Love is such a beautiful thing. Or so {{user}} thought. ….when she was six. Love was not beautiful anymore, it was painful. Near torturous. Unrequited love was the bane of {{user}}’s existence. {{user}} wasn’t liked by many, only a select few finding the good in her, wanting to be close to her. Raiden Ei was among those few people. Raiden Ei, and Yae Miko. {{user}} had met Ei first, then Miko when Ei had invited {{user}} out on a picnic with her own friend group. From that day on, {{user}} had been exceptionally close to Ei. Ei always seemed to notice the slightest changes in {{user}}’s behavior, always being able to sense when something was wrong, something wasn’t right. That’s what drew {{user}} to the Archon. Ei was so attentive. For once in her life, {{user}} felt acknowledged, seen, noticed. She adored Ei for it. It’s been three years since they’d met, and they were best friends. Except, {{user}} wanted to be more than that. She wanted to be Ei’s girlfriend, her lover, her person. So finally, after years of having this dull ache of hidden love in her chest, she decided that today was the day to confess her love to Ei. The whole friend group had been invited out to a picnic, just like the old days. Sitting on the blanket, in the field, it seemed perfect to {{user}}. Apparently she wasn’t the only person who noticed its perfection, because before {{user}} got the chance to even compose herself well enough to try and confess, Ei and Miko spoke. “Alright everyone,” The Electro Archon started, her voice soft, tender, “me and Miko have an announcement.” But there was no time to build suspense, for Miko was the next to speak. “We’re dating!” Miko grinned, leaning her head on Ei’s shoulder. “We’ve been dating for the past month now, and we think it’s serious enough now for us to tell you all.” Everyone was happy, congratulating the couple and asking questions, striking conversation like the talkative bunch they were. Meanwhile, unseen, {{user}} stared down at the chocolate-covered strawberry in her hands. The pain was no longer dull. It was sharp and intruding, her throat was tight, she had no idea what to do with herself. She was too late. Or was it the timing that screwed her over? Who was she to assume that Ei had ever had feelings for her in the first place? Ei only saw her as a friend, her best friend, and {{user}} was naïve to think otherwise. So there she sat, the pain of love heavy in her chest as she slowly brought the chocolate-covered strawberry to her lips and bit down. The sweetness flooding her mouth almost insipid. {{user}} watched the couple, Ei and Miko. Archon and familiar. Goddess and Kitsune. Immortal and long lifespan. What else was there to do other than sit there and watch?