"Because empty canvases are the hardest to fill."
Cover picture belongs to the artist~
Xxx
Haruka sat the last canvas down on the pavement, setting his stool down on the cobblestones, he sat and stared at the blank canvas on his easel. The first stroke of his pencil was always the hardest to place. Sighing, he settled on another painting of the city, this time he imagined a bird's eye view angle for an interesting touch, picking up his pencil he started a basic sketch. He hoped sales would be good today, as he had come to wish that every day for that matter. While some days were fruitful, with many tourist buying his work of the city scape, other days, especially rainy days, would be hard with only one or two small pieces sold. Still he would say that he got by decently in this trade.
The people in the city knew Haru as the one that paints marvelous paintings, beautiful works of art that stole your breath away. The artist had appeared out of nowhere a year ago, one fine day his street stall had just sprung up by the sidewalk and there it stayed. Now, almost an intrinsic part of the rustic city, a landmark almost. Experts from the industry quickly noticed him of course, his natural talent gaining him numerous offers of scholarship to pursue fine arts, or display his pieces as part of an exhibition, even join the royal art establishment, but Haru turned all of them down. He preferred to stay by his stall, quietly painting and running his small business, keeping to himself, never taking on any project that he had no interest in. Eventually, they gave up on their requests, and left Haru to his own devices, though slightly miffed at his constant refusal.
The man was also known as the one that never smiled. His blue eyes that gave nothing away, only a cool and aloof expression on his face. Many wondered why the man always seemed so sad. Rumours ran that he was an orphaned son of a painter, for that was the only reason for his talent. Others played up the drama and said that he was once a rich man's son who was cheated on by his wife who stole his fortune, and was forced onto the streets as a heart broken man, drowning his sorrows in art. After all that must be why his work could always tug on your emotions. But alas, no one actually knew the real story behind their city's mysterious painter. That's right, their mysterious painter, anyone that came to know about Haruka always seemed to have an odd attachment to the man. The art scene named him… 'The lonely painter'.
Haruka was fully engrossed in his work, when a shadow loomed behind him, and then a hand slapped him on the back, "Yo!"
He looked up, then tilted his head in acknowledgement, "Nagisa…" he murmured.
"Oh my god, you just said my name," the blond said excitedly. It had taken him almost six months. Six months! Just to hear his first name from Haruka's mouth. He remembered the constant 'Hazuki-san' always grating against his informal, carefree personality.
"Sandwich," Haru stuck his hand out.
"Ah, right!" Nagisa handed him the takeout bag, and then the cup of steaming tea.
"Thanks," Haru muttered, no longer surprised when Nagisa sat cross legged in front of his stall and ate lunch with him. The other man just went on and on continuously about everything and anything.
Ever since Haru had wondered into Nagisa's café and bistro and tried one of their house sandwiches, it was one of the best things the artist had tasted in a long time…the concept of mackerel sandwich was genius. It was only later which he met the chef behind the delicious creations, a blue haired guy named Rei. The chef held a fascination for his oil paintings, for reasons that still eluded Haru till today. But, from that day on, lunch was now decidedly settled with daily deliveries from Nagisa himself. Haru still didn't understand why the pair had somehow made it their mission to take care of him. Forming their rather uncanny friendship of sorts.
"Oh and Haru…and café will be throwing a mini party cause it's been one year since we opened…it's this Saturday… you have to come okay!" Nagisa poked a finger in Haru's direction.
"You know I don't go to parties…" Haru said, finishing up the last bite of his mackerel sandwich.
"Then I'm going to invite you every day till you agree!" Nagisa replied gleefully.
Haru felt a twitch of annoyance. He didn't like parties…bad things always happened at parties. A memory threatened to overcome him, before a soft 'excuse me' pulled him out of it.
Both Haru and Nagisa looked up to find a well-dressed, olive haired man with green eyes looking back at them.
Nagisa took one look at the man, and his mouth widened in an 'O'. Nagisa thought the man was gorgeous…and perfect for his artist friend…honestly...Haruka deserved more friends.
"Well, Haru, I'll be going then since this customer is here eh," Nagisa clapped Haru on the back and gave a cheeky wink to the stranger standing in front of the stall and then running off. Haru noticed that the stranger was slightly taken a back by Nagisa's brash manner and suppressed a sigh.
"Can I help you?" Haruka said, standing up and snapping into business mode.
Even standing, the stranger in front of him was still taller. Haru didn't know why, but the kind smile on the person's face drew his gaze to the brunette's features.
"Uh…yea… I'm interested in that painting over there," the other replied, Haru's gaze slid from the man's lips and followed a pointed finger.
Xxx
Thank you for reading~
Just seeing if this idea would work out or not…
Continue?
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