01x07 - The Start of the First Exam

[bunniefuu]

Finally,

there's one week left.

Sae Okada. Her first choice is Joshibi.

Her composition is a bit slack,

but she'll be fine
if she keeps doing her best.

Takuro Ishii.

I'm more worried about
his mental health than his art making.

Hanako Sakuraba.

She only aims for TUA.

But for this year...

Hey, how can you just use my gacha?

Shut up!

Yutaka and Iori!

Turn down the volume!

Kuwana. Her skills are excellent.

I just hope she won't tie herself down.

The outgoing kids often don't know
how to express those feelings.

Hashida. He aims for Tamabi and TUA.

The classic type,
where knowledge and theory come first.

He has good ideas but lacks technique.

Yatora Yaguchi, aiming for TUA only.

He has interesting perspectives

and gives good vibes.

He also works hard.

Above all, he has grown incredibly.

However,

Yaguchi lacks one thing.

Something all who pass have.

The power to turn things around
and beat the competition.

A power that changes his way of life.

Yuck!

You've got hives? Are you too stressed?

My uncle had them
before he was hospitalized for an ulcer.

Don't scare me, man.

It just itches, no big deal.

Someone in my prep school
collapsed from an eating disorder.

Compared to that, it's nothing.

Hi, Umino and Shirai. Long time no see.

Listen, Umino got accepted
at Osaka University of Arts.

Wow, really?

Congratulations!

-That's awesome!
-Thanks.

Umino.

There are still people
preparing for their exams.

Remember to clean up the art club later.

-Sure.
-Yaguchi.

Are you doing okay
preparing for the drawing exam?

Somewhat okay, I guess.

Just don't end up saying that
you should've applied for regular school.

Being a repeat exam taker

is not easy, you know?

If only I could have you
as my teacher forever.

Yatora.

Why do you always read between the lines
when talking to Goto Sensei?

There's no point arguing with someone
who doesn't understand.

I don't want to get hurt.

-Besides, we'll be graduating soon.
-I see.

By the way, Utashima. Won't the results
of the private school exams be in soon?

It's tomorrow.

Really?

Have you found a part-time job?

Shut up!

Speaking of which,

you never told us
about your career plan, Koi.

That's true.

I'll tell you soon.

TOKYO ART INSTITUTE

All right.

There's less than one week left.

You applicants can grow
until the day of the exam.

So good luck with your assignments today.

There's one week left.

The way I spend this last week

could change the outcome a lot.

Yaguchi.

Let's have a meeting.

I'll get straight to the point.

Your biggest problem is adaptability.

You mean I can't adapt
to the situation well, right?

Well, you can say that.

By the way, Yaguchi.

What do you think about when making art?

I try to imagine what
the setter of the exam is thinking.

Or how to overcome my weak points.

You are really studious.

But being studious is only useful
in the compulsory education system.

Oh, being earnest is a good thing.

However, overcoming your weak points

is more of a test-taking strategy.

Also, being an obedient student
is only valuable

in the eyes of parents and teachers
who don't want trouble, right?

There's one more thing.

Reading between the lines

is one of your strengths.

It's not really a bad thing.

You could say it's more of a bad habit.

Wait. I got it.

I just thought of
a more suitable word than adaptability.

Yaguchi, what you're lacking is

self-centeredness.

What's the point of that characteristic?

Also, I'm actually quite self-centered.

You are?

I mean, it was selfish of me
to apply for art school.

Wait. Aren't adaptability
and self-centeredness totally opposite?

A self-centered person can't adapt well.

They're the same.

But I get your point.

To put it in other words,

it's the ability to have fun, I guess.

Yaguchi.

If you don't overcome this,

you might not get accepted.

Self-centeredness

and the ability to have fun.

I kind of get it,

but you have to be strong-willed enough

to have fun in this situation.

I remember a saying that emotions
don't change your expression,

but it's your expression
that changes your emotions.

What is it, Yatora?

You look happy.

Hashida.

You look happy too.

I got accepted to Tama Art University.

Really?

Are you serious? Wow!

Congratulations.

Thank you.

I'll still come to prep school though.

The TUA exam is what I've been
looking forward to the most.

Looking forward to it?

It's the opportunity to see art
from applicants all over Japan.

You haven't changed.

Let's have an after-party
when we're all done.

-Congratulations.
-Thanks.

Kuwana, you want to go out
and celebrate too?

The ability to have fun.

Self-centeredness.

The assignment is "bird."

Should I be self-centered
and draw flowers?

You're ignoring the assignment, Yaguchi.

I guess so.

I got a bad feeling halfway through.

DRAWING ASSIGNMENT: THE THEME IS "BOX"

Let me see.

What's associated with "box"?

DRAWING ASSIGNMENT:
FLOWERS YOU HAVE RECEIVED

The brightest flower
should be the center focus.

DRAWING ASSIGNMENT:
DRAW SOMETHING IN THE ROOM

You are really studious.

I know that.

I also know that people who are confident
and have passion are more attractive.

That's why

I've always been acting confident.

But what's scary about art is that
it reveals everything about me.

Just have fun. There's no point
if I'm not enjoying it...

Remember to clean up the art club later.

Ah!

Oh, Yaguchi. What's the matter?

I forgot to clean up my stuff last time.

I see.

The first exam is in three days, right?

Are you nervous?

But I just need to have fun with it.

That's certainly true.

I liked that sketchbook you brought here
when you were a sophomore.

I could tell that
you were really enjoying it.

Ah, I see.

Having fun is something
even a beginner can do.

KOI: HEY

-Koi?
-Hey.

What?

Hello.

Why are you here, Koi?

I was attending
an information session nearby.

You want to grab something to eat, Yatora?

Well, I planned to go home and practice.

My bad. Your exam is approaching, right?

Yaguchi, what you're lacking
is self-centeredness.

Are you sure this is okay?

I've called my mom.

-It's so good.
-I see.

Studying for the exam seems rough.

Yeah.

But I just have to push through it.

I see.

By the way,
you mentioned an information session.

Did you find a job?

No. Actually,

I decided to attend
a pâtissier vocational school.

Wait. You never told us about that.

I once gave up on it.

Me making pastries
sounds like a joke, right?

But...

Yatora.

When I saw you chasing your dream,

I couldn't help but think
I wanted to do that too.

Right.

We're only high schoolers.

It's natural for us to be incompetent

and be at a loss when having a hard time.

That's why Koi was moved by himself
for taking the first step.

-Sorry.
-No.

That's so amazing and cool.

You're talking about yourself.

We're all cheering for you.

-You should be...
-Congratulations, Koi.

But I'm not cool at all.

Actually...

I'm afraid of making art now.

I...

I should've known that
you've been stressing out.

Instead, I was so focused on myself.

Sorry.

I'm sorry for ruining the mood.

My bad. Let me pay for this meal.

Don't smile.

When you smile like that,

it's like you're shutting me out.

It makes me feel sad.

Then

let me grumble a bit.

My prep school instructor

told me that I lack self-centeredness
and the ability to have fun.

You're not having fun?

I'm not sure. I used to have fun before.

But I can't remember that feeling now.

But having fun

is a really genuine feeling, right?

If I make art out of fun
but end up rejected,

I'm afraid I won't be able to
recover from that.

You're way more insecure
than we thought you were, Yatora.

What? You could tell?

Yeah.

I've got no problem practicing skills
and cranking out lots of art pieces.

So your hard work
comes from your insecurity.

Listen, Yatora.

I can kind of understand
your instructor's point.

Even if you party until morning,
you still go to school.

You read between the lines
and tell people what they want to hear.

So when you chose to pursue art,
I was shocked.

I knew that you were serious.

Listen, Yatora.

You might not realize it,

but we all like to listen to you,
even if you're only grumbling.

But Koi,

what should I do if I'm still scared?

Then your good old communication skills
should come in handy.

Don't hide your true feelings.

Use your communication skills
to empower them.

Thank you so much for today.

Likewise.

Are you all right now?

Yeah.

2 DAYS LEFT UNTIL THE FIRST TUA EXAM

Get better...

The vibes are awful as usual.

Good morning.

Let's also make
a bunch of art pieces today.

Good morning.

Adaptability, self-centeredness,
and the ability to have fun.

I thought they contradicted each other.

It's because I've been adjusting myself
to the assignments.

But that's not the point.

I should break down the assignment

and make it my own art.

I'll make the art piece that I like.

THE FIRST TUA EXAM IS TOMORROW

Well, you can't change that quickly.

But still,

I haven't felt this excited in a while.

Yaguchi.

You look terrible again.

Oh, but your art looks good.

What happened?

Oh, that advantage?

Attention, everyone.

At TUA's first exam tomorrow,

you'll only be allowed to use
pencil and charcoal.

Water, powder pigments,
and collages might be prohibited.

What?

-What?
-What?

Powder pigments...

Kuwana uses that a lot, right?

But I've seen accepted works
that did use powder pigments.

If you knew they wouldn't be allowed,

then why did you ask us
to try different materials?

Because it's important to
learn different ways of expression.

Besides, it's not always banned.

It's possible that they'll announce
the prohibition on the day of the exam.

"Collage" is a technique of

using masking tape
or pasting different materials.

This is absolutely prohibited.

Next, by using water,

you can create a watercolor effect
that normal materials can't achieve.

This is also strictly prohibited.

Finally, the usage of powder pigments.

By applying powder pigments
with a roller or a piece of cloth,

you can create an even shade of grey.

In practice,
the examiners generally tolerate it.

But why prohibit it if they tolerate it?

It's because water and powder can stain
the venue and other applicants' canvases.

In other words,
if you don't cause trouble,

you won't be kicked out immediately.

By the way, what Kuwana just used
is a handmade tool

made by wrapping charcoal powder
in a thinly stretched kneaded eraser.

People call it an "advantage."

But isn't that cheating?

-Is it necessary...
-Wouldn't you do anything to be accepted?

TUA will accept you even if you use it.

A normal villager equipped with
a hero's sword can't beat the final boss.

You won't pass the exam
just because you use good materials.

It's because you make good art.

TUA's exam is all about how well
you can express yourself.

I'm so excited.

You have such an art fetish.

I'm doing it.

If I can improve the odds
by taking risks, I'll do it.

Me too. I can't change my method now.

Glad that I'm back to
using traditional techniques.

I've already made my advantage.

I'll pass.

You're too well behaved.

-It's just a tailor's chalk pencil...
-It's not about that.

I don't have the confidence
to make good art

if I'm afraid of being disqualified
by something other than my ability.

All right. Let's practice
one last time before the exam.

Is this for real?

The exam is tomorrow.

I'll be too scared to make art properly.

Even if I can't use
a tailor's chalk pencil,

the past two months won't be in vain.

All right.

You've all worked really hard to get here.

That said, this is just the first exam.

But you're all in good shape now.

So when you get home today,

have a good meal,
take a bath, and sleep well.

Then tomorrow,

just go there and have fun!

-Yes!
-Yes!

The admission ticket's here.
And the materials too.

-Yakkun, your lunch box.
-Thanks.

Yakkun.

Just do your best.

I will. See you.

Ryuji?

It's probably just my imagination.

All right. Let's get going.

I know. Calm down.

They're not all applying
for the Oil Painting Course.

It's totally different from
when I visited during the festival.

Just the thought that they're all good
at making art is driving me crazy.

It would be comforting
to run into someone I know here.

Ryuji is applying for Japanese Art.

I haven't seen them recently.
Have they been properly...

With that reaction, I know you saw me.

Good morning, Yotasuke.

Good morning.

So many people, right?

Yeah.

If I think about the acceptance rate now,
it'll drive me crazy.

Yeah.

I just

want to go home.

Let's just finish it quickly and go home.

Yeah.

I'm on the seventh floor, so...

Yeah.

Yotasuke.

See you later.

Yeah.

So that's the examiner.

I wonder if he's a TUA student.

Everything I see

is engraved on my mind in sharp relief.

I'll be handing out the assignment now.

No whispering.

Also, collages, water,
and powder pigments are prohibited.

SELF-PORTRAIT

It's a lot simpler than I expected.

Pass or fail, I only have one chance.

This assignment is mine.

Just have fun.

Enjoy it.

Have a blast!

The first exam of TUA's
Oil Painting Course starts now.

Please begin.