EARLY 20TH CENTURY
Oh!
Ah! Oh!
- Oh, look, Mother, a seagull! - Oh!
Yes, my darling. We must be very close to land.
There it is. That is England.
LONDON, ENGLAND
- Oh, nice to see you, young man! - Hello!
LOVE THROUGH A PRISM
#01/BLACK BREAD AND IRIDESCENT HOPE
Finally, I have arrived!
Lili-san, it was such a pleasure travelling with you.
Like us, you must be tired after such a long voyage.
Ah, Mrs Suzuki. It was lovely to meet you both.
Thank you for all that you did for me during... Whoa!
Oh!
Are you all right, Lili-san?
Yes, I'm fine! I'm just not used to so much hustle and bustle.
I mean, I just had no idea that London was going to be this lively.
It's so exciting.
Yes, there's going to be a parade to celebrate the late queen's birthday,
so it's much busier than usual.
A country that was ruled by a woman...
Take care, Lili-san.
Good luck, my dear!
Thank you, both of you!
Well, now. Uh, first I...
Hmm, I don't understand.
I thought that I would be able to find it straight away.
I should've at least asked someone to draw me a map.
- Uh, excuse me. - Huh?
Well then, little miss, what do you want?
N-- Nothing. Sorry to bother you.
Humph. Tsk.
Everyone here is extremely tall.
I'm considered to be pretty tall in Japan, but not so here.
Hm. I am not going to let this get to me!
... Uh, um... - No, I'm in a hurry.
So, anyway, he was such a bore.
- Excuse me! Uh-- - Humph.
Ah, uh, excuse me...
- How can I help you, lady? - Sorry, my mistake!
I... I cannot seem to find it.
What on earth shall I do?
Huh?
No! No! Huh?
W-- W-- Wait! Come on. Stop right there!
Don't go!
I should know better.
That was the one piece of paper I really needed.
What do I do now?
Well, at least I remember the name of the place where I'm staying,
so I know where I'm going to.
But I really have no idea where I am now.
Why does this kind of thing always keep on happening to me?
Hmm?
Oh.
So fast...
Hmm?
- What is it? - Uh...
Uh, sorry to bother you.
I didn't mean to creep up on you like that.
Well, I did, but can you help?
I've just arrived and I'm lost.
I am looking for a carriage
that can take me to Saint Thomas Art Academy.
Uh, um, can you...
Humph! Hello! I'm talking to you!
Oh.
Huh?
Uh...
Do you want some?
Are you kidding me? You rubbed out your sketch with that!
Ugh!
W-- Wait.
Suit yourself.
You are not as hungry as you sound, I suppose.
Sorry for bothering you! Humph!
Who would do such a thing?
Offering someone bread covered in charcoal.
- How rude can one person be? Huh? - Two streets down, turn left.
Keep going down the street until you get to Alex & Son.
It's right there.
Oh... Thank you very much.
- At last, this is Alex & Son. - I say, miss?
Huh?
Are you Miss Lili Ichijoin?
Oh, yes!
Thank goodness! Welcome to our great capital!
I was getting a bit worried that you may have got lost!
I'm so sorry for being late!
Don't you worry, miss.
Goodness! That building over there is beautiful!
Oh, and I can see a giant clock tower as well!
So is this is your first time in London?
Yes! Everything here is completely new to me!
- You like it then, miss? - Oh yes!
It's a lovely day, and we've got time.
Do you fancy some sightseeing, miss?
Oh, yes, please!
Wait for me!
I'm here... really here.
Father, Mother,
I managed to arrive safely.
At last, I'm in London!
Welcome to Saint Thomas Art Academy, Lili Ichijoin.
You, Lili, are most fortunate to be here.
Charles Brant is my name.
N-- Nice to meet you!
You will address me as sir!
Yes, sir!
As you may know,
this prestigious and revered art school has been attended throughout history
by royalty and aristocrats.
Here, we not only teach technical skills,
but we refine each student's ability to express themselves,
aiming to produce artists who will succeed worldwide.
Whilst you are a student here, you are representing Japan,
so devote yourself fully to your work!
Y-- Yes! I will do my best, sir.
Thank you for your thorough explanation, Professor Brant.
Now, Mr Hayashi has been in touch with me, Lili.
He requested that we take care of you.
You're very talented, so he tells me.
He spoke very highly of you.
He said that you are worth investing in, even at the expense of national funds.
Rest assured, Lili, we will provide you with the utmost support
to ensure that your talents flourish.
Thank you very much, sir.
But! Headmaster!
This academy of ours is not a very easy place to survive in.
Your talent means nothing.
What truly matters here, girl,
is whether or not your art has the power and vision to change the world...
Excuse me!
Hello. I thought the new student might need a guided tour.
- Have you read the Scottish Play? - Oh, not now, sir! Not again!
Hmm? You there, Brown. I am still talking, girl.
Professor Brant! We've got important things to do!
Let's get going. Come on.
"The labour we delight in--" Hey, Brown!
Wait there, Brown! Always in a hurry, that girl.
We were just talking about the Scottish Play.
There's a very profound quote in there that is extremely apt.
"The labour we delight in physics pain."
It's about the importance of effort.
Phew, that was a close shave.
Brant can go on for hours once he starts wittering on about Shakespeare.
Uh, um, are you sure that was all right?
We left while the professor was still talking.
Oh, don't worry about it!
If we stuck around, we'd be there all day.
Oh! I haven't introduced myself yet.
My name is Dorothea Brown, and I'm from the Cotswolds,
but Dorothy will be just fine.
Lili Ichijoin.
Nice to meet you, Dorothy.
Ah! I have never met anyone from Japan before!
Listen, if you don't understand, please just ask me.
- Thank you, Dorothy. - Right then. Come on!
There is simply so much to show you!
This floor is where the sculpture department is.
And up on the second floor, you'll find the stained glass department.
It's enormous, like a castle.
Yes, but it's more special than a castle.
This academy is simply unique, you know, Lili.
Rich and poor, men and women, everyone studies all together here.
That's pretty unusual, you know.
Wonderful.
Our founder had a bold vision.
That the art world should be equal and accessible for everyone,
and that art's a universal language.
You see?
Very admirable, isn't it?
And that's great for us women. We can step forward in this brave new era!
I gather you're an oil painter, Lili?
Yes! I still can't believe I get to study here.
I will not waste my chance at the academy!
That's the spirit, my girl.
And the real challenge for us starts right now.
Oh.
There's so much to do,
from drawing exercises and foundation classes
to joint lessons with other departments.
But the hardest part are the critique sessions.
I absolutely hate critique.
I'm beginning to feel really nervous.
You'll be just fine.
- Let's keep going. - Huh?
All right! Ready!
This is the gallery.
It houses our most valuable works,
not only from England, but masterpieces from around the world.
So many paintings. I've never seen so many.
Incredible, isn't it?
It's just us here today because it's closed to the public,
but usually it's packed with crowds of people admiring the artwork.
What are these ones?
Ah, now these are the best pieces from the critique sessions.
The finest works that we students produce are displayed here.
And these ones, Lili, are the top three.
The top three?
"Kit Church."
Incredible.
Kit's a true genius.
There's a rumour that he already has a number of patrons supporting him.
He's almost always first. He's the number one student in our year.
The number one student.
Never you mind Kit Church!
Hey, you have to tell me!
I've been dying to know since I heard you were coming here from Japan.
You do have one. I know you do. A shuriken?
Tell me now. You're a samurai, aren't you?
Huh?
I know all about it! That every Japanese person is a samurai!
Your shuriken is hidden in your kimono, isn't it?
Ah! That's so exotic!
Wait a second, Dorothy! I think there's been a misunderstanding!
First of all, I am not a samurai!
Listen, Lili! I swear that I won't tell anyone.
I know very well that you're supposed to commit hara-kiri when you're found out.
Uh! "Hara-kiri?"
Come on, show me the blade.
Oh, Dorothy! There you are!
I have a quick question about tomorrow's assignment.
- Do you have a moment? - Oh, sure. I'll be right there.
All right, Lili, we'll talk more later! Huh?
Lili?
That was exhausting.
Do people really think of Japanese people like that?
Huh?
Listen, Lili, pay attention.
What is the highest mountain in Japan?
Mount Fuji, Mother.
And the second highest?
- Uh... - Tell me.
I... I don't know. Sorry.
Now, what is the longest river in Japan?
Uh, I know! It's the Shinano River.
- And the second longest? - The second?
I don't know, Mother.
Being number one means being the best.
It means you will be remembered
and throughout history, you will be etched into peoples minds.
Being second doesn't count. It's nothing.
No one remembers who came second.
So, I will reluctantly let you go to England since you insist.
But there is one condition.
You have six months to prove yourself.
If at the end of six months
you are not the number one student at Saint Thomas Art Academy,
you will return home, marry,
and take over the Ichijoin Kimono boutique.
And you will never mention your art again.
Come on now, be reasonable.
- It is her life after all, my dear. - Will you be quiet!
So sorry! So sorry!
So, Lili, my daughter,
do you understand the condition I've set?
What? Six months?
Six months only to prove yourself
and to become the number one student at the academy.
If you can do that, I'll let you stay on.
Anything less and you will come home to work here in the boutique.
Agreed?
He's almost always first. He's the number one student in our year.
Six months...
Huh?
Hmm? Hm?
What? Huh? M-- My luggage!
Oi! What are you doing?
Hey! This case is mine, all right?
Huh?
What is this fabric?
What on earth is it for?
How dare you? That is none of your business!
Hey! What's all the commotion?
What on earth's going on? I heard a crazy scream.
This boy was going through my underwear!
Is this true, Kit?
You need to stop this bad habit of going through people's stuff!
Huh?
K-- Kit?
Lili, let me introduce you to
the number one student at the academy, Kit Church.
What the blazes, Kit? That is simply no way to treat a lady.
I called her name twice. But even so, I couldn't wake her up.
That's still no excuse to go through her luggage.
And where the hell were you during class?
The docks.
Wait, the docks?
The boy at the docks who was eating black bread!
- Ugh! - Ugh!
Not again.
Kit, that stuff's so bad for you. You must stop eating it.
There's no harm in eating it.
Oh, Kit.
The docks again?
You look even filthier than usual today.
He tried to jump into the Thames last time he was there!
What the blazes were you thinking?
A seagull took the bread he was using as an eraser,
so he tried to chase after it.
He's as strange as ever.
Listen, Lili,
you have six months to prove yourself and to become the number one student.
If you're number one, I'll let you stay.
A boy like this...
...is number one?
There's no way I'll let him win!