The "Lovable" Type| OHSHC x OC

A Bitter Heart is Formed

Amei sat at a quiet table by herself before club time, her natural curls that she usually hid caressing her as she sketched.

She looked up when she heard shuffling.

Mori.

Why–Crap.

"Sorry, I'm sitting at your table, aren't I? I didn't notice."

Before Amei could stand and collect her things, Mori lightly rested a hand on her sketchbook.

"You're fine."

She paused, then softly smiled, "Okay."

The pencil in her hand started tapping against a paper.

"...You okay?"

She perked up, "Hm? Oh, yes...Um...I'm surprised Haninozuka-kun isn't with you."

"Had to stay back."

"Oh, he's not in trouble is he?"

Mori shook his head.

"That's good, then."

"It's pretty."

"Hm?"

He gestured to the garden she'd sketched.

"Oh..."she hadn't expected a compliment to her art. She found she liked it. "Thank you."

Mori leaned on a fist, "What's it for?"

Amei found it fascinating to hear the deep rumble of Mori as much as she was right now. They'd never had a real conversation this long.

Amei tugged at a curl, "I just um...Well..."

He patiently wanted for the words to come to her, so she could say what she wanted.

"Can I tell you a secret, Morinozuka-kun?"

"Mm."

She leaned in closer, covering her mouth with a hand after looking around.

But only Kyoya and Tamaki were there so far, and they were in their own discussion a distance away.

"I really, really like art. I love making things. But nobody knows because I hide it...I'm really good at it, but it isn't practical."

They held eye contact for a long second.

Then Mori looked down at the garden again. "You are good."

"Thanks...A shame I'm good at something I can't do anything beneficial with, right? Practically a useless skill," Amei huffed a laugh as she settled back in the seat across from him.

"Why did you draw it?"

She hadn't expected that question.

"Well, I saw these pretty flowers yesterday. Along with plants from different places throughout the weekend. So I thought I'd sketch all those things from memory into one garden," Amei chuckled softly as she flipped through a few pages.

"Most of the things here are nature related. But...it's just so beautiful I can't help myself...There's so many things I want to try and capture on paper. And I know it could never compare to the real beauty of it...but I want to try anyway. I love the different textures, colors, and heights. The smells, the feel. I want to capture all the senses of that environment on paper if I can. Just to relive it..."

She trailed off as she realized she was rambling with a grin on her face as she fondly looked through her book. She covered her dropped grin, feeling warm from embarrassment.