Rainy Pickup Story 2: Vase Painting
Overview
- Stage Cost: None
- First Clear Rewards:
S-Chip x80
Guide
- Hover to view spoiler content.
Script
A soft breeze blows, touseling your hair while the crystalline sound of porcelain gently colliding fills the air. As the two of you follow the instructions on the flyer, you arrive in front of a vase store.
You: Looks like this is the next challenge location.
Vyn: The rules say we need to make a DIY vase here to complete the shop challenge.
The Four-Gate Market was once a flower and bird market, so naturally, vases are an indispensable product.
In addition to selling vases of all kinds, this store allows customers to customize and decorate their own.
Vase Store
After heading into the shop and explaining the purpose of your visit to the shop owner, your first step is to select one style of vase to decorate out of the gorgeous options available.
You: They're all so pretty... It's hard to make a choice...
Porcelain vases of all shapes and colors sit quietly on display in the window. You find them all so dazzling that it's tough to decide on one.
Vyn: Shall we choose this one?
Vyn points to a simple white porcelain vase with a narrow neck and a matte finish.
Vyn: It is the most basic model, so it will look nice even with minimal decoration. It will be easier for us that way.
You: Yeah, that's a good point.
You: Let's do this one then.
After selecting your vase, the shop owner helps you get the tools and paint you need. You then find two open seats and sit down.
You: So, what should we paint?
You pick up a paintbrush and dip it into the paint. You face the white porcelain vase, but you can't seem to put down the first stroke.
Vyn: If you do not have any ideas right now, we can chat and look for some inspiration together.
Vyn looks at you with a calm and collected demeanor. It seems like he already has an idea.
Vyn: As an example, what kind of flowers would you like to put in this vase?
Vyn draws you in with ease, and you can't help but go along with his line of questioning.
You: (What kind of flowers should I put in this vase?)
Vyn: ...Or where would you like to put this vase at home?
Vyn: Picture it in your head first. Maybe you will naturally find the answer in doing so.
Vyn's gaze is like bubbling, flowing water, rushing through your heart and cascading in a specific direction that is somehow unknown.
You: (Picture it in my head...)
As you hesitate, another breeze blows by. It carries a soft floral aroma, tickling your nose and revitalizing you.
You: It smells like eipluhnight...
You recall the scene you saw with Vyn, of the luminescent eipluhnight blooming. An idea suddenly pops into your head.
You: Vyn, how about we use this vase to display the eipluhnights? We can put it in the bedroom.
Vyn: Good idea. We could put some fully bloomed eipluhnights in it. It will match the other decorations in the bedroom perfectly.
Vyn nods in agreement, seemingly satisfied with your answer.
You: (Why do I feel like I've fallen right into his trap...? Could it be that he already had that idea in mind and was leading me in that direction?)
You: (This man is seriously... as adorable as ever...)
But you certainly can't let Vyn know your thoughts. You glance at him, and he looks like he has no idea you've seen through his scheme.
Vyn: So, do you have an idea for the vase now?
You: Yeah, thank goodness you're here. But...
Vyn picks up the brush. He looks up at you when he notices your sudden pause.
You: How about we each paint one side?
You: (I can't be the only one falling into traps...)
Vyn: ...
You: I believe we have an unspoken understanding...
Vyn: It seems like you have a lot of faith in me...
You: Nope, I have a lot of faith in us.
As Vyn hears you emphasize the word "us," he laughs, reaching out to brush the loose hair off your forehead.
Vyn: Then we should get started. I am looking forward to seeing the result of our teamwork.
You aren't a professional by any means, so you try to be careful with every stroke for fear of "ruining" the entire art piece.
At this very moment, you can only hear the sound of the paintbrush sweeping against the vase and the slow, soft breathing of the person next to you.
When the paint on the vase gradually dries, various shades of green lines snake from the bottom of the vase up to the top, like lush vines.
You: (Hmm... I think that looks pretty good...)
Vyn: Are you done painting?
You nod and rotate the vase to show him the portion you painted.
You silently look at each other's paintings... and burst into laughter at the same time.
Vyn: ...
Vyn: It looks like your faith was not misplaced.
Vyn didn't paint much. He only used a few strokes, outlining the stems in an impressionistic style, which just so happens to match the portion you painted.
Even though the two of you didn't decide on anything in advance, you both chose to use green for the stems and leaves of the bouquet.
What's more coincidental is that the green lines you painted are dense like the roots, while Vyn's green lines are deep green, resembling the leaves.
The two sides weave together, meeting at the mouth of the vase where there will be a cluster of blooming flowers.
You: No one would ever be able to tell that we only relied on our intuition to paint this.
Vyn glides his fingertips along the mouth of the vase. He then picks up a wet wipe and places it gently on the skin between your index finger and thumb. You hadn't realized there was some dried paint there.
You: Now that we're pretty much done with the challenge here, where to next?
Vyn: The flower shop we went to last time.
You: That flower shop? It's pretty far from here...
After considering it for a moment, you realize that the event route doesn't make much sense.
You: The point of this event is to attract customers, so why is the route so strange? It's almost as if it was designed to deliberately avoid something...
You: What do you think, Vyn?
Vyn: Hm? What were you saying?
Perhaps because he's too focused on helping you clean the paint off your hand, Vyn doesn't seem to have heard what you said.
You: Never mind, it's fine. I'm probably overthinking it...
You shake your head to indicate that it was nothing. However, deep down, you have an indistinct gut feeling.
You: (Is this challenge event really just a challenge event?)
Summary
