Yo…
Yotasuke…
SERIOUS MENTAL BREAKDOWNS
How does he know my number?
Oh, back then.
It's been a long time.
I'm not really doing anything right now.
How have you been recently, Yotasuke?
What?
Yota.
What did Yaguchi say?
He said he's busy.
A prank call?
Talented people are cheaters. They get to improve without much work,
while hardworking, ordinary people still have their limits.
It's another version of your "bond" piece.
It's not like I half-assed it.
I still did my best at that time.
I can do it.
Just keep up with it.
How exactly did I make that piece?
I was trying to copy myself.
Who do I think I am?
I'm so shameful.
When I first saw Yotasuke's still-life, I realized that…
I'm not talented.
I can only improve by practicing.
Then I'll practice until my work is no different from a genius.
TOKYO ART INSTITUTE
Our winter break starts tomorrow.
Winter break?
Isn't that a lot of assignments?
Oba Sensei,
can you give me ten more winter break assignments?
-What? -What?
Of course.
I'll prepare them for you before our meeting.
Okay.
Such a hard worker.
By the way, what day is today?
What?
Awesome!
Good luck, kids.
-Are you used to Christmas, Yatora? -I never thought Christmas was for us.
They look delicious.
Wait.
DRAW WITH CHARCOAL
What? Do you hate sweets, Yaguchi?
No. But this shortcake…
It's just sponge cake and whipped cream. Too simple and sweet.
But add some strawberries, and I can't get enough of it.
It's not just the taste.
There's one big red strawberry on the white cream
with small red pieces on the inside.
It's just like the main focus and it's leading the eyes.
By the way,
I saw on TV that shortcakes are popular because the Japanese love red and white.
Wow.
That's what you've been thinking about?
You're really serious.
You even asked for more assignments.
It's because I'm not talented.
I see.
I'll leave you then.
Popular things all have some strengths.
I too want a strength,
a weapon of my own.
Yes, I agree about finding a weapon of your own.
Do you think the use of colors can be a weapon?
Well, you should probably avoid focusing on colors.
Colors are hard to master.
Also, no colors can be used before passing the first exam.
Why not rethink how you use your materials?
Cutting the canvas or painting with your fingers is cool.
But my works are not that showy.
Oh, that's not what I meant.
Each of the materials has its own unique nuance.
Even if it's not for making art.
Look at this sample.
Gauze, tissue, finger, and tortillon.
They all have different smudging effects.
Materials are crucial.
Paintings are not two-dimensional but three-dimensional.
By changing the use of materials,
your range of expression will expand greatly.
Just like inventions, right?
Yes!
Here, your additional winter break assignments.
Thank you…
What?
You only added five more.
You need to experiment on how to invent your materials.
Practicing is important,
but focus on experiments and challenges during the winter break first.
Also,
take a good rest during the New Year's holidays.
All right. Happy New Year.
THANKS FOR THIS YEAR! NEW YEAR'S EVE
Wow.
Amazing.
The roller can spread the charcoal evenly.
I also like this tailor's chalk pencil I borrowed from Mom.
It's soft but the stroke is rough.
But how should I incorporate them into my art?
Yatora's not picking up.
He must be busy. Let's just go.
But he should at least rest during the New Year's holidays.
-Don't you have exams this year too? -Sort of.
Hello?
Sumida? Sorry, I don't think I can make it to the countdown.
I'll join you guys afterwards.
Yeah, right.
See you later.
Bye.
Oh, man. How did things end up like this?
INCOMING CALL YOTASUKE TAKAHASHI
Hello?
Yaguchi, do you want to visit the shrine for the New Year with me?
Thank you for inviting me.
Whatever.
I didn't expect you would come.
Why do I always end up going along with him?
Am I a masochist?
Yaguchi.
Sorry about the call last time.
You don't have to look so shocked.
Both last time and today,
my mother asked me to go out.
I told her that I have no friends.
I'm sorry that I couldn't raise you properly.
I thought she'd be convinced after seeing me being turned down,
so I called you,
since you have so many friends.
The only people on my contact list are my parents, Hashida, and you.
Sorry for bothering you.
Your mom is so sharp-tongued. That's depressing.
But you can just call me. We're friends after all.
No, we're not.
Then why did you call me again today?
I won't tell you.
"I shouldn't have come."
That's not the mindset I want to have for the New Year.
Why don't you like me, Yotasuke?
You know, I'm pretty serious about pursuing art.
That's more or less the reason.
I don't think you'd understand.
You have everything.
But I have nothing but art.
Actually,
I'm glad that I got to know you.
I like capable people.
But I would've liked them better if they weren't doing art.
-What? -Ten, nine…
-I like you, Yotasuke. -Eight, seven, six, five…
But I also hate you so much that I feel sick.
One!
-Happy New Year! -Happy New Year!
Oh, the countdown is over.
Happy New Year.
What? You creep.
Well, I'm just a bit envious.
I apologize if I ruined your mood on New Year's Day.
Normally, I don't care about other people.
But I also get annoyed when I see you, Yaguchi.
Really? I'm so happy to hear that.
I didn't know you were a weirdo.
Gosh, I'm really happy.
I'm just an ordinary person,
but to this talented boy,
I'm special.
All right. I'll try my best.
He passed out as soon as he came to my home.
He must've been tired.
Just let him sleep.
TOKYO ART INSTITUTE
Happy New Year.
Did you rest? Did you have fun? Did you do the assignments?
-I had fun. -I rested too much.
-Come on, you guys. -Sorry I'm late.
So heavy.
Sorry for bringing more and more things here.
INTERVIEW ROOM
Awesome.
Yes, these are incredible.
Thank you.
I can see you're still swayed by the materials sometimes,
but you challenged yourself a lot.
Your potential shows especially in this work.
How did you make this sandy texture?
-I used tailor's chalk pencils. -Wow, I see.
Materials are marvelous.
Just by changing the materials, even subjects that stumped me
became a total breeze.
It felt like I was guided to places I had never imagined before.
I realized that I've been putting arbitrary limits on my art.
But those who notice this are the ones who have done enough practice.
Only 45 days left.
Like it or not, everything will come to an end in 45 days.
One final effort.
Just do your best.
I will.
Maki.
The Center Test is tomorrow, right? I'm rooting for you.
Taking the exams is really tough.
All our family members attended TUA. You must be stressed.
I got the best grades. But don't worry.
-You just do you-- -Did I say I'm worried?
Come on. Don't get angry.
NATIONAL CENTER TEST
It's over…
It's over!
Now I can focus on the practical exam.
That's not what I meant about "over."
I guess you can't cram everything at the last minute.
-Let's eat something before going back. -Sure.
Kuwana?
Hey, it's Yaguchi!
Oh, the blond guy with the piercings.
Maki, is he your friend?
We're in the same class.
These girls attend TAI too.
See you at prep school.
What a flashy girl!
She's the top student at prep school.
Really?
But I'm relieved. I thought art prep schools would be gloomy.
But they are surprisingly cheerful.
The tension is super awkward.
Our class hours used to be four hours.
Now we work 12 hours a day.
Good morning.
Guys, did you know sharks have eyelids?
Marine animals are incredible.
She's that cheerful even with the exam coming up.
It takes away the stress.
After trying different materials,
my monochrome still-lifes are more "colorful" now.
My range of expression has expanded.
Let's see if I can spice up my oil paintings too.
Starting today, we'll be focusing on still-life
-and making two pieces a day. -What?
What about oil painting?
There will be ten days between the first and second exams.
We'll focus on oil painting then.
But even if we pass the first exam, there's still the second one.
Yaguchi, take pictures of your piece and an artwork you like.
What?
Then turn them into monochrome.
A good artwork is always good
whether it's in color or monochrome.
Improvement in still-life will lead to improvement in oil painting.
All right, I'm going to hand out the assignment.
She has a valid point.
But it's still too risky
to not do oil painting at this point.
Among us, only Kuwana's oil painting has its distinct style.
I see the point.
But new graduates have no time.
For TUA's Oil Painting Course, still-life is a basic requirement.
They further examine how well you can express yourself.
Non-first timers are relatively skilled.
But we new graduates barely have the skill to pass the exam.
In other words, I need to bet everything on the first exam.
There's no point in setting examinees as rivals when they haven't passed.
My rivals are the accepted works.
No matter the styles, the accepted works are all very cool.
Why is that? They have more contrast?
No. There's something drawing me in.
What?
KUWANA
What?
Well, well.
Isn't that my big sister's work?
Kuwana.
Your sister got top grades as a new graduate, right?
The breeze here feels so good.
Want some?
-Thank you. -Did you think that was my work?
I get that a lot.
Sisters always end up resembling each other.
Is that your work?
You've improved a lot.
I'm not looking down on you.
You've improved the most in prep school.
All that hard work is paying off.
Well,
I don't want to hear that from the top student.
I'll never be able to get first place.
Do you come here often?
Yeah.
Is she from our class?
When you look at those depressed ones,
don't you feel that you're not totally hopeless?
How about that?
I'm terrible.
Well, I understand that feeling.
Really?
I guess I was surprised to hear it from you.
Also…
Yaguchi!
See you.
-Thank you for this. -Sure.
Comparing your works against the accepted works?
No matter the styles,
the accepted works are all peculiarly cool.
I wish my works could look that cool.
Yaguchi, do you still have steam left?
-Yes, I do. -Nice.
Then on this B6 sketchbook,
try to make as many cool compositions with circles and triangles as you can.
It might be easy for the first ten.
But after that, you'll have to make compositions you don't normally do.
You'll naturally expand your repertoire.
Wait a minute.
I asked how my works differ from the accepted ones.
That's meaningless.
It's good to dissect other works.
But it's dangerous to make too much of a comparison.
You shouldn't aim to get first place but to create your own masterpiece.
So sleepy.
Just for one day, I wish I could sleep as much as I want.
Crap!
The atmosphere's getting worse and worse.
That's natural.
For many hours a day, we're stuck in a closed room under fluorescent lights
doing assignments with no right answer, alone.
Hey.
-That's unusual. -What?
You aren't eating anything today.
-You want some? -No. I'm always receiving food.
You won't pass if you don't eat.
-You're exaggerating. -I'm not.
Did you remember that girl with dark hair from the Center Test?
She was hospitalized
for sleep deprivation and an eating disorder.
She was working so hard.
Perhaps she worked too hard.
"I can't take this year's exams," she said.
I'm the worst.
I kept myself sane by watching my friend break down.
Well, since I'm here,
someone else might be looking at me the same way.
It's not your fault.
The road to art school is lonely.
There's so little time and no right answer.
It's insane.
I think it's our responsibility
to keep ourselves from breaking down.
It doesn't matter if anyone here gets accepted or fails.
Yaguchi,
you've never agonized over anything but making good art, right?
What?
Haven't you ever felt dragged down by someone's words when making art?
Haven't you ever thought you could enjoy art more without that person?
I have.
A person I like but also hate so much that I feel sick.
But I've also discovered things thanks to that person.
I never thought that your art was similar to your sister's.
Your art has more depth and is more transparent.
About Kuwana,
she keeps comparing herself to her older sister.
And she somehow thinks she can never be better than her big sis,
even if she gets the top score,
or passes the exam.
Her real enemy is not her big sis.
Making art
is really not an easy life path.
But…
I knew it. Kuwana's art is so damn good.
Yaguchi, you're going home already?
Yeah.
Sorry for being such a downer just now.
It's no big deal.
Here.
Although nothing has been solved,
I feel a little better.
You're strong, Yaguchi.
The exams drive everyone crazy.
Of course,
I'm no exception.
I haven't had hives since elementary school.
I guess it's better than getting sick.
Tasty.
One week left
until the first exam.
Subtitle translation by: Chih-Chung Yung