It’s a beautiful autumn day. Birds are singing, flowers are…not really blooming anymore, it’s almost winter. On days like these, kids like you…

…should be hanging out in Hometown after a double order of burgers at QC’s.

The two of you were taking a stroll down to the alleyways near the apartments because of a rumour you’d heard about Alphys using it as somewhere to take smoke breaks, and as any self-respecting kid would do, you wanted to confirm it. Because seeing your teacher miserable is funny.

The sun was starting to set, but you both lived pretty close so it wasn’t much of a concern. The sun tossed orange-yellow rays over the tall buildings ahead and into your eyes. You both raised your arms and kept going, glancing at each other and smiling in excitement.

You rounded the corner and peeked into the alley. The walls of the adjacent buildings shrouded it in darkness already, and you couldn’t see much. But it was clear there was no Alphys.

“Damn,” Kris muttered. “No luck. Maybe we can just…wait her out?”

They stepped in front of you and into the alley, letting their eyes adjust.

“Ha! Come look. Catti must’ve done this when they went to prom together.”

They turned and waved you over, smiling. On the wall, there was a heart spray-painted with initials inside: A + C.

“We should do that. Platonically. Like…a star or something. An original one.”