Liar.

“Momota.”

It’s entirely unintentional that she approaches him without making a sound. It’s something of habit, when she has no idea how to act. Or perhaps, because she can guess how he might react to her upcoming action.

Birthdays are a celebration of life. Something Harukawa feels she has no right to partake in. She knows well that the astronaut will drag her into it, whether she wants to be or not. Thus she’s chosen to take the initiative, before he can drag her this way or that.

A small box is offered to him. When opened, he’ll find a single chocolate cupcake. The frosting is a mix of purple, blue, and black. Accented by small star sprinkles. It’s meant to resemble space, and has been crafted by her hand.

She absently reaches up, fingers curling into her hair. Her lips purse together. She doesn’t want to admit that she’s well aware of the implication. Romantic, no? But…

Contact is awkward, foreign. Even in a familial or platonic sense, she hasn’t held someone’s hand in years. Harukawa tends to avoid contact, whenever she can. Not that her classmates always allow that. Even then… does that answer the question?

Rather, she doesn’t understand why it’s so interesting. She much prefers keeping to the shadows. Unnoticed. Avoidance of her feelings is how she’s lived the last few years of her life.

@maskslain​​

Friendship doesn’t come easily to the assassin. It isn’t something he knows. Anyone who had reached out a hand to him had eventually learnt his… job. And, once he’d been accepted into Hope’s Peak Academy, he’d decided to not even try hiding his ‘talent’ in the first place.

That’s why it had caught him off-guard when the Ultimate Idol insisted on befriending him. He’s still not certain that it’s a good idea, considering his line of work. No, he’s most positive that it’s quite the awful one. Yet, he finds that part of him… wants to reach out his hand to her too.

Standing outside of class now, waiting for the idol to walk out, he’s not entirely sure what he’s doing. Upon sensing her approaching the door, he’s still not sure, but…

“…Harukawa-san?”

Clutching onto his bag a little tighter, a soft voice is raised just enough to be heard over the bustling hallway.

“I was wondering if… ah… you’d like to go somewhere…”

In a school full of stars, she is a supernova. A light that outshines the other. It is the role the nation’s top idol must play, without falter or fail. A light of warmth and heart. To attract attention, but to never be understood. To be seen, but not to be touched. Wonder, without knowing. And is a supernova not the death of a star? An explosion. All that remains of what was.

(That’s the truth of the Ultimate Idol.)

A truth that occasionally threatens to reveal itself these days. Extending a hand to the Ultimate Assassin is dangerous in more ways than one. (She has little concern for her life.) Harukawa’s used to threats, after all. Part of the idol life she doesn’t share with her classmates, unless they happen upon such things online.

“Saihara-kun..?”

There’s slight surprise at finding him waiting for him, instead of the other way around. A soft smile forms at her lips in an instant.

@maskslain​

She stares at him with this almost suspicious look on her face. Is she wondering what exactly he’s doing, just standing in front of this orphanage almost as if he’s staking out the place? Yeah, it’s probably a bit suspect of him—a grown man standing outside this place with his arms crossed and this laid-back expression on his face. But hey, she’s the first one to give him a hard time about it.

Keiji looks down at her, instinctively realizing that something is up with this girl… but, he doesn’t know what. She’s a high school student by the looks of it. Wouldn’t be the first time he’s met a high school girl who wasn’t exactly as she appeared to be… well, only one way to find out ‘what’s up’ with her.

“Hi there,” He starts out, giving her a hint of a smirk and a small, weak wave of the hand. “…What’s up?”

As a child, she’d grown up wondering why there were so few adults who came by to visit. Why they never came looking to add to their family. Not to say that it didn’t happen. But she knows now those adults were hand selected. Chosen and equipped with the knowledge they’re part of an elaborate cover up. Those instances are few and far in between.

Harukawa’s rarely at the orphanage, given the nature of her job. The never ending list of names keeps her busy. Yet... the one day she returns home? A stranger is hanging about outside. 

Her gaze is far too critical for an average teenager. She’s all too aware of that fact. Nevertheless, she can’t just leave him alone, when he stands out.

Oof. It’s been longer than intended, but I’m back!! I still need to change my theme, so I can write a proper about, my aus, and give proper credits on my blog. I need to do tags too... But for now...

Red eyes narrow at the question. No response leaves her lips. In the eyes of many, she’s a monster. A beast. A sinner. Something less than human. Harukawa does nothing to change their opinions. How could she? With the blood upon her hands, she has no right to proclaim innocence. How could she declare her own humanity? When lives end by her hand, paid for by the greedy and the cruel.

Who is she to declare the right to emotions?

Regret infects her blood, like a disease. She can close her eyes to it. She can harden her heart. She can lie to others. She can wear a mask. Pretend as though she feels nothing. Pretend as if every victim does not linger in her mind. As if they do not chase her in her dreams, demanding her soul be damned to hell. She can hear their whispers, even when she’s surrounded by a crowd. Nothing scares away her regret.

She cannot wash her hands white like the snow.

But…

Happiness?

Harukawa’s taken many lives. It’s an unending list, as wide and distant as the sky. She’s killed those who deserve it, yes. She’s killed the worst kinds of people imaginable. She feels numb at best, about them. Yet, she’s also taken the best of what the world has to offer. And all she can do is offer anyone a painless, quick death. It’s the only mercy she’s permitted to show. If one could call it mercy. It’s the only kindness she can afford.

Choosing the lives of the children of the orphanage over her targets…

(She’s not god. Who is she to decide who lives and who dies?)

Whether there’s a hidden student in the academy or not, she certainly does not need to point out the ridiculousness of his statement. Like herself, he’s been here from the start. And even if he hadn’t, why would he reveal himself?

Her eyes narrow in agitation, then her arms fold across her chest. This annoying child. Somehow, she feels as though she’s back in the orphanage, dealing with a child who has eaten far too much candy. Only, that is this boy all the time. He exhausts Harukawa far more than she can put into words.

#mr. sou hiyori………

miss maki………………….

» With his Monopad tucked under his arm, Amami entered the dining hall with the intention of investigating. With the threat of a mastermind lingering in his mind, he didn’t want the other students to notice him poking around. He didn’t know what he would find in here, but it couldn’t hurt to entertain the thought of there being something of use in here.

» His ears were quicker than his eyes. He blinked, eyes finally catching up, as he lifted his head to see Maki standing on the opposite side of the dining hall. His “ deer-in-the-headlights ” expression was quickly vanquished with a smile. “ Ah … hi, Harukawa-san. Fancy seeing you here? ”

“It... is the cafeteria.”

Pointing out the obvious was silly, but... the way he seemed surprised doesn’t go unnoticed. At least, not to the eyes of a trained assassin. (She lets it go. She has no time to be sticking her nose where it doesn’t belong. As long as the others think she’s the child caregiver, she will keep to herself.)