#tenderage

arcadiaxhyuk

Soonyoung is gone. A shell of a boy who could only imagine a place like Arcadia existing in the books that stocked the shelves of the elementary school library, that told tales of creatures lingering in the woods, and people whos abilities surpassed that of any of his peers. He’d known he had been different for a while, but his compassion and ability to bring things back to life was never something he thought of as a privilege, never something he’d consider himself worthy of being in those books for. 

It was a hindrance, something that made him stand out when he didn’t want to be seen, something that prevented him from developing into the person he wanted to be. But now he was Hoshi, the kid from Japan, with the bright white hair and happy-go-lucky mindset. 

When you thought of your past, sometimes you reflect on it too fondly. When telling tales of things that occurred to an outsider, you’ll refer to everyone as your friends. One time my friend did this... and I had this other friend who was really good at the guitar. But they were never friends, merely acquaintances, but it was always easier to describe them that way.

Perhaps because he had a lack thereof growing up, he remembered the little details about everyone, the quirks, the passing conversations in the hall... the faces. He hadn’t seen them in years, not since he fled the country in search of a better education and a better way of life... but he’s certain he’d remember. 

He’s juggling his books, a little out of breath as he makes his way down the hallway. Old, regal buildings always meant a lot of stairs, and sometimes his lung would protest against all the exercise. He keeps his head down for the most part, to focus on putting one foot in front of the other, smiling to himself as he walks along. 

His smile increases, wavering, when he lifts his head up. Theres a boy who reminds him of someone, and his brain is already reeling through the year book, searching for a name, for the tall kid who was but a month younger than him.