A/N: Hope you enjoy :D
Limerence: (n) the state of being infatuated with another person.
The first thing he notices is her hair gliding effortlessly over shoulders, like a halo, thin and silky and wispy. The sun turns it golden, tangled between blades of grass glittering with morning dew. She doesn't seem to care about the back of her head getting dirty; she never cared about things like that. She looks peaceful, serene, long lashes curled against pale cheeks, lips curved in a wistful smile. The headphones she wears haphazardly are clunky and too big; he suspects she found them at an old thrift shop. She mumbles something inaudible- her mouth moves silently in a rhythm, waves of words from poems collected on cards.
Her shirt is slightly wrinkled and he suppresses the urge to bend down to adjust her collar, to touch her hair, to brush silky strands out of her face. Instead, he remains standing, book bag slung over his shoulder, hesitant, waiting. She's wearing track pants with a skirt - he feels a mixture of annoyance and affection at how unladylike she still is. He tells himself-wants to make himself believe that he doesn't see her that way (anymore)-he's gotten over her. His heart doesn't speed up, his palms don't get sweaty , he feels normal.
It's just Chihaya, his simple-minded childhood friend , so obsessed with karuta that she listens to the ancient poems on repeat.
It's just Chihaya, whom he hasn't seen in forever, but knows wholeheartedly that she hasn't changed a bit.
So he steps closer and looks down, and laughs to himself, saying "hey, no wonder they call you 'beauty in vain.'" Her eyelids flutter open slowly, blinking in confusion, squinting up into the sunlight- recognition flashes across her face in a split second. She looks so surprised yet so blissfully happy that he can't help but break out into an elated grin, saying her name.
He feels his heart beginning to speed up and his face growing warm and his palms getting sweaty, and he thinks to himself, stupid heart. Stupid heart.
It's been ten years and still-
"Taichi!" She smiles wide , bolting upwards and racing to stand up.
"Taichi, I didn't know you came to this school!" She laughs delightedly and grass is stuck to her hair, one blade on the side of her chin, and the moment is so precious that he can't help but keep smiling, like a gem in the middle of his palm.
He supposes he still can't control who he falls in love with.
