student anymore. Anyway, that reference book should be around here somewhere...)
*Rustling*
Ena
Oh, here it is... How long's it been? I remember going through this so many times in the past.
Ena
Huh...? A postcard...?
Ena
("Yukihira Art Studio - Special Spring Workshop"...)
Message
"You're always welcome to join us, Shinonome."
Ena
Oh...
Ena
Right. I was sent this after I quit. But only this one notice.
Ena
The way I quit kinda made me want to never go back again...
Ena
(His spring workshop... It's already that time of year, huh?)
Ena
(I might be able to find a way to get better if I go back...)
Ena
(Despite everything I've said about him, Mr. Yukihira's a great teacher. I mean, many of his students got into Tokyo Art University...)
Ena
(Still...)
Ena
(Everyone else will have improved leaps and bounds by now. So much so that I'd stick out like a sore thumb...)
Ena
(After I quit, everyone started giving me these looks...)
Ena
...
Ena
(Ugh... Just thinking about it makes me sick...)
Ena
...
Ena
(I know I should go... I stand to learn so much...)
Ena
But it'd make me seem so desperate...
The next day Ena
*Sigh*
Ena
(I need to wrap up my rough draft soon... I've made the others wait long enough as it is...)
Ena
(But if I try doing that now...)
Ena
...
Ena
(No, this isn't it... It's like I'm getting further and further away from the image in my head...)
Ena
I need a break...
*Nightcord Notification*
Mizuki
<Hey, Enanan! You there?>
Ena
Oh... <Yeah, what is it?>
Mizuki
<How's your sketch going? Still stuck?>
Ena
<Yeah... I can't figure out what to do.>
Mizuki
<...?>
Mizuki
<Did something happen, Enanan?>
Ena
<Huh? Wh-Why do you ask?>
Mizuki
<I mean, we've been through this before. You sound really unhappy, so I'm worried that something bad happened to you.>
Ena
<Well...>
Mizuki
<But... If you're not up to it, you don't have to tell me.>
Mizuki
<Especially since you're doing the same for me.>
Mizuki
<At the same time, I'm sure you'll feel better if you talk about it, so just let me know when you feel you're ready!>
Ena
<Mizuki...>
Ena
(Mizuki's right...)
Ena
(I said that I'd wait and be there to listen. It wouldn't make sense for me to clam up and not reciprocate that.)
Ena
(Alright...)
Ena
<You really won't mind hearing this...?>
Mizuki
<Nope! Lay it on me...!>
Mizuki
<Wait, you think you're not good enough...?>
Ena
<Yeah. At least, that's what I've been feeling lately.>
Ena
<K and Yuki keep finding new ways to express what they're feeling, while I'm having trouble keeping up with them...>
Mizuki
<Enanan...>
Ena
<At this rate, I feel like I'm not going to be able to properly illustrate their music...>
Ena
<A part of me is even saying that I should relearn everything from scratch...>
Mizuki
<Hmm... I think you're being way too hard on yourself.>
Mizuki
<All of us, including me, really like what you draw, Enanan.>
Ena
<...>
Ena
<Thanks... But I don't want to drag N25 down in any way. I want to do everything I can to prevent that.>
Ena
<Which is how I ended up reminiscing about this art class I used to attend...>
Ena
<It's run by this really amazing teacher, so I can still probably learn a lot by going... But I'm not sure I ever liked being there.>
Ena
<On top of that, I'd only get shown up by everyone else there since I stopped going for two years...>
Mizuki
<...>
Ena
<And yet, I don't want things to continue like this...>
Mizuki
<I see...>
Mizuki
<Getting yourself to face the issue is never easy, isn't it?>
Mizuki
<Just thinking about it makes your head hurt and want to give up.>
Ena
<Haha. Yeah, that. It saps all your energy and you end up having to take so many breaks just to keep going...>
Ena
<The story of my life.>
Mizuki
<...>
Mizuki
<Still, I can't believe you used to attend an actual art class...!>
Ena
<Huh? What's that supposed to mean?>
Mizuki
<Haha. Sorry, I have a hard time imagining you learning to draw while sitting in class, you know? How long were you there?>
Ena
<I started when I was in second grade and quit during my third year of junior high. I used to go every week too.>
Ena
<The teacher's a friend of my dad, and I was invited to join his class after being blown away by one of his pieces at this exhibit he held...>
Mizuki
<Really? So you learned to draw and paint from your dad's friend?>
Ena
<Yeah, but his class was always so tense since he sort of doesn't hold back when reviewing our work.>
Ena
<I started by learning how to sketch, then moved on to watercolor and oil painting. Oh, I learned to use clay a little too.>
Mizuki
<Clay? In a drawing class?>
Ena
<It's to get a better grasp of all three dimensions. Some students even went on to learn how to do sculptures and reliefs because of that.>
Mizuki
<Whoa, that sounds fun! I wanna give that a try too.>
Mizuki
<What kind of stuff did you draw back then, Enanan? Anything similar to what you're drawing for N25?>
Ena
<What did I draw back then...? A lot of different things. I can't really reduce it down to one genre or anything...>
Ena
<I also used to draw inspiration from some songs I heard even before I was aware of K or her music.>
Ena
<Whenever I sat down to really think about what a song's talking about, I always felt that I could produce something really good...>
Mizuki
<I totally get what you mean. I usually do the same thing when I'm making music videos for N25.>
Ena
<Yeah, it's like N25's become a good creative output for us...>
Ena
<Oh, I also remember putting together a scrapbook of "all my favorite things"...>
Mizuki
<Hey, I've made one before too! Cutting out stuff from my favorite magazines and movie flyers was so much fun!>
Mizuki
<What did you do for yours, Enanan?>
Ena
<Me? Um... I had flyers from these art exhibits I really liked and tried drawing some buildings that looked interesting...>
Ena
<Magazines too. Oh, I even tried drawing some of the cover art that caught my eye from Akito's CDs...>
Ena
<Cosmetics too. I still remember being really irked by how my teacher said, "Very typical of you, Shinonome." It's not like I ever put on that much makeup...>
Mizuki
<I kinda get what he meant by that. Anyway, what did you guys do after you made your scrapbooks?>
Ena
<Those were just ways of examining our personalities as opposed to a preamble for anything else. Wait, you've gotta hear what my teacher said about what I drew after that...>
Mizuki
<Hehe...>
Ena
<Hey, why are you laughing?>
Mizuki
<Sorry! It's just... You sound like you're having fun talking about all this.>
Ena
<I do...?>
Mizuki
<Yeah. You said that you weren't sure you ever liked going there, but you got to do all these things that you'd never get to do in school.>
Ena
<Okay, you're not wrong about that...>
*Pencil Scratching*
Ena
(Oh...)
Ena
(I guess there were some fun moments along the way.)
Ena
<...>
Mizuki
<Earth to Enanan! You there? Why'd you clam up all of a sudden?>
Ena
<Oh, sorry. It's nothing.>
Ena
(What's going on...? It's like I'm not bothered by what I experienced back then.)
Ena
...
Ena
(I haven't touched clay, my scrapbook or done any real sketches in so long... I don't want to feel that pain again, but...)
Ena
<Mizuki...>
Mizuki
<Yeah?>
Ena
<Thanks...>
Mizuki
<Don't mention it. That's what friends are for, right?>
To That Place Once More
Characters
Transcript
Three days later Ena's Room Ena
(Only three hours left to register for the spring workshop...)
Ena
(I should call now...)
Ena
There should be a phone number somewhere on that postcard...
*Phone Ringing*
Ena
...
Ena
(This is awful. My heart won't stop pounding because I'm so scared...)
Yukihira
<Hello? Yukihira Art Studio.>
Ena
*Gasp* H-Hello...?
Yukihira
<Shinonome?! Is that you?>
Ena
Um...?! I... Uh....!
Ena
Yes, this is Ena Shinonome... It's been quite a while...
25:00:00 Mizuki's Room
*Nightcord Notification*
Mizuki
<Hey! We all here?>
Kanade
<Yes. I'm already working.>
Mafuyu
<Me too. Enanan isn't here yet...>
Mizuki
<Oh, yeah...>
Mizuki
(I hope Ena's okay...)
*Nightcord Notification*
Ena
<Hey, sorry about the wait.>
Mizuki
<Enanan! Is everything okay...?>
Kanade
<What do you mean...?>
Mizuki
<I, uhh...! Remember how she said she was having trouble with her rough draft?! I was worried, so um... How's it going...?>
Ena
<About that... I'm sorry but I'm gonna need a little more time.>
Mizuki
<What?>
Mafuyu
<You're still not happy with it?>
Ena
<That's a part of the reason...>
Ena
<I'm thinking about relearning how to draw.>
Kanade
<Relearn?>
Ena
<Yeah. There's this art class I used to attend and am thinking about going back...>
Ena
<In my current state, I feel like I won't be able to draw anything decent for this song or anything that comes after it...>
Ena
<I promise to finish this draft and not do anything that holds the rest of you back.>
Mizuki
<...! Yeah! You should go!>
Mizuki
<Um, I mean... I'm okay with you going... What about you, K, Yuki?>
Kanade
<If Enanan believes she needs to do this, then I'm okay with it too.>
Mafuyu
<I don't mind if it's going to help our music...>
Ena
<You could phrase that a little better, Yuki, but thanks, you guys...>
Ena
<I promise to learn how to really illustrate the song you two wrote, K, Yuki.>
Kanade
<Okay. Good luck, Enanan.>
Ena
<Thanks.>
A few days later Miyamasuzaka Ena
*Sigh*
Ena
(I thought I was ready for this... But my feet feel like bricks...)
Ena
(The class is right there... And yet, it feels so far away.)
Ena
(I wonder if everyone from back then is still there...)
Ena
(They've probably gotten better and better during these past two years...)
Ena
...
Ena
(I think... I'm gonna be sick...)
???
Huh? Ena? Is that you...?
Ena
Huh? Oh...
Futaba
Wow...! Ena, yours is so amazing...!
Ena
Futaba...?
Futaba
I knew it was you, Ena. Long time no see!
Futaba
Oh... That bag's for art supplies, right? Does this mean you registered for the spring workshop too?
Ena
U-Um... Yeah, I did...
Futaba
Really?! I'm so happy! I can't believe you came back...!
Futaba
Oh, let's go in together. You have to go in a different way now, so I can show you where.
Ena
Huh? Uh... I mean...
*Footsteps*
Futaba
Over here, Ena! It's this way!
So Far Away
Characters
Transcript
Miyamasuzaka Ena
(Oh, here it is... Next to that big building... Huh?)
Ena
(The entrance... Did one of the students draw this piece...? They're hanging up their art here now?)
Ena
(They're all so good... It's like each one is trying to suck me into its world...)
Ena
(Wait... This one's... Futaba's...?)
Ena
(She's gotten this good...? This one too...)
Ena
(It's them... Everyone I attended class with back then drew these...)
Ena
(They improved this much in just two years...?)
Futaba
Is everything alright, Ena?
Ena
I-It's nothing... I just...
Futaba
Class is this way. Let's go.
Ena
Okay...
*Footsteps*
Art class
*Door Opening*
Ena
Oh...
Ena
(It still smells like paint... All those memories are flooding back.)
Futaba
Ena, the chairs and easels are here. We can sit... There's a lot of people, so how about here?
Ena
Okay...
Ena
(I'm really here... I've come this far, so there's no turning back.)
Ena
(I only recognize about half of the people here. The rest must be visiting from elsewhere...)
*Door Opening*
Ena
It's him...
Yukihira
Hello, everyone. And welcome to our visiting students. My name is Saneatsu Yukihira. I will be your teacher.
Yukihira
It's nice to see some familiar faces here again...
Yukihira
This workshop will last for three days. You will not only be working on your foundational principles, we will also be having deep discussions regarding your work. I hope you're all ready.
Ena
(Day one involves drawing sketches, day two is oil painting and we'll be given a theme to draw as we wish on day three...)
Ena
(Sketches used to be my forte... But now...)
Ena
(No, I have to do this... So I can keep drawing for N25...!)
*Pencil Scratching*
Yukihira
You made your light source here stand out too much. It should be more like this...
Ena
...
Ena
(We're drawing flowers and sculptures today. Their textures are completely different, so I have to find a way to make them look distinct from one another...)
Ena
...
Ena
(This looks all wrong... Is it because I haven't drawn any sculptures in so long?)
Ena
(Is my light source in the wrong place? Is that why my drawing looks like it has no depth...?)
Ena
(What am I supposed to do...? I know I need to look more carefully when I'm doing this...)
*Pencil Falling*
Ena
No, my pencil...
Ena
Sorry, Futaba... My pencil rolled your way...
Futaba
...
Ena
(She's so focused... She probably didn't even hear me.)
Ena
(No, it just means she's that serious about this. I should pick my pencil back up and...)
Ena
What...? No way...!
Ena
(Her sketch looks so real. No one ever goes this far. Her shadowing's so detailed too...)
Ena
(The way she used intermediate tones almost looks professional...!)
Yukihira
Everything okay, Shinonome...?
Ena
Y-Yes...
Ena
(I have to keep drawing... My sketch isn't anywhere near done.)
Ena
(But...)
Ena
(No, don't let your eyes wander...)
Ena
(Just keep drawing... Just keep drawing... That's all I can do right now. I knew that I'd be the worst one before I came here...!)
*Pencil Scratching*
Yukihira
Alright, time's up. Let's begin reviewing your work.
Yukihira
Please bring your drawings forward.
*Clattering*
Yukihira
We'll start with this one. Whose is this?
Ena
Oh, um... That's mine.
Yukihira
Overall, it looks slanted, and the jawline appears bent. Is this really the sculpture you saw, Shinonome...?
Yukihira
Your use of shadow needs work as well. It's as if you've forgotten all your basic principles.
Ena
...
Yukihira
Next. Ah, Natsuno, this must be yours.
Futaba
Yes.
Yukihira
Hmm...
Ena
...
Yukihira
I have nothing to say... If anything, it's rather ordinary. I suggest you put more effort into composition next time.
Futaba
I will. Thank you very much.
Ena
Oh...
Ena
(Yeah, Futaba's sketches have always been amazing...)
Ena
(She's improved so much since then too. She probably had to draw so much to get this far...)
Ena
(I knew this would happen too. I had it all coming.)
Ena
(I ran away while she and everyone else kept at it these past two years...)
Ena
(I guess that's it for me...)
Futaba
Is something the matter, Ena? You don't look so good.
Ena
No, I'm fine... Sorry, I'm gonna head home now.
*Rustling*
Futaba
Oh...
Futaba
Um, can we head out together? I just need a second to pack everything up.
Ena
Alright, sure...
Futaba
Thanks! I'll be right there.
Futaba
How was your first class after all this time, Ena?
Ena
Yeah... Nothing's really changed...
Futaba
Nothing's changed...? Do you mean the class itself...?
Ena
Yeah, like how tense it is in there.
Ena
(Not only that, I still can't draw to save my life. Mr. Yukihira gave me his two cents as usual too.)
Ena
(Why did I run away that time...? Would I have gotten better like the others if I stayed...?)
Futaba
Tense...? I think I understand... Mr. Yukihira's a harsh critic as ever.
Ena
I still sort of can't believe you've been going all this time, Futaba...
Ena
What have you been up to since I left?
Futaba
Oh, um... I joined the art club at my high school and started coming here every day.
Ena
Every day? What happened to once or twice a week?
Futaba
The thing is... I want to go to Tokyo Art University.
Ena
What...?! You mean THE Tokyo Art University?
Futaba
Yes, but I wasn't sure if once or twice a week would be enough to get in since it's the most competitive art school in Japan. That's why I asked my mom if I could start coming here every day.
Ena
Now it makes sense...
Ena
(Futaba's serious about art. Unlike a certain someone who ran away from it...)
Ena
(No wonder her sketch was so good...)
Futaba
Um, Ena... I've been meaning to tell you this for a while now...
Ena
Yeah...?
Futaba
I really like the way you draw. So, I'm really glad that you came back.
Ena
Huh...? What's there to possibly like...?
Futaba
I've always been drawn to the way your art has this strange uniqueness to it.
Futaba
It's almost as if you're seeing a different world, and able to express yourself in ways that the rest of us can't...
Futaba
I've actually tried copying you a few times in the past, but I was never able to capture your style.
Ena
...
Ena
Alright, Futaba, let me ask you this... What did you think of what I drew today?
Futaba
Huh? I...
Futaba
I agreed with Mr. Yukihira...
Ena
Okay...
Futaba
But that's not the whole story...
Ena
Oh, sorry... I was told to get home early today...
Ena
I need to go now.
*Footsteps*
Futaba
O-Okay... Um, Ena!
Ena
Yeah...?
Futaba
See you tomorrow!
Ena
Okay...
The Stopped Brush
Characters
Transcript
Shinonome Household - Living Room Ena
I'm home...
Ena's Mother
Welcome home, Ena. How was art class? I know it's been a while.
Ena
Same old, same old. I'll be in my room until dinner...
*Footsteps*
Ena's Mother
E-Ena, wait!
Ena's Father
...
A few hours later Ena's Room Ena
It's already past midnight...
Ena
(I said I'd be going to that art class again starting today, so maybe I should let everyone in N25 know...)
Ena
(But if any of them ask, "How was it?")
*Typing*
Message
<I've had a long day, so I'm gonna work offline for now.>
*Nightcord Notification*
Mizuki's Message
<Copy that! Don't work too hard, alright?>
Mafuyu's Message
<Okay.>
Kanade's Message
<Please rest when you feel better. You don't have to worry about us.>
Ena
...
Ena
I still have that rough draft to finish. I haven't even touched it a for a few days now...
Ena
But... What am I supposed to draw...?
Ena
It's happening again...
Ena
But there's no point in worrying. I have to just keep drawing...
The next day Art class Ena
...
Ena
(Day two is oil painting... I used to get praised for the way I chose colors when I was in junior high...)
Futaba
Good morning, Ena. You're here early.
Ena
Oh, um... Morning.
Futaba
It looks like we're doing landscapes. Let's do our best today.
Yukihira
Your underpainting needs more work. It looks very uneven right now.
Student A
Okay, thank you.
Ena
...
Ena
(That's it for my drawing... But this doesn't look right at all...)
Ena
(The worst part is that I can't specifically say what's wrong. Is it the underpainting? The perspective?)
Ena
(I sort of want to scrap it and start all over now...)
Ena
(I wonder how Futaba's doing...)