savetheearth | no. 4

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no. 4 | video

[Haruka's face shows up on the network, overcome with a look of exhaustion. His clothes are spattered lightly with paint, along with smaller marks here and there on his face.]

Ah...Hello! I was wondering if I could get your opinion on something! [Haruka turns his cellphone towards the wall of what appears to be a local underpass. The wall is covered in very neatly painted graffiti. Large, colorful and playfully drawn letters spell out "Create a Great Day!" The letters are surrounded by a painted overgrowth of green grass and rainbow colored flowers. The design takes up a pretty huge chunk of the wall, and there are various paint cans strewn about, so it's obvious this has been quite an exercise for him.]

What do you think? Oh! B-Before anyone gets mad! I know graffiti can be bad but...The reason I painted this, was because I wanted to paint something nice over the graffiti that was already there...

It was, um. A very hurtful message. Directed at us. The numbered. [He sighs and sits on the ground in front his work, bringing close his paint cans and placing them into a backpack.]

Why would someone say that about us? We didn't choose this, we're only a little bit different from everyone else. We'd never, ever try to hurt anyone...Why is people's first instinct to try to kill us?

I don't understand. It isn't fair.

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I think they're just scared... People can do awful things.

But it turned out nicely. It must've taken forever to finish.

It was a lot of hard work! Hopefully the positivity will help some people...

I think we could all use it.

You probably shouldn't linger, though. I wouldn't want you to get fined. It's nice, but still illegal unless you have permission.

I know! I've been careful and I'm heading out now...

There was already graffiti there in the first place, I just...made it nicer.

[He looks down at his backpack and smiles as he zips it up.]

I needed to. This has never happened before. It was like...my soul as an artist wouldn't allow me not to. I felt like I couldn't compromise.

[Lifting himself to his feet, he runs a hand through his hair.]

I'm so tired.

Are you going to be okay? [He looks really bad. Painting shouldn't leave you that bad off...] Did you breathe too much of the paint in?

No no, I'm just...not the toughest kid in general. It was a bit of a walk with all of this stuff, and now I have to walk back.

Suffering for your art is one of the keys to being a great artistic, though! So I'll be okay!

Do you need help? I mean, if you need a ride, I can ask my mom or something... [Don't suffer too much.]

Thank you so much! But please don't go out of your way for me. I can make it home by myself. I've been exercising a lot lately!

I can't rely on other people forever.

Well, no, but it's better to accept help than let yourself get sick or hurt. I mean... we're always going to need other people. [Even if she doesn't like that fact.]

I know, I know! If I really felt like I was in trouble, I promise I would take you up on your offer.

Why don't you tell me how you've been? You can keep me company as I walk home.

[Mmmmmmmm she's still worried. It's best to stay on the line though, right?]

All right... I guess I've been okay. Trying to have a normal summer. I'm not being quite as helpful or productive as you are.

I think just talking to other numbered people like this is doing just as much good to our little community than cleaning up a little graffiti...

I've been trying to avoid that, actually. A lot of numbered I knew are forgetting everything...

I don't think it's most people's first instinct.

It's not a bad cover-up though. You did a good job with it.

Some people's...

Thank you though! It was a bit of a rush job, so...

Have you met anyone like that?

How long have you been at it?

I haven't, but I know people who have.

Since early in the morning. Before it was light out.

I think the people after us have an agenda right now.

[ He looks even more surprised at Haruka's next words. ]

Wow! That early? Why?

the little bits r enough tbh

like im not surprised @ all

im glad u painted it over w this tho thats rly cute

Your pink text is very cute, too!

I'm glad you like what I did. I just want people to be happy and get along...

me 2 buddy

wish ppl would get over their stupid hangups

Can you blame them?

We aren’t really what you could call ‘normal’ and they just don’t know what to do. But I think we are really harmless…

There's nothing to be afraid of...We're good people...

Why can't we just talk it out? If we're not hurting anyone why should they go after us...

[He can't see it but Abby gave him a sigh]

I don't know, I know that people just refuse to listen sometimes and just go for whatever they think feels best. I know I've done that plenty of times before.

I wish they would listen too but I wonder what can we do?

[If it were only that easy. Life would be so much easier wouldn't it?]

Because we're different. And because we may have the potential to be something they'd call dangerous. But I don't think there's any harm in painting over something like that.

I just don't understand why those of us who aren't hurting anyone have to be dragged into it too...

Because we're threatening what they've seen as normal, until now.

...It looks nice.

[But oh no he's upset this is Bad.]

Edited 2014-08-03 02:30 (UTC)

I was worried you'd be mad at me.

Unfortunately we have hurt people.

Not that I know if those who are painting that know about it.

Not all of us! The people who haven't done anything...They don't deserve to be dragged into this.

I know that. I agree with you. But I can’t be too mad at those who are suspicious of us either.

Not that I think this is the right way to deal with it.

I think it looks nice. It's much better to look at than all the rest people have been writing around.

But hey, where are you? I don't mean to nag, but while we still don't know why they're targeting us, it's not safe to be out alone even during the day.

Thanks, Shintaro!

Ah, there's a lot of people going up and down this street now, so I think I'll probably be okay until I get home.

[A bead of sweat rolls down his temple.]

...But. If you wanted to meet me half way and get some food or something...

...

Five minutes. I'll meet you at the corner of [street names redacted]?

Graffiti is illegal no matter what it's of. [a beat] However, were more of it this nice, people might change their tune.

[Cop approves of this sort of defacing!! Good job!]

As for why people think so, it's precisely that: they do not, cannot, understand and that lack of understanding leads to fear and hatred.

[HE WAS TERRIFIED UNTIL HE SAID THE SECOND PART.]

Oh! Um, yeah! I think art should be used to create a more pleasant environment...Not for spreading hate and ruining property...

[Sigh.]

I'm guessing a little positive public art isn't going to make them understand...

You are aware that there are groups in the city who do street art and graffiti legally?

[Doing it legally would eliminate the terror part while brightening up the city!]

No, unfortunately. Something of a far grander scale would be necessary to substantially sway public opinion.

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no. 4 | video

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