𝐇𝐨𝐩𝐞'𝐬 𝐋𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐭 | Inquisitormaster & Zsquad| Danganronpa

☆𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟐𝟓☆ || 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐖𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐃𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞

SOPHOMORE YEAR- JANUARY

*✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*✧･ﾟ: **✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*✧･ﾟ: *

~3rd Person POV~

Winter takes its course without a second of remorse, it waits for no one. In its wake, it leaves a trail of runny, cherry noses and fingers trembling before they're clothed with mittens. Along with the cold came many exciting events that everyone was excited about. The news spread across the school as swiftly as wildfire, rallying everyone up for the upcoming event that was told to be the best of the school year. Of course, everyone purchased their tickets when they were put up for sale, they had to be replenished six times during the sales, and the next phase of the Winter Dance was already in fruition.

From the start of the week to Thursday, the day before, many people had come in with decorated signs, ready to ask whoever the lucky person was if they wanted to go to the dance with them. Many couples blossomed, and new potential couples arose, too. Of course, not everyone possessed the balls to do such a drastic task lacking the colorful poster and the abundance of flowers that wouldn't fit in their hand, but some acceptable just the verbal invitation. That alone was enough to display the love on their face with hints of blush dusting all those love bird's cheeks.

However, in 77-A, asking someone to The Winter Dance was difficult. Not one couple had formed during their freshman year, though no one knew how they felt about one another. Many awkward conversation starters emerged from the class—the trio relished them, amused by everyone else's embarrassment.

"So, Char! Are you going with anyone to the dance?" Candi had asked that Wednesday. That entire week was nothing but contemplation and a series of questions in the mirror about whether this would be a good idea. Or an appropriate one for her reputation. Not many took kindly to a girl being in love with another rather than a man, and Candi had mustered up several scenarios regarding the problem. But, she couldn't let that stop her from asking a FRIEND to hang out with her at the dance with her other friends, right? There couldn't have been an issue with that.

Of course, Charli was completely oblivious to her friend's internal struggles. All she knew was that she had been approached with a delightful question while sitting beside her best friend, watching them paint a still-life portrait on an easel. The art room was quiet that day, only being filled with the sweet laughter of the two as they carried out their afternoon in the art room. Now that Candi was here, the energy could be boosted up twice! But when she glanced at Luca, she was a bit hesitant, trying to find an explanation behind the tightness in their face. Nothing had come to mind on the matter and Charli thought carefully on her answer.

"No one has asked me yet," she replied, the gentleness of her face enough to make a feeling coil in Candi's stomach that she didn't even know was there. Followed by a pang of fear. If she could—without looking insane— Candi would punch herself in the stomach to make the discomfort stop. Charli had carried on, "Why? Are you gonna ask me to go with you?"

"I mean, duh! You're one of my best girlies," a quick save mustered up by Candi, so swift that the blush faded from her face while she grabbed a stool, made her way over to the two, and took her seat. She peered at Luca's painting, taking in the comfort of the colors although she didn't quite understand the 'meaning' behind it.

"That's nice, hm?" Luca hummed. When they turned back to the easel, Candi sneered at them.

"It's quite the painting... Pretty cute!"

Charli nodded eagerly, stars shining in her amber eyes, "Yeah! They've been working on it for... I think two days! They're a quick artist. It would take me about a year to get here."