To create one’s own world takes courage

Ryu wrote the answer of the last question in the last theoretical exam.

His teacher Yamada didn't do a practical exam, those who mastered enough technique with their projects were granted a pass, and who didn't were granted a pass too, after submitting another project.

He went to the painting class for the occasional brush cleaning duty, entering the class like usual. Calm an uncaring, taking the bucket of brushes in an automated motion.

The class had third of the original patch, with his expelling exactly two thirds of the patch will be gone, expelled or dropped out on their own.

The brushes of the students slowed down, air suffocating with the present stress and possible future.

Ryu's mind was suffocated with thoughts too, different ones from expected, he was pissed under his neutral expression.

'That dingus. I Am FiNe AlReAdY. Will it kill him to take a week off! He almost died.'

When Oliver entered the room his hands were working effortlessly on the brushes with caked on paint.

"Heeeeey buddy!"

"Be gone, Yamada's emissary."

"Okay." Oliver turned around.

"Wait, wanna give you something after I finish."

"Okay." Oliver turned back.

At the lockers Ryu gave him a heavy cardigan for his sister.

"I wore this after my surgery, it's anti bacterial. Plus it keeps you warm enough."

Passing down the medical, anti bacterial cardigan was an old tradition in the country side. Since the cardigan was made to be very self disinfecting and sterile that was a safe practice, plus he washed it before hand.

"Dude...I love you!" Oliver blinked a tear.

"I love me too."

Oliver chuckled, looking at the packed cardigan in his hand.

"Listen, I'm not gonna preach upon ya. But I think what teacher Yamada said is true. You can't get rid of your advisor and you have a year left, just do couple paintings till you graduate.."

The conversation that got him expelled was chronically short. In the last year students have no theoretical subjects, they just focus on one pursuit.

Have Andre as an advisor made that painting was the only plausible kind of art to pursue. Since the first day he made it clear that everyone under his advisement will be honed to be a high class painter.

Many left because of that, and Ryu knew that his turn will come anyway.

---

"You haven't submitted your additional project, Ryu." His advisor told, cold and demanding.

"My additional project was a sculpture."

"It has to be a painting or you are not passing to the next year."

"Okay." Ryu didn't even shrug.

---

He walked out of the art academy, going nowhere in particular before remembering the catalog and the locker components in his hands.

He dropped it in the empty flat. Feeling a twist in his stomach he head out for a stroll.

A long invisible tendril entered the hospital to check on his brother. Nothing felt out of order, and he didn't want to trip anybody or break something so he dragged the tendril, continuing his stroll.

He looked at buildings, contemplating the next step, the predictability of the event doesn't offset its occurrence after all.

'I guess I still can get jobs and join auctions.'

His mind traveled to the last weeks in the countryside, when he choose the art academy out of a whim. Not knowing what's next to come, not expecting this engrossment in what he's doing.

'I don't wanna let go of what I started.'

His legs took him to a place they don't know.

It was an abandoned, half built neighborhood. A failed project in the far end of the city. A twenty minutes walk after the last station.

The almost complete buildings resembled his almost complete academic endeavor in some sort.

Some buildings had a 'sale' sign on it.

His eyes flickered as a thought dawned on him.

'How will I make art now? I have been using the academy's tools.'

He sat down on the side road as the thought sunk in his mind.

'It's obvious why a patron or a job in a craft shop is the go to options...If one can score that.'

He stretched his arms and back, standing back up.

"You lost there kid?" A security man asked him.

Ryu blinked at the sale sign.

"Can I get some details?"

Ryu slipped inside the shabby flat with silent steps. A tendril closed the door slowly.

He froze when he felt Roxy's gaze on him, he wish he wrapped invisible tendrils around the paperwork to hide it.

Roxy blinked at him.

"Oh, they still give paper certificates?" She asked causally, unsuspicious.

"Yup...they do!"

"I didn't know the institution of housing and construction put their stamp on higher education transcripts~" She blinked with a smile.

"...I was gonna tell you!" He defended like a cheating spouse.

Silence ensued as her inhuman eyes read the words from afar.

"...You bought a building!"

"It was a impulse purchase I swear!"

Roxy studied the paper as he had a guilty expression on his face.

"...Hmmm, a whole yet unfinished building...For 190k moros! Glorious deal I must admit."

"Aren't you mad because I took the money from the savings account and sacrificed the good profit rate..?"

"Property is always a good investment. I mean the building is very far away and incomplete but you acquired a forever home nonetheless. I'v been saving for a property too." She nodded.

"So you won't stop being my friend?" He sighed in relief.

"What?"

"Nothing!"

"Why did you bought it thought?"

"I wanted my own work shop, since soon I won't be able to use the academy's."

Roxy studied the papers amusingly.

"Hmm, you have 60k left to pay but that's due next year...Best impulsive buy of the decade!"She handed him the papers.

"You're really ballsy when you set your mind onto something...Wait..."

He avoided eye contact.

"Since you paid 130k...how much you have in your account now?" She took a gulp before asking.

"...Like 3000 moros?"

"You gonna starve you idiot!!" 

"...Tehe~"