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Disclaimer: I don't own Axis Powers: Hetalia. It rightfully belongs to Himaruya Hidekaz. I merely own the AU plot and setting. Additionally, I'm not an expert on teaching and blindness. All information is from observation and speculation. Please do not reference.
Enjoy!
Nihilism
"Living is Easy with Eyes Closed."
—John Lennon
Afterschool, Arthur threw a small ice cream party for the band, as per tradition. Since it was the day after the concert, Arthur wanted to celebrate a "job well done" (even though the concert's reception was a bit below par), and wanted to get the band members to discuss what they could do to improve themselves for the upcoming concert in the end of winter. But while the students went to get ice cream, Arthur realised that Francis wasn't around.
Even though Francis' company wasn't exactly welcome, Arthur had thought Francis would at least come for the cold treat. Arthur had been the only fine arts teacher for a while, but he had vowed that if the fine arts department increased in faculty, he would invite the whole department over, including Francis.
Asking one of the seniors to handle the students, Arthur left in search for Francis. Instinct immediately dragged him to the art room; why bother searching through the other wings of the school when Arthur only ever saw him in the art room? When he arrived, he saw light coming out. Of course he was right. But when he peered through the window in the door, Arthur saw Francis was talking with a student. In fact, he could hear the student and Francis. They were loud enough, and the walls were thin enough.
"What's the matter, chérie?" Francis asked from his seat.
"I want to talk to you about the painting assignment…" she replied, holding a page of sketch paper. Her head was bowed, staring. "I give up. I don't want to do this anymore."
"Oh, but why?"
"Nothing I can do seems to look right. My art grade is dipping, and it's hurting my GPA. I'm thinking of quitting."
"What?"
The girl's voice started to tremble. "I'm continuously getting terrible grades on my project, no matter how many times I try. I read all the critiques and everything. I want to make the proportions and technique right, but I just can't, and everything I draw looks like crap."
"No, no, no," Francis said, shaking his head. He reached out and took the sketch from the student's hands. "Ignore the grades. They mean nothing; you deserve A upon A upon A. Don't worry about them. Every one of your drawings is beautiful."
The girl sniffled, wiping her eyes with the back of her hands. "You can't say that. You can't even see what I'm drawing. Do you know what I'm drawing now?"
"No, I can't."
"It's a fox. It's supposed to be a fox. But it looks like a raccoon-bear-buffalo mix." She hiccupped, her shoulders lurching.
"But it's a beautiful fox. It's mythical, with all the features of raccoons, bears, and buffalos. With some colour, it will reflect the night sky."
The student only started to cry harder. Arthur's heart clenched; it was like Francis was tormenting her, because he was complimenting her with only lies. What a despicable man. If Arthur could get a chance, he would report Francis to Romulus to get Francis out. Arthur couldn't watch Francis torment art students with lies.
Francis placed the canvas to the side, and he reached up towards the girl, but he stopped and let his hands fall. "Look, chérie, I can't see your work, but I know that it is beautiful. Do you know why?"
She shook her head.
"Because I can hear you. I can hear your pencil always moving. I can hear you taking more and more paper. I can hear all the work that you're putting into it. You don't ever stop. And that, chérie, is true beauty."
Francis placed his hand on top of the coloured canvas. "So don't give up. You have so much potential. Your proportions and techniques can use some work, but that's something you can always improve. Just practice. The only thing that you can't obtain by practice is your drive to get better. And that is a talent you already have."
Suddenly, Arthur spun around and began to walk away. Eavesdropping was rude. He shouldn't have stood there, listening to a confidential conversation between student and teacher. He was lucky that neither Francis nor the student noticed, so he simply went back to the cafeteria.