Blue Butterfly | Amajiki Tamaki

| 13 |

2nd POV

Clammy hands and an ecstatic beating heart, you were the definition of 'nervous' itself.

Surrounding you and the different classes in year 1 were exuberant cheers rumbling like thunder, shaking the grand stands with utter animation. A torrent of cries resounded throughout the stadium, colours bursting and flaring into the sky to mark the festive day. It was an understatement that you were confident-no, you were anxious, the pit of your stomach churning grotesquely when your [e/c] orbs raked across the thousands of faces gawking. Anxiety had you mercilessly trapped, gripping you with claws as you felt the world load its burden onto your shoulders.

They were like a bunch of crows eyeing your every moment, patiently waiting for the right chance to lash at their prey; and to be more specific, you were the prey, their meticulous orbs scrutinizing over your quivering frame.

'Calm down,' you tried to ease yourself. 'They're not staring at you... they're staring at everyone, so it's alright.'

Although the small reassurance soothing the massive pile of anxiousness boiling inside of you, you couldn't help but shudder under the intense stares burning holes into your skin. Their flickering eyes brimming with light peered with intimidation, causing the hair on your neck to peak upright in discomfort. They looked judging; with fake smiles ready to provoke and ridicule. In every direction there would be a horde drilling their expressions into your head and no matter how hard you coolly shrugged the pressure off, it would return tenfold with tenacity.

'Get a grip [Name]! Don't you even want to be here? You were going to prove them wrong... so why are you scared?'

"[Surname]-san, are you alright?"

But that soft, benevolent voice which echoed smashed your worries into crestfallen glass shards, Tamaki lightly nudging your arm with a shaky frown. Long, dark locks brushing the bridge of his nose, he peered at you from the side, shoulders tensed and his skin pale. His anxiety was most likely reaching its peak by the horrifying multitude of people crowding the stands.

"A-Ah," you uttered, astonished. "Y-Yeah... just a little nervous."

It was just a little white lie, but Tamaki easily saw through it; throwing another one of his solemn gazes at you with a tinge of worry etched on his face. "Y-You don't look a little nervous though..."

"But how about you, Amajiki-kun?" Shooting the question back at him, you observed how his brows suddenly shot upwards, a shadow clouding his face in despair. "You look worse than me."

"P-Please don't remind me... I-I was trying to block everything out b-but it's impossible after all. Everyone's eyes are on us... and it's really getting to me..." he meekly muttered, fingers trembling as he played with the jacket of the sports uniform. "I-I don't think I'll last long..."

"Me neither," you articulated with a weak expression. "I thought I'd be able to stand proud in front of everyone but my legs won't move."

"W-What are you talking about? You're going to do well, [Surname]-san! After all that practice, I-I'm sure you'll shine..." the dark haired teen retorted, a mild blush coating his cheeks.

It was for a fleeting moment but the instance your heart raucously thumped, the skittishness overwhelming you diminished and a tiny blush crept onto your face. "Do... you really think so?"

Clenching his fists, Tamaki raised them forward. "O-Of course! You're one of the strongest people I know."

It was always a wonder—almost phenomenal-on how the dark-haired teen easily made your small heart palpitate abnormally with a few words, your legs wobbling like jelly at the encouragement; his feeble voice was able to drown out the cacophonous roaring in the large milieu, grim, murky orbs gently holding your gaze as Tamaki tamed the ferocious anxiety pulsating through your veins.