°Sobriety°
-the state of being sober.
-the quality of being staid or solemn.
Kusuo always questioned the idea of White Day. In his opinion, it was no surprise that Japan was the only country that practices the said tradition every fourteenth day of March. I mean, just who the hell would like to wait a whole month – twenty-eight or twenty-nine days, to be exact – before receiving their response from Valentines.
To the noobs out there who haven't watched enough anime, allow us to briefly explain how White Day works. Although, I cannot promise that this supposedly concise explanation wouldn't turn to a two-hundred and fifty word essay. Going back on track, it is a common custom in Japan that females are to give chocolates on the fourteenth of February or more commonly known as Valentine's Day. It could vary from romantic homemade chocolates to platonic obligatory store-bought chocolates. In any case, it is just females that are to give chocolates on that. Where's the gender equality on that?
Basically, White Day is the reverse of Valentines. In this occasion, males are the ones who give the sweets – may it be chocolate or any other candy. On this day, they are to respond to the Valetine's chocolate they've received – if they ever got romantic ones. Which is actually quite bull.
It may increase the joy threefold when you receive a positive response. However, the same applies to when you were to get rejected. After anticipating, waiting patiently for a whole month, you might as well be a heartless robot if you weren't to bawl your eyes out at night after getting your hopes crushed – especially if your feelings were thoroughly sincere. Not that yours truly is speaking out of personal experience though... I'm speaking for a friend so shut up.
As much as feelings would blossom or get trampled on threefold for the day, the frostiness of the winter morning seemed to be going with the flow. Boy was it fucking frigid. The pink-haired boy was even almost convinced that hell froze over.
Well, as he was lucky enough to be born with psychic powers, he wouldn't need to worry about freezing his limbs off – unlike the 99.9 percent of the human population. And, he acts all pissy about having psychic powers like an edgy, hormonal adolescent in puberty. What an idiot.
As Kusuo would watch his shoes alternate from touching the cemented ground, evidences of powdery white snow visible on his path, like every normal day, he wouldn't expect dirt to meet his head out of nowhere.
Well, isn't that lovely.
Pissed for his day to go downhill so early in the morning, the strawberry-hired male felt a muscle by his eyebrow twitching in annoyance. Whirling his head around, he immediately searched for the source of the unpleasant action. And just as immediately as he turned around, soil met his face once more.
The young psychic could feel heat rushing from his veins out of spite in the middle of the icy winter morning as he brought up a gloved hand to push the filth out of his face. And in an instant, his magenta eyes met the profile of an awfully familiar (h/c) head. Knowing her well enough, Kusuo felt his nerves calming down at the sight of (Y/N) holding a dirty spoon with her hands covered with soil. After all, it was just typical of her.
"What are you doing?" Kusuo voiced out, his low monotonous tone easily catching the attention of the (h/c)-haired teen before him. The latter hums in response, slowly tilting her head to let their contrasting hues clash at the sight of one another as she ceased her actions.
"Oh, I didn't expect to see you so early in the morning, Kusuo." (Y/N) beamed, (e/c) irises twinkling as another of her carefree grins settled on her features. Twirling the grime-covered spoon between her fingers, she then proceeded to answering the strawberry-haired boy's inquiry as she took out a piece of tattered paper, practically showing it off. "I found a treasure map in my way to school. And, as you can see, I'm digging up for treasure."
A dimwit as always.
Kusuo didn't bother to even let out a sigh nor waste his breath reprimanding the clearly idiotic girl, knowing his words would only enter one ear then leave the other. After all, he has known the girl for just a little less than a year already.
Quietly, the young psychic extended his gloved hands to grab the piece of paper (Y/N) was flaunting before letting his eyes scan the contents of the so-called treasure map. It didn't take two brain cells to identify that the crudely drawn map was made by five or six-year-old with how messy the crayons were scribbled on the cheap piece of paper. In any case, whatever that treasure was, it's something not as valuable for high school students compared to kindergarten pupils.
"You're just wasting your time, idiot." Kusuo brazenly remarked, slapping the piece of paper without a single hesitation right at (Y/N)'s face. Without even letting her recover, the pink-haired psychic proceeded to grab the back of the female PK student's collar before dragging her towards the direction of the campus.
"Hey! I'm still in the middle of digging my treasure, Cyborg Fredric Cider Man Roger No. 2!" The (h/c)-haired girl releases a loud protest, calling the strawberry-haired male by the ridiculously long nickname she had come up not more than eight months ago. Now that Kusuo would think about, it's been quite a while since she had called her by the idiotic name. He can't say he missed it though. "You little shit-faced, dumb glasses-wearing twat, let me go this instance!"
Despite the continuous ear-splitting vulgar string of protests slipping from her mouth, Kusuo remained straight-faced during the situation whilst dragging the struggling girl's whole weight with one arm from behind him. Although his (e/c)-eyed companion was causing a commotion in the area, young psychic couldn't even care less anymore. After all, spending almost a year with such a rambunctious girl made him get used to her antics. And, (Y/N) may have interrupted a confession or two on the way in the wondrous season of White Day – which Kusuo quite enjoyed, being a person with a bitter soul within him.
"If you're just planning to waste your time, you might as well just waste it with me."
~~~~~
As the lamppost by the street would flicker from time to time, the placid luminosity of the waxing moon from above trailed soft kisses through his exposed pale skin, puffs of air forming to a small white mist with every exhale. The slow beat of Kusuo's shoes meeting the cold paved ground would echo through the dimly-lit, seemingly empty street.
Through his silent journey, the pink-haired boy can't help but reminisce his regret of letting his opportunity pass just this morning. Kusuo couldn't prevent groaning mentally for the umpteenth time of the hour. Seriously, what an idiot. He would repeat the same words over and over in his mind through each passing second.
It was honestly quite out of character for him. After all, he could just finish his piled up homework for the night in a matter of minutes. It was rather upsetting to admit that the thought had completely slipped off his mind due to the excitement he had towards making sweets last night. He honestly underestimated the time he would consume making desserts without a drop of help from his psychic powers. Well, it wouldn't be as much special if he was able to finish making his White Day candies in a cinch.
Unfortunately, all those special effort and time poured in those sweets he stayed late for, even taking the leverage to ask for his mother for a bit of advice from his mother, even with the knowledge of how nosy she could get, it has all come to waste.
He should have given it to her the moment he laid his eyes on her always carefree, grinning features.
Perhaps he could give it to her tomorrow – but, it wouldn't make it as much special; it has to be today.
Maybe he could apport the item inside her bag this evening – though, it would seem like he's running with his tail between his legs for not giving the present personally.
Or, he could possibly pay a visit at her place before he could head home. The idea sounded quite nice, especially if they were to be alone. The only problem is if Aren was currently hanging at her place. The sole thought of it made an unpleasant feeling bubble up from Kusuo's insides.
The strawberry-haired psychic drawled out a heavy sigh at how hopeless the current situation seemed. Is this how fate is telling him that he and (Y/N) are not meant to be? Well, he is practically the controller of the world he resides in; why should he be afraid of such absurd premonition.
Just as the hope was gradually draining until it was left with a measly drop, Kusuo's down casted eyes met the view of a pair of familiar worn-out shoes. Adrenaline rushing through his veins, the pink-haired boy didn't waste any second before raising his head up. And in that one instant, a wave of relief seemed to hit his body, along with the previously drained out hope that appeared to have collected itself to fill a huge basin enough to provide for a whole village.
"(Y/N)." The words rolled past his tongue smoothly even without his own consciousness. Was he waiting for her that much?
At the abrupt mention of her name, the (h/c)-haired girl's shining (e/c) orbs seemed to have reflected that of mild surprise, mouth hung agape as her voice was ceased by his voice. Just as immediately as the reaction settled in her features, her signature smile was etched once more in her lips.
"You beat me into it, Kusuo." She mentioned, beaming like a carefree child as always. "I was going to call you out, I honestly didn't expect you to mention my name first."
At the moment, the mentioned male's attention was currently out of the words that would enter his ear then leave the other. Kusuo's magenta orbs were fixated at the way her arms and legs would shiver under the icy breeze of the cold winter night, then at the sign not situated to far which warned the residents of possible gropers. Reckless as always, she is.
"What are you doing here so late at night?" His question was firm, almost sounding like a demanding statement. If it were Kusuo's previous self, he would deny that he had almost forgotten about the White Day present he had strenuously prepared due to the worry that had overtaken him at the sight of her trembling form, alone in a dark, cold night of March.
"I heard that you were to stay in campus to finish up all the assignments you had forgotten to do the other night, as well as you were going to leave school a bit later since you were in classroom duty." (Y/N) replied, letting her arms wrap around each other in a feeble attempt to provide herself a bit of warmth. "I was waiting for you."
Hearing her reply, Kusuo lets out a shaky exhale, taking slow, steady steps towards her direction before diminishing the distance between them to a mere half a ruler. Not giving (Y/N) enough time to process the current situation, the pale-toned male presses his forehead with hers, their noses brushing against each other as the contact produced a tingling warm sensation between them amidst the frigid night.
Smoothly, his arms snaked around her waist as it left searing sparks with their clothed skin touch through the gentle embrace. His unhurried breaths were minty and cold, but fanned her face until it burned with heat, his purple-eyes shielded by his green-tinted glasses clouded by the stirring emotion within him.
And before he knew it, his slender arms were slowly slipping down to her waist, nose brushing from her face slowly towards her jaw, then her neck. The sensation of his soft, strawberry locks left an innocent ticklish feeling by her skin, whilst the breath hitting her neck left a hazy emotion of guilty intent.
"Please don't do that again."
The words left his lips like a silent beg, her scent lingering at their physical contact which sent shivers down their spines, a sensation that were a first for them both – a sensation that may get addicted.
"Kusuo..." His name left her shaking lips like a quiet whisper, a trigger that could drive him insane at the same time bring him back to his senses. The effect may vary according to their current situation, location.
With hesitation, he gradually pulled away, instantly missing the warmth of their bodily contact. The strawberry-haired male then proceeded to reach inside his bag before gently grabbing her bare palms that were freezing under the frosty temperature with his warm gloved fingers. After placing a small jar of candies that were enough to fill her palm, he urged the (h/c)-haired girl to keep the item immediately before taking her unoccupied hand with his. Squeezing it then pocketing it in his coat in a sweet attempt to warm her up.
It wasn't like he hadn't already though.