I'm amazed I managed to pass the first exam.
You're kind of gross, Hashida.
By the way, I heard that Sekai passed too.
Oh?
That's awesome.
I see…
I mean, I'm happy for him.
Yaguchi, you get weird when someone brings up Takahashi.
Anyway, congratulations.
Five days left until the second exam.
We're having meetings.
If anything worries you, just talk to me.
What still worries me
are colors.
Though she turned me down last time.
I'll still give it a try.
Yaguchi!
Colors? Sure.
-What? -The first exam is over.
If it worries you that much, let's discuss it.
Well, it seems fine to me though.
What worries you then?
I mean, in a good colorful work,
various colors are blended in a cool way.
But I have no color sense.
Well, using colors is complex.
Relationship, partitioning,
shape, composition, material, light, texture, and much more.
You can create infinite variations by using them.
However, as I mentioned before,
using too many tricks will make your art ambiguous even if it works.
That's why I told you not to focus on colors.
Yaguchi, what color is this?
-Well, red? -Then…
-How about this? -A yellowish-red?
I can't believe you're that ignorant about this gorgeous color.
The difference between people who are good at coloring and not
is how much they sharpen their sense of color.
You don't just pour colors into your art.
You're the only one who knows what's the best color for you.
She's right.
I wasn't looking at the colors carefully enough.
Thank you very much.
-Hey, Yaguchi. -Yes?
Have you met Ryuji Ayukawa recently?
No, I haven't met them for a while.
Then it's fine.
Don't forget to take breaks.
Maybe I should check out some paints while colors are still on my mind.
-Mister. -Yes?
Haven't we met before somewhere?
What a surprise!
Long time no see. You got haggard, Yatora.
That just ruined any good thoughts about seeing you again.
Coming here for art supplies?
Yes.
I have some spare time before I meet someone.
Want me to go with you?
OIL PAINT
What have you been up to?
Got a part-time job since I failed the first exam.
Really?
TUA's Japanese Art Course accepts zero new graduates at times.
You passed the first exam?
Yes, somehow.
That's Vermilion.
I like this color.
Vermilion was originally made from a material called cinnabar.
It's a beautiful red mineral.
But despite its beauty, it's poisonous.
Back in the day, working in the cinnabar mines
was the equivalent of a death sentence.
Ryuji, you look prettier.
-Are you flirting with me? -I didn't mean that.
By the way, my prep school instructor asked if I've met you recently.
Sorry.
I've got to go.
Yatora.
I'm glad we could talk today.
Cut it out. That's so creepy.
Oh, you're so mean.
Bye then. Tell the instructor I said hi.
I won't.
Go tell her yourself.
I can't. I decided not to go to art school anymore.
Goodbye. See you.
I had no idea.
I decided not to go to art school anymore.
Art schools are ridiculously expensive.
And going to college is not an obligation.
But Ryuji dragged me into the art club in the first place.
That doesn't mean they have to continue pursuing art.
I know that, of course.
Why did I run into Ryuji before the exam?
By the way,
remember my friend who was hospitalized for an eating disorder?
-Yes. -She's a bit better now.
Really? That's good news.
She gave up on art school
and is working part-time in a drawing class.
I'm glad for her, honestly.
Even if you're good at painting,
you do it all the time, or you really like it,
if you're having a hard time competing,
you don't have to choose this path.
It's harder to choose the easy way out than you'd think, isn't it?
You're right.
I'm glad for her.
I was forcing my feelings on Ryuji.
I guess
they were able to make that choice too.
It's not about just pouring colors.
Choosing not to choose is equally important.
Come to think of it,
it's so obvious.
If I sharpen all my senses,
I gradually get to see what's important to me now.
Each individual color
sparks my heart.
It's more than just choosing them because they look good.
Should I go with the red with more humidity?
Or the red that's frightening?
Or the more refreshing red?
Which red do I want?
What do I want to express in red?
I'll be fine.
I can make the right choice.
I'm sure
Ryuji made the right choice too.
Whoa, it's the guy who dumped Yuka-chan.
We met at the Center Test.
Oh, you remembered me.
She's the only new graduate who passed the Japanese Art Course's first exam.
Seriously?
Seriously.
Oh, too bad for Yuka-chan.
Well, yes.
But it was so rock and roll.
Yuka-chan just drew an "X" on the canvas
and walked out of the TUA exam.
It was freaking cool.
They should have accepted Yuka-chan.
What was that?
You're awesome, Madam.
-Where did you find such a pretty girl? -Really?
Then would you order some champagne for me?
You're spending too much time with the new girl.
Please excuse me.
Hello, Yatora? What's the matter?
I want to ask you something.
What?
At the exam…
Oh, did I draw an "X" and leave?
Yes.
-I did. So what? -What?
If that's all, I've got to go.
Wait, I… Is there
-anything I can do for you? -What?
What's so funny?
Anything you can do for me?
Then…
Come meet me.
Right now.
Right now?
-I can't. -I knew it!
I was going to ask you to spend some money on the bar.
No luck for me.
You bastard!
But…
that's who you are, Yatora.
If someone is drowning,
you'd bring a lifesaver
but never jump into the sea.
If someone is crying naked,
you'd give them some clothes and listen to them
but never take your clothes off.
I'll tell you.
You're cool-headed and that's correct.
Doing correct things makes you excellent.
And you're always an excellent model student.
But if you can only speak from a correct perspective,
I have nothing to say to you.
Good luck with your exam.
Good night.
You're fooling around at night the moment you failed the exam?
-I was working. -"Working"?
Dressed like that?
He's always looking down on us.
He said he wanted to make Japanese art, just like Mother.
That's why we let him do what he wanted.
I'm exhausted.
Yuka-chan.
Coming.
You went out for work? You must be tired.
Aren't you cold?
Have some hot quince syrup tea.
Yuka-chan, although you failed this year,
you can always challenge it again.
You're an incredible artist.
One of these days, I'll show you how to choose a good brush.
In my family, Grandma is the only one who's nice to me.
But to Grandma,
I'm still the seven-year-old Yuka-chan who loves to make art.
Then let's go shopping for art supplies sometime.
Grandma,
I'm not going to art school anymore.
I couldn't tell her again.
I have no right to laugh at Yatora for keeping his career plan a secret.
Yatora.
Why did he call me?
I wish
someone would
forcibly take me out of this world.
It's good.
Dammit.
I shouldn't have called them.
Good morning.
Hey, do you know how the sex of a crocodile or a turtle is determined?
Apparently, it depends on the temperature of the egg.
Isn't it amazing?
All right. The exam is in two days.
You have four more pieces to make.
As I mentioned before,
the second exam emphasizes the thought process behind your work
more than the first exam.
In other words,
your sketchbooks might be the key to get accepted.
For that reason, we'll be openly evaluating your sketchbooks today.
What? Seriously?
Now, the reference works are placed here.
Good luck!
Sketchbooks?
I guess they could count for bonus points.
But roughs are essentially notes, right?
Is there any big difference…
-What? -Oh, right.
That belongs to Kuwana's big sister.
Wait a minute.
Is everyone's sketchbook as high-quality as this?
No.
People say that's the reason my sister received top marks.
She's an exception.
But still…
This one consists only of words.
This one looks like a picture book.
Since there are many pages,
they directly convey
what the artists are trying to say rather than a single picture.
Moreover, they're all very unique.
Crap.
My sketchbook is so mediocre.
I'm going to check the sketchbooks in the library.
I'm going with you.
It's lunchtime already.
You want to have lunch somewhere?
I'll just go to the convenience store.
I haven't finished my underpainting yet.
What a pity.
You're really a model student, Yatora.
You're always an excellent model student.
Hey, what did you mean by that?
Oh, sorry.
A friend said something similar to me yesterday.
If someone is drowning,
I'd bring a lifesaver
but never jump into the sea.
Hey!
I totally get the point.
That's hilarious.
But seriously,
bringing a lifesaver is definitely the right thing to do.
That's true.
However,
only those who have drowned themselves
can share the pain of suffocation and the dread of the sea.
If you want to join their talks,
you have no choice but to jump in.
Well,
I don't know if it's necessary to do that though.
I'm leaving for lunch now.
What the heck?
Why do I have to sacrifice everything for Ryuji?
What's that supposed to mean?
And most importantly, why do I care so much?
I can't concentrate at all.
Please, just let me concentrate.
I need to put more stuff into my sketchbook.
Then let's start the open evaluation.
I like yours, Yaguchi.
No way, mine is so mediocre.
That one has more details.
That one is so-so.
I also like the one in Kuwana's hands better.
But in this more detailed one,
-your use of colors is pretty, Yatora. -Seriously?
The only way to expand your world
is to experience things you aren't familiar with.
Besides,
sometimes, other people can identify your strengths for you.
Ryuji seemed to be good at this kind of thing.
Thinking about it,
I haven't seen Ryuji's works since the 2nd year of high school.
I'm sorry.
you can't go through other students' works without permission.
I guess so.
Oh?
We meet again.
Hey,
do you have any photos of Ryuji's works?
Are you a stalker?
No! Well, I'm…
-I happen to have a few. -Seriously?
Because I am Yuka-chan's stalker.
Here.
This is not Japanese art.
Oh, those.
Here.
What?
I feel like the first one was more…
I like the first one better.
I think so too.
Honestly, Yuka-chan looked uncomfortable during Japanese art lessons.
Yuka-chan was always drawing fashion sketches between breaks.
What?
Then why did Ryuji choose Japanese art in the first place?
Mom!
-The stuff in my room-- -Don't ask me.
It's your father.
This is a violation of human rights…
Father.
Take this opportunity to go back to normal.
I have to leave this place.
That's the only way…
Yuka-chan,
I'll open the door.
Grandma.
Your precious art supplies.
I only managed to keep these.
Mother, you shouldn't.
You'll be in trouble without art supplies. Right, Yuka-chan?
Yes.
Come on. Don't cry.
I'm sorry.
Mom,
don't you ever throw these away again.
What? I've told you that I have nothing to say to you.
What's with your voice?
Are you crying?
I don't know.
Where are you right now?
Who knows?
Are you coming to meet me?
That's not like you.
Isn't the exam the day after tomorrow?
That's right.
But I don't want to take the exam while worrying about you.
That's not fair. You're the one who kept calling me.
Saying "I want to meet you" is even less like me, okay?
Listen.
If someone is drowning,
I'd bring a lifesaver but never jump into the sea.
After all, if I jump into the sea, we might both end up drowning.
But if there's no other way to help,
I'll just jump!
Where are you right now?
-Hey. -Where are we going?
The hamburger shop in front of the station is open until eleven o'clock.
Yatora.
Yes?
I'm not going home today.
Oh, I see.
Yatora.
If you have no choice but to jump in, will you really jump?
What do you mean?
Shall we go drowning?
In the sea.
I'm not going to drown.
I'll keep swimming to stay on the surface.
If I get back by noon tomorrow, I'll have time to make one more piece.
So?
Aren't you coming?
Subtitle translation by: Chih-Chung Yung