…I wonder if this is what it feels like to have the scales fall from your eyes.

　That’s it. It’s what I need. The sound of rain. The color of the flowers. The temperature of the wind. Even the glare of the sun.

　Or writing on a cloudy windowpane. Or popping the bubble wrap with your fingers. Or stomping through a frozen puddle on a cold day. Or reading “useless” books.

　…All of them are food for my heart.

　So, it’s not something I should throw away.

　I don’t need to feel that it’s right that it’s been thrown away.

　For me, they are food for my heart.

“That’s why we need these things in our lives, no matter what anyone says. So…” (Teacher)

　Then he looked at me… and put his hand on my head again.

“Well, yes. I can’t help you with your grief over what has been lost or their lack of understanding… but I can at least offer you something sweet at a time like this.” (Teacher)

　Saying this, Teacher went toward the refrigerator.

“I have a feeling ice cream would be good at times like this, but… we’re out of it right now. Terrible timing.” (Teacher)

　Saying this, Teacher closed the freezer and opened the refrigerator this time.

“So, it’s jelly. I’m sure I got some of that stuff.” (Teacher)

　He rummaged in the fridge, then closed it, tilting his head.

“…Oh, this way.” (Teacher)

　Then he rummages through the cupboards and pulls out a box, then two jelly cups it and took out a small plastic spoon, which must have come with the box.

“Okay. Tougo. Tangerines and peaches, which one… huh?” (Teacher)

　…and then he noticed.

　The teacher stared at the jelly and said…

“Tougo. Let’s leave the tangerines and peaches out of this. Do you like jelly at room temperature?” (Teacher)

　…yes.

“I think that wasting time eating room temperature jelly is a necessary part of our lives.” (Teacher)

　Then we ate room-temperature Jelly.

　It was lukewarm, tangerine-flavored Jelly, but it was delicious.

　It was better than any jelly I had ever had at home.

“…Jelly is beautiful, isn’t it?” (Tougo)

“Hmm. The heart that thinks Jelly is beautiful is also something we need in our life. Maybe.” (Teacher)

　Teacher said, scooping up the jelly with a spoon and letting the electric light shine through it.

“Yes. I think so. It’s so lovely, so soft and clear, I want to eat it. So, I’m going to eat it.” (Teacher)

“A little bizarre.” (Tougo)

“Well, it’s good if you’re just feeling a little sadistic.” (Teacher)

　I imitated him and scooped up the jelly with a spoon, making it jiggle and then ate it. I scooped up another spoonful of jelly and ate it. A little sadistic.

“… That’s right, Tougo. If you can’t eat at home, you should eat here.” (Teacher)

　Then, Teacher, who had finished his jelly before I did, said suddenly,

“You can come anytime. I don’t mind if you come anytime, even if it’s for a visit like today. The room you used to study in last year is still there, so you can use it as you like.” (Teacher)

　…It was really an abrupt announcement.

　I was surprised and couldn’t say anything.

“Fortunately, or unfortunately, there is a lot of waste here that could be your ‘food’ and I am not a person who throws away waste. If you want… you can make a place for you to create waste.” (Teacher)

“…can I draw here?” (Tougo)

　I asked, feeling as if I didn’t quite understand what he meant. I thought to myself that it was an abrupt way to ask and that there was something more I should have said, but the first thing that came out of my mouth was those words.

　…Then, Teacher grinned.

“It doesn’t matter what you do as long as it doesn’t harm people and, by the way, as long as the people who find out and get mad at you, don’t find out. That’s the truth of the world.” (Teacher)

“…Well, what the hell. The light-eaters may not understand this, but our hearts must eat, or we will die. It would be cruel to tell us not to eat. As far as I’m concerned, I’m kind of annoyed that you’re starving to death.” (Teacher)

　As I finished eating the jelly cup, the teacher said this as an excuse.

“…By the way, you are the food of my heart.” (Teacher)

“……I see.” (Tougo)

　I’m so happy to hear that.

　I was so happy that I just said it.

“Umm, teacher. Can I come this Saturday?” (Tougo)

　Then Teacher looked as happy as I was… and said,

“ Of course. I’m sure we’ll get along just fine as fellow gluttonous hearts.” (Teacher)

　Volume 3: Gluttonous Hearts

　The painting of Carnelia and Ms. Intarlia is finished.

“Wow, that’s amazing…! It’s sunshine! It’s a painting of the sun!” (Carnelia)

“Yes.” (Tougo)

　For some reason, I felt that the sunshine in the forest suited them, so I drew a picture of them laughing under the sunshine in the forest.

“Oh… that’s a wonderful thing.” (Intarlia)

　The picture was well received by both Carnelia and Ms. Intarlia, apparently. I’m glad to hear that. I’m very glad.

“…By the way, what kind of painting is this?” (Carnelia)

“A mochi.” (Tougo)

　…The new picture of the mochi that I drew was not well received by the public. Well, they are from another world.

　…I drew a picture of mochi because I wanted to try a new paint.

　Dull pale yellows and soft browns. I gathered those colors from all over the place and made a lot of paints. I made a lot of paints because I needed them to paint Carnelia’s honey-colored hair and Ms. Intarlia’s amber-colored hair.

　… I’m not sure how to describe it, but one of the colors that I tried out was, how should I say it, soybean flour, Kinako. Soybeans roasted and ground.

　So, I drew a kinako mochi. It’s a good opportunity.

　…The kinako mochi that came out was well received by Carnelia.

“It was sweet, savory, and strange! It’s not fluffy, it’s soft, but it’s tough…?” (Carnelia)

“In my world, we call it springy.” (Tougo)

“That’s right! So, this is called springy!” (Carnelia)

　Carnelia excitedly bit into the kinako mochi… and then choked a little on the kinako.

　…She gave me a general comment on how exciting the food was… including the choking part. She gave me a general comment, “It was a very exciting food!” Apparently, the drawn mochi served to satisfy her small stomach and, most importantly, her curiosity and inquisitiveness.

　Yes. I’m glad.

　For the next two weeks or so, I was allowed to paint some of their pictures. I painted other things. I painted Laocles, I painted horses. I painted fruits and trees. …Anyway, I painted a lot. It was the first time in a long time that I could just paint and be satisfied.

　However, I was a little worried because I kept on drawing and drawing. I think I went to bed in the morning several times without sleeping. Yeah, sorry.

　However, if I am conscious of it, my drawings no longer materialized, so when I draw, what I draw remains as a drawing. I was just so happy to see the number of my drawings increasing.

　…And so, Carnelia and Ms. Intarlia left on their journey.

“We’ve been cared by you for a long time, haven’t we?” (Intarlia)

“No. I am more grateful to you for being a model for me.” (Tougo)

　Thanks to the two of you, I was able to paint many different pictures. It was a lot of fun.

“…Ed. I’m glad you’re doing well too.” (Intarlia)

　Then Ms. Intarlia offered her hand to Laocles, saying.

“You are blessed with a good master. Protect him well.” (Intarlia)

“Yeah. To both of us…. Live well.” (Laocles)

　Ms. Intarlia and Laocles held hands, exchanged a few words, and that seemed to be enough. They separated quickly and stayed behind me and Carnelia.

“Hey, Tougo. Is it okay if I come here again?” (Carnelia)

“Yes, any time you want.” (Tougo)

　Carnelia and Phoenix chick, who came in front of me instead, looked a little sad. But we shook hands and said goodbye to each other.

“I love this forest. I have to go somewhere… but I’ll see you when my journey is over.” (Carnelia)

“Then, will you live here then?” (Tougo)

　I asked this to the lonely Carnelia, and her expression brightened in an instant.

“Really!? Is that alright?” (Carnelia)

“Yeah. Probably. I’ll ask Fay.” (Tougo)

　For the time being, this forest is in Redgarde territory. I think it’s okay for them to live here. Maybe. Moreover, the horses seem to like them…

　…And so the two left, and the forest fell silent again. It was a bit lonely.

“…we’ll see them again.” (Laocles)

“Yes……” (Tougo)

　Apparently, I was lonelier than I thought. But I can’t stay that way forever, so I think I’ll build them a house for when the girls come back…

　By the way, the unicorns have been sulking a bit since Ms. Intarlia and Carnelia left.

　…These guys seem to like women better after all. Yeah, I’m sorry that all that’s left are men.

　Well.

　After the limited-time models were gone, I finally decided to pay a visit to the Redgarde family to paint their portrait.

“Oh, nice to see you again! …Huh?” (Fay)

　And first thing upon meeting me, Fay looks at me and tilts his head.

“You…you are looking a little more mature.” (Fay)

　I how Fay sees me. I’m getting a little worried.

　But perhaps this means that the changes are noticeable.

　My attitude has changed a little since I became a family painter. My position has changed even more. So, I have become a little more “mature”?

　…That’s what I thought.

“Oh, maybe you’ve gotten really good at controlling magic!?” (Fay)

“Eh, that?” (Tougo)

　…Then I checked carefully, and it seems that what Fay means by “becoming more mature” is the same as “becoming better at controlling magic power”.

　I’m ashamed of myself for thinking that I’ve become a family painter and my mindset has changed a bit.

　…However, it seems that the effect of “improved magic power control” is definitely noticeable.

“Okay, let’s take a break! Not moving can be pretty tiring.” (Fay)

　Everyone in the Redgarde family begins to move all at once. If it’s Fay, it’s fine, but I’m sorry to have his brother and father stay still, again, just like when I painted Carnelia and Ms. Intarlia, I asked the models to not move until I’m done, I decided to draw them from memory and imagination to some extent.

　I see that Fay and the others are starting to take a break, so I take a little break too.

　…and after a break, I decided to try new paints.

　So… I drew a mochi. Yeah, a mochi again.

　Yeah, another mochi. This time, I wanted to use blue paint from lapis lazuli and a dark reddish purple taken from a flower. …The color added up into an “Anko mochi on a blue plate”. Yes, it fits perfectly. Perfect.

　I had an idea, so I tried to draw it quickly during the break time.

　Then, the color came out just as I thought. It was amazing. A deep, vivid blue. And then there was the moist azuki color. I’m kind of happy when these colors come out properly.

　I just tried out the colors in this way, and after I was satisfied with the results… I realized something.

　The picture of this mochi, although I was not particularly conscious of it, it did not become a mochi.