"N/n-chan...what's your favorite colour?" the boy with his head on my lap suddenly twisted around and asked.

I stared down at him and pretended to think seriously about it. When my eyes met his curious ones, I laughed and decided to be honest.

"Green," I had answered with a soft smile, running my hand through his messy black hair.

He simply hummed and closed his eyes, most likely not making a connection between my answer and the colour of the very eyes that stared back at him in the mirror.

"...L/n! Oi! I asked what your favourite colour was! Jeez...she's always spacing out like this..." my partner for my Digital Art 110 project exasperatedly waved her hand in front of my face.

"That's right...my favourite colour was green..." I muttered in response, wishing I was anywhere but here.

"Was? So it's not now? C'mon man I just want to know your suggestion for the colour scheme of the movie poster..." She sighed in response.

Pitying the girl who so often put up with my overdramatic mood swings, I decided on an answer, "Well I was thinking of using analogous green colours even before you asked me. It doesn't matter what my favourite colour is. The movie we were assigned to make a poster of was basically a dark comedy about an unlucky girl who's far too trusting of her lover and gets left behind and dies of some disease at the end...right? Green represents luck, jealousy, and tranquility, so it'd be a good use of the same satirical irony if we used mostly greens."

She blinked at me, processing my words. I guess it didn't help that I just blurted whatever words came to mind, but at least it got her off my back. As the bell rang we both agreed to meet up sometime later that week to compare drafts.

"Ah, art college is really better in some ways. No stuffy uniform and too short skirt," I shoved my hands into the pocket of my hoodie as I walked to the cafeteria.

It was then that I saw him. At first I wasn't sure if it was him. His hair was blonde now and he didn't wear his cute glasses...and he was really tall. I could almost have convinced myself that I was imagining things again, my parents always did say it was like I saw a different world, but then I saw his eyes.

The same, pretty green that I had loved for years. But...it seemed different now. More tired. More clouded. More...insincere.

I shook off my thoughts. They were baseless, really. And what could I do even if I was right? He'd cut me off from his life the moment he graduated middle school and gone to an all boys high school. I really couldn't decide if it was bad or good luck that we happened to be attending the same university.

I contemplated approaching him just to see if he remembered me...and maybe asking why he stopped texting me just because we went to different schools...but when I glanced at him again I saw a crowd of the more popular students surrounding him. Some were joking around, others seemed to be asking him something. From afar I could see him laughing, smiling, and animatedly conversing with everyone as they headed to the cafeteria in a group.

I'd decided. It's definitely bad luck.

I guess he doesn't need me now that he has a lot of friends. But it's strange. He didn't used to smile exaggeratedly like that. Was it fake? Or did they just make him happier than I ever did?

I turned and briskly walked to the library. My appetite was gone now. Maybe I'd just sketch in a quiet corner.

...

It had been a month since I started observing Kazunari. I never quite got the courage to talk to him. Not when he was trying so desperately to be a cool kid now. Knowing me would most likely just damage his reputation.

I was sat on one of the branches of a Sakura tree with my sketchbook closed on my lap. I munched on the melonpan that would be my lunch as I watched him...as usual.

It's not like I was a stalker or anything! I only watched him during lunch because, well, I didn't really know anyone else in the University. I was never good at making friends...and he was interesting. He was always so...bright.

Unfortunately for me, a girl was now dragging him towards my very tree. I groaned internally as I realised that she must've suggested he draw her with the cherry blossoms. Hurriedly, I shoved my sketchbook into my backpack, swallowed my last bite of melonpan, and started scrambling down the tree. Unfortunately, in my rush to get away from them, I missed a foothold and fell.

How ironic. I was trying so hard to get away from him but I landed straight in his arms.

Blinking confusedly, I looked up to see his wide green eyes staring down at me in surprise. I wonder if he recognised me.

"Sorry," was all I said as he regained his senses and put me down.

At this point, more of the popular kids had gathered to see what was going on, so I was anxious to slip away. I grabbed my backpack from where it fell on the ground and started to speed walk away when a hand grabbed my right arm.

"...N/n-chan?"

I bit back a sarcastic response.

"Didn't think you'd remember me, Kazu-kun," I gave him a weak smile before breaking away and full on sprinting this time.

Why did I run? It's not like he's gonna hurt me. Was it because there were a lot of people? No...I'd stopped caring about them a long time ago. Then...why?

Ah. Maybe it was because of the tears that were about to spill. My mind was a mess as I retreated to the back sections of the library, the unusually cold spring wind biting my wet cheeks.

...

It had been a full week since our encounter, it was probably safe to eat in the cafeteria again but I didn't want to risk it. I wasn't hungry anyway...despite the fact that majority of my latest sketches were of food. I'd be better off just reading...

After picking out an interesting light novel, I decided to put on some headphones, it usually made time pass by quicker. As I was scrolling through my playlist, I felt eyes on me. I looked up from my seat on the floor and saw the person I was avoiding.

"Hiya, Sunshine." I internally winced at my words, why did I have to use my old pet name for him?

"...Hey, Moonlight," he said with an uncharacteristically awkward smile, rubbing the back of his neck.

"Glad you're not using your fake smile on me," I commented as I slid my headphones down to my neck.

He had no response besides sitting down next to me.

"Why are you avoiding me?" He asked as I pretended to read my light novel.

"Why did you cut me off in high school?" I shot back, but my voice came out soft and sad rather than the scolding tone that I had intended.

"...I didn't really. I just...didn't know what to say to you after I found out we weren't going to be in the same high school. I was afraid you were gonna be mad...and..."

"You're an idiot, Kazu," I replied as I finally looked at him.

"Thanks!" He said with his fake smile.

"And here I thought you weren't gonna be fake with me," I muttered as I snapped my light novel shut.

I moved to get up but I froze when he whispered, "Wait...don't leave me..."

After a few moments, I decided to crouch down in front of him. As I stared questioningly at him, I observed that he seemed surprised I had heard him at all.

"Don't seem so shocked. You think I can leave you here while you're sulking like a kicked puppy?"

"Aww~ N/n-chan does care! Totes awesome!" He exclaimed brightly.

I sighed, but I knew he was being sincere despite the slang words mixed in.

"Hey, N/n-chan..." his tone was more serious now and I hummed in response.

"I do know that I'm being fake. But fake is always better than having no friends."

"...what the hell am I then?" If only I could scare his insecurities away with my swear words... so many problems would be solved.

"Hm~ Hopefully more than friends~?" He tapped his chin with his index finger, pretending to have thought about it seriously despite the smirk he failed to hide.

I smacked my own forehead. His sudden switches from serious to cheerful were bad for my heart.

"Make me one of your pretty watercolour paintings of the sky and I'll think about it."

"Yesss!" He jumped up and was shushed by the librarian.

I shook my head amusedly and gathered my things before following him to the cafeteria.

"Hm~ your favourite colour's still green right? An emerald sky sounds pretty magical~"

"You never did tell me why it was your favourite colour, though...." he looked back at me as we walked.

"You never asked."

I laughed at the familiar sight of his puppy dog eyes and small pout. I missed this.

"Hah...you really never realised what colour your eyes are?" I asked without stopping.

He, however, froze in his tracks, and didn't continue walking until I looked back at him and told him to hurry up.