"even if i wanted to cheat i'd at least be sneaky about it." chishiya sang, smirk on his face and causing his professor to lash out in anger.

"are you talking back to me? well i hope you like the dark forest, because you'll be spending the night there in detention." she yelled, bringing out her quill to write his name down.

"how fun." he replied sarcastically, causing the adult in front of him to fume in anger once more.

a chair scraped loudly against the wooden floorboards, "professor! chishiya wouldn't cheat! and do you even have any evidence to support it?" his eyes widened at hearing the familiar voice, turning around to see them, that hufflepuff, standing up from their seat with their hands pressed against the wood and a determined look on their face.

"sit down right this instant otherwise you'll be joining him in detention." she shouted at them, but they didn't back down, instead sending chishiya a small smile when their eyes met before returning their attention back to their teacher.

"i will not back down until my friend is off that list!" the yelled, confident in their answer.

chishiya sighed, irritated that they had willingly put themselves into detention with him. why had they done that? anyone in their right mind would stay far away from the dark forest, no one knew of the creatures lurking there after all. not to mention the things they'd have to do during that time to make up for their punishment.

and here they were, the dark shadows playing tricks on his mind as he stared into the expanse of the forest, unknown entities hidden within the trees. faintly he could hear the howl of a wolf and the rustle of the leaves as wind blew through his strands. quickly he brought his robe closer to his body, seeing them do the same.

"you're a dumbass." he muttered, taking the first step into the terrain as they followed right beside him.

"would you rather have been in here alone then?" they asked, peering at him innocently but he could recognize the small mischief in their eyes. they probably had been excited about coming here, loving nature and all.

he smirked at them, "i'm always alone."

they sighed, looking away and he could see the sad look that painted their features, "doesnt it get lonely though?"

he looked away as well, instead focusing on the path through the trees, "that's the point."

"yeah but, even if you're alone, it doesn't necessarily mean you want to be alone. does that make sense?" they asked, titling their head towards the side.

he hummed, shrugging in response, "all i hear is nonsense."

"i'm just saying-" they paused, and chishiya stopped talking as well. they had been so caught up in their small argument that they forgot where they were. but the loud rustle of something moving in the shadows had quickly reminded them of that fact.

with the lantern in his grasp he moved it around, narrowing his eyes to see past the light and straining his ears to listen. they did the same, before he looked down when he felt their hands clutch onto his sleeve. he smirked, about to tease them when he realized that the expression on their face wasn't scared. in fact, they looked excited, and even a little bit in awe.

"what is it?" he whispered, careful as to not alert whatever was hidden in the dark of the night.

they turned to look at him, features softly illuminated by the yellow light, "do you see it too?"

he stared at them for longer than necessary, feeling his heart skip a beat before swallowing thickly. he turned away and tried to regain his composure, "see what?"

"there, behind the tree." he glanced at where they were directing, squinting his eyes once more until he saw it. a large animal, sure enough peeking out from behind the bark wood. cautiously he stepped closer, the lantern showing off the large bat like wings tucked to their side and the lack of body hair, revealing bones and reptilian features . he recognized it as the creatures that pulled the carriages during the beginning of the year, although he was sure he had imagined them since no one else had been able to spot them, always saying that the carriages pulled themselves.

he tried to stop them as they released their grip on his clothes and reached forward, palm

held out towards the creatures face. caustiously, it reached it's snout forward and sniffed, before bumping their hand and rubbing against their skin.

they turned back to look at him, bright smile on their lips as they pet the strange animal's head, "come on, they're friendly."

chishiya stayed rooted to his spot however, eyes still scanning over its body and trying to make sense of the situation. was this really safe? he could never be too careful, yet here they were, carelessly putting themselves in danger and they didn't even know it.

their soft giggle brought him out of his thoughts as well as the warmth of their skin against his, taking his hand and bringing him closer to where they had stood previously. his heart raced unexpectedly in his chest as it was brought forward, blank gray eyes staring at him before a snort left it's snout and it bumped his hand as well.

he looked down embarrassed when they placed their hand over his, keeping it there as his fingers met cold scales and bones. it was a weird sensation, but the creature didn't make any move to harm either of them.

"thestrals can't be seen by everyone, so i'm surprised and a little sad that you noticed it too." they whispered softly, causing him to stare at them in confusion.

"i haven't read about them in class." he mumbled quietly to himself, trying to think back during their mythical creatures lesson but the name didn't ring a bell.

"professor hasn't gone over them, but they are viewed as creatures of misfortune and aggression because only people who have witnessed death can see them." they explained, fingers trembling softly over his own.

"so if you've seen someone die then they appear." he confirmed, staring back at the creature who flapped its wings.

"yup." they nodded, not looking at him.

brown eyes stared at them, wondering who exactly they had seen die in order for them to notice this creature. for unexplainable reasons he felt his heart hurt in his chest at the thought, before returning his attention back to their hands, soft and delicate and so so warm over his own. once more he grew embarrassed, shifting his palm and they hesitated before removing it, bringing the limb back to their side.

"they don't seem so agressive though." he noted, seeing as the thestral continued to stare at them curiously.

"i think they're just misunderstood. i think i would be angry too if people couldn't see me. it must be so lonely for them." their lips pulled down into a frown, not at all like them and the expression didn't sit right with him.

he looked back at the thestral, conflicted but understanding, "yeah, im sure it is."

hogwarts was in a state of chaos.

it was that time of year again where exams were soon, and all students were scrambling to cram in as much information as they could before then. chishiya wasn't particularly worried, he had no doubt about his capabilities and he knew he was smart enough to pass even without studying. however, that hufflepuff he had grown fond of was not so diligent in their studies, and they had come complaining to him about this very fact, even asking desperately for help to study. and despite wanting to say no, they had pouted, bright eyes giving him a pleading look and causing him to look away embarrassed but agreed nonetheless.

so here he was, sitting with them at a table in the library with a stack of books from each class and paper and quills. it was relatively quiet, with just the soft murmurs of other students nearby and the sliding of books being put back into their place.

he glanced over their paper, chuckling softly to himself, "you're doing it wrong."

"really?" their eyes widened in surprise, quickly leaning forward to scan their writing. their brows furrowed in confusion, not quite understanding what they had done wrong. chishiya sighed before placing down his book, leaning forward as well and pointing to the error in their problem.

a sheepish smile graced their lips as they thanked him before going to erase and fix their mistake, causing chishiya to lean back in his chair once more and read.

really he should be studying as well, but it was fun to watch their frustration. small breaths of air escaping their lips when they didn't understand something and the amount of times they've switched subjects hoping for it to be easier only to get proven wrong. chishiya could even say it was cute, but tried not to make this obvious by keeping himself occupied on the letters in his book.

soon enough he noticed that they had grown quiet, far to quiet to really be working. brown eyes glanced over at their figure, seeing that their head rested on the pages of their book. and upon closer inspection he could hear the soft snores emanating from their lips, eyes closed and their face twisted in content. the blonde sighed, not at all surprised that they had fallen asleep while working, there had been numerous times where they had fallen asleep in class after all when they were paired together, hogwarts all about letting the different houses intermingle with each other.

he glanced around to see no one nearby so he didn't have to worry about anyone disturbing their sleep. he directed his attention back to them, feeling himself smile at the sight. he sighed, leaning down and resting his cheek against the cold wood as he watched them, lips parted and they breathed softly. he noticed the stray wisps of hair obscuring their face and without thinking he reached over and brushed them away, heart stopping and fingers pausing against their skin. their face shifted, and for a second he was scared they would wake up and he'd have to explain this strange situation. they just sighed however, relaxing once more and quickly he brought his hands back to his side, watching for another second before sitting upright.

cheeks warmed as he cleared his throat, placing their robe over their shoulders as he leaned back in his seat and picked up his book, praying that the butterflies fluttering in his stomach would go away.

the blonde male normally kept to himself.

he knew people weren't kind, everyone had a darkness inside them that more often than not controlled their actions. as a slytherin he had seen it first hand, especially with his housemates since slytherin house did produce the most dark wizards, it was a fact that everyone knew. so whenever he saw a poor first year getting picked on he brushed it off, not deeming it worth his time.

this time was different however. because he knew those familiar locks of hair, and that tie he sees way too often, yellow socks and the robe they had decorated with flowers. he thought that they were just speaking to other students, as friendly as ever, but the thought was quickly contradicted once he saw their books get knocked out of their hands, papers flying across the floor until they settled all around them. his eyes widened in surprise at the scene, and he quickly realized that not only were they clearly getting picked on, it was by his own housemates no less.

their smile stayed bright as they crouched down to the floor, gathering their books and resting them in the crook of their arm as a soft sigh escaped their lips. how could they not be bothered by this? didnt they know how to defend themselves?

his steps were quick as he crouched down beside them, not saying a word as he helped gather up the stray pieces of paper. he could feel their eyes on him and when he looked up he was met with a soft smile, grateful for his help.

soft snickers caused him to look up, smirks displayed on their faces as they whispered to each other. he looked back down, noticing the way their hands trembled as they stuffed their last book into their bag, face seemingly conflicted as they reached back to gather the rest of their things.

chishiya stood up, matching the smile on the two slytherins faces. they looked at him, laughing even more, "what's with that smile?"

"hm? oh, just thinking about how pathetic you both look right now." he smiled, fake and he knew they realized it too.

"huh? want to say that again?" one shouted, face twisted in anger.

"i said you both look pathetic." he laughed when they glared, "wasn't that what you wanted to hear? i was just answering a question."

they moved forward but the other stopped them, whispering in their ear before they sighed, "fucking asshole. let's go."

he watched as they left, smile leaving his face once they were gone. he turned back to look at his friend to find them already standing, hands clutching the strap of their shoulder bag and a soft smile on their face.

"thank you." they beamed, leaning down and brushing the dust from their clothes.

"you should stick up for yourself more." he muttered, noticing the bruises on their knees and cuts on their skin.

they shook their head, smile never leaving their face, "i don't mind. they might be going through something right now."

he sighed, reaching forward and taking the books still resting in their arms as he began walking forward, "that kindness is probably going to kill you one day."

they laughed, as if it was a funny thought, "i think i'll be fine. besides, i have you by my side! so i'm not too worried."

he gave them a quick glance before looking away, feeling his heart warm at the thought that they needed him, "yeah, you do."

after the exams spring time came, with soft breezes and blooming flowers. it was finally nice enough to go outside, even without layers upon layers of clothing just to keep warm. and chishiya had decided to do just that, not liking how stuffy the common room had gotten as well as the amount of students in there, relaxing now that tests were over and the year would soon come to an end as well.

the same tree he always sat under came into view, leaves now decorating the branches and those flowers he had grown to love blooming from the ground. blades of grass was vibrant green and rustled with the breeze, and brown eyes drifted up and smirked knowingly at seeing someone in that tree.

theirs hands reached desperately for a small feline, and orange tabby that laid curled on an upper branch far from their reach. chishiya found himself snickering softly as they stumbled over ever so slightly, hands flying to steady themselves from falling. their fingers grasped at their shirt to calm their racing heart, eyes drifting to chishiya as he put his hand up in a small wave.

"chishiya!" they greeted, toothy smile as they waved back, "can you help me? my cat won't come down."

he hummed, "that sounds like a you problem."

"please! it'll be real quick!" they pleaded, putting their hands together as they sent him a small pout.

his eyes scanned over the tree and branches, debating heavily in his head if he really should attempt to climb. in the event that he were to fall it would definitely hurt, not to mention he had never tried to climb a tree before, so he had no idea where to start at all.

he looked away, "sounds dangerous."

"it's not! look, put your foot there to hoist yourself to grab that branch, it's steady enough to support your body weight." they began to instruct, and chishiya sighed before placing down his book and bag, walking over and bringing his hands out of his pockets to do as they said.

it took some effort, but eventually he was able to reach the branch they currently sat on, hands filled with blisters as he took his spot in front of them. quickly he reached up and held out his hands for the feline, who sniffed at his palm before disregarding his outstretched hands and instead jumped onto his chest, causing him to let out a small sound in surprise and stumble for balance.

warm hands grasped at his forearms and he did the same, breathing heavily as the cat jumped from his shoulder and onto a different branch before landing on the ground and walking away.

he glared at the retreating tabby, before turning back to hear laughter chime in his ears. their chest shook as more giggles fell from their throat, and chishiya realized that he was still gripping tightly onto their arms as they were doing to him. but somehow, he didn't want to let go, liking how despite the blisters and roughness of their finger pads they felt nice against his skin, bare and reassuring that he wouldn't fall.

"it's pretty up here right?" they asked, causing chishiya to glance around. sure enough he could see the wide expanse of the field, all sorts of flowers foreign to him retreating from the ground. not to mention there was the lake, water glistening in the sun and clear enough to see the rocks below. he looked up through the leaves and blinked at the sunshine peeking through, creating shadows that cooled his skin from the heat.

he looked back at them, smiling and waiting expectantly for him to answer. this time he focused on their features, with the softness of their lips and the fluffiness of their hair, strewn with leaves not only on their head but clothes as well. with colors he used to hate and skin soft against his, still supporting him as they sat there in the tree.

he nodded, small smirk twitching his lips, "i think it's the prettiest sight i've ever seen."

all too soon his time at hogwarts came to an end.

chishiya shuntaro had just finished sitting through the ceremony for the graduation students, receiving his diploma and a handshake for completing all 7 years of school. that wasn't what occupied his mind however. instead he was focused on trying to find that hufflepuff, wanting - no - needing to see them one last time.

he probably ran through all of hogwarts before he found them, standing on the bridge that connected the buildings of the school and staring out the large window that looked out towards the land hogwarts lay on. chest heaving he slowed to a stop right beside them, causing them to tear their eyes away and look at him instead.

he could feel his heart skip a beat as they smiled, so soft like warm hugs and fluffy clouds, one that he loved. and one that he decided the longer he stared needed to stay in his life.

he cleared his throat, trying to calm his racing heart, "after this, do you want to get butterbeer?"

their face changed to that of surprise, perhaps not expecting that he was the one trying to keep in contact with them. he had been stubborn in the beginning after all, but his walls had torn down the more he stayed around them, and he didn't want to let them go so easily.

"i'd really love that actually." their voice was soft, and they were about to turn to look back at the view when chishiya took another step forward, stopping them from doing so.

he ignored their confused expression as well as the churning in his stomach, hands reaching into his pocket for what he had stuffed inside earlier. crumbled stems and petals met his hand and he stared down disappointed. of course, how had he been so reckless as to not at least put a protection charm on it? but before he could mutter a sorry and put it back their hands had grasped gently at the plant, holding it in the palm of their hands as they stared down at it.

he waited with a beating heart for their response, knowing that they'd figure out the intentions of the plant. he had spent countless hours researching about the meaning of flowers after all, and he felt as if this one in particular was the perfect fit for the situation.

their eyes glanced back up to stare at him, and the smile that made its way onto their face put him at ease. they took a step forward and before he could protest their arms had wrapped around his torso, head buried in the fabric of his clothes and a small sigh of content leaving their lips. he glanced down, feeling his cheeks heat up as he hesitated before returning the embrace, hoping that they couldn't hear nor feel the racing of his heart at the close proximity.

sunshine beat down on his skin the longer they stood there, but it was nothing compared to the warmth he felt right now, spreading through his chest and around his body and enough to keep the flowers of summer alive.

of the purple lilacs in his heart, symbolizing first love.

MENU. STRAWBERRY CREPES.

quickly they reached up and flipped over so their legs dangled over the grass. they then released their grip and dropped to the ground, brushing the green leaves that had accumulated from their clothes. it was now that chishiya noticed the yellow tie peeking out from under their vest, as well as the small crest of their house. of course this stranger was a hufflepuff, nothing else could explain the strange happiness of those sorted into the blindingly bright colored theme. the same happiness that was slowly getting on his nerves.

and unfortunately they didn't leave. instead they crouched down, eyes scanning the book in his hand, "oh! what are you reading?" they leaned in closer and instinctively chishiya leaned back, not liking the sudden close proximity.

"none of your business." he muttered.

they pucker their lips out in a pout, but very quickly their attention was lost on him and instead on the bed of flowers right next to the tree. their eyes brighten as they hop over his legs, crouching down once more and peering intently at the pink petals.

chishiya internally rolled his eyes at their strange infatuation with the plant. another thing about hufflepuffs was that they had this weird obsession with plants. maybe because the head of their house was the herbology teacher and he was sure their common room was covered with the stuff. but what was the point? it was going to die anyways, squished or picked by a student. why care for something that was going to perish in a couple days time? quickly he went back to reading his book, deciding to ignore this stranger's presence.

they had other plans however as he could feel their fingers brush against his ears, quickly retreating their hands back just as quick as they had been there. he glared at them, his own fingers unconsciously reaching up to touch where they had been.

he blinked in surprise at feeling the soft petals of a flower, stem tucked behind his ear and keeping his hair back from his face.

"it's a chrysanthemum. they represent happiness. really pretty right?" they gave a soft smile, waiting for him to agree he was sure.

he turned away. he didn't want to give them what they thought they'd get out of him, "i don't care about flowers or their meanings." but still, despite his words he found himself keeping the plant there. only because his hair wasn't in his face anymore.

they laughed once more, not at all phased by his harsh tone, "take good care of it okay?" they pushed themselves up, giving chishiya a short wave, "i'll see you around!"

with that they turned and began running through the grass, soft giggles and an easy going expression permanent on their face. chishiya didn't understand how someone could be so happy, so lively like that. was it just a hufflepuff thing? well, he didn't care, as long as they stayed far away from him from now on and stopped climbing the trees he would sit under.

chishiya rarely ever ran late for anything. he made sure he was punctual, despite not caring about the classes that he attended. it was more like something to keep his mind busy, because god forbid he was left with nothing to do.

but of course his teacher had asked him to bring something to another staff member, and of course he had never even heard of the professor's name. so of course he didn't know where the classroom was, resulting in him being lost.

what could you expect? it was a large castle, with stairs always moving and the paintings and ghosts he encountered were no help, despite him asking as nicely as humanly possible.

after yet another ghost had ignore him he let out another air of frustration, walking down the hall that looked just as similar as the one he passed through just a couple minutes before. he was close to giving up when he collided with something, stumbling back and blinking at the figure he had run into.

they also blinked in surprise until their eyes widened in recognition, smile stretching their lips as they pointed at him, "oh! it's you from before!"

he reached out and pushed their hand down, "it's rude to point at people."

this time their smile was apologetic, instead using their hand to rub the back of their neck bashfully, "ah, sorry." their eyes glanced over his body, clearly looking for something, "did you keep the flower?"

he thought back to the pink petal that had clipped his hair back a couple weeks ago, "no."

"aw really? well, it probably died huh? maybe next time i should cast a spell to make it last longer." they thought out loud.

"i don't want your flowers." he replied bluntly, turning away and walking down the hall.

they followed after him however, hands clasped behind their back, "but it did something! look! you seem happier now." they reached over and pinched both his cheeks, tugging it upwards into a smile.

he swatted their hands away, "don't touch me."

they laughed softly, once more clasping their hands back together, "ah, alright then," they were silent for a moment before their face brightened, and for a moment chishiya was scared of the stupid thing that they were about to speak, "say, let's be friends!"

very stupid indeed. he didn't understand why hufflepuffs were so friendly. didn't they realize that some people'd rather be left alone? "no."

"come on! i really want a slytherin friend. you know what they say, our houses go really good together." they pressed on, causing chishiya to roll his eyes in annoyance.

"no one says that." he replied. it was true. slytherins were known for their bad reputation after all, and so many of the other students tended to stay away. and there was no point in someone so lively to become friends with someone like him.

"then let's prove it to them! that hufflepuffs and slytherins can be good friends!" they stopped in front of him, preventing him from continuing on in his path.

as he stared at their stupid smile chishiya remembered why he had always stayed away from the honey badger house. they could be so annoying, and way too much to handle. and so he brushed past them without another word, not noticing that somehow he had made it to where he needed to be. he didn't even realize where he was going, he was just trying to get away from them after all. but he pushed the thought away and entered the classroom, leaving them behind the door.

one of the only things chishiya liked about hogwarts was the food there.

it always appeared during the same time everyday, a feast that he could appreciate. it was something he looked forward to in the mornings especially, where he could get there extra early and avoid running into anyone that he didn't feel like talking to, enough to eat his food in peace and go to class.

but for some reason his alarm had gone off late that day, and so he didn't get to enjoy the quiet morning with his tea and bread, nor did he get to eat at all actually. he had run late enough that as punishment his teacher didn't allow him to go to lunch without cleaning the cupboard with the books for class and washing the potion bottles until there wasn't a speck of dust on them.

he wouldn't have minded it he wasn't so hungry, stomach rumbling every second to prove his point. really he could just leave, his teacher wasn't even around anymore, but he knew the consequences of leaving things half done. and his teacher wasn't one to bend the rules no matter how good his grades were.

hands dried the glass bottle as he sat in silence, the only sound being the ticking clock and the birds from the open window. a new sound entered his ears however, and he turned to see a mess of hair and that familiar yellow tie, head peeking into the room before settling on him. they smiled, before opening the door fully and clicking it closed, skipping over to where he sat.

"what are you doing here. you're missing lunch." he mumbled, going back to his work.

they ignored him however, instead placing down a small box right in front of him. he glanced up at them curiously, and they waited for him to open it. when he realized they weren't going to leave he sighed before putting down the glass bottle and removing the lid, surprised to see the abundance of food tucked neatly into the container.

"i noticed you weren't at breakfast today so i figured you'd be hungry." they explained, smile growing wider.

he pushed the box away, "i didn't ask you to do this."

"i know. i just wanted to is all." they pushed it back before walking around the table to stand by him, their sweet flowery scent filling his senses as they began drying the rest of the bottles, humming a soft tune.

"stop that." he muttered, trying to grab back the potion bottles and the rag. he hated having other people help him, especially when he didn't ask for it.

instead they turned so he couldn't grab the materials from where he was seated, "come on, just eat your food. i won't tell professor that i helped alright? i'll be gone as quickly as i was here."

he wanted to argue further but before he could speak they had shoved a piece of bread into his mouth, successfully shutting him up. he glared at them but they just smiled, resuming the cleaning. chishiya grumbled but despite his earlier thoughts of hating receiving help his stomach began to grumble once more. he really was hungry, and the food his smelled so good. he figured, just this once, he'd let them. and so he began eating, finally easing the hunger that had bothered him all day. he also watched silently as they put away the books and organized the potion bottles, all while humming that soft tune that tickled his ears quite nicely. he hadn't heard it before, but their voice was soft and quiet enough that it didn't bother him too much, and so he let them finish as he ate his food.

hogwarts had many places that was good for hiding.

it was perfect for chishiya really, he enjoyed being alone and although no one really bothered him in the common room there were times when the 1st and 2nd years would get rowdy, and as his last year at hogwarts he wanted things to just go by quietly. no interruptions and most importantly peace and quiet.

so he found himself wandering the halls more often than not, mainly during the night and avoiding any teachers on night patrol. luckily he was good at avoiding them, and tonight was one of those nights as he walked down the long corridors, the only sound being his feet taking each step and the flickering fire of the torches. despite modern technology they kept a lot of the old decorations, and he wasn't necessarily complaining since it made it easier to avoid being caught in the dark past bedtime hours.

he turned the corner, brown eyes watching the courtyard that usually buzzed with activity during the daytime. it was quiet this time, just the soft blowing of the trees from the wind and the small creaking of crickets. he would've turned his direction there if it wasn't for the sight of a shadow just across, holding up their wand with the light spell.

quickly and quietly he opened one of the doors, closing it and waiting with a beating heart for the footsteps to disappear. when they did, he let out a small breath in relief, turning around to see which room he had found himself in.

he blinked in surprise at seeing the hufflepuff here, hair thick with dirt and face covered in the same substance. they pushed their headphones down to rest on their shoulders, lowering the water can held in their grasp.

and of course, they greeted him with a soft smile, giving a small wave as well.

chishiya didn't feel like asking what they were doing here. the answer was pretty obvious, and he didn't want to stay longer than necessary. he gave them a short nod in acknowledgement, about to turn when he heard the footsteps again. quietly he stepped back towards them, watching the door and hoping that they'd leave.

"i'm surprised you're still awake." they whispered softly, a small giggle escaping their lips.

"can't sleep." he bluntly replied, turning back around to look at them.

they reached up and brushed their hands against their cheek, probably to wipe the sweat that had gathered there but really it only put more dirt on their face. laughable really.

"the flowers are going to bloom soon," they spoke, holding up their watering can and tipping it over so the crystal clear liquid washed over the soil, darkening all that was touched, "not many of the students are good at keeping them healthy, and our professor has a lot of other ones to take care of. so i come here during the night to help out from time to time."

chishiya didn't remember asking about why they were here, but he didn't bother telling them that. instead he directed his attention to look around the small greenhouse, the fresh scent of soil and rainwater and the flowery scent that they always wore. that explained why whenever they crossed paths he would smell it.

he looked back down at feeling them tug at his sleeve, bringing him to crouch down right beside them. he gave them a weird look before glancing at one of the pots, realizing that slowly the stem was peeking out of the soil. it continued to grow until it bloomed, petals of a deep red forming. even more surprisingly the flower began to sway, almost like a small dance.

they laughed in excitement at the small performance, giving him another look to gauze his reaction.

"i don't think they're supposed to grow that fast." he said. he wasn't really experienced in herbology, he much preferred defense against the dark arts class material, but even through his lack of knowledge he had never seen a flower grow so quickly.

"well they're magic of course," they laughed softly, before leaning forward and inspecting the other pots that remained blank, "looks like none of the others will bloom tonight. so consider this your lucky day."

once more they smiled, face lit up and basking in the soft moonlight that peeked through the leaves above and the window panes. he was starting to grow used to their constant energy, although the dark of night didn't do those soft smiles any justice.

quickly he turned away, bothered at the thought that had entered his mind, "right." without another word he went back towards the door, not even checking if the professor was still nearby before leaving them alone in the greenhouse, with only the plants and stars as company.

eventually the soft colors of autumn turned to winter, where many things died under the harsh conditions and the cold came to replace the heat. with harsh winds and snowfall several feet deep, everything slow and boring and everything chishiya hated.

and with those skies came the school trip, to a town not far over. chishiya usually opted out of the annual field trip, not caring for it and plus there was too many possibilities of running into people he knew. but alas, despite arguments his father had still signed that slip, forcing him to join his classmates in the cold and in an unknown area.

he trudged through the snow covered paths, hating the amount of students laughing and bumping into him as he walked. the candy store was too crowded, so he didn't go there despite wanting a strawberry based treat and the store with toys was not really to his liking, despite the pranks that he could use. if anything he'd rather use hexes and curses to punish those 'for fun' as they called it. it was much more exciting that way.

so he continued onward, until he spotted a familiar head peeking through the crowd, bundled up nicely in a yellow scarf and dressed in their black robes. without thinking he walked closer to them, confirming that it really was who he had expected it to be.

they turned around and smiled upon seeing him, bright and warm enough to melt the snow that fell around them. he wished it would, he didn't like the cold, especially with how hard it was snowing right now. they must have noticed his discomfort because they grabbed his hand and tugged him through the crowd, with very little complaints coming from his mouth much to his surprise before they entered a small restaurant. it was crowded with students from school, exactly what he was trying to avoid but before he could actually complain this time they were already dragging him to a booth, successfully obscuring any weird stares that they were receiving.

they sat across from him, resting their cheek in the palm of their hand, "i didn't think you liked these sort of events."

"i don't." he was quick to reply, still upset at having been dragged here by the teachers.

they just laughed at his bluntness, reaching forward and tapping the menu in front of him, "the butterbeer is really good. have you ever had any?"

brown eyes glance down at the picture, not recognizing it, "i've never been here before."

their eyes widened, excitement buzzing in their bones, "oh! you should definitely try it. here, i'll order for us."

so after much small talk with mostly them doing the talking their drinks arrived, two glasses set in front of the two. excitedly they reached forward and took a sip, just as quickly leaning back and fanning their tongue as the beverage was too hot.

chishiya could feel a small laugh rumble in his throat before taking a sip himself, quite liking the sweet taste. believe it or not the male had a sweet tooth, and the drink warmed his body like the tea he enjoyed sipping. it definitely helped rival the cold temperatures from outside.

he watched as they took another sip, this time blowing on it softly before doing so. and once again chishiya could feel the laugh threatening to burst from his mouth at seeing the sweet foam cover their upper lips, them clearly oblivious to what had happened.

they cocked their head to the side, eyes looking at him curiously, "what?"

quickly he cleared his throat, masking the amusement on his face, "nothing."

they narrowed their eyes at him before reaching a gloved hand up towards their lips. he could tell they had grown embarrassed as they looked away, shifting their body away from him as they took another sip.

eventually they got up and left, walking around the small town. chishiya wasn't sure why he continued to follow them around, he liked being alone after all. but for some reason they seemed to be the only person he could withstand despite the lingering irritation he felt being around them. well, with a personality like that he was sure he'd always be annoyed, but he had grown to tolerate it over the course of their 7th year together.

he paused when they stopped in the middle of the bridge, hands gripping the side as they looked up towards the sky. he walked back so he stood right beside them, watching as the soft flakes of snow hit their nose and settled on their lashes. that smile, the one they always wore was of course present on their face, gloved hand extended out towards the fallen flakes and trying to catch them in their hands. they then extended out their tongue, clapping excitedly when one had landed on the appendage and they turned towards him, smile even brighter than before. and once again chishiya felt like the expression, it could melt down even the coldest of places, ones that had never even known what warmth had felt like before.

that night he sat near his window, the students sharing the dorm with him fast asleep as he was leaning against the cool glass. in his hands lay a small flower, beyond wilted from the many months that it had been taken from its place in the ground. but despite that, he kept it. delicate and still pretty in his eyes. perhaps because it reminded him of the day he met that strange hufflepuff, the one who never stopped smiling and was way too soft for someone like him. who pushed people away and preferred to be alone. but despite that they continued to stick around, and was even the same person who had warmed the coldness of his heart.

even more surprisingly he felt himself smile, closing his palms over the flower and leaning his head back against the wall. he let himself think about them, enjoying how they contradicted the harsh cold of winter with their soft smiles and their warm gaze, that melted his entire being as if it was still summer, with green grass and chrysanthemum flowers.

MENU. STRAWBERRY CREPES. PART TWO.

it honestly surprised you to see him upon entering the grand lobby of a seaside hotel. after a terrifying night of participating in your first game, citizens of the beach had led you to the so called utopia, and you had stared wide eyed at the hundreds of people dancing in the center of the room. it had been pure luck, or maybe it was fate, that your eyes caught onto the white hoodie in the corner of the room. something in your heart urged your attention to linger, raking it across his form that was leaning against the wall. brown eyes, appearing cold and calculated, watched the scene unfold before him. his posture was relaxed, but his expression screamed boredom, as if he had better things to do then stand there and people watch. you had found him interesting enough to stare for another beat longer, before noticing that your red string disappeared into the pockets of his hoodie.

your breath caught in your throat, muscles tense with anticipation. there was no doubt about it, people could only see their own strings after all. that man, whoever he was, was your soulmate.

you don't know what came over you at that moment. one second you were staring dumbfounded from the realization and the next you're brushing past several bodies as you stride across the room. a feeling of hope bubbled within your chest, the string seemingly pulling you closer to his direction. you barely thought twice over what his reaction would be upon meeting you. you had heard so many stories from completed souls and how they wasted no time filling in the missing parts. surely your soulmate would share the same thoughts.

when you finally reached him he only had the time to widen his eyes in surprise before you engulfed him in a hug. your arms wrapped around his neck like it was familiar, body pressed tightly against his own as you finally felt him. the warmth of his body and the beating of his heart, reminding you that he was real and not just a figment of your imagination. your heart stuttered within your chest, and all the aches faded away as it synced with his own. you were finally with the person you were in love with since before you even knew what the concept was.

"i found you." you whispered against his skin, fingers bunching up the fabric of his white hoodie. it all felt so surreal, like a dream or something out of a fairy tale. you didn't want the moment to end.

but then you were getting shoved off, thrown towards the ground from the unknown force. you blinked in surprise, head swimming from the sudden change of pace. what just happened? you lifted your eyes up, and you felt the smile on your face drop at the man's expression. you had assumed he'd be happy. or maybe even surprised. but the cold look in his eyes, the blank state of his face, that was far from the excitement you had anticipated.

"what are you doing?" he asked, voice dripping with acrimony and his eyes colder than before.

even with those words you still couldn't understand.

you quickly scrambled to your feet, taking a step forward but faltering when he took a step back. you brushed it off as shock, assuming that he wasn't the affectionate type. that was fine by you. it didn't matter if he didn't care for hugs or the simple brush of fingers. as long as he was by your side you didn't care what sort of relationship the two of you had.

you mustered up another smile, holding up your pinkie where the red string swirled around it, "our strings, they're connected. that means we're soulmates!"

you thought he'd finally understand with the words said out loud, but instead he scoffed, like the whole concept was ridiculous. his eyes drift towards the side, "what a joke."

confusion fogged your brain, still unable to grasp the fact that the mans words and actions meant exactly what you feared. you quickly took another step forward, holding up your hand, "but it's true, see? this means that-"

"it's just a piece of string. it doesn't mean anything." he interrupted, and the words made your heart break.

"but-"

"don't touch me again. and don't go around trying to talk to me. i want nothing to do with you." each syllable was harsh leaving his lips, winter storms swirling within the brown of his eyes. you were so shocked that you didn't even realize he had already left, disappearing out of sight.

but you knew which direction he had gone, the string followed him after all. you didn't know if that made you relieved or furthered the aches in your heart that had returned.

you stood quietly at the back of the room, head pounding from the blaring music and the words continuing to echo within your brain. he said the string meant nothing. but, that couldn't be right. because to you, it meant everything. you lifted your hand, studying the red, and the tears began to fall swiftly down your cheeks. it didn't make sense to you. how could you have thought so highly of this string of faith, loving every fiber of it, only for it to lead you to a man like him, who clearly did not feel the same?

why was he being so stubborn over the fact that you existed only for him?

-

days passed and you never ran into him again. either he really had disappeared, or he was really good at hiding. you figured it was the latter, since your short time here at the beach had shown you that members weren't allowed to leave unless authorized to or for games. but you thought deeply during that time, coming to a conclusion. even though he was hiding from you, and even though he had been clear with his words of wanting no association with you whatsoever, you didn't spend years dreaming about the day you'd meet your soulmate just to give up over a few simple words.

no, you'd prove to this man that you two were destined to be, and you'd prove it no matter what.

you decided you wouldn't explicitly go looking for him. not only would it be meaningless because of your string, but you'd rather run into him by chance since you could blame it on fate and not on your own stubbornness. so, as you waited for the blonde strands to appear you took the time to explore the building you were staying in. you wanted to get used to it since you'd be there a while, but who knows. maybe you'd come across one of his hiding spots as well.

and a hiding spot you did find when you stumbled upon a door with a sign, different from the hundreds of others you've come across thus far. you inspected it, finding a white figure going up some steps with an arrow pointing in the same direction. this must lead to a rooftop then. wanting to see what the view would be like, you pushed the doors open, climbing up the stairs until you found yourself on the flat ground of the roof. you smiled at the clear blue sky and the hundreds of buildings in the distance, breathtaking and beautiful. you turned in a small circle, halting mid way when you caught a glimpse of white at the far corner of the rooftop.

there, just several feet away, was your soulmate, sitting down near the edge. his hands were in his pockets and his hoodie rested on the top of his head, just like the first time you saw him. realistically it could've been anyone, but the red string swirling around his body said otherwise.

smiling, you quickly psyched yourself up with confidence before walking over, careful not to make too much noise. he didn't immediately turn when you made your way to the edge, so you took that opportunity to slowly sit down. you made sure to leave enough space between you both so it wasn't uncomfortable, but still close enough that you could engage in a conversation.

"hi." you said, kicking your feet back and forward while wringing your hands between themselves. you waited nervously for an answer.

his eyes glanced at you, irritation visibly making its way onto his features upon recognizing you. he let out a sigh, turning away, "it's you again."

"you can't get rid of me that easily." you smiled, taking the chance to scoot just the tiniest bit closer.

once more he sighed, refusing your proximity as he turned around and stood up, "unfortunately not."

you watched in surprise as he began walking away, quickly scrambling to your feet to follow after him, "hey! wait! where are you going? i just got here!"

"exactly. that means it's time for me to go." he replied, not sparing you a single glance.

"at least tell me your name!" you shouted. you wanted to know at least something about this man, and knowing his name would give you a good start.

he paused, staring at you for several quiet moments. hickory brown passed swiftly over your face, and you almost had hope when he smiled, "no." he replied bluntly, reaching for the handle of the door that led back inside. you quickly pushed the door open as well, following him down the stairs.

"come on! you want me to call you the love of my life or something?" you were being sarcastic, but if it really came to it you wouldn't mind having that in replacement to his name.

he stopped, turning around to look at you. you were just a few steps above him, clearly taller, but even then you felt small when he fixed you with cold, brown eyes, "call me that and i'll push you down the stairs."

"then give me something to call you!" you quipped back, your stubborn nature returning as you refused to look away. something told you if you did he would never open up to you, and that was the last thing you wanted.

"how about, 'off limits'" he muttered, turning back around and continuing the descent.

"that's not-"

"later." he replied, giving you a mere wave from over his shoulder. his words and actions were frustrating beyond belief, but still, you didn't want to give up. at least he was talking to you, and even that in itself was exciting.

you walked just a few feet behind him, taking in everything you could during that tense silence. his hair was dyed blonde, roots coming out to its dark natural color while the strands curled at the bottom. he wore the same hoodie from the first time you met, white with not a speck of dirt. it looked cozy, and you briefly wondered if it smelled just like him. what did he smell like anyways? maybe fresh? or sweet?

"stop following me." he broke the silence, and it surprised you that he could tell you were still there. you were being as quiet as possible after all.

you quickened your pace to catch up to him, sending him a mischievous grin, "i'm not. we just so happen to be going the same direction."

"i'm sure that's the case." he muttered back, having not bought your white lie in the slightest.

you hummed, clasping your hands behind your back, "since you won't tell me your name, how about i tell you mine?"

"don't care." he was quick to reply, but you didn't let the answer deject you.

"too bad, i'm going to give it to you anyway."

at the sound of your name falling from your lips he didn't seem phased, expression remaining as unreadable as ever. but you thought you saw the slightest bit of emotion flicker across his eyes.

the man suddenly stopped, your feet quick to copy him. you thought that perhaps he'd finally come to his senses and talk to you, your smile widening at the thought. instead, however, he opened a door, disappearing within the room without a goodbye.

you blinked in surprise at seeing the closed door, realizing it was a hotel room and you could not follow in after him. you sighed, running your fingers through your hair. but even though the man was irritated the majority of your interaction, you still considered it progress. he had talked to you after all, and even though you didn't even know his name, you had learned a lot about your soulmate. this made you smile, and you quickly shouted that you'd see him tomorrow before walking away to your own room.

-

despite the borderlands being the world you met your soulmate in, it was still a cruel one, and every now and then you had to leave the beach in order to play the games that allowed you to live. at first it scared you, recalling the violence and death that stained every crevice of the earth. but the thought of seeing him if you survived was enough to get you through each and every one.

your recent game was tougher than usual, a 7 of diamonds that ended with only two survivors and a lot of blood. unfortunately for you, most of it came from the crimson dripping down your arm, searing and painful. but you were alive, so you took yourself to the infirmary that resided in the beach to get it inspected and bandaged without so much as a cry for pain.

you sat within the room quietly, having just gotten the wound cleaned and tightly wrapped. you were waiting for the woman who had helped you to return with extra gauze and some painkillers that would get you through the healing process. as you waited, swinging your legs back and forward, you saw the door open, heart stuttering within your chest at recognizing who it was.

he closed the door behind him and looked up, eyes hidden beneath his hoodie. but you could still see the surprise evident on his face, quick and fleeting. he glanced down to the white gauze around your arm, and for a split second you thought that you saw a flash of worry. or maybe it was confusion, but he was still wondering what had happened to you, and you took that thought with you and kept it close to your heart.

the woman came back, handing you the items and you thanked her before looking back at him. you watched as the male made his way over to the same woman, asking her something and she nodded before walking off. he continued to stand there, waiting, and you decided that you'd try and initiate yet another conversation.

"now, before you ask what i'm doing here," you began, earning a scoff from the male.

"i wasn't going to." he stated bluntly.

you ignored him and continued on, "i'm all okay! barely any injuries in fact!" you flashed him a smile, to which he just released another scoff and glanced away.

"doesn't look like just barely." he muttered, meaning he really was examining the extend of your wound.

the thought made you happy, and you were quick to reassure him, "you see, it may look like that, but it doesn't even hurt!" you picked up your arm, regretting it immediately when you winced from the heaviness of the limb and the pain that spiked along your skin.

"sure." he replied, glancing away at seeing the woman come back. she handed him what looked to be medical supplies and he thanked her swiftly before leaving. quickly you hurried after him, opening the door and following the red string that went up the steps. you caught up to him rather quickly, clasping your hands behind you back as you walked beside him.

"where are we going today, love of my life?" you asked, giving him a wide smile.

"i told you not to call me that." he grumbled, picking up his pace.

you picked yours up as well, "i don't really have any other options now do i? oh! i could call you soulmate, would you prefer that?"

it was definitely not what he wanted to hear. his eyes hardened, and you tried not to falter under the gaze, "are you always this annoying?"

"i wouldn't say annoying, but more so driven." you quipped back.

"more like stubborn."

you let loose a small laugh, "sure sure, we can go with that too."

all too soon you arrived at his bedroom, feeling the disappointment bubble up inside of you. you had barely caught up to him and he was already leaving, the interaction far too quick for you to savor. you wanted nothing more than to continue talking to him like this, even if he was being mean to you.

you tried your best to mask your disappointment, keeping the smile on your face, "i'll see you around then-"

"chishiya."

you blinked in surprise, your brain not comprehending the name that had fallen from his lips, "what?"

he sighed turning back around to face his door, "my name. so stop calling me all those ridiculous pet names. it's annoying."

"chishiya..." you whispered to yourself. you smiled, liking the way it felt on your tongue. it suited him, "i'll see you around then, chishiya!"

he just stared at you for a moment before nodding, disappearing inside of his room just like before. you felt your heart burst inside of your chest at not only having a name to your soulmate, but he had also agreed that he'd see you around. maybe he was just accepting the fact that you weren't going away anytime soon, but the small progress was better than nothing.

menu. strawberry crepes. part two.