Reset Life with Infinite Talents - Chapter 94

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Infinite Talent Reset Life Episode 94

 

 

The day the US military returned victorious from the war against Japan.

So overjoyed that he embraced and kissed a nurse he’d never met before, the Marine’s photo, The Kiss, made Alfred Eisenstaedt an instant star.

Later photographing celebrities like Marilyn Monroe and Einstein, leaving behind over 90 covers and 2,500 photos, he says.

“Not pretty…”

‘Why did it turn out like this?’

Was it because I shot from too low an angle?

No.

I took that into account when shooting.

“It’s, it’s okay. The meaning of photos is to capture special moments…”

Larry approaches to comfort the dejected Johann and blinks his eyes.

“Mom.”

Larry takes the phone and shows Melanie the photo Johann took.

“It’s beautiful…”

Words that naturally slip out.

Himself and his son Larry standing side by side in front of Silver Lake sparkling in the sunlight under a blue sky with white clouds floating.

His son’s bright smile sends her back to the past again.

Melanie looks at Johann with puzzlement.

“You took such a good photo, why did you say it wasn’t pretty?”

“It’s ambiguous.”

For ‘The Kiss, Alfred Eisenstaedt’, the smartphone is the first shooting device he’s ever touched.

So the background and the two subjects don’t harmonize, each revealing their own presence separately.

‘Even unnecessary things are too clear.’

This was a C-grade photo at best, a failed shot.

‘If only I knew how to operate the camera properly…’

Unfortunately, Johann himself doesn’t know how to use the camera app either.

He can barely manage zoom in and out.

‘Is there anywhere that sells cameras…’

Preferably 35mm.

A compact camera that ‘The Kiss, Alfred Eisenstaedt’ favored would be nice.

“Cheap, cheap! Everything works perfectly!”

‘Huh?!’

“Larry! Can I buy a camera?”

Johann pointed to a street stall spread out like a flea market with cameras and lighters scattered about.

“You want to?”

If I’d known this would happen, I should have brought the camera from home.

But that’s already in the past.

“Wait, Larry. If you just buy him whatever he wants like this…”

“It’s okay.”

Johann doesn’t usually ask for much.

And when you do buy him something, Johann uses it so well that the buyer feels rewarded.

So there’s no way not to buy it for him.

“I know it’s not a momentary impulse.”

He’s buying something he really wants.

“And he’s buying it with his own money.”

“Hmm…”

Melanie starts to speak but stops.

Because Larry is the one raising Johann.

Melanie nods and approaches Johann, and Johann’s eyes widen.

“This is 35mm?”

Johann points to a Canon digital camera.

“I don’t know the exact details either, but the owner of these cameras said most digital cameras are 35mm.”

“…The camera owner?”

“Don’t question the source. It’s my younger brother, and he’s in the military now.”

Most of the things spread out on this stall are what his brother collected.

“Is, is it okay to sell them?”

“He caused a big accident before going to the military.”

An absolutely unforgivable accident.

So we’re selling them for settlement money.

“Ah, can I check it out?”

“As much as you want. Want to try this too?”

The other person is Johann, who revitalized this street.

The benefactor of the Hispanics living in Silver Lake.

There was no need to worry about him running away.

Johann connects the large lens the owner handed him to the digital camera and looks around.

Then he twists the lens and the world in the viewfinder changes rapidly.

“Oh.”

He feels a difference from the world seen through a phone.

A clear difference despite both being digital.

Thanks to the lens, he can easily capture the focus he wants.

‘Eisenstaedt is saying he doesn’t like it, but…’

‘The Kiss, Alfred Eisenstaedt’ lived in the world of film cameras. He’s displeased because he can’t feel the unique sensibility of film.

But there’s something even he praises.

‘Being able to check the photos immediately after taking them.’

Overwhelming convenience.

There are even various modes like black and white photo functions.

‘So please compromise a little.’

Johann liked this.

“I’ll take this one.”

“Just give me 200 dollars including the bag.”

“That, that cheap?”

The lens alone would far exceed that price.

“Shh.”

A special discount limited to Johann.

“Here!”

“Use it well.”

“Yes!”

“You like that?”

“Yeah. Stand over there again. I’ll take another photo.”

“Haha. Mom.”

Larry comforts Melanie as if telling her to stop worrying and stands in that spot again, and Johann finds the best composition he can manage and presses the shutter.

And…

“My goodness.”

Melanie realized why Johann called the previous photo C-grade, and Larry noticed that Johann also had talent for photography and let out a hollow laugh.

Larry and Melanie are a mother and son you could see anywhere.

But in the viewfinder were professional models Larry Jefferson and Melanie Jefferson.

It was a photo so excellent it could be used as a magazine cover.

 

* * *

 

“L-like this?”

“Amazing!”

Click!

Johann approaches after pressing the shutter and shows them the photo.

“Wow, you’re really model material! Want to sign with my company?”

“Oh, stop it.”

If I had known this would happen, I would have worn prettier clothes.

I should have done my makeup more beautifully.

It feels like I’ve returned to my maiden days.

Melanie’s cheeks flush red as she looks at herself in the photo again.

“That’s enough. You can stop now.”

“I’ve only shot up to autumn though?”

Winter and the top floor are different.

The three who came to admire the ‘The Story of the World Watched by Stars’ mural.

“R-really?”

Then there’s no choice.

Melanie freezes for a moment as she reaches the top floor, passing through the snowy night city.

“…Now I understand why we came here.”

“It’s more magnificent than the one at Griffith Observatory, right?”

“Yes…”

Gods looking down from closer than those at Griffith Observatory.

“Johann, what pose should I take here?”

Larry, excited to take photos with his mother after a long time, eagerly rushes forward.

“Hmm… How about praying?”

Kneeling and offering prayers to the gods on the ceiling.

“Oh, that’s good?”

When Larry’s gaze reaches her, Melanie frantically shakes her head.

Kneeling and praying in such a crowded place.

That was absolutely out of the question.

“Then should mother stand?”

“…Yes, let’s do that.”

Seeing her excited son’s eyes, she couldn’t bring herself to say she didn’t like that either.

Eventually the two struck their poses, and the gallery visitors watching them giggled.

But Johann doesn’t hear them.

‘Great composition!’

Good lighting.

Good subjects.

A mother and son’s prayer toward the gods.

What could they be wishing for?

The family’s health perhaps.

The child’s success perhaps.

‘Maybe even marriage.’

A mother hoping her child will please get married and a son’s silent cry wanting to stop hearing nagging.

Inspiration explodes like fireworks in his head.

Click! Click!

Johann even lies down to take the photos.

“That’s it!”

Larry and Melanie who quickly got up and approached are amazed once again.

“Mother… did you pray for me to get married?”

“What were you praying so earnestly for? Is business not going well…”

Melanie and Larry, who were talking, look at Johann with shocked eyes.

They say well-taken photos contain stories.

Johann’s photo was exactly like that.

‘This child’s talent is really…’

How much great talent is hidden inside that small body?

“Sob!”

“A-are you crying?”

Why is she suddenly acting like this?

Has her past menopause returned?

“It’s just…”

Though she didn’t tell Johann and Larry, she had already been checking Johann’s SNS.

So she also knew what level Johann’s photography skills were at.

That’s why tears well up even more.

‘It was me. I awakened this child’s hidden talent.’

That little one discovered his talent while trying hard not to be hated.

“I’m sorry. And thank you so much.”

For giving such a gift.

For approaching our family.

Melanie knelt down and hugged Johann tightly.

“Uh…”

‘Do something, Larry!’

‘I don’t know either!’

“T-there are many people here. Please get up.”

“Sniff!”

Larry handed Melanie a handkerchief, and Johann scratched his cheek watching them.

‘Did I get too carried away?’

As he reflects, a man approaches him.

“E-excuse me, kid. If it’s not too much trouble, could you take our photo too? H-how much would it cost?”

“Pardon?”

A couple in their 30s wearing a slightly worn suit and ivory dress.

“I’m sorry, but my child is not a photographer.”

“What?!”

The couple’s faces turn pale.

“S-sorry!”

“We had no idea! Sorry, kid!”

“Hmm. Okay!”

“Huh?”

“I’ll take it for you.”

‘They’re not bad people.’

I don’t know what their story is, but they’re people who want to preserve this moment forever while worrying about money.

‘Only one of them is holding an americano.’

It means even the entry fee that’s not really an entry fee is burdensome for these two.

Yet they still came here.

They came to see his painting.

Not the mural at Griffith Observatory which has free admission, but his mural.

His heart feels so ticklish he could go crazy.

“Strike a pose.”

“R-really? T-thank you!”

‘Huh?’

Worried that Johann might change his mind, the two quickly kneel and look up at the ceiling.

Sitting side by side, they clasp their hands together and offer prayers to the gods.

‘Rings?’

The thin silver rings that shine brightest on their bodies.

‘Marriage?’

“Ah.”

They hadn’t attended a wedding.

These two were the wedding’s main participants.

Suddenly feeling a tingle in his nose, ‘The Kiss, Alfred Eisenstaedt’ urgently urges him to take the shot.

Johann nods and raises his camera.

 

“Thank you! Thank you so much!”

“Please make sure to send us your email address!”

“…Puhaha!”

“Hoho!”

Larry and Melanie, who had exited the building, burst into laughter watching the couple walk away. It was their first time experiencing this kind of happening.

“They must be a couple who got married today, right?”

“Must be.”

The suit and dress were probably rented too.

“Those people manage to get married even like that…”

“Stop it. No nagging on such a good day.”

“Tsk.”

Melanie sighs and smiles at Larry.

“Thank you.”

Thanks to him, she had witnessed something wonderful and made good memories.

“How did you know about this place? Did you perhaps go on a date with Ada…”

“Johann painted that.”

Everything from conception to coloring.

Robert Burton and Jamie Valin were more like assistants.

“The mural at the place we’re going to next is his work too.”

“…My goodness.”

 

* * *

 

“You’ll come again, right?”

“Whenever my child wants, I’ll have to come.”

The hand stroking his cheek is filled with affection and regret.

‘My child…’

The way she addresses him changed in just one day.

Johann’s heart aches as he grasps and strokes that hand.

“I’ll contact you.”

“I’ll be waiting.”

“Hoho.”

Melanie, who stroked Johann’s head one last time, finally takes reluctant steps away.

“I’ll take you to the terminal.”

“It’s fine. I can take a taxi.”

Melanie pats Larry’s shoulder, telling him to take Johann home, then leaves. Johann and Larry sigh as they watch her retreating figure.

Somehow it felt like a typhoon had blown through and disappeared.

But it had been a very pleasant typhoon.

The two watched endlessly until Melanie’s figure was no longer visible.

 

Vroooom!

An endless expanse of vineyard.

A single taxi crosses through the center of the vineyard and stops in front of a large mansion. A large white mansion that brings to mind a noble’s estate.

“We’ve arrived, ma’am.”

“Thank you for your hard work, Tom.”

“Haha, not at all.”

After paying the fare and getting out, a 6-foot-tall elderly man in his 70s holding a shotgun in both hands strides across the lobby toward her.

“Why are you so late! Are you trying to make me starve to death or what?!”

“How many people work in this house, and you’re going to starve to death?”

“Don’t you know I can’t swallow anything unless it’s food you’ve cooked?”

She wishes he would be a little more flexible.

She shakes her head and turns around.

“What’s that supposed to be?”

“Gifts from your son and grandson!”

The dream catcher Johann made himself, and the photos that were instantly developed with extra payment.

On her way home, Melanie had already given her husband a heads-up about visiting Larry’s house and Johann’s existence.

“Who says he’s my grandson?!”

“Fine, don’t acknowledge him. It’s better for me if I can call him my son and my grandson alone.”

Melanie snorts and comes out after changing clothes, sits on the sofa, and takes out the photos.

“Why did you even bring a photographer into this?”

“Your grandson took these.”

“That’s ridiculous!”

“Don’t believe it then.”

“Calling some guy whose background we don’t even know grandson.”

The old man snorts and mumbles with his lips before finally opening them.

“…Is he doing well?”

A question asking if Larry is doing well.

“If you’re that worried, why don’t you call him directly.”

“What’s there to worry about a child who ran away saying he wouldn’t follow in his father’s footsteps! Hmph!”

The old man gets up and heads outside. Melanie watches him with a sad expression, then sighs and looks at the photos.

Then her lips curve into a gentle smile.

“When should I go again.”

When could she go without making Johann feel burdened.

She pondered this seriously.

 

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————