the world is beautiful

He stayed silent until she became quiet, when her stammers ended he finally spoke up. “If you couldn’t see me maybe you should get a mask that fits.” A smile came to his lips but it was clearly missing the soft aspect to it. All of his smiles did actually; never were they genuine or soft or comforting. His smiles had a sense of mystery that would make anyone’s hair stand. 

[✄] -- "A... A mask that fits?" Kotomi stared up at him with befuddled fear glimmering in her orchid hues. She reached up to her mask and adjusted it, wondering if it really looked as though it didn't fit her. That was strange. She was sure that she got the measurements right. Or perhaps this was the guy's way of bullying her? His cold seemingly-malicious smile was an obvious evidence for that but she couldn't be too sure. 

She averted her gaze down at the string around her wrist, her fingers still mindlessly tugging it. She still wasn't certain how a string such as hers would suddenly tie with someone else's-- they were just strings after all. It would be impossible for one to magically tangle with another one that would lead to a gentle tug of the wrist but she decided to brush that thought off.

This stranger didn't even question her when she suddenly requested for a drawing of a teddy bear. Never once did she give Kotomi a look of utter judgement, making the younger girl feel immensely comfortable around her which was a surprise considering Kotomi's morbid fear of strangers.

"I believe you are the nicest person I know." She admitted with a determined nod. "Because... Because more than five minutes have passed and you are still talking to me. I appreciate it. And you also drew something for me without question. You are very nice." Her smile brightened more upon hearing the other consider her suggestion about making a packed meal for her and Kotomi couldn't remember the last time she felt this excited.

"I will make something very healthy for you." She nodded. "Something that I am certain you will enjoy. May I ask where we can meet tomorrow so I can hand you your packed meal? I suggest meeting in the afternoon so we can eat together because that is what most peers do, I believe." Now that she had thought about it, she still didn't ask for the girl's name yet. Wasn't that something that should be asked first between strangers upon catching in a conversation together? 

It was time for the Festival of Red to end but not without the renowned Bal des Sang. This day in particular never bothered Mukuro, this event was never something that made him want to lock himself away in attempt to stray from the festivities. Having someone to mess with due to strings becoming attached was the start of the game. Masquerades were something that he loved, though they never went well, his eyes were always a giveaway for those who were familiar to him. 

He pushed the mask further up the bridge of his nose to sit comfortably on his face and not block his sight. He lifted his hand, the red string attached to his wrist dangled freely, swaying in the slight breeze from the movement in the room. Being a resident of Eden Towers had made him an invitee of the most prestigious and crowded party of the night.

Her orchid optics were actually already fixated on the said man who seemed far too distracted with his conversation with someone that he hardly noticed that he was being stared at. Despite of the mask that hid his face, Kotomi could still recognize him. She knew his face all too well. Swallowing the thick lump that had unfortunately formed in her throat, the girl adjusted her mask and held her drink-- which she had hardly taken a sip from-- tighter in her grasp before finally advancing her direction towards the old man.

But the very second he gazed at her direction, she instantly chickened out and promptly changed her direction. Unfortunately, her steer was too swift that she failed to notice that someone was just nearby; causing her to unintentionally ram against the stranger's body and spill her drink on his suit. She had gotten some on her dress too though the stain was more evident on the stranger's outfit and the young girl's eyes widened in utter astonishment, her hand dropping the now empty cup on the floor.

{ ✥ }Enma could feel her gaze falling on him, and he simply glanced up.  She didn’t look so scared anymore, which was a good thing.  Hearing her statement, he blinked, red gaze falling back onto her.  Truly, he wasn’t surprised that she didn’t know about the bullying problem between two schools.  The only ones who usually knew were only the victims, and the bullies themselves.  It was only recently, teachers started to get involved.  

"I…a-appreciate that you tried."  Enma responded back, giving the other a small fleeting smile.  As one of the usual victims, he could give her some credit and the school for trying to stop it.  Not very much, but still some.  

"Enma Kozato…Nice to meet you too."  he said back with a small nod.  "Well…I forgot what my name means…but my last name is written with the kanji for "flame" and "truth."  Enma added.  Truly, he didn’t want to remember what his name meant.  It only brought back bad memories.  

[✄] -- "Flame and truth... That sounds very nice." It was hard to tell whether Kotomi was genuine with her words or she was just saying it for the sake of being polite. She, however, knew that she was being completely honest about it. She adored it whenever she learned the meaning behind one's name for it reminded her how most people would try to live up to their names. Or at least that was what the people in the books she read do.

At the mention of an instrument, the young girl's orchid hues instantaneously brightened up and she took an eager step forward towards Enma's direction.

"I play the violin...!" Her tone was uncharacteristically enthusiastic upon admitting her fascination in the instrument. "I don't own one but I do play it. Does Prava Secondary have a violin, Enma-kun? Perhaps you're interested in hearing me play it?"

[✄] -- "..."

Kotomi wasn't exactly certain on how to react once the other female started laughing for a reason she couldn't seem to figure out. Did she just make a joke without noticing it? Kotomi fleetingly looked around, expecting to see a clown nearby that could explain her companion's sudden laughter but nothing emerged into view. This girl was just really laughing. Kotomi then tilted her head slightly to one side in confusion once the bespectacled girl's laughter finally died down.

Besides, I’d probably look like a prowler if I did that, huh?

Under the consideration of how the ‘okay' for taking a seat wasn't given, the olive haired waiter simply looked just as that — a waiter donned with a butler's attire, ready to tend to his customer. Because of the fact, he couldn't help but keep his eyes on her, taking in both her characteristics and presence from his position. From what he gathered by her mannerisms and delicate utterance, he presumed she had been accustomed to ridicule, which lead to the notion she was waiting for the inevitable all this time — waiting for embarrassment because of a cruel joke, perhaps?

[✄] -- "My... My name...?" 

This stranger could not possibly be... befriending her?  Instinctively, the young girl looked back over her shoulder to make sure if he was talking to the person at the next booth but realizing it now, he was standing near her table. Who could he be possibly talking to other than her? Due to genuine uneasiness, Kotomi began to fiddle with the note in her hand-- hardly noticing the evident fact that she was already crumpling it and ripping it to pieces.

This was another chance for her to practice her speech and this time, she really needed to get things right. Befriending people was never her forte and whenever she would encounter an opportunity such as the one she was having right now, she normally ended up creeping the other party out or boring them away. She couldn't mess this one up. Dropping the pieces of the note on her lap, Kotomi fixated her gaze at the guy and pointed to herself.

[✄] -- Kotomi settled her fixed stare up at the other female the very moment she saw her finally standing up, causing the young mulberry-haired girl to instinctively take a step back-- her arms still hugging the page. "Hnn?" She blinked in genuine befuddlement once the grocery bag was extended in her direction and in that very second, realization hit her. She promptly looked down at the ground in attempt to make sure not a single item was left out before looking back at the stranger and gratefully accepting her bag, still holding the drawing to her chest with her free hand.

I'll become a very good girl from now on. I will never say anything selfish anymore. I'll study a lot. I'll read lots of books and become smart, too. 

{ ✥ } The red head shook his head again at the girl’s question.  He had an idea on I why the other would think like that, since after all Prava secondary was a bit rowdy in terms of SOA students.  He certainly wasn’t one of those though.  He hated the idea of using violence or verbal abuse on someone.  

"Well…I’m from Prava Secondary but I don’t support the whole rivalry thing going on…"  He responded trailing off followed by a short sigh.  Truly, he hated that rivalry sparked up and passed down for stupid reasons.  Red hues glanced at the other nervously, before it went back down to the ground.  

"I mean, I can get why you ran.  It’s pretty scary talking to a crowd of people…"  He continued as he silently debated to come closer or not since he had to talk a bit louder then usual due to their distance.  The other still looked like she was going to bolt any second, so he thought against that.  

[✄] -- "..." Kotomi was genuinely taken aback by the treatment that other was giving her. If she had to be honest, she had a few terrible moments with the students of Prava Secondary so seeing one of them treating her so nicely was something she had a hard time believing. As much as she was uncomfortable engaging in a conversation with someone, she stayed rooted on her spot.

There was something about this boy that made her want to talk to him more; learn more about him and maybe become his friend if possible. And seeing as he was hardly a supporter of the rivalry their schools were having and that he actually understood her fear earlier, she felt at ease.

"I'm... I'm quite all right, thank you." She answered softly, not even breaking her stare at him even though he had already looked down at the ground. "I wasn't aware... of the rivalry between our schools until yesterday..." She admitted. "...I executed the talk poorly and I wasted your time. I-I apologize for that. Please forgive me..."

While walking, she shoved the bag of gummy bears into her bag, beginning to walk back home. After a very brief moment of her walking, someone came up to her with a very similar bag of gummy bears in her hand. Hiyoko, a little confused, dug in her bag and saw that her candies were in fact, not there. Snatching the candy from the female’s hands, she frowned.

"Y-You're... You're not insinuating that I... t-that you think... I stole your candies...?" 

Her hand danced quickly across the page. The teddy bear was easy. Even without a model from which to draw, Sachi was at least talented enough to draw a stuffed animal. It took her little over ten minutes from start to finish. Then, finally, she glanced up at Kotomi. “Not many people would just walk up to someone like this. What if I was some horrible murderer?” Grinning briefly, she returned to drawing. “You should be more careful.” With her luck, she’d probably scare the other off. “Did you maybe mistake me for someone you knew?” As she spoke, Sachi’s hand continued to move.

For those whole exact ten minutes, Kotomi stood still with her head slightly tilted to one side. Her eyes gazed over to the bespectacled girl's face, taking in how her expression would shift from time to time as she dragged her pencil on the sheet of her sketchpad. It almost seemed as though drawing a teddy bear was a breeze to her and Kotomi wished she could be as good as her.

"Hm...?" She hummed in acknowledgement upon hearing the girl's question. She remained quiet, however, and only shook her head in response. From afar, she already knew this girl was a stranger but it was her sketchpad that undoubtedly caught her attention. It felt as if she was hypnotized to advance her way towards its direction-- it looked so familiar that it nearly triggered something within her. Once the drawing was handed to her, Kotomi looked somewhat astonished for a fleeting moment as she stared at it; her lips slightly parted. Without even noticing it, she dropped her grocery bag and unintentionally let the fruits and vegetables roll out.

Reluctantly yet gratefully, her delicate fingers reached for the paper and she could feel her cheeks warming up at the sight of the drawing. It was beautiful. Tantalizing. Strange enough, she hugged the page; not even noticing that she had crumpled it as a warm rare smile adorned her lips. "I love it... thank you very much..."