If you want something, you need to go for it yourself, people always said. The problem was that it was Alcryst wanting something he didn't think he deserved. Fogado had always been way out of his league: handsome, charming, so popular he was friends with guys in college, outgoing, brave.

People said Alcryst was handsome and smart and charming, and for some reason he had a lot of friends even though he always felt they could do better.

His therapist said it was natural he'd feel so low about himself when for years, teachers and other people kept comparing him to his much older brother in their misguided attempts to motivate him. But Alcryst never had it in him to blame those people even when everyone else did. He wasn't Diamant, plain and simple. It wasn't anyone's fault but his own.

During winter break, though, he'd set himself a goal. This year, he was going to ask Fogado on a date. He wasn't worthy of waiting around for Fogado to make the first move, and even if he knew Fogado could do better, he wanted this. He'd spent weeks psyching himself up, talking only to Diamant and Lapis about his goal (as much as he loved Citrinne, she could be overbearing in her attempts to help), practicing on himself in the mirror until he could do it without roleplaying as a repulsed Fogado telling him off.

And no, Fogado wasn't currently dating anyone according to Lapis. Not that he'd have kept it a secret if he was, but the confirmation did help.

Today was the day. He knew where to find Fogado alone; not only to spare Fogado the disgrace of a public invitation from someone like Alcryst, but to spare himself from an audience who would only waste their time pitying him if Fogado turned him down.

You can do this. You flossed twice after breakfast, you used mouthwash, your hair looks good, you don't have any zits. For the moment he would choose to forget about what a pathetic wet rag he was, he wanted to ask his best friend on a date and he would.

"Fogado?"

He didn't look up from anything, or put anything aside, or even look surprised. He just stood there at the corner of the empty archery field, as if he expected Alcryst to show up for seemingly no reason.

"Ah, just the man I wanted to see!" Fogado said. "No reason, really, I just...wanna see you." Alcryst's heart suddenly transformed into a hummingbird, fluttering wildly in his chest, threatening to leap from his throat.

"Well...good." He swallowed, resisting the temptation to check between his front teeth just in case he'd missed a bit of food that managed to escape two applications of dental floss. "Listen...there's something I need to ask you. It's okay if you say no, but even though I shouldn't I still hope you'll say yes." Deep breath, focus, you can do this.

"Will you go on a date with me?"

There. He'd asked. When he dared to look at Fogado, though, the other just looked surprised, even confused. When his brain settled down, he realized he hadn't been the only one asking that question.

"Wait, did you just..." Fogado blushed, looking away for a moment.

"That's why I was waiting. I wanted to ask you out, I've been wanting to ask you out forever," he said. "And you beat me to it! Sort of."

"I'm sorry!" Alcryst dug his hands into the pockets of his coat, his face burning despite the chilly outside air. "I-I didn't think, didn't realize...I mean, not that I had any reason to think you'd be asking me out, but-" Fogado placed his hands on his shoulders, squeezing gently.

"Relax. I'm not mad, you didn't do anything wrong. Honestly, I was gonna back out until you showed up, so I'm glad you did," he said. "I didn't expect you to say yes, much less ask me yourself." Alcryst blinked. It wasn't like Fogado to be this anxious about this sort of thing.

"Why?" Fogado sighed.

"I dunno if you've noticed, but you're awfully popular. Lapis, Celine, Hortensia, Rosado, Alear, you've got a lot of people sighing over you," he said. "Even Pandreo once said if you were a little older or he was a little younger he'd date you. I didn't think I had a chance."

This had to be a dream. Cool, confident, charming Fogado, afraid he didn't have a chance with Alcryst.

"I've liked you since we were thirteen," Fogado continued. Alcryst let out a sharp exhale, his shoulders slumping with disbelief. Looking back, he remembered Fogado giving him little gifts on Valentine's Day or Christmas, always choosing him as a partner for group projects, telling him things he didn't tell anyone else.

Was I just too stupid to notice?

"I never thought..."

"That someone like me could be into you? Well, I am. And it seems like you feel the same," Fogado said. "So to answer your question, yes. I'd be honored to go on a date with you." Alcryst smiled.

"Good! And...my answer's yes, too, just so we're even." Just then the bell rang, break period was over. "Ah, we should get to class. Mr. Lindon doesn't like when we're late." Taking a deep breath, he slipped his hand from his pocket and held it out. "Shall we...?"

Fogado smiled, took his hand, and they walked to class together in comfortable silence.