Kapitel 688: When Ren Starts Painting
"...I apologize for disappointing you."
Facing her gaze, Ren fell silent for a long time before uttering this response.
It's still difficult for him to smile, and he can't force himself to do so.
"You don't need to apologize for this. It's just my imagination, or a little thought of mine. You don't have to take it to heart."
Seeing his appearance, Yotsuba said in panic.
She didn't want to cause trouble for him because of her thoughts, especially now that Ren looked very disappointed.
It feels like she accidentally mentioned something sad about him.
"Is that so? Then I'll try my best."
After hearing her words, Ren spoke.
Although he always wanted to work hard to change his mood, because Yotsuba also wanted to see him with a smile on his face, he had to work even harder.
The only problem is he still doesn't know exactly how hard he needs to work to make himself smile.
Although Ren seemed to have laughed a few times before, he still didn't know the specific reason why he smiled.
Therefore, although he wanted to work hard, he didn't have a direction to work.
However, even so, he still had great confidence, thinking that as long as he continued like this, he would be able to control his emotional changes and eventually succeed in smiling.
After carefully examining Ren's expression and finding that he didn't look disappointed at all, Yotsuba felt relieved and said softly, "That's good, I'll always look forward to that day."
"I look forward to it too." Ren agreed.
"I always feel weird for you, Ren-san, to say this." Yotsuba said very sadly, "It feels like you're speaking from someone else's perspective like mine."
"Is that so? I really look forward to the day when I can smile."
Ren didn't have the experience he claimed.
"Maybe I'm wrong."
In the end, Yotsuba found a reasonable explanation for her words.
"Yotsuba, do you want me to finish your unfinished painting?"
After ending the topic about smiles, Ren talked about the painting.
"If possible, I really hope Ren-san can finish it." Yotsuba expressed her true thoughts.
"I have the ability to finish your painting, but I don't have painting supplies at home, so I need to buy them. It may take some time to finish your painting."
After thinking for a moment, Ren gave a very confident answer.
With his abilities, it's very easy to finish this depiction. However, he's an extremely powerful Esper.
And even without the help of superpowers, relying solely on some painting tutorials he read in the library a few days ago is more than enough.
"No need to buy them, I have them here."
So, Yotsuba took out her backpack again and pulled out many paints, brushes, palettes, and other items.
"So, all of this was in your bag."
Seeing the painting tools filling the dining table, Ren finally understood why she carried such a large school bag.
"Because this is part of my gift to you."
Yotsuba thought a lot about gifts for him, but finally chose to give him a painting.
Compared to things that can be bought casually, she believes that a painting made by her own hands is more sincere.
There is no controversy about the content of the painting, which is a scene from five years ago.
Moreover, five years ago, that was the first time they met, and the first time she saw his smile.
However, she couldn't draw, and even though she could hardly draw a background that looked terrifying.
Therefore, she could only let go of the idea of painting it herself and ask for senior's help.
But the end result was not very satisfying and did not match her idea at all.
But Yotsuba couldn't do anything about it, she couldn't depict the landscape like that dream, so it's understandable if she couldn't draw it.
As compensation, which is also her fantasy, she bought painting supplies and brought her ugly painting.
If Ren says he can't draw, just ignore it and give him the painting supplies as an additional gift.
If Ren says he can draw, give him her own drawing and hope he can finish it.
Yotsuba really wants to see Ren smile.
She feels a little greedy, it's clearly a gift from her, but she still asks him to help her draw.
"I see."
Ren decided to follow her idea and finish her painting.
Slowly tearing open the paint he bought, he asked Yotsuba, "Can you describe what you saw back then?"
"I can't describe it well." Yotsuba said very sadly, "I just thought your smile was very beautiful at that time, and then it made me feel that only you were colorful in the world, and everything turned black and white..."
At this point, her face turned red and she couldn't speak at all.
In front of Ren, she revealed her true feelings when she saw his smile, what kind of embarrassing torture is this!
"I had a beautiful smile back then..."
With such a comment, Ren placed the drawing paper on the dining table, took the newly opened brush, and adjusted the color on the palette.
"Eh? Ren-san, do you want to start drawing now?"
Yotsuba noticed his movements and immediately checked.
"Yes, is it okay?"
Ren nodded and asked.
"Of course, you can draw whatever you want."
Yotsuba didn't consider Ren's painting ability worse than hers.
"I should have looked like this five years ago."
Remembering that day five years ago, Ren finally adjusted the color to his satisfaction, and then began painting on his unfinished painting.
He remembered every detail of that day five years ago.
Because in the five years since that day passed, he had lost the right to go out and could only continue to think about that day.
But this time is different from his previous memories, this time he remembers it from an observer's perspective.
Was he smiling five years ago?
As he painted, he gradually emerged in the painting as a little boy from five years ago.
AUTORENGEDANKEN 
Takamiya_Shin
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