Beautiful art, Hiroki and Valeria belongs to @honeyed-blossom 💗 thank you for letting me borrow your babies!! <3
***
The first time Hiroki saw her, he was entranced.
Liya Chang was the epitome of elegance. Wherever she went, beauty always followed. What was it that made her so alluring? He wasn’t sure, but it made him more curious about the pretty Slytherin.
It didn’t help that half the male student population also shared the same sentiments.
He had been chatting with friend, Valeria, at central hall when he caught a glimpse of a blonde Gryffindor bloke trying his luck with Liya.
Interesting, he thought, his eyes never leaving her. The Gryffindor had said a few words as Liya listened and tilted her head to the side, doe-eyed, and as amiable as a sparrow.
He strained his ears, and could just about make out her next few words. “I’m sorry,” Liya had said to the blonde, unmistakable sincere regret dripping from her tone…as if she was consoling him on the death of a loved one, “I’m sure you’ll find a lovely girl in the future.”
As the Gryffindor dejectedly walked away, Hiroki couldn’t help but do a little fist pump. Valerie peered at his face curiosity, looking at Liya before looking back at him.
“Ah,” she gave him a knowing smile, “Someone’s got a crush.”
Immediately, Hiroki coloured up. “What? No I don't…”
Valeria wasn’t listening, and called out to Liya.
Oh no. Oh yes. Oh no. Oh yes. Clearly, his brain had not registered the sudden development and he couldn’t decide if he should be jumping for joy, or halfway out of there.
Be cool, He reminded himself as Liya approached them. He caught a whiff of her perfume — jasmine, apple, and vanilla. Hm, so she liked sweet things, he made a mental note just in case.
“Hey, Val!” Liya smiled at her and gave her a quick hug. She turned to Hiroki with a sweet but impersonal smile, as if he was just a shopkeeper in a store, or a server at a restaurant.
“Liya, this is Hirkoi, my friend!” Valeria introduced, with a wink. “He likes to read too!”
Between Valeria’s bemused smile and her barely able attempt of trying to stand still, he knew exactly what she was doing — adopting the role as the self-appointed matchmaker (a role that she took very seriously, it seemed).
Just as he had mustered the courage to say something witty, Liya suddenly gave a little gasp. “I’m sorry, I would love to chat but I have a meeting to get to!” She said apologetically and gave them both a rueful wave before rushing off.
“That’s Liya for you,” Valeria shrugged, tapping her chin pensively, “She has so many admirers trying their luck, I wonder how she manages that…”
A sudden realisation made Hiroki’s face fall. Was the Gryffindor earlier the ghost of his future? He bit his lip, weighing his options. Would that be his painful reality if he had asked her out too?
***
The second time around, he plucked up the courage to talk to her after Potions Class.
What did he have to lose anyway? He thought, giving a once over in the reflection of the cauldron. It’s going to be fine.
Naturally, Hiroki wanted to learn everything about her — he had so many questions. Where was she from? What was her heritage like?
As he neared her table, Liya’s face lit up in recognition. “You’re Val’s friend… Hiroki, right?” The way she said her name - in that posh British accent of hers - he could only nod, drunken and dazed in awe.
Liya smiled at him — the same smile that made his knees weak.
At that moment, he couldn’t have loved his name more. “You managed to answer Professor Sharp’s advanced question on the Draught of Living Death! Nicely done!”
She was waiting for him to say something, but all the questions, all the responses he had mentally prepared just moments prior failed to make an appearance.
And so, he blurted out the first thing on his mind, “Are you Sirius?”
Liya raised her eyebrows, “Excuse me?”
His hands flew to his mouth, as if the mere action could take his words back. Might as well finish the pick-up line, he rationalised. Hopefully it would impress her.
“Because you light up the night sky.”
It took a few moments for her to connect the dots, and those few seconds were excruciating. What would she say? Would she find him odd —
To his utter relief, Liya laughed, the sound was music to his ears.
“Merlin, you move awfully fast,” she said, as she carefully placed her potions textbook in her leather book bag. “But that was a memorable pick up line.”
Hiroki would have said more, had it not been for a certain Slytherin who was eyeing him from the door, with a glare so intense that he felt obliged to avert his eyes elsewhere.
Imedla Reyes.
“I think your friend is looking for you.”
“Oh yes, Imelda and I were planning to study at the library later,” She slung her book bag across her shoulder absentmindedly, her brown eyes fixed on him with mild interest (he’d hoped), “I hope we get to talk more soon!”
With a little wave, she was off.
And Hiroki was left standing alone again.
Only this time, his lips curved into a smile.
***
Later that day, Hiroki had headed to the library to return a book (before Madam Scribner could hound him). His heart skipped a beat when he saw her again.
Hiroki ducked behind the wall, luckily Liya hadn’t seen him, for she was too engrossed in a book in her hands. He stole another peek — a book on…Wizarding Law? Interesting.
Hiroki couldn’t help but notice that the light from outside had spilled across her face. To most cast under such harshness of the sun, it would have made them look bleached, washed out even.
Fortunately, it only enhanced Liya’s features — her dark brown eyes that glimmered under the sun, perfectly complimented by her thick, dark lashes, and the slight downward pout of her cherry red lips.
Liya was radiantly beautiful.
And the more Hiroki looked at her, the harder he fell for her.
Subconsciously, he had angled his book to cover the bottom half of his face - effectively hiding his blush - before he realised that Liya couldn’t see him.
He was grateful to be in the shadows — the freedom of being able to look at her, to absorb the elegant demure of her presence…
But he wanted more.
He’d remembered what Valeria had told him — if you don’t try, you’ll never know! It’s as easy as 1…2…3….go!
Hiroki took a deep breath to compose himself. Easy. It’ll be easy.
Silently counting to three, he stepped out into the light - her light - with a big grin and a shy wave.
Suffice to say, the rest was history.
Hiroki had got the girl. His girl. His Liya. His love.
