I must agree. I feel that scene alone had the greatest impact on me for volume 4.



As for the background...you virtually guessed what it was originally going to be. My friend's request involved them kissing, and I was going to do that with a forest background like the one we saw Jaune training in at night in the show. So, it would have implied that after one of Jaune's training sessions, Ruby approached him and they made out. However, I started feeling awkward about it because I didn't feel like they had any romantic interest in each other in all of volume 4. It felt too soon and it's apparent nothing like that would have happened in the show between episodes.



Therefore, I felt toning it down from being a kiss to what we have here in my pic would fix things. However, I still felt awkward about it. Again, in all of volume 4, I had interpreted their relationship as being close friends at best. However, her hands being on his hand and cheek show a level of intimacy that I find difficult to imagine happening between close friends. It's easier for me to picture her hugging him instead to comfort him, as that to me conveys more of a sense of compassion than intimacy (although it seems even a hug wouldn't be taken lightly by some fans per the commentary eh?). If Ruby was romantically interested in Jaune, then I might have seen her hand placements as appropriate, but I didn't get that vibe from her at all in volume 4.



I decided that in order to keep them the way they are now, I would have this pic take place at some point in the future where Ruby has possibly developed feelings for Jaune. I had to scrap the forest background as a result because it appeared too reminiscent of Jaune's training session in volume 4. Instead, I opted to convey a scene of chaos and hopelessness where I imagined Jaune breaking down and wishing that Pyrrha was still here, to which Ruby decides to console him while (subconsciously) showing affection. Looking back on it now though, I agree that the background detracts from the moment they're sharing. I wish I had planned something better.



Regardless, thank you for your feedback and kind compliments.