Beneath our mirrored faces

"Ah-good morning!" Lumine called out quickly, scrambling to pick up her bag while keeping her eyes fixed on him, her cheeks flushing with a mix of embarrassment and hope.

The boy paused for a fraction of a second as the notebook slid near his path. His expression didn't change. With a smooth, seamless step, he simply walked right past the stray stationery, his gaze remaining fixed straight ahead on the school doors. He didn't look down, he didn't slow his pace, and he didn't acknowledge her voice at all. It was as if she were completely invisible to him. The quiet girl beside him didn't turn her head either, keeping her rhythmic, steady pace.

Lumine's enthusiastic smile faltered slightly as she knelt on the stone, slowly reaching out to pick up her notebook.

Amber rushed over, kneeling down to help her gather her things, looking up at the disappearing backs of the two student council members with a heavy sigh.

"Lumine, why do you keep doing that?" Amber asked softly, her voice filled with a mix of confusion and genuine worry as they stood back up. She dusted off Lumine's jacket. "I know you have a crush on him... I get it, he's popular. But he completely ignores you every single time. He acts like you're a ghost. Why do you want his attention so badly when he won't even look your way?"

Lumine held the notebook tightly against her chest, her gaze lingering on the heavy double doors of the school where he had just vanished. She couldn't explain it to Amber. She couldn't tell her that when the bright school lights turned off, and the world grew quiet, there was a completely different side to him-one that she desperately wanted to reach out to as herself.

"I don't know," Lumine whispered naively, a small, stubborn smile returning to her lips. "I just... think he's worth the effort."

(This is originally supposed to be a Tighlumi fanfic, but I decided change it to Lynlumi because it feels more fitting. This is a reference to "A Whisker Away" anime movie)