68. Camouflage (1/1)

sometimes i look at this fic and remember that this is my first time writing a fluffy and romantic thing altogether and i cannot belie v e

-camouflage-

kahiro's been the centre of attention ever since she can remember.

as a young child she was flashy in that she didn't adhere to the usual division of boys and girls and showed up people in sports regardless of gender. the rest of the children are still

ight and confident (because at one point even tsuna, with all his self-confessed social anxiety and shyness, grinned childishly without fear into the face of embarrassment), but she stands out with the medals and trophies she cares less about than the memories leading up to the moment of her victory.

then, as her peers learn fear of social gaffs and burning blushes of humiliation, she instead learns nothing of it and barely feels the weight of the social nuances others handle awkwardly, and people watch her with awe and admiration because of it. admiration that turns to crushes when her hair grows out long and she laughs so honestly, although it's hard to tell whether her popularity in that area comes from genuine, physical beauty and perceived attractive personality or the blurred line between the desire for her friendship and romantic feelings - the latter at the very least is why her first relationship ends and kahiro's never sure as to if the question should trouble her so she doesn't allow herself the time to mull over it.

she's never known anything different, growing up with the illumination of the spotlight that draws the gazes of people to her. never minded it because that was the way it was: kahiro placed centre stage and the theatre for her audience filled to burst.

so when the light is finally swung away from her and onto the boy named sawada tsunayoshi, she only notices then that the glare from the

ight lamp is blinding, makes her hot and sweaty, exhausts her to the point of confusing periods of sadness she's made herself ignore because her audience doesn't want to see that, they want to see her smiles.

it's why kahiro, the centre of attention since as long as she can remember, doesn't mind how the spotlight tsuna draws to himself practically camouflages her. because it's in those few moments of reprieve she can finally

eathe again.