Expect the Unexpected (CHISCARA Highschool AU)

Wires Crossed

Frantic thoughts spiraled his mind. He remembered Kokomi, how she made his heart flutter and his stomach clench. How she was able to make the boy feel as if she were the only girl in the world. But just now, he experienced this again— only, towards a man?

To some, such a fleeting sensation wouldn't matter, though it was enough to send shivers down the ginger's spine. Why would I like someone like Scaramouche? Perhaps he was overthinking. Maybe this is just how friends admire each other, and Ajax hasn't found the right one yet.

The LED sign above the whack-a-mole game danced and gleamed. Scaramouche hadn't quite reached the ginger's score, but it was alright— considering this was his first time playing. A line of tickets spat through a slit at the bottom of the machine, the midnight-haired boy feeling prouder than ever. He knelt down and ripped the paper from the base, curling it beneath his fingers.

"Yes! I beat your score!" Scaramouche didn't seem to understand the concept of the scoring system, but that's fine. He had the spirit, at least.

Ajax found himself wrenched into reality at an uncomfortable pace, forced to silence his worries. Relax, it was probably nothing. Or at least, that's what he'd tell himself. "O– oh, wow! That's great!"

For the remainder of the night, the two continued through the arcade. They played Guitar Hero, Pac Man, Ping Pong— even Dance Dance Revolution (Scaramouche was surprisingly skilled at this game, beating Ajax by a long-shot). The smaller boy found himself happier than he's felt in years. Originally, he remembered thinking that this would only be a one-time event. Only now, he wasn't so sure of that. Part of him even considered doing this again— as crazy as that felt to admit. He leaned into the ginger's trust, even suggesting that they exchanged their tickets at the prize shop.

Scaramouche had gotten himself a purple kazoo, and Ajax a charming stuffed whale and a handful of pixie sticks. They descended from the counter as the smaller boy absentmindedly exhaled air through his instrument. The sun had long set and Ajax figured they had to arrive home at some point, so he suggested that they end the night with dinner. On a chalkboard menu displayed a variety of fast food options including pizza, fizzy drinks, fries, and burgers.

"How do they make so much business? All they sell is junk." The boy spoke much louder than he intended to.

"...Just— what do you want? I'll pay." Ajax leaned over as he mumbled into Scaramouche's ear, shooting a nervous glance at the young cashier who fixed the two with a viscous side-eye.

The midnight-haired boy eyed the components of the menu. He wasn't particularly interested in anything he was seeing. Scaramouche practically lived off of microwaved dinners and fast food; just the thought of another artificial meal was nauseating. Still, he was ravished— considering he hadn't eaten since the day before. He finally settled on a ginger ale and a small serving of fries.

After a long wait, they left the line and made their way toward a booth in the far corner. The table was a cobalt blue, the surface covered in a sticky residue. Ajax cringed as he tried his best to not touch it with his hands. As the two settled into their seats, the smaller boy felt an inexplicable urge to thank him for today— only, he couldn't find the words. With this, they sat in silence.

"So," Ajax cleared his throat, an awkward attempt to fill the void. "How long have you been going to our school? I've never seen you before this year."

Scaramouche had been knuckles deep within a tray of savory potato fries, before pausing and fixing Ajax with a pair of large eyes. He may have questioned the quality of the food before, but he failed to ignore his gurgling stomach.

"You're right. I started this year." The boy wasn't a fan of smalltalk, but he had no other choice. They were seated inches apart.

"Really? Why?"