Chapter Text
The sun is at its highest point in the sky, heating up the school fields with its warm rays. It's the perfect day for the sports club at Hydaelyn High to be out and about.
Multiple clubs from the football club to the track team are outside practicing. The fencing club is no exception. They are set up on the bowling green as their usual indoor spot had been taken up by the net ball club. Who were having an extra practice session for an upcoming game against Hydaelyn High's main rival Zodiark High. The match was set for the following Friday and the tension between the schools were high.
The fencing club’s bulky teacher Gostetsu is putting his students through some advanced moves. Diligently correcting the form of his students as they pair off to practice the new moves. They practice under their teacher’s hawk like gaze as he watches them for any faults or mistakes.
But he isn't the only one watching the fencing class with a birdlike gaze.
G'raha lets out a wistful sigh as his eyes keep staring at a certain infamous student. Said student was currently sparing with their blue haired elezen friend. The person he was staring dreamly at was nicknamed Light. They were one of the school's most popular heartthrobs even though they had a stoic personality and tended to rarely talk.
G'raha had found out much to his chagrin long ago, he was smitten with them. They were so kind and inspiring. They reminded him of those heroes from the books, G'raha spent his younger years pouring over. Light made his heart flutter and their presence made his days all that brighter.
He is snapped out of his day dreamy daze by a sudden sound from his good friend Lyna.
"Hello, Exarch! Are you listening to me?”
G'raha snaps out of his love stricken state. "Ah! Forgive me Lyna, I got distracted. What were you talking about?"
Lyna lets out a long suffering sigh and raises a eyebrow. "I was talking about our geography assignment for next week. You haven't even had many of the sandwiches that you made for us to eat either."
Lyna then shakes her head. "But I see you are too busy mooning over that person your smitten with."
G'raha's cheeks dust a light pink at the mention of his lovesick gazing. "I'm sorry. I should have been listening to you."
Lyna laughs a little and shrugs. "Well at least you’re not waxing poetry about them like you sometimes do. But I don't see why you can't just go talk to them. Rather than dissecting them with your eyes from afar."
G'raha shakes his head whilst his shoulders hunch over a bit in self-pity. "No. I'm just a nobody in comparison to them."
Lyna makes a confused expression at his statement. "Weren't you in the same history club as them when you were younger? NOAH right?"
G'raha's ruby red eyes look downwards as a sad expression grows upon his face. "Yes we were. But that was years ago. They probably have forgot about me."
Lyna puts a comforting hand on G'raha's slouched shoulder. "Well this isn't a romantic comedy movie, it's real life. You'll have to strike up a conversation with them if you want to find out if they forgot you or not."
G'raha smiles at his friend's attempt at encouraging him. "Thank you. I guess I can try to say hello to them sometime in the future."
A few seconds pass in silence. G'raha notices his friend's sudden quietness and mildly shocked gaze that seems to be at something in the distance.
Worry festers in G'raha's chest as he looks at his friend in concern. "Lyna, are you okay?"
Lyna's gaze snaps back to him and she respond to his worried question in a deadpan tone. "I take my earlier statement back. This is a romantic comedy."
G'raha tilts his head and makes a confused noise. "Huh?"
Lyna smirks in amusement. "The object of your affections is heading over here right now."
The only response G'raha manages to make is a very high pitched squeak.