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"Hey, Mafuyu! Look at this video!" "Mafuyu! Isn't Aoi sooo funny!" "Mafuyu, look at this post!" I watch as Mafuyu flits from person to person, beaming obediently, laughing weakly, until she takes a seat beside me as form begins, the hollow smile dissipating. If I hadn't found out about ONE and Nightcord 25, I would have continued to see it as completely genuine. But now, I know how to peel the pretence away, and I know who the real Mafuyu is.
"Mafuyu." I'd asked her after class one day. "Can I talk to you?" "Sure!" She beamed, hair glowing in the afternoon sunlight. "What is it?" "Can we go somewhere private?" I stammered. We ended up crouched beneath the staircase, in an empty corridor undergoing maintenance. I passed her my phone wordlessly, open on a song by Nightcord 25. I'd listened to it a bit, and instantly recognised her voice. "Is this you?" Her face closed. The light glimmering in her eye disappeared, like a blown out match. "Yes. But you can't let anyone know."
"Hey, Mafu!" I grin, and she looks at me with a blank expression. "Why do you call me that?" She asks monotonously. "It's cute, isn't it?" I earn an emotionless stare. "I suppose." She adds eventually. "So, what are you doing tonight?" I carry on. "My mother says I need to revise more." She mutters. "Well, she's going to have to wait, because I'm taking you out for dinner!" "Hm?" I lean back on my chair, and Mafuyu looks at me oddly. "So... a date?" Something flits across her face- it could be confusion, or... something else? "If you want it to be." I smirk, and her cheeks begin to redden. "So- meet me outside school at... 5:00?" "Why here?" She murmurs. I wink at her again. "It's a surprise!"
꒰ა♡໒꒱꒰ა♡໒꒱꒰ა♡໒꒱꒰ა♡໒꒱꒰ა♡໒꒱꒰ა♡໒꒱꒰ა♡໒꒱꒰ა♡໒꒱
I jog towards the school, sweating slightly in my best outfit, my neatly brushed hair ruffling in the wind. I smile as I see Mafuyu, staring at the dusty-pink flowers edging the pathway, dressed in a loose white dress and a pink cardigan. It's the first time I've seen her out of her school uniform or that cardigan and trousers; she looks stunning. "Wow, you look beautiful." I smile, stepping beside her. "Pink really suits you." "Oh. Thank you." She smiles ever so slightly and I feel my heart light up. "Normally, my mum picks my clothes, but today... I felt like I wanted to wear something different. I'm not sure why." She murmurs. "I'm glad you did." I link hands with her and lead her to the restaurant I wanted to show her, since I realised it was opening soon. The sun has just began to set, spilling orange light over everything, turning Mafuyu's hair into curling waves. I bite back the urge to run my fingers through it like a river. "We're here!" Mafuyu stares at the whitewashed building with an identical bland exterior. "What is it?" "Close your eyes, ok?" I take her by the shoulders, leading her inside. "Is that... a filter?" "Surprise!" I remove my hands from her face, watching her eyes flood with blue light as she takes in the fish tanks all around. A few chairs and tables are in the centre of walls of fish tanks, housing a rainbow of fish, casting a blue light over everything. "Oh, y/n... it's beautiful." For a few seconds, her face lights up with a smile. It spreads into a grin, and I watch her, my heart speeding up with excitement. "Ok, let's get something to eat."
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꒰ა♡໒꒱꒰ა♡໒꒱꒰ა♡໒꒱꒰ა♡໒꒱꒰ა♡໒꒱꒰ა♡໒꒱꒰ა♡໒꒱꒰ა♡໒꒱
For the entire meal, I try to make Mafuyu smile again. Most jokes fall flat- even some of my best material. We leave after a few hours of chatting, eating and me laughing at my own jokes. As we leave, my foot slips on some water. I sail into the air- and collapse on the floor. "Hehe... hehe... hahahaha!" A sudden sound rings out behind me. The most airy, sweet laugh I've ever heard. "Mafuyu... you're laughing?" "Oh... I suppose. I think I am." She giggles, smiling broadly. I smile as she helps me to my feet. "Thank you. I've loved this evening." Mafuyu grins, as we head home.
