After Dark ꨄ

V: shared stares

♪"but you're breaking through all the dark in me when i thought nobody could"♪

- jinu

one could only groan upon seeing a bright light first thing whenst they awoke from a nap. irritating as it may, what followed was more pleasant than the first. a perfect face that arlecchino has grown used to for the past month.

"bonjour, mademoiselle~.."

that same cheery tone grew more flat over the course of the days, but still held an odd sense of trust. a piece of his pie that y/ has choosen to give to the girl. one could only wonder what went inside the smiling boys mind, but it mattered little and only stoked the flames of arlecchino's mild irritation.

"you're too cheery for someone who's in detention.."

"it's merely detention, why bothering playing sad. we both know the reason why we're here, no?"

"still, keep it to yourself.. that bright grin of yours is the last thing i'd wish to see.."

but even then, y/n's lips didn't frown as he backed off from the laying girl's face, now listlessly gazed at the board with his cheek resting on his palm. he had gotten comfortable, more than he'd like to say, but it was enough for him to take a stand by arlecchino's side when the dark clouds rolled over the hills.

"...why did you even do it?.. why paint yourself as a part of my mess? Don't you wanna keep your perfect boy image?..."

"my image does not concern you, arle.. you are my friend, i could care less if my reputation is tarnished from choosing the right thing..."

the words that came out of his mouth stunned the ivory haired woman. especially a certain word that he called arlecchino. friend.. y/n considers her as a friend and he admits such to her.

amidst the growing silence between them, arlecchino can't help but stare at the boy in wonder as a certain tug rises from her guts up to her chest. it was confusing, sure. but deep within her iceborne gaze, the feeling felt.. oddly reassuring.

but why? the girl's gaze continued to burn to the side of y/n's head as she asked herself. why does it feel right everytime she lets him in? why does it feel like she can tell him anything?

the confusion only grew when y/n turned his head to her, catching her gaze. the eye contact spurred an unfamiliar feeling within her chest, much different from the last.

"is there something on my face?.."

"you're face is on your face. just shut up.."

with a huff, her ebony orbs faced away from the perplexed sunshine. y/n had to admit, these sporadic bursts of emotion that he has been getting from arlecchino has been no less than intriguing.

every averted gaze, every dismissed compliments, and rare moments of unspoke connection. it.. interested him. it was new to y/n and he wanted to experience it more, so he smiled at her, admiring the icy girl's guard slowly come down..

these new sentiments lead into lands untread. yet both sides wish to walk forward instead, into the unknown where they are.. free...