Episode 3: “A Canvas of Rivalry”
---
[Scene 1: Classroom – Morning]
(The classroom is buzzing with students. Ryo sits at his desk, sketching in his notebook. Yume enters and notices him drawing.)
YUME (cheerful)
"Hey, Ryo! Still drawing first thing in the morning?"
RYO (glancing up, a bit flustered)
"...Yeah."
YUME (leaning closer, curious)
"Let me see!"
(Ryo hesitates but slightly tilts his sketchbook. It's a sketch of a quiet riverside with detailed shading.)
YUME (impressed)
"Wow, this is amazing! You make it look so real."
(Souta walks in, noticing their interaction. He smirks and sits beside Ryo.)
SOUTA
"You're getting quite a fan club, Ryo."
(Ryo flinches slightly while Yume giggles. Suddenly, another voice cuts in.)
TAKESHI (confident, smug)
"Tch, it's just a sketch. Nothing special."
(Everyone turns to see Takeshi Hayato, a well-known artist in school, standing nearby with his arms crossed.)
YUME (frowning slightly)
"I think Ryo's art is amazing!"
TAKESHI (smirking, challenging)
"If he's so amazing, why not prove it? The school festival has an art competition. Let’s see who's really better."
Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
(Ryo's hand tightens around his pencil. He doesn’t like competition, but the way Takeshi says it makes him feel cornered.)
RYO (softly but firm)
"...I’m not interested in competing."
TAKESHI (raising an eyebrow)
"Backing out already? Guess you’re just scared."
(Yume clenches her fists, about to say something, but Souta steps in calmly.)
SOUTA
"Takeshi, does it really matter who’s ‘better’? Art isn’t about competition."
TAKESHI (chuckling)
"That’s just what losers say."
(With that, Takeshi walks away, leaving an awkward tension. Ryo keeps his eyes down, gripping his sketchbook tightly.)
---
[Scene 2: Rooftop – Afternoon]
(Ryo sits alone, staring at his sketchbook but not drawing. Yume finds him and sits beside him.)
YUME (softly)
"You’re really not going to enter?"
(Ryo is silent for a moment before speaking.)
RYO
"...I don’t want to prove anything. I just like drawing."
YUME
"But... sometimes, proving something isn’t just for others. Maybe it’s for yourself too?"
(Ryo looks at her, surprised. She gives him a warm smile.)
YUME (cheerfully)
"If you do join, I’ll be cheering for you!"
(She stands up and stretches.)
YUME
"Besides, wouldn’t it be cool if your art was displayed for everyone to see?"
(She waves and walks off, leaving Ryo deep in thought.)
---
[Scene 3: Art Club Room – Evening]
(Hana Fujimoto, an upperclassman and skilled artist, is painting when Ryo hesitantly enters.)
HANA (not looking up)
"Didn’t think I’d see you here this late."
RYO
"...Can I ask for your advice?"
(Hana finally looks at him and smiles knowingly.)
HANA
"Let me guess… Takeshi’s challenge?"
(Ryo nods. Hana sets down her brush.)
HANA
"If you don’t want to compete, don’t. But if you do... make sure you're painting for yourself, not for him."
(Ryo stares at her as if processing her words. He slowly nods.)
---
[Scene 4: School Hallway – The Next Day]
(Takeshi walks past a bulletin board where students are signing up for the competition. He stops when he sees a familiar name: "Ryo Kisaragi.")
TAKESHI (smirking, intrigued)
"So you finally decided to step up."
(He walks off, his eyes burning with determination.)
---
[Scene 5: Yume’s House – Night]
(Yume is humming a song while looking at her phone. She sees the news about Ryo entering the competition and smiles brightly.)
YUME (softly, to herself)
"I knew you wouldn’t back down."
(The camera zooms out as she looks at the night sky, the anticipation of the upcoming challenge in the air.)
---
[END OF EPISODE]