Chapter 14:

With an Artist's Eye

We Are ☆ Star Club!


I held the sketchbook in my hands like it was a wild animal. I certainly was no artist, but that hadn't kept our art teacher from giving us an assignment. Plein Air drawing. It sounded wrong, and honestly, if I could skip it, I would. Thankfully, I didn't have to do it alone. Arisu had been carrying her supplies in her swinging arms, whistling a tune I didn't know. She certainly wasn't looking for a drawing spot.

"Ah... where should we go?" Maria wondered next to me.

Of course, she was enamored with the idea of drawing outside. Too bad she had just broken up with a potential date, otherwise I was sure he would have joined us. But this way, none of us were focused on the task at hand. Our only hope was Erica, our savior in this drawing time. When she heard us complaining about the assignment, she immediately wanted to come with us, showing us her favorite drawing spot. Pudding, of course, tagged along - or rather, got dragged along by Erica and her enthusiasm. We were supposed to meet them at the edge of the forest.

"Arisu! Hold your sketchbook in your hands, or put it in your backpack," Maria whispered.

I hadn't noticed that Arisu had stopped carrying her supplies in her arms, using her hair instead. It had become such a normal sight for me that I didn't even think about it, but Maria was right. While our friend could hide her appearance well enough among other humans, even they would get suspicious if they saw stuff floating around her.

"Ah. Sorry."

With a sigh, she started holding her things again. Soon enough, her smile appeared on her face again. It's amazing how happy she always is. Better than my worrying, that's for sure, I thought.

"Here you are!"

Erica was waving at us enthusiastically, her eyes bright with a big smile. She even ran towards us, and I saw her heavy backpack, probably full of art supplies. I smiled, and her enthusiasm rubbed off on me. It's great to see her like this. Art really is her passion, huh?

"I have the perfect place in mind," she said, tugging Pudding along.

"Oh, wonderful! What is it? Wait, let me guess - maybe a hidden stream, or a little park bench in a bed of roses, or..."

Erica laughed at Maria's big dreams.

"You'll see."

With that, she dragged the rest of us along, too, and we followed her deeper and deeper into the forest. It looked magical. Golden sunlight danced through the leaves, and while Erica was clearly admiring it, she didn't stop so we could draw here. Whatever that spot she had in mind was really must be perfect. And to be honest, I wasn't in a hurry to sit down and get through this horrible assignment.

"We're almost there."

With that, our rule-loving Erica went off the path, slipping through the trees. We somehow managed to keep up with her, wandering through the trees. Here, the forest was darker, cooler, older. When I took a breath, my lungs filled with forest air, deep and green. Still, a few sunrays managed to slip through the foliage, and showed the glittering life of the forest.

"Here."

Finally, she slowed down, taking in the sight before her. It was a small clearing close to a stream, its clear waters mumbling over smooth stones and dark branches. The air was even cooler and fresher here, like I was breathing in the water itself. I could hear birds singing, even though none of them were visible to me.

"Ah, it's so beautiful. I can't believe it."

Maria sat down on a big rock, her dress cushioned by moss. While Pudding and Erica got close to the water, Arisu stayed behind, closer to the trees, watching the water carefully.

"Don't you want to come closer?"

"No, I'm good. That's... a lot of water."

Arisu shook her head, staying right where she was. I shrugged.

"Okay. Just let us know if you need anything, yes?"

"Sure!"

She smiled, but her eyes were still watching the stream closely. It seemed like she didn't like the water, for whatever reason. I looked at her for a bit longer, as she took out her sketchbook and sat down on the roots of a tree, before turning towards the others. They had already started drawing wherever they sat down. Erica was scribbling furiously, watching the stream as her pencil trailed over the paper. Slowly, I walked over to her. Maybe I could learn one or two things from her.

"Can I see?" I asked.

She blinked, and then looked up to me. Apparently, I had broken her concentration. Was she angry at me for this? No, there was nothing like that in her eyes. Only a small smile.

"Sure."

She turned her sketchbook around, and in her eyes glittered thinly veiled pride.

"I... it's cool. Wow."

I didn't know what to say, or how to say it. The lines indicated that it was supposed to be the stream, but something was off, like the perspective was wonky. Not worse than my own attempts at drawing, though.

"Thanks," she said, before quickly turning it around again. "I've still got much to learn."

She knew that something was up, I was sure. But I didn't want to say outright that her art sucked. That wasn't me.

"You really like art a lot, huh? I can tell by the way you draw," I said instead.

"I do. But... is that enough?"

Her gaze was fixed on the paper. She was scribbling more, and while she seemed frustrated, I found it very impressive that she still continued. I don't think I could have done it. She didn't look at me any more, so lost in her art, that I decided to leave her alone. I felt clumsy, but what could I do? I should focus on my art, anyways.

I went over to Arisu, sitting down next to her.

"What are you drawing?"

"The forest."

She smiled, before showing me her sketchbook.

"It's much better than the water."

I could see the trees, and even the sunlight filtering through them, making bizarre shapes out of the shadows. It almost seemed like the trees had eyes, or arms. I looked around.

"You know we are supposed to draw the landscape as accurately as possible, right? No fantasy creatures."

"Yup."

Arisu nodded, adding another eye to a tree.

"So, uh, what are those things?"

Now, she looked at me, to the trees, and at me again.

"Oh, you can't see them?"

"What do you mean?"I let out a nervous laugh.

She looked at the trees again, then shook her head.

"Oh, nothing. Don't worry about it. That was a joke."

"Uh...huh."

I nodded, looking at the trees. Even if it was a joke... the longer I watched the forest, the more alive it seemed to be. I shuddered, before turning to my own sketchbook. I should start, finally. I've been procrastinating for too long. I took out the pencil, trying to sketch the trees (yes, they are supposed to be wonky) as well as light and shadow (yes, the light is bright enough to make these shadows). Still, it looked bad. Urgh. I had to resist the temptation to crumple it up and throw it away.

Instead, I started the next drawing, turning towards the stream this time. Maybe, it would turn out better.

The evening came sooner than any of us realized, and with it came the exhaustion. My sketchbook looked messy now, with some of the drawings better than others. Still, none of them were good, but I hoped they would get me to pass the assignment. I sighed. The others got ready to leave, and sure as clockwork, Arisu turned towards me, a big grin on her face.

"So, what about icecream?"