30 minutes later - Iro Road Main courtyard -

Yuhi didn't know what possessed their teacher to let them draw outdoors as the next task. 'It's winter, and 5°c...' Then again, maybe it was Sumire's fault. The way she kept looking out of the window and drawing everything she saw outside. She wanted to go out.

In the end, the two of them found a quiet corner to work. Yuhi glanced around and was relieved nobody else chose this spot. He is still uncomfortable drawing in front of other people. That's why he sat in the last row by himself. With Sumire's personality, he thought she would sit at the front. The teacher does not fuss about seating arrangements.

'Drawing in the outdoors is good.'

Even with limited tools like this, he wants to create something grand. Yuhi shook his head, 'just focus on the sketch.' Besides, he will have plenty of chances to show Sumire. He doesn't understand why he wants to show her his work so badly.

"Your so skilled, Yuhi. It looks like a photo."

"Isn't this norm--" Yuhi glanced over at her drawing. "Do you want my honest opinion?"

Sumire sighed. "Don't bother, I already know. I lack detail. When it comes to painting, you can't tell. But, normal sketches?"

His lips curve to a smile. "Well, it isn't that bad. But it could use some work. Give me that for a second."

Sumire passed him her drawing without hesitation.

This girl doesn't have any fear, does she? Yuhi replaced his drawing with Sumire's and started to sketch over it. "You know, I will tell you this in advance. But you shouldn't give your drawing so easily."

"How come?"

"People here get jealous." Yuhi paused when he saw her expression. He swiftly changed the topic. "Well, I have been doing this since I was small. The old geezer that took me in was also an artist. When I saw him draw so much, I drew too. That's the reason I started drawing; that's why I exploded too."

Sumire nodded, "It seems like you were surrounded by art since you were younger. That must be nice. I didn't have such a luxury."

That's right, Sumire lost her parents at a young age. If she didn't mention it, Yuhi would have forgotten about it. Sumire is so cheerful and honest. Nobody would think she had a rough childhood. Most people who lose their parents when they are younger would have a closed personality. But Sumire is so bright, like the sun.

Despite the uselessness of that old man, he was good at drawing. Yuhi admits that he learned a lot from him.

"It is much better to be free and to draw anything you want."

Yuhi glanced over at the brunette and saw an expression that he never saw before. It's different, a completely different look.

'How strange, even now, he still finds many sides of her.' Then again, if Sumire knew how long he watched over her after discovering her identity... Would it creep her out?

Sumire suddenly stood up.

"Huh? Where are you going?"

"Don't you think drawing on this small sheet of paper is too boring?"

His eyes widened when he hears her words. 'Well, he thought the same.' It seems like their thoughts are in sync, after all.

"So, what do you suggest?"

"Hey, can I borrow some paint?" Sumire asked.

Yuhi nodded and pointed to his bag. Sumire walked over and took out a rectangular box. She picked up some tubes before walking back over to him. She removed her drawing from his pad and placed it down on the ground.

Her next action surprised him. Then again, she didn't take any brushes from his bag. So when she squirted the paint clumsily, Yuhi chuckled. 'What is she doing?'

Sumire heard him laugh and pouted. "Don't laugh! This will be amazing."

Amazing, huh? This girl is confident. People call him a harsh critic for a reason. Any normal person would run away. But here she is challenging him. He watched her silently for a few minutes and eventually she eventually finished.

His eyes widened when he saw the picture. It was the same bird drawing as his that lacked detail but it looked realistic now. A mixture of different colors but what stood out to him was yellow. Canary yellow. Why did she choose this color?

"See, it's flying." Sumire beamed.

Flying? He looked at the drawing again, indeed to confirm her words. The yellow stood out among the other colors since it was the color she used for the bird. An unusual colour to use but canary birds are yellow. When one thinks of the word canary they would think trapped. To think she used such a bright shade of yellow.

She is out of his reach. Yuhi knew that from the very start. But when she does things like this, it reinforces that opinion.

"Being able to draw anything she wants. That's her talent. The one who released me from my prison and allowed me to be free was her." Yuhi mumbled.

He was a trapped bird in a cage. But after he met Ibuki Sumire, all of that changed. This girl probably has no idea that he remembers every encounter they've had. That memory, when they were thirteen years old, however, was the most memorable. To think a year later, he would lose to her. Yuhi already thought her voice was special. To think she would beat him in the art department too.

'I'm alone, and that's why my paintings are empty.'

Her words from a year back echoed in his head.

Though he can't refute her words about being alone, however, he can argue against the comment about her paintings. From the very start, Sumire has always brought her drawings to life. Whenever she paints, she shines brightly. For sure, even if he isn't beside her, she can easily convey those feelings. That's why it was easy for him to leave her in the hands of another person.

Yuhi walked over to her.

"Hey Yuhi, I also want to be a painter."

His eyes widened even more; this reaction didn't go un-noticed. The girl's cheeks turned red; she was embarrassed.

"Ah! I know I will never be as good as you. I'm not talking about something big. But one day, I want to draw something that makes people happy."

She can already do that. Yuhi glanced down at the picture. "Don't submit this."

"Eh?" Sumire said, puzzled.

"Could I keep it?"

Sumire blinked, but nodded. "I don't mind, uh, you like it?" she seemed puzzled by his actions.

Yuhi nodded. "Yeah."

He likes it a lot. It's a simple picture; he knows she can do better than this. But this is her first work here. It's not like him to get so sentimental. However, he glanced over at the girl looking at him curiously. 'He wants to get closer to her.' Yuhi doesn't understand these feelings very well.

But, he wants to know more about her.

Sumire's smile brightened as she passed him the picture. "Thank you, Yuhi."

"Thank you?" Yuhi repeated.

"Mmm, ever since I came here yesterday. You've been very kind to me. I was worried about coming here alone. But I think I will be fine if I'm with you."

Was she worried? Even though she was the one who came here by herself. So she also had her doubts and hesitations. Of course, she would. Sumire is still a seventeen-year-old girl. Yuhi reached over and hesitantly wrapped his arms around her.

"Yuhi?" Sumire mumbled confused.

He wants to protect her.