Kuri stood in the grand hall of True Cross Academy, glaring at the decorations being strung up for the Snow Ball. Glittering snowflakes dangled from the ceiling, and strings of fairy lights illuminated the room in a warm, magical glow. The smell of pine and cinnamon wafted through the air, mingling with the faint hum of holiday music. She should have felt proud. After all, this entire event had been her idea—a way to combine the school dance with the Holiday Festival and call it Snowflake Day, a name she thought was inclusive and celebrated everyone.
But instead of pride, she felt an ache in her chest.
She crossed her arms, her brow furrowing as she glanced at the dance floor being set up. She had worked tirelessly to organize everything: planning, decorating, coordinating volunteers. It had taken weeks of effort, late nights, and countless sacrifices. Yet here she was, the girl who started it all, without a dance partner.
No one had asked her.
It wasn't like she expected to be swarmed with invitations, but… a small part of her had hoped someone would ask. When no one did, she swallowed her pride and decided to take matters into her own hands.
If no one was going to ask her, she'd ask someone herself.
And she knew exactly who she wanted to go with.
"Rin!" she called out, spotting him at his locker down the hall. She jogged toward him, her heart racing for reasons she didn't want to analyze too closely.
Rin glanced up from rummaging through his bag, his black hair falling into his eyes. His expression brightened when he saw her. "Oh, hey, Kuri."
"So…" She stopped a few feet away, trying to keep her tone casual despite the butterflies in her stomach. "Are you going to the Snow Ball?"
Rin scratched the back of his neck, his tail flicking slightly behind him—a telltale sign of his nervousness. "I don't know… dancing and all that."
Kuri couldn't help but laugh. "Seriously? The big, bad Demon Prince can't dance?"
He groaned, shutting his locker with a bang. "Aw, c'mon… It's not that I can't. I just… I don't know. I can't get up the nerve to ask anyone, I guess." He hesitated, looking at her sheepishly. "Usually girls just…"
"Fall into your lap?" Kuri teased, raising an eyebrow.
Rin sighed, his cheeks tinting pink. "Uh… yeah, something like that."
Kuri giggled, feeling the tension ease. For a moment, the playful banter between them made her forget why she'd come over.
But then Rin's gaze lingered on her, and a flicker of realization crossed his face. He straightened slightly, his tail pausing mid-swish. "Wait… Do you maybe want to—"
"Hi, Rin!"
The interruption came from a bubbly, blonde-haired girl who sidled up to them with a radiant smile. Kuri instantly recognized her—Cassie, one of the most popular girls in school. She always seemed to have an air of confidence about her, the kind that made people gravitate toward her effortlessly.
Cassie barely spared Kuri a glance before turning all her attention to Rin. "You want to go to the Snow Ball with me?" she asked, her voice dripping with charm.
"Actually, I—" Rin started, glancing awkwardly between Kuri and Cassie.
"C'mon…" Cassie stepped closer, her grin widening as she placed a hand on Rin's arm. "How can you say no?"
Before Rin could respond, Cassie leaned in and kissed him—a quick, confident peck on the lips.
Kuri froze.
Her breath caught in her throat as the sound of her books slipping from her arms echoed down the hall. She didn't mean to drop them, but her hands trembled too much to hold on.
Rin's eyes widened in shock, and he instinctively pulled back from Cassie, his cheeks turning bright red. "Wait, I—"
Cassie grabbed his hand, her laughter ringing out like a bell. "Come on, Rin. Let's go!"
Kuri didn't move as she watched them walk away, Cassie tugging Rin along like it was the most natural thing in the world. Rin glanced back over his shoulder, his expression conflicted, but he didn't stop.
Kuri's chest tightened painfully, a lump forming in her throat as she knelt to pick up her scattered books. Her fingers brushed against the cold tile, but her mind was elsewhere, replaying the moment over and over.
Why did it hurt so much?
She pressed her lips together, blinking back the sting of tears. It's fine, she told herself. It's not like I expected him to say yes anyway. Why would he pick me when someone like Cassie is throwing herself at him?
Still, the ache in her chest wouldn't go away.
As she stood and hugged her books to her chest, she made a silent vow. She wouldn't let this ruin the Snow Ball—or Snowflake Day. She had worked too hard to let something like this drag her down.
But deep down, she couldn't shake the feeling that she had just lost something she'd never truly had.