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Toya wanders around, looking up at the crystal chandelier lighting up the room. His feet walked quietly across the decorated rooms of the mansion. It was gloomy, but it was the pretty kind of gloomy. He couldn’t help but play around with his fingers, it’s overwhelming being in a room with a bunch of people who you don’t even know, let alone people who you can’t even see the face of. He only got here because some relative who he’s never even met sent him an invitation to a masquerade ball and his mom kept pushing him to go.
Some people came up to him to say hi. Maybe that relative was one of them, but he couldn’t really care less. He just forced a laugh and continued on with his day. He honestly can’t wait to get out of here. He looked down at his watch.
[ 8:00 PM ]
The party is going to end at 10. He sighed, and continued walking circles around the ballroom, amidst the soft murmuring and clinking of glasses.
After a few minutes of wandering around, he felt himself colliding into someone.
“Oh, sorry-” he looked forward, trying to see who it was. A boy, that looks around his age and is about the same height. He has ginger hair with a single yellow strand, and sort of struck a chord of familiarity in Toya, even if they never met before.
“Oh..! It’s fine. It was my fault anyway. Um, are you enjoying the ball?” The ginger replies.
He’s starting small talk?
“Not really… I feel a little out of place here,” Toya replies, looking down. “But the interior’s nice.”
“Oh, you’re not alone there. It’s weird walking around in a room with people who you don’t know the faces of. Hm, I’ve heard that there's some hidden gems in the other rooms, wanna have a look together?”
“Sounds better than wandering mindlessly. Lead the way.”
And they went exploring the whole mansion. And perhaps found some interesting features that caught their eye.
For example, after climbing up a narrow staircase, they reach the top of an antique clock tower where they could see the whole estate below them, bathed in moonlight.
“That’s pretty, isn’t it?” Toya whispers out.
“Yeah. Really pretty,” the ginger whispers out. “It feels less overwhelming when you start to see it from up here.”
Or, when they found a garden filled with flowers, with a label in a fancy font on top of the door:
The Enchanted Garden
It was a tranquil escape from that bustling ballroom. For a matter of fact, Toya thought that he should’ve gone here sooner, it would’ve been much better than watching a bunch of people he didn’t know dance together when he had no one to dance with. “Wanna sit down for a bit? I’m getting tired and this place seems quite secluded and peaceful,” Toya requested, quietly.
“Sure. There’s a bench there. Let’s go,” the ginger boy replied, he wouldn’t show it, but he was just as exhausted from running around such a huge mansion for half an hour.
So they both sat down on a bench in the garden, and silently admired the scenery for a few moments. Toya’s night here may have not started off so well, but he’s glad he didn’t leave. This night is flawless, he would never let it go.
“Would you rather have a lifetime supply of your favourite dessert but never be able to have any new desserts, or be able to try a new dessert everyday but never get to have your favourite ever again?” The ginger boy mutters out. Toya looks over at him, a little confused. “Sorry, just trying to strike a conversation,” he laughs. Toya smiles back.
“Well, I’d choose the second option. After trying new desserts everyday, I would’ve found a new favourite, no? I’d probably have a lot of favourites. And it didn’t say I can’t try one dessert twice, I could always have my second favourites. So logically, the second option is better.”
‘Oh, I was going to choose the second option anyway, but only because I would’ve gone crazy only eating the same thing. I never thought of all that. You’re quite smart.”
Toya chuckles a bit, then asks: “What is your favourite dessert, though? I’m curious.”
The ginger boy thought about it for a moment, and then said, “Cheesecake. It’s one of my favourite foods, too, so it’s the only logical answer. What about you?
“Cheesecake is a nice pick. I really like cookies. I think they may be one of my favourite foods of all time, now that I think about it.”
“Cookies bring up a funny memory for me. One time, I went to a really fancy restaurant, like those kinds of restaurants where the menus are in French and everything is a work of art. The waiter recommended their ‘specialty cookies’ and since I was only ordering for the first time there, I went for it. So the waiter comes back with my order. The cookie itself looked perfect, and exactly when I was about to take a bite, the waiter leaned in and asked “Would you like some milk with your cookie?” And I thought he was just being nice so I said yes. I expected him to come out with a small glass or something, but then I saw him returning with a massive, vintage milk bottle and a crystal goblet. He poured it with such ceremony, like it was the finest wine in the world.”
Toya chuckles, “Really? That sounds like an experience.”
“Yeah, it felt like the most ridiculously sophisticated snack time ever.”
Toya sits in silence for a bit, trying to think of another thing to ask, suddenly, something pops up into his mind, “So, how’s your family? Have any siblings?”
The ginger looks at him, and thinks about his response for a few seconds, “My family is not really the most interesting thing in the world… I have an older sister. Ever heard of an artist named Ena?”
“Oh, yes. I have. That’s your sister? She’s quite talented.”
“Yeah, that’s her. As for my parents, my dad… it’s not that he’s a bad person, just has no parenting skills. My mom is just there. She’s okay, better than my dad. I don’t have a strong connection with her, though.”
“Our family situations may be a bit similar,” Toya gives a small smile, “My father raised me exclusively with classical music and had me learn the piano and violin. I had a pretty good sense of music from a young age. He used to isolate me and force me to study classical music 24/7, so I kind of started despising him and classical music altogether, and started performing anything but classical music. I don’t think I hate classical music as much anymore, but I still don’t want to pursue it.”
“Oh, really? That must’ve sucked. Say, Why did he want you to pursue classical music so badly?”
“He’s a famous classical musician and wanted his kids to end up like him. I have two older brothers, and they’re successful classical musicians too. Guess he just wanted me to continue the legacy. As for my mom, she did encourage me, but wasn’t as strict as my dad.”
“Hm. Are you still into music by any chance?”
“Oh, I am. As long as it isn’t classical,” Toya chuckled.
The ginger gave a soft smile, “I used to play football in elementary but quit after my team lost an important tournament. A bit after I quit, my sister took me to a summer festival and encouraged me to try singing. It sparked a bit of an interest in street music for me.”
“Really? Then, maybe we could do music together one day?”
The ginger chuckled, “Maybe,” he admired the cherry blossom trees around the garden for a while. “Can I ask you a more personal question?”
“Sure.”
“It's about your…dating preferences. In like, gender. I hope this isn’t too weird.”
Toya looked at him for a few seconds. “Not weird at all,” he chuckles. “I don’t think I have that much of a preference. I’d date both men and women.”
“Oh, that’s good. I prefer men.”
Toya nodded his head. He didn’t think they would have that conversation, but is secretly glad they did. “I think we may be running out of time. Wanna go back to the ballroom?”
“Sure.”
In the end, they ended up exactly where they started. In that grand ballroom. But this time, neither of them felt out of place and overwhelmed, and their hearts felt a little lighter to carry. He looked at the clock. Its hands pointed to two numbers. It’s 9:50 PM. It’s quite fascinating how fast time passes. There was only one last thing for them to do, and that’s the main point of the event.
“Care to have a dance?” The ginger asked, with his hand out.
“Gladly.”
The chandelier casted a soft glow across the room. The song was an old, enchanting waltz, it sets the perfect tone for a dance. Toya looked in the ginger’s eyes, and felt a sense of connection. It’s quite weird how someone you just met, let alone, don’t even know the name of can make you feel so tender. Hell, he didn’t even know what he looked like.
Once the final notes of the waltz play, their steps slow down, and eventually stop. And the ball ends too. They both share one more tender look before backing away.
“We’ll meet again?” Toya whispers.
“Of course.”
And soon after, they both returned home, only having the memory of their magical night together to reminisce about. They went on with their daily lives, but they couldn’t stop thinking of eachother.
Toya looks up at the ceiling, his back lying on his bed.
He couldn’t help but think about whether or not that ginger haired boy liked anyone else. If he actually had a chance.
I wish he’d just show up at my door…
But that’s not very possible.
After a few more minutes of his mind wandering, he looks at the clock near his bed.
[ 2:00 AM ]
He could stay up all night. But he wanted to get up early the next day. So, might as well force himself to sleep.
More days passed, and Toya couldn’t stop thinking about that boy. All he wanted to do was go back to that mansion. And perhaps, test his luck. Maybe he thought the same thing? It may be a low chance, but it isn’t zero.
So, at night, he got dressed, and put on that same mask from the other night. He looked at his clock.
[ 8:00 PM ]
Perfect time to go.
So, he walked back to that mansion that belonged to god knows who, hoping that he’d find that boy again. He walked up to the door, and slowly opened it with a creak.
To his surprise, it welcomed him with the same lights and decorations as the last time he visited. He walked in, his footsteps echoed throughout the ballroom. There wasn’t a sign of anyone else’s breath here. Toya searched throughout the ballroom, just to be met with nothing. He went up that narrow staircase, up to the antique clock tower. The view is the same as always, beautiful. He went over to that same, starlit terrace and looked at the gardens below. He still hasn’t found anyone of his interest. But there’s one more place he has yet to check.
His footsteps were soft and hesitant, leading himself to an ivy-covered wall with the same label in that same fancy font on top. He held the door handle, and pushed it open.
He walked a little further in, his feet rustling against the overgrown grass. He looked forward, the place where the cherry blossoms were supposed to be, but he was met with a figure. A boy, that looks around his age and is about the same height. He has ginger hair with a single yellow strand, and sort of struck a chord of familiarity in Toya, but this time, they had met before.
The ginger soon turned his head back, to face him.
“I had a feeling you’d come back.”
Toya smiles, feeling that same tenderness that he felt on that night.
“I couldn’t stop thinking about that night. I had to come back here.”
“I’m glad you did.”
The ginger takes his mask off, revealing his identity. It would be funny if he acted disappointed, but he wasn’t. He was just as beautiful as he thought he would be.
Toya thought it was his cue to take off his mask too. So, without hesitation, he lifted his hand and took it off. Not a hint of disappointment in the other’s eyes either.
“My name’s Akito Shinonome,” the ginger- Akito said.
“Toya Aoyagi,” and like that, both their identities were revealed.
The tension and mystery from the other night had completely faded away. It was just them, and genuine connection.
“Want to dance again? Just like we did last time,” Akito said.
“I wish for nothing more.”
They dance together under the sparkling night sky, this time, instead of an old jukebox playing a waltz, the nightingales gave them the music they needed. The dance was just as enchanting as before, as their hearts beated in sync.
“Here’s to more nights like this,” Akito chuckles.
Toya gives him a small smile.
“Mhm. I was enchanted to meet you.”