› 〉 .ೃ Ensemble Stars One-shots ! „ ↴

❝ Self-Image Of Cynical Blossom - Kohaku ❞

                              •————— ♬ —————•

                             •————— ♬ —————•

                                            "Just— please, shut up."

Doing as commanded to, you piped down. The pink-haired idol before you had requested you to silence, his words harsh and tone sharp. This had yet to offend you, as you were showering him in compliments moments prior.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable." You replied, wishing to quickly apologize and move on.
"You didn't make me uncomfortable," reassuring you, it seems as though Kohaku lacked an understanding of even himself. "I, uh, just don't handle compliments well."
The setting was the empty Crazy:B apartment, which was deserted thanks to Rinne wishing to take the adults out. Having wanted to talk to Kohaku in private—something you both seldom found time to do—, you decided to ask him if he had time to chat. After receiving his permission, you had arrived there.

Now, you sit upon the bedside, warm teacup in hand. "Oh, I understand," lips lifting in a soft smile, you nodded your head in understanding. "Well, I—"
"Name?" He interrupted you. This was quite rare for Kohaku, in spite of his barbed words, he has a well-mannered personality.
"Hm, yeah?" You set your teacup upon it's ceramic coaster, listening intently to Kohaku's speech.
"Do you really think all of that? You know, that I deserve lovin'..?" He fiddled with his fingernails as he spoke. This told you he was growing anxious.
"Yeah!" You chirped eagerly. "I think you're not only drop-dead stunning, but you have a personality that is hard to come by. I really like that."
"I—" he scoffed, shaking his head. "Why don't I believe you?"
"It's hard to take someone's positive words to heart when your self image is lacking," inhaling a soft, relaxed sigh, you leaned back on your palms. "When someone compliments you, it might be hard to accept. You don't have to struggle with it, I can keep reminding you."
"Reminding me..?" Echoed Kohaku.
"Yep! I'll remind you how beautiful you are. If you're okay with that?" You suggested.
"Haha. Beautiful." He seemed to shrug off your words.

It certainly wasn't difficult to figure the situation out. Sometimes, people spiral into episodes of all-consuming self doubt. Some get defensive when complimented, and others silently struggle as they make fruitless attempts to cope. In your mind, it seemed as though Kohaku had sailed similar seas.
"Kohaku," you hesitantly began. His head snapped in your direction. "You're beautiful." You grinned genuinely, unable to fight off the pure bliss in your expression.
Kohaku, staring into your eyes, flushed red in the face. Gradually, his lower lip quivered. Eyebrows knitting, the idol ducked into the safety of his forearm. "Goddammit, dumbass, get it together." He hissed to himself.
You pat the bedside. "Don't worry," you began as he seated himself. Tugging the boy into your embrace, you smooched his head. "It's okay. What's bothering you?"
"You say that I'm so sweet. To you, I'm one of the kindest people. That's so far from the truth. You could— could gush for hours about my supposed 'beauty'. A part of me feels like you're lying." He confessed, violet hues lowered to the ground. Heaving a tension-relieving sigh, Kohaku relaxed into your arms.
"What kind of benefit would I get from lying about that?" You asked, genuinely attempting to make him see himself the way you do.
"Maybe profit," he replied bluntly. "That's not uncommon nowadays."
"True," shaking your head to gather your thoughts, you began to gingerly pet his head. When you did this, Kohaku's eyes began to glisten over with tears. "But Kohaku, you are stunning as is. I know that you struggle with a horrible self-image. You're definitely more than you think you are. You'll take lots down the right path, trust me."

Hues of violet gazing at you with obscuring his vision, the pink-haired boy shook his head. "You're wrong."
"And that's your opinion," you replied. "Everyone has an opinion. and it's safe to say that theirs doesn't correspond with yours. Yours is negative, and theirs is fresh. It's most likely to be positive."
"Well, what if they don't like who I am?" He questioned.
"Then that's their negative opinion," you then smiled, cupping his squishy face in your hands, thumbs drawing circles upon his cheeks. "Let's try something."
"Huh? What is it?" He squinted at you, evidently iffy of your tactics.
"Imagine this room," you requested. "Ask yourself. What makes you happy?"
"Uhm," he then turned red in the face. "Sweets."
Laughing a bit, you nodded your head. "Okay," you continued to cradle his face in your hands. "Imagine there's sweets on the table. Your favorites, even."
"Now you're just making me hungry," replied Kohaku, eyes slowly shutting. You were almost taken aback that he would do that, especially with you touching him. It seems as though he trusts you. "What else?"
"The air smells like a delicate, sugary fragrance. The breeze is gently blowing in through a nearby window, the room is warm and welcoming. Pick up a candy." You instructed. "Unwrap it, then eat the candy."
"Okay..? I don't see how this is supposed to help."
"Haha, it'll only help if you actually try it."

You observed as Kohaku remained still, apparently unwrapping a candy in his imagination. Before long, his lips slowly parted. He was trying to eat a figment of his imagination. Instantly, you burst out in laughter. "In your imagination—!"
"Huh?" He opened his eyes immediately.
"You were imagining the candy, right? Your mouth was moving like the candy was real—" you then resumed laughter, hands remaining upon his face.
Kohaku huffed with embarrassment, crossing his arms. He nuzzled into your palm. "Alright, you can stop laughing."
You began to pipe down once more, a broad grin remaining on your features. You smushed his cheeks a bit. "Haha, you're so cute," it was as though saying this was in your nature. "Ah— sorry."
Cracking into a smile, Kohaku placed his hands on your wrist, bittersweet tears rimming his eyes. He chuckled a bit. "It's alright," he reassured you. "That makes me feel better."
"Okay, cutie~" you teased, smushing your nose into his cheek.
"Don't push your luck." He deadpanned, glaring at you.
Blinking thrice, you began to laugh. "I can't take you seriously when your face is smushed like this."

Kohaku broke out into laughter, shutting his eyes to do so. If only he could realize how perfect he is. From the way his lips tugged into a smile, to the way his cheekbones lifted.. it was all perfection in your eyes. Like a whimsical tune, yet to grace the planet. A tune that would "swirl", like you're dancing amidst floating raindrops. A progression unlike any other, as though you're proudly trekking an uncharted beach, it's warm sand of a brown hue near the lapping salt water. The water is deep, flowing easily like a harmonic chord progression.
Eyes lighting up, you beamed at the boy. "Kohaku, I'm gonna kiss you!" You shouted in pure excitement.
"What—?!" He jolted away from your hands, squeaking as you lurched forth.

The pink-haired idol slowly gave in to the producer's relentless smooches, where he was to be marked from forehead to neck in lip marks. As for his woe, such a thing drifted off, far off from the shore. The thrilled producer, laying atop Kohaku, pressed their lips into his impulsively. Although the two turned bright red, there was no need to resist. Instead, Kohaku would smile through the kiss prior to eagerly kissing them back.