Short Story: 'Landscape of Sorrow'

Hello. This is Fukutsu no Kussou.
This time,Kaoru Hanazawa-san's entry for the 'Writing from the Title Literary Award (Landscape of Sorrow)'!!
Please, stay with me until the end!
(Main text 2000 characters)

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My eyes were caught by a slightly unusual request.
In this village, the custom of posting job requests on an old-fashioned bulletin board still remains. For me, who spends every day painting nothing but landscapes, this is the perfect job.

To begin with, I wanted to be a painter. 'Wanted to be' shouldn't be taken as me having given up, but rather as an expression of my ambition that 'someday I will be one!' It is true that I have no history of taking on painting jobs until now. However, in order to make painting my livelihood someday, I have been honing my skills every day, watching for an opportunity with a sharp eye. And that opportunity is now posted right in front of me.
—The time is ripe, and my resolve is set.

But what on earth is a 'special landscape'? I won't know unless I ask the client, but this somewhat ambiguous expression tugged at my heart and pulled the trigger, so I have already arrived in front of the client's house. Usually, I would be tempted by the fresh green trees competing for height along the riverbed on the way and start painting a landscape. I must say, I feel serious.

—Knock, knock.
When I knocked on the front door, an artist-like man appeared. After I finished my self-introduction and told him I had seen the request, he let me inside. After passing through a hallway decorated with many photos and paintings and settling into a worn-out sofa in the spacious living room, we got straight to the point.

'So, what is a special landscape?'
'Actually, I don't really know myself.'
'You don't know?'
I couldn't help but interrupt him at his unexpected answer.

'Yes. I'm sure you noticed as you walked through the hallway, but I am a photographer. I have taken countless landscape photos until now. Not only do I like taking them myself, but I also like displaying works that others have taken or painted. However, lately, perhaps due to my age, I often feel depressed. No matter what work I look at, my heart no longer moves...'

It didn't feel like a story I couldn't understand.
'Then, should I paint a landscape that can move you?'
'That is surely it, but I don't even know myself how to make my heart move...'

That is exactly what I wanted. Now is the time to test the results of my training.
'Understood. Then I will paint a landscape that will shake your heart! I don't need any payment until I can paint a work that satisfies you! If your heart isn't shaken, please tell me without hesitation! I will repaint it!'

'That's... I'm sorry.'

'No, please let me do it! This is my first job as a painter. It is also a challenge for me to make it as a painter! Please don't hesitate to give me feedback!'

'If you go that far... then, please.'

I started working immediately. Perhaps it was because I was overflowing with motivation. I finished painting a beautiful early summer landscape in less than three days and brought it with me.

'I'm sorry, but this...'
'It's okay! I will repaint it!'
I was shocked because I had been confident inside, but I gathered my spirits again, finished a more beautiful landscape painting, and brought it with me.

'I'm sorry, this too...'
'It's okay! Please look forward to the next one!'
However, no matter how many times I painted, the client wouldn't say yes. When I had repainted it about ten times and was on the verge of breaking, the words the client let slip moved my heart.

'You are only expressing the surface...'

—A bolt from the blue. Since it was an order for a landscape painting, I had been trying to paint a beautiful landscape just as it was. But perhaps that was where I was wrong. Should I have exposed the depths of my heart more—.
Having reconsidered, I began to focus on diving deep, deep into myself. I faced the dark parts that I had covered up long ago, pulling them out one by one as if to drag them into the light. I strove to paint the heart itself. Thinking back, the client had also given me a hint by saying, 'I often feel depressed.' I should have valued the parts that connected to that more.

—It's done.
The work, which could be called a landscape of the heart, is complete. I feel I was able to express even the parts that had been covered in mud deep within my soul.

I titled it
'Landscape of Sorrow'.

This is it. Even if I staked my whole life on it, there would be nothing better. I had such a certain feeling of success. My pace naturally quickened as I walked toward the client's house.

"It feels like a shame..."

My mind went blank at the rejection before I had even told them the title. My masterpiece could not melt the client's heart.

When I came to, I was standing on the usual riverbed.

Rip, rip—!!

I carefully tore up 'Landscape of Sorrow' and threw it away. The shredded pieces of paper danced in the air. All my efforts until now had been in vain. I must have had no talent. This was the first time I had tasted such deep frustration and sorrow.

Click!

When I turned around, the client was holding a camera. It seemed they had captured my former work, now scattered on the ground, in their frame.

"I've taken a photo that makes my heart tremble for the first time in a while!"

The client looked satisfied. "The title... let's see, let's make it
'Landscape of Sorrow'."

I had unexpectedly fulfilled the request.

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#LiteraryAwardStartingFromATitle