Archive of Our Own

It was around the middle of the school year that a new face arrived in class. The whole school was talking about him, wondering what he was like. Who he was, whether he was handsome, kind or intelligent. Transfer student was the name on everyone's lips. It was a topic of conversation that filled everyone's day. Curiosity filled everyone's heads. It wasn't often that newcomers appeared here.

Their school was in a small, quiet town. Hardly anything ever happened; a tragedy occurred every two or three times a year. It was very rare for an incident to make the headlines. So, you can understand that news like this was exceptional.

Byun Euijoo smiled fondly when one of his younger friends broached the topic again. There wasn't a day that went by when he didn't hear about this ‘new’ thing. He tried to ignore it, but being the student representative for his own class meant he had to prepare for his arrival. The headmaster had asked him to show him around and introduce him to some of the students so that he could fit in. Euijoo still didn't know his first or last name. All he knew was that he had been transferred because his family had moved house.

And, he had to admit, Euijoo was also curious.

“Do you think he'll want to be friends with us?" asked Maki, looking up at Euijoo with almost pleading eyes.

“I don't know, maybe? We won't know until we see him.”

The new student was due to arrive in less than an hour. Euijoo urged Maki to concentrate on the lesson in hand and tried to get back to work himself. For some unknown reason, he began to stress about the arrival.

He wasn't sure why. Was it surely because he was going to have to meet a complete stranger? This was a small town in terms of habitants. He knew almost everyone here and, despite his introverted nature, was the school's referee. So, there was added pressure.

Euijoo exhaled deeply. It was going to be fine. There was no reason for anything to go wrong.

The hour passed when a noise was heard on the other side of the door. When the teacher went to open the door, the students jumped up and started whispering amongst themselves, "He's finally here!” Euijoo sat back in his chair, his throat dry with apprehension. What did he look like? He hoped he was nice.

Euijoo had expected everything except the boy who stood in front of the whole class. He thought it was going to be a shy boy, or one who wasn't very sure of himself. Coming to a new school, especially in the middle of the school year when everyone knew each other fairly well, was very intimidating. However, the new one was clearly the opposite. Euijoo swallowed.

How was he going to approach him?

“Hello, I'm Wang Yixiang. But please call me Nicholas.”

There was a short silence in which Euijoo didn't dare move. Nicholas was... intriguing. There was nothing extraordinary about his physique apart from the fact that he was handsome and that his gaze could kill an entire army in one go. No, what was surprising was his aura. Something about him was clearly intimidating and ‘don't come near me, or I'll bite’. Euijoo was pretty sure that if he concentrated hard enough, he could see black smoke rising from his body from across the classroom.

Nicholas was staring into space, right in front of him. While the teacher tried to introduce him better, all the students had stiffened. Nicholas seemed unapproachable, unreachable. He was distant.

“Euijoo? Will you show Nicholas around the school?”

All heads turned towards him, including him. Not since he'd been the school's student representative had he felt panic like this. But he took it in his stride and masked his nervousness with a smile as he walked towards him.

“Of course!” It's a good thing his voice wasn't shaking. “Are you following me?”

And without waiting for his reply, Euijoo left the classroom where he had started to suffocate. He didn't even know if Nicholas was following him and wiped his sweaty hands on his trousers before turning round. He nearly screamed when he came face to face with Nicholas. He was looking straight at him.

“Yes?" he tried in a small voice.

“What's your name?”

So Euijoo hadn't been dreaming. Nicholas did have an accent. He didn't know where he'd got it from, but it had to be foreign. Euijoo felt a surge of compassion. It couldn't have been easy to leave his country for Japan.

“Byun Euijoo, I'm the representative of this class and the other students in this high school.”

Nicholas nodded, not taking his eyes off him. He looked impassive. Euijoo swallowed again and withdrew from his gaze, nervously.

“Let me show you around, hmm?”

Euijoo tried to be pleasant to hide his nervousness. He didn't want people to think he was afraid of Nicholas. But to tell the truth, Nicholas wasn't really helping him. Throughout the visit, he stood slightly back and said almost nothing. It was as if he was afraid to speak. So, he'd say ‘hmm’ or ‘I see’ or ‘ok’ when Euijoo explained how things worked. It was disconcerting, especially when they were walking alone in the corridors and schoolyard.

But slowly, Euijoo relaxed in his presence.

He couldn't figure out Nicholas, which was something he usually managed to do easily. But he could see that he wasn't dangerous or mean. Just reserved. Extremely reserved. Even a little too much...

When they had finished and returned to their original class, Euijoo turned to him with a sincere smile.

“I hope I've helped you. If you have any problems, don't hesitate to ask me.”

Nicholas bowed awkwardly and nodded. There was no facial expression to show what he was really thinking, but Euijoo took his gesture as a sign of progress.

By the time they visited, the class had finished. During their break, most of his classmates had stayed indoors. Naturally, Euijoo joined his friends and expected Nicholas to follow him, but this was not the case. Nicholas went to sit at the other end of the room, at the very back. No one would be next to him. He sat down and put his bag on the table, looking out.

“What's he like?” asked Fuma.

Euijoo tore his gaze away from Nicholas and turned to his friends, who were looking at him curiously. Especially Maki. And Jo. And Harua.

He sighed.

“He looks intimidating, but I think he's cool.”

“Cool? He seems to hate it here”, Yudai frowned.

“Give him time to adjust. I don't think he's Japanese either," added Euijoo.

- The next day -

As usual, Euijoo often arrived early in the morning. He was always popping into the administration offices to see if there was any news he needed to deliver to the students at the school. There weren't many of them compared to the high schools in bigger towns, so it went quickly when he did.

Euijoo was Korean, having transferred to Japan at the start of his secondary education as an exchange student. When he told his parents about his choice, they were reluctant. They had decided to give their son a chance on condition that they accompanied him. It wasn’t possible for Euijoo to move to a school in a foreign country for three years when he was so young.

He had been here for two and a half years now and had absolutely no regrets about his choice. He was blossoming, enjoying himself and, above all, had made friends he couldn't imagine life without. He felt good. It was without doubt the best decision of his life.

So, he knew what it was like to learn the language, to get over the teasing when his foreign accent slipped out a few times.

That's why, plucking up courage, he approached Nicholas before the lesson started.

“Hi Nicholas!”

Without realising it, Euijoo's heart was racing, and his hands began to sweat. Nicholas... hadn't changed since the day before. His gaze hadn't softened one bit, and his whole posture indicated that he didn't want to be approached.

Nevertheless, he looked up at Euijoo. At least he recognised his presence. Another step forward.

“Hi.”

Euijoo wondered if it had always been cold in this room. Maybe it hadn't. He grimaced.

“Uhm...well,” Euijoo hesitated. What if it was too direct? What if he took it the wrong way? Euijoo didn't want to offend him. “I just wanted to say that if you ever have any problems adapting to the culture or, perhaps, speaking or translating the language, you can always come to me. Or to my friends.”

Euijoo spoke in one breath, fearing that it would be too mean or intrusive. Nicholas didn't seem offended, which was a good thing. He nodded, understanding what he meant, but neither his face nor his body language indicated to Euijoo that he was considering his request.

“Thank you, but," he asked in a voice so deep and low that Euijoo had to lean over to hear. “How did you know I was a foreigner?”

Euijoo smiled.

“Your accent didn't fool me. And besides,” he added in Korean, “I'm not Japanese myself.”

Nicholas's face lit up just a little, and Euijoo had the impression he'd been dreaming. But it only lasted a moment as he put his cold, distant mask back on. Euijoo felt his heart clench without knowing why. But it had been confirmed that he also spoke Korean.

Nicholas didn't try to find out any more. He just nodded again, as if to make it clear that he had understood and had nothing more to say. That was the end of the discussion.

Euijoo felt strange. Perhaps powerless not to have been able to do more? not to have been able to make him react? Euijoo was curious. Maybe even a little too curious, because when he was curious, he didn't let go until he had all the answers to his questions.

So Euijoo made himself a promise to break through every wall Nicholas put around him. No matter how long it took. It didn't matter if Nicholas pushed him away. He was interesting and Euijoo curious. But he knew he'd have to be patient, which in itself wasn't a problem because being patient was one of his best qualities.

- A week later -

Euijoo was still surprised. Ever since the day he arrived, Nicholas had been feeding the fire of attention he felt towards him.

For the first time in a week, it was Nicholas who approached him. And his reaction was stupid. Because, even if Euijoo wanted to know more about him, there were times when Nicholas still scared him. Like now.

Euijoo spent the break laughing with his friends, not paying too much attention to his surroundings. When a figure approached him, holding out what looked like a wrapped chocolate bar.

“Would you like some chocolate?”

His voice startled him. Nicholas was wearing a black mask that covered half his face and was also wearing a black cap. All he could see were his eyes, hardened by the visible lack of a face. He was frightening. The intonation of his voice didn't help to reassure him either, especially the fact that all his friends had stopped their conversations to follow theirs. Was he threatening him?

Surrounded by these attentions and his rather worrying aura, Euijoo managed to stammer out a :

“No thanks, I’ll be fine.”

Nicholas's ears turned red, and he said nothing before returning to his seat. Euijoo immediately felt bad.

“Why did you say no?" whispered Yuma aggressively.

“I... I don't know? I panicked, all right?” replied Euijoo, also whispering, feeling sorry for reacting like that.

If he came back to him and apologised and said he'd take the chocolate, would he be forgiven? Besides, why would he specifically want to give his chocolate? Euijoo wondered. This particular brand of chocolate was his favourite too... Could it be that...? No. Euijoo wiped away the flicker of hope that had just arisen inside him. What kind of hope was that? Besides, there was no way Nicholas could have seen him buying that bar of chocolate every morning from the vending machine and then offering it to him afterwards. No, he wouldn't.

Euijoo looked back at Nicholas. His posture was the same as on his first day, his head turned towards the window. And the bar of chocolate in front of him on the table.

- Time passes -

Euijoo had been trying to reach Nicholas for several days. He had tried to pair up with him for a sports class. Nicholas refused. The second time, he offered to join his group of friends for a work session at the library. He refused too. But Euijoo was still hopeful and persistent.

One day, he approached him to ask if he would come on a class trip to the museum. As a delegate, it was his job to collect the names of the students who planned to come. Nicholas replied, this time in the affirmative. Euijoo had smiled as if he'd got a good mark, which Nicholas didn't understand from his bewildered expression. But Euijoo didn't mind, as long as Nicholas was there.

Euijoo still didn't understand why he was so keen to talk to him, to spend time with him (even though Nicholas avoided him most of the time), or to get to know him. Which was odd, given that he didn't open up to anyone, spent all his time in his own corner, didn't talk to anyone, and all the students seemed to reciprocate. The excitement of getting to know the new boy had faded very quickly, given his behaviour.

Nicholas wasn't disruptive or mean. He was just cold, distant and hardly ever spoke. It was as if he was a ghost.

Euijoo was determined to change that.

Once, Euijoo had seen Maki, Harua and Jo approach Nicholas. He hadn't been able to see the whole interaction as they were too far away, but the youngers were able to carry on their conversation afterwards. They tried to talk to him and get to know him. As he had expected, this hadn't really borne fruit, but Nicholas had seemed to open up a little in front of them. Euijoo couldn't blame him, no-one could resist his three friends. But they had come away somewhat disappointed. They would have thought they'd managed to convince him to join them, but it was a failure.

Apart from that, they hadn't had much interaction since the chocolate bar. Euijoo was really angry towards himself but he didn't know how to make it up to him. He wasn't close enough to Nicholas to know how he should apologise. He thought of a plan, but nothing came to him.

Until the day it got worse.

- Three days later -

Euijoo had just come out of the administration building after a meeting with some teachers when Maki came running up to him, looking panicked.

“Euijoo, hurry! Hurry, please !”

“Maki, take a deep breath. What's going on?”

Maki whitened suddenly and grabbed Euijoo's arm hard before dragging him after him.

“It's Nicholas! Some boys are after him!”

Euijoo followed Maki, running behind him. Why would people attack Nicholas? Nicholas was as discreet as possible and, from what he could hear, wasn't causing any trouble. Unless he was involved in illegal extracurricular activities but...

In a corner between two buildings, a group of students surrounded Nicholas, backed up against one of the walls. The only good thing was that he didn't look scared. One of the boys threw his open bag at his feet and began to provoke him, physically and verbally. Nicholas tried not to react, but eventually snapped. He threw himself at what appeared to be the leader of the group, punching him in the face.

Euijoo didn't hesitate for a second. The two had started to fight and the delegate went to intervene.

“Stop!”

He pushed the boy away and grabbed the collar of Nicholas's shirt, putting him at arm's length to create some distance. Euijoo saw Maki in the background, watching the scene helplessly.

“Maki, go and get some teachers, please.”

The younger nodded and ran off. The boy tried another approach, which Nicholas also responded to, but Euijoo stopped him again with his arm, tightening his grip on his collar once more.

“I said stop," he said, glaring at Nicholas, even though he knew Nicholas wasn't to blame. Even though he didn't know the context.

“Don't tell me you're going to defend that fucking foreigner?”

Euijoo turned to him, arms still outstretched, and said in a scathing voice:

“I don't think I'd try to be clever if I were you. You know perfectly well that harassment is severely punished here. Your parents won't be too happy to know that their son is involved in this sort of thing.”

The boy tensed and lost all amusement. Euijoo could feel Nicholas gradually tense up, as if he was dreading something. He turned towards him.

“Are you all right?" said Euijoo, in a slightly softer voice.

Nicholas didn't respond, his menacing gaze still fixed on the boy, and Euijoo's heart sank. He was completely ignoring him. He was about to say something when the teachers arrived and took charge of the situation. Everyone in the principal's office.

Euijoo was waiting in the hallway, across from the principal's office. Nicholas and the other boy were having a small chat in the office, and Euijoo hadn't felt panicked like this after bringing two troublemakers to the principal's office since his first day. Biting his nail and pacing back and forth in front of the door, he jumped when it burst open and the two boys came out.

The first boy didn't even look at him and strode straight away. When Nicholas walked past him, not even without a glance, Euijoo grabbed his wrist, stopping him.

"Nicholas, wait. How did it go?"

Nicholas violently pulled away from his grasp.

"You shouldn't have interfered," he replied, his voice so cold it could freeze him to the spot.

"What? But... well, it's my duty! And if you're being bullied, it's best to put an end to it right away."

"I can handle this myself just fine!" Nicholas replied, raising his voice.

Euijoo grimaced, taking a step back.

"Why won't you let me help you? Is it so difficult?"

"I'm not someone in distress desperately waiting for someone to come and save me!"

Their voices were getting louder and louder, and Euijoo was surprised no adult had intervened yet. They were so loud they could alert the entire school.

"Nicholas…"

"Leave me alone!"

Then Nicholas left, furious. Euijoo didn't realize until he disappeared from sight that his heart had tightened, to the point of pain. He clutched his shirt, near his vital organ, almost clawing at his skin over the fabric to make the pain inside disappear. It hurt. Terribly. He felt as if he'd been run over by a tractor.

Burning back tears, he left too. His steps were heavy, and each step forward was harder than the last to save face.

When he left the building, school was already over. His friends had warned him they were coming home and that if he needed anything, one of their friends could wait for him. He had refused and thanked himself for having made that decision beforehand. He wanted to be alone. And showing up in that state would have been pointless.

He walked home slowly. It wasn't until he reached his bed, his stomach almost empty and showered, that he allowed himself to cry.

Euijoo didn't even know why it hurt so much. Nicholas and he weren't even friends. They hadn't even established a remotely close relationship. It shouldn't hurt this much. Maybe it was the harshness of his words? But the way Nicholas's face had become desperate when he mentioned he didn't want to be rescued...

Euijoo turned in bed and stared at the time on his alarm clock. It was going to be a long night.

- The next day -

Euijoo had dark circles around his eyes when he sat down in class. The night was, indeed, very short, and he had no desire to run into Nicholas. He avoided his friends' worried glances and questions on the way to the classroom and went to sit down. He didn't have the heart to fulfil his role as class representative and smile at everyone. Maybe another day.

He was so tired that it took him a while to notice the chocolate bar he normally buys every morning before class, sitting on the corner of his table. He frowned. He didn't remember buying one, and it wasn't typical of his friends to do such a thing either.

He turned suddenly to Nicholas. Nicholas turned his head directly in the opposite direction, his cheeks flushed.

Too late.

Euijoo had seen him staring.

His heart filled with hope again, a small smile blooming on his face.

Maybe today wouldn't be a horrible day after all.

Later that day, when Nicholas returned from the restroom, he was surprised to see a colourful package on his table. He walked over and noticed a note attached to the bag.

"Thanks for the chocolate bar :)

juju"

Warmth spread through Nicholas's body as he read the little note and took the bag of strawberry mochi in his hand. He glanced at Euijoo from afar, who was already looking at him with a big smile.

To his surprise, Nicholas smiled back.

He realized he didn't like arguing with Euijoo.

Nicholas was leaning against the classroom doorframe. He watched Euijoo's movements as he busied himself cleaning the room. This was the class representative and a few other students' part at the end of the day. Euijoo had finished on his own, kindly sending the others home. He had taken responsibility for the cleanup. So, Nicholas had stayed because... he wasn't sure why.

Or maybe he knew, but he probably didn't dare admit it to himself yet.

When Euijoo saw him, he jumped. Again. Putting the broom in the closet at the back of the classroom, he questioned Nicholas.

"Why didn't you come home?"

Euijoo grabbed his bag and headed for the door, Nicholas stepping aside to let it close.

"I needed to talk to you."

Euijoo stopped suddenly. Turning to Nicholas, he wondered if he'd been dreaming. Was he speaking... Korean?

He pulled himself together and started walking towards the school exit, Nicholas following close behind him. It was funny because Euijoo had forgotten that Nicholas was shorter than him, he was so intimidating.

Cute.

"I'm listening," he replied in his native language.

If Nicholas had noticed, he didn't say anything.

"I shouldn't have spoken to you like that, I'm really sorry."

Euijoo contemplated his apology for a few seconds as they went down the stairs. Nicholas was apologizing, so he regretted arguing with him. He took another step towards him. Euijoo couldn't help but smile.

"So, if you're sorry, I am too. I must have pushed some boundaries."

Nicholas shook his head. Euijoo had never noticed, but he had the attitude of a cat. And the looks too.

Anyway.

They went through the main door and found themselves outside. They didn't discuss which direction to go in. They walked naturally, guiding each other in who knew where.

"You did well to intervene. It's just me who wasn't... honest."

"Why don't you let me get to you?"

There was a slight pause. Euijoo had asked this without thinking, it was true. The question had been burning on his lips for days, eager for an answer. And it seemed Nicholas was taken aback, because he stared into space, as if searching for a good answer himself.

They crossed at a pedestrian crossing.

"Well... I guess I was just scared."

Euijoo's face softened. They continued walking, Euijoo taking the usual route home. They didn't realize they were following each other until Nicholas stopped at an intersection with a sigh.

"I have to go this way," he said, pointing in the opposite direction. "But…"

Nicholas paused for a few seconds, as if searching for the right words. So Euijoo waited, an encouraging expression on his face. He said nothing so as not to rush or stress him out. Nicholas played with his fingers and seemed to be looking everywhere, except at Euijoo. Euijoo found it...cute. Yes, he found Nicholas particularly cute.

His heart calmed, healing the injuries from the day before.

"But?"

Nicholas finally looked up at him, his cheeks flushed. Or maybe Euijoo was hallucinating.

"I'd like to spend more time with you."

Euijoo wasn't sure what was going on inside his body. Yes, he'd had crush before. They didn't last long, but they had been there. Despite his past partners, he'd never truly fallen in love. That's why he found it strange the way his heart and inner self reacted to that simple sentence. A poor, innocent little sentence that panicked him more than he let on.

He felt his cheeks heat up too, which he tried to hide with his arm, but without success. Nicholas had already seen it, and Nicholas laughed.

Nicholas… A laugh so genuine that Euijoo could only watch him, his eyes examining how his face contorted into the most magnificent expression.

It sounds cliché, but it was surely the most beautiful sound Euijoo had ever heard in his life.

His smile could light him up more than the sunset behind them.

“I didn’t think flustered you was so easy,” Nicholas finally managed to speak.

Euijoo, too lost in contemplating Nicholas, didn’t answer right away. Only after he pulled himself together did he smile to hide his embarrassment.

“Ah… You just caught me off guard.”

Euijoo didn’t know this side of Nicholas, and he liked it. More than that, even. Nicholas’s smile widened.

“I’ll have to catch you off guard more often, then.”

Euijoo's eyes widened, and he reflexively tapped Nicholas on the shoulder before actually covering his face with his hands, feeling that his cheeks now resembled strawberries.

Strawberries? Interesting...

Nicholas laughed again.

"Okay, I'll stop. For now, at least."

"You should go home, it's getting late."

Nicholas rolled his eyes... affectionately? He was no longer the mysterious boy he liked to pretend to be at school. Euijoo felt like he was a completely different person, and as much as it bothered him, it was refreshing.

"See you tomorrow then," Nicholas replied.

Euijoo nodded, unable to say another word without feeling his heart skip a beat. With a wide smile, Nicholas set off in the opposite direction, waving goodbye. Euijoo waved back.

It wasn't until he hit his pillow that night that he allowed himself to scream into it, releasing all the emotions he'd been holding inside since he and Nicholas had said their goodbyes.

- Time passed -

From that day on, Nicholas gradually integrated into Euijoo's group of friends. It wasn't immediate. They spent time together in bits and pieces throughout the day at first. During breaks, Nicholas would join them. At first, he clung to Euijoo, almost holding his arm around his, barely speaking.

It wasn't until Harua spoke to him that he dared to open up a little more. Soon, he got to know the other members of the group a little better.

Euijoo was happy to see Nicholas opening up to them little by little. It was a pleasant sight, and most of the time, he only had eyes for Nicholas.

"You're staring," Taki said near the lockers.

He and Euijoo had left their science textbook in their lockers and had to go get it for class.

"What are you talking about?"

Except that Euijoo knew exactly what he was talking about.

Taki snorted and closed his locker before leaning against it, looking at Euijoo unimpressed.

“At least pretend to lie,” Euijoo felt the back of his neck heat up. “You know everyone's noticing your little game?”

When Euijoo closed his locker too, he sighed.

“I… I know,” he admitted defeatistically. After all, he knew all his friends knew something was going on between him and Nicholas.

He and Nicholas had gotten closer since that night. They talked constantly; as soon as they could touch each other, they did. They argued like an old married couple. They often spoke Korean to each other. They bought snacks for each other. Nicholas waited for Euijoo every day to walk part of the way home together.

It was starting to get weird.

Taki raised an eyebrow.

“So?”

“So?”

“Euijoo…”

“Taki”, Euijoo gave him his best innocent smile.

“Your crush can be seen from across the classroom.”

The revelation made him choke on his own saliva. Was it that obvious? Euijoo let out a nervous laugh.

“Maybe you should tell him, shouldn't you?”

“I don't know... I'm not sure it's mutual.”

Taki sighed and looked like he was shouldering all his friends judgments for a second.

“Euijoo, to be honest, I don't think he'll reject you.”

Euiijoo stared into space for a few seconds. He'd suspected something was up since the day they'd walked together after class. For his body to react like that, he'd wondered if he was sick at first. Then, his denial vanished and he faced his own feelings.

It was even more powerful than a simple crush.

"Do something, we can't take the tension anymore."

Euijoo let out a small laugh before they headed back to class, reflecting on Taki's words.

- A few days later -

Valentine's Day had arrived. The months had passed so quickly that Euijoo hadn't even had time to think about it. Classes followed one after the other, exams too, and then... Nicholas was making his head spin. In every sense of the word.

Nicholas had become a completely different person since he'd become closer to Euijoo. He smiled more, laughed more, and was much more welcoming when approached. He had also become closer to the members of Euijoo's group of friends. Euijoo was proud of this. The more time he spent with Nicholas, the better he felt.

When Euijoo opened his locker, he jumped when a ton of letters fell at his feet, along with boxes wrapped in pink paper. He had, indeed, forgotten the day of love. He felt stupid and a little ashamed for having forgotten the famous Valentine's Day. This was perhaps the only time it had ever slipped his mind.

He hurriedly gathered the letters, his cheeks flushed. This was perhaps the first time Euijoo had received so many letters since he'd been here on this special day.

He heard Yuma chuckle beside him, closing his own locker.

"You've been spoiled this year."

"Aren't you?" Euijoo replied, trying to divert attention.

Yuma smiled, holding up a box and three letters.

"Apparently."

Then he walked away, glancing at the letters Euijoo held with difficulty in his hands and chuckled.

What the…

Euijoo inspected the letters more closely. Some were from girls and boys he knew quickly, or from his friends, like every year. But most were letters from the same recipient, signing the same way.

"N"

There were fourteen letters, all handwritten. The messages weren't long, rather short. The sheets of paper were blank, but the detail that made Euijoo's heart race was the lipstick-stained kiss marks on each of the letters. Immediately, he turned to where Nicholas was supposed to be in front of his locker and met the other's gaze.

Nicholas was already looking at him, with a small smile. Euijoo had no doubt about the recipient, and even though he felt giddy at the thought, he felt bad for not having prepared something for Nicholas. But he didn't seem to care, judging by his expression. Nicholas closed his locker before leaving the hall, still looking at Euijoo. Euijoo followed him with his eyes, except that he was devouring him while clutching Nicholas's letters to his heart.

Never, ever, had he felt anything like this.

He felt his cheeks heat up, his heart race, his legs tremble.

School time be damned, he gently sank to the floor as the hall emptied of students attending their first class.

Euijoo delicately picked up each of the letters to read them carefully. Each letter complimented Euijoo, describing their time together. Euijoo felt like he was overheating. He brushed his fingertips over the lip marks.

Nicholas had done all… this? For him?

In the last letter, Nicholas suggested they go out after school.

Euijoo definitely wasn't going to say no.

The whole day was nothing but stolen glances, fingers brushing against each other under the table before gently intertwining.

Euijoo's heart was beating so fast he was afraid he might faint.

Nicholas acted normally around him, and yet... he felt like there was something more.

Euijoo knew perfectly well that he loved Nicholas. He was aware of it and was convinced that Nicholas didn't love him back, but... all those letters, a friend wouldn't do that? Would he?

When Euijoo went to the cafeteria to get something to eat, Yudai went with him. Which was strange because Yudai never went to the cafeteria.

They chatted about this and that until Euijoo paid for his chocolate bar, and they walked to their classroom.

"So? I hear you're very popular this year?" Yudai said in a completely innocent tone.

Euijoo felt his ears getting hot. It was a good thing his hair was long enough to hide it.

"It probably is," he muttered as he opened the package.

“Hmm... Probably. 14 letters from the same addressee, apparently.”

Euijoo stumbled over his reply, his chocolate bar in his mouth.

“How did you know?”

“Nicholas told me about it.”

Suddenly, Euijoo felt stupid. Again. Of course his friends would find out. But it was always weird talking about it among themselves... well, they sometimes teased each other when one of them had a crush on someone else. This was a different situation. And besides, did his friends really know that Euijoo was bisexual?

But they didn't seem to care. In fact, Euijoo had never found the right moment to confess to them and felt so comfortable among them that the question had slipped his mind.

Yudai put an arm around his shoulders.

"Do you think no one sees anything?" His tone was teasing.

"Taki told me the same thing a few weeks ago," Euijoo stammered, continuing to eat his bar, avoiding the older man's gaze.

"So? Why don't you just go for it?"

Euijoo shrugged.

"It's not easy, and I don't think it's mutual."

Or maybe it is, after all...

Yudai gave him a strange look before pulling away from him when they arrived in front of the classroom. He didn't reply, just sighed and shook his head.

These kids are going to drive him crazy.

Nicholas waited for Euijoo once more at the end of the day, leaning against the doorframe. The small smile on his lips made Euijoo's cheeks heat up even more as he tried to sweep the floor as quickly as possible.

He had a date after all.

He could feel the weight of Nicholas's gaze on him, seemingly following his every move. It made him so nervous that Euijoo knocked over chairs and his broom fell several times.

Clearing his throat, Euijoo finally closed the classroom door and turned to Nicholas.

"So, where are you taking me?" he asked. He hoped his voice wasn't that hoarse. God, he was nervous.

He was going on a date with Nicholas. He was going on a date with Nicho…

"To a little coffee shop, not far from here. I discovered it last week, it's pretty laid-back."

They had passed the school gate when Euijoo followed Nicholas to their destination. Almost by reflex, their hands brushed once. Euijoo's heart raced. When they brushed a second time, he felt Nicholas's hand gently rest on his, before interlacing their fingers.

Euijoo thought his heart would never start beating again.

They said nothing, but their smiles spoke for them.

Euijoo felt good, almost at peace. The clichéd warmth often described in romances when your loved one touches you was therefore true.

He was grinning like an idiot when they arrived at the coffee shop. Nicholas had to untie his hand and went straight in, holding the door for Euijoo.

A perfect gentleman.

They sat down in a secluded corner. Indeed, it was quiet. There was hardly anyone there, and the café was located on a quiet street. The place was cozy, there wasn't much light, which gave it a very intimate, subdued feel. The coffee smelled everywhere they could have been. The building could have been centuries old. It was old-fashioned but with a touch of modernity. Euijoo loved it.

They ordered and were finally able to start chatting.

"I'm so sorry I didn't offer you anything," Euijoo apologized immediately, guilt quickly overtaking him.

Nicholas chuckled and waved his excuse away.

"Don't worry about it. We've been busy lately, I understand. Catch up at White Day."

His playful tone made Euijoo freeze. His blush definitely didn't leave him for a single second, as he felt himself turning back into a tomato in two seconds.

"Yes... Yes, yes, of course."

And while Nicholas started a new topic of conversation, Euijoo was already thinking. What could he get him for White Day? Considering that the celebration was close to their school holidays.

"Do you like the place?" Nicholas asked, as the waitress placed their orders on the table.

Euijoo's eyes lit up instantly.

"I love it! It's really my kind of thing, too! I didn't know this place, but I feel good here."

While Euuijoo had ordered a black coffee, Nicholas held a cappuccino in his hands.

"I'm glad you like it then," he said, taking a sip of his drink.

"I didn't know you liked coffee."

Nicholas nodded.

"I didn't use to like it. I've come to appreciate it over the months since I've been in Japan. But I need my dose of milk."

Euijoo made a mental note of this detail.

"Thank you for all the letters this morning."

Nicholas smiled broadly, and even though Euijoo could see he was proud of them, he didn't help but notice he was starting to blush too.

"My pleasure. I mean everything I wrote."

Euijoo blushed even more, as if that were possible. He tried to hide it, but even the dim lighting couldn't hide it. How could his heart be beating so fast at that kind of sentence?

"Stop it," he grumbled, covering his face with his hand.

Nicholas laughed, placing his hands on his again. His hands were so soft, providing a nice warmth... Nicholas had to stop this; Euijoo wasn't sure his heart could take it.

"Why? I like teasing you."

"I noticed," Euijoo fidgeted, still flustered but removing his hands from his face.

He couldn't help but smile with Nicholas before laughing.

"But you know, I don't think I'll ever thank you enough," Nicholas added, interlacing their fingers and playing with them absentmindedly.

Euijoo tried not to think about it. Obviously, he was wondering if his heart was going to burst one day.

"For what?"

"For being there from the beginning."

He bowed his head, Euijoo immediately understanding the message behind Nicholas's sincere thanks.

"That's normal..."

"It's just... I don't think I've ever told you why I came here."

It's true that Nicholas didn't usually talk much about himself. He's opening up more to Euijoo, but it was still complicated at the beginning of their relationship. But it's true that Nicholas had never told him about the real reasons for his arrival in Japan.

"I'm originally Taiwanese, and things hadn't been going well for my parents for some time. They eventually separated, but my father went crazy. So, my mother got scared and decided to change. She made such a radical change that we ended up moving to another country. I took it a bit hard, knowing that when I arrived at my first school at the beginning of the year... it didn't really go well."

Euijoo squeezed Nicholas's hands, sensing that the subject was still sensitive to broach. His heart sank.

"I was bullied for being a foreigner. It went on for months before my mother intervened. We moved towns again, and here I am."

"Oh, Nicho..."

Instinctively, Euijoo brought a hand to Nicholas's cheek, caressing it with his thumb. His gesture was so natural that he didn't realize the significance of the gesture and the fact that they were in public. But when he did, Nicholas didn't seem to mind. He leaned on the touch gently.

"Is that why you were withdrawn at first?" Euijoo asked, removing his hand, his fingers trembling.

"Yes, and I apologize again for my behaviour. I wasn't very nice to you."

Euijoo shook his head and smiled.

“I was right to put up with you.”

Nicholas smiled back.

It was probably the best Valentine's Day Euijoo ever had.

- A month passed -

White Day finally arrived, and Euijoo couldn't help but feel anxious. He turned the letter over and over in his hand, using it as a way to let off steam. He felt like he was about to take ten exams in one day, when all he had to do was hand the piece of paper to Nicholas.

Nicholas…

Since Valentine's Day, he hadn't known they could be even closer than before. Closeness meant physical closeness. They were always stuck together. If they argued like an old married couple, five minutes later, they had made peace, and Nicholas was clinging to his arm.

One day, a junior approached him. She asked if he and Nicholas were dating.

That's when Euijoo realized several things.

Their little game had expanded beyond their group of friends, because now the whole school was watching this K-drama unfold before their eyes.

And then, would that mean that... maybe... Nicholas could return his feelings?

Valentine's Day was already suspicious, but maybe Euijoo was too blind to see it.

He felt it, deep in his heart. Euijoo felt all the love he had for Nicholas. He was afraid it would spill over too much.

That's why he had developed a strategy.

"You'll end up hurting this poor letter."

"I'm scared, Fuma."

Euijoo swallowed and felt a hand on his shoulder. Fuma smiled at him, and Yudai gave him a thumbs-up.

"It can only be good. I don't see why Nicholas would refuse such a proposal."

"Knowing that he's always looking at you with hearts in his eyes."

Fuma discreetly stepped on Yudai's foot, who, before screaming, silenced him with a hand over his mouth.

Euijoo felt his cheeks heat up.

After Valentine's Day, he couldn't help but talk about it with some of his friends. Yuma, Harua, Fuma, and Yudai were among his friends and had been a great support. In a way, it felt good for Euijoo to confess his love to Nicholas instead of keeping everything to himself. Obviously, their reactions were unequivocal: no one was shocked.

So, they wanted to be there when Euijoo delivered his letter during White Day. Yuma and Harua had a problem, so Fuma and Yudai decided to stay with him until the end. Even if Euijoo didn't declare himself, he felt he could throw up his breakfast at any moment.

When Nicholas walked up to him, a big smile on his face, Euijoo relaxed. He had the best smile in the world. Euijoo would die to defend his opinion.

He's so beautiful.

"So? What was so urgent that you asked me to come 10 minutes early before the first class?"

Euijoo didn't reply, handing him the letter instead. Nicholas shot a questioning look at Fuma and Yudai, who were watching from the sidelines. But they just nodded.

As if they didn't know exactly what the letter contained.

Nicholas took the letter and read it.

"Dear Nicholas,

First of all, I wanted to apologize for forgetting Valentine's Day. I blamed myself for it for a long time, right up until the coffee date. You made it the best Valentine's Day ever.

I wanted to thank you for all your letters. I've read them all, and they're tucked away in a secure place where no one can find them because they're mine. Thank you for taking the time you spent for it.

You're probably the best thing that's happened to me since I've been in Japan. But don't get too big-headed either. Be careful, or I'll know.

For White Day, would you be willing to come to the family's house during the holidays?

Yours,

Euijoo."

When Euijoo saw Nicholas's cheeks turning red, he tried to suppress a smile. But he couldn't, Nicholas hit him on the shoulder.

“Stop smiling!”

Euijoo laughed. All the accumulated stress came rushing down, causing him to burst into laughter. Nicholas tried to hide his face with the letter.

“Stop laughing, or I won't accept the offer.”

Euijoo looked offended and placed a hand over his heart.

“You wouldn't dare.”

“Watch me.”

“I'd just have to kidnap you.”

“You wouldn't be able to.”

“Watch me.”

Euijoo grinned when Nicholas realized he'd used the exact same words. When he discreetly turned around, Fuma and Yudai had disappeared. Probably to give them some privacy.

Nicholas punched Euijoo on the shoulder a second time.

“Of course I'll come, no need to kidnap me.”

- A week goes by -

It had been three days since Euijoo's family arrived in the countryside. They had to open the windows, dust the furniture, and check the entire house before settling in comfortably.

When Euijoo introduced Nicholas to his parents, they were very welcoming. The car ride had gone well; his parents had asked thousands of questions about the culture and Nicholas's life while he was still in Taiwan.

His parents liked Nicholas, and that was what mattered.

Upon arriving in Japan, his parents had immediately bought a house in the countryside where they spent most of their school holidays. It reminded them of their home in Korea, which they abandoned when Euijoo moved to this country for his studies. They had moved it in like their old home so that they would feel as much of that familiarity as possible. Euijoo felt good here. He had wanted to bring Nicholas here because he wanted him to feel a minimum of family comfort and well-being.

And maybe confess too.

Euijoo had been spamming his group of friends with messages since this morning. He was even more stressed than when he had handed him the letter on White Day.

They were sitting in the garden, right on the grass. Nicholas had suggested they go watch the sunset. Euijoo had never accepted so quickly. The garden overlooked a hill to their right, and in the hollow was the sun. The sun's rays perfectly followed the lines of nature and kissed the flowers in the distance.

Euijoo turned his head toward Nicholas.

He had a smile on his lips, the sun shining brightly on him.

Their hands were supporting their weight on the ground, and without realizing it, Euijoo brought his hand closer to his. Without consulting each other, their fingers intertwined again. As usual.

When Nicholas looked at him, Euijoo's heart seemed to stop beating. He was so magnificent that he wondered what he had done to deserve such a beautiful view.

"Do you know you're truly beautiful?" Euijoo blurted out on impulse. And yet, his heart was beating faster, ready to burst.

Nicholas let out a small laugh.

"I only reflect what I see."

Euijoo bit his lip, feeling himself blush. He turned his head away, unable to bear Nicholas's burning gaze.

When he looked back, Nicholas was already looking at him. And suddenly, it hit him, full force.

Nicholas's gaze was so filled with love and affection that Euijoo felt short of breath. He felt...seen, understood, and incredibly loved. A wave of warmth washed over him.

And it certainly wasn't because of the sun.

"Am I making you nervous?" Nicholas asked.

"If I say yes, what are you going to do?"

Nicholas was making Euijoo bold. Even a little too bold.

Nicholas's gaze flickered down to his lips before returning to his eyes. Euijoo felt like screaming.

"Tell me you won't regret it, then."

"I won’t, I promise."

Euijoo had no idea what Nicholas had in mind, but he was ready to follow him to the ends of the world if necessary.

Little by little, Nicholas moved closer to him. He was going so slowly that Euijoo felt like it was taking forever. Their linked hands were like an anchor.

When they were a few inches apart, they stopped for a moment, gazing into each other's eyes.

Euijoo didn't know if it was Nicholas or him who had dared to make the first move.

The only thing he remembers is the way his heart imploded.

Nicholas's lips were so soft he felt like he was on a cloud. The wave of warmth intensified, and all the love he felt finally overflowed. He felt it envelop them both for the most beautiful experience.

A hand gently touched his cheek. Euijoo felt drunk. Drunk on his lips, the way Nicholas let himself leaning in by his touch.

That kiss was far better than any of their moments together. Euijoo felt stupid for believing Nicholas didn't love him back, because the desperate way Nicholas kissed him exceeded all his expectations.

Euijoo felt like he was finally alive, breathing.

The last rays of sunlight watched over them, carrying their little moment away like a secret.

Except that Euijoo loved Nicholas loudly and without limits.