[Contest] Story of Mind

Project Picasso Academy depicts the everyday life of its artist students. In this chapter, we are following Rudolf and Shahrzād : two dance students, and friends, who remarkably stood out for both their victories at the renown interuniversity "Friendly Dancing Tournament" last year. That means they are quite famous among their comrades! These two were hardly ever seen without the other however, they are on bad terms since the new semester now…

    His difficulties to express for himself date back to his pre-teen period, when he had to move in Latin America because of his father’s career. New country, new home and above all, new schoolmates. Secondary school years were very tough for innocent chubby Rudolf: he handled all sort of extrem bullyings, and suffered from great disregard and solitude … And that without complaining. He had several breakdowns, but never could bring himself to tell anyone. It was only after he befriended Tiffany, during college, that things calmed down. Thanks to her help, Rudolf gained (a bit) more confidence. She also convinced him to practice dance, his passion, more often and indeed, to make it his professional goal! Since then, he trained relentlessly in order to get closer to his new aim! And that worked perfectly, because after high school he applied for Project Picasso Academy and got accepted! Although shyness and taciturnity still remain.

    Rudolf met Shahrzād after one year at Project Picasso Academy and let's just say that he instantaneously succumbed to the charm of his new comrade! Well, we can't blame him for that, could we? Shahrzād is actually the first one who wasn't affraid by his intimidating aura at first contact. The two of them quickly became very good friends, sharing personal moments and enjoying school life together. As time passed, sweetly, tenderly, genuinely, frienship eventually became love in Rudolf's heart. He had already been in love in the past, but never had he been so close of his person of interest! So imagine how confused he could be when he realised his feelings! Unfortunately shyness and fear prevented him from confessing to his friend, prefering to wait until his love is mutual...

    Then he learned something very important, a fact that he missed all this time : his lover is male. Since the new year then Rudolf was careful to avoid Shahrzād, eventually he even stopped coming to school. But don't get it wrong : Rudolf is not mad at Shahrzād, he is lost. Between frustration, doubt and embarrassement, he just doesn't know what to do nor how to react with his lover anymore. Shahrzād being a male doesn't really bother him : what annoys him the most is the fact that he was blind, that he couldn't even "see" his lover... "In the end, do I know him this well ?"... he thought...

    On the other hand, Shahrzād is ignorant and doesn't understand why his best friend avoids him. He tried several times to talk to him but was always rejected (sometimes a bit violently). Attemps came one after the other and Shahrzād, tired from all of these, finally gave up and resigned himself to the idea of not seeing Rudolf anymore... His lack of confidence in himself doing no help, Shahrzād eventually started to blame himself for doing something bad to his friend, and to think that he is surely not worth Rudolf's friendship...

    Time flew and silent awkardness settled between these two. But friends are here and sometimes, just a talk can completely change your point of view...

• Characters' page background is actually the cover of Hidekaz Himaruya's book named "Hetalia : Axis Powers Artbook - ArteStella Piccolo". I reproduced it (couldn't find a clean version sorry  ) but let's be clear : I do not own the background!
• All screentones used for this work are not mine either! A huge thanks to everyone who created them and made this comic possible!!! You guys are awesome!!! Links : 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21.
  
• Also thanks to Moosefroos for letting me cameo his characters! Go check his page guys, his art is gorgeous my gosh! Leftovers and its characters © Moosefroos
  
• Project Picasso Academy and its characters © Sawakaze1231
• Shahrzād's look is actually a reference of Kaoru Mori sensei's character Anis in her book "Otoyomegatari". Go see her manga (+ "Emma", another of her work), you will not regret it! She deserves more viewers