Chapter 697

In the Japanese education system, painting is indeed a basic course that runs through primary and secondary school.

Sketching, watercolor, composition... these contents will also be touched upon in ordinary schools.

This is also one of the reasons why Japan can produce so many excellent manga artists and illustrators—the popularization and systematization of art education.

Like Yukimura Suzune and Sister Xiyuan Si Xiyuanji Qilai, young ladies from well-off families, even if they are not painting geniuses, must have laid a solid foundation during their basic education stage.

Therefore, a situation like Natsume Chikage's, who comes from a good background but knows nothing about painting, appears quite rare.

This can only mean—the original owner truly never seriously attended art class.

And Natsume Chikage himself, before crossing over, was just a small-town test-taker focused on academics, and indeed hadn't invested time in painting.

With both combined, he was naturally a blank slate in the field of painting.

Natsume Chikage laughed it off:

"In the past, during class... I really didn't listen very attentively."

Sister Xiyuan Si Xiyuanji Qilai and Yukimura Suzune both knew that Natsume Chikage's academic performance was mediocre to begin with.

Even without this explanation, both of them had probably guessed seven or eight out of ten.

They were not surprised.

But for top students like Yukimura Suzune and Sister Xiyuan Si Xiyuanji Qilai, it was actually hard to understand why someone wouldn't be interested in learning.

In their view, mastering knowledge was a natural and simple thing.

Yukimura Suzune looked at Natsume Chikage's somewhat silly smile, and a trace of inexplicable annoyance rose in her heart.

But she still pulled a pencil from her pencil case and placed it on Natsume Chikage's desk with a "clack."

"Now, draw a rectangular parallelepiped in your notebook."

"I want to see exactly what level your so-called 'zero foundation' is."

Sister Xiyuan Si Xiyuanji Qilai also encouraged with a smile:

"Confirming what level you are currently at is indeed a very important first step, Natsume-kun."

"If you find where your foundation is weak, we can also give you some appropriate suggestions."

Natsume Chikage nodded and picked up the pencil:

"Mm, I'll try."

Saying this.

He opened a blank page in his notebook and focused on drawing a simple rectangular parallelepiped.

The pencil tip rustled on the paper.

He tried hard to recall the perspective principles and light-and-shadow relationships mentioned in the video just now.

When the bell for class rang.

Natsume Chikage finally completed his "work."

Sister Xiyuan Si Xiyuanji Qilai leaned closer curiously, her purple eyes looking at the notebook.

"Let me see~"

When she saw the rectangular parallelepiped Natsume Chikage had drawn, her naturally pure face couldn't help but freeze for a moment, then a trace of helpless yet interesting warm smile appeared.

"Ahahaha... Natsume-kun's drawing... hmm, has a very personal style."

Natsume Chikage knew clearly how terrible his drawing was, but hearing this "praise" full of good intentions from Sister Xiyuan Si Xiyuanji Qilai, he still found it somewhat funny.

He deliberately teased her:

"Really? You think it's okay?"

Sister Xiyuan Si Xiyuanji Qilai scratched her cheek with her finger, her smile still soft:

"Mm... I think, at least you can tell it's a three-dimensional figure!"

Yukimura Suzune, who was originally looking down at her book, heard the two whispering behind her and couldn't help but turn around.

She frowned slightly and directly reached out to Natsume Chikage:

"Let me see."

Natsume Chikage handed it over.

Yukimura Suzune reached out and took the notebook.

She lowered her gaze, her eyes lingering on that "rectangular parallelepiped sketch" for a full three seconds.

Then, she raised her hand, pressed her temple with her finger, and a complex expression of disbelief appeared on her cold, exquisite face.

"Your art classes in primary and junior high school... were you sleeping through them?"

"This level... I'm afraid if you find any primary school student outside, they would draw better than this."

Natsume Chikage took back the notebook, examined his "masterpiece," and actually carried a few points of appreciation:

"I actually think... it has quite an abstract artistic sense."

Yukimura Suzune couldn't help but complain:

"Abstract your head!"

"With your current level, you still want to help your sister's manga?"

"It would be a blessing if you don't cause trouble and don't add to their burden."

Sister Xiyuan Si Xiyuanji Qilai remained optimistic and smiled:

"However, now that we've confirmed Natsume-kun truly has zero foundation, there's actually a benefit."

"Like a blank sheet of paper, without forming wrong habits, it's actually easier to teach from scratch and lay a good foundation."

Yukimura Suzune sighed lightly, her tone softening:

"... From a certain perspective, that's not wrong."

"But I'm very curious, since the start of the semester, there have been several art classes; has the art teacher never pointed out your problems?"

Sister Xiyuan Si Xiyuanji Qilai blinked and explained with a smile:

"During art class, Natsume-kun almost always asked for leave to participate in shogi matches..."

Yukimura Suzune was silent for two seconds:

"No wonder..."

"Since that's the case, it seems I can only let you start learning step by step from the most basic pen control and lines."

"Today is Saturday, and there are no classes in the afternoon."

"Eat your bento in the club room at noon. After eating, go to the art classroom or the art club to borrow a set of basic easels and sketching tools."

"In the afternoon, you start from the most basic line practice."

Natsume Chikage also felt this arrangement was reasonable and nodded:

"Mm, thank you for the trouble."

The bell for the end of the first class in the morning rang crisply.

Natsume Chikage didn't need to write now, so he continued to wear his Bluetooth headphones and watch the painting tutorial video.

Sister Xiyuan Si Xiyuanji Qilai was quietly fiddling with a strangely shaped mineral specimen she had collected from some unknown country.

Yukimura Suzune stood up from her seat, preparing to head to the teacher's office.

The history teacher had just instructed her to fetch some study materials.

When she walked to the corridor downstairs where there were few people.

Whispers from two lower-grade girls reached her ears; they were excitedly looking at Shinohara Shingo passing by from the other end of the corridor.

"That senior is super good at baseball; I heard he's our school's number one batter!"

"He's not bad looking either!"

Shinohara Shingo happened to hear these two girls discussing him as Yukimura Suzune approached, and he couldn't help but feel a wave of vanity.

After all, no boy would dislike hearing others praise him in front of the girl he secretly loved.

Those two girls were still chatting.

"But... compared to Natsume-kun, who is better?"

"It must be Natsume-kun! You didn't see it that day; even the coach praised him!"

"I think it's Natsume-kun too!"

Hearing this, the smile on Shinohara Shingo's face instantly froze, as if a basin of cold water had been poured over his heart, and at the same time, a wave of uncontrollable annoyance surged.

Ever since he returned from receiving guidance from professional players, similar comparisons could be heard in the school from time to time.

That Natsume Chikage was just lucky, hitting three balls thrown by Nakajima Satoshi!

This level, he, Shinohara Shingo, could do the same; what was worth bragging about! ===== CHAPTER 698 =====