Chapter 818

The posture of the maple tree, the density of the branches and leaves, the distribution of light and shadow...

Everything in the painting had been carefully refined and artistically processed, yet it was incredibly realistic, as if it were the most perfect freeze-frame of that moment.

The light, soft as golden gauze, seemed to make one feel the warmth of that afternoon.

The falling maple leaves were given a dynamic trajectory, as if they were about to touch the ground the next moment.

The breeze seemed to be passing through the paper, brushing the hair and clothing of the person in the painting.

And the protagonist of the painting—herself.

That face, habitually lacking expression, under the painter's brush, actually radiated an indescribable, quiet, and moving beauty.

The depiction of her features was precise and delicate.

Although her gaze remained calm, deep within it, the painter seemed to have captured a hint of an extremely subtle, soft glimmer that belonged to a "human."

Although she was expressionless, looking at it, she seemed to carry a faint smile.

Light and shadow intertwined on her face, outlining perfect contours and delicate skin texture.

The entire painting had harmonious composition, exquisite light and shadow, and vivid brushwork.

It was not only similar in form, but also captured the spirit and atmosphere of that moment.

It was lifelike.

One could even say... it was excessively beautiful.

It was as if the painter wasn't using a pen, but some kind of magic to "imprint" that sun-dappled afternoon, along with her sitting under the tree, onto the paper.

"What do you think?"

Natsume Chikage's voice, filled with a hint of expectation and inquiry, pulled her back from her brief distraction.

Konoe Hitomi quickly reined in the ripples in her eyes.

She straightened up, shifted her gaze, and stopped looking at the painting.

After a few seconds of silence.

She evaluated it faintly in her unique, flat tone:

"It's alright."

Natsume Chikage didn't seem surprised by her reaction; he just smiled.

He didn't ask any more questions.

He carefully removed the sketch paper from the easel.

The edges of the paper were smooth, and the artwork was intact.

Holding the newly completed painting, he turned and walked toward the backyard corridor.

He arrived before Midou Orihime.

"Here."

He handed the painting over.

Midou Orihime took the painting.

She lowered her head.

Her eerie, deep gaze fell upon the drawing paper.

It fell upon Konoe Hitomi in the painting, who was sitting under the maple tree, bathed in soft spots of light.

Time seemed to be infinitely stretched and frozen at this moment.

The calmness on Midou Orihime's face, like a giant stone thrown into a pool, showed clear cracks for the first time.

In those eyes of hers, which seemed capable of seeing through everything yet indifferent to everything.

The scene in the painting was clearly reflected.

Immediately, layer upon layer of ripples, difficult to calm, were stirred up.

Surprise, trance, reminiscence, some indescribable complex emotion... all intertwined.

Her breathing stalled imperceptibly for an instant.

Her fingertips holding the drawing paper tightened slightly.

She just stood there, motionless, silently staring at the painting in her hand.

She watched for a long time.

A very long time. ===== CHAPTER 819 =====