Work Text:
People were never fond of Sakura Haruka’s looks.
They would always make him feel unwelcomed because of it. Always outcasted all for an appearance he had no semblance of control over.
But it wasn’t like anything was wrong with how he looked in the first place, he was merely unwanted by society for being different.
After all, it always comes down to that—being different, no one likes a sore thumb.
“Didn’t I tell you to dye your hair fully black!?”
“...his hair is weird.”
“His eyes are worse.”
And no one likes people who don’t fit in.
As such, Sakura never would try to fit in—he doesn’t see a point in changing himself all for a bunch of people to finally accept him.
Because it wouldn’t be him that they’d be accepting in the first place.
And due to this, he never felt a need to talk to the other kids his age. He was going to move soon to a different town anyway—where strong people reside.
Where appearances wouldn’t matter.
So at the end of the day, there was no point, and no one would be interested in his looks in this place—only repulsed.
Until...
“Woah, is your hair natural?”
Sakura flinches as he hears the words from behind him, he turns around to glare at the girl who said that, already putting up his fists—glaring. “What’s it to yo—”
“Even your eyelash is white, so it is natural!” The girl gets a little closer, to which Sakura only takes a step back in reponse too. Too close! He thinks.
“Oh wow—your eyes are also different colors!” She was practically awe of his difference, Sakura only frowns—saying, “It’s heterochromia.”
She didn’t seem like a threat so far...
The girl grins, “You’d make for a great muse.”
What?
“What?”
“Muse for art!” She beams, “The colors of your hair... your eyes—oh, any artist would have a field day with drawing you! I’m [Surname] [Name], by the way, pleased to meet you!”
The hell is this girl on about...? Him? A muse for someone to draw—that’s...
...different from what he’s used to.
Different from how society treats him.
In the midst of his internal turmoil—his face reddens, he only responds with, “Sakura Haruka.”
“Even your name is pretty, hm?” She hums. Sakura quickly blushes, why does she keep complimen—
“I’d like to draw you, if you don’t mind!”
Huh?
Sakura pauses. Someone wanting to drawing him? Who would even be insane enough to think to draw him?
Society already doesn’t think he looks decent enough to be treated without those judging stares.
“Hellooo??” [Surname] tilts her head, waiting for him to respond.
“...what for?” Is the only thing he replies with, the red on his face is slightly gone now—replaced with a cautious stare.
“An art project!”
“A project!? You’ll fail immediately if you draw me!” Sakura protests, frowning.
She blinks, as if what he said was incomprehensible at first. “Huh?? You’re pleasing to the eye, how is that even possible?” Sakura quickly reddens at the praise.
“Pleasing to the eye? Do you need glasses??” He huffs out, trying to distract himself from the fact that he was most definitely blushing right now. “Your teacher won’t like the way I look... it’ll affect your grades.”
[Surname] takes her time to blink once, then twice, before bursting out laughing.
“H...Huh? Hey! What’s so funny about this??” Sakura reddens again at the prospect of being laughed at, was what he said embarassing?
The girl calms down eventually, before saying, “It’s an art project—my teacher would be stupid to judge based on appearance alone, art holds a lot more meaning and interpretations than that.”
“...still.”
“Anddd... beauty is in the eye of the beholder! It definitely won’t be just be me only who thinks you’re pretty.”
Sakura’s face blushes. How can anyone say those embarassing stuff so easily??
He hears a giggle from [Surname], “Aw, you’re shy! But it’s true, so could I please draw you for my project?”
Sakura grits his teeth, this interaction is a lot... no, not just a lot... it was vastly different from what he’s used to—he’s only ever retaliated if he was being mistreated and... this girl hasn’t done anything wrong to him so far.
So, he huffs out, “Fine, you can draw me for your art project or whatever...”
“Yes! Thanks so much—matter of fact, I’ll draw you now!”
“What? Don’t you artists like... take time on your drawings or whatever?? How long am I gonna have to stand here for??” Sakura immediately questions her.
“Ah, right! I haven’t thought of your pose yet... and don’t worry—I can draw very fast!” She grins, pulling out her phone. “Let me just get a reference for the pose.”
Feeling awkward, Sakura just stands, waiting for her to finish—tuning out some of her random mumbles as well.
“...should I go for a more heavenly kind of art piece? Ah, or a calm and chill one... like in a cafe? Perhaps a simple one by the sunset? What kind of poses are feasible to be done today..?”
And, so, he waits. Unsure of what he’s gotten himself into, almost frustrated at himself for accepting so easily.
Why did I decide to help her? All she did was be nice and not treat me terribly.
And he refuses to acknowledge the fact that maybe he’s not as cold–hearted as society tries to brand him out to be, all because he looks like the way he is.
“...alright, I got it!” She looks up from her phone, smiling at him—as if he wasn’t someone who was a center of hateful (and untrue) rumors by their peers. “Follow me, it’d be hard for you to pose in the middle of the sidewalk!”
🎐
“And done!” [Surname] grins at him, before giggling to herself behind her painting canvas as she stares at her own work.
Confused, he frowns before speaking up, “Huh..? Don’t I have to hold the pose for longer?”
“Nope!” She laughs. “I’m already finished with the art piece.”
“That fast?” He feels his eyes widen. What was the saying about artists again? Art takes time?
“Yeah, thirty minutes.” Says [Surname] as she looks into her phone. “Oh shoot, I completely forgot to meet with a friend—they must be pissed!” She laughs to herself, nervous.
“Right, so can I go now?” He stands up, ready to leave.
“Now wait a moment!” She grabs his wrist. “How about we go visit a bakery first? I need to thank you for helping me out here.”
“Huh?" He looks back to her, “Don’t you have to meet up with your friend or something?”
“They’ll be fineee...” she laughs nervously, “I was supposed to get some snacks for us anyway—might as well treat you too!”
He huffs, “Fine, do whatever.” He can’t refuse free food after all.
“Great!” She smiles. “I know a good place!”
🎐
If you told Sakura Haruka he ended up with four bags of different pastries all because he accepted being someone’s muse—he wouldn’t believe you.
And he still couldn’t believe it even after it happened. What the hell? Is this girl rich or something?
“Why would you spend this much on me...?” Is what he only mumbles.
“Hah! My pockets don’t even feel anything.” She grins. “Don’t sweat it! I’ve had... more impulsive purchases than this one.”
Well, art is a privilege after all—based on history. A luxury to be admired and revered in all its beauty.
He just couldn’t wrap his mind around how someone would even draw him...
...as if he was equivalent to someone worthy of being seen through someone else’s eyes.
“Uh,” he says, awkwardly. “I—thanks...” he sighs internally to himself, he can’t even thank someone properly—unused to simple acts of kindness.
Well, this should be a good opportunity for him to leave—
“What’s your phone number, by the way?” She asks abruptly, leaving him a bit startled at the prospect of someone even wanting to keep in touch with him.
“What?”
“Your phone number!” She grins, as if what she’s doing wasn’t out of the ordinary or different in anyway.
“I...” Reluctantly, he pulls out his phone.
And the next thing he knows, they exchanged phone numbers.
The hell? Did he just... make his first friend?
“Great! I have to to my friend’s now, but I’ll talk to you this evening!” She turns to leave, waving all the way too.
He can’t bring himself to speak, he only blinks as he waves her goodbye as well.
“Oh, and, I’ll definitely ask to draw you next time!” And with a last grin, she leaves.
Huh.
Maybe being someone’s muse wasn’t so bad after all.