Chapter 8

Chapter 11. It's so easy, right?

"Why is Ahn Seojun here?"

He looked quite flustered.

I feel the same way.

'The name is definitely... '

Park Eunjeong.

A girl in the same class.

I remember her like that.

'I met her once when I was doing caricatures at the lake park.'

That was all.

We haven't really talked much since then.

To be honest, she's not a particularly close classmate.

'But why is she here with me?'

I wanted to say something, but I didn't know what to say.

The uncle, holding a plastic container, tilted his head.

"Eunjeong, did you empty the side dish container? Do you two know each other?"

"Yes."

"No."

Doo-doo-doo.

She quickly took the side dish container, turned her head, and answered.

It was absurd.

"Huh? Your answers are different."

"Park Eunjeong, I know her."

"I don't. Goodbye."

She left without even a glance.

Why is she reacting so strangely, making me feel uncomfortable?

It's like she's sulking or something.

"Ugh, I don't get it. These kids these days..."

'I agree.'

I responded in my mind.

But what's the relationship with Eunjeong?

"To avoid making you curious, I'll tell you. Eunjeong is my niece. She comes over sometimes to run errands like bringing side dishes. I didn't know she and Seojun went to the same school."

"Is that so?"

She's my niece.

Of all people, my niece is a girl in the same class.

'It must just be a coincidence.'

I didn't think about it anymore.

* * *

Art class.

All the classmates had placed their 4th-grade drawing paper and coloring tools on their desks.

This art class was different from the usual theoretical lessons; we were going to draw.

"Quiet, everyone!"

The teacher, who had been writing "Electric Safety Poster Drawing" on the board, got the attention of the noisy students.

"Today, we will draw an electric safety poster. The best one or two from each class will be submitted to a national competition, so do your best!"

"Understood!"

As soon as the teacher finished speaking, the students started drawing freely on their 4th-grade paper.

'An electric safety poster... '

I stared at the blank paper, lost in thought.

Should I just pass the time with average elementary school skills, or should I try to draw something worthy of an award?

"Eunjeong, do your best!"

"Yes, teacher."

I glanced to the side.

She wasn't too far away.

The teacher was encouraging Eunjeong, who was focusing intently on her paper.

'She must be really good at drawing, right?'

The forgotten memory gradually returned.

Eunjeong, usually quiet, always stood out during art class.

'She must have inherited her uncle's talent.'

Her sketches were far beyond the level of an elementary school student.

The teacher had every reason to expect great things from her.

'From what I remember, elementary school competitions usually gave awards based on how well the drawings were done, not just the ideas.'

It was a good opportunity to pass the time.

Since I'm here, I might as well do a good job.

'If I win, there's a prize.'

If there's a prize, I can't just let it go.

Money is always good to have.

'I'll try for the national competition!'

I became interested. I stretched my hands, did a quick sketch, and then started drawing with a pencil.

'Don't overthink it. This should be good enough, right?'

I wrote down a spontaneous phrase: "Thunderman also uses electricity carefully."

It was a parody of the popular EBS character 'Thunderman,' showing the muscular Thunderman using an electrical cord carefully.

The contrast between his strong appearance and his cautiousness in front of the electrical cord made it look funny.

'I like the sketch, so I'll leave it at that.'

After checking, I moved on to the coloring part.

To improve the quality and prevent the colors from bleeding, I used poster paint instead of crayons.

'It's been a long time since I did this.'

It was a cherished memory.

Although I couldn't draw well back then, I could only draw 'Chulraman.'

'But now, I'm different!'

Swoosh, swoosh.

I started with a light coloring of the background.

Then I added more colors on top.

With the background complete, I focused on Thunderman and the electric effects.

'It's looking good.'

The outline was starting to take shape.

Although it was still incomplete, with only the brightness adjustment and detailed coloring left, it was already an excellent coloring for an elementary school student.

'I'll take a short break.'

As I looked around to catch my breath, I realized that a few students had noticed the unusual quality of my drawing and were watching me.

"Hey, look at Ahn Seojun."

"Seojun?"

"What is it?"

They reacted as if they had seen something strange.

Through their conversation, all the students in the class started to pay attention to me.

"It's Thunderman!"

"It looks like a cartoon movie!"

"Did he always draw this well?"

"What happened? Last year, he could only draw Chulraman."

Indeed.

When I was an elementary school student, I couldn't draw at all. I didn't even know the basics of coloring.

'Did I show too much skill?'

I felt a bit regretful after I finished.

It was surprising for someone who was clueless about art to suddenly draw well.

I had forgotten about the poster in my enthusiasm.

'Now that it's done, there's nothing I can do. I'll just have to own it. I drew it, who else could have?'

"Wow..."

"You draw so well."

"Seojun, how do you do that?"

The students watched my brushstrokes with amazement.

I responded nonchalantly while continuing to color.

"It's simple. Just dip the brush in the paint and do this... swoosh, swoosh... it's so easy, right?"

"It's not easy at all!"

Some students tried to follow my example with poster paint,

"Ick, why can't I do it like Seojun?"

It was clearly not easy.

"Teacher, look at Seojun!"

"Huh? What's going on?"

As the teacher entered the classroom, the students called out to her.

The teacher approached me and looked at my drawing,

"Oh! Seojun, you draw so well!

She clapped and exclaimed in admiration.

After a while, the teacher asked,

"Did you always have an interest in art? You didn't draw like this before, did you?"

I was momentarily speechless but then organized my thoughts and answered.

"Actually, there's a teacher who looks at my drawings."

It wasn't a lie.

It was Mr. Jinho.

"That's right. Ahn Seojun, you haven't been playing soccer lately and always go somewhere! It turns out it's an art class!"

"You go to an art class! And you're already drawing so well? Seojun, you have a talent for drawing!"

Although it was a misunderstanding that I was going to an art class, I didn't deny it.

"Alright, don't bother Seojun while he's drawing. Everyone, go back to your seats!"

"Aww, show us when you're done!"

The students reluctantly returned to their seats.

At that moment, I noticed that only one person hadn't moved from her seat.

'Park Eunjeong.'

The girl in our class who was known for her drawing skills.

Eunjeong glanced at me and then turned her head away.

'I have no idea why she's acting like this.'

The drawing was completed and submitted, and the art class ended.

As the dismissal time approached, the teacher announced the results.

"Ahn Seojun and Park Eunjeong will represent the class in the national competition!"

"Wow, a couple!"

The students whistled and laughed, but Eunjeong didn't react at all.

I also didn't show any particular reaction to being paired with Eunjeong.

After school.

Other students were playing in the playground and stationery stores, while I walked along the road to Mr. Jinho's studio.

Then, on the deserted way home, someone was watching me.

The figure was familiar.

Short hair and slightly sharp eyes.

'Park Eunjeong?'

It was her again.

"Hmph."

She even blew a raspberry.

I could have ignored her, but maybe because I was in a child's body, I wanted to know why.

Why was she acting like this towards me?

"Hey, wait a moment!"

I ran up to Eunjeong.

And, feeling wronged, I said,

"Why do you keep picking on me? What did I do?"

"You did!"

I held my breath.

Eunjeong's voice, which had been suppressed, burst out loudly.

But it wasn't anger.

Suddenly, her eyes welled up with tears.

I broke out in a cold sweat.

"Hey, hey. What's wrong?"

What did I do wrong?

Did I speak too harshly?

While I was at a loss, Eunjeong spoke in a trembling voice.

"You didn't keep your promise."

"What?"

A promise?

I racked my brain, and then Eunjeong's smile flashed in my mind.

'Can you draw for me next time?'

'Sure, I'll talk to you when I have free time at school.'

'Okay!'

It was when we were doing caricatures at the lake park.

Thinking about it, I had made that promise.

'I completely forgot because there were so many customers that day.'

If she had reminded me at school, I would have drawn it for her earlier.

To think she was sulking over this.

Looking around, I saw a bench nearby and said to Eunjeong,

"I'm sorry. Let's sit here for a moment."

I pointed to the bench and took out my sketchbook from my bag.

"Sit still for a moment. I'll be done soon."

Eunjeong wiped the tears from her eyes and sat down without a word.

Her stillness, like a scarecrow, exuded a sense of purity.

I almost smiled.

'She's letting me draw for her.'

I immediately picked up my pencil and started drawing.

Swoosh, swoosh.

The only sounds were the chirping of birds, the wind, and the friction of the pencil.

"Okay... it's done. You can move now."

The caricature was completed in a short time.

When I handed it to Eunjeong, her eyes widened.

"How is it?"

Taking the drawing, Eunjeong's eyes sparkled.

And she said,

"You drew well."

Like she was looking at a precious gem, Eunjeong answered quietly, almost in a trance.

But then she made a frustrated expression.

"I'm so frustrated."

Eunjeong said.

I was a bit surprised.

To see a kid express their frustration so openly.

She was unexpectedly honest.

"Thank you for drawing for me."

"You're welcome."

She knew how to express gratitude.

"Are you learning from your uncle?"

"Something like that."

"I got permission to learn how to draw comics from my uncle when I become a middle school student."

It seemed she was also interested in drawing comics.

I thought she was just an art student.

"Wait and see. When I become a middle school student, I'll definitely draw better than you next time."

Eunjeong carefully put the drawing in her bag and stood up.

Then she said seriously to me,

"You're my rival."

"Rival?"

I was slightly taken aback by Eunjeong's boldness.

Even though my skills were at a professional level, she considered me a rival. What kind of guts did she have?

I blew a raspberry and thought for a moment, but then I remembered something and shook my head.

I was wrong.

'I always set my goals towards the impossible.'

I set my goal to become a manga artist who would conquer not only Japan but the world.

I shouldn't mock someone else's efforts.

"Sure, try to catch up, even if it takes a few years."

I started to cheer for her in my heart.

"But to be honest, by then, I'll be the world's best manga artist. Do you think you can compete with me?"

"Long or short, we'll see."

"That sounds exciting."

We ended up grinning at each other.

A competition that promised an exciting future had begun.