❛ LEOPOLD VERMILLION ❜
I'd spend ten thousand hours and ten thousand more.

REQUESTED BY: Yany-YanYan. Thank you!!

LEOPOLD'S POINT OF VIEW

"Argh!"

I shouted in confusion before dropping all the books I am currently holding on the floor. I can't understand a thing! Dammit, it feels like my mind is flying off somewhere. Flying? Or it's just focused on a particular person? Dang, I don't know!

"This is getting nowhere," I stood up but my brother, Fuegoleon, entered my room. It looks like he has a secret radar that automatically activates every time I'm going to ditch my lessons.

"Where do you think you're going?"

"I'm done–"

"You're supposed to study Physics." He pointed at a certain book on the floor. "Sit down."

I put my hands in my hair, tugging it in disbelief before throwing a tantrum. "I've been studying for ages! Can't I get a break?!"

"You just had it five minutes ago, Leo."

"F-Five min–"Oh yeah, right. Fuck. "But please! I can't understand a thing anymore!"

Fuegoleon massaged his forehead, releasing a heavy sigh. "What am I going to do to you, little runt? Should I call Mereole–"

"Oh God, no, please! I beg you, Fuegoleon!"

My brother sat comfortably on a couch before checking those extra papers scattered on the floor. Those are the activity sheets he made personally for me.

"Oh, right!" He suddenly exclaimed. "I'll just ask Y/N to come over."

Choking on my saliva, I remained silent as I intentionally grabbed the books on the floor. If she ever gets here, she'll scold me for my messy room. I can't bear seeing her stressed because of my irresponsibility.

"Why do I hear no objections, huh?" Fuegoleon teased as I narrowed my eyes at him.

"What're you talking about?"

"It looks like you wanted Y/N herself to teach you Physics?" My brother smirked. "Aw, is my little brother in love–"

I blushed, throwing my grimoire right at his face but he elegantly caught it with one hand.

"Shut up, Fuegoleon. I'm going to study."

"A minute ago, you're begging me for a break and now you're going to stu–"

"Stop teasing me, okay?!" I growled as he chuckled, raising his two hands in the air.

"Fine, fine. Your secret's safe with me," Fuegoleon winked at me before finally leaving my room. Damn, my brother is a pain in the ass.

[ TIMESKIP ]

"Now, do you understand it?"

I nodded my head before she closed my Physics book, stretching her arms afterward. Stealing a glance, I can't help but adore her beautiful face. Those pinkish cheeks, kissable lips, that porcelain skin, and almond-shaped eyes, everything in her is perfect.

No, she is perfect! Like an actual art.

She loves dancing in the rain, I know all her favorites, but I knew that there is still more to learn in her sweetheart of hers.

Y/N and I are childhood friends. Half–no, I think I spent more than half of my life with her and now, she's on the same squad as me, Crimson Lions. I couldn't wish for more, especially when I got to do missions with her, it feels like paradise. I can play the role of her knight-and-shining-armor and other more cliché calls.

"Y-Y/N," I called, blushing and looking away because her stares are unbelievably captivating.

She hummed. "What is it, Leopi-chan?"

"T-There will be a firework show tonight in the Capital. D-Do you want to go..." I bit my lip. "...out with me?"

I heard her heartily chuckle as she patted my hair. "You could at least ask me out properly, you know?"

"H-Huh?"

"You're looking at the ceiling while you're trying to ask me to watch with you." She kept on chuckling.

I blushed intensely and I growled mentally. Goddamn me!

"But don't worry," she placed a hand above my mine. "Let's meet at 8?"

I smiled. "Noted!"

[ TIMESKIP ]

I never see her so happy like this before. She's so beautiful, with the stars reflecting on her eyes. As we climbed on the bridge, I noticed that this is the perfect spot to watch the fireworks and only a few people are around.

"Leopi-chan, look!" She pointed at the swans swimming on the lake below us. "They're so cute!"

I chuckled. "You talk as if this is your first time seeing them."

"Yeah, I know that this isn't the first time, but every time I see them, I am always mesmerized! Aren't they beautiful?!"

Staring at the goddess-like face, I nodded. "Yeah, you're really beautiful," I whispered.

Y/N hummed. "Are you saying something, Leopi?"

Immediately shaking my head, I stared at the sky above us, probably trying to compare the beauty of the moon and stars from Y/N, but it turns out that the beauty of the girl beside me is incomparable from anything.

We stayed in that place for a few minutes before multiple fireworks aired in the sky, meaning that the show is already starting. Y/N was so hooked on the event that she didn't notice my hand entangling with hers, or maybe she notices but didn't mind it anymore. I know that I went out to watch the firecrackers but I'm more captivated looking at my best friend that I adore so much.

Her features are much more colorful than those fireworks emit above us and the beating of my heart is much louder than the sounds in my surroundings.

This is the perfect timing.

Grabbing both of her hands, I bent one knee in front of her. Of course, she was surprised.

"L-Leopi, what are you doing?"

Flashing a tiny ring out of my pocket, I lowered my head before closing my eyes, remembering all the things I wanted to confess to her.

"Y/N-chan, I like–no, I love you! I've always been mesmerized by your eyes and sometimes, I find myself drowning in it. You're so amazing in and out and even if we've been childhood friends, it feels like there's still more to learn from you and I'm willing to spend ten thousand hours, no, maybe ten thousand more just to learn and study that sweetheart of yours. I know that I suck at academics ..."

We both chuckled.

"...but please know that I will try my best and will give my everything to understand you. So please..."

I looked up, meeting with her beautiful and almost teary eyes.

"...will you be my girlfriend?"

Smiling, she pulled me and helped me get back on my feet before rewarding me with a hug. Y/N snuggled her face on the crook of my neck as she let go.

"Leopi-chan," She grabbed my hand, the one holding the ring before she enclosed it with my fingers.

"We're still too young for this. For this thing called love, and I'm scared that we might fail because we both knew we're not yet prepared."

I felt my heart crack. Oh, I see. She's right anyway.

"But," Letting go of my hand, she cupped my cheeks.

"I love you too. I love you so much, Leopold. There's no more turning back for me, for us. I love you, but I can't commit yet because we're still young for this. I don't want our relationship to fail so if we could just...if we could just wait. If you could just wait for me to be more prepared for this, then maybe–"

"Of course!" I suddenly exclaimed, holding both of her shaky hands.

"Like what you said earlier, there is no more turning back for us, especially for me. I'll wait 'till the mountains cross the seas and 'till all the secrets are set free, then I'll just meet you there someday on bended knee."

Sealing this promise with a kiss on her forehead, the last and the most magnificent firework exploded in the sky, adding more effects on this little and loving scene.

Yes, I'll wait. Ten thousand hours or more, I can wait for you, Y/N. And I couldn't ask for more.