Flayn's purity is as much a curiosity as it is a marvel. Her company was like a warm, soft blanket. She had an innate talent for setting people at ease. It's quite the contrast to his own nature; he only seemed to have the opposite effect.

Her comment makes him think of that match with Echizen back in the Nationals. Tennis was war. Tennis was fun. Even his own perspective had shifted over time. The version of himself that he was back then could find no meaning in a match without victory. Winning was still important, but a loss could also be an opportunity to grow stronger. It was a more powerful motivator to improve, to avoid experiencing it again.

"Well, let's think about a subject first. Certainly, a random object isn't going to work; what are some things you'd like to draw that have special meaning? A location or a keepsake, for example."